sticks and BRicks will break their bones! {spoilers}

[thestick]

In foreign military news, since Kjn razed the city of Varnasi, I'm hoping to poach Catwalk's Gold:



Just need to see if Kjn's forces are still in the area.

Os Coxae is finally growing, since Sternum doesn't need its Clams anymore:



At Sternum, I'm working two Merchants. Yes, I know it's suboptimal to work specialists as a Financial civ, especially in the Bureaucap since the Merchant's gold doesn't get multiplied by Bureaucracy, but it seemed better than a forest or blank hill. I'll get Workers to Sternum to cottage the grassland and plain sometime soon.

At Pelvis, I'm in a cultural battle with AT. As it stands, I should be able to hold onto my fat cross.

As you can see, Education comes in in 5 turns. Breakeven research is 70%, 180 beakers per turn. Worldwide Power has stagnated, meaning that no one's building an army to invade me. I get research visibility on AT end of next turn.

[thestick]

Bigger convinced me that Philosophy for Taoism would be a good idea, so I picked up Meditation at 100% and have enough overflow to one-turn Philosophy next turn. The overall plan is to conquer Catwalk with Cuirsairs by picking up Nationalism through Liberalism. Now I just need to send Impis to find Catwalk's cities.

In military news, Kjn's moving a stack of Crossbows in the north. I'm keeping my eye on it in case he decides to push towards Sternum, and have two Cats in the immediate area to collateral it. Horse Archers and Cats should be good against Crossbows.

Chopping Sternum's Forest pushed it into +2 unhealthiness. Aqueduct is actually looking like a good idea. The Heroic Epic completed EOT, and Tibia now makes 49 hammers per turn for military. For comparison, a Mace is 46 hammers. One turn Maces, here I come!

I got research visibility on AT; he's teching Drama. Next is to get research visibility on Catwalk to see where he is techwise.

[thestick]

On the other hand, I'm not planning on building the Taj Mahal without Marble or Industrious, so maybe Nationalism isn't such a good idea...

[thestick]

Kjn moved his Skirmishers and a wounded Guerrilla Crossbow onto Sternums rice. I killed them with Horse Archers. Kjn's moving a stack of cats and crossbows on Sternum. He didn't bring any Spears. His Crossbows should be fodder for Horse Archers the minute they move off the forested hills, especially since they're Guerrilla or unpromoted. I whipped Horse Archers in Sternum and Os Coxae, and one completed in Tibia (I didn't whip New Scapula because the Horse Archers couldn't reach the area in time).

I'm preparing to whip a Market in Ulna, as a happiness building and a way to burn up Ulna's ridiculous supply of food. Taoism was founded in Tibia EOT, I hope to build a Monastry and Missionaries through accumulated overflow from units.

[thestick]

kjn did not advance, hes bringing up reinfotcements. and be brought a spear. plan is thr same, hit his stack with cats and has when it moves off the hill. kjn killed off a wounded ha with a guerilla slirmisher, as well as a wounded impi wih an axe.

ats bringinf a huge stack.on one of kjns cities. i hope tjat forces kjn to turn around.

realized i needed engineering for better roads. stored up cash to get it.

[thestick]

Some retaken shots of the turn.
Kjn's moving Crossbows on Sternum:



I currently have 4 Horse Archers 2 Catapults to defend it, probably not enough. Should have another Crossbow, Horse Archer, and Catapult by the time he advances, since I don't think he'll move onto the Rice next turn.

Kjn has other problems:



I'll queue up a Horse Archer in Os Coxae in case I need to whip again. I should probably whip an Ikhanda in Pelvis...

I got research visibility on AT EOT. He's researching Priesthood.

Also, I should probably stop playing 42 saves in the morning. I worked an Engineer over the Rice in Sternum and a plains farm over Silver in Os Coxae

[NobleHelium]

It is not "suboptimal" to work specialists as FIN. Everyone wants some amount of GPs. Sometimes you want more, sometimes you want fewer, depending on your traits and general economic strategy.

[thestick]

Oh. I should probably push out a Scientist in Ulna save 2 turns of anarchy for Taoism and Organized Religion.

Kjn backed off, but AT retreated his stack, so Kjn might advance again. Lost a Horse Archer on 65% odds. Crossbows keep rolling off the line in Tibia. AT's Explorer showed up south of New Scapula. Engineering comes in 3 turns.

[thestick]

Kjn is indeed coming back for more. He's packing 3 Pikes, so Horse Archers aren't cutting it anymore. He only has 3 Crossbows, though. I should have 3 Crossbows in position by the time he attacks.

[thestick]

Finally realized it was a bad idea to try and run Os Coxae and Pelvis as commerce cities, since they're border cities with adequate hammers. Also realized I should be whipping more in Os Coxae and Pelvis, since I have tons of happy headroom there and not the pop to fill it. Realized that I should build a Theater in Os Coxae to push Ceiliazul's borders back, and probably Walls in both cities. Realized I should merge my Great General into Tibia to get 2 promo units off the bat.

Wondering why Crossbows are such a big problem. Never saw them as much of a threat before.