[spoilers] Pax Commodorica: Pharaoh of Rome

[Commodore]

Guilds in! Ave! All throughout the Lands of the Legion, knights arise and gallop swiftly eastward.


Note Dtay's Engineering – 60t. This gonna suck soon, I'm going to try to strike swiftly and hammer his greedy (liberate) cities, then probably peace out if at all possible. The ridiculously huge empires we're all walking around with means that achieving Dodo Tier is pretty difficult now. I'm impressed, though, Thoth has slammed pretty hard into the Deetmeister here. Thoth is a natural predator; he senses weakness better than almost anyone else in the community. TBS is actually going to have a hard time overcoming Thoth's greatly expanded potency here. That's a lotta cities.


I think I have A Plan! It's not necessarily a good plan, but it's so damned metal I have to try it. Obviously, given the sizes of the empires we're playing around with and with an incoming offensive or two planning, Engineering is next up on the list. I'll probably take a crack at Code of Laws for Caste System and courthouses, all well and good...then just three more techs:

Gunpowder->Chemistry->STEEL, baby! I'm going to try the novel and unexpected Praetorian/Cannon military! And why not? Muskets and knights are going to be the mainstays for a while, with cuirs or grenadiers following. Praetorians are as good as maces for anything more advanced than maces, and *extremely* cheap at a mere 45 hammers. That's a heck of a lot of fodder allowed; marching at a steady 9.6 strength typically if I stick in Vassalage (hint: until Nationhood, I'm going to be sticking in Vassalage).

[Commodore]

So, one thing I didn't mention in last turn's report, Wetbandit (playing for Ox) settled a new city that just wasn't going to fly. It's not an amazing city but it messes with Rapax for me, so I showed him that I could hurt him and offered what I think is a fairly decent price. Wet looked at turn, posted, Ox replied...and approved, apparently! Excellent. I hope this speeds Ox a little towards winning Liberalism/Taj...Gaspar must be heading there too with his MoM, either is better to land Taj than TBS/Thoth.
   
Boom, now Ulpia Victrix, is a small and low-utility city that nonetheless should be quite useful as a base/outpost as long as she keeps her first ring; that hill defense is major. I also have a considerable swarm of galleys laden with knights in the area; clearly I could have taken the place if I wanted it. I'm considering now if I want to dump crap into Rapax to rapidly hit Meta Knight, or instead push a 10-12 knight force back behind the city, forking the probably weak backlines.
   
Meta Knight is well defended; that garrison is probably enough to kill 5-6 knights in the taking...but the city is a lovely strong point, too, and would allow a considerably better logistics train. I need to make my move soon, I don't think Dtay is weakening anything over here and his tech keeps improving. The poor guy lost Pyramids to Thoth, ouch. Which also means Thoth now has the Pyramids...
   
Knights and more knights clearly called for! I'm going to build catapults eventually, I promise, just need a blitz force first yo. Exciting times!
   
Heh, so glad you've all suddenly decided to take interest in this game, by the way. PB13 dying means this one is happenin', isn't it?

[Commodore]

Yo Retep! Are you still around? We're on watch now, looks like my son might choose to come a couple weeks early...

...or might be another 3-4, hard to tell.

[retep]

I haven't read anything for the past 100 turns but sure! I can play for you.

I almost miss this so just in case let me now for PM when you need me. I'll need a pasword and hopefuly some pointers from time to time.

Also congrats

[Commodore]

I haven't read anything for the past 100 turns but sure! I can play for you.

I almost miss this so just in case let me now for PM when you need me. I'll need a pasword and hopefuly some pointers from time to time.

Also congrats

Thanks Retep! I might be surprised and complications may arise, naturally, but when my daughter was born she was pretty happy hanging out on dad's lap and "playing along". So I don't think it should be a long absence. Password is "amor" and I'll go into more future plan detail as the time draws neigh.

Meanwhile, more immediately...I've got two turns until Mali gets pikes. I'll be launching then, hammering Meta Knight and landing further on this back hill...

Wish me luck, I guess. Interesting times incoming.

[Krill]

Congrats Commodore

[Commodore]

Congrats Commodore

Heh, isn't it at all...but I'm sure works. PB5 had a lot of 3am turns...

[GermanJoey]

Congrats!

[Krill]

I'm sensing an explanation for that wolf.

[Commodore]

I'm sensing an explanation for that wolf.

Wait, a wolf? Where wolf?

One more turn and I'm going in. I don't think I'll manage a complete kill here but Thoth and Dtay are still at war; hopefully I can snag at least up to a good solid "middling" city/land count.


Thoth asked for OB; I'm not sure if it is wise, but I don't *think* he wants to hammer me while in a hot war with Dtay, and we need to have some safe borders somewhere. My massive power spike is scary, but Thoth is still #1.


Demos! Enjoy it while they last; GNP is about to get pretty bloody depressing. Hopefully CY and land count can at least climb...

Sooooon