TheArchduke tries his best not to be overrun again as Pericles

[Bacchus]

Yeah, he really should have thought about the wider context when making that settle. What if that's our only iron, as just happens to be the case.

I wonder how much vision Kilimanjaro provides. We probably won't be able to surprise him too much, but it's still pretty easy for us to occupy three tiles next to Frankfurt on our bank. Coming from the sheep tile south of lake, the horse can even hit the city out of the fog, but not sure we want to actually do this, as we can't prevent healing easily. You can also hit out of the forest that's south of the cotton (northwest of Frankfurt), but I think he might have vision into that tile.

Because of the mountain range it's also really easy for us to cut Frankfurt off from reinforcements.

[Bacchus]

Also, it looks like walls haven't even been started in Frankfurt. Yeah, I think we should be able to take and hold it -- he can only attack it from two tiles, the ones shootable by his encampment. Will he ever cede to us though, I wonder. We need to threaten more before that would happen, and that's a problem.

[TheArchduke]

I do not think that ceding is the main issue here.

Especially Ironforge can be burned down and replaced and we should really think about burning down Frankfurt if the signs show that we could not push on.

[Bacchus]

Yes, burning probably has to be the play here. If Singaboy has sense, he would cede Ironforge after we burn Frankfurt rather than make us burn and re-settle it. Obviously he has no way to defend Ironforge, and after adjusting the border both of us have zero reason to stay at war -- Oledavy and Woden are the ones we should be dealing with. We don't even mind him having Frankfurt, as long as it's just one tile to the east.

Something to note: Cavalry (horseman upgrade) is Industrial era, so we need at least a Ren general to boost it, maybe we want to skip one. What's going on with great men?

[TheArchduke]

Well no need to persuade Oledavy of anything, we seem to be in synch. Good news, only Seoul, meaning the city that Oledavy has to go through, has a wall.

Our pain train is incoming and should be a total suprise. Ironforge will be burned, I have zero interest in relying on Singaboys goodwill to cede it.

   

Which also means we need settlers apronto and a lot of them, next turn we switch civics.
I am still not sold on Autocracy, I like the +10% GP or +20% Combat experience the other governments provide, maybe I understimate the +1 for the capital? It is something for the early game.

   

Great Persons info for you, bacchus.

   

I hope PBEM 3 takes off, I will probably dedlurk you.

[Bacchus]

The oligarchy bonus will pretty much never come up to +20%, as you can see, it ticks very slowly. Classical Republic is an option, it's bonus is better, the downside is the diplomatic slot, which is effectively a -1 slot. The question is do we have a good second military tech to run, but some sort of production never hurts.

El Cid is good -- we need to push to ensure that we take it, I think. Either through Strategos or Encampment project. Germany is already completing Hansas.

On the war -- even if you burn Ironforge, why start your campaign with it, and give him time to reinforce Frankfurt? Hit Frankfurt first, then come down for Ironforge, which can't be reinforced anyway.

[Bacchus]

My suggestion -- burn Frankfurt, offer peace for Ironforge right when he will be at lowest morale having lost a city and facing a two-front war, and he may well cede it. If he doesn't, you can still go an burn it.

[TheArchduke]

We switch civics with D&P and finally get +1 production on mines.
We are at +3 Amneties in our cities as we finally hooked up tobacco and coffee last turn.

And yeah, a Granary in Helice, a Granary in BA and a Monument soon, finally some infrastructure.

Still I keep maneuver, because given our situation, I should push out chariots out a bit as well in preparation for the soon to be knights.
Yeah, the diplomatic slot is a waste and maybe Singaboy will feel even less threatened this turn until I come for him next turn.

   

   

[TheArchduke]

Quick turnaround, we are in position, I have to assume Singaboy scouted my troops last turn, because the sword is not fortified, so he moved it in position. Let´s hope he stay outside the city.

   

I forgot to take a screenie of the China Southwestern Border. It is a ridiculous bottleneck, Russia is 1st in mil power now, so I have to hope Alhambram stops Woden, because I sure can´t.

[Bacchus]

Heh, a real chance of flanking +10 on that sword next turn. I assume he will retreat. I'd imagine he was just going to scout, because this is a very unfortunate position for the unit.