I finished my set, but I don't have time for a very detailed report today or tomorrow. So let's let the power graphs do the talking:
We have conquered Arretium and Ravenna, and we're at the gates of Arpinium. Unfortunately, there's no spy nearby to drop its defenses, and our siege units have suffered a lot of attrition. We might just have enough units to simply walk over it.
Turn 280:
Conquered Arretium, which was defended by 15 cuirassiers and a handful of medieval units. Defenses were mostly down at the start of my turnset, and as I said already, we didn't suffer too many casualties. A whole bunch of cuirassiers attacked on Julius's turn. I move the settler towards the sheep-and-deer spot.
Turn 281:
Willem demands that we cancel deals with the Zulu, I say no. A GG spawns and I move him to Cholo to join his friends. I start a settler at Can't get ye and speed it along with some forest chops.
Turn 282:
Shaka wants us to cancel our deals with Mali. I said no again, but I was more in doubt about that one. We'll go after Mali soon, but we'll still be busy with Julius, and the extra commerce would be helpful in the meantime.
Turn 283:
Sheep-and-deer city (Metroid) is founded.
Turn 284:
A settler from Golden Axe (IIRC) founds our national park city (Vectorman). Unfortunately, I misunderstand the signs around it - don't chop refers to all the forests around the city...I chopped two of them. But I have a suggestion for an alternative nat. park city!
Turn 285:
I reject a compass for paper deal from Willem. Education is researched, and I pick Military Tradition next. I start building some Unis over the next couple of turns. Our army arrives at the gates of Ravenna. I have two spies in the area. The first fails at inciting a revolt, so I bombard the city and wait for now.
Turn 286:
The next spy succeeds and I proceed to conquer Ravenna. I didn't take a before-picture of Julius's stack there, unfortunately.
I found the new city Lemmings which would also be a good nat. park location.
Turn 287:
Founded another city NW of Setia (The Smurfs).
Turn 288:
Mansa Musa demands the Printing Press. How about no?
Military tradition completes, I start building West Point in Cholo. As next tech, I pick chemistry. I meant to dial down research so that the next player can decide if they want something else. But I forgot that and put in one turn of 100% spending :/
I advanced towards Arpinium and was moving the knights ahead to take a look at the defenders. Unfortunately, that stack was almost completely destroyed during Julius's turn. On the upside, many units from the city were attacking out, so we got some damage in without having to deal with the city defenses.
Turn 289:
Our troops arrive at Arpinium! Have fun, Brian!