[SPOILERS] TheArchduke creates the final empire as Macedonia

[TheArchduke]

The biggest and most populous part of Macedonia are the newly acquired southern lands by Australia and Valetta.
Especially the australian dotmap is wonderful, all freshwater cities with commerce, production and some food. Lovely place!

Tremredare, the former capital needs as my whole empire it seems worker love. Some very nice tiles, god knows why the horses were never bought to the north. A cultural district to keep up with Choral Music. Preparation for a Limes wall chop are underway.

   

Fadrex, wonderfully situated, will become a big powerhouse given time. Galley chop into trade, next up harbour.

   

Tathingdwen. A true commerce site with all the citrus and even decent production. And encampment will be chopped in by limes as this is a barbarian hotspot.

   

Mantiz. A rice buy is needed to give this production monster the population it needs.

   

All in all the long war with Macedonia has left wounds not so much in burnt down improvements but in missing ones. Less Horseman, more defense and more workers.
We will need to delay Feudalism for those extra builder charges I fear.

Holstep, a mediocre CS plant with a (nearly) free monument. It got a harbour and is an essential staging ground against Persia. Unfortunately its defensive side is to the east.

   

[TheArchduke]

And this is where the decision will be made. Geneva and Hongkong will both offer their very important bonuses. No idea who will prevail here.

Persia could decide to gobble up Geneva. Need to plan for that.

   

Sorry for the picture spam. I got frustrated following PBEM 3, so here you go you know pretty much everything you want to know, reader.

[TheArchduke]

Turn 102 is coming in, 5 seconds after this report. Wow.

   

Wow a peculiar penninsula, wow. Did not expect the map to look that beautiful.

Army heals up and I descend on the part where I am the worst, economic micromanagment, chop planning and infrastructure. Hooray!

[CFCJesterFool]

I wouldn't worry too much. Bombards led by a  Renaissance GG will destroy city walls in a few shots (and with three moves, can move and shoot in the same turn as long as any movement remains after moving...undocumented feature of GGs.) Your plan for grabbing GAs and GGs is sound. Have faith, I think you are in the driver's seat.

[TheArchduke]

Not only for wallchops, but I actually want those walls for protection.

That builder is bait for the xbowman by the way.

   

Can I have one of those?

   

Preparing army for upgrades and in general improving my economy rapidly.

[Ituralde]

Thank you for the overview of your empire. I didn't mind the picture spam one bit. That's what we're here to see, reports from you and so far you have not disappointed!

[RefSteel]

Sorry for the picture spam. I got frustrated following PBEM 3, so here you go you know pretty much everything you want to know, reader.

Wait, wait, you're apologizing for picture spam??? With explanations of what we're looking at and its strategic importance for each picture? There's certainly no need to apologize for such an excellent report; thank you so much!

[TheArchduke]

Thanks for the encouragement.

This game has been a blast so far, especially the adverse events, may it be the first GG race or the situation now.

First I chopped out a catapult to a finish between turns via a wall chop. Why?

For the Hattusa quest.

   

Well hello:

   

Hattusa is quite low on troops next to a persian city, but still can annoy Alhambram to no end.

I did it for the +4 science in my 2 campuses.

The front is discouraging.
Yunan is in a silly defensive position. chariots in place to be upgraded, walls, encampment well placed.
Yeah I am not going to attack there and not now.

   

Poland is still holding. No idea how long.

   

So after an analysis of the situation we will retreat the hetairoi for knight upgrades to Holstep, but advance the slower troops down into the tundra around the bend of Yunan to the soft underbelly of Persia.

   

[TheArchduke]

With Yunan looking like it is, the outcome of my offensive unsure and upgraded Knights on the frontline in earliest 10 turns coming from Holstep, we have to girdle up for the long haul. Via Harbours of course. 2 more are enroute (2 turns and 10 turns) for 4 alltogether.

2 GG projects (1turn and 3turn) ensure that Persia will get no edge outside DotF.


   

Ah yes, fun with barbs.

[TheArchduke]

I sacrificed a hetairoi this turn and it was worth it?

Why, Persia was 5 turns from a GG (and a gold and faith recruit. In retrospect I should have checked that)

I killed a persian scout.

   

And a barb archer, but I might have sacrificed my northeastern barb hetairoi this turn. I will need to chop out another.

   

And then. REALLY? It seems my obscene amount of GG point production enables us to yet another medieval/renaissance GG.

   

Seems the persian supply and attack lines run through Armagh, a lot of envoys for a religious CS if you ask me.

   

If I can find time today, I thought a lot about the possibilites in this game and will share my plans with the audience if I can find the time today.