[SPOILERS] TheArchduke creates the final empire as Macedonia

[TheArchduke]

Thanks, I hope to keep it up. Screenies at home, basically suboptimal Horseman managed to survive with 5 HP, we will see what we will do about that next turn.

[TheArchduke]

A cautious approach again, we will strike more eager next turn.

   

Bad luck on the rolls against the horseman.

   

Ah, the first crossbowmen enters duty, will arrive on the front same time as the ram. Expecting magical australian production units every 2nd turn now.

[TheArchduke]

Initial deployment. We will strike a bit more boldly this turn, I fear that I will finally loose a unit on the interturn. Suprised that I have not so far, but I have been very cautious.

   

3 more turns until my ram and my crossbowmen can enter the action, until then it means a little bit of sweat every time I open the turn.

With 2 archers in the vicinity, things got a bit more complicated. I am not ready to risk an archer to his bombardment as I want both to upgrade and my production is precious. I somehow never managed to build more then my 3 archers in this game, too many priorities.

Still, we risk another hypasist this turn and kill the spearman and the horseman (should have gone all out on that one last time, promotions are something best avoided on the enemy.

And yeah, I just researched sailing, have not even researched astrology, I sandbagged and prioritized tech, my score will increase a bit more quickly now.

   

Next turn we will try to prioritise finishing off an archer and deal with any units Suboptimal manages to send east. Ram in place, 3 more turns.

In the north we finally get our first trade route to Zanzibar for a whooping +8 gold and a road to Urteau, nice.
One hetairoi has to fend off the barbarians and I am debating with myself if I upgrade another warrior for barbwatch to a hypasist.

   

Thing could get complicated if suboptimal manages to upgrade to crossbowmen as well, thankfully his income took a hit through the loss of Mouse Spider.

Just thought, if I had bought a trader on turn 49, I would have had about -180 gold, but then 31 turns of +8 gold, but then again archer promotions cost money.

[TheArchduke]

My gut feeling proved right. Without the tortoise promotion, the hypasist is a sitting duck and I loose him. Damn.  

Still to get my spirit up, current losses added with this turn are:

Suboptimal:

Horseman: 5
Warrior: 2
Archer: 3
Spearman: 1

TheArchduke

Hypasist: 1

Still, as usual for me, I am fighting against an enemy with a distinct production advantage and I can imagine another horseman popping out in 2 turns out of the capital. Also I am confident if I had shuffled my units around a bit better, I could have saved that hypasist, nothing to do but soldier on.


   

Anyway, I punish the horseman E of the city immeaditly. And I strike against the archer, I hope loosing that one was worth it.

Feeling a bit better, I check out the monetary situation, it seems suboptimal needs 2 more turns for a crossbowmen upgrade and I would be suprised if he did not research Machinery, like I have.

   

In the south my hetairoi can not occupy the rice just yet, the danger of an attack by the horseman on the iron is too big.
And another horseman pops up to say hello to my ram, I greet him accordingly with my hetairoi. Once again, so many, many troops. Led a bit more cautious and competently I doubt I could have made much headway in this war. I doubt suboptimal expected such audacious thrusts towards his soft flank though.

Another turn, another compromise. Though I use my GG to inflict some damage to the northern horse, I can not risk her staying in place for the +1 movement for the xbowmen. If something weird happens and I am out of position I could use more troops. I better play it safe.

   

Especially as I overconfident or wise, we will know in 3 turns switched to economic builds in my core. And the barb situation makes all three units necessary in the north. +4 support, yeah there is an archer there. Retreat.

   

But Alhambram will never see the peace button in this game by me. I dow him and move a scout to pillage a mine next turn.

   

[TheArchduke]

Next turn is ramtime.

Killed one horseman in the north, everyone else fortifies or moves into position. Next turn I might attack.

   

[CFCJesterFool]

You have enough to take down the city walls...x-bow, archer, and 2 swords. Then you can surround and heal while chipping away with the x-bow and archer.

[TheArchduke]

Once again we overwhelm a city completly in one turn. I am not gonna be holding back. This is a great victory. Even with +100% production, Australia can not outproduce me anymore and with the campus gone his science rate is not an issue anymore. Still his milpower is at 220 and mine is barely 300. I am tired of my day so I will let the screens do the talking, expect a turn 80 summary of the war, the current situation and my plans for the future. Suboptimal is hurt, but not out.

Before Ram:

   

With Ram:

   

Quite the difference, everyone attacks the city. Why Suboptimal has not swarmed me with his units is beyond me. His one horseman can not hope to retake the city, but 3 could or at least do damage.

Down:

   

And out:

   

Phew, what a war.  

Promotions are in order, 4 units, two hypasist and 2 archers get names.

   

[TheArchduke]

In the north we hide before the barbarians, if suboptimal only knew what happens up here.

2 and 3 turns until my settler push.

   

[CFCJesterFool]

What's the city count like?

[TheArchduke]

So, an overview of the game as it is at the moment.

Turn 80:

In the north we have fun with barbs continued. I get some GG points in and the hetairoi might survive, the northern warrior hides and strikes out of the encampment.
The settler finishes next turn.

   

In the south we yet again kill an unsupported horseman which pillages a mediocre grassland stone. If you ask me a killed horseman is not worth the culture, even with australian production that is just throwing away a unit that could be used to swarm me.

   

Things will get more complicated soon as with 190 gold gone, I have to assume there is a crossbowman somewhere. But mine are finally double GG boosted, so suboptimal is in a whole world of hurt if his tactics do not get significantly better. North of Irjukandji the same forests which shielded my siege of the capital are now enabling Blue-Ringed Octopus to have a nice defensive position.

We either crush through it finally and with brutal force or we will execute a wide flanking maneuver over Granada (which to be honest I would love to keep..)

   

Right now it is healing up and fortify time, I doubt suboptimal will once again go on the offensive, but you might never know, you have to allow enemies to make mistakes.

The defensive terrain is incredible. Attacking Cassowary directly is a recipe for disaster, you do not want to be flanked on both sides. I might be best of to crush Blue-Ringed Octupus, and I might be best of to get a navy or more crossbows.

Suboptimals war exhaustion must be staggering by now.