Pics from last turn:
Tech situation as Pickle discovers Optics:
I've been watching for it for a while with a pair of Carracks lurking in range, but out of pre-Optics sight. Moving them in now, what will they find...
Part of me had been expecting (hoping?) to find freshly-produced Rifles occupying them, but given how far he's outstripping the rest of us technologically, I don't think I can pass up this opportunity to take out 2 of his 10 cities. The saving grace is that he has not had MilTrad for more than a couple of turns and Rifling for not much longer, so his modern force can't be that large, right?
It's worth noting that there is only a single Mace in each of these, because the "lurking" rather happened at random rather than being planned out beforehand.
A quick look at our borders before the attack:
In my East (his West), I have good Cultural control and a pinch point that can be reinforced quickly from my core. The Northern city is crumple zone, but has good warning from the Mountain vision. The West (his East) is more exposed, with Kitten Heels in 2-mover range, and here is where the majority of my defenses are focused. Trainers is also a bit of a throw-away, but if it fell he would have access to my core and so a decent defense needs to be maintained.
Well, here goes nothing:
Promoted the Mace CRI here to take the odds from the 70s to the 90s to score the kill.
No promo needed before hitting the Warrior though:
Pretty good raft of infrastructure survives (momentarily), but you can also see from these shots how Cottage-specced his territory is. That plus ORG and relatively few cities has allowed his crazy tech rate.
Well on to turn 107:
He's killed the Western Mace, but didn't have anything in range to hit the Eastern. That hops back on the Carrack and heads South, while the other Carrack takes a look at his remaining Northern port city. Not going to bluff my way into that with one Carrack!
All quiet on the borders:
Still, I'm packing Kitten Heels and trundling the Cats over from their previous spot overlooking the Adrien border.
Taking a look at the Capital:
The viewing Carracks couldn't have reached either city this turn, however I should have placed the one outside Scottish Fold one tile North to bluff the ability to hit his Cap - I was seduced by the opportunity to squat on his Seafood and didn't consider the option.
Anyway, with only 4 units available, hitting the Rifle & Knight is just too low odds to go for - even with a GEng as a potential added victim. I'll continue to lurk here though to force him to maintain a reasonable garrison.
And Balls! Writing this it's just dawned on me that that GEng is going to steal the Taj from me.
After this turn, it'll take me 3 non-Golden Age turns to complete the build. Pickle started his build 2-3 turns before me but I've had 2-3 more Golden Age turns into the build. I reckon he should be in range to rush it this turn, unless he's close to finishing and thinks I'm further away. Hmmm, if it's not fallen by the time the turn gets back to me, I think I might have to HAK it to completion...
I have been undisputed master of the seas since then, although now he's starting to put out a few Ironclads. They can be taken out with an Airship strike and a pair of wooden ships though, so they have been advancing cautiously.