[SPOILERS] Kaiser and TheArchduke are nice and friendly neighbours

[Kaiser]

Here you go, TAD is in Oligarchy and Twilight Valour (was necessary to be able to conquer Akkad as it built a very unfortunate Galley)



Yellow: 3 turns from TB until the split point comes
Red: 7 turns (and one tile less advanced) from Miln until the split point comes

Pink: Split point via Channel city over N passage, 7 turns to get to either N Akkad or W Akkad (already has a zoning Longship), 8 to get next to Akkad island in case there is no interference
Black: Split point via S passage coming by TAD#2 and TAD#3, 9 turns to Akkad shore, only S approach

My tendency would be using the channel city and N passage as it give me more flexibility. TAD has 2 production sites at both, but BB might not yet be strong enough to really contribute.

I could cut two tiles on pink by settling #5 on Horses, but the city would be way worse that the other spot.

You are right about Monumentality, that was a mistake and it is costing right now as I have already invested in non-missionaries. #5 will have to do without builder but will likely go into unit production anyways.

Wodens Navy estimate based on his MP is 241 with 35 CS/Longboat is 7 Longboats, he likely has 2-3 damaged ones at Rapa Nui. This could cover for an 8th Longboat, but he also should have at least a Warrior so I guess 7 should be about his maximum. He could have some Quadrieremes though, which are about half the CS than a Longboat.

Llubljana's Navy estimate is 1 Bireme less, so 6.

Considering their recent activities concerning CS, I assume they have 3-4 Woden Boats and 2-3 Llubljana Boats here. However Llubljana's Geneva fleet, which he conquered 3 turns ago, should not be to far away and could try to either go for Akkad or they could try to trap TAD's fleet and come the S way and attack Hattusa and TAD#2 and TAD#3
In that case, my ships might be needed more in the S near Hattusa.

[Kaiser]

Yes, that might bite here but at least TAD is confident here as he does not think it in the best interest of them to attack right now. They have passed the window of a heavily damaged fleet and a vulnerable Akkad as it is nearly healed up by now.
Attacking us would maybe give them Akkad but not a lot more while Roloptimal keep running away with the game.



It seems like they think similarily as they have withdrawn their well positioned Longboats. I will still send 1 Galley over to help defend a potential attack on Hattusa



And this guy will come up as well, he just took care of a Quadriereme.

Meanwhile I am finishing a Galley each in TB and Miln and then will get out the first Quadriereme's for the attack on Mohenjo Daro. It would be really helpful to get the missionary over to convert it first, but that directly conflicts with getting Akkad to the right religion so it can be easier defended.

International News:
- Llubljana/Phoenicia civic#10, tech#15, 10 empire (city #5 plus Cothon?)
- Roland/China ToA, 6 era
- MPTF/Australia -
- TAD civic#10, 1 empire
- Kaiser -
- CMF/Russia 13 empire (hong kong 8, Lavra and other?)
- Suboptimal/Indonesia tech#14
- Woden/Vikings civic#10, 3 empire, 3 era (splendid campus?)

[Kaiser]

It looks like they are coming, I have no screenshot but TAD told me so. This likely throws the game to Roloptimal as TAD is prepared to fight with his teeth and Roloptimal should be on the other side of Lluden somewhere.
At least TAD still is confident. I was remembered thsi turn that my travel time is lower thanks to finishing Mathematics with the boost.

It is 7 turns to the N from TB and 7 turns to Hattusa as well.



Confirmed third Cothon for Llubljana



And also a quicker 1st Missionary which is due in 3 turns if everything works out as planned. My amenity situation is giving a very nice 20% boost to and in TB by now.

The current eta is 2 turns for 2 more Galleys and then 5 turns for 2 Quadrieremes (TB is actually 1 and 6, but the important finish date for the quadrieremes is T80)

International News:
- Llubljana/Phoenicia 2 empire
- Roland/China 2 empire, tech#16
- MPTF/Australia -
- TAD tech#14
- Kaiser 2 empire, tech#14, tech#15
- CMF/Russia 7 empire (city#5?), tech#11, 2 era
- Suboptimal/Indonesia 7 empire (city#4?)
- Woden/Vikings -

[TheArchduke]

Well they dowed, attack and loose one ship.

   

[TheArchduke]

Way too late, way too few ships. UU are negated by Twilight Valour.

In any case we might loose Akkad, but this is a classic case of not a faint idea how to do war seriously and overestimating Unique units.

[Kaiser]

Here is an overview shot from my reinforcement perspective.

My 2 S Galleys will be around Open Government in 2-3 turns (1 needs to heal a bit), TAD told me to keep them S as a 2nd wave, support and surprise force as I am running a 4 CS deficit without being in Oligarchy.

TAD told me to get some Quadriremes into the water as he already has a strong frontline Navy and my Quadriremens are a good advantage to use and let me stay in the more economy focussed Classical Republic.

The new Galley from TB will be going N to play escort for the Missionary (2 turns until I can buy him, then 13 turns to get to Akkad picking the wrong Era benefit is really biting me here (even though I doubt the Missionary would have had the increased movement when embarked)



Suzeraining Nasca combined with the Shrine boosts my to be able to get the missionary in 2. It also gave us circumnavigation and let us meet Suboptimal. Also TAD is apparently piqued by my settling, luckily I already reserved a cozy place for him on my continent as well.



TAD is still quite relaxed and continues building Settlers. Currently the naval stand-off are 3 unassailable Longboats (who cannot kill TADs Navy else they become vulnerable) and 2 Bireme (the 3rd has been killed) against TADs 5 Galleys and the save spot in Akkad.

In the meantime 3 Biremes are keeping 2 TAD Galleys (and my S fleet to come) from interacting with the Battle of Backlesham Bay.
TAD has another Galley coming in from the N and assumes that Lluden will bring a Quadrireme soon. One key could be TADs Warrior entering Akkad Island next turn to provide Support bonus to the Galleys.

Meanwhile, Roloptimal and CMF are continuing to builder their heart out

International News:
- Llubljana/Phoenicia tech#16, tech#17, 4 era
- Roland/China civic#12, 1 empire
- MPTF/Australia 1 empire
- TAD -
- Kaiser 7 empire, 9 era (suzerain 2, circumnav 3, suboptimal 1, close to england 1, first settlement on different continent 2)
- CMF/Russia settler#6, tech#12
- Suboptimal/Indonesia 1 era
- Woden/Vikings tech#16

[Kaiser]

I like thrawns Army idea by the way, if we can hold and turn here, we should continue to invade, right?

The issue is the limited amount of policy cards makes Army building really slow. Angiers is non-coastal and could start working on some horsemen next turn though, but my finances are already very strapped with the current buildup

[TheArchduke]

Anything apart from Akkad would be a miracle if they take it.

It is true the other way round though, we have no idea how much defensive depth they have.

For more insight check the naval PBEM where I got stick inland in Singaboy.

[TheArchduke]

Yes, well a bit of an overview of the war.

Southern closing position, no death.

   

No counterattack possible, longships too damaged by now. Quad on the way.

   

Maths researched in time.

   

We should attack Mohenjo-Daro

   

Gonna chop out the first quad.

I am really interested why people think it is a good idea to attack me unprepared. TheArchduke the easy target??



   

[Kaiser]

ME is aligning well with the upper branch and I went for it as the next target. Getting the Eureka means finishing the aqueduct in Miln which takes 7 turns we cannot invest into Navy if we decide to do so. I went with a Quadriereme for the moment, I can switch over to castles on time to still get the Eureka.

I will check with TAD if Cartography is in the upper or lower branch when I see him online. I will also try to find the time (still at my In-laws until Sunday evening) to test if Cartography is necessary to enter ocean tiles for Frigates. I would assume it is actually.



I bring two boats to Mohenjo Daro as there is also a Longboat here. The attack will have to be done without Crusade though.

I am finishing next Military Tradition next turn for the support bonus, that would also be a possibility to get into Oligarchy to get to 39 CS for my full health Galleys. That would help for both military actions, but would slow down my science as my core cities will drop out of extatic amenities.

International News:
- Llubljana/Phoenicia -
- Roland/China 1 era
- MPTF/Australia 1 empire, tech#14
- TAD settler#4, tech#15
- Kaiser 1 empire, tech#16
- CMF/Russia tech#13
- Suboptimal/Indonesia civic#9, 4 era
- Woden/Vikings -