[SPOILERS] The Peaceful Centaur: a Study in Possibility

[Azoth]

I hadn't considered that one - and it's true that the beaker output would be second fiddle to an academy - but Entropy mana would certainly be useful.

Don't forget the free Stigmata promotion, which gives a combat bonus equal to half the Armageddon count.

Since I'm not working the sage at the moment anyway, I can certainly hold off finishing the GS until I know if I can have free AV mana or not.

On the other hand, you could wait for the free GS from Undercouncil for either the Academy or the shrine.

[Mardoc]

Don't forget the free Stigmata promotion, which gives a combat bonus equal to half the Armageddon count.

Well, yes. As much as I have control, I don't intend to let Armageddon push too high, since I don't want to deal with the Horsemen, but any bonus is useful.

On the other hand, you could wait for the free GS from Undercouncil for either the Academy or the shrine.

That's a good point too. Undercouncil can take a while, even once the votes start, whereas if I want an Academy, I want it as soon as practical. But at least for now, I'd rather be working cottages and growing Podagros; I'll revisit the issue once I have Deinos solid and/or Podagros stopped growing for a while. I do also want to get my Enclaves developed quickly, too, after all.

[Mardoc]

With the completed Library, our research situation looks very nice:


Of course, our production and military are a tad lacking. Which is why I'm headed immediately toward founding Deinos, and after that, we'll head directly for finding and founding a good city 3 - presumably taken from either Jkaen or Selrahc's lands.

Step one of that will be to get some Hunter/Hawk pairs out looking and acquiring animals, step two will be to grab the site. Step two may require Centaur assistance

After that, we'll want to backfill some settlements to grab random resources, like furs and mana and Tailor/Jeweler supplies.

Meanwhile, for tech, I'm thinking it's time for KoTE, probably after that head immediately toward AV. The only thing I'm debating a stop for is Bronze Working, at least at the moment.

[Mardoc]

In other news, Ichabod's Power rating just continues to climb - and he said he's likely going to war with someone - I'm very glad to have that 10 turn cooldown with him. That would be plenty of time to spam enough warriors to make him think twice, given that I can easily to 1/turn at the moment.

I do wonder, though, who he's going after. I wanted to hit Jkaen myself . Sciz would be a dangerous target, although a reasonable one if he wants to forestall a potential attack. That leaves...Dantski? Is Ichabod willing to risk Sancturary this early? Or, willing to guarantee it gets used, even if he has no other gains. Or maybe Selrahc's the target. I'm not the only one who's noticed that Lanun are less nerfed than the rest of us (except in the required 4 turns movement at the start of the game), if that's true.

Realistically, though, if I were in Ichabod's shoes, I'd be going for Jkaen. Or me, but that NAP makes an assault on me difficult, to say the least.

[Azoth]

May Amatheon bless and keep the Hippus... far away from us!

[Mardoc]

May Amatheon bless and keep the Hippus... far away from us!

Yes...the Hippus are Sciz, though. I'm more concerned, at the moment, about Ichabod's Khazad:


Mostly because the Hippus really are far away from us . They probably couldn't keep anything of ours they took, between maintenance and neighbors in the way, not until they take out someone closer.

Ideal result for me would be Ichabod hitting the Hippus...which is pretty much why I don't think it'll happen, Ichabod's sharper than that.

[Azoth]

Yes...the Hippus are Sciz, though. I'm more concerned, at the moment, about Ichabod's Khazad:

Err... yes, the Khazad.

[...]

Those pagan-worshipers of Amatheon aren't very bright, are they?
You want a real God of Fertility?

[...]

All Hail Agares, Angel of Despair!
Impia tortorum longos hic turba furores
Sanguinis innocui, non satiata, aluit...

[Mardoc]

Err... yes, the Khazad.

Hah, I caught you in an error! That makes it...Mardoc 1, Azoth 100, or thereabouts

And...possibly means that I need to expand my posts to contain more information

Those pagan-worshipers of Amatheon aren't very bright, are they?
You want a real God of Fertility?

[...]

All Hail Agares, Angel of Despair!
Impia tortorum longos hic turba furores
Sanguinis innocui, non satiata, aluit...

Is this from a source, or do you just know Latin and made it up on the spot?

Regardless, if there's ever a map to tempt you to despair, it's this one. We'll definitely be Sacrificing the Weak before too long.

I've been considering, though, perhaps going to Sanitation in the near future as well. That would get +1 food to all the farms, letting us grow without having to pave over any cities for farmland, and get us access to Public Baths.

But, I eventually come back on the side of horizontal growth for now, not vertical. Sanitation won't be as profitable as Ashen Veil + temples + KotE/mining, though; short term priority does need to be getting Deinos built and Springed, the gold and incense worked, and into Sacrifice the Weak. And a third city built and growing, and a bunch of resources grabbed with settlements. Heck, if I can grab enough Tailor resources, that'll be worth more than Sanitation on its own.

[Mardoc]

Not much to report this turn, killed a barb warrior, 1 turn closer to Deinos' settler, Horseback Riding should come in EOT and I'll presumably start on KoTE next turn.

[Azoth]

Is this from a source, or do you just know Latin and made it up on the spot?

Hah! I wish!
They are the first two lines of the opening quatrain of "The Pit and the Pendulum," a short story by Edgar Allen Poe.
They translate roughly as follows: "Here the impious mob of the torturers, unsated with innocent blood, fomented endless hatred and fury."

I suspect you and I have both seen these lines a number of times.
Can you guess where?

Regardless, if there's ever a map to tempt you to despair, it's this one. We'll definitely be Sacrificing the Weak before too long.

I've been considering, though, perhaps going to Sanitation in the near future as well. That would get +1 food to all the farms, letting us grow without having to pave over any cities for farmland, and get us access to Public Baths.

Yeah, we should take some time to discuss our future tech plans.
Don't forget that we must be ready to build the Grimoire as soon as we discover Infernal Pact, or Hyborem will steal it.
And if we detour to Trade and Deception first (we will have all their prerequisites), we can pick up a free Great Scientist.

But, I eventually come back on the side of horizontal growth for now, not vertical. Sanitation won't be as profitable as Ashen Veil + temples + KotE/mining, though; short term priority does need to be getting Deinos built and Springed, the gold and incense worked, and into Sacrifice the Weak. And a third city built and growing, and a bunch of resources grabbed with settlements. Heck, if I can grab enough Tailor resources, that'll be worth more than Sanitation on its own.

I think it's too late to conquer our third city. Centaurs won't make much headway against Bronze Warriors.
Are there any half-way decent spots left around the capital? Maybe we should build a Hunter next, to pair with our Hawk?

Hah, I caught you in an error! That makes it...Mardoc 1, Azoth 100, or thereabouts

And...possibly means that I need to expand my posts to contain more information

Nah, don't worry about it! I'm having plenty of fun as is.