[spoiler!] Ruffing Bull of Spain

[Ruff_Hi]

Well, if the Chinese become no longer #1 - where are you going to get tech from?

That is easy ... someone else. Swapping the target of EPs is pretty easy.

[Ruff_Hi]

more chat ... and TT makes a chat mistake

[Ruff_Hi]

EP at 100% up to 246pt. Got my 2nd GSpy last turn and built Scotland Yard (Academy, Library and Uni all in one) - pushing my max EP up to 327pt. Stole construction last turn but lost my spy - will need another round of spies built. I have 5 waiting for max discount in NSA's city.

[Ruff_Hi]

Here is an update on my espionage economy. I recently stole Engineering from NSA and walls / citadels quickly sprung up in my cities.



From the above, you can see that Guilds would cost me 1540 beakers or 2310 base EP points. Add in my discounts, and that EP spend comes down to ...

modifier = .8 * .6 * 1.14 * .5 (not shown above) * .62 = 0.1696 (round down to 0.16)

... 2310 x 0.16 or 369.6 (call it 370). I am currently generating 424 EPs per turn at 100%.

So, 424 EPs would 'buy' 1764 beakers (424 x 1540 / 370). I haven't factored in beaker discounts because I am not sure if they don't apply to EP beakers.

Is anyone else in this game generating 1750 beakers per turn at 100%?

Sure, I have to spend some hammers (for spies), I'm not guarranteed of landing the tech and I will not be first to the tech ... that said, there is no better way of quickly catching up on tech in a NTT game. I currently have about 10 spies waiting for their 5 turns to steal. The next 5 turns will be tech manner from heaven.

[mackoti]

I know its very strong, but you know spying its not alowed in most of the games...

[Ruff_Hi]

NSA was 2 turns away from Military Tradition and those stronger knights (couriers, courtisans, whatever). I, on the other hand was short music, philo, nationalism and gunpower. Miles of research turns away from Knights+2.



You can see that my EP discount is down to 16%. I'm pulling 480 EPs at 100% at the moment. That is 1.3 turns worth for a tech like Nationalism. I have a 50% discount spy all ready to steal Military Tradition next turn - I will be able to start building those Knights+2 before NSA .

[mackoti]

You thif...

[Ruff_Hi]

NSA finished Printing Press last turn, so, naturally, I stole paper and then PP to get the +1 benefit 1 turn before them . I did lose a spy (sniff) but it was still a good turn.

I also realized that my Cuirasseir is actually a conquistador (+50% v melee). And to think that Adhoc is busy building maces :D.

[Ruff_Hi]

And now the fun really starts ...


(his units outlined in green and mine in light brown). BTW - you can scrub those spears you see in the above picture - my conquistadors took them out (87% probability) before they upgraded to pikes. I'll post more during the war.



I'm saving money at the moment so I have diverted my EPs away from NSA. I will have tech visibility on all players next turn and also city visibility into Adhoc's land too (at least the cities I know about). He does have at least 1 city in the North as he has iron (I saw he just finished a pike).

Adhoc's road system is shit - I think he will regret that in the coming turns.

[Ruff_Hi]

Quick Update:

• Adhoc 4x cats my stack (they all die)
  
• Spy Revolt of Carlton (just to stay in character)
  
• Lost 2 cats for collateral damage
  
• Carlton Captured
  
• Gained 1 Great General (medic III to keep my attack rolling)
  
• Adhoc's power dropped from 376000 to 274000
  
• pictures at 11 (ie later)
  

Edit: Also stole banking from NSA.