[SPOILER] The Steak, Beer, and Cigar Saloon

[Catwalk]

Turn 149 - with pictures!!!

My crappy invasion is underway. A small stack of 3 spears, 2 axes, 2 maces and 1 horse archer has moved up to the red box in order to take Woldemort or at least divide Jowy's defenses. I also wanted to move on Cray this turn, but Jowy's stack of horse archers is most likely located on the yellow box to the right. That means he'd be able to strike at my stack along with around 20 horse archers along with the smaller stack of 5 axes, 1 impi and 1 catapult in the image. On the other hand, that strike would fail... I have 16 spears in my stack along with 6 axes and 2 maces, I don't think he can take me on. I figure I can hold out against 24 horse archers comfortably, and I doubt he has more than that ready to strike this turn. Moreover, he's unable to replace casualties whereas I have reinforcements coming out my ears. Next turn all I need is an axe or two to hit his impi and raze Cray, then he loses several key roads. I decided to send my horse archer to the hill to scout, and saw the following:

Nothing much here, and I'm reminded that his horse archers are wounded. He may well be coming at me with a stack of horse archers that isn't fully healed, it's rushing straight back from the Yuri front. He has a nice medic 3 scout healing them. There are 3 axes and 1 catapult in the other stack revealed. More importantly, he doesn't have a small stack of horse archers that can zip past my units and stand next to Mother In Law next turn, out of reach of my main stack which is now next to Cray.

Here's a screenshot of his stack of 8 catapults, 4 turns away from striking me.

Here's a look at a big hole in Yuri's lands. The hole could have been a lot bigger if I'd waited even a single turn with my invasion, then he would have razed Yuri's capital and sent his troops deeper into his lands. Big tactical mistake of me, I should have seen it coming that Jowy would sign peace immediately and rush back to defend against me. Which I actually did, and then didn't act on that realization

Anyone notice what all is going on in this picture?

12 maces drafted in 3 turns have pushed me close to #1 for power, exceeding Jowy. Next turn I'll be drafting muskets instead.



War is on now, and I expect to crush Jowy in a bloody fight that may prove too costly to be worth it to me. I'm hoping for lucky rolls and tactical mistakes, allowing me to capitalize on it after all. I'm also hoping to have fun, and I think Jowy will appreciate going out with a blast rather than having to sit around all game dwindling away. I thought about offering him peace for his two border cities and a pot of gold, but that would really just be an insult. Leaving him with barely any cities, a big army and two enemies he's locked into peace with for 10 turns makes no sense and he'd have no reason to accept.

I'm kicking myself a little for not waiting one more turn, that would definitely have worked out in my favour. Yuri may even have refused peace after Jowy took his capital, and if I was able to declare war before Jowy offered peace to Yuri then Yuri would have realized that help was on the way. Instead, he probably just wondered why Jowy decided to turn around at the decisive moment. You owe me one Yuris

[Catwalk]

Turn 150


Brief report, little time. I took Cray without losses, axe and impi defending. Gained cultural control of several tiles. I have the following stack sitting in open terrain:
2x mace
4x axe
15x spear
2x catapult
= 925 hammers
It is at risk of attack by the following forces:
26x HA
7x impi
= 1545 hammers

He might defeat my stack, but I think the hammer exchange will be in my favour. Also, I will be losing obsolete spearmen while he loses horse archers that he cannot replace. I'm now #1 in power by 30k points and rising fast each turn from drafted muskets.

I'm finishing Banking EOT, planning on switching to Mercantilism. Will cost me 26 gpt in exchange for around 18 specialists. I think around 10 of those will have to be citizens, though. Is it worth it?

[Catwalk]

Turn 151


Still nothing much happening. As expected, Jowy didn't strike at my main stack. He has 8 axes stationed on the northern front, facing around 12 of my units next turn + 2 catapults. He may be able to strike with his horse archers up there, depending on where he put his stack this turn. If he does, I feel confident he won't break through to my core and I will be able to strike deep with my southern stack in the meantime. Still drafting busily, and still #1 in power. I can get 9 specialists with Mercantilism next turn, is that worth it? I'm also considering switching from Theology to Organized Religion next turn, 2t left of GA now. I'm completing two knights next turn, and +1 XP on drafted muskets isn't all that hot. Also spent 140 gold upgrading a horse archer to a knight on the northern front, probably a mistake.

[mackoti]

Turn 151


Still nothing much happening. As expected, Jowy didn't strike at my main stack. He has 8 axes stationed on the northern front, facing around 12 of my units next turn + 2 catapults. He may be able to strike with his horse archers up there, depending on where he put his stack this turn. If he does, I feel confident he won't break through to my core and I will be able to strike deep with my southern stack in the meantime. Still drafting busily, and still #1 in power. I can get 9 specialists with Mercantilism next turn, is that worth it? I'm also considering switching from Theology to Organized Religion next turn, 2t left of GA now. I'm completing two knights next turn, and +1 XP on drafted muskets isn't all that hot. Also spent 140 gold upgrading a horse archer to a knight on the northern front, probably a mistake.

Actualy fi you have a barack gaves you musket with 2 experirience wich can get combat 1 which is alot.

[Catwalk]

Yeah, I do have around 6 barracks which help out. My concern is that I'm falling behind fast economically during this war, even if I win it. It's really not that rewarding to beat up on Jowy and gain nothing whatsoever other than a bit of territory, ruined cities and a big gap to the #1 player. This was a bad war to pick, or rather the timing was bad. I feel it's most fair to put Jowy out of his misery now, so I'll push on at full speed. I imagine that the game won't last that much longer, zanth and Gavagai are increasing their lead steadily and they'll soon be set for a succesful war of expansion on their target of choice.

[Boldly Going Nowhere]

Turn 151


Still nothing much happening. As expected, Jowy didn't strike at my main stack. He has 8 axes stationed on the northern front, facing around 12 of my units next turn + 2 catapults. He may be able to strike with his horse archers up there, depending on where he put his stack this turn. If he does, I feel confident he won't break through to my core and I will be able to strike deep with my southern stack in the meantime. Still drafting busily, and still #1 in power. I can get 9 specialists with Mercantilism next turn, is that worth it? I'm also considering switching from Theology to Organized Religion next turn, 2t left of GA now. I'm completing two knights next turn, and +1 XP on drafted muskets isn't all that hot. Also spent 140 gold upgrading a horse archer to a knight on the northern front, probably a mistake.

[Catwalk]

Not chasing anything anymore, sauntering about looking for fun

Turn 153


Jowy moved most of his army towards Mother In Law, my Moai border city. He doesn't have vision on its defenders, so I moved all catapults and a few more units 1 tile out of it. He won't be able to strike succesfully this turn, but he might feel tempted to move in closer. I have plenty troops in the area to shred him, but I need to get close enough. I'm researching Engineering for added mobility, but it might be one turn too late as I foolishly went with Paper last turn. I'll do a screenshot next turn if he advances on me, we both have pretty stacks.

[Catwalk]

I moved most of my army on a hill in Jowy's territory, right next to his super stack. His is a little bigger, my units are better and counter his nicely. Big fight likely happening soon, no idea if I just opened myself up for obliteration. He does have a cool 22 catapults in there, along with 19 axes and around 30 horse archers. I have 10 muskets, 10 maces, 15 catapults, 18 spears and a handful of axes and knights. I think I'll be safe on a hill, even with a full barrage of catapults.

[Catwalk]

Turn 156


As lurkers have no doubt seen by now, my invasion was beyond disastrous. I'm very thankful that I'd lost interest in the game already due to zanth and Gavagai's dominance, if not these results would really have ruined my day:

CATWALK
15 catapults
3 knights
10 muskets
18 spears
10 maces
2 axes

JOWY
10 axes
1 impi
1 chariot
10 horse archers
20 catapults

I tried copying the combat log, but it was crazy long and it reset itself every time I took a screenshot. I'm guessing Jowy has probably put it up, though. While I did foolishly go in without doing any simulations or real calculations, I will confess that this result took me by surprise. I then started doing a summary of catapult results, but it was too depressing to complete. His catapult barrage was highly efficient, and I don't think the results seem unfair. I need some useful rules of thumb to guestimate catapult effects, unless I'm going to bother with simulating results next time. I'll probably have to do that, no matter how bored I am with the game.

Jowy has me in full retreat now, and it will be interesting to see if I can draft enough troops to hold him back. I think I can, he's out of catapults and it's still a question of muskets vs horse archers and axes. But even if I hold him back there's no denying that this was a crushing defeat, and I'm starting to question if I'm ever going to learn how to play this game. So well done Jowy, you got the better of me. Xenu, in case surrender discussions start surfacing I'm prepared to concede the game to zanth and Gavagai. Heck, I'll even concede to Jowy

[Catwalk]

I decided to offer him peace for my two island cities + some gold. I think I can hold him back, but I have a strong interest in mailing in my turns from now on until the game is over. He may even decide to go after Yuri again, he still doesn't have much military.