[SPOILERS] TheArchduke creates the final empire as Macedonia

[TheArchduke]

I finish building the settler and switch to Agoge. 12 production +75% thanks to God of the Forge means 2 turn warriors, we will churn out about 4-5 quickly to deal with the barbs to the west and conquer Kandy asap.

Alhambram and me are late to a second city. Geneva has the trade route quest for me, a shame I did not manage to meet them first, damn that mountain range, but 3 first envoys is much better then my track record so far.

   

[TheArchduke]

Oh, hello barbarians, nice to see you. Glad I got the settler on the way already.

I kill a scout in the south for the BW eureka (2 out of 3) but it seems I will have plenty of barbs to kill at my capital soon.

With the spice tile and coffee in the jungle, I think my 2nd city is a no brainer. Another 2 coffee tile in the 2nd ring and a rice will make for a strong 2nd city from where to build armies from. Next up, plonking down 2 encampments.

   

[TheArchduke]

With production at 12 and a 75% bonus to building units with Agoge and God of War we churn out warriors at a rate of 1 every 2 turns. We will do this until we got about 2 for the northern approaches to hunt barbs and kill camps and 5 for Kandy with Kandy being preferred. The 2nd city in the south will also produce warriors. I am highly tempted to engage Australia immediately afterwards not even waiting for Hypasists, but I think I am better off delaying a bit. His science rate is worrying though, it seems Suboptimal is in builder mode, something I can not allow, so my gaze turns towards him. We will have war, it is only a question of when.

And his scout will probably die, too bad, so sad.
My warrior does not leave the city as I do not want to make the Horseman miss its kill.

   

[TheArchduke]

The ancient war machine is roaring after Utreau is founded. We are going for Kandy soon enough, but I need my BW eureka now.

   

[TheArchduke]

Oh my, did Alhambram seriously dow Suboptimal and trigger his +100%  
What for a quick plunder, a serious attack?

In any case, of course I dowed myself, I wanted a suprise attack but I rather let him be forewarned but not get the +100% a second time.

   

BW and Archery Eureka done, Mil Tradition next then advance on Kandy together with it and archers. Next stop hoping for an iron source.

   

[CFCJesterFool]

What are the military scores looking like?

[TheArchduke]

A bit sick, barely managed my turn will post more later.

[TheArchduke]

Finish another slinger up to three, I will stop there and get archery, more then enough for barbusting support and I need to move onto Kandy, I am falling behind. Maybe I am overcautious and 4 warriors would be enough, but I am not taking any chances.


Milstrength is 122 Macedonia
Australia 72
Poland 79
Persia 51

Even with my pantheon and agoge I have invested a lot into military, but even if suboptimal sees my attack from a mile, which he should it is still the smart play as Macedonia. Maybe I am lucky and I can manage to get a GG with my encampment though I doubt it if Poland has any intentions for the GG.

So one warrior and one slinger will cover Luthadel and go barbhunting NW.
4 warriors and 2 slingers(then archers) will go for a quick strike on Kandy. Hell if Zanzibar´s bonus was not that nice I would even conquer it and I still might.

   

   

[TheArchduke]

Sigh, I hope the meagre loot was worth it. Campus is back up and I can only imagine that suboptimal is flooding himself with warriors.

Thanks Alhambram, I hope this decision comes to bite you in the arse.

In any case, nothing to do but to soldier on. I switch to a builder so I can get rid of my soon to be amenity issue when I conquer Kandy. I hope my 2 archers will deter Suboptimal from interfering. Seems my one trick pony civ is already failing, should have gone with a vanilla civ, but that lineup.. Sigh.

   

[TheArchduke]

So, a quick overlook over the state of Macedonia on turn 40.

As I made contact with Poland and still not with Persia which dowed Australia, I assume that Poland is to the West of me.
How far away? A lot. If I assume everyone is in his own corner and see that Australia has not only found me with his scout and now has a warrior running around near Kandy, I have to deduct that we are very close and I will probably find Poland even more to the W.

   

This is bad and Alhambram is a nasty boy. More on that later.

   

I kill another barb warrior and another slinger comes in.

   

I dow and move onto Kandy. I have to assume Suboptimal will try funny stuff here, good thing I have 2 archers with me.