[SPOILERS] Margarita and the Lurkers

[B4ndit]

I think it's time for me to attack DT. I have agreed that with GG, my NAP with DT is over for 2 turns so I'm clear to raze and replant two DT's cities. Although I'm not sure about exact timing. Maybe I will make this attack after incoming GG vs DT battle in one or two turn.

Overview (with listed DT's units in his Capital):

The Battle of Manchester

Aston Vila expedition forces:

My plan is to move those two macemans on the hill SE from Aston Villa and raze the city. At the same time I will try to raze Everton with charriot. The main threat of this plan are DT's Horse Archers. I should be able to raze Aston Villa whatever happens, but Everton might be a little bit more tricky if DT chooses to defend against me. That's why I think I will wait until The Battle of Manchester will be over. I will have two settlers ready in next turn and one more Longbowman is on the route to the south.

Another thing. Best for me would be AFTER DT's move? What are the rules for simultaneous turns in such war with three players? With DT vs GG conflict, GG has first half of the turn and DT has the second half. How will that change if I attack DT? I'm still supplying some resources to DT, but I haven't responded to his emails for some time. Our NAP expired one turn ago.

btw, I have successfully stolen paper from Bisons. Next will be Education (in 3 turns). Next turn I will have Gunpowder and I will produce some Janissaries, but not many, because we are planning with Bisons to have Riflemans in ~23 turns.

[B4ndit]

This turn I have stolen Education and declared war on DT.

Aston Ville should be razed next turn. GG will take care of Everton.

I had another diplomatic clash with classical_hero. He was trying to settle on spices (or 1N from spices), east from Everton, north from Tarnów. Fortunately I have made him the following offer:

Hey,

If you are interested, we can sign a 20T NAP. You have plenty of room to expand south west (GG probably won't be thinking about settling more cities) and I'm not particularly interested in conflict with you. I would just ask for one favor from you. It will be very nice sign of your good will if your settler (check attachment) heading north from Uruk turn around. As I have mentioned before you have plenty of room south west from you.

As an additional bonus I can pay you 50 gold for this favor.

Thanks, B4ndit

He ignored my request, but after this message:

GG doesn't posses any threat to me. His very few remaining praetorians (8 units? 12 units?) doesn't stand a chance against my current maces (12 strength against prets) and janissaries (11.25 strength against any pre-gunpowder units). Especially if we compare our production capabilities, my very good geopolitical situation and his general technological backwardness.

Nevertheless I have checked and your settler has moved 2 tiles NORTH (from his position at the screenshot). That is something that worries me and if you settle new city between Uruk and Tarnow, that will force me to cancel my NAP offer. If you make me this favor and settle somewhere south west instead, my offer from previous email lays on the table - I will be happy to confirm NAP with you until t172 inclusive. Please deeply consider this offer. Your acceptance will allow me to focus on other goals and hopefully (if everything will go as planned for me) to sign longer NAP between us.

Thanks, B4ndit

His settler turned around

[Catwalk]

Looks good. You're establishing a southern presence at a manageable pace while getting ready to take your janissaries for a spin later. Are you planning on conquering CH after the NAP expires? If so, you'll need to start thinking about how to handle his eventual requests for a NAP extension.

[B4ndit]

At the moment we are thinking with Yuufo about conquering GG while reaching Rifles. Next week I will discuss this with Bisons. Maybe it would be better to conquer classical hero before suttree do this.

Aston Ville has been razed and I will plant new city (costal) in 2 turns. I have also stolen 2 workers, which is great because I was considering to build them.

[Catwalk]

Given your long NAP with suttree, cutting off his expansion into CH territory could be beneficial. It looks like you'd be able to cut into him easily with Janissaries, how far away are they and what does CH have to fight with? Also, a demo shot would be good.

[B4ndit]

This evening I will post some screenshots. Unfortunately we (me and Bisons) can not convince DMOC to drop his plans about invading Bisons. We are trying to persuade him to drop his intentions:

First of all, as you have pointed out earlier, suttree should be our main concern. Conflict between you and Bisons (2nd vs 3rd/4th player) would be definitely in suttree's favor. Especially if you both would bleed out.

Secondly, Bisons is currently 1st in power rating and he is well prepared for this conflict. I can not imagine your fast victory.

Thirdly, I will be obligated to support Bisons in his conflict by supplying him with any units possible. My very survival (because of my eastern neighbor) depends on my cooperation with Bisons.

We have t156, NAP between Bisons and DMOC expires at t160. If we will not be able to talk DMOC out of this conflict I will defend Bisons. Before sorting out this situation I can not make any middle term plans

[Catwalk]

I agree with trying to talk him out of invading Bisons. What turn is it now? Make sure to downplay any threats and keep stressing the point about preventing suttree from winning. Point out that you're trying to cut off suttree from expanding into CH's territory, and that suttree will be able to walk all over CH and become unstoppable. What is your NAP status with other players? What are DMOC's relations with GG like?

[Catwalk]

And wait, isn't DMOC retiring his civ to another player shortly? Any idea when that is, and whether you can use that to your advantage?

[B4ndit]

Yes I have this in mind. If DT will take over DMOC we could use it because in our advantage, but I don't know if that will indeed happen (DT maybe will take over Arki).

Current turn is 158. Overview:

First of latest city (my furthest south city). Previously I didn't notice that this will not be coastal city! This huge water mass is fresh lake After settling this city my gpt decreased from around -10 to -25, while increasing EP output by 2 points. So this city will is costing me a lot. Hopefully it will grow fast and I will get courthouse there soon. Another savior would be forbidden palace, which is scheduled to be built after courthouse in Tarnow (should be ready between t170-t178)

To sum up south region. I have NAP until t172 with classical_hero and full city visibility of both CH and GG. At the moment they don't posses any threat to me, but CH is stacking his ancient forces (mainly Vultures) south from Tarnow/Jelenia Gora. Certainly I must pay attention at them and send some reasonable forces after sorting out situation DMOC vs Bisons.

Demography (both suttree and Bisons are during Golden Age):

With EP focus and roughly break even GPT



With Science focus and roughly break even GPT

Lower GNP on EP is because of libraries bonus. So compared to other nations we are 4th at the moment (probably after suttree, bisons and DMOC). Couple of turns ago I had surplus gold at 50% slider but since then I have settled 3 new cities (2 south on post DT territory and one filler north east) which have lowered my GNP I have two more settlers in queue, but now I have doubts whether to settle them now or wait until my economy will improve a bit (forbidden palace). At least I wouldn't like to settle new cities south before forbidden palace.

Charts

Definitely my brightest spot is crop yield. Quite good production and fair amount of space to settle (4-6 more cities) + long term pace with strongest neighbors + very week southern neighbors allows my for moderate optimism.

I have two questions. What should I do with great persons? I have great spy which I was planning for +3000EP against Bisons, but I'm holding it out for now because:
- if Bisons will loose a war with DMOC those EP points will be valueless
- my EP/turn is quite good for now and at the moment I have more EP points then I had before I have started stealing techs from him (but that can change, because printing press, liberalism are very expensive ~1000EP)

Next GP I will have in ~10 turns, it will be probably great merchant (60-70%) or great prophet (30-40%).

I think I will use one of them for GA, but what to do with the other? I could plant spy academy in one of mine cities. At the moment in the capitol after 40 turns it would give me more EP then +3000EP from single action.

Second question. Which civic should I set? Free speech vs bureaucracy? Mercantilism would increase tech stealing cost by 20% (trade routes) so I would prefer Free market, but Economic tech is quite far away (20-30 turns?)...

[Catwalk]

That's a very nice growth curve. You've played this well, it's unfortunate that suttree and Oxy were in a runaway position by the time you took over a somewhat mismanaged economy. Crop yield is the most important stat, it tells you how much growth potential you have. Keep filling all half-decent spots as fast as you can, it's well worth it.

What's the diplomatic situation? Both you with other players and other players with each other. Is DMOC still quitting and leaving his civ to Raptor? What is the risk of Bisons being invaded? Do you have a long-term game plan for your research, in case Bisons gets invaded?

I'm a fan of trade missions with great merchants, they give huge returns later in the game. However, are you under obligation to give some of that gold to Bisons? I'm not sure exactly how your deal works out. I'm afraid I can't help you much with the espionage economy, I have no experience with it.

Lastly, when do you plan on invading CH? You have a safe front with suttree (for how long?), so chances are very good this can be a profitable venture. The big risk with late game offenses is that it opens you to attacks by other players. Make sure to stay on good terms with GG and you will be 100% free to commit your entire military on CH, he will fold like a house of cards with how backwards his research and economy is. You will gain a large number of developed cities and a lot of easy XP for your military.