Bring out the War Machines! [SPOILER]

[Amelia]

Nono, that's Iron Man. What we want is THE WAR MACHINE.

[Amelia]

Which leads to the question: Why the Doviello?

It is my full believe that the Doviello is one of the most buffed civs in Sareln's mod, and in fact Mahala is currently a top tier pick. Here are the main reasons why:

1. Starts with an additional Axeman. This is huge. Allows you to go worker first without problems, and expand easily.

2. Mahala's traits are really good. Expansive, Raiders and Ingenious? All the other civs are crying for it. She expands well, can fight, has cheap upgrades in an emergency, and still has a solid economic game.

3. The Doviello itself. From the past, Doviello has always been a civ that is weak from the leaders ALONE. Now, with a powerful leader backing it up, Doviello is overpowered.

A. Very good upgrade mechanic, combined with Ingenious.
B. Doesn't need Training Yards to build Sons / Battlemasters + doesn't need mage guilds to build Shamans.
C. No banned buildings apart from Library, which is most of the times not needed anyways.
D. A third starting unit. This is hilariously good.

Of course, Doviello has some cons as well:
A. No starting tech. I would prefer a starting axeman over a starting tech anytime.
B. No hero. War Machine is too far out.
C. And... that's it. Everything else is open for them.

They can rush, they can go economic, they have the normal options late game. They have good traits, good mechanic behind them, and a leader with three traits. Doviello is that good.

[Amelia]

And thus: my strategy? Pretend. Pretend that i'm rushing. Pretend that someone is going to get it. In the meantime, grab more land. And trust that since i'm the Doviello, no one is going to fight me for it.

It fails on one condition: My neighbour is the Sheaim.

[Amelia]

Here's the start:



My initial thoughts was that the starting hill looks quite good. However, it does have one weakness in it: not enough commerce. That single silks there wasn't strong enough for an early gameplan. So i moved my settler to the next plains hill 3 3, as there was still a silks but an extra cow.



It still has a lack of commerce, but it looks good enough. My next city will be on the right for Pigs / Dyes / Incense.

With that, research is set to agriculture -> calendar -> animal handling. Lucian is scouting SW towards a hut, my scout is going NE, beastman is sitting at home (because people will kick me out if they have a chance). Shade will probably be a GM, for extra food, and money to upgrade.

Edit: Hmm, wait, that city needs a monument. Think i'll settle on the desert below first.

[Amelia]

Before i forget, in case anything happens, the password for my civ is wolf.

[Amelia]

First hut, 27 gold. Opened by Lucian.

[Amelia]

Lucian found an interesting thing indeed:



Excellent. That gives very good view.

On the other hand, my scout found something else.



Good amount of resources, and gold. A worthwhile site to settle.

[Amelia]

And i find out how close i was to getting eliminated early.



Further points: It's an Elf, therefore it can move through double forest, it's an ELF so it wants to kill me early...

I'm glad i left that beastman around...

WAIT.

If whoevers in charge of the elves takes a risk and attack my warrior, and wins (3 offense), i'm doomed.

[Amelia]

Entered mirror of heaven, here's what i see.



AND IS THAT THE SHEAIM Oh god save me =(

Also, yeah, if you read the banter thread you might be wondering what happened. Let's look at the above picture. I have a beastman, strength 3, in a forest for 25% defense. I'm facing a 3 strength scout with 10% forest attack, and 20% strength.

Yes, i was the one in trouble. One thing however saved me: THE RIVER.

Without that river there, Hidingkneel would have higher than 50% chances of killing my beastman (and thus my game) immediately. Yup.

[Amelia]

Words can't begin to describe my frustration to getting choked AS THE DOVIELLO.



I'm literally stumped. I can't move out, in case he's bluffing an not opening the dungeon after all. (He has odds on my beastman in open terrain). He's free to open my dungeon without any troubles. My worker can be sniped any moment.

I'm bringing Lucian back ASAP to get this scout out of my territory, but i fear it'll be too late.