T247
I've just started my masters degree and it turns out it's considerably more difficult than a bachelors; who could have possibly known?
The coursework is enjoyable, but this week is a becoming rude awakening. With that in mind, we're probably looking at briefer reports again, with an occasional 'details special,' compared to the DZ/SD war reports or last turn's. Anyway, onto the turn:
The East (Cairo War)
The West (Retreating from Miguelito)
The Bigger Problem (Economy: Catastrophic. People: Rioting) 
The Grand Plan (...Is Not Yet Decided)
I've just started my masters degree and it turns out it's considerably more difficult than a bachelors; who could have possibly known?
The coursework is enjoyable, but this week is a becoming rude awakening. With that in mind, we're probably looking at briefer reports again, with an occasional 'details special,' compared to the DZ/SD war reports or last turn's. Anyway, onto the turn:The East (Cairo War)
Cairo concentrated his defense on the Astro island, with ~20 modern units garrisoning Denizli and Mugla, and his fleet sailing to protect it. I wonder if he was hoping to make a last stand over there, once the mainland falls. The fleet is decent-sized (~10 battleships and 5 destroyers), and I can take it on with my own similar sized fleet to likely damage it, but then I am vulnerable to Miguelito sallying out of Piccadilly's lands. So instead, we take the nuclear approach:
This leaves most of the ships at <25 strength, and our destroyers swarm the fleet like piranhas. The ships are massacred, and then, thanks to the bullshit magic that is City-Raider2 tanks, we are able to conquer the whole island.
Meanwhile, on the mainland, Cairo attacks out with plenty of troops. He kills 8-10 tanks, some fighters, and a bunch of old junk, but we are able to mop up virtually all the attackers in retaliation. We invade the north coast from our southern ports:
...while the other half of our Piccadilly navy reaches the west coast.
Meanwhile, the land advance continues mostly as expected. I will highlight one critical mistake:
I intended to promote this tank to Commando and capture Arrival. Can anyone see the issue?
This was at night when I thought I was playing the whole turn, and trying to be fast. Can't be making mistakes like that if we want any chance of competing with Mig... 
In summary, despite the Commando setback, this part of the turn was a raging success. We captured 20 out of Cairo's remaining 34 cities, although he's certain to take a few of them back. We can bomb out Cairo's only remaining oil source next turn, as well. The Ottoman military has collapsed way faster than I expected, and it looks as though we can probably kill Mr. Cairo by T250. With a lot of luck, it could actually happen next turn.
This leaves most of the ships at <25 strength, and our destroyers swarm the fleet like piranhas. The ships are massacred, and then, thanks to the bullshit magic that is City-Raider2 tanks, we are able to conquer the whole island.
Meanwhile, on the mainland, Cairo attacks out with plenty of troops. He kills 8-10 tanks, some fighters, and a bunch of old junk, but we are able to mop up virtually all the attackers in retaliation. We invade the north coast from our southern ports:
...while the other half of our Piccadilly navy reaches the west coast.
Meanwhile, the land advance continues mostly as expected. I will highlight one critical mistake:
I intended to promote this tank to Commando and capture Arrival. Can anyone see the issue?
This was at night when I thought I was playing the whole turn, and trying to be fast. Can't be making mistakes like that if we want any chance of competing with Mig... In summary, despite the Commando setback, this part of the turn was a raging success. We captured 20 out of Cairo's remaining 34 cities, although he's certain to take a few of them back. We can bomb out Cairo's only remaining oil source next turn, as well. The Ottoman military has collapsed way faster than I expected, and it looks as though we can probably kill Mr. Cairo by T250. With a lot of luck, it could actually happen next turn.
The West (Retreating from Miguelito)
Miguelito was always going to get the first strike in (after I waited too long to retreat, that is), and he made the most of it. I simply haven't sent enough troops (especially ships) in this direction over the last 5 turns, because I've been too focused on Mr. Cairo. So Miguelito smashed through what I did have without breaking a sweat.
That isn't the whole log, but you get the idea. We take a lot of casualties trying to retaliate:
Most of our battleships and destroyers in this area are sunk. I have mostly retreated the transports such that we are out of range of Mig's missile cruisers, but tactical nukes could still ruin my day.
Miguelito also besieges the Astro island, and we are in no better a position to relieve it.
There are ships on their way, but in too small number to make an immediate difference. Whether we can hold the Astro island remains to be seen.
If the Cairo war was an overwhelming success, the Miguelito war was an equally overwhelming disaster this turn. Our 'navy' in the West is in ruins, our islands are at risk, and our armies are scattered. I am in full retreat, desperately trying to save the tanks on the transports; it's hard to know if Miguelito has any of his own nukes nearby, since he can produce quite a few per turn with base hammers. I should probably assume that he does, from now on. Even without nukes he has completely occupied the oceans, and will likely begin taking the nearby islands over the next few turns.
That isn't the whole log, but you get the idea. We take a lot of casualties trying to retaliate:
Most of our battleships and destroyers in this area are sunk. I have mostly retreated the transports such that we are out of range of Mig's missile cruisers, but tactical nukes could still ruin my day.
Miguelito also besieges the Astro island, and we are in no better a position to relieve it.
There are ships on their way, but in too small number to make an immediate difference. Whether we can hold the Astro island remains to be seen.
If the Cairo war was an overwhelming success, the Miguelito war was an equally overwhelming disaster this turn. Our 'navy' in the West is in ruins, our islands are at risk, and our armies are scattered. I am in full retreat, desperately trying to save the tanks on the transports; it's hard to know if Miguelito has any of his own nukes nearby, since he can produce quite a few per turn with base hammers. I should probably assume that he does, from now on. Even without nukes he has completely occupied the oceans, and will likely begin taking the nearby islands over the next few turns.
So uh, our breakeven research rate right now is.....
25%?!
That's like, cripplingly bad. Another way of putting it is that our breakeven is about 2000 beakers per turn, in an era where the techs cost over 10000. Not just that, but we're still behind Mig by 3 key military techs - this is going to be an uphill battle... Again, thank goodness I signed that peace with Piccadilly, or Miguelito would have already won.
Part of the problem is corporation expenses, which account for nearly 2000 base gpt now (3000 with inflation). But the bigger issue is that our core cities, the ones with Observatories and Banks, have just had enough of their Dear Leader. We're looking at 2-4 unhappy faces even in Size10 cities at this point - the Vespertine Empire's internal clock is finally running out.
25%?!
That's like, cripplingly bad. Another way of putting it is that our breakeven is about 2000 beakers per turn, in an era where the techs cost over 10000. Not just that, but we're still behind Mig by 3 key military techs - this is going to be an uphill battle... Again, thank goodness I signed that peace with Piccadilly, or Miguelito would have already won. Part of the problem is corporation expenses, which account for nearly 2000 base gpt now (3000 with inflation). But the bigger issue is that our core cities, the ones with Observatories and Banks, have just had enough of their Dear Leader. We're looking at 2-4 unhappy faces even in Size10 cities at this point - the Vespertine Empire's internal clock is finally running out.
The Grand Plan (...Is Not Yet Decided)
Broadly speaking, I need to hit either the East or West very hard, and just defend the other direction. Currently, I'm leaning towards hitting the ex-Piccadilly continent with everything I have, since Miguelito has already done so much damage in the West. But that could definitely change based on circumstance next turn. I will decide next turn however, since the Cairo troops will need to be sent in the correct direction starting then.
To that effect, I have also started approaching the other players for a crumb of friendship. I sent peace to Charriu and Lazteuq, on the off-chance they take it. I also approached Civac, Ichabod and Frozen with offers to help fight Miguelito. These offers are all entirely genuine; I have no intention to fight any of them for the rest of the game. If even one of them responds, I'll be over the moon. It still feels a lot like 'Amicalola vs. the World' over here.
Regardless, I can't fight Mig with the current tech situation. It's the same as fighting Piccadilly was, except my numbers advantage is much smaller. So I am taking drastic measures for the next 3-4 turns:
The very-low-hammer cities will continue whipping troops, but otherwise I'm putting most cities on Wealth for a few turns. I need Computers, Robotics and Composites ASAP to have a chance of competing, and I think it's worth taking 3-4 turns of wealth builds to research those quickly (My GNP at 100% barely cracks Miguelito's even with 2500 gpt from Wealth
). The cities will keep growing, and get ready for the mother-of-all whipping sprees starting at about T252. The Core Continent might already by furious with their dear leader, but they ain't seen nothin' yet. 
To that effect, I have also started approaching the other players for a crumb of friendship. I sent peace to Charriu and Lazteuq, on the off-chance they take it. I also approached Civac, Ichabod and Frozen with offers to help fight Miguelito. These offers are all entirely genuine; I have no intention to fight any of them for the rest of the game. If even one of them responds, I'll be over the moon. It still feels a lot like 'Amicalola vs. the World' over here.
Regardless, I can't fight Mig with the current tech situation. It's the same as fighting Piccadilly was, except my numbers advantage is much smaller. So I am taking drastic measures for the next 3-4 turns:
The very-low-hammer cities will continue whipping troops, but otherwise I'm putting most cities on Wealth for a few turns. I need Computers, Robotics and Composites ASAP to have a chance of competing, and I think it's worth taking 3-4 turns of wealth builds to research those quickly (My GNP at 100% barely cracks Miguelito's even with 2500 gpt from Wealth
). The cities will keep growing, and get ready for the mother-of-all whipping sprees starting at about T252. The Core Continent might already by furious with their dear leader, but they ain't seen nothin' yet.
Past Games: PB51 - PB55 - PB56 - PB58 (Tarkeel's game) - PB59 - PB60 - PB64 - PB66 - PB68 (Miguelito's game) Current Games: None (for now...)