[SPOILER] Jowy - Peter of Egypt (Green Game)

[Jowy]

First view! What on earth was that awful music?
(No really, what was it, I quite liked it).
And we demand the return of Microsoft Sam!

Matt Weddle - Hey Ya (Outkast guitar cover)
Kabukibear - Reminiscence (guitar cover)

Both originate from YouTube.

That war really screwed you both though, didn't it?

Yep. Me more than him obviously. While he had three well developed cities, I had a brand new city and a heavily pillaged capital. Would I still be at the bottom of the barrell if he hadn't attacked me? I honestly don't know. Maybe. My early strategy was a fail, but I made a conscious decision to take a risk with a tactic that doesn't follow the usual guidelines for early game.

I was ready for the BBC voice over guy but he didn't come forward!

Nice video - why are you giving cow and pigs to Kyan?

He's giving me cows and I'm giving him pigs. When this "trade" started, I had nothing to give to him, but he sent me cows for free (which I didn't have at the time). So once I got pigs hooked up, I sent some his way. I guess I should cancel the deals sometime down the line since it's no use to me anymore, but there's no hurry since it was more of a gift to a friend than a trade deal.


Why no voiceover? I was lazy. That's why I took a video instead of lots of pics

[Jowy]

Two new cities:
Carbuncle and Yojimbo.



Another two new cities about to be planted too, one south of Phoenix and one north of Alexander.
After that still like five or six spots to fill!

In other news, Seifer got paper tech and been we've been exchanging maps. The best thing about it is that now I have information on Strike's cities, which is what I had been longing for.

[Jowy]

[Jowy]

Well, here's what I know of the recent events:

- Malakai just declared on Cull.
- Kyan was going to attack Malakai had Malakai attacked Seifer. Not sure what will he do now.

Let's hope it gets dirty. Kyan is apparently looking to spice up the game, him clashing swords with Malakai on Cull's lands definately fits that criteria.

While we're on the subject of diplo, here's an interesting tidbit from a chat with Kyan:

[COLOR="Orange"]i think friendship should be judged by words and actions, not a NAP
you are talkative and friendly
thats enough for me
seifer doesnt really talk to me
malakai sent me one message
cull hasn't spoken to me for at least 50 turns
TT is chatty but is a tempting target[/COLOR]

[Jowy]

What actually happened was that Kyan declared on Cull instead, but according to him it's more of a retaliation to Malakai's attack than a fullout allied military operation with Malakai. Cull is already down to 4 cities and will be gone soon enough. What I'm hoping for is a power struggle between Kyan and Malakai over ex Cull's lands (even though they did divide it diplomatically.. but greed has a funny way of changing things). I don't think either Kyan or Malakai could advance past Cull's lands if they do clash swords.

I still can't tell if Kyan is lying about his relationship with TT. He says he has my back if TT attacks me and that TT is a tempting target for him. But somehow I still get the feeling he's downplaying their relations. Oh right btw, TT's power has spiked, but he can't do much when I have longbows already built and cats would follow if I feel threatened. Anyway TT's power spike might be just a retaliation to Kyan's raising power and cancelation of NAP's.

PBEM10 spoilers:

And Kyan told me about TT's willingness to break a NAP in PBEM10. Wouldn't make much sense to tell me that if he was supporting TT and TT's plan was to attack me.

As for graphs, I was #5 in GNP, #5 in Production, #3 in Food, #4 in Soldiers, #2 in Land (a big gap between me+kyan and the rest) #5 in Pop, #1 in both Happiness and Health. That was just when the attack on Cull broke out, though I suspect he was the sixth in most categories anyway. I'm awfully alot behind in GNP, but the high food, land and happiness+health shows the potential Egypt has.

[Square Leg]

Jowy - careful about spoilers in other games.

[Jowy]

Jowy - careful about spoilers in other games.

Right. Good thing you caught that so soon.

[Jowy]

[SIZE="5"]ROUND TWO, DING DING![/SIZE]
Well, all the players knew it was coming, so you probably knew too But now it's as much confirmed as it can before it actually happens: TT (ex-Strike) will declare war on me in about 10 turns. Of course just as I was getting the economic ball rolling, just like last time. Except this time I'll be prepared. Not raze-your-city-first prepared, but you know, with more than two units built this time. First though let's see what's been going on.



I found a catapult on Seifer's border city. Not really that unusual, but it did rang the warning bell inside my head. And rightfully so, because later on Seifer told me he's stacking his army there to better help me when the war starts. That.. could be bad. But honestly, I don't have any other choice than to trust him. I couldn't win a 2vs1 or possibly a 3vs1 even if I prepared for it (more on that third threat later).



A great scientist was born in Anima. I've been focusing so much on all my new cities that Anima had been growing past it's improved tiles, so I just worked some scientist specialists for a GS and just beakers in general. I used the GS to start a Golden Age. I thought it'd be more beneficial to have all my cities use a little boost than to build an academy on Shiva. Golden Age again proved to be useful when I confirmed my fears of an attack two turns into it: I can switch to vassalage + slavery without anarchy. I had been in Bureocracy (sp?) and Serfdom.



Pretty self-explanatory really. I'm getting a fairly good amount of beakers just at 40% science. Well, fairly good amount in the Jowy scale anyway.



Ha-ha.. This might be a good spot to bring this up:

[COLOR="Plum"]Hey Jowy,

I am not averse to another NAP but 50 turns may be a bit steep. When does our current NAP end? Its not long after turn 100 isn't it?

20 might be better so I can prepare myself for being Kyan's next target in safety - but I will need some extra guarantees like settling the vacant site between us, no right of passage, possible resource trades and I would be highly appreciative if you could pasture the rice across the sea but in my city's bfc in the North East. I prefer to just tie it all in in one go as I always forget to check this email account so best to sort it quickly.

TT[/COLOR]

- First paragraph translation: "I'm going to attack you but I forgot when our NAP ends, could you be so kind to let me know thx."
- The second paragraph is two things, first him trying to hide his attack by playing the victim card, and then the catch in that NAP approval.. The second I read those "quarantees", I knew they were just there to stall our NAP process. He's got no intention to sign a new NAP with me.
- In the last sentence he claims he wants to "sort it quickly", but gives himself an excuse for not answering me: "I always forget to check this email account". Well, I took the liberty of holding the save for a couple of days so I'll know for sure if he was stalling or not.. Now it's been 6 days (and 3 or 4 turns IIRC) and no reply to my queries! I even sent him a message on RB to check his email, he plays oblivious and answers that he's not the one with the save atm.

And well, what the picture is all about, I found a city raider swordsman on my front. Yeah, stacking city raiders on my borders sounds like a good way to defend against Kyan.



This is the newest graphs pic I got, it's from turn 100 I believe. Even though those are golden age boosted numbers, it's still pretty good compared to being last in everything some time ago. I feel like I'm finally really catching up, but of course that will end right away. Strike/TT sure aren't making this game easy for me!




Some quick filler techs. Going for calendar next because I'm settling a city near those calendar resources (spices and bananas and sugar IIRC). Oh yea, also settling a city in the south gap between me and Strike. I really planned that out as a land grab when I still thought he wasn't going for me, but I guess it still serves as a good distraction.


Yeah.. that's pretty much it. Next time I get the save, I will switch to vassalage and slavery and switch every city to military. I should have more than enough time to get ready for TT. The only thing that worries me is Kyan joining in with his horse archers. Anyway, it's not like I've been neglecting defenses, I've had three cities on 100% military build for a while.


Diplo wise, I've offered Kyan the chance to jump ship and attack TT. Not that he really needs my permission, but whatever. It's a double-bladed sword really, on the other hand I get rid of TT, but on the other hand Kyan will get even stronger and I'll probably be his next target. Best case scenario would be that Kyan gifts his HA's to TT, who then turns on Kyan. But I really doubt that's gonna happen.. Neither Strike or TT seem to be playing to win, they just have some kind of a vendetta against me. That's what you get when you attack the fan favourite Sullla lol (jk).

And uh Malakai apparently had a falling off with TT regarding Cull's lands and some pillaging done there by TT. Sadly there's no way I can use this to my advantage at this moment.

[Jowy]

I'd be pretty much fucked if I hadn't started preparing when I did
Notice Kyan's power drop. Gifting units to Strike for sure.


Sent in the war chariot before canceling open borders. He was careful, too bad.
Or could this mean he's going to attack from the north...?

I will get Machinery next turn and can make some maces.

Strike's army will consist of catapults and slow 1 move units. He has no Horseback Riding and he doesn't even have maces yet. He is saving gold to upgrade his melee units to maces once he gets it though. He might have Kyan's HA's, we'll know better if his power rating drops more.

Here's some very recent diplo between me and Kyan, basically me calling him out. This is when befriending him really pays off if this works.

[COLOR="DeepSkyBlue"]Hey Jowy,

Firstly, i sincerely apologise for the slow reply. However, to the matter at hand:

I can neither confirm nor deny an impending attack on yourself. I am bound by my word that i cannot discuss such matters. I would point you to a few truths though:

1) TT will not be attacking me within the next 30 turns and has given me his word of this.
2) His power rating is skyrocketing and is now significantly above mine.

Unfortunately, right now there is not a lot i can do. As you yourself can see, his power is above mine and most of my army is on the new Malakai front. Whilst i am hurrying troops over to the TT border, any meaningful strike isn't going to be coming anytime soon. I understand you've had longbows for a longtime though so i'm guessing TT isn't going to be doing a lot of damage. For now, all i can assure you is that i won't be joining in this war and, once my army has been re-modelled (upgrading my HA army up to cavalry), TT might have a whole load of fresh new problems. Right now, i fail to see how China taking control of Egyptian lands is of benefit to me so if you do somehow start getting a spanking, i'll be forced to assist. I just simply don't believe you're going to need the help to be honest.

-Kyan[/COLOR]

[COLOR="LightBlue"]Hey Kyan,

Sorry to hear you're going to keep me in the shadows. Everyone knows TT's going to attack me, all your secretkeeping is doing is making me lose all the trust I had in you. I know you know things that would help me, things that I might have figured out myself already, but that's really not the point. The point is, even if this information is no help for me anymore, atleast you told it to me.

~ Jowy[/COLOR]

Oh yeah, I found Odin near the calendar resources.

[Jowy]

I'm so dumb. I can't believe I forgot about Cho-Ko-Nu's. I bet you lurkers have been laughing your ass off Malakai sent me some intel and told me he saw alot of catapults and Cho-Ko-Nu's. Also Malakai confirmed the HA count, 16, those will probably try to snatch a "behind-the-lines" city of mine. Perhaps HA's north and the rest middle? Anyway, I don't have much experience with Cho-Ko-Nu's, apparently their earliest counter is supposed to be war elephants, which are banned. So yeah, not much I could do about that.

I'm still refusing to whip my cities with no hammers spent. I think that's the right thing to do, hopefully it won't come bite me in the ass. If my cities survive the first wave, then not whipping them to the ground will pay off.

Seifer loaned me stoned and I put walls up. Castles will follow hopefully just in time for the attack.

Here's my last plea to TT:

[COLOR="PaleTurquoise"]Hey TT,

I will see you soon on the battlefield. But before that, let me give you one more chance to turn around and do the right thing. You must realise that Kyan is only using you as a tool. He's told me many times he's going to take you out next. Even if that is all just lies, the truth still is that you will not gain anything out of attacking me. All you're doing is being the puppet of Kyan. Honestly, it looks pretty bad from my point of view.. You come in to the game to replace Strike, but then all you do is do the bidding of your pre-game friend instead of trying to win the game. If you turned that army around and attacked Kyan, we could all still have a shot at winning.

I'm hoping you got the guts and the honour to play to win, not to be a puppet.
Let me know if that is the case.

~ Jowy[/COLOR]

Edit: Had a nice little chat with Kyan. He spilled the beans on, well, everything.
tldr; whatever TT does, Kyan is still gonna win the game. This game's pretty much done for, except to see who wins: TT or Jowy!!
Stay tuned!!!