dtay pb38 [spoilers]

[dtay]

So we are presented with the amusement of AI diplo:




I'm not... positive I know what this means. I suspect it means BGN wants the city I just founded on the island next to clams (which admiteddly I am not guarding very well, only a warrior right now, though I will change that shortly. It isn't actually particularly "his" by right, but I can imagine it is the only island near him so he wants the 2c routes rather badly.

However, its a bit weird way to communicate this, since asking for silver + clams woudl have been much more unambiguous, or alternatively throwing some strat resources in there to signify aggression.

The other (stretch?) of a theory is he legitimately does want some clams (founded a city by lots of floodplains?). I offered them back in case that was it...

That said, 1t later the fact that BGN posted for the first time in a while and whipped twice (galley + something?) suggests to me the above interpretation is right.

I don't really want a general war over this island city - I'm reasonably confident I can not lose anything but at what cost? At some point the hammer investment is just not worth it vs the city. So idk, we'll see how far he takes this. I'll arm up for now. I'm moving up researching masonry before currency and getting it next turn so I can whip and chop some duns into everything (which I want to do anyway). Also finishing up a bunch some axes and spears I left 1t from completion to avoid paying maintenece. Probably will 1t archery after that. All told delays currency by 3-5t or so, but I think the caution is warranted.

EDIT: Further confusion caused by BGNs tech post, which I just saw. Does he have tensions with someone else entirely? (Superdeath I guess, as he's new?). Cuts against the above being aggression. Whatever, I can afford the slight caution so I'll do that.

[dtay]

Ahh, now I get it. He wanted to hook up these isolated clams. I will let him do that. That seems fine.

[Ichabod]

Those will be your clams after a while, right? Let him spend the hammers.

[dtay]

I am vulturing... someone.




Superdeath obviously is at war with someone, and frankly its going poorly. The other obvious thing from that graph, TBS is planning to get in on the spoils (or maybe attack Dreylin, TBS I believe is to the SE, but anyway, probably get in on the spoils). I would like my fair share.

I kind of forgot a warfront shot, next turn. Basically superdeath left a city empty I could hit with a chariot, causing me to do this whole shebang a turn or two early to save a unit or two (he vacated what was previously a dog warrior and archer). If he built something on turn roll and vacated that as well he could perhaps retake the city (or if he has many chariots in range), but I could take it back so w/e. And given the power drop I doubt his mobile force is playing zone defense near me.

Given how hilly the land the superdeath frontier towards me is, Gallics and Duns are going to have fun. Like, Gallics if they get in a city on a hill  defend something pretty much like longbows ++ are obviously actually swords. Very nice. SD's dogs are a great counter though, so I can't go too gallic heavy. On the other hand, given I suspect this will soon be a 3 v 1 really I need to worry about fighting TBS + the other guy.

This guy'll throw a golden age, I made a GS earlier but decided it was too early for GA so made an academy. I am also opting not for astro beeline - while this map clearly has a new world my neighbors are all doing pretty meh, which plus the superdeath situation makes me err towards continental aggression as the right tactic.





Demos while maxxing out of archery to juice my GNP... I'm clearly a step behind the top (Mackoti, probably), and I believe TBS is the other one ahead of me. Basically my score is pretty meh due to GNP that only recently has become tier-2-ish ++ I haven't conquered people, and other people have. Hence the above.

[dtay]

Superdeath city #2 falls. Fell pretty easily after being bombarded down for 3 turns, lost I think 4 cats taking it (and g3 retreat odds saved 3 Gallics, go go celts!)

I sent a diplo offer to TBS a bit ago attempting to offer he takes cap I take this, but based on my scouting TBS appears to have ignored the capital instead, likely due to the insane number of CG3 archers in it. If he's going to do that, I'm going ahead and trying to take the thing. Though man i have to expect to lose at least.... 8 cats taking it? And probably another random unit due to luck. I think worth it b/c good spot and opens up lots of room for other cities but pretty costly city.

Rusten was the other guy attacking superdeath, he doesn't appear to have a massive stack, probably total army somewhat equivelent to mine. Also doesn't appear to be rushing the capital.

Also have to applaud SuperDeath for (1) keeping up the turn timer despite his imminent demise, not all newbies do so, and (2) defending to the last. Not incredibly inventively, but pumping out as many CG3 archers spits on your creativity.

[dtay]

Attacks on superdeaths' capital got a somewhat unlucky result, I expected to take it over 2 turns, now gonna take 3. Meh. Lotta hammers for a city.

[dtay]

Well, killed superdeath, but Dreylin's power is spiking and he isn't returning corn-corn, so I'm pretty sure he for some reason thinks it makes sense to attack me, otherwise he'd want to ensure peace and go somewhere else. Not sure why he thinks this makes sense, I just got feudalism so now he's going right into longbows. But in any case, now have to arm up instead of peacefully teching to merc like I was planning.

[superdeath]

Dont know why i thought nothing could hit that first city that you took. Lol. GG tho

[dtay]

Well, Dreylin landed a pretty sweet alpha strike on me with a bunch of galleons all over my coastline. I've vaguely suspected this was coming for a while given the pattern of his power chart (and that I doubted he was gonna go after TBS), but I've largely been checked out of the game so just quitely buildering on autopilot while building "average" military.

I'm in a golden age and 1t from being able to swap civics, + have enough overflow right now to 1t gunpowder at 0%, so I'll tech that, swap over to nationhood (currently in vassalage to make pacificism cheaper, + Merc/Rep) and draft up bunch o muskets and I doubt Dreylin will make much progress. Though he razed a few pretty nice coastal cities and has enough galleons out he can still take my island cities. Which is probably his endgame anyway cause he kept those and razed anything on the mainland.

[dtay]

Also, fwiw lurkers when this comes to matter - I am willing to sign onto either a concession to Mackoti or TBS. I think it is pretty clear Mackoti has got this game and has for a while sans something crazy, but I'd respect TBS's right to make him prove it (and if at some point in the future Mackoti was for some reason to concede to TBS, would also concede that).