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

[pocketbeetle]

Turn 134:

Turn starts with the sound of forges clinking as Kuriotates warriors (all three of them) are upgraded to Bronze Weapons.



Quick word about the various weapon upgrades: there are three of them.

• Bronze: +1 str, -25% lightning resist.
  
  
• Iron: +2 str, -25% lightning resist, +10% str vs Bronze weapons.
  
  
• Mithril: +4 str, +10% str vs Iron weapons.
  

Upgrades automatically occur when a viable unit is in a home city, are free, do not require a Forge, and are mutually exclusive with a priority of Mithril>Iron>Bronze.
One requirement that can be confusing: to get a weapon type you must have both the necessary resource connected (Copper/Iron/Mithril) and also the ‘Working’ tech. So for example: the Smelting tech reveals Iron on the map and lets you mine it for increased tile yield. But until you also have the Iron Working tech, your units will not receive the Iron weapons promotion.
Lastly, some units are limited as to what weapons they can receive, typically Melee units (Warriors/Vampires) can go all the way to Mithril weapons, some Archery units can go up to Iron (Longbowmen, Crossbowmen but not Archers), Mounted units (Centaurs/CAs) cannot receive weapon promotions, nor do Recon/Beast units like Hunters or Hill Giants.


So anyway, I’ve now got Bronze weapons, which I’m not particularly bothered about but it’s always nice to have.
As you know, I'm more interested in Copper for other reasons (Form of the Titan, maybe even a couple of triremes to explore some shipwrecks – Concepcion has found three on the map).

Also in that screenshot, my new Adept ‘springs’ into action! <<Editor’s note: I blame Tatan>>
He’s going to be a jack of all trades for the moment – I don’t intend to build many more Adepts straight away, just wanted to improve some tile yields (and reduce some others around Diso).
Casting Spring on the Oasis upgrades it from a desert to a plains, with a nice +1f/+1h improvement, useful for the next GA.



Looking at Kwythellar, I’m flailing around a little bit with tile improvements.
I know I want it to be a HE military pump, and therefore I’m emphasising hammers.
However it’s also got a Library and Academy, hence the as-yet unworked cottages.

I think what I’m going to do is Scorch the glh mines down to plh (4h yield) after I’ve built a Lighthouse, and will keep lumbermilling the forests (wish the forest would spread to that plains tile 1N of the mana node).
I then estimate I’d be pulling in a maximum of around 45 base hammers per turn with most of the tiles worked – not exactly going to break any Kurio records, but sufficient to build 80h CAs at a rate of one per turn (45h +100% = 90h).
In the short term, Kwythellar’s happy cap is about to increase by +3 from the Public Baths, -1 for losing the Palace, and another +2 for Furs being hooked up - ie 6 more happy of head room which suggests a growth phase coming up.


Kes, based with Vanilla Ice, takes a gander over Selrahc’s latest city:



Horses, Cows and Bananas.
The reason why Selrahc didn’t try and claim those Dyes is revealed 1N of the Horses: he’s got another Settler escort heading there already.
Unfortunately I’m probably not going to be able to reach the Dyes in time before either Selrahc or Sareln claim them all.
It’s looking like c9 (picking up my own Bananas) will have to be the limit of my expansion.
Which is fine, always knew the Dyes would be just a little bit over-reaching. ^^
Guess I’ll have to put the Kurio unique luxuries to work on either Sareln or Selrahc (preferably Sareln ofc).

Down in the South, not a huge amount going on.



The jungle is being pushed back from KK, I’m also mining a few tiles because it’s about to hit its happy cap of ~12 (no state religion, thinking I might wait for Priesthood and save KK 80h).
I’ve also taken a slight risk with a Worker around Iskender’s new city.

Almost every message Iskender has sent me has included a reminder to escort my Workers around the Goblin Fort.
Personally I think he’s being too cautious.
It seems clear to me that those Goblin Archers are held in place, and no Goblin Scouts are being spawned thanks to the Hippus culture covering the Fort,.
So Bob Marley, lured by the promise of free ganja, has been sent to test this theory.
We’ll see if he’s still alive next turn.



Caledor completed the Palace this turn, resulting in an instant improvement to city distance maintenance at both Avelorn and KK.
It also means the Palace’s 8 commerce is now being boosted by 50% not the 20% in Kwythellar.
Can you say 100 raw commerce?

I also blasted out Construction because I’m fed up with not having bridges and my Workers having to spend 1 movement to cross a river.
Next turn c6 gets settled.

Oh and as seen in the turnlog, Sareln got a Great Sage.
I really, really, really hope he’s not intending to give that to the Calabim somehow…

[Tatan]

Also in that screenshot, my new Adept ‘springs’ into action! <<Editor’s note: I blame Tatan>>

Oi! I got my inspiration from you! You know, you are very ADEPT at making puns! :neenernee

[pocketbeetle]

Oi! I got my inspiration from you! You know, you are very ADEPT at making puns! :neenernee

I think we may have a vicious feedback loop here. ^_^


Diplo:

A couple of turns ago Selrahc included this comment with the save.

First armageddon warning...

I figured I haven’t been very forthcoming or chatty recently, so let’s go with some free info.

Yeah no need to worry about that.
It's mainly the founding of OO (oops) + the founding of AV (double oops) + Cull getting an event last turn, which for reasons unknown, he chose the 'increase AC counter' option.

Noticed you roading the mana node, any idea what your first first node is going to be?

(and a little question)

Yeah.
Working on the tower of divination as soon as the nodes are up.
First one is going to be mind, but I've got another adept ready to work on spirit on the other side of the empire.

If you could loan or trade me sun mana for about ten turns it would save me some time, since I don't have the adept in place to create that yet.
It would only be a minor delay though, so if you're currently using it then never mind.

Hmmm.
Receiving Palace mana loans is all well and good, giving them away is less good.

Saying that, he does have something I want, so there’s a possibility he could prise it from me.
I don’t buy his ‘minor delay’ claim though.
It’s a hassle switching nodes.

Hey Selrahc,

Sorry for the late reply.
Borrowing the Sun mana is certainly a possibility, but be aware others have shown interest also.

From my point of view, I'd be interested in basing a deal around a loan of Marble, but I don't see that resource in the trade window.
How soon could you get it connected? Is this something that's feasible?

Kind Regards,
Pb, Trade Negotiator Boy-King

Iskender also dropped me a note.

Look out! The goblin fort still spawns goblins and one just appeared.
He will most likely attack Bob Marley if you don't move him.
Unfortunately I can't offer protection for the workers as we're
technically in war.

Guess I was half wrong.
The Archers are held in place, but the Fort is still spawning.

Hi Iskender,

Thanks for the heads-up.
I've moved the Hill Giant down to defend the workers.
I was trying to keep him back so he didn't get in the way, but nevermind.

Also: I've moved my Hunter, Vanilla Ice, down to take out the Goblin chasing your Scout in the East.
If it moves 1S of the Bananas this turn, then feel free to keep your Scout where he is.
It'll either be dead or badly damaged after I've attacked.

Kind Regards,
Pb, Jungling Boy-King

[pocketbeetle]

Turn 135:

Construction splashscreen greets me on loading the save.



Centaur Chargers require a technology that I don’t have yet (Trade) but as you can see, they get to use metal weapons.
Bronze weapons or less Chargers are vastly inferior compared to CAs, they start to break even at Iron weapons, and can pull their weight decently when they have Mithril. (Chargers are 5/3 base attack/defense, contrary to the mouseover).

Down in the South, Bob Marley retreated because as Iskender rightly said, a Goblin spawned this turn.
I also moved Larry the Friendly Hill Giant down to cover, and Declared Nationality to avoid giving that poor Calabim Worker palpitations.



Up near Caledor, Orerve was founded on the site of c6 and is working a plains river cottage for Caledor.
Maritime Hawk flights are having little success in finding islands.
Having Caledor as the capital rocks, Library is being built there.

Selrahc got a RoK religion spread to “Let it snow” this turn, so lucky him.



And…not much else going on really.
Workers working, cottaging and chopping jungle around KK.
Oh, and one minor thing, might as well mention it.

Kes went for a routine flight South, but spotted something more interesting behind her!



That’s a treasure chest!
Typically it’s found by exploring lairs and getting the location revealed to you.
You then send a unit over there to open it and get an item of equipment; some can be quite good.
The chests spawn with the ‘invisible’ promotion/effect, but what can Hawks see?
Yup.

Unfortunately I can’t claim it, it’s owned by the Calabim.
The worst I could do is declare war on them and destroy it, and I don’t want to do that.

So anyway, wow, that’s really good luck for the Calabim.
Good for them!



What’s this?
Why has Moe renamed himself to Tiger?
And why has he taken a Mobility promotion?
Oh no…



Oh no!
No no no no BAD Tiger – I mean – Hill Giant! Naughty Hill Giant!
Gosh I hope the Calabim don’t find out about this. It could cause a diplomatic incident.

And most definitely we’d better not post taunting messages in the tech thread!

Awww.
I’ll treasure your return Bob.

…

Oh dear.

*Pb saunters away from the scene of the crime, innocently whistling*



Ending turn completed a Worker in Avelorn, lots of cities growing next turn.

Oh and as per the Iskender message, I moved Vanilla Ice 1S to intercept the Goblin if it crosses the river.
It should be another 88% easy fight, but I’ll send Kes away to play safe.


Demographics:

11111112(6!)

Not for too much longer I suspect.

[Brian Shanahan]

Turn 135:
Kes went for a routine flight South, but spotted something more interesting behind her!



That’s a treasure chest!
Typically it’s found by exploring lairs and getting the location revealed to you.
You then send a unit over there to open it and get an item of equipment; some can be quite good.
The chests spawn with the ‘invisible’ promotion/effect, but what can Hawks see?
Yup.

Unfortunately I can’t claim it, it’s owned by the Calabim.
The worst I could do is declare war on them and destroy it, and I don’t want to do that.

So anyway, wow, that’s really good luck for the Calabim.
Good for them!



What’s this?
Why has Moe renamed himself to Tiger?
And why has he taken a Mobility promotion?
Oh no…



Oh no!
No no no no BAD Tiger – I mean – Hill Giant! Naughty Hill Giant!
Gosh I hope the Calabim don’t find out about this. It could cause a diplomatic incident.

And most definitely we’d better not post taunting messages in the tech thread!


…

Oh dear.

*Pb saunters away from the scene of the crime, innocently whistling*

Classic PB, classic!

[Krill]

Awesome.

[Mardoc]

Oh no!
No no no no BAD Tiger – I mean – Hill Giant! Naughty Hill Giant!
Gosh I hope the Calabim don’t find out about this. It could cause a diplomatic incident.

And most definitely we’d better not post taunting messages in the tech thread!

And here I thought Hidden Nationality was worthless in a multiplayer game I suppose I'd better hie myself over to the Calabim thread to see the results of yet another PB gambit =). So, um, expect me to be extra vague on comments for a while :neenernee

Was there a reason you spent the Mobility promotion on 'tiger' instead of just waiting an extra turn? I assume the name was in the hopes that the in game message says 'a tiger has destroyed' instead of 'a hill giant'?

Does Hidden/Declared Nationality affect the Power graph, or does that take into account all your units?

[Krill]

You, sir, are a fiend. I do believe the combat and event logs only show the renamed name.

[Jabah]

Was there a reason you spent the Mobility promotion on 'tiger' instead of just waiting an extra turn? I assume the name was in the hopes that the in game message says 'a tiger has destroyed' instead of 'a hill giant'?

I guess the mobility (after 1move) is to prevent the 'owner' of the treasure to see a 'tiger' giant waiting next to its treasure before having it destroyed

[Mardoc]

I guess the mobility (after 1move) is to prevent the 'owner' of the treasure to see a 'tiger' giant waiting next to its treasure before having it destroyed

Oh, duh, that should have been obvious to me . Especially right after PB declared nationality on a giant next to a Calabim worker, so they definitely know he has them. It would have been kinda blatant if PB did it the other way.

I wonder what other opportunities like this are out there? I suppose the main preconditions are an isolated unit that can't see the giant before the attack but which PB can still see. With a giant in the area. And ideally, without any other witnesses, as well. So it won't be very common.