TheArchduke tries his best not to be overrun again as Pericles

[Bacchus]

Sending horses north was a brilliant move. Look, he did exactly what we expected -- turtles his entire army in Lafayette, leaving the way north free. He has a strength 26 city with no military surrounded by farms. Brilliant! I understand why you grew despondent and didn't throw the general north too, but here's the thing -- with three horses, we don't even need the general to take that city. He hasn't even started walls there.

I assume he will first close the dialog window and then reoffer peace and the end of his turn. I wouldn't accept it -- we are threatening far more than he is, his tortoise swordsman is exactly that. At the very least I would ask for all his gold.

[Bacchus]

The problem with white peace is that it can only be temporary. The BA-Schuyler situation is fundamentally unstable unless both cities are held by the same person, the border can only stabilize if we lose BA, or if we force the ceding of Schuyler. Otherwise, both sides will have to keep massive militaries there on constant watch.

[TheArchduke]

I wanted to send the GG north, I could not.

I kick myself for not doing this early coupled with archers, but at that point I did not have enough military to protect BA.

[Bacchus]

There's nothing to kick yourself for -- the timing was completely forced by the circumstances. Moreover, Hong Kong is so unprotected now only because he brought his army so far south, which he would not have done, if not faced with a major threat at Lafayette. I mean, even that horse, that actually [i]

War against human players at parity conditions is difficult, it's never going to be "I show up with the general and win", it's all about slowly accumulating advantages and exploiting openings, whilst suffering setbacks. Conversely, it's never going to be "I lose everything", except in very special cases like Sulla's PBEM1 attack, which was a combination of impeccable timing and planning, a huge farmer's gambit, favourable geography allowing a maritime attack, and a bit of a lack of focus from your end.

Here, I think you forced Oledavy into a major mistake -- he left his lines open for insertion of 5-move horses that fork Hong Kong and Hamilton. Could the GG have gone onto the hill tile between the peaks? He couldn't be hit from there, but probably could be shot. Can support/civilian units be shot? I know they don't die, but would shooting have teleported him to the capital? Anyway, you are right that it's probably too risky to try.

[Bacchus]

Anyway, we have 10 turns to redeploy and consider what is it that we want to do beyond planting a bunch of cities.

One major priority -- scout the west! Let's use these horsemen whilst we have the chance to reveal the map.
Another -- find iron!
Finally, get some crossbows going and maybe another GG? Encampment project is a good investment, I think. Maybe 1 Heavy Chariot for upgrading purposes.

I would consider even attacking Woden, but we leave ourselves too vulnerable to attack.

[TheArchduke]

We have peace, I somehow forgot to take screenies. Oledavy shot us twice, and then took the peace.

My money says he will dow Singaboy for Seoul, have fun Singaboy.

We will go full flung economic development, I fear we can´t switch targets around to Woden quickly enough.

[Bacchus]

Yeah, I agree production needs to go to economy. Still, do what you can to scout, it will always be important to understand what the lay of the land is, our expansion prospects, who is fighting who and over what. Also find CS for envoys.

Autocracy or Classical Republic? I guess CR now, for a chance to switch to autocracy for a military buildup later.

Strategos? Maybe for 8-10 turns?

Caravansaries are a good plan once we have three plus trade routes going to finance a crossbow upgrade (not cheap).

We need some Acropoloeis too, at least if they are still better than monuments. Otherwise -- monuments.

Civic targets probably Mercenaries via Feudalism?

Research -- we can step away to complete Apprenticeship now that we have peace? I think maybe we can.

[TheArchduke]

Singaboy just sent an offer to friendship, whilst the one with Singa has run out.

If he accepts open borders, I am tempted to offer him joint war with Singa.

In any case, tentative buildup and exploration. I need to get my troops home if Singa becomes a plan.

2 Hansa already finished over there.

   

[TheArchduke]

I also think I could buy the tile 2 NE of BA to buildup an encampment to stalemate the situation there further and protect our northern border.

[Bacchus]

The biggest problem with the encampment 2NE is that it can't fire onto the unpillaged farm tile due to line of sight. But it would sure be a strongpoint with river on all sides.

Another worry is that Oledavy's best offensive plan is to fork Buenos Aires and Mykenes, splitting our forces in half. Maybe and Encampment on the forest hill south of BA? That would really lock down the path into our core, and thus free our troops to campaign in the north.