[SPOILERS] Emissaries from the blighted lands; Mardoc and Jkaen take on the world!

[Jkaen]

[Gaspar]

I went ahead and revolted to Aristocracy; time to start bumping off our techs a little faster. It added 9 to my GNP, should do more than that if I figure out how/where to also farm. Sadly, it appears we were wrong and the Pool of Tears is not an irrigation source. I may end up building a couple cottages at my capital - or maybe just hurry to get the next few cities founded instead, and build mines. Regardless, I've no need to revolt again for quite some time; I'll eventually want to add in Military State/Agrarianism/SacWeak, but that's not going to be needed until I'm prepared to start large scale drafting of Vamps.

Techs needed in the near future:

Crafting -> Mining -> Bronze Working (security)
Calendar -> Festivals (cash, Agrarianism, happy)
Fishing (tons of Malakim food)
Mysticism -> Religion(s) (get the Malakim good stuff rolling)

Aside from getting more happiness into my civ, I think I've now got everything I need economy-wise, and the only other tech I'll need is Feudalism for Vamps, which we can't afford yet. So for the time being, I think our focus ought to be a mixture of economy and Malakim-boosting.

Since these barb kill teams are so nasty, we probably do need to hurry to BW, so I'd think a path of Crafting -> Mining -> BW -> Fishing makes sense for the moment. I'd like to move Fishing earlier, particularly if we discover that copper is only outside BFC, but I'm not convinced we can afford to put off Bronze any longer. Hopefully the new commerce from Aristocracy and that nice trade road you're building will make this path less painful than the path to CoL was.

Its the economy, stupid.

I'd grab Calendar next and then head straight for Sanitation. Once you have those two you can grow like a weed and blow through the military techs.

[Jkaen]

With OO dropping already, its tempting to go mining then RoK to grab it while we can, and keep it away from the clan you I guess will be after it

[Mardoc]

Its the economy, stupid.

I'd grab Calendar next and then head straight for Sanitation. Once you have those two you can grow like a weed and blow through the military techs.

Normally I'd agree with you. We must not be giving you enough pictures, therefore, to point out that this is an exception. Almost every last farm we have at the moment is on a tile that also grants hammers, so Agrarianism wouldn't yet speed us up. And the Calendar resources we have access to need Mining at a minimum to get, due to the forest and jungle.

We definitely want it, and want it soon...I just don't think it's *as* urgent.

I also agree that econ in general makes all the rest of the choices easier.

With OO dropping already, its tempting to go mining then RoK to grab it while we can, and keep it away from the clan you I guess will be after it

We'd have to go Mining -> Mysticism -> RoK if we're going to do that. Are you willing to delay Fishing that long? I don't think it's particularly important that we grab the holy cities, we want the religions for powerful Malakim priests more than anything else (especially since I think you said you wanted to build Altar pieces, not shrines). I'm fine with taking a second look once we know where copper is, in any event.

I want a religion around so I don't have to build monuments, but RoK won't cut it for that . So we'd want to go for AV or OO anyway in addition. In any case I think sticking with Crafting and Mining for the moment makes sense, and hopefully we gain some info that makes later decisions easier.

[Jkaen]

[Mardoc]

Dang, that's a LOT of attacking animals and barbs. Wow. I don't suppose your hunter has a chance here?

I'm suddenly feeling a lot safer in terms of the other teams for the moment...

[Jkaen]

Yup, they have all avoided attacking him on the forest hill, but he hasn't really been strong enough to attack out at them.

Something tells me they may all get brave this turn though.

[Mardoc]

Well, Crafting came in. I think Mining next still makes sense. The sheer number of barbs spawned by the Huge map we asked for is pretty amazing; I haven't managed to spare a unit to go pop the southerly hut for that reason. Presumably copper and/or grabbing more of the land will fix that.

And apparently 1 turn/2 days is still not slow enough for Ichabod and Ravus?

[Jkaen]

Well the hunter survived round 1, and after promoting to subdue animal is at 3.4/4 with just the 2 goblins to face, so he may actually make this!

Hit team is now next to Ying

[Mardoc]

Well the hunter survived round 1, and after promoting to subdue animal is at 3.4/4 with just the 2 goblins to face, so he may actually make this!

He'd end up with lots of XP, too