Dreylin goes big or goes home [spoilers]

[Dreylin]

t56 -

Wow, Bob, TBS & Aurorarcher all posted updates on this turn, I wonder why...


OO, that explains it. Seems early.

[Dreylin]

t57 -

Start with an event:


That's ... well not too important since it just grew into unhappiness this turn!

Setting out on little explore:


Maybe a city on the spot where the Warriors are, to grab the Pigs, Crabs & the Mana Node? They'll probably go 1S and then turn back.

Also, it seems that Qgqqqqq grabbed OO first, but only a turn ahead of Aurorarcher!

[Dreylin]

t59 -

Another event of dubious usefulness:


But Horses 1st ring.

Here's an overview:


Killed the Warrior visible in the first screenshot and a second in the East. There's a Goblin coming in from the NW as well, but the Polar Bear is behind him so I didn't attack out at him; will hit next turn in borders.

Oh, and that seems to be Lanun borders to the SW. That notch could correspond to a similar notch across from the Dyes in the North, which would put us closer together than I had previously supposed.

[Sarmatian]

There's still room to put a few more cities in, but being this close to Lanun on a map with so much water may be bad for health.

Should you be preparing a preemptive strike?

[Dreylin]

t60 -

I wasn't quite intending to, but I met DaveV this turn:


I was trying to edge the Warrior past, but hadn't quite got the land/borders right. He'll see me on his turn too, which is a shame. The other EXP, so I'm not too disappointed to be a city down given my (questionable) tech path - I am getting my Workers full-power on Mines & some chops, so my Prod will ramp up shortly. I also finished the Monument in Salinero, so I can start to get the Copper Mined in 3t.

It's also worth noting that borders are 3rd-Ring, which would make that city his Capital. If the notch does correspond with the one to my North, then that would put his Capital in the equivalent position to Gigolo ... which is where I would have planted mine if Lanun. So I think this confirms that relative pod location - which also means there's someone maybe closer than I had considered to my NE.

Settler building in Valegro will probably go NW as Salinero can share some good tiles. Salinero itself toyed with another Settler, but decided on another Worker for the Copper (only have 6 Workers currently). Gigolo & Bonfire will both finish their Monuments soon, so I'll also need Workers over there to get the Happiness resources going.

Tech-wise I'm saving Gold while I decide where to go next. Getting Horsemen soon is a priority, but I'm wondering whether it can wait a little and I'll take a chance at the Drama Bard....

WRT Lanun; I don't think the terrain favours an attack on them in the short term, as it seems like it would be a long route to reach them over land and we don't have any ships yet. I'd also say that DaveV is one of the most cautious players and least likely to be caught out by a rush strategy. Also, although we're PBEMing it, this game is more akin to a pitboss, and so taking out a neighbour is much less likely to be an auto win button than in a smaller game. So no immediate plans for conquest; just go back to expanding and see whether we can get the demos looking a bit more respectable!

[Dreylin]

t61 -

Actually, I take that back; it looks like it's a straight shot South to the East of the pod:


I might move that city location 1S (between the Pigs) to minimise the need for a border pop and to prevent Tsunami. I can always Fort the "x?" location & 2S to create a naval passage if needed - actually, the "x?" location probably wants Forting regardless if I move the city down.

Still trying to decide if this will be the next location, or if I'll still send one NW first.

[Dreylin]

t63 -

Interesting:


There's a 1-tile bridge at the bottom of jalepeno's pod below the Marble isle, but not here.

Also, yes that's our old friend the Polar Bear being offed in the NW; he had moved adjacent to 3 of my Warriors and this will now allow me to send the next Settler up this way, which is a faster-starting spot than the South because it can steal tiles from Salinero.

[Sarmatian]

which is a faster-starting spot than the South because it can steal tiles from Salinero.

Going south does have potential strategic advantages.

- There's a city between Lanun and our (coastal, I might add) capital.

- it's not a coastal  city, more defensible location.

- if you don't act quickly, that spot might be taken, while the northern spot is likely to be free for taking for some time yet.


Unrelated question - has anyone tried EitB over simulated LAN (hamachi, tunngle...)? Does it work?

[Dreylin]

t65 -

It's definitely a good spot, but I really don't see there's much danger of DaveV trying to grab it in the next 10turns - which is the max it will take me to get the next Settler down that way from Salinero. And even if he does, it would be very dificult for him to hold it from my adjacent to the Capital.

Also, the Workers are currently in the NW (working on the Copper) and the East (connected the Gold, then on to the Dyes), and would be unavailable to start hooking up the new city:


Small Barb incursion from the East, but should be easily dealt with by the Warriors in the area and the one popping from Bonfire. I held off any attacks this turn to make certain I could get the Mine up without interference.

[Dreylin]

t67 -

Cleared out the Warrior invasion and founded Rembrandt (2-time winner in '88 & '92):


Next Settler from Salinero next turn will head South to found Ahlerich ('84). Salinero will grow on a quick Market, then onto another Settler; Valegro will probably push out a Worker before also going Settler (need to catch back up with DaveV's Pirates!)