Turn 81:
I try calm down and try find some solution, but right now I don't know what to. List of troubles are long and only becomes longer majority of them is caused by me, with other words I shot myself in foot.
Beginning with Emperor K, to be fair my attack with warriors and archers after turn 60 normally wouldn't be a success and normally a suicide mission. But Emperor K's lack of units and my 2 movement points made it possible.
Also I did mention earlier that I did make mistake regarding immortals, if I did properly rush Emperor K with immortals, I might have taken his cities before he could deploy horsemen. But all of that are in past and I have to deal with current situation now.
After initial success with Rose/Ahmed, due geography and placement of that encampment, both of us are at standstill here. My reinforcements in forms of 2 horseman has just arrived with battering ram this turn and two more immortals shall follow shortly. I notice no units of Emperor K, but I can see his domination score of roughly 175 compared with my score of roughly 235. So it isn't force to taken lightly with and I can't sudden rush here or I might be walking in a trap. I likely need knights and crossbowman to deal with Emperor K here.
I also notice at diplomatic peace window that Emperor K lacks GPT, which mean that he is running in red with his army to defend Bastions. Which mean no upgrades, more reason to wait till knights and crossbowman.
But problem is: time is against me, firstly Emperor K is not far anymore for Great Prophet which he can use to get Defender of Faith to make capturing his cities a pain. 15 more turns with 1 GPP for Emperor K, he can speed up it with more holy sites, shrines or run a holy site project. I don't know how long I still have, maybe I can somehow pull off a Stonehenge here. Next turn check every aspect of my empire, policy cards and what I can do to possibly prevent Emperor K grabbing religion. Yes, it is a desperate act but sometimes from a desperate of normally idiotic actions you get results fro example my conquest of Rose that normally would be failure.
Another reason that time is against me, it is TheArchduke. He is winning against Suboptimal and after Suboptimal it is my turn to be attacked since I am remaining contender of TheArchduke.
Even worse is that TheArchduke just got his second GG and next GG is another Medieval/renaissance GG. I shiver already about thought of triple GG powered Knights and Crossbowman controlled by TheArchduke!
I really need to nab this GG, at this moment I have 40 points and 1 GGP per turn, but TheArchduke has 7 points and 4 GGP per turn, moreover his Hetairoi UU can kill for GG points which is happening in Australian lands. I need to build barracks in Aladdin and run projects frantically.
But at same time, best way to not get behind is found or conquest more cities. Therefore I need to build some settlers and send them to powerful locations, that ones that quickly benefits my empire. For example that location nearby Tsingy de Bemaraha in southwestern corner of map. Best city for producing settlers is Aladdin, but I also need take care of GG Points or I can try to be first person to survive triple GG army.
Also I might take Armagh and Hattusa for extra fast empire boost. Argh, so many things to do in short time, I feel that I am going nuts here and I am ready to receive triple GG punishment.
When starting this PBEM, I decided to make a list of threats that need to be dealt in order.
-Firstly TheArchduke: it was critical who was his closest neighbor and when I determined that Suboptimal was his closest neighbor, I took act to deal with TheArchduke. I DoW Suboptimal to make him harder to conquer for TheArcduke while grabbing some pillage bonus in process to keep Suboptimal's science per turn somewhat in check. And with that TheArchduke would be unable to beat his closest neighbor and Macedonian civilization would fall behind after classical age compared with others. So threat dealt thought I at that moment.
-Secondly: Emperor K, due dangerous medieval UU, he was second on my list to dealt with and since he was my closest neighbor, I needed to dirty my hands here. I did mess up with Immortals and therefore delayed attack, his scout movement however provoked my desire for war. And then I attacked him with intent to cripple/eliminate him, and I did with attack that shouldn't succeed but I did succeed. And now due geography and some unlucky barb situation we are stuck in this situation. I still intent to get rid of him before he get Winged Hussars.
-Thirdly: Suboptimal, if he was my neighbor, he would be first on my list to be dealt with. But with TheArchduke as neighbor, I decided to 'support' him while gaining movement bonus for myself. I was bit concerned that Suboptimal would be too strong after my initial DoW, but thankfully he did invest mostly in military units instead even more campus or other economic buildings and he used that military to able fend off TheArchduke. So it would be long stalemate which is good for me. But what the heck happened over there! Suddenly Suboptimal is at domination score of 150 while TheArchduke got over 300 strength. And on top of that TheArchduke is taking his cities, even my another DoW on Suboptimal for extra production didn't help that all. What was Suboptimal doing with his army which size was double TheArchduke's at a moment?
More I write, more I am frustrated at Suboptimal, but however I am reminded one of reasons why oledavy didn't win PBEM2: he did count on other player too much to deal with other dangerous player.
I am doing same here, expecting that Suboptimal can withstand TheArchduke while I do my thing. So I also blame myself for this situation and it isn't helped with my mistakes in this PBEM.
Well, here I am, enough venting and do something actually!
-For starters, builder completed in Aladdin shall go to forest 2 tiles north of city. After 2 turns I can do policy swap and I shall put limes and colonization in, chop walls and overflow in settler. Builder shall improve 2 more mines. I am sending settler to spot nearby natural wonder. Next settler (still dunno where and when to build him) goes to spot east of Sinbad, around lakes chokepoint to make TheArchduke's life difficult there as possible.
-What about farm for Feudalism inspiration? Just take Armagh, that city got 6 farms, instant inspiration!
-And I am in no state to take more cities of Emperor K, also he would notice TheArchduke's increase and Subopitmal's decrease of score. He knows that longer we fight, we both lose.
So I am sending him white peace, hopefully he shall accept. But I am afraid that he want his old city back which I shall refuse. I however don't suffer from occupation penalty, so I can keep refusing to give city back.
After signing peace, Emperor K get chance to rebuild and actually become major player, that is risk that I am willing take in face of TheArchduke's might. Also risky due Emperor K more likely to get revenge at me instead opposing TheArchduke, all that I need to do is be sure that I keep outteching him.
Heh, all of this is a complete mess and I am enjoying it.
I try calm down and try find some solution, but right now I don't know what to. List of troubles are long and only becomes longer majority of them is caused by me, with other words I shot myself in foot.
Beginning with Emperor K, to be fair my attack with warriors and archers after turn 60 normally wouldn't be a success and normally a suicide mission. But Emperor K's lack of units and my 2 movement points made it possible.
Also I did mention earlier that I did make mistake regarding immortals, if I did properly rush Emperor K with immortals, I might have taken his cities before he could deploy horsemen. But all of that are in past and I have to deal with current situation now.
After initial success with Rose/Ahmed, due geography and placement of that encampment, both of us are at standstill here. My reinforcements in forms of 2 horseman has just arrived with battering ram this turn and two more immortals shall follow shortly. I notice no units of Emperor K, but I can see his domination score of roughly 175 compared with my score of roughly 235. So it isn't force to taken lightly with and I can't sudden rush here or I might be walking in a trap. I likely need knights and crossbowman to deal with Emperor K here.
I also notice at diplomatic peace window that Emperor K lacks GPT, which mean that he is running in red with his army to defend Bastions. Which mean no upgrades, more reason to wait till knights and crossbowman.
But problem is: time is against me, firstly Emperor K is not far anymore for Great Prophet which he can use to get Defender of Faith to make capturing his cities a pain. 15 more turns with 1 GPP for Emperor K, he can speed up it with more holy sites, shrines or run a holy site project. I don't know how long I still have, maybe I can somehow pull off a Stonehenge here. Next turn check every aspect of my empire, policy cards and what I can do to possibly prevent Emperor K grabbing religion. Yes, it is a desperate act but sometimes from a desperate of normally idiotic actions you get results fro example my conquest of Rose that normally would be failure.
Another reason that time is against me, it is TheArchduke. He is winning against Suboptimal and after Suboptimal it is my turn to be attacked since I am remaining contender of TheArchduke.
Even worse is that TheArchduke just got his second GG and next GG is another Medieval/renaissance GG. I shiver already about thought of triple GG powered Knights and Crossbowman controlled by TheArchduke!
I really need to nab this GG, at this moment I have 40 points and 1 GGP per turn, but TheArchduke has 7 points and 4 GGP per turn, moreover his Hetairoi UU can kill for GG points which is happening in Australian lands. I need to build barracks in Aladdin and run projects frantically.
But at same time, best way to not get behind is found or conquest more cities. Therefore I need to build some settlers and send them to powerful locations, that ones that quickly benefits my empire. For example that location nearby Tsingy de Bemaraha in southwestern corner of map. Best city for producing settlers is Aladdin, but I also need take care of GG Points or I can try to be first person to survive triple GG army.
Also I might take Armagh and Hattusa for extra fast empire boost. Argh, so many things to do in short time, I feel that I am going nuts here and I am ready to receive triple GG punishment.
When starting this PBEM, I decided to make a list of threats that need to be dealt in order.
-Firstly TheArchduke: it was critical who was his closest neighbor and when I determined that Suboptimal was his closest neighbor, I took act to deal with TheArchduke. I DoW Suboptimal to make him harder to conquer for TheArcduke while grabbing some pillage bonus in process to keep Suboptimal's science per turn somewhat in check. And with that TheArchduke would be unable to beat his closest neighbor and Macedonian civilization would fall behind after classical age compared with others. So threat dealt thought I at that moment.
-Secondly: Emperor K, due dangerous medieval UU, he was second on my list to dealt with and since he was my closest neighbor, I needed to dirty my hands here. I did mess up with Immortals and therefore delayed attack, his scout movement however provoked my desire for war. And then I attacked him with intent to cripple/eliminate him, and I did with attack that shouldn't succeed but I did succeed. And now due geography and some unlucky barb situation we are stuck in this situation. I still intent to get rid of him before he get Winged Hussars.
-Thirdly: Suboptimal, if he was my neighbor, he would be first on my list to be dealt with. But with TheArchduke as neighbor, I decided to 'support' him while gaining movement bonus for myself. I was bit concerned that Suboptimal would be too strong after my initial DoW, but thankfully he did invest mostly in military units instead even more campus or other economic buildings and he used that military to able fend off TheArchduke. So it would be long stalemate which is good for me. But what the heck happened over there! Suddenly Suboptimal is at domination score of 150 while TheArchduke got over 300 strength. And on top of that TheArchduke is taking his cities, even my another DoW on Suboptimal for extra production didn't help that all. What was Suboptimal doing with his army which size was double TheArchduke's at a moment?
More I write, more I am frustrated at Suboptimal, but however I am reminded one of reasons why oledavy didn't win PBEM2: he did count on other player too much to deal with other dangerous player.
I am doing same here, expecting that Suboptimal can withstand TheArchduke while I do my thing. So I also blame myself for this situation and it isn't helped with my mistakes in this PBEM.
Well, here I am, enough venting and do something actually!
-For starters, builder completed in Aladdin shall go to forest 2 tiles north of city. After 2 turns I can do policy swap and I shall put limes and colonization in, chop walls and overflow in settler. Builder shall improve 2 more mines. I am sending settler to spot nearby natural wonder. Next settler (still dunno where and when to build him) goes to spot east of Sinbad, around lakes chokepoint to make TheArchduke's life difficult there as possible.
-What about farm for Feudalism inspiration? Just take Armagh, that city got 6 farms, instant inspiration!
-And I am in no state to take more cities of Emperor K, also he would notice TheArchduke's increase and Subopitmal's decrease of score. He knows that longer we fight, we both lose.
So I am sending him white peace, hopefully he shall accept. But I am afraid that he want his old city back which I shall refuse. I however don't suffer from occupation penalty, so I can keep refusing to give city back.
After signing peace, Emperor K get chance to rebuild and actually become major player, that is risk that I am willing take in face of TheArchduke's might. Also risky due Emperor K more likely to get revenge at me instead opposing TheArchduke, all that I need to do is be sure that I keep outteching him.
Heh, all of this is a complete mess and I am enjoying it.
2
stone tile. So with bought builder I shall harvest that stone resource (reminder to toss down Stonehenge before harvesting!) while walls are almost complete. I didn't do math and I just hope that I somehow manage to finish Stonehenge at turn 88. 
, at least Macedonia don't get bonus for putting it at breathtaking tiles.