[Spoilers] Whosit is playing for second

[Whosit]

Gonna try for a quick update this time. Yeah. Me, be concise.

Archduke came back at me asking for 60 gold for the luxury trade. Normally, I'd probably just take it, but a few factors stopped me:
1) I realized that upgrading warriors to legions is actually 150 gold, not 140. For 5 upgrades, that adds up and every bit of gold counts.
2) I don't know how ruthless Archduke is, but he could conceivably declare war on me next turn and walk off with the gold. Doubt it's worth it over 60, but still....
3) I realized that in the short term, only Burmese would fall to Content. Empire-wide, the extra luxury isn't urgent.

I counter-offered with 3 gpt for the trade. Not as enticing as a lump sum, but it's 50% more gold over the course of the trade. We'll see if Archduke bites.

CMF showed a Horseman. I'm assuming that's to clear barbs. I know he's got his back against the wall, but I can't imagine he's going to try and capture any of my cities with that and a couple warriors. Hong Kong will also serve as a buffer as long as no one can overturn my Suzerainship. Also, by the time his troops reach me, I'll have boosted garrison strength from Legions, though he would be able to pillage a lot. I only have a warrior and an archer to defend my eastern cities, though if I'm counting tiles right, Chartreux will have built another Archer by the time the horse could arrive.

Again, doubtful Japan will attack me at the moment, but best to be prepared!

Lastly, and maybe most importantly for me, Korea teched Apprenticeship! Now, at first you might think "oh no! Man-At-Arms can fight equally against Legions!" And this is true. IF Korea could actually train any! Korea will NEVER have enough gold to upgrade a Warrior to a Man-at-arms in time, and greenline would need the Feudal Contract policy to get bonus production towards them. Maybe if greenline had a couple warriors pre-built to 39/40 he could get them out in time.... but they would have converted the same turn Korea got the tech, and presumably would have used some of Korea's iron stockpile.

I'm not sure if greenline went for the tech for the units or just for the +1 production on mines (which IS very valuable, to be fair), and sadly Greenline gets the first-to era score (I had Apprenticeship at 1 turn away for several turns now, but obviously didn't want to obsolete Legions before I got any). Anyway, this feels like a big win for me. I don't think there's a chance in hell that Greenline stops Great General boosted Legions with just warriors and archers.

Uh, what else. Khmer finished a Commercial Hub, that was the district last turn. I thiiiink Krill is running the +2 Scientist points card? Earning a base of 3 GSPs and I don't think he has 3 Campuses.

Japan cleared a barbarian camp and got 50 gold. Japan is down to 4 gpt, paying 2 gpt for the Horseman. None of Japan's Harbors have finished construction, but they will provide a very needed boost to income when they do. Too little too late, though. Sorry things turned out the way they did, Fet.

Khmer got another civic, took just 4 turns, I'll see if I can sus that out later. Only 2 civics behind me.

Lastly... lastly, I promise.... I spent an hour and a half on this turn both agonizing over the Khmer trade, but also when I realized I was going to fall short of cash I was scrambling to figure out a way to squeeze more money out of my empire. I considered having Bombay finish its Market before building Warriors, but had to scrap that because the Warriors wouldn't be in position in time for upgrades. I DID realize that the trade route to Korea will earn 6 gpt for the few turns it is active (and Burmese's TR to Bombay should expire soon.... will probably send that to Zanzibar for cash). Also, I'll have a Great Merchant in just a few turns, and can generate 60 gold for me 3 times. I was debating what tiles I want to get, and I've settled on 3 2nd ring tiles in Persian. Normally I'd want to grab 3rd ring tiles that are harder to get, but I do want all these tiles in the near future, and they're all in a line so I can generate the gold quickly.

If everything works out, I'll have enough gold to do my planned upgrades or, worst case, I can upgrade 4 and do the last a few turns later for reinforcements.

Plan is on track to do necessary upgrades on Turn 85, then on Turn 86 the backline Legions chop out 1 more from Bengal, and the attack commences.

Just 6 more turns....

[Whosit]

Archduke reject my trade offer, and no further counter-offers.

Japan is definitely moving units in my direction. 2 Warriors and the 1 Horseman that I can see. I believe the pressure from Persian and Chartreux make it impossible for Japan to get another city down in the terrain between us. Again, hoping that Chev is up to something else, but I have to keep considering the possibility he wants to raze Chartreux. I may want to hold off on finishing Apprenticeship long enough to upgrade the local warrior into a Legion.

Timeline on my war prep might be a turn or two later than I had hoped. Neither Bombay nor Bengal are producing as much overflow as I had calculated, so what I had thought would be 1-turn warriors look like 2 turns builds.

Korea hooked up Turtles. Must have sent their builder through Chinese territory. UI makes it unclear if Mo Li Hua is still losing loyalty or not. I'm debating whether I want to move my galley into position to pillage the turtles or not. On the one hand, Korea losing that happiness on turn 1 of the war would be good for me. On the other, if I'm able to liberate Venice, not sure they would ever be able to get their own builder to repair the fishing boats. This assumes I can one day become Suzerain of Venice.... Nah, I should pillage.

Also, Mo Li Hua finished its Seowon, so gets the +1 happy from that. Korea has 4 luxuries, so if all are going to Mo Li Hua, the city would be Happy right now. Yeah, I think all of Korea's cities are Happy, currently.

Without the luxury from Khmer, Burmese fell to Content, but the yield loss is minimal since it's not a terribly strong city in the first place. I can also get my own source of turtles here if I'm willing to spend 225 gold on tiles at some point in the future.

I was also thinking about what Tier 2 government to head for. Monarchy is the typical path, but I don't think it is the most useful for me, and I wouldn't be able to boost many of the Civics along the way. I did some calculations, and in the Best Case Scenario where I get a boost for every Civic I possibly could, Monarchy is still the fastest, but getting to Merchant Republic (Exploration) is only about 150 culture more, or 5-6 turns. The hardest boost to get is going to be "build 2 caravels" because I'd need to tech a lot of top line techs that I don't necessarily need, and are actually going to be hard to boost themselves. But most of the civics on the way to Exploration are more useful to me than the ones towards Divine Right.

I'll have to do some more estimation later to see what's feasible. I want to build the Colosseum in Bengal, but that will have to wait until the war with Korea is decidedly in my favor. It's a damn costly wonder, too, but well worth getting. +2 amenities AND +2 culture in all cities within 6 tiles? Great. Hm... maybe I WOULD be better off absorbing Mo Li Hua into my empire, as it is positioned to gain those benefits, too, and there's no guarantee I would be able to gain or maintain Suzerainship of it. Also, I might get a (0 science) campus out of it. And turtles.

Gonna do some calculations on how fast I could get that, too.

Otherwise, not much to report. Going to keep my builders in my eastern territory protected. I'd absolutely expect Japan to capture one if the opportunity presented itself.

Fingers crossed that this will be a 3 turn day!

[Whosit]

My quick calculations for getting Colosseum:

ent complext 131
arena 150
colosseum 400 (320 with policies)

Total: 681 (601) production!

Great Merchant grab tiles at Bengal (west side): Woods(hill), Jungle Banana(hill), jungle(hill). Buy Colo tile (jungle plains). Keep Magnus.

Chopable: Jungle x3, woods x1
Estimated Modifier T96: 2.9. Woods = 58, Jungle = 29/29
Bengal Size 8 w/ Apprenticship mines: 20 base production. 22 if Happy (likely)

w/ 2 jungle chops(86 modified), Entertainment Complex + Arena = 9 turns!
Colosseum w/ 25% boost, 1 jungle (58 modified), 1 woods (117 modd) chops
27 city prod = 9 turns!

18 turns total.

Earliest could get builder in place is T96, with 5 charges left (from Burmese). Could begin Colosseum T102 earliest when Builder can chop tile Colo will go on. Means earliest finish is T111. This may vary if the builder doesn't finish as early as expected. Means I want to start Entertainment Complex on T93. I'll want the Bath completed by this point for the extra amenity. Going to fiddle with spreadsheets but this seems doable.

[Whosit]

Another turn already! Great day to be working from home. Seeing as how there have been several text-only updates, and seeing as how I'm waiting for my work computer  to unfuck itself, let's spoil you all with some pictures.




I don't think I can deny it.... Chev M Fet is coming for me. Based on stats from the last couple turns, and seeing that he has dropped from 4 gpt to 0 gpt, he's built a second horseman. I probably should have acted this turn, but when the next turn rolls around I will declare war on him and hope that Hong Kong can slow him down a little bit. I think it would take 6 turns for that Horseman to reach the outskirts of Chartreux, but I'm not sure if Fet is planning to wait for his units to group up, or if he was going to try raiding with the lead warrior.

I've been frantically trying to update my estimates in my Master spreadsheet. If I've understood expected overflow better (maybe....), then I think I can complete Iron Working on Turn 86, just in time to upgrade the warrior stationed out east into a Legion if necessary. It could slow down my attack on Korea, but.... I don't think that greenline is going to be any less vulnerable if I have to wait an extra turn or two.

Chev.... if you weren't planning to attack me, this is a funny way to show it.




My Empire's first Market completed in Persian.




This little city is generating more gold than the capital, and fully half of my Empire's gold income! Didn't I say it before? The people who settled here knew they were going to strike it rich!




Now I can buy that Trader and send it out next turn. Burmese's trade route might end next turn, as well. Not 100% sure as it's hard to track trade route duration, and they apparently take longer in each Age for some reason?




The barbarian threat from the north is finally ended. Now, just to wait 20 turns for these units to get back home.




Even with the extra pressure from my population, greenline has finally stabilized loyalty in this city. Must be the Happiness bonus. Greenline must be feeling pleased as punch. Well. Just delaying the inevitable. /Gohan

Have a couple wider empire shots:




 

I'm getting the feeling that the other players don't want to be my friend. Interesting times ahead, to be sure.

Turn has already rolled back around to greenline, but Fet probably won't be able to get to it for a few more hours anyway, so let's have a bonus round update! Let's call it...

Whosit's Analysis of Rivals and Current Game-state!

#1: Korea
Threat Level: 1/10
Status: Food
Notes: Not long for this world.

I don't think there's much else to say here.

#2: Japan
Threat Level: 5/10
Status: Dead man walking, Desperate
Notes: If my read here is accurate, this is a last place player trying to disrupt the game leader. While annoying to me, it's perfectly understandable from a game perspective. Japan has an elevated threat level just because my eastern cities are relatively lightly defended, and won't be getting much in the way of reinforcements any time soon. Really wish I could have trained up some Horsemen of my own just to play fast defense, but opportunity costs and so on.

The timing on this attack is interesting. I wonder if it's a coincidence, or if Fet has a better read on my intentions re:Korea than greenline does?

#3: China
Threat Level: 3/10
Status: Stagnating empire
Notes: I expected Yongle of China to be a bigger problem in this game, but with only 3 cities, I find it hard to imagine that Krill will pose much of a threat going forward. China's capital, Monk's Halo, is at size 8, and will gain some major science, cultural, and gold buffs at size 10, but that's only going to patch up a weak start. Lack of cities means lack of production, and that's what I see hurting Krill in the long-run.

Not sure if the bug that Krill mentioned played a significant role in things or not.

#4: Khmer
Threat  Level: 10/10
Status: Rival
Notes: I was definitely expecting Khmer to be a threat going into the game, but Archduke has still surprised me. Mainly, surpassing my culture this early. The big questions are how will he leverage his Faith income, and what victory condition he will pursue. He's clearly gone for a farmer's gambit most of the game, only recently boosting his military (swordsman, I believe), like I have. Right now, my primary advantage is more developed cities and a greater scientific output. Khmer will erase my lead on population soon enough, but I will be putting out a new wave of Settlers soon and hopefully will have gobbled up Korea. Not sure how much I'll be able to leverage a science advantage, but at the very least if I can stay on par, Archduke will always risk attacking into a peer military force as long as I don't spread myself too thin.

[Whosit]

Ah, the age ol' form of forum spying: Does the activity in another player's thread mean they are up to something?  

Well.... Despite that....




Young Whosit would have probably declared war the moment that horseman appeared. Old Whosit might be too cautious. The troop movements confused me a little. Does not make sense if Fet is beelining for an attack on me. This is why I've been slow to respond to these movements, because I don't want to start an unnecessary war right now if I'm misinterpreting things.




Offered a slightly favorable deal. This is mostly to sniff things out, though a rejection might just mean that Fet doesn't want to trade with the score leader. And an acceptance doesn't mean he won't attack. Worth a shot, anyway.

I feel more comfortable spending that money, because....


 




I nearly had Burmese do a domestic route to Bengal just for the road connection, but the money was too good to pass up. Besides, I realized that when the route to Korea gets cancelled, Bengal can trade to Monks Halo via Burmese, so I get that road anyway (and this time it would be worth 11 for going through one of my own trading posts).

Also, if I did my math right.... with this income, I will have EXACTLY enough cash to upgrade all the warriors (in Bengal) to Legions after all! Happy day!

To compensate, I may try to get Chartreux's archer out a few turns early, but only after or on the same turn Bombay finishes the Market, because losing even 1 gpt due to the maintenance would screw me.

[Whosit]

So something I didn't notice last turn until I was reviewing screenshots is that greenline is building a watermill in Scarborough Fair. How kind of him to build that for me! I hope it finishes in the next couple of turns!




Relations with Japan remain... interesting. CMF accepted my trade offer, but that second horseman was spotted by one of Hong Kong's warriors. I only became Suzerain for the era score, but wow, what a lucky move! Good luck sure has been a running theme of my game, but I'll take it! Lucky that I had the right policy to get that bonus envoy in the first place, and lucky that I chose to Suzerain the city state when I did. Without that intel, I'd have definitely been caught off-guard.

So, I think we're in scenario D-whatever: Fet is happy to take my gold and luxuries for a few turns until he attacks. I'll try to keep an eye on those horse movements with my brave and doomed scout. I'm reading this as a raid-level threat: unlikely to actually capture or raze one of my cities, but could pillage improvements or roads if I'm not careful. Perhaps Fet is going to try to fork Persian and Chartreux, or maybe just swing the horsemen around to try and envelop Chartreux. Slight possibility he tries to penetrate further in and go for Bombay, but that seems less likely.

I'd estimate that Japan's full military is something like: 2 horsemen, 4 warriors, 1 galley, 1 archer, ?? other. Japan's military power has never been stable so it's been hard to get a proper read on it. Either way, right now it's looking like I'm just going to face 2 horsemen and 2 warriors. I realized that a spearman costs the same as an archer, so I'll chop out a spearman at Chartreux instead of the archer. I'm also bringing in an archer from the west that will probably get to Persian in time to defend.

Debating if it's worth trying to get walls in my eastern cities, but I don't think I need to. If I can defeat this raid, Japan really has nothing left to threaten me with. It's really going to be a question of where I deploy my troops, which will change with intel.

Anyway, I'll take Japan's turtles as long as I can. When my eastern cities finish their Baths, they will be ecstatic so I'll take the yields boost.




Japan building roads.


 

Western front.

EDIT: Crossing my fingers that Krill is a good boy and just scouts and doesn't abuse our Friendship to interfere with my troop movements.

[Whosit]

Wow, turns are moving WAY faster than I expected! Looks like it could come back around to me in a little bit (if it does, that'll be the last of the day, but a monumental one nonetheless). Quick update from T86:




OK, I guess Fet isn't going to attack me. Glad I didn't overreact and pull the trigger too early. What's he doing? I can't see him taking Hong Kong with its wall.


 

With the threat of Japan gone (or at least delayed) swapping back to eco build here. I will have the cash and iron to upgrade the warrior here next turn, as well. May show it to Fet.




Great Merchant been doing Great Merchant things. Also, somehow I have a Harbor before Japan?




Running these Civics. Bombay is going to produce a 200 prod Settler in 4 turns! Maybe 4-5 for the one after that.


 


 









Some brigands waylaid our Warrior returning home. Gonna have to deal with that.

Also, last turn Krill got his capital to size 10. I know I was dismissive of that a few turns ago, but wow, seeing the benefits is sure something else. Krill now matches my cultural output, is catching up on science, and now has a reasonable gold economy. I still think that the lack of cities is going to hurt him in the long run, but I'll have to decide if I want to try taking him down quickly or not.

Will be curious if greenline leaves his warrior where it is. It would actually slow my attack down a little just because I can't punch through that warrior in one go. Also, right now a "test" attack shows +3 intel, due to my trade route. I'm assuming that will go away when I declare war because the trade route will be cancelled. The rough terrain, and a goof on warrior positioning the previous turn, will keep me from getting flanking bonuses. Ah, well.

Can't wait to read greenline's thread for this turn after the game. :3c

EDIT: Just noticed greenline hasn't actually updated his thread in a week. Did he check out of the game already?

[Whosit]

The Fall of Korea: Turn 1

Theme Music

It begins.


 




My trader provides some valuable intel before the assault begins. Greenline should have kept the Warrior in place, as it had full fortification and better terrain defense. If he had wanted to move the warrior into the city, he had the movement to do so. Not sure what to make of this decision.




After last turn, I realized I had TWO Envoys available. Enough to take Zanzibar's Suzerainship from Krill. I'm sure that this won't last too long, but as long as Krill doesn't have a spare envoy right now, this not only provides me with valuable luxuries, but it opens a second front for Korea. I can see that there is no defense in the capital, so I have to assume that the bulk of greenline's forces are somewhere between Arirang and the front lines.




Zanzibar benefits: ALL my cities are currently ECSTATIC and gain 20% bonus to all yields!


 




Backline Legions help a new brother finish arming. Looks like a freshly chopped unit starts with -1 move. Does not make much difference here as my advance is slowed down by needing to go through that Korean warrior. Once Scarborough Fair falls, the other Legions can chop out the surrounding features to create instant reinforcements on the front lines! In my SP games I rarely chop/harvest as many resources as I have in this game, but I am really seeing the snowball effect of doing so.




I was wondering about the Palace Guard bonus here, but realized it's Victor. That means greenline kept Pingala in Mo Li Hua which feels to me. Really wondering if greenline checked out of this game many turns ago. I guess I'll know after the game is over. For the sake of everyone else, I hope that he puts up the best defense that he is able to.

Though he started building a watermill in his capital as of a turn or two ago so who knows. Because no walls are being built, I'm leaving the battering ram behind. In retrospect, I didn't need it, but better to have it and not need it than not have it. Same with the city walls in Bengal and Burmese.

I'm going to have to think of new names for Korean cities....

In the left corner you can also see a Korean archer on a hill. Not sure if greenline was making hasty reinforcements, or if the archer had just been chilling there. It's not fortified, so must have just been moved.

I wonder if Seowons will be destroyed or become normal Campuses when I conquer a city. I do not remember the rules for unique districts. Guess I'll find out in a few turns. I'd actually like them to become campuses, even if they provide me 0 science, just because the great people points would be nice, I don't have to build them myself, and when I get two I'll get the boost for Recorded History.

In other news:




I'm wondering if this Entertainment Complex is being built purely for the amenities, or if Archduke is also going to make a play for the Colosseum. From what I know of Civ 6 MP meta, players avoid building ECs unless absolutely necessary or if they are going to build the Colosseum. Bengal is going to pop out one more Archer but then immediately go for Entertainment Complex > Arena > Colosseum. I don't need more units to conquer Korea, and I'll need to make sure I swap back into Corvee when it's time to begin the wonder. I really want it, and really, really want to deny it from the Khmer if they are indeed making a play for it.




Japan's troop movements. I still have no idea what's going on....

I threw down an encampment in Chartreux, but not sure when I will actually finish construction. I mainly want to build the Terracotta Army and the terrain around Bengal isn't good for it (and it will be busy with the Colosseum). I may want to move Liang here before starting on the district but she needs to stay in Burmese a while longer, since I'm going to put down a Commercial Hub as soon as the builder finishes.

Also, I want to build Stonehenge on Bombay, just for the lolz. I played a test game just now to confirm that you can still finish Stonehenge even if you harvest the stone next to it, just as long as Stonehenge was begun when the stone was still there.

Not a lot of major news from demographic information. Korea got a civic but I doubt that really matters.

Japan has been fairly static, aside from increases in military power. I upgraded the local warrior to a Legion, so I feel secure there. I am going to finish Apprenticeship next turn for the production boost to mines. No more Legions for me.

I thiiiink that Khmer have finished the Holy Sites in their newest cities, and there has been more pop growth. Otherwise, nothing of note. Archduke continues to get away with a low military.

China cleared a barb camp to gain gold and era score. Krill is continuing to grow his cities but not much else of note. He's been burning through techs, and I expect his tech and civic pace to pick up with the Size 10 boosts.

Sadly, I know that the turn-pace slows down over the weekend, but hopefully I'll get another turn or two before Monday. I'd like to put greenline out of his misery as soon as possible.

[Whosit]

The Fall of Korea: Turn 2

Quick turn. Apprenticeship came in, giving me +1 to mines and +1 era score for being second to medieval age in tech. Only 8 score from another Golden Age and I'm feeling like I can probably hit it. Age is 13-33 turns left, so I guess it depends on how many turns we actually get. Feudalism in 3 turns, so +2 points unless someone else gets a Medieval civic before me. I'll get 6 points for wiping out Korea, so it remains a question of how many turns the Classical era will actually last. 3 Civs (Korea, Khmer, and me) have Medieval era techs, and no one else yet has a Medieval civic. I think the time an age lasts depends on average tech/civic era among civs, but I don't know the actual formula off the top of my head.

I'll need to check the list of historical events and see what else I might be able to get in case the timer ends up on the shorter end. I should be getting a Splendid Commercial Hub soonish (+3) and another Great Merchant in 10 turns (+1), so really I need 2 more Era score to be secure. Ah. If Mo Li Hua revolts quickly after the fall of Scarborough Fair, I'll get +2 Era score for either absorbing it or releasing it. No idea what the timeline on that might look like, so don't know if I can rely on it.

Oh! I'll surely get the +2 Era Score for a "General Defeats Enemy" event! And if worst comes to worst, I can levy the forces of Zanzibar (assuming Krill doesn't overthrow my control) for +2. Yeah, I think that I have plenty of options to ensure a Medieval Golden Age at this point.

I think I will would retain Free Inquiry as my Golden Age benefit, because that's really propping up my science right now. I would consider Pen, Brush, and Voice if Khmer's culture gets out of control, but I plan to start putting down Theatre Squares in some of my cities, so I may not need to worry about culture as much.

Anyway, with all THAT pre-amble out of the way, let's get to the action!




Situation on the front at the start of the turn. Zanzibar is doing what I want by throwing some units into Korea's territory. Hopefully they do a little pillaging, or at least distract greenline, though I expect the Legions at the gate will have his full attention. City State warriors might be able to pillage improvements but they aren't going to take any cities.

Greenline has begun construction of walls at Scarborough Fair (watermill finished, thank you!!). I wasn't pay enough attention while playing the turn... but I'll bring the battering ram to the front lines starting next turn. Korea got a new civic last turn, and has 5 governor promotions, so very possible that he has Limes as a policy. If that's the case the wall should be completed by turn 90? I can definitely have the battering ram adjacent to the city by then, so I'm not too worried.




Anyway, I know that Victor has a 2nd promotion because of this.

Can any lurker confirm if the +5 Garrison Commander bonus only applies to defense? I can't find confirmation and it would be too difficult for me to test quickly.




Front line after all movement. All of my Legions are in range of the Great General, so they will have the +1 movement bonus next turn. I expect greenline to take some pot shots at my wounded Legion but I'm not terribly worried.

Greenline should have sacrificed his warrior to pillage the road between our cities, as that would have slowed me down by a turn or two. I think he'll have enough gold to upgrade a warrior to a Man-at-Arms in a couple of turns, which would be a pain in the butt. I don't think it would stop me, though. We'll see if he retreats his wounded archer or not. Wounded Legion is at 12/15 XP, so if he gets attacked he can probably promote next turn.

Next turn, I should be able to wrap around the north side of Scarborough Fair, and I may pull my injured Legion back. Archer will probably go 1SW to peer into Mo Li Hua. If there's an archer there, he'll probably get shot at but won't die. River and rough terrain is going to slow me down, but I can probably start pillaging on Turn 91. With the battering ram in place on T90, even if the wall gets up I should be able to knock it down quickly. I think I can also take some pot shots at the city just to keep its health low, and gain some xp.

I'm glad that it looks like greenline is putting up a fight here, because once I break through, there won't be much to stop me on the road to Arirang.

Oh, and I think Khmer built a market in their comm hub last turn.

[Whosit]

And here's the part where I think I have egg on my face and realize I may have overestimated my position.

I think I only need one picture for this one. End of turn:




Korea is in Oligarchy and is running Bastions and Limes (presumably).

I realized I had made a mistake in my turn, and lost the chance to get the Great General Victory era score, but I guess I felt that redoing it might be wrong. I forgot that the victorious unit has to END turn on a tile covered by the general, not just start from one. I should have moved the Great General before attacking. Maybe I should have reloaded because now I'm not so sure I will get another kill.

That wounded Legion traded for a Warrior, but will certainly get shot to death. I think only 3 ranged attacks are required. 5 ranged attacks are available. Meaning I would probably need to produce a Legion every turn to replace losses. I'm not sure if I'm catastrophazing because one turn has gone not amazingly well for me, but that's what the numbers look like. Turns out greenline was fooling ME and had exactly enough resources to hold me off.

I thought that Legions with a Great General would trade fairly with Man-At-Arms, but I'm realizing I hadn't been accounting for Oligargy AND the Victor defense buff.

I very well imagine that I may need to retreat and regroup next turn. Bengal will have to resume troop training instead of going into Wonder production right away. I want to hang out in Autocracy as long as I can for when I do build the Colosseum since it's so dang expensive.

There will be no peace with Korea. No true peace. I think the only way that I can turn this around is to largely keep doing what I was going to do. Build Settlers, grab cities. Only in this case, I'll be taking a few Legions north to La Venta. I have the cash income to start upgrading Legions to man-at-arms (but I want to use up Legion build charges as much as I can).

Point is, even if Korea has the defenses to stop my invasion, they do not have the power to invade me, either. That's why I just need to pop a couple more units out of Bengal to keep my south secure, and then focus on expanding with Settlers so I will at least still grow larger than Korea.

Ah, but I really bungled things by not replaying the turn for that era score. A lot of what I was expecting to get assumed I would swiftly capture Scarborough Fair.

EDIT: Well, I do have some more consolation points (am I coping? yes). I've still done damage to Korea. Greenline had to put two governor titles into Victor, who will not provide long-term economic bonuses. Had to put resources into Wall(s) he didn't want to. I don't think I forced the training of any new units, at least not that I can see so far.

On the other hand, all the time, production, and gold that went into my Legions was stuff that could have gone into other things as well. I'm not getting any direct benefit out of them if they can't get me a city.

EDIT EDIT: Only JUST noticed that Korea has a new city! So greenline even beat me to a sixth city.  

Yeah. Despite believing I had made adequate preparation for an invasion, I probably needed twice this much if I was going to fight at parity tech. I thought I had a window of opportunity to still strike while greenline wouldn't be able to get a melee unit better than a warrior (I overestimated the size of that window), and underestimated the power of a large group of archers that can collectively take out stronger units without taking return fire.

All I can do right now is make sure that I don't take any further damage myself, and try to build up a tech lead on Korea for the future. Thrice kicking myself for not thinking to get that era score until it was too late.

Oh, wait. I can get that against a La Venta city state unit! I think those count, too! All is not lost! Though I probably also want to levee zanzibar just for the era score. I will not beat Korea in science if I cannot get a golden age again.