The Kuriotates: A Tale of Centaurs, Hubris, and Unbridled Enthusiasm

[HidingKneel]

Altar... well, it could be fun to try. And note that I was wrong with what I said earlier: in EitB, it looks like Divine Essence is the tech we need for the final layer, so we're all set on that front. Swap to philosophical on turn 146, build the national epic somewhere, set all three cities working priests... it's not completely crazy.

But we'd need a strong defense anyway, and a strong defense is also a strong offense. I say, we go for conquest/domination. And for that, what we need is a large army of strong tier 3 units. The Kurio contribution to that should be chargers and rathas, which we have the tech for already. Mithril working will enhance that, and hopefully increase our production, so I say mithril working next.

I still like the idea of building the RotNK, though. What do you think about trying to take (and hold!) Cauldron Lake again, once we've got our new angel toys? Nightmares will let us build the wonder quick, and then we can set Avelorn to 1-turning strength 12 rathas with three promotions for the rest of the game.

[Commodore]

I love the notion. If we can take and hold the sucker, I say let's do it. But that's kind of a big if.

Hum. Would EitB Paramanders help a bit with that project?

[HidingKneel]

I love the notion. If we can take and hold the sucker, I say let's do it. But that's kind of a big if.

Hum. Would EitB Paramanders help a bit with that project?

Could be.

I converted to Kilmorph this turn. Not because I necessarily want to build Kilmorph stuff, but because centaur lancers obsolete rathas anyway. It'll take us a couple of turns to get our lancers built, and then we can convert back and build more rathas.

The other reason was that I wanted to build a SoK in Avelorn this turn, to get the RotNK construction started on the right foot. That's actually not such a bad deal, hammerwise, due to the +100% military construction we get from the heroic epic. Mardoc's objection is noted, but I think I'm going to go ahead with it: it looks like Ilios and Plako are giving us time. With the impact of blight, it looks like RotNK will take seven turns, unless we can grab some Nightmares to speed things along.

Speaking of which... Ilios moved some tigers into Cauldron Lake. But it's defended by just about nothing right now. I say: pick a Valkyrie that needs some experience, give her the Gela, and send her to Bob. We can probably spare one Valkyrie away from the front for a bit. Maybe that'll inspire Bob to move more forces to the city, or Ilios to come back. But at least then we'll know where Ilios's stack is. (If it does look like Cauldron Lake might fall, an acolyte to bring the city out of disorder might not go amiss.)

But in a way it would be a shame to take Cauldron Lake away from Bob: it's a lovely source of xp for Eurabatres:



Killed another axeman this turn, earning 5xp this time and another promotion.
At this rate, I'm only 4 turns away from that March promotion.

[Mardoc]

If we're going back to Kilmorph, it's probably worth building some Stonewardens to turn into Mercurian temples.

Also I'll point out that Eurabatres can farm XP with much less risk now that he's got a few promos under his belt.

[HidingKneel]

If we're going back to Kilmorph, it's probably worth building some Stonewardens to turn into Mercurian temples.

Is that worth it, though? Despite my inability to ignore the wonder-building itch, I agree that what we need right now is a centaur horde. Stonewarden is 80 hammers for a building whose main benefit is 2gp per turn (3gp per turn in the capital, I guess). I think we'd be better off with a charger (or, at the moment, half a lancer, or half of Herne).

Also I'll point out that Eurabatres can farm XP with much less risk now that he's got a few promos under his belt.

True... but the risky farming is more lucrative. I'm worried that with a few promos, he'll only be able to grab 1xp per combat.

So, Commodore's next turn he'll be able to upgrade a bunch of repentant angels. I think that right now, those should play defense against Plako,
since they won't lose any strength fighting earth elementals (they're also our fastest units, so have the best chance to retaliate against Plako).
So let's put those in Junil's. But what do you think of taking our Valkyries and Ophanim (and maybe a few other Mercurian units that need xp) and trying to invade Cauldron Lake? Minimal risk, since Valkyries can't die and Ophanim can flee quickly if Plako or Ilios shows up again. I started some Kuriotate workers building a road connection there again, this time from the south. I also built an ecclesiastic in Naggarond, which could bring the city out of revolt if we take it.

[Commodore]

Um boss...



Advice?

[HidingKneel]

Just one more turn, and we would have been so much better prepared...

Won't have a chance to look at the save until tonight, but the screenshot looks bad. I guess... bring almost everything you've got to Avelorn, and prepare to make a stand there? Promote what you can, and swipe at Plako's mages if he's left us a chance (I assume he hasn't?)

[NobleHelium]

I don't know why you guys are so concerned really. I mean just look at the angels in your stack in that screenshot.

[HidingKneel]

I don't know why you guys are so concerned really. I mean just look at the angels in your stack in that screenshot.

[HidingKneel]

Alright, played the turn.

We're in a mess. Plako has engineering now, and access to Thoth's road network. So he can hit us from pretty much anywhere (well, he'll have to get closer if he wants to hit a supercity). We lost three workers, a Mercurian paladin, and a bunch of angels.

Also, it seems that repentant angel upgrades are costly. Commodore bought us four Ophanim this turn, but if we want the heavy-hitters, we'll need to shut down science for a while. I think we should do that.

As for the Kuriotates, I figured this was no time to be building wonders. Finished Herne in one turn in Avelorn. Upgraded two rathas to centaur lancers, built a lancer in Kwythellar, and I'll upgrade our best charger (the one carrying the Grimoire) next turn. Running 100% gold for the forseeable future. First few turns the gold will go to the Mercurians; after that, I'll use it to upgrade centaurs to chargers.

I don't think there's much we can do at this point. We have to go on the offensive against Plako. Question is how, and where. Worth waiting for the repentant angel upgrades? Do we declare on Thoth and charge towards his mage stack? Or maybe we just charge in a random direction and start razing those cities that didn't have real garrisons earlier? Maybe just declare on Thoth, tear up his roads, and retreat? None of those plans sounds great, but sitting still sounds even worse.