[PB72] Xist10 plays far to home

[xist10]

Yes, it's not smart to attack in the moment

But If I don't do something, Greenline forms his third wave in ~ 10 turns with cannons and I'm dead. I can't really execute an attack against cannons.
I try it in the PB92 with Samurais - better than praets and lost against 5 cannons. Okay, I have a bit more units (~60), but I expect Greenline to attack with more than 5 cannons. Greenline executed a very good attack. I could stopped the attack maybe a bit early, if I had only Greenline as enemy, but I'm not sure. Greenline played maybe a bit too cautios, but I can't really fault his war.

I don't really want to wait till I lose.
So, what can I do ?
Greenline has still about 30 Shock Cataphracts in reach. I don't fancy my chance against them, even if I have formation pikes. I can image to "survive" a firststrike of Greenline, maybe even destroy his army in the counter, but I don't think i can destroy his PRO longbowmen in hillcities.
Aetryn has a few knights which should be stopped by my pikes (even after a few catas). His macemen can kill a few praets, but I should have enough to execute a good counter.

And I'm a bit biased against Aetryn. I think he didn't took the war seriously - I think, I was unprepared, but I think I was able to defend without losing more than 3 bordercities again Aetryn.
The bordercities has a resonable garnison, but I'm not sure if Aetryn has a army behind. During our peace time most of his army was visible for me - only from my culture.
And Aetryn has no really a reason to try to bait me. He would be smarter to show me his army to discourage me from attacking.
And I still want to punish the burning of Ravenna.

To summarize that: I don't want to wait till the end, Aetryn seems to be the softer target and I don't like Aetryn.

[superdeath]

I mean, if thats what you want to do.

[xist10]

Aetryn seems to be a better civil player than I am. Aetryn expanded faster and researched fastern that I did.
But his ability to wage war ?

I moved on the field before Prudence last turn.
A chariot saw nothing in reach, but there could be a few units behind the hill and the pass east of Prudence.
And Aetryn has 8 macemen, and should be able to kill 6-7 units of me (chance of 70+% ?)
Other units are more or less unimportant. I have nearly 50% catapults, so collateraldamage will be relativ ineffective, axemen lose against my axemen, knights against the formation pikes.
Question:
You have a Size 14 city with walls and 14 defenders.
The enemy has about 60 units ad half of that are catapults ?



I would say, not nothing.



After 6 catapults (with accuracy), the walls are no more.



The next wave were about 8 catapults (and with that my 3 barrage 3 catapults). I lost 5 (2 at about 70% withdraw chance ?) and won 3 fights.
The last fights I used city raider catapults, because I thought a surviving catapult with a bad promotion is better than losing a catapult.

After that, I used my axemen to clear the city. I lost a fight at 70% and I had to use my praets because I had not enough axemen, but this was a great victory.



I promoted both chariots with Sight and saw nothing. - okay, 12 units, but only the knighs will be able to attack me and knights against formationpikes ?



I retread one chariots and deleted the other.
A praets captured the worker, with forestfight 2 I expect that the praets will win atleast one fight.
I lost 5 catapults, 1 axemen and deleted 2 chariots.
Aetryn lost 8 macemen, 2 knights, 2 axemen, 2 skirmisher, a worker and a size 14 city.

[Qgqqqqq]

I have to say, impressive attack.

[superdeath]

Very nice! plan from there? If the goal is to hurt him, id advance NE-NE and head for Diligence.

[xist10]

I retreated.
At least 1 turn to heal and then 3 turns to advance ?
Aetryn made a few questionable decisions this war ( we can start with the war declaration), but I think Aetryn (and Mjmd) should be able to use that.
And Aetryn was first at liberalism and I think he picked Rifling ?
Yes, my attack was a gamble, but I think, I was able to minimise the risk. But if I advance further ? May I could burn a second city, but I definitely would lose the army.

[xist10]

Rifles confirmed. Nothing really bad, but I need more units.
Screenshots when I have a bit more time. So in 24h or later.

[xist10]

I think both enemys are preparing the final push.
Let's see who is first and lose a few units to my army.



Aetryn got Libralism and took Rifling.
Greenline researched Steel this turn (at last, he could had this nearly 10 turns ago ?)
Bing took Islam (why ?) and seems to be last in research (after me, of course)



Aetryn refounded Prudence - I do want to bunr this city a second time, but this would be a very bad idea.
And if Aetryn would attack with this army ? I'm not sure if I would be able to wipe this out in 1 turn, if Aetryn adds a few rifles ? Dangerous.




Greenline dangers didn't changed since the last 3/4 turns, but he could upgrade the catapults to cannons. I think, I can defeat 7 cannons, but if Greenline adds a few more ?




I'm already very weak and my capabilitys to train more units ? 50 prod per turn and about 20 POP.

[superdeath]

sounds like build nothing but praets + catapults and have fun.

[xist10]

I'm a bit interestet in the next turn. I offered Greenline a battle.



Greenline retreated his Cataphracts a few turns ago, so that his new city is seemely weak defended..
I moved this turn on a hill in my culture. Greenline can attack with his catapracts, but not with his catapults.
And I took only my melee fighters, so no flanking damage. Maybe I should have include a few to offer a reason to attack.

Maybe not the best idea, but I have my catapults in range - even if Greenline can see them - and I have to wait till Greenline attacks under the cover of mg-fire. Greenline researchs Railroad in 5 turns.

If Greenline moves his catapults in range, I will retreat.