[Spoilers] Biggus Decius and the Sucking Vampires (Bobchillingworth / Calabim)

[Bobchillingworth]

Aughhh, I just realized this turn (178 ) that my vampire headed for Bridget is level 14, one short. I'm going to reroute him to Nubia to feed, but that means about an 8-turn delay in securing my hero. Thankfully once I get Bridget I should be able to instantly warp her (but not the level 15 vamp) into my lands by deleting her once.


In better news, two cities are now able to build 2-turn ritualists, and Rosier completes next turn.



Final note, fuck the 8) smiley. Seriously, I frequently see it show up whenever anyone tries to make a numbered list or use parenthesis in conjunction with "8".

[Irgy]

Personally I prefer the sideways smileys anyway, this whole replacing them with icons thing is just one of those things that people do because they can rather than because it's a good idea particularly. Nothing wrong with icons mind you just the auto-replacement algorithm : )

[NobleHelium]

You can disable smileys for a particular post if you need to use the 8 for a list whatever.

[Bobchillingworth]

Looking forward to this turn- I was expecting the AC to reach 30 next turn when Rosier completed; it must have increased due to random Veil spreads and/or someone going for a nasty event option.


Time to start drafting & feeding like mad, regardless.


Also curious whether PB actually killed Dracula- that's my level 14 vamp who I have to recall for extra feeding. I suspect he was simply embellishing his "article" (which was hilarious, btw )

[DaveV]

The implication in PB's news article is that some building pushed the AC over the Blight threshold - maybe he built the AV shrine?

As for killing your level 14 vampire: he would have been damaged by Blight, and PB could have healed a centaur to near 100% using Sirona's Touch. That would suck, but one unit isn't going to win or lose the game for you (as I said when Iskender scored his Adventurer from a lair many moons ago).

[Bobchillingworth]

I still haven't played the turn yet, but I really doubt that he actually killed "Dracula". The unit was in the middle of Selrahc's territory, and I don't believe that PB had any way of gaining vision on it. Also if he declared on me I'd like to think that he'd at least send an email about it first, or brag about it some in the tech thread besides a passing mention about a single unit.

[Bobchillingworth]

Well I'll be, he really did declare! And yeah the AC rose to 30 from him building the Stigmata on the Unborn. Strangely, no blight hit... probably a PBEM mechanics thing, it should start once Sareln hits "end turn".


From the log it looks like he attacked Drac with three CA- one died, one retreated, and the third got the kill. That sucks, but the dude was one lousy level short of 15 anyway, so Brigit wasn't coming anytime soon. He must have scouted him heading north with a hawk and decided to attack out of opportunity.


Anyway, he hasn't moved anything else over to threaten me yet. I'm just going to keep building up for right now, I guess... I still need the ritualists and death node. No need to run in before I'm totally ready. I'm also a little disappointed that he didn't even bother to send me an email declaration... I guess that sort of fits with his general unwillingness to communicate with me, though.

[fluffyflyingpig]

Well, he DID put up that newspaper article in the tech thread saying he killed your guy.

[Bobchillingworth]

Yeah, I had assumed he was just being creative and chose the most famous vampire in fiction to illustrate the story. It's not like the rest of it was a exemplar of truth in reporting (an unholy relic in a "distant city", hah!) :P

[Bobchillingworth]

Gee, like everyone has updated but me. Maybe there's a conspiracy afoot! Or a war, that would also work :P



Anyway some witty banter back and forth between me & PB:

[COLOR="Red"]Damn you, I was going to write some sort of pithy speech when I finally declared on you, and here you go and steal my thunder.



So was this just to kill poor Drac before he could free the lovely Bridgit, or is this one of those deals where I wipe you from the face of Erebus? You've been telegraphing this war for about 50 turns now, so I'm assuming the later, but if you'd like to beg for contrition I have several onerous peace treaty clauses I'd be happy to discuss with you. [/COLOR]

[COLOR="Plum"]Darling Bobbicus Decius Maximus,



How simply distressing it was for me to return from my biannual “Croquet with the Chargers” to discover this horrible development!

I have of course initiated an on-the-scrolls investigation into the actions of those left in charge, however it’s looking very likely that the person on duty at the time, one Captain Teemo, was taken over by a murderous impersonator.

I must stress that this is only a preliminary report, but the events seem to clearly implicate that Gibbon Goetia was responsible, with eyewitnesses describing one scene where the maldoer ran through the halls shouting “GG GG!” at passers-by.

I always knew researching Deception was a mistake.



Assuredly now that I am back in charge, it is my sole wish that the Kuriotates return to their usual harmonious status quo with the beasts and denizens inhabiting the South of my continent.

I’m a little confused by your statement concerning “telegraphing this war” as I don’t really understand the word “telegraph”. Does it mean homing pigeons?

Of course the Kuriotates have no intention of using pigeons in any war! That would be barbaric! Plus they’re a delicacy, particularly favoured by the Ratmen.



Now, as for the “onerous peace treaty clauses”, naturally that would not involve anything more serious than a floridly written letter to yourself and the bereaved family, expressing my heartfelt apologies?

If you have some other, cheap, (think flowers and chocolates, or in the case of you students a bong and a half ounce) method of offering my sympathies, feel free to lay it on out.



I am, of course, most keen to return to the excellent previous relations the Kuriotates have enjoyed with the Calabim.



Yours Very Sincerely,

Pb, Protector of Angelic Virginity Boy-King.[/COLOR]

Okay, his response was, if not wittier, certainly more creative than my email. What can I say, Decius hardly has any character to speak of to roleplay ("good at everything and constantly betrayed" is hardly a personality), and I've been more interested this game in sending messages that actually convey what I'm thinking.

And yes, I told him in my email that I was going to eventually declare war on him. He's had like two dozen troops on my borders for quite a while now and constant hawk coverage of my build-up, so surely that can't come as any sort of shock to him.


Anyway, I'll send my response once I raze one of his cities. In the form of a razed city. No peace for PB, he made his bed and he can sleep in it. With the fishes. Yeah.


I have some reason to be confident because oh my gosh what is this:






Of course getting overconfident would be terribly unwise. Especially with PB in Overlords, as my recent MP experience has taught me the horrors of water walking mobility hasted raiders units. A big ol' stack of Stygian Guard would be pretty awful to face. And there must be a reason why PB decided to convert to that particular faith.

I still think that OO overall sucks as a religion, tho :P