RBP3 Lurker Discussion Thread - No Players!

[novice]

So, for some reason nobody likes France. They were lucky enough to be invited into the CAN / Hydra alliance even though they only had one contact (HRE, whom they even threatened upon their initial encounter) and no clue about the geopolitical situation. However, they haven't really gotten up to speed with the CAN developments and are still lacking contacts, as they themselves complain about:

I don't know what is planned with the allies yet, but we should make it clear to them that waiting any further to tech pottery/writing is actually a big drawback for us... no point making an alliance which slows u imo. Spamming warriors is nice and all but u get my point

In fact, France are so clueless about their own alliance that they haven't even realized that the tech trading has begun:

What's up with the huge score variety? Have some teams been defeating others, etc.?

This lack of coordination and the initial dislike of France has led the CAN to dump France from the alliance and invite Babylong and Mali instead. Instead the poor French will be dogpiled by Egypt, HRE and England.

The change was initially suggested by Portugal:

Hi guys,

We would like to discuss the possibility of having France replaced with Babylon. This might come across as a little backstabby, but then the way I see it is you have to be friends before you can backstab and we've had a grand total of 34 words from France. Yes I'm keeping count and ranking your friendliness by your word count . They also continued to ignore our directions to meet Ottomans even though they didn't have pottery so they can't be getting much in the way of commerce (says the 4 city broke civ ). I know we can't be alone in not wanting France in the CAN as they were originally vetoed. I think Babylon are especially keen not be left struggling in the CANTs and they could be one of the few Alphabet researchers left out there. Babylon could possibly make a strike against France with our permisssion and our pledge not to come to French aid or we could just leave France out of the next round fairly peacefully. A downside is that France were in a better location strategically and this would put Babylon between Mali and Byzantium, but they do have a fairly powerful defensive UU (although it isn't much use against skirmishers or the ubiquitous HA). They already have the important financial techs so it doesn't need to be obvious that they have joined with us until the next round of trading although it could be obvious sooner depending on what ETA they gave others for Alphabet.

As the Ottomans have finally chased down the French warrior this turn for contact could they cancel their pottery gift until we discuss this unless they think this idea is too Machiavellian and far fetched. We feel that the French were signed on a little too hastily before getting to know them and their style of play, but we are happy to have our minds changed if other people have had better relations with them and can see a way that the French could develop into a powerful, trustworthy ally.

Mukha
CBE

The shakeup was quickly agreed upon by Portugal, HRE, Egypt, England and Ottomans. Carthage's approval is pending according to their own spoiler thread, but the other teams act as if it is decided. Nobody cares what Aztecs and India, the two remaining CAN members, think. They are plagued by war and not teching, so they'll have no choice but to stick with what the techers decide.

[novice]

So, Portugal are planning on chariot rushing Rome. Rome just discovered Iron Working and have a settler en route to iron. They currently have copper but lack hunting for spears, which they will receive through trade when Exploit discovers Alphabet on T72 (unless India manage to postpone that).

Portugal's battle plan:



Rome's battle plan, Iron city to be founded on turn 71:



Looks like it's going to be tight.

Also, Mukha of Portugal denied in a chat with Sandover of Rome that their recent whips was preparation for an attack on Rome, and hinted that they were for a Sumerian campaign.

Yes, I'm a stone cold liar. I really have no qualms about telling them we have no current or future plans. Lost count of how many times I've asked about NAPs, hell I even asked about one there and he ignored it. Here's a hint: there's no such thing as a unilateral NAP. That's not a pact, that's a tryst to be somebody's bitch.

Danstki [of Portugal] will probably be pretty angry about this.

Rome are not quite convinced though.

I read through the chat with Portugal, I'm still confused as to why they wouldn't be sending those units at us. Something is off but I'm not sure what. I guess it doesn't really matter because we will have Spraets available to us very soon.

[BobRoberts]

Novice.

Thanks very much for the updates here, I've been trying to pick through this thing and there's enough going on that I really havn't been able to do so and keep up with all the changes.

Your updates are much appreciated!

[MWIN]

It looks like Rome can get (whip) a Preat on turn 73. The question is will it be enough to stop 7 chariots?

[novice]

It looks like Rome can get (whip) a Preat on turn 73. The question is will it be enough to stop 7 chariots?

If Portugal's battle plan is correct they will attack Rome's capital on turn 73, so even if Rome whips a preatorian that turn the city will die before it completes.

If the road on the iron completes on t72 Rome could whip a preatorian that turn - but if Portugal declares war at the end of t72 Rome probably won't have the time to react.

@BobRoberts: You're very welcome.

EDIT: Rome could also upgrade a warrior on t73 but it looks like they won't have enough gold - making 15gpt on t68. How much is a warrior->praet upgrade? 90 gold? More?

EDIT2: They will receive hunting on t72 though and may have enough gold on t73 for a warrior->spear upgrade.

[Sullla]

Post of the day, from scooter of Rome on Exploit's lack of military preparedness:

Yeah I'm a little confused about that as well... How hard was it to prepare for this? It's not like India has been all military from the start - they started with a wonder, and then plopped down 3 cities asap. They were so weak militarily that they got a city razed by a single chariot. Was it that hard to prepare for a possible attack from a civ that completely neglected military? I mean it's one thing if it's a military powerhouse who cranks out 10 chariots, but he was wiped out by 3 chariots it sounds like from what you've said. So he pretty much KNEW they were coming for him (given his emails telling everyone to help him), and he couldn't prepare for 3 chariots?

That's... pretty much what I was thinking! Although to be fair it was actually 5 chariots and not 3, but still. Rome also appears to have grokked that there is a chariot attack coming against them, from India's demand that Yaz not trade Hunting to any other team. Very clever! But is it in time to make a difference....?

[novice]

Agree on all points. Scooter nailed it with his Exploit comment, and that is a clever deduction by Sandover.

[novice]

Okay, I logged in and looked around, but the game was paused by Yaz. India did hit him with 5 (!) chariots, and roaded the desert tile, as exploit feared. Probably two Indian chariots and 3 they were gifted.

Is it so hard to believe that India was able to produce a mere 5 chariots?

Also, SleepingMoogle of Byzantium sent the entire diplo conversation between Sumeria and India around to the Heracles members to reinforce that Sumeria and Heracles are in the right. However, I guess that's in the eye of the beholder, to me the conversation just underlined Exploits ridiculous behaviour.

It definitely looks to me like Byzantium is the most intransigent of the Heracles members, and with Sumeria crippled or eliminated they will probably be the new ringleaders. I don't see them surviving very long though.

[darrelljs]

Edit: damn it wrong thread. I swear I didn't read anything but the last post, which should not impact the game.

Damn it. Sticky the IT thread up top.

Darrell

[v8mark]

Afternoon all, just checking in as a lurker. Loving the idea of a "spectator gallery" for us to chat about what's going on without being involved. I love RB for stuff like this.

Rome seem to have cottoned on reasonably well to what's happening, so it looks like iron city isn't going to be put down at all now. Will be interesting to see if they can hold off a handful of chariots with just axes and no spears. My feeling is they won't be able to.