[Spoilers] Defining the phrase "€˜Hung Like a Horse"€™: Pb & the Kuriotates

[pocketbeetle]

Diplo:

Looks like Selrahc is getting miffed.
He sent me the following comment with the save, and this turn reveals a Settler escort on the hills above Diso.

So you *really* don't want me settling southern cities then?

Diplomatic team springs into action!
(The first comments refer to his previous email)

Greetings Chief Advisor to the Winter King!

Your points are understood and well taken; Iskender has already sent me a note about that spot.

As for the last paragraph, I'm afraid there were way too many long words for little me to understand, but my advisors have reassured me that it means we'll all live happily ever after, so I'm content.

Now, your last communication had the following comment:

So you *really* don't want me settling southern cities then?

Which...concerns me.
I've only settled one blatantly land grabbing settlement, which was the Sugars, and I've already apologised for that.
Let me know which settlement you're referring to (using directions if unsure about the naming), and I'll do my best to explain the reasons for placing it there.

On a similar note, a passing Kuriotates unit noticed a settler escort on a hill SE of Mt Stelvio; so I thought I'd take this chance to politely enquire where it's headed.
You've no obligation to tell me of course, but I still thought I'd ask.

Kind Regards,
Pb, Polite Boy-King

His reply:

It doesn't really matter now. Settlements are placed, you won the settler race fair and square. I'll head off to the east. I was just mildly narked that I've wasted probably so much time on needless movement. I hadn't noticed that you'd settled the copper, which was my back up site. So yeah, probably wasted at least 8turns of movement for this settler.

Anyway, what's done is done. Hopefully we won't run into similar problems in the future.

Hi Selrahc,

Ahhh okay, I understand now.

I honestly didn’t know we were even in a race for that spot.
I prioritised it because it is my closest(!) source of Copper, and I need it for any str 4 Warriors or Triremes that I want to build.
I’d assumed that because of the lack of food resources nearby, plus the sources of Copper in your backlines, that the location hadn’t even registered on your dotmaps.
So that’s why said settlement was founded, I’m sorry it caused you wasted moves.

Just to be clear: I’ve made a genuine attempt to give your capital clear breathing room wherever possible, hence the line of neutral/unclaimed tiles to the South of Silent Night (which I have no intention of settling).
The only exception to this point has been Lave, which had a purpose (claim Horses) and I discussed with you beforehand.

I also agree with your positive sentiments for the future.
We overcame our border issues early on, these are only minor speedbumps in our civs’ progress.

As a quick note – Iskender has a Scout very close to your Corn/floodplain Southern city (Sleigh Ride?).
I’m sure there’s no reason to be concerned, but this is just a heads-up in case you have any unprotected workers.

Regards,
Pb, Solicitous Boy-King

All true.
Hopefully that mini-conflict has been dampened.
I’m thinking c8 might be a touch too…adventurous…to settle soon however. I’m sensing popcorn sales would go through the roof.

Iskender also caught me for a chat:

(4:19:26 PM) Iskender: hi there
(4:19:31 PM) pocketbeetle: Hey Iskender
(4:19:37 PM) Iskender: the offer sounds fair enough. i accept it
(4:19:56 PM) pocketbeetle: Great! Any questions? it's just a simple trade thing
(4:20:20 PM) pocketbeetle: Ratmen like their Wine, riots if I don't keep them happy
(4:20:27 PM) Iskender: can you name the resources you could trade for the wine?
(4:20:42 PM) Iskender: yeah
(4:21:03 PM) Iskender: the hippus started with ale, then moved to wine
(4:21:29 PM) Iskender: anyway
(4:21:39 PM) Iskender: good point about Selrahc
(4:21:43 PM) pocketbeetle: lol.
Ummm. Let's see. I'm probably going to offer Silks (not 100% sure) in return for the Wine. And offer fine clothes as the temporary happy for the first 15turns of Gems
(4:21:54 PM) pocketbeetle: He whipped ANOTHER settler this turn
(4:21:56 PM) pocketbeetle: 11 cities
(4:22:09 PM) Iskender: ouch
(4:22:22 PM) Iskender: can you guess how many more he'll have?
(4:22:35 PM) pocketbeetle: Don't get me wrong, the Kuriotates have good relations with Illians so far, and Calabim worry me more, but he's going to be big
(4:22:56 PM) pocketbeetle: How many more? He's got lots and lots of space. Trust me. Like 10+ more cities space
(4:23:22 PM) pocketbeetle: He's got his land + Sareln's ol dland, plus border agreement with Cull
(4:23:44 PM) pocketbeetle: So, not trying to start anything, but just making you aware. He could be a monster come end of the game
(4:24:21 PM) Iskender: with 20 cities he's definitely going to be
(4:24:40 PM) pocketbeetle: I think he may have to pause sson though. His GNP is nearly below Sareln's
(4:24:45 PM) pocketbeetle: *soon
(4:25:00 PM) pocketbeetle: But food and production, will be big
(4:25:39 PM) Iskender: fortunately it's too late for whipping axemen and rushing
(4:25:57 PM) Iskender: unless he whips 100+ of them
(4:26:09 PM) pocketbeetle: I don't think his GNP could take that at the moment
(4:27:11 PM) pocketbeetle: But anyway, his explains why I want you and I to get along. Calabim and Illians have most of the land from what I can see.
(4:27:43 PM) pocketbeetle: btw - my worker reaches rice next turn. Will start chopping
(4:28:03 PM) pocketbeetle: another following soon after - don't forget to let me know what other tiles you want chopped
(4:28:15 PM) Iskender: ok. i'm settling in 3 turns
(4:29:11 PM) Iskender: most likely a few south of the city, to spread irrigation
(4:29:42 PM) pocketbeetle: k. Will I have to declare war also?
(4:29:57 PM) Iskender: i'm afraid so
(4:30:18 PM) pocketbeetle: k. You've not got another settler building soon after/another spot to settle first?
(4:30:25 PM) Iskender: it's funny - you can chop forests with open borders but not jungle
(4:30:49 PM) Iskender: no
(4:31:32 PM) pocketbeetle: Okay. Well, if you change your mind, let me know!
I could chop a few more for free if so
(4:32:00 PM) Iskender: sure

Halfway through that chat, I had the niggling feeling that I was making a mistake in building Selrahc up so much.
Something I didn’t comment on last post, but which has definitely been noted: is the fact that Iskender and Selrahc are obviously talking, to the extent of divvying up land between them. I hope in making Selrahc sound like a major contender (which he is, don’t get me wrong!) I haven’t given Iskender the idea of allying with Selrahc and maybe paying me a visit.
That wouldn’t be good.

The Calabim and Illians are clearly going to be the food/production leaders based on the -huge- amount of land they still have unsettled.
Iskender is boxed in, in part due to me, in part due to that massively long NAP with the Calabim.
But even so, he’s important, and whichever side the Hippus take in a conflict with their high mobility Horse Archers will have a serious edge, be it Illians vs me, me vs Calabim etc.

I wish Iskender would just build another Settler though, and settle the Gems city second, thereby avoiding the hassle of declaring a false war.

[pocketbeetle]

Turn 129:

Time for a naval update!
Concepcion is still ploughing on, has somehow managed to avoid all the Sea Serpents and Griffons that normally plague workboat explorers, and has almost defogged a complete route (the long way round) to the Dwarves.



I took that screenshot because the Bear confused me.
It has Combat II and Winterborn. Normally if a Bear has Winterborn in FFH2 then it’s a Polar Bear.
A possible alternative is that it’s a Hidden Nationality Illian Bear explorer, but given his lack of Hunting afaik that’s…unlikely.
It would also seem that Bob was telling the truth about the lack of Calabim ports.

In the South, the recently whipped Illian Settler from Silent Night (along with a Warrior escort) has shown up on a hill near Diso.



The mouseover shows one Priest still garrisoned in Jingle Bells, a city which has been whipped this turn for another Settler (11 cities).
Selrahc has two workers roading the tile South of Sleigh Ride for reasons I’m unsure of.

Iskender’s warrior is still dancing around KK’s borders:



The Hill Giant (renamed to Larry the Friendly) is guarding a worker heading over to the Rice.
I think I may have to also detail the roading worker near Reorte down there to fulfil my obligations to Iskender.



Ending turn completes a Library in Kwythellar, a Worker in Avelorn , Caledor and KK grew.


Demographics:

Iskender gained 18pts which I think was a tech and a pop increase.

Selrahc’s GNP is sucking wind at the moment, barely above Sareln’s.
Eyeballing it, I’d say the Illians are around 33ish GNP, of which 8 is commerce from trade routes with me.
One of my options if Selrahc had replied that he was going to settle aggressively, ie close to Avelorn, would have been to close those trade routes. Another would have been to GArt bomb Diso.
Obviously I’d much prefer not to, and I’m glad he’s heading somewhere else (I hope).

[pocketbeetle]

Turn 130:

Started with an event that confused me - it’s the Sign of Pegasus/ Storms rage over your land event.
I was under the impression this event typically killed off a few tile improvements, but I don’t seem to have taken any damage.
Anyone know for sure?

Anyway, first Dancing Bear created in Caledor, happy cap rises to 17, so we’re running close to the wind there.



Orrere founded NW of Caledor, starts working the cottage, culturally claims the Furs which will now be hooked up asap.



While down in the South things are reasonably quiet: Rice at KK farmed this turn, Hill Giant moves back to block Iskender’s Warrior from getting onto that hill.
There’s one Worker on the Gems-site Rice, another underneath Amycus.



Inserted a Public Baths building into Kwythellar’s queue (100h for +3 happy +1 unhealth).
Basically just completing as much infrastructure as I can before the Palace moves.
Clicking end turn completed KotE at 100% research, should be a decent amount of overflow.



But what did the Hawks do…?


Demographics:

Nothing happening.
Absolutely nothing to see in that screenshot.
Nope nope.
Definitely not.

[Sciz]

I dunno if you're referring to the fact that you're at war with Iskender in the last pic, but that is also shown in the second to last pic if that was what you were talking about.

Otherwise idk. You scouted some Calabim land I see.

[pocketbeetle]

I dunno if you're referring to the fact that you're at war with Iskender in the last pic, but that is also shown in the second to last pic if that was what you were talking about.

Otherwise idk. You scouted some Calabim land I see.

Yes indeedy. =)

[Twinkletoes89]

Care to enlighten us mere mortals?

I hope Veez hasn't been whispering new schemes in your ears !

[pocketbeetle]

Care to enlighten us mere mortals?
I hope Veez hasn't been whispering new schemes in your ears !

Nono, he's been on a tight leash recently!

I haven't quite written it out yet, but it involves lots of screenshots, angry rambling, and silly embellishments as per usual.
I'll see if I can get it done tomorrow morning, let's leave it at this for now:

And if you're bored, answer this question:

How many Floodplains are there within the Calabim borders?
(Warning - there's one to the West that's offshot)

[Serdoa]

14 with the one offscreen if I didn't miscount. And 3 gold resources. I have a feeling I know what your ramblings will be about

edit: Overlooked 2 at Adonias (what I would not have realized without Krills 16 post below)

[Krill]

16?

[Maksim]

Oh, keep a stiff upper lip, old chap! Mustn't grumble about the others' lot in life being much better than yours. After all, you've done a fine job pulling yourself up by your bootstraps - envy of the world you are.

Or are you going to demand equality like one of them godless socialists? That would simply not do. Frankly, we expect better from a gentleman of your caliber.

So what if they have floodplains and gold while you have a rusty spoon and a boot with a hole in it? That never stopped an true Englishman born and bred, and you've been proving it since day one.

So stop making those undignified noises, curl up your mustache and go out in the midday sun where none dare go - none but you and mad dogs, anyway!

---

Or, you know, feel free to vent. ;-)