Alhambram toast his first PBEM game with Russian vodka

[Alhambram]

Turn 152:

Finished civil engineering and I made a policy swap which wasn't easy for me:
   
Raid gone, professional army in, it costs 200 gold to upgrade my horseman into Cossack and I have 4 horseman and 817 gold, so I upgraded all of them with anticipation of ending friendship between Woden and me at next turn. 
Most painful choices were made at economic policies, I decided to put away very useful trade confederation, with possible wars soon, it would become useless since it only gives bonus to international trade. It results into loss of 4 science and 4 culture. Instead I got triangular trade which do affect my internal trade network and gives me 4 gold and 1 faith per trade route. One of my traders started a route from Abydosgrad to Toronto, other trader just completed route and I sent him to Fishygrad where he shall start new trade route to help Fishygrad grow. I also put away simultaneum policy card which mean decrease of my faith per turn, because I need public works for a while and meritocracy is too good to put away. I shall swap simultaneum back if possible in next civic swap.

Meanwhile Woden domination did increase a bit, but not too much, more worrying is his treasury which is over 1000 gold gold now for upgrades. But at other side of my lands, my paranoia was triggered severely: I saw a field cannon of oledavy next my border and I move my knight 2 tiles closer to see this view:
   
A Great General led army, there is two possibilities. First possibility: oledavy want take Pylos, maybe because TheArchduke did put majority of his army at Dorium and Pylos is easier target.
Second possibility of his army standing there is to take Zaycnthusgrad!  So even with my increased defenses from civil engineering I wasn't relaxed by the idea of oledavy's army standing there and I don't trust oledavy's intentions with that army.
So I took measures here and purchased 2 Cossack with faith, one in Zaycnthusgrad and other in Abydosgrad. I did click upon my Cossack and hovered over oledavy's field cannon and musketman.
Result: major victory for my Cossack against field cannon and normal victory against musketman even if they are boosted by Great General. So oledavy would be foolish to declare me war.

I did make a good use of public works: I chopped a worker in Helicegrad and new worker out Helicegrad chopped a new worker from Sushigrad and new worker from Sushigrad shall chop a another one from Sushigrad next turn. St. Petersburg shall finish encampment project next turn and I shall check how many Great General points I earned and I shall calculate then whether St. Petersburg shall start another encampment project or not. Next turn I shall get Great Writer, he shall stand in line waiting for amphitheater. Currently I yet have build another theater besides one in St. Petersburg, military is bit more important in these unsure times. 

Empire overview:
   
   
   

[Alhambram]

Turn 153:

Friendship with Woden has yet to wear off, that shall likely happen next turn. Moreover Woden did a mass upgrade, I did see swordsman upgrading in musketman, but Cossack shall crush musketman if they are fighting. 
And Woden did another policy swap which I can spying up thanks open access to his diplomacy:
   
Two major differences are adding professional army of course for discounts of upgrading units. Interesting Woden decided to ditch natural philosophy in favor of meritocracy, which means less science and more culture. I think that Woden is worried about Cossack and is now hurrying to research civil engineering to grab that extra defense boost as fast as possible. 
Also I did notice when I wrote up score in my C&D list, Woden religion points rose from 4 to 6 which mean he got 3rd belief and it turned out be tithe which gives him some gold, it is less powerful that church property but every gold counts.

Meanwhile at eastern lands, it seems that oledavy is after Pylos and not Zacynthusgrad, I shall monitor situation closely there. And what would happen if I attack with Cossack:
   

Meanwhile St. Petersburg completed encampment project and I calculated and if I got it right: I need one more encampment project in St. Petersburg and with already running projects in Vilnius and Astrakhan, I shall grab Great General at turn 158. I don't think that other players appreciate that I get Great General stacked up with Cossack (72 strength, 77 strength while fighting in my lands and 7 movement points).
I also got Great Writer this turn, he shall join line of Great Writers waiting for spot to place Great Works, I shall depending upon diplomatic situation start theater in both Astrakhan and Vilnius.

Empire overview:
   
   
   

[Alhambram]

Turn 154:

Some diplomacy this turn. Starting with oledavy offering me my 4 gpt for his cotton. But I see a another opportunity to seize cotton, so rejected. 
Singaboy also got cotton to trade, more importantly he finally completed civil service which mean I can offer him alliance, so I offer a pack: my 5 gpt for his cotton and a alliance between us.
   
I need cotton, because my cities are growing too fast and are having amenities trouble. I did rearrange tiles of some cities so they don't grow for a while. In Sushigrad I start building entertainment district.
And I don't know whether Singaboy want alliance or not, but I am only person now who can help Singaboy against oledavy's aggression since Woden is allied with oledavy. Moreover allying with Singaboy also mean that oledavy can't throw his entire army against me if he declare war on me, same when he declare war against Singaboy. This should put oledavy under control a bit. I hope that Singaboy accepts, also because it trigger inspiration for diplomatic service which I am reaching over 50% research next turn, with other words it would be perfect.
But oledavy and Woden can also offer Singaboy alliance, this might mean that I am facing 3 vs 1 if Singaboy joins Wondrous Alliance. Speaking about Wondrous Alliance, oledavy's and Woden's alliance ends next turn (or turn 156) and I expect them to resign it. I am currently more threat to them then them each other.

My friendship with Woden ended this turn and it would be foolish of me to declare him war since it also brings oledavy in war against me which I am not ready for it yet. Woden got domination score of 1006 against my 1556. But with oledavy added it becomes roughly 2000 against my 1500. With Singaboy allying with me it is tie: roughly 2000 vs 2000. Woden army mainly exists out muskets now, but he likely shall complete ballistics same as me which mean field cannons soon. Also I know from checking Woden's units since beginning, he got couple horseman which mean I can expect Cavalry too. oledavy army is a mix of field cannons and musketman with Great General as candy on top of it. Mine is a chaotic mix of knights, crossbowman, musketman and Cossack now, I need to upgrade all crossbowman and swordsman into better units. At next civic swap I might get a policy card that I yet have use: chivalry which speeds up production of mounted units with 50%, I can mass produce Cossack soon. When I grab Great General after 4 turns, only Cossack and field cannons benefits from its bonus.
Woden again did make civic swap this soon, likely a cheap civic completed. He got natural philosophy back and left meritocracy out, so again science in favor of culture. He also adopted triangular trade for more gold.

And it has been 10 turns since I declared war at TheArchduke, I want get my cities out occupation, so I offered TheArchduke peace. I did look up at internet more about ceding, it only less warmonger penalty with AI compared with blank peace. So I am sending TheArchduke simple peace treaty, with that I should work with my new cities. TheArchduke might reject it, but it is matter of handful turns that he get eliminated: oledavy started his final push against TheArchduke.
   
After researching ballistics, I need to go back to classical era for mathematics, then education for university for more science and banking for more gold. I am investing in war techs bit too much now and result is that my science is becoming lacking compared with Woden and oledavy. For civic I shall grab diplomatic service first and then enlightenment. After that I need a choice: Opera and Ballet for culture or Nationalism for warmongering (forming corps and national identity policy card which makes bit harder to kill units).

Empire overview:
   
   
   

[Alhambram]

Turn 155:

TheArchduke agreed to sign peace and my science and culture per turn boosted greatly and I finally can work with newly acquired cities.
Singaboy didn't agree with alliance, which was understandable from his viewpoint, by signing alliance you can be suddenly dragged in war that you don't want to do in first place. A logical decision from Singaboy, but it is bit disappointing for me and it also means that I need 3 turns more to research diplomatic service. At other side Singaboy did graciously offer his cotton for my 4 gpt, I accepted it.

I did benefit greatly by just grabbing 3 cities of TheArchduke and those three wasn't best cities of TheArchduke. TheArchduke's best cities were taken by oledavy and it still has to get out occupation. This means that oledavy shall explode in terms of science and culture when he eliminate TheArchduke, Dorium was taken in this turn and only Pylos remains, but it isn't without casualties since oledavy's domination score dropped to 874. I predict that oledavy shall surpass Woden at science and me at culture, hopefully that would make a good wake up call for Woden. Their alliance has yet to expire and that shall happen soon. I suspect that both are willing to resign alliance and they are thinking same: I can afford to ally with him because I shall surpass him at science anyways. In end one of them shall draw at short stick and I think that it is going be Woden due oledavy grabbing more lands.

Also another reason for them to ally is my religion which I already mentioned and maybe also due my army size. But I did expand my army exactly because I anticipate a 2 vs 1 war and it results in oledavy and Woden allying each other more likely, a self fulfilling prophecy. I really don't have a idea how to prevent them allying with each other or did I overlook something? I lack experience at metagaming and it might me undoing in this PBEM.    

And I see something at oledavy's diplomatic screen:
   
It tells that oledavy is trading with Woden, it sounds innocent. They can be dealing about open borders or amenities exchange. But my paranoia sensor tells me that it is also possible that trading involves sinister dealings for example sending certain amount gold to signal when to attack me. With limited diplomacy options between players, this is best way to signal intent to other players. oledavy did offer me joint war against Woden once while he just lost war against TheArchduke and several turns later oledavy got his army next Woden's eastern cities and again offered joint war. oledavy might pull out same stunt with Woden now against me and the trading done might about how many turns through amount gold. Also Woden is moving more of his muskets near our borders, it is very unsettling sight. I hope that war don't happen too soon, until I get Great General.

Rostov finished builder and since I still have 3 turns left of public works policy card, I decided to squeeze out one more worker out Rostov which shall improve around Fishygrad.

Empire overview:
   
   
   

[Alhambram]

Turn 156 and 157:

At turn 156 TheArchduke has been eliminated from PBEM 2, his last city has been captured by oledavy. I must say that he did much better than PBEM 1. Especially his aggressive play to grab 2 Great General was great and it didn't miss effect at wars he preformed.
I shall put my some thoughts about why TheArchduke got eliminated now: firstly he was in center and could be attacked from all sides including Woden. oledavy was bit too far from me and Woden due geographical reasons, but TheArchduke's lands was pretty accessible for every other player. This was a bit bad luck for him.
Secondly I think that attack on Singaboy was a mistake, TheArchduke created a enemy for life in form of Singaboy. Also his switching of allegiance from Singaboy to oledavy makes me think twice to deal with TheArchduke, it maybe also applies to other players. Maybe it was better that TheArchduke stuck being friend with Singaboy and kept oppressing oledavy with Singaboy.
Thirdly I am bit flabbergasted that TheArchduke always left his coastal cities empty and undefended, I didn't take advantage of it around turn 115 and in fact gave TheArchduke 30 turns extra time. And when I finally invaded over seas, it hasn't changed. I shall read TheArchduke's thread for a answer why TheArchduke didn't defend it. It greatly contributed to his quick downfall due me taking his cities relative fast with half of my army and preventing him grabbing niter, that was a very important moment.
Finally a piece of advice: you did well in investing army, but you could improve at economic and infrastructure builds. More improvements would help well, I know that it is tough balancing all sides of development. In beginning I focused too much upon growth and that almost became my early exit. 
But overall I say that you has done well in this PBEM and good luck at PBEM 4!

I offered Woden his jade for my silver, I try keep trading with him. Maybe it makes him less willing to go war with me. He also completed ballistics and I see his field cannon.
oledavy did complete civil engineering too and all of cities are tough nut to break similar with mine. 

Then at turn 157, oledavy offered me cotton for my 4 gpt, I already got cotton form Singaboy, so rejected. Woden did accept deal.
More importantly their alliance did wear off at turn 156 and they didn't manage to resign friendship at turn 157, am I seeing cracks in Wondrous Alliance?
I am considering to offer Woden declaration of friendship next turn and when Great General and Cossack are at place at my Greek colonies, ask joint war against oledavy. But it is still in dreaming stages and shouldn't taken seriously now. oledavy is surely rejecting all forms of friendship or alliance because it means that I can attack Woden freely and when Woden is eliminated, I win religious victory.
oledavy did rose science and culture, but his science (110.9) didn't bypass Woden (118.7) as I (93.4) predicted. That is because Woden simply grew more science. But oledavy is now clear culture leader with 103.4 per turn compared with me 96.3 and Woden 60.8. Maybe this rise helped Woden to realize that he better can't resign alliance with oledavy, because that might end in oledavy's victory at long term.

At scoreboard our scores are roughly equal:
   
Although I must admit that I have huge science disadvantage. So I did complete ballistics and start research mathematics (just 1 turn). I need to build some universities in my campuses.
I did successful complete encampment projects and as calculated Great General indeed do arrive at next turn. I start building Alhambra in St. Petersburg and I shall keep eye upon Woden whether he don't plan do same. In fact there is just one place where he can plant it and it isn't far from my borders. I am willing to go war because Alhambra belongs to me, it is my namesake after all, I take it personally!  

I am been thinking about Zaycnthusgrad, it is unfortunately too indefensible city for me and I decided to pull out almost all units out it except one Cossack. oledavy shall conquer it fairly quick if he attacks me. But I shall defend all other cities till death! I am still expecting both Woden and oledavy attack at same moment.

Next turn I shall do policy swap and here empire overview: 
   
   
   

[Alhambram]

Turn 158:

Got my Great General! I chained it with one of my Cossack nearby Astrakhan. 
It seems that offer with Singaboy his coffee for my salt expired since he did (re)offer that this turn and I accepted.
Woden did complete Great Lighthouse, I just spend one turn into it, so no big loss for me there.

But Woden made a worrying move that might signal that he is going declare me war next turn:
   
His army moved aggressively around Space Mountain and it seems that he is targeting Sushigrad. That would cut off my army around Helicegrad and Abydosgread of my main lands.
Woden domination score rose to 1355 against my 1556 and he also emptied his treasury which means that his domination score is going rise even more next turn. He seems confident that he can deal with me, but two civilizations of equal strength clashing mean a bloodbath. This likely mean that he is roping oledavy in for 2 vs 1 war, so I decided to send oledavy declaration of friendship. It has low chance to success, but it is clear that I don't want him involved in war against me. 
Also Woden's Terracotta Army is almost finished, maybe next turn that would be signal to start war against me.

I moved all my units around and abandon Zacynthusgrad completely. I placed weak swordsman and crossbowman in cities/encampment while knights and Cossack shall do dirty job. I upgraded 3 crossbowman into field cannon and it triggered inspiration for scorched earth. I have enough faith next turn to purchase one more Cossack. I did make policy swap and I left out professional army since I lack gold now to upgrade and I placed chivalry in to build Cossack quicker. Also I left out public works in favor of simultaneum for more faith to get more Cossack quicker. Well, I did all what I could do and I grit my teeth for next time when I open save.

Empire overview:
   
   
   

[Alhambram]

Turn 159:

This turn oledavy revealed his true face, my friendship not only was rejected, I also got denounced by him!  
   
This mean that he shall declare war with casus belli after 5 turns, it also is a inspiration for nationalism civic which unlocks corps.
However I am now also eligible to declare oledavy formal war due being denounced and I shall do that one turn before oledavy's 5th turn to prevent him getting inspiration for nationalism and getting one for myself, so at turn 163 I shall declare formal war upon oledavy. Well with this any diplomatic talks and friendships with oledavy has ended and we shall only talk through gunshots and crossing sabers. 

And what about Woden? He yet has to sign friendship with oledavy, so maybe his relationship with oledavy is shaky after all. I sent Woden final friendship offer. I don't care anymore who shall win, oledavy or Woden. But now oledavy has denounced me and he shall pay for it. If Woden accepts friendship, then I shall throw my entire army including Great General to oledavy. If Woden rejects, then it means that he is planning to invade me.
Woden is 6 tech ahead me, which mean that he might be close to infantry. So if Woden rejects friendship next turn (even better if he also denounces me), then I shall declare him war and wipe out as many units of him possible with Cossack before he can mass upgrade musketman (Woden got quite number of them). In that case I play defensive game against oledavy.

I did send Singaboy a offer for alliance again this turn, he should know by now that oledavy is planning to attack me in 5 turns.

Last peaceful empire overview before the lights in the world goes off?
   
   
   

[Alhambram]

A first part of Turn 160, second at next post:

When I opened the save, I saw two diplomatic messages, one from Woden and one from Singaboy. Starting with Singaboy,
   
Does he suggest that he is willing to sign alliance after 15 turns or do his friendship with oledavy ends after 15 turns? I am looking forward it.

Woden then, I did offer friendship and his answer:
   
He refused friendship, however he did send 7 gold for 7 gold. I wondered first what Woden did mean with it, after 7 turns friendship or something else, I saw a hint:
   
Woden denounced oledavy!  that is quite a backstabbing. 

But I got problem with that, firstly my guts tells me that Woden actually don't want go war and hopes that oledavy and me shall rip each other apart, so he can tech in peace. With this in mind his denouncing of oledavy might a way to trick me and attack me at same time when oledavy attacks me or stay sidelined when oledavy and I are warring. Majority of Woden's army is still nearby my borders, although he did retreat some of them to make him look more mr. nice guy. oledavy shall surely declare me war, he don't have choice after his denouncement towards which means that oledavy laid cards on table. Woden at other hand is still keeping his cards hidden, he don't have friendship with either oledavy and me, that means that he can play kingmaker. He can take right side of 2 vs 1 no matter what happens.
Also keep in mind that Woden is likely close infantry as I mentioned previous turn, 7 gold (7 turns) might a floy to buy time to reach tech needed for infantry. He did retreat his musketman a while, so I can't hit all of them now, just one.

I am starting to get tired of Woden's diplomacy games that is keeping him out wars and trying set up others against each other, at least oledavy is being honest with his denouncement against me. Also I already said previous turn, Woden should accept friendship or war.
So I say against Woden now: be a man and face me at battlefield! 
   
I declare surprise war at Woden this turn.

[Alhambram]

Turn 160 part 2:

With war drum sounded I attack encampment at Jungle Cruise and manages to destroy it in one turn thanks my Great General powered Cossack, Woden's bombard dies along it.
And also nearby Jungle Cruise my Cossack killed a promoted musketman, my Cossack is bit exposed now but he should survive and pillage niter mine next turn. I expect some knights killed next turn.
   
I hopes that Woden shall throw his army towards my cities, then he is walking in my deathtrap consisting knights and Cossacks.  

My main goal in this war is raze Jungle Cruise and resettle to clear my old grudge over that city spot. Further I shall play defensive and see whether I can kill and pillage as many as possible and if it is within my capacity, capture some of his cities.

Big question is what oledavy is going do? Is he helping Woden who just denounced oledavy this turn? 

Empire overview:
   
   
   

[Jabah]