[PB65] Pinch-Hitting Pindicator

[Krill]

Is Cornflakes top GNP?

[pindicator]

No, but Mjmd is. Cornflakes is 3rd, behind Superdeath.

I took the peace. It just came down to the fact that I cannot get into a 2v1 where I'm defending against both Mjmd and Cornflakes, and time is what I need to get infra built in the Binglands. Report to follow

[Krill]

I still kinda think you should go heavy on the whip but build wealth to get to knights....

[pindicator]

150

I waited until after Mjmd played becuase I wanted to log in and see his response. And I have it: Mjmd refuses the peace for a 3rd time. And so this game is over; the dual has begun. I can't wait to read about how burning an undefended city on the border is worth throwing your game away for, but I'm sure he's spun up some rationalization to cover his wounded pride.

Anyway, this is what our problem is:




We have forces in two main areas. Firstly, the strong garrison at Clank!: there are currently 10 longbows, 3 elephants, and 8 or so ancient era troops, along with 10 or so catapults.

Then there is the remains of Bingland: a dozen catapults, 4 elephants, 5 horse archers, a GG medic, and 5 axes, which sit currently just west of Sushi Go.

The north is virtually ungaurded; only paltry garrisons. SucksAtCiv could conquer it if he were so inclined.













Our power is behind Mjmd. Obviously more units are needed. And seeing Mjmd's response, I'm set that Krill is right: they will need to be whipped. More to come later, I have had my fill of thinking about this game for today. Some cities are mature enough and productive enough to escape the whip. Most are not. There are a couple spots in the north that I think could be good production pumps. Sadly, I think most will find the whip.

The second biggest thing to overcome is mobility. We are a vast, sprawling (and oddly satisfyingly symmetrical) empire. Engineering and Guilds need to happen now. There is a choice to be made now: start whipping out elephants now or start wealth builds and get to Guilds. Great person is due in 2 turns, odds are 50/50 for a merchant. I would love to save that for the first half of a golden age, but I don't think I have any choice.

[Krill]

Clank, Puerto Rico, Dixit and maybe Scythe need the builds changing.

Growth uber alles is not always right. Sometimes the cost of the pop in maintenance etc means it is negative value unless you are storing the hammers for the whip or you need the specific output ie gpp or culture. That is one reason why the Bing expansion is dragging you back.

You also need to pop borders ASAP at Ticket to Ride for vision. Clank is at risk because the hills protect James Craig so he can position units quite far south. You need to place G2 long bows on the unloaded hills outside TtR and prepare to fight small stack engagement but I imagine mjmd would probably aim to run at Libertalia via an Engineering speed 1 move at Catan.

[Krill]

Also I'm not convinced Knights are correct you could really do with Castles and pikes ASAP.

[pindicator]

And 3-move roads. I can see Engineering ahead of Guilds

[pindicator]

151

Tech vision on Mjmd this turn:  we are out of time.  He gets Guilds end of his next turn (unless he's manipulating sliders between turns). More likely he's keeping his sliders at just around break-even to hide how strong his GNP really is.

Cornflakes declares on SucksAtCiv, and this time seems earnest about an invasion.




Is Mjmd going to join him or is he going to watch his two easiest neighbors get eaten up while he continues his blood feud?

Speaking of, I needed to settle defenses yesterday. Here is what we currently look like in the south, along with anticipated attack lines.




I've moved the elephants and catapults a tile back out of Clank! in order to cover if Mjmd takes the far-southern approach to hit Libertalia. In addition, 5 catapults are splitting the difference to give some cover to the center of the defenses. Our northern forces have come all the way down to Sushi Go to provide support there.

As far as Mjmd, I believe he is keeping the bulk of his forces in or nearby HaulAwayBowline. From this city he would be best positioned to respond to potential invasion from us. If he plans on making a serious invasion into our core, I believe it will come along one of the red lines marked. He could also just go straight for Catan, but improving the garrison at Catan is part of my plan going forward.

The good news is that he cannot really approach any of our cities without giving us at least a turn's notice - at least until he reaches Engineering. This would let us move our stacks appropriately.

Catan is going to whip its own longbows after the Courthouse finishes. And I probably want 2 more for Sushi Go. But the rest of the defenses I have in mind are going to be responding units: elephants & catapults and a few more horse archers.

The north is a different story:




As I said before, I am out of time. So you see walls starting in our newest cities.

I would have loved to turn Dixit and Carcassone into production-focused cities, but we need to whip out barracks and then units. Only reason Carcassone is on a forge is because the overflow would put the barracks out of 2-pop whip range: and I still very much want to keep my whips efficient. (Although now I think an elephant or longbow would have been better instead of the forge.) I'm going to whip units pretty hard out of these cities, because they are going to have to come up with their own defense. Barracks may even be too much of a luxury, and I figured as much for Dixit.

If Mjmd chooses to attack here in force then I will probably try to counter in his center.

The other way that I am out of time up here is that once SucksatCiv falls, then Codenames becomes the front line against Cornflakes.

I will still try to fit in occasional infrastructure builds - for instance, Catan is going to finish it's courthouse - but these are going to be far more infrequent than before.


Meanwhile, I believe Superdeath is on board and understanding. He sent me this on his turn:




I responded echoing it back, but adding in Mjmd's name as well. I hope he realizes I am not choosing the Mjmd fight.

[shallow_thought]

Meanwhile, I believe Superdeath is on board and understanding. 

Well, there's a first time for everything.

[pindicator]

152

Superdeath confirms my suspicions about where our attack will come.




I scooted the army by Sushi Go a little farther south. Horse archers came to a more central location right by Catan. Trying to keep my forces out of sight while positioning them to react as best I can. If Mjmd moves a sentry in first he will see my disposition, but there isn't much I can do for that until I get Engineering.

Made some painful whips and set some cities up for more. The north is going to be whipping its own defenses, and I'm still trying to indulge in barracks before units in some cities.

Alternative Mjmd hypothesis: he always planned on attacking me from the start. This is why he would never take a war against Cornflakes seriously, because he never wanted to antagonize people on both borders. Still doesn't explain why he would lose so many cities to Cornflakes and just give him a pass for it, though.



Ending turn, I find that even luck is not on our side:




No way we can wait for a low odds merchant at Wingspan. We are going to have to use Wealth Builds to get to Engineering now.