[Spoilers] Dreylin's short visit to a late Era

[OT4E]

About reinforcements. As I stated above we can make galleon chaim to deliver some units from the front where we dont need units within next 7-8 turns. Later we will recover them with drafts in Chameleons and Goldfish.

Another source of new units is to build some catapults in the core cities by overflow from libraries/ universities. It seems we need military more than missionaries. Then we can deliver those catapults to Gaspar's land by the same galleons, or we can deliver rifles and temporarily keep catapults as MP untill we can draft again.

I think sending rifle on the island can wait, it seems we need every man who can fight to be close to the frontline.

[Dreylin]

Fortunately, putting that Rifle on the Galleon was also the fastest way to get it to the front, so we haven't lost anything by diverting. Agree that we probably need our warm bodies at the front; if we can't spare a unit for MP for an island city, we can still get 2 Happy from settling our Ivory instead of the Silver - although we do get that from Tiger Woods once it's out of revolt.

Useful that you got to see the turn roll, and a bit surprising that neither visible city produced a unit. I guess our strategy of keeping the full force hidden has really paid off. It's possible that he runs one or both units away to Lance - particularly since I couldn't get Workers under the Cavs last turn so they can't chase Sorry about that.

I'm coming around to taking Brady this turn, although it's quite unfortunate that we can't see what pindicator has in his city until after we take it - and we'd have to push a unit past it to see. I tend to think that unless we get an exceptional haul of infrastructure, we raze it ourselves and think about replacing later. He will see what we leave as garrison, so either we have to give it some strength - which we probably can't afford - or we leave it light and invite a war declaration that we couldn't guarantee would stop at just that city. He is Boudica with Cossacks.

Also worth noting that BGN scooped up his Gren with the Galleon and has started to pull the SotL out of the lake. Either he's satisfied that he's not the target or he's preparing to bring it back with friends. We should have his graphs in a couple of turns so will see how his Tall strategy is comparing to our Wide.

[OT4E]

He must retreat everything from TW. I knew he couldnt produce anything without whips, except in LA, probably it is big enough to make 1 unit per turn. Surprising that it is just 20% yet. I think he will expand its borders this turn, but may be we get lucky with that also.

About pindicator. Do not treat him as agg/Russia for a second and imagine what could he have. I think he is the guy with something like 3 fronts and 3 rifle each, with the average power of 350k. He probably has many other business. And suddenly he sees that Tom Braddy has fallen and there is just 1 wounded cav in it. What will he do? He can attack it and instantly raze, yeah, but his own front city is not close to his core and he risks that all 650k power moves towards his direction immediately. We will pull wounded cavalry back and leave it empty, but he cant be sure that we have no units in a range of it and we are not trying to pull him out of his culture.

Well, I am not convinced to anything yet. Razing that city is a nice option anyway. The only concern is that we cant replant it soon, so it will only delay setting up our own borders in that region.

But it all depends on the personalities and psychology more than on strategical aspects. So do what you feel is better.

[OT4E]

Gaspar played with just 2 double-whips, in Tigerwood and one of his core cities. Good news that he didnt switch to nationhood. He also decided to stay in the city, that's also good for us.


He didnt slave Tom Brady. I got one more idea about it. May be we show pindicator Frigate and empty galleons or even bring our privateers (btw what are they still doing in that sea?). This may show that we have serious intentions and he'd better not tease us.


BGN captured barb city and here are another easy treasure hunters:

[Dreylin]

Privateers were mostly keeping an eye out for Scooter; I think we want them there for the end of the Galleon chain to bring reinforcements. Plus staying in borders saves us money. Sending the Frigate round to take a look at pindicator is a good idea; not sure we don't need the Galleons all heading West though.

I expect he whipped the ex-Barb city - which I think must be where the Rifle came from. I zoomed all his known cities a couple of turns ago and didn't spot a single Barracks - worth another check soon.

I bet scooter was just planning to raze that city, but might now be willing to keep it. Or maybe the other way around. Will be interesting to see. I also note that Gaspar deleted that worker.

So we hit Tigers and then if that goes well also hit Brady.

[OT4E]

I expect he whipped the ex-Barb city - which I think must be where the Rifle came from. I zoomed all his known cities a couple of turns ago and didn't spot a single Barracks - worth another check soon.

No, barb city was without any buildings so I doubt anything can come out of it. Promoted Rifle was the one which captured it.
No barracks he has and it is our advantage. Also nice that we can bombard even 40% culture city in just 1 turn if we promote catapult on accuracy.

Sending the Frigate round to take a look at pindicator is a good idea; not sure we don't need the Galleons all heading West though.

May be 1 galleon we can spare to make him think twice before leaving his city empty.

I bet scooter was just planning to raze that city, but might now be willing to keep it. Or maybe the other way around. Will be interesting to see.

Ho-ho, I wouldnt be so optimistic.
Btw scooter's power is same as Gaspar. Gaspar must have 6 rifles + 1 gren now, so it seems scooter has literally brought half of his army there.

So we hit Tigers and then if that goes well also hit Brady.

Yes, good luck with odds!
And do not hurry moving Great spy before taking TW.

++I think we can take dutch-barbarian city with Cavalry next turn also.

Privateers were mostly keeping an eye out for Scooter; I think we want them there for the end of the Galleon chain to bring reinforcements. Plus staying in borders saves us money.

There is no chance that scooter will make fleet in his front city with India just to send it in our direction. Everybody cares about each hammer, so do not see a gun in every stick.

[Dreylin]

Oh good point about the Rifle, that makes sense. I'll make sure to leave something in position to grab that city even if Lance's borders pop.

I had already thought about the GSpy move, but worth reminding nonetheless, thanks.

Have the kids for the rest of the afternoon so won't be able to get in until my usual slot. Will make sure to take lots of screenshots!

[OT4E]

Have the kids for the rest of the afternoon so won't be able to get in until my usual slot. Will make sure to take lots of screenshots!

Ok, I am going to sleep anyway. May be I will take a look in the morning, but screenshots will be nice!

Btw I put some signs how to bring units from Chameleons. The basic schema uses just 2 galleons and allows us to deliver 3 units to the horses near Tigers in just 3 turns. Not game-breaking but still something.

PS: It seems that DZ is waiting for REM to end turn, yea?

[Dreylin]

t289 -

C1 Pinch Cav vs Rifle: 28/22 - Loss (redlined)
C1 Pinch Cav vs Gren: 89/3 - Win (1hit) 7/10xp

Promoted the injured C1 Charge Cav with Pinch for >99% odds.


102g added to our thin bank account.

Sending Fawkes South showed Pete Rose empty and here's the stack:


None of which have any Fortify bonus, so they must have been caught in between the two cities. For want of a road SE of Tigers?

And taking a look at the situation in the North:


So pindicator's city is on flatland - it can't have popped 3rd ring already? Scooter has another Settler on hand as well.

On to Brady:

C1 Pinch Cav vs Rifle: 26/22 - Win! 9/10xp
C1 Pinch Cav vs Rifle: 32/20 - Withdraw (Rifle 6/14)
0xp Cav vs Rifle: 92/2 - Win 2/2xp


Everything except a Granary is a good haul, so I've kept it.

Overview shots of the front:


I grabbed the lone Worker; added a second Worker so they can road and the Cavalry can meet the 1-move stack next turn. I also have the Galleon heading here so we can show it to pindicator if we want to.

1-movers are on the tile as planned with 4Workers and a lone Cav:


2Cav lined up against Pete Rose just incase it produces a unit. If not, the second can also make join up with the 1-movers.

And the target:


I wasn't certain whether we were aiming for the Hill or the Forest, but the Hill seems the better option. I guess if the borders pop we go to the forest hill and wade an extra turn.

I confess I didn't entirely understand the details of the Galleon chain, but the other 3 are all heading back West. I whipped a couple of the Libraries and the Catapult in Donkeys.

[OT4E]

So just 1 cav lost? This is good turn indeed! How far are we from GG?

Pindicator's city is 100% on flat. I pointed mark where I would plant city without knowing where is it exactly. Can you imagin what a sight of his city could we get with a single privateer?

450 gold is 2/3 of settler, but we still want 2 settlers, right? One we whip in chickens, on we buy somewhere. May be lets still try to make a settler from 5-whip in GP?
1) for our northern front against scooter. He doesnt hesitate to grab extra land, as you can see.
2) for Gaspar's front against pindicator or a filler city near his pigs if Camels stand for the next 5 turns.
3) I think that we need to keep extra settler in Gaspar's land just to be ready to plant anywhere we need urgently. If we dont find it use, we send it to one of the islands.

None of which have any Fortify bonus, so they must have been caught in between the two cities.

4 rifles without fortify mean that he abandoned George w. Bush and brought them there.

I confess I didn't entirely understand the details of the Galleon chain, but the other 3 are all heading back West. I whipped a couple of the Libraries and the Catapult in Donkeys.

Just send 1 galleon to the "gather point". 2nd one can stay around the fort. With the 3rd one we pick up some cata and/or rifles from the core.

I wasn't certain whether we were aiming for the Hill or the Forest, but the Hill seems the better option. I guess if the borders pop we go to the forest hill and wade an extra turn.

We are aiming for the FOREST. We must be ready to cut roads to Richard Nixon while bombarding. I will try to paint some details in the evening.