[spoilers]Commodore is Darius II of the HRE, now with less excuse.

[Commodore]

When Gaspar inevitably complains about my broken GNP, please someone remind him that he just funded this. The demos are looking great now, but anyone else able to spot the danger sign there?



I'm the only person in HR yet, so the high population is due to that. Looking back over the last saves it looks like Gaspar whipped the MoM in, that must have beem extremely painful. What we lack for in wonders we make up for in population!



Sadly, those figures are going to fade soon as the greater land area of the opposition starts to tell. Here's us. Banana/rice founded, then nothing else I settle will even add a whole first-ring's worth. Yikes.



Here, in contrast, is the worst of the not-dying, Dave. I'm pretty sure Ichabod and Gaspar are unaware of how much land Dave still has. He screwed the pooch pretty badly in his open, be and good play he certainly has the toolkit needed to recover.



So, then, here's the plan:



As you can see, that's a one-turn Colossus there.

[Commodore]

Dedlurker input needed! So I'm going to settle the last major land-grab city. The options are:
-1N of banana, solidily locking in borders, not a great city, but a good one.
-1E of banana, gets two food resources, lots of prime riverside, in the teeth of Gaspar
-1SE of banana, two food resources, plenty of riverside, able to be fast moved by Dave AND Gaspar
-1N of rice, two food again, incredibly strong defensive position thanks to river bend, isolated.
Right now I'm favoring 1SE of banana, just for the first-ringness of rice, and because its slightly less in Gaspar's face. Dave knows Palaven is a reach, and he's behind...I suspect he's rather desperately thinking its 100% grudge non-stop vs. me and Gaspar (might be on the other side, but not here). Dave seems to be wanting to keep me friendly, given his other neighbor is cataphracts, who can blame him. The spot might be pushing it, though.



With the discovery of Metal Casing, our power rating is looking very nice now. That rival-best GNP is actually Ichabod I think, funding himself with Yuri's blood. Very scary indeed, he's clearly in the lead right now, with Gaspar trailing close. Let's hope they fight it out around Guilds.



Another three turns remain for Yuri to really screw up our chances. The barracks whip overflowed to 23 hammers, the maximum amount allowed to get me to 53/80 on the forge next turn. The forge is then two-pop whipped for an overflow of at least 31 while borders pop. The next turn, Colossus gets 31(overflow)+16(chop)+20(production)=67, which finishes it perfectly with OR, forge, and copper bonuses.



Bonemente!

[SevenSpirits]

Why the barracks stuff instead of 3-whipping the forge?

[Commodore]

Why the barracks stuff instead of 3-whipping the forge?

Because in this hostile world, I need more promoted units. Once the Colossus and National Epic go in, I'll be pumping out a brace of spears and then some maces. I'm doing things to pump up the power rating, if at all possible to dissuade adventurism until I finish Nationalism. Which reminds me, I need to make sure not to so swamp my opposition with EPs that they lose the power graphs.

[SevenSpirits]

I meant, why not just let the barracks finish then whip the forge for 3 pop?

[Commodore]

I meant, why not just let the barracks finish then whip the forge for 3 pop?

Because I hate my people? Belatedly, I see that would have been better.

[Commodore]

Sigh. Noble Aspie, honestly thought it was funny.



He could just be pissed about Kusari here, though. First-ring rice is worth it, but my word I hope Dave doesn't take exception.



If I am allowed to keep it, this will be a princely city, but also if we cottage this that will make a very rich prize for anyone who wants to capture it. Still, in the end, having a focal point far from the rest of the core should help.



I'm not the only one rubbing borders. Ichabod says hi, Dave! Also, horse archers.



In my core, things continue to grow. Riffington can make itself a palace once the forge is done. Imagine how high the hammer output of this capital will be in Bureau! We're looking at a place that can ten-turn the Taj without boosts...



Sadly, everyone hate us.

[Commodore]

So annoying. Ichabod really is winning this thing hardcore. Mr. Davis is a musician. He was born today. How much would you like to bet that aggressive Mist wants to bomb the middle? Honestly, a GA would probably be better, but eh.



Two turns and I can reinforce Kusari hardcore.

[Commodore]

Boom.



BOOM.



Skedoosh!



How this for making my tiny land more productive?



Dogpile incoming?

[SevenSpirits]

Very nice!