[Spoilers] Breaking Newbs: A Title I Already Regret Writing

[Bobchillingworth]

This turn brought a peace proposal from Cornflakes, which I accepted.


Didn't end up being much of a war; lost and killed a galley, captured a worker, captured a city. Cornflakes should have just accepted my first peace offer, there wasn't any reason for him to lose that worker. Oh well, can't complain.



I'm currently tied with Retep for most cities, although I'm still bringing up the rear in score. Current objective is to whip in some Monasteries and spread the faith a bit, while continuing to maintain a steady expansion rate. Need to claim all the land I can while my Skirms are still a deterrent.



Really a very strange game I'm playing here. Kind of ignoring my excellent trait and focusing on the awful one



In the long-term, I don't think my empire is really defensible. I don't have a core of "safe" cities; every single one of mine is vulnerable to an alpha-strike, either by land or sea. I can't claim to be particularly thrilled with how my borders have turned out.

[Bobchillingworth]

Been dangling a couple workers in sniping range of one of Jowy's WC. I have to improve the tiles they're working on eventually anyway, and it's one of the few ways I can meaningfully signal friendship (or at least non-aggression).



Very brief opponent status analysis:


Jowy: Currently leading the field, has been for some time. A lot of his score is predicated on land points from Creative, but he does have a fairly large empire, good infrastructure and a dangerous military. Reluctance to poach Workers is surely him having finally learned to distance himself from the stabby tactics that have cost him every other game he's been in.


retep: Has once again surpassed me in city count. Obviously taking advantage of half-price Ziggurats to expand all over the map. Borders have recently expanded to be visible to my east, which is obnoxious. I haven't scouted any of his land yet.


REM: Technologically advanced, thanks to landing the Oracle and Great Lighthouse (and getting some cottages down early). His empire seems constrained though, out of land in most directions. He also is behind in city count and has a couple which don't look very attractive from a long-term perspective due to lacking tiles and/or food.


Cornflakes: Not entirely sure what's going on with him. I guess he's kind of checked out; behind in expansion and challenging me for last place in score. His military hasn't improved much since I took one of his cities. I'm not sure he can recover from his current position- I'd reckon that most of retep's city count lead has come at Cornflake's expense.

[Bobchillingworth]

Dammit, Jowy:






This is unacceptable. I could have lived with this city if it was 1N (where I thought he'd found it), or if he wasn't Creative, but this is just too much. That city isn't even self-sustaining unless he intends to steal my food- which he will, since my cities in the area are only getting 1cpt (and only as of this turn for one of them).


So, razed it with the Spear I had guarding some Workers:






I never wanted war with Jowy- and I proposed peace, although I suspect he won't take it- but I just couldn't ignore this level of provocation, especially since he gave me such an opening. Left the Spear, in case allowing Jowy to avenge his city makes him more likely to repropose peace on his turn.


I also attacked one of his scouts with a warrior, who died. Oh well.


Full disclosure- I reloaded this turn twice. I had four Workers (in pairs) working on the border where Jowy could have sniped them, and the stupid things kept using up their movement points trying to cottage tiles if I so much as moved any other unit. I suppose this is a grey area- which is why I'm bringing it up here- but I felt justified in reloading until I could cancel their orders, since it was the game making a stupid mistake without any player input, as opposed to an error that was directly my own fault.

[Bobchillingworth]

Hah, I guess I inspired some lurker thread posts, since nothing else is showing in the event log


No more fireworks though, at least not yet. Jowy killed the Spear and reoffered peace, as I'd hoped.


Whipped a settler, should be able to lock down the north in four turns. If I manage to lose it to Jowy (or REM) in that time, it's my own damn fault for making such a mess of my game.


Seriously considering making a Settler and gifting it to Jowy for compensation, but A: I'm not sure I can really afford it, and B: the last place guy giving the game leader a free Settler doesn't sound Kosher.

[spacetyrantxenu]

When in doubt the best gift to give anyone is a knuckle sandwich.

[Bobchillingworth]

I don't think there will be any shortage of conflict on my end


I've pissed off Cornflakes, Jowy, and last turn settled a city that I'm sure retep will hate. Only person I haven't antagonised is REM, and I'm easily his best Cataphract target. I'm behind in everything save city count and my empire is a completely indefensible tactical nightmare. Can't really see myself lasting through the Medieval era, if I even manage to last that long.

[Bobchillingworth]

Belated Turn 100 Report:






















In conclusion:

[Bobchillingworth]

Jowy declared on REM, took (burned?) a city. REM asked for Iron for his wines and marble, I accepted because eh, why not. I could use the happy and a friend. Not like he really needs my Iron anyway to later build 'Phracts, he has a secure source on an island.


I really have no idea how to deal with normal speed. I've def. been whipping too hard, and I need many more Workers.

[Bobchillingworth]

Hmm, Jowy says his interest in the game is gone, and updates appear to be down across most threads. I'm happy to end this PBEM whenever. I have almost no personal investment.

[Bobchillingworth]

Always a great sign when the game leader decides they're no longer interested in playing


Is he depressed by REM having LB? Does he think I have some sort of alliance with REM because I'm trading him Iron? Who knows.



Reiterating my interest in ending the game. I've clawed my way into 3rd place, which is surely the best I can expect to manage.