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[Grotsnot]

Haven't read the other player threads, just this so far. Great job on the map, guys! I know I kvetched a bit in my thread but the only lingering complaint is starting next to Rome I liked the general shape and appreciate the edits that were made. I felt a bit pinched in by the tundra and distance to the other players but I'm pretty sure that was all fairly standard and just reflecting a personal weakness - and I didn't even have the worst of it.

All in all, good map; don't take my complaints too seriously since they're just PEBKAC

I think holy sites period was the greatest mistake for Japan. With Russia in the game there's no way to be the first religion, and nobody else should be rushing the 2nd. The return on investment even of religion (even with half priced HS) is just too small to be worth spending all that early in any game, much less with Rome and Greece in the game.

Multiple people commented on this and yeah it's absolutely right. My principal bonehead was somehow forgetting that Lavras give +2 GPPs. I thought that if they were merely half-price and gave GWAPs I was in the running for Religion #1. Pedantically I still was with Harvest to rush-buy the last stretch out from under Russia but that doesn't justify the effort with Rome next door.

A noob error that factored in was viewing Bronze Working as necessarily after Astrology, due to their positions on the tech tree. One thing I was focusing on was the District Discounts: the plan was to crank out two HS (since they're "first" yaknow ) and use that to slingshot into two discounted Encampments and from there into Campuses. But it took too long and my gut projection for Rome's IW timer was hilariously wrong. I should have led off with Hojo BW and gotten cheap holy sites later.

Another probable-error was delaying my 1st Settler until I could get a boosted chop for it. But I think that's small potatoes compared to the general strategy of dousing myself in holy bbq sauce.

Part of this was getting paranoia-overload from being pinched between Gorgo running Strategos and Rome... existing Wrapped me all the way around to "Even if I survive one the other will just dogpile so screw it, it's pointless anyway, I'm not gonna redo the whole plan". Will have to be more sanguine in future games But really even by Strategos it was too late, being a dumbass RE: Lavras had already set the trainwreck in motion

Well, St.Gloriana settles Grotsnot' doom.

I am not seeing any chance he has against Alhambram who has at least some battle experience and will avoid obvious mistakes.

The question is how will the game proceed. Rome is in a terrible position if she is hit by early leader syndrom, attackable by all sides in the long term.

If Alhambram is smart and recognizes this, he will eye his next target up now.

GG powered legions could cut through Russia and then this game is done.

I am most curious. Shame that Grotsnot did not play it safer, but Holy Sites and a 3rd settler towards Rome. Wishful thinking is not gonna stop that attack.

It also shows that he did not scout enough. His fog starts 6 tiles east of his capital. With a bit more knowledge of the surrounding area he would see how obvious the attack on him is.

Hmm, definitely a fair cop on the lack of scouting. I really should have gotten more Warriors sooner and fewer Slingers. I still like St. Gloriana's position on the bottleneck, though. If I'd had the time to get that Encampment and Walls up it would have been a respectable defensive position, wouldn't it? Rome had a Ram and Oligarchy so I was still boned in the long run, but I think if anything the error was going there 3rd instead of 2nd. Paired with a BW-beeline, that is. Or is my tactical intuition still way off?

Deep down I knew an attack was coming, I just expected/hoped for a little more time (at the start, mid-late 50s and then during the leadup maybe 2-3 turns after it actually landed) and was quite incorrect



Looking forward to the next game when I can replace these with different mistakes!


...

Can Legion chop? Or am I misunderstanding Alhambram’s latest post. It appears he has a legion on a forest intending to use it to chop out the ram. I think the legion charge can only be used to build a fort (and I think also repair pillaged improvements).

The Legion's fort ability is coded as a builder function so they can chop and they can repair. They essentially have 1 builder charge but can't build improvements, other than the fort.

What.

[Grotsnot]

See, TBS's defensive line is what I needed I did have plans in motion for such things but badly misjudged how much time I'd have to build them

[VoiceInTheWilderness]

A highly entertaining game, Grotsnot. Thanks very much!

[TheArchduke]

This game has managed to stay interesting quite contrary to what I feared when Grotsnot fell.

I think we have the dogged defense of Japan to thank for though.

I think except for Arabia, everyone still got a shot at this.

[suboptimal]

I think this will turn into a 2-horse race between Greece and Russia. CMF is taking a defensive stand approach which might stop the cossacks, but it might not. Alhambram is going to be defending his front with Russia with legions by the looks of it (maybe he gets muskets in time, maybe not). If TBS can successfully eat England while keeping Rome at bay and Alhazard conquers Arabia it's a two horse race. If TBS decides to conquer Rome instead of England I think it's game over - he'll be able to go through Rome and straight into Greece while the greek forces are busy in Arabia.

Regardless of what happens this has been a very interesting game to watch with the constantly shifting power dynamics.

[MJW (ya that one)]

I call the game for Russia. They didn't evil build Cossacks and that actually put them at a disadvantage because of the heat. Lavra is great because it's about a free theater, holy district 2v1. The fact no-one builds holy and theater districts is actually a buff because it allows Russia to pick up stuff uncontested. It's not enough to carry to victory so TBS did most of the work but this is further evidence of Russia>Rome.