[spoilers] Commodore: Worse than Toku, it's Giggles of Siam!

[Commodore]

Okay, let's ignore the fact that I missed a chance earlier, and just smile, wave, and Conquer Island #5. Good loot is good; intact lighthouse is better. Now once we deal with the sore that is Interpol, we'll own some dyes.


I set up for Number 6 as well, almost halfway there to the Blessed Sea. Slowcheetah watches; nothing much for that but to keep calm and get some muskets.


I'm getting two more from Azzaroth, and then three more from the Pacific, so that's still two more islands needed. South of Isle de la Bella Vista we have an ice-fishing spot, but we need one more. And look! Here's an iceball fishery that can actually work some hammers.


Printing Press came in on time, boosting towns and villages. My capital likes that a lot, a lovely +9 base commerce. Now we just need to get an Oxford in there...


It's coming along at least. The laggardly university is going to be Western Heights', natch. Still, in for a penny, in for a pound...it's purely worth it to whip it in in seven turns if that nets me Oxford 3t early. And yes, we are sadly still rather hamlet-fixated here. Normal speed is slooow.


Moving along, here's the lovely Coldspring Way, home to three more villages very soon and after that rather uninspiring. Still, Library+University alone make coastal tiles Financial-yield while researching, so I'll cram in a baray/harbor and market/theater before too long and get it up to a natural size 23 or so.


Also, when interested, I can now grab Theocracy for a song; might be handy in a pinch.

Turn: 192
Status:

The next turn was a disappointment. I came upon 12 Foot Ninja with most (all?) the remaining Roman navy in harbor, so I tried to kill it. The first two mammoths died bringing the mace and crossbow there way down, then the brave Teleh Welleh Patrol killed the crossbows with flying colors. Then, heartbreakingly, Kalin's Expedition, CR3, died despite 88% odds.


So here's the deal. That's a C2 trireme out of the docks. I might lose my covering C1 galleon to a swarm, but I suspect it can take down enough that the invaluable 6-move fleet being screened can still live. .1/3 hp!


To pick myself up near Bella Vista I killed a barbarian galley. It died with little fuss and bare muss, just yielding enough XP for a combat promotion on the East Wind Fleet.

Turn: 193
Status:

[Sisu]

Hu Mahn's mercenaries? Have we been watching the Ferengi?

[Commodore]

Hu Mahn's mercenaries? Have we been watching the Ferengi?

Clearly, it's a cry for help; need more lurkers to comment! Ci Tsu's Battalion covers you, by the way, as well as Sisu's Company of archers.

[WilliamLP]

How's my Ballistaphant doing?

[Thoth]

There's no point in bitching about the lack hamlets in Western Heights.....*told you so*.

Still, it'll be along soon enough.


After GP.....Chemistry for some Frigate action is looking sexy with the Zulus closing in on Astro.

[Commodore]

After GP.....Chemistry for some Frigate action is looking sexy with the Zulus closing in on Astro.

Yeah, I see two options, really:
-Chemistry for the aforementioned frigates, and opening up Military Science (grens and SoL), Steam Power (coal, levees), and Steel (cannon!)
-Banking for banks, then Replaceable Parts (~60 hammers per turn, scot free, from mines!), then Rifling.

I'll be saving gold until Oxford comes online, so there is time on that decision.

[Sisu]

You're no longer interested in pursuing Democracy as a short-term goal?

Also, I'm flattered at all my units (let me know if they see action!), but Ci Tsu makes me think of small fluffy dogs <.<

[Cornflakes]

It's coming along at least. The laggardly university is going to be Western Heights', natch. Still, in for a penny, in for a pound...it's purely worth it to whip it in in seven turns if that nets me Oxford 3t early.

Would it be worth working your plains WS for extra hammers so you can whip that University sooner? Or is it that the other universities are due in 7 turns so you're waiting until then to whip?

[MindyMcCready]

Not seeing a lot of action from Mindy's Company,....

[Commodore]

Would it be worth working your plains WS for extra hammers so you can whip that University sooner? Or is it that the other universities are due in 7 turns so you're waiting until then to whip?

The universities in Verdant Acres and Hawks' Ridge are both six turns now, so that's our goal time. By the way; the one I had just assumed would need whipping, Morning Glens...it's a beast, it'll be finishing the university in five turns. This city is a beast, need to share out the rice ASAP.


Mindy's Company and Willie's Wellehs are in Stoney Knob, as are William's Mercenaries. Maybe I'll whelp another Min Di's Macreadians shortly. Remember: Fun as this little Azza war is, the vast bulk of my forces are still guarding the Eastern Way.


...but it sure is fun. I needn't have worried; Old Dai Vhei's Flotilla shrugged off the entire Roman fleet without breaking a sweat. That's 4 more points to the great general; I might not even get a GG out of this war.


The first introduction of knights into the war for Western Rome went fizzle: Died at 63% odds.


Still, enough bodies solves the problem. Welcome to the fold, Via Paradiso.


...and with that, all of the Roman cities I like the dotmap of are gone. The capital of Interpol is foodless, darned marginal, but worth keeping I suppose. Voyager is annoying, but likewise, two cities and done is fine here. Voyager is a pretty great city, and the ivory/banana city to its south will be wonderful as well.


Here's the Pacific; let's take her!

Turn:194
Status: