[SPOILERS] Team SsS

[Sandover]

Exploit has put this thing together;

Ok there are a lot of things going on in our alliance right now so I thought I would address them all in a single agenda so that nothing gets lost. Please forward to Inca, Babylon and Mali.

1) Tech Coordination. I sent out a google spreadsheet of the techs and who was researching what and when it was estimated to finish. Please forward the share invite to Inca, Babylon and Mali. I updated the spreadsheet a few minutes ago with all the new info I had.

We are missing researchers for two key techs (Archery and Horseback Riding) and info on the Inca and Babylon research plan. I believe it has already been recommended by others but can we get confirmation that the Inca are researching Archery and that Babylon are researching Horseback Riding and when those researches are estimated to be complete?

2) Intra-Alliance Contacts. It is important that all members of the Heracles alliance meet one another by Turn 71 if possible so that all the techs can be shared as soon as possible. As I understand it here are the outstanding contacts that still need to be coordinated. If there are more contacts that need to be facilitated then please let me know.

Sumeria - Babylon. Sumeria has a warrior Southwest of Byzantium territory headed Northwest looking to make contact with Babylon. Sumeria will send a screenshot of the warriors current location to Byzantium. If Babylon could send Byzantium a similar screen shot then Byzantium could send each of us a movement route that would expedite our meeting.

Sumeria - Inca. Sumeria has a warrior headed west along the southern edge of the Great Desert searching for the Inca. I have no idea if this is a good path or not. Can someone confirm if the Incan lands are near the Great Desert or if I should be headed farther south?

Sumeria - Mali. Sumeria has a warrior headed east through Mayan lands looking to make contact with the Mali. If the Mayans could send a screenshot of their nearest units location then Maya could coordinate a movement route that would expedite our meeting.

Rome - Byzantium. This meeting is being facilitated as part of Operation Tuesday 65. If Byzantium will send an updated screenshot of their chariot's location plus the number of healing turns required then I will send out an update for the plan.

Rome - Maya. This meeting is being facilitated as part of Operation Tuesday 65. If Maya will send an updated screenshot of their chariot's location plus the length of time that the chariot needs to heal then I will send out an update for the plan.

Rome - Babylon. Do either of you have units moving towards one another? If not my recommendation would be to meet near Incan lands as part of a plan to aid the Incan war effort.

Rome - Mali. Do either of you have units moving towards one another? If not my recommendation would be to meet near Incan lands as part of a plan to aid the Incan war effort.

3) Operation Tuesday 65. This plan is still a go but timelines and movement routes may need to be modified pending information from the Mayans and the Byzantium requested above.

4) Decision to Attack England vs Attack Aztec. There still needs to be a decision made on whether Babylon, Mali and Byzantium open a new front by attacking England or if Mali and Babylon join the Inca attack against the Aztec.

Traditional Sun Tzu-type strategy would favor a strong coordinated joint attack on the vulnerable Aztec instead of spreading our forces out amongst more opponents. With the Ottomans reinforcing Aztecs, it would also hurt our chances to recruit Hydra defectors if they are seen to be coming to the aid of their alliance members while we do not. Finally, a joint attack on the Aztecs might also be able to facilitate a meeting between Rome, Babylon and Mali if the Romans sent a warrior or a chariot over to the Incan lands. Rome is the source of Iron Working and as far as I know there is no pending meeting betwen those 3 civs which means Babylon and Mali may be late getting Iron Working.

5) Espionage Coordination. Rome has swapped his EP over to France. Based upon power graphs it is believed that Portugal only has 4-5 warriors at the moment similar to India. Aztec power is significantly higher and probably includes chariots/archers or 8-9 warriors.

Aztec. Sumeria has Research visibility. (Hopefully to be eliminated shortly so no more EP spending)
India. Sumeria has demographics visibility. (Hopefully to be eliminated shortly so no more EP spending)
Portugal. Rome has demographics capability. Sumeria EP focus.
France. Rome EP focus.
Ottomans. Incan EP focus?
England. Mali EP focus?
Egypt. No one has met yet. Mayan EP focus?
Carthage. No one has met yet. Byzantium EP focus?
Holy Roman Empire. No one has met yet. Babylon EP focus?

6) Other Items to be added to the Agenda?

Going to update him on our scouting units and that we've met HRE.

[Sandover]

To Exploit;

Dear Exploit,

We only have two active scouting units at this point. You already know where Smash is. Stitch is down south where he recently made contact with France. We have two additional units (axes) that can be used for scouting due for completion in 3 turns. We do not have Animal Husbandry so chariots are out of the question.

A DIM (HRE) warrior showed up near our border a few turns ago but they are currently giving us the silent threatment, and so are DJ and Cath Bruig. France aren't being completely unresponsive. We might kill the DIM warrior if he sticks to his foolishness of hugging our border.

Regards,
Sandover
Team SsS

[scooter]

Well looks like Oracle tech trading day has commenced...

[Sandover]

Indeed.

I'm currently holding off playing our turn as I wait for some intructions from Exploit and for the turn to roll into the second half, so that we're ready to declare on DJ in accordance with the rules.

[Sandover]

Picture Update:

Sandograd, our glorious capital. The whip anger wears off in one turn so it can grow to size 5 without any issues. Once Iron Working is complete the city will enter production mode and work 4 hill tiles instead of cottages.

[Sandover]

The game is in a rather dull state for us atm with none of the Hydra members talking to us and not much happening elsewhere. It looks like Operation Tuesday 65 will be delayed due to the Byz chariot taking some barbarian damage so there will probably be some time still before we get to see some real action.

[scooter]

Yeah, things definitely are slow right now... Inca and Aztecs have apparently made peace - which means the rush failed.

[Sandover]

Latest war plan from Exploit;

3) Indian War. Now that there is only one war for the alliance to focus on Sumeria would like to propose the following strategy and seeks it's allies feedback.
Instead of having everyone in the alliance declare war on India and trying to coordinate troop movements between several civs, Sumeria proposes that the war consist of Maya and Sumeria declaring war on India while the rest of the alliance gifts 2 units each to the cause and prepare to assist by declaring war on India's neighbours if they get involved. Specifically Sumeria proposes:
Sumeria declares war on Turn 71 after completing Alphabet. Sumeria's focus will be to eliminate Happy Hour and the horse resource associated with it
Maya focus will be Karaoke Tuesday and to deny India from rebuilding near its copper resource, pillaging tile resources in the meantime would also be a good idea after meeting Rome.
Rome donate to Sumeria the warrior currently near Bison Pass and donate an additional axeman as soon as possible. Rome should also prepare to attack Portugal in case they decide to aid India
Mali donate 2 chariots to Maya as soon as possible including the one scheduled to contact Sumeria near the Mayan border. Mali should prepare to attack the Aztec if they come to India's aid or possibly to defend the Maya from an attack from its northern neighbours
Byzantium donate 2 chariots to Sumeria, including the one currently near Bison Pass. Byzantium should prepare to defend the Maya from an attack from its northern neighbours
Incan donate the Quechua heading east from Babylon to Maya after making contact with the Maya. Incan donate the the Quechua east of Rome to Sumeria. Incans should prepare to attack the Aztec if they come to the aid of India (feasability of this aid depends upon how long the peace deal and its exact details).
Babylon donate 2 axemen to Sumeria as soon as possible. If the axeman scouting to meet Rome stayed to the east then the meeting between Rome and Babylon could take place near Sumerian borders which would facilitate the donation of both units. Baylon should prepare to attack the Aztec if they come to India's aid or possibly to defend the Maya from an attack from its northern neighbours.
If this plan is agreed to then Sumeria would ask that no units be gifted until turn 71 to prevent military maintenance costs from possibly affecting the time required to research Alphabet however in the meantime the units will need to be moving towards Bison Pass to maximize the effectiveness of an early strike

Been chatting with Exploit and Cath Bruig today. Will make an update regarding our general situation once I get the time to send some emails around.

[Sandover]

Ok, time for an update.

First, a message to Cath Bruig;

Dear Cath Bruig,

I do not have an official ruling for you yet, but am I correct in assuming that it is in CAN's interest to supply SsS with techs while we make war against Exploit and/or JANK (Inca)?

Also, how close are your relations with DJ? Or let me put it this way: If we do not join CAN, and choose to attack DJ through Exploit's territory, will you come to their aid?

Regards,
Sandover
Team SsS

They contacted us yesterday trying to recruit us again. I gave them a "we haven't made a official commitment to any counter-alliance at this point", which is actually true, and said I would ask my team about it but that I am also very sceptical. Since I am a man of my word I'll do what I said I would: do you want us to join the Hydra?

If we're lucky this message will make Cath Bruig sound the alarm - "AGGRESSIVE ROME IS GOING TO ATTACK INDIA!!! - which should be to our advantage once we start our marsch towards Cath Bruig's capital!

I've also sent a plea to JANK;

Dear JANK,

I'm sorry to hear about the Ottomans untimely interuption

Do you have any current plans for your (I assume rather large) standing army? We intend to unleash some hell against the Hydra over here at our end and figured you might want to join in on the action? Or borrow/trade us some of your spare troops?

Regards,
Sandover
Team SsS

Some extra axemen and/or quechuas surely wouldn't hurt in our campaign and JANK are locked down in peace due to NAPs for some time to come so those units might as well get some action on our front.

Also, we now have contact with Spectre (Byz) and Friendly Kittens (Maya). Here comes the greeting email from Friendly Kittens and my response;

Greetings from the Friendly Kittens! This is Bhurak Starkiller, lead Salthi-class Chariot pilot for the DJ front. Smash the Lionkiller, I presume? What a beautiful name!


Oh, you might think we kittens have sympathy for our feline brethren, but you would be mistaken. Just ask my colleague Yalara how "friendly" our leonine cousins can be. The number of prides she's had to slaughter when they attacked her for no reason ... sheesh.


What's that you say? Yalara is on practically the opposite side of the world? That's okay! You can ask her through my chariot's elaborate system of smoke signals! In fact, it should make it possible for your leadership to get in touch with ours as well! And I can go back to dogfights and harassment raids against the DJs, which is what I live for these days, honestly. Orrrr ... I might get ordered to camp out at some buffalo-related city where I don't even get defensive bonuses, never mind fortification ones. Whatever works, I guess.


Here, let me get Ragnar on the line.


<Sounds of drunken singing, smashing of glass tankards, and clashing of bronze-era weapons.>


Oh. It appears that Ragnar is in the middle of ... um ... a very important meeting. He has a lot of those. Big, important guy. Let's see if I can get one of his advisors instead, all right?


...


Right. Hi! I hope you don't mind the in-character silliness. Just trying to enjoy the game in spite of the Hydra (AKA "the guys on the CAN"). It's great to meet you guys! If there's anything you'd like to talk about, please drop us a line. I think we've probably had enough e-mails forwarded back and forth by mutual acquaintances to choke a sabertooth, never mind a little Kitten, so maybe we've discussed everything we need to for the moment, but it's great to finally talk directly either way!


-Ref Eriksson for the Friendly Kittens

I am indeed the Lion Killer, first soldier of SsS and betrusted negotiator on behalf of the Sandograd council. My leaders wish to express their delight over your success in the battle of T-Shirt Contest and hope to soon bring even greater victories to our cause.

At home they have developed the mighty axe-weapon, and they say that even more powerful weaponry will soon be available to strike fear into the Hydra. Personally though I do not see what is at fault with a good club!

<Smash lets out a roar and strikes his club into the ground with a powerful motion>

Oh well...

<Smahs catches his breath>

Our researchers are hard at work developing these new weapons, as you might imagine, but my leaders are still looking for even more ways to enhance our army. Tell me... these animals you are using... "horses", right?... is it true as rumour say that they can move your soldiers at twice the speed? We have never seen such creatures prior to meeting you northern civs. We do, however, have a breed of sheep near our capital. Maybe you can teach us how to tame them so that we may use them in future wars against the Hydra?

...

Hi guys! There probably isn't much to say at this point so lets just kick some Hydra-butt m'kay?

Regards,
Sandover
Team SsS

Other than this there's nothing new really.

[Sandover]

Picture Update:

Just a picture of the area our army will have to traverse to get to Cath Bruig.