[spoilers] Alhambram crosses Rubicon yet again

[Alhambram]

Turn 95:

As expected legion with ram got killed, not expected one of crossbowman also got killed. TBS did put up wall at other encampment, giving him one more garrison shot, also more new units appearing from fog.
   
Well played TBS, I retreat and killing one swordsman with Neptune's garrison shot and arrow from remaining crossbowmen.
As I said previous turn, it was a hail mary attack and unsuprisingly it failed. With this I think that TBS can't be stopped anymore to win this PBEM unless a drastic thing happens.

Empire:
   
   
Next turn get new GG, I shall send him to Neptune and Hannibal to Libertas again. After 4 turns I can DoW Alhazard, need to buy battering ram at turn 97 when Crassus use up all of his charges and then turn 99 attack Alhazard.

I started as Rome in this PBEM, with limited space to expand, just three new cities and all of them are border cities already while there wasn't any good other spots, just some tundra junk in north.
It encouarged me to go full war modus here which is probably entertraining lurkers, my success and failures alike. As result I grew to love war too much in this PBEM and that is my problem!

[Grotsnot]

Wow, another GG? I'm curious, were you getting GGPs from Ooarai's Encampment while it was under occupation? I could see you weren't getting GPPs but that's probably due to pillaging the HSs, right?

It encouarged me to go full war modus here which is probably entertraining lurkers, my success and failures alike. As result I grew to love war too much in this PBEM and that is my problem!

Part of me wants to not be the only one run over by the Roman war machine

[Alhambram]

Grotsnot, it was as you said: I gained GG points from occupied encampments and no points from holy sites due pillaging them and still not repairing them.

Turn 96-99:

Around Neptune it is stalemate again, nobody moves towards no man land between Neptune and double Russian encampments, TBS scouts southern sea with galley.
   
And polictical situation then, Chevalier who was silent for long time made his move: he mass completed royal navy dockyards and is going push for GA hard.
Also he offered me a DoF, previous time it caused me problems with his scout. This time however TBS is one running away and I decided to accept it, signalling intent to support him.
So I hope that Chevalier is planning something against TBS and I shall not sign peace with him to keep some of his units occupied east of Neptune.

This did influcence my decision to offer Alhazard DoF at turn 98 and he did accept.
Alhazard did build up army and his military power is same as me, however 1/3 of my military power is around Neptune and Alhazard was prepared to use his entire military power to defend against my 2/3 army.
In terms of rationality if I attack Alhazard, it shall end in slaughter of both sides and I just add silver goblets upon TBS's sliver platter.
   
So my army is going march to east, still 50/50 what to do, reinforce Neptune or attack Rowain for more lands.
Former Japanese lands need repairing, founding cities and mass builder improvements, more reason to DoF with Alhazard instead starting new war which slows down development more in former Japanese lands.

For this time peace and cool head prevails over wardrum.

[Alhambram]

Sorry for not updating in long time, but yeah...I am feeling bit same as Roman Empire in their late era's, slowing deteriorating.

Turn 106:
I did finish Military Engineering a while ago and a Niter popped under Neptune city and north of Vulcan. Other sources are far north in Tundra.
   
   
My army is marching towards Rowain who got DoW'ed by Alhazard, I hope that I can grab Medina just south of Diana.

Standings:

TBS: 22 tech, 56.7 :, 17 civic, 54.3 , 353 mil

Alhambram: 20 tech, 39.7 :, 16 civic, 47.6 , 465 mil

Alhazard: 18 tech, 40.6 , 13 civic, 22.3 , 802 mil

Chevalier: 18 tech, 35.6 , 14 civic, 28.3 :, 255 mil

Rowain: 17 tech, 28.6 , 13 civic. 21.6 , 155 mil

TBS got his science lowered from over 60 science per turn due me suzeraining Seoul, but he still stands above us all regarding science and culture.
I am solid second place here, my science was long staggered due occupation, but with it gone, settling new cities soon and suzeraining Seoul my science has improved.
Alhazard bets upon conquest of Arabia now to keep up with TBS, he got over 800 military strength, likely knights and also he got GG. Rowain with 155 strength is toast.
Chevalier is a mystery, seems that he is sort of isolated but his science and culture are average and military strength don't reveal that he is going strike TBS soon, maybe when he get GA?

[Alhambram]

Turn 112:

Founded Juno, Alhazard did found Freeways before I could do.
   
I intend to settle one city around lake west of Libertas and one city upon island west of Seoul.

As you probably noticed, this turn I allied with Chevalier, both of us can see our units and we might attempt to do joint attack on TBS.
   
It did reveal Vilnius as final city state that I didn't meet.
Situation don't look good for me, even if Chevalier and me somehow manages to deal with TBS, I have to deal with Alhazard who is absorbing Rowain now and has many empty lands to settle.

[Alhambram]

Turn 118:

I am not playing my best game, now researching shipbuilding while turn 120 is soon...
   
At least allying with Chevalier allows us to coordinate a dogpile against TBS.

[Alhambram]

Turn 120:

Chevalier chickened out from attacking TBS and TBS did declare upon him. And I break through TBS's defensive pertimeter.
   
I wouldn't be suprised if TBS manages to mass upgrade swordsmen into musketmen.
Naval Tradition for extra envoy and soon needed civic swap for serfdom to get more 5 charged builders.

If my attack (razing Astrakhan) succeedes, Alhazard is most likely to win because he got a lot room to expand unlike Chevalier, TBS and me.
In that case I need to peace out with TBS somehow after dealing with Astrakhan and build up force to invade Alhazard.

[Old Harry]

That is a lot of encampments. Would it have been helpful to raze Moscow before attacking Astrakhan?

[Alhambram]

Astrakhan had Colosseum which gives TBS majority of his culture output. But razing won't happen since unsuprisingly TBS did have many units hiding in fog till I managed to raze encampments. Now retreat again.
   
And I didn't know that crossbowman was carrying glasses and notebook.

And it explained why Chevalier did suddenly abort his attack, TBS teched much faster towards Firgates and is now sinking Chevalier's fleet if it comes within firing range.
Actually there isn't point to continue actually, I already did sort of express this dozen turns ago.
Alhazard do have room to expand, but he has 46 science and 33 culture per turn. And he is still medevial in terms of tech and civic.
By time that he manages to boost science and culture from expansion, TBS already have gotten Cossacks by that point and eaten Chevalier and me already.

[Alhambram]

Turn 136:

After 5 turns ballistics and one turn after that I grab next GG, so GG powered field cannons incoming.
   
But what can they do if TBS reaches Cossacks, I kinda did expect him get them for long time already but for some reason TBS don't have them already.
Meanwhile TBS is slowly taking care of Chevalier. The pillage mechanics since recent patch turned upside this PBEM, pillage suddenly gives insane amounts profits.

And I hope that Alhazard is doing what he knows, because you know that sea is dominated by Russian Frigates, right?