[spoilers] Let's Play Civilization 4.5: Realms Beyond the Sword

[Commodore]

I'm past the point of "furs" being my main economy. There are three pillars:



I think I like Financial again.

[Zed-F]

Anything exciting happening in your empire, or are you just having fun in your sandbox?

[Brian Shanahan]

Knellsonne is so good it's contributing twice?

[Commodore]

Anything exciting happening in your empire, or are you just having fun in your sandbox?

Yeah, just hanging out.

Knellsonne is so good it's contributing twice?

Ewpz.

[Commodore]

So I'm sure Superdeath's reported, but I built a decent-sized little fleet.


Superdeath figured he'd screened himself pretty solidly.


Unfortunately for him, the turn before kickoff, I had set up Magellan.


So I was able to just bypass...

...and then move the whole fleet into safety.

Declare war and join in, Dark Savant.

[Commodore]

Archers on flatland don't defend cities so good. I mean, normally at least he'd have the amphib thing helping out but thanks to Gers...


Here's the extremely interesting tactical picture, right now. None of Superdeath's caravels start out promoted, but a single win sees them able to get Nav2 and go to four moves. My c-nav Theocracy galleys are all four-movers, so sitting safely inside Cardinal Glick they threaten his Great Lighthouse capital, which is fun. We both have privateers auguring in, I'm sure, but there's this narrow window of opportunity before he goes berserk with the whip, going to try to see if I can make something happen.

Hop in Dark Savant, c'mon lad.

The looming threat, of course, is this:

Gavagai can't conquer me, but if that stack moves in all expeditionary activity is cancelled and we're both irrelevant for the rest of the game.

[Commodore]

I have a rule of thumb; when in doubt, attack. Ger Knights are a horror, I can take stuff like this with ease. Flawless victory, and now one more potential whipping station is gone. I don't like using an anphibiknight on not-GLH, but I have more troops than hulls.


Fewer hulls than I'd like, at that. Superdeath's valuable 4-mover caravels are a threat, worth risking a galley or two for. I lost this shot, but the mop-up worked and now I have a Great General.


Sentry scouting sez...

...yup. The beautiful window of "no privateers" is done and gone. Gotta speed things up, Superdeath is killable right now going by city numbers and power but only if I can swing a good 3:1 citiy ratio ASAP.

Any questions?

[Thoth]

What's the plan with the GLH?

Great Big Bonfire as you raze the city?

Or is it a keeper?

[Commodore]

What's the plan with the GLH?

Great Big Bonfire as you  raze the city?  

Or is it a keeper?

Well, let's see, it's pretty cheap to open up a hole...

...and when I hop in, losing a knight and three crossbows, I see...

Why yes, that is an extra 67 gpt immediately.

I think it's pretty clear that the GLH is worth keeping. There are going to be some sinkings next turn, as the impressive four privateers already here wreak havoc. But hey, I killed those two galleys at 38% odds each, so I'm not too worried about his transport capacity yet. I might get pushed out of this continent if Dark Savant isn't up to fighting, it is his home after all. But the ridiculousness that is Krillmod Navy means I can at least give this a fair shake.


Power sez...Gavagai is relieved to see me hitting someone else, OH is still working his conquest, and OH BABY do i need to go whole hog with knights here in Superdeathia.


Here's the demos. That crop yield in particular should tell you how much I need to take more cities. Here's hoping Superdeath is a solid donor.

[Commodore]

Today's theme is: Lose all coinflips.

Number of Superdeath Privateers still remaining: All seen here.