[SPOILERS] Why is a raven like a writing-desk?

[Ellimist]

Based on the messages we've exchanged, I don't think I can avoid antagonizing Dantski now that I've refused his ultimatum. He's demanded his worker back, and that's something I'm just not willing to do.

I assume that one of us will attack the other at the next decent opportunity.

[Qgqqqqq]

What's happening?

[Ellimist]

Nothing much. I have a size five city and three workers and have started on my first settler. Defense consists of a (fresh) warrior and promoted lizard, with another warrior half finished. My traits have also shifted once, giving me FIN/PHI/RAI. I would have preferred to have kept CRE a bit longer, but these three are great too.

My first city will be 3 spaces away from my capital and fully roaded, so I can settle it as quickly as possible. I'll finish the warrior at the capital next while growing into unhappiness at size 6(wines should be hooked up shortly afterward.) After the warrior, I'll make another settler for the eastern site.

[Qgqqqqq]

Dantski doing anything? Is the eastern city going in the same spot?

[Ellimist]

Time for an update...

The next turn will be 75, and I'm up to six cities. Dantski has three and Greywolf has two. I'm leading pretty strongly in the demographics:




The GNP number is misleading, since my cities are producing 32 culture per turn. My current breakeven rate is 30% science which yields 24 beakers per turn. That will improve a little bit when I finish Loki next turn, and a bit more when my newest city starts working gems soon after. My traits are pretty weak at the moment, AGG/CRE/EXP, so the plan is just to crawl toward Code of Laws and then let Aristocracy take care of the rest.

Some overview shots:

The overall plan is to kill everyone, of course, but I'm waiting to actually go for it due to the map not having any copper at all. If I can get Horsemen or something while Dantski and Greywolf are still defending with strength 3 warriors, they'll go down pretty easy. I haven't decided yet when to use Revelry, but it'll probably be after I get either Code of Laws or a relevant military tech.

[Bobchillingworth]

the map not having any copper at all

Wait, seriously? Goddammit, now I feel even more like a moron for having gotten myself eliminated... 5-attack recon would have been awesome if nobody could build bronze warriors.


I'm a little surprised you think your traits are "weak". They're pretty close to what I would consider ideal for expansion, which presumably is your main priority at this stage of the game.


Why is a raven like a writing desk, by the way? They both hold conspiracies?

[Qgqqqqq]

So code of laws is what? 8-10 turns away?

Have you checked the islands for copper? If it's not available then maybe something like Poisons would be good to go for (so as to use upgraded freaks), or even a religious route. I'm tentatively against horsemen simply because you'd need a big mass of them to make much progress, and they don't have enough strength to overcome even mass warriors stuck in cities (+25% defence, and there will be some with decent promotions from barb-crushing), which makes me think more about REXing as much as possible and coming back with tier 3 units.

[pocketbeetle]

Why is a raven like a writing desk, by the way? They both hold conspiracies?

Because the notes for which they are noted are not noted for being musical notes. - Sam Loyd, 1914

[Ellimist]

Answering these from my phone, images will have to come later:

the map not having any copper at all

Wait, seriously? Goddammit, now I feel even more like a moron for having gotten myself eliminated... 5-attack recon would have been awesome if nobody could build bronze warriors.

Have you checked the islands for copper?

It is possible that some copper does exist on the main continent, and I haven't checked any islands for it yet, but I have explored a decent amount of land and haven't found any yet. My opponents don't have very many cities right now, so if there is copper that I just haven't seen yet, I doubt they will find any before I do.

If it's not available then maybe something like Poisons would be good to go for (so as to use upgraded freaks), or even a religious route. I'm tentatively against horsemen simply because you'd need a big mass of them to make much progress, and they don't have enough strength to overcome even mass warriors stuck in cities (+25% defence, and there will be some with decent promotions from barb-crushing), which makes me think more about REXing as much as possible and coming back with tier 3 units.

Yeah I haven't decided on using any particular unit yet. I'm tempted to go for something more advanced, or arcane or something, but I think something that I can reach earlier is probably going to be ideal for a quick win. There's no reason to give my opponents extra time if I can just kill them.

So code of laws is what? 8-10 turns away?

Something like that. I got the engineer event which set me back by about 4 turns worth of gold, but I'm compensating by delaying Loki to produce some failgold.

I'm a little surprised you think your traits are "weak". They're pretty close to what I would consider ideal for expansion, which presumably is your main priority at this stage of the game.

Prior to AGG/CRE/EXP, I had FIN/PHI/RAI.

AGG: I built as many commando warriors as I could afford to, so I haven't been building many C1 warriors since then.

CRE: I have a 50+ exp Lizard that can capture animals, and tons of bears available to provide plenty of culture to my cities. I don't have Festivals yet, but I'll probably build a few half price Carnivals soon if I keep CRE. Other than that, it's not helping me much at all.

EXP: I have been building lots of settlers, but I can't really afford additional cities right now. (Maybe if I were still FIN?) Most of my cities have more food surplus than hammers as well, and EXP only affects hammers. I have built a half price granary in several cities, though.

Why is a raven like a writing desk, by the way? They both hold conspiracies?

Lots of people have come up with possible answers, but it's the famous "riddle with no answer" from Alice in Wonderland. The Balseraphs would probably be pretty comfortable with the situations Alice encounters in that book.

Hey pocketbeetle

[Bobchillingworth]

Hey PB, when will you grace us with your presence in another PBEM? My Moderator Floating Eyes tell me that you're often hanging around these parts