Gavagai comes back to his roots

[Gavagai]

Most of DZ's units have three promotions, by the way. At tech parity it makes him very easy to take efficient trades, even when he is numerically disadvantaged. "Piñata", Mardoc said? Fuck you, Mardoc

"Interesting position", Krill said? Fuck you, Krill

I wonder if your war would have gone better if Donovan had actually played this straight, and that he actually played this start correctly.

Very possibly. He took back his capital, as you probably know. The reason for this is twofold: 1) He had a lot of HAs what I did not expect at all as he had no horses until a few turns before the war. In the alternative universe where he plays normally, he would have horses from start and I would bring some spears or even just delay my attack (more probably). 2) His units have a lot of proms because he has charismatic + vasssalage + theocracy + colosseums (!) in key production cities. Once again, if he developed normally, he probably would not be able to afford all the components of this combo. On the other hand, of he developed normally, I would delay my invasion until knights or at least maces. The only reason I went in so early was the underestimation of his military capabilities plus a sense of time pressure from someone like Commodore: I wanted to secure Donovan's core before others have their fleets ready. Remove one of those two, and I have no reason to rush in.

[Gavagai]

As I am here: me and Donovan have annihilated each other's armies, thus creating a perfect vacuum for Commodore to step in. I predict the game will be called soon, unless Rusten becomes creative.
I am retreating from Donovan's core to make things a little bit more dificult for Commodore, will go after Adventure. My only hope is that Rusten attacks Commodore unprotected flank, in that case I will join in on his side. Knights in three turns.

[Krill]

When you say delay your invasion...didnt he attack you first? So am I right in understanding that you would have defended differently and then gone for his capital after you had secured the border?

[Krill]

Also, 8 players on a standard, cylindrical, map will always be...unusual. can't fit 8 players on a large map though.

[Gavagai]

When you say delay your invasion...didnt he attack you first? So am I right in understanding that you would have defended differently and then gone for his capital after you had secured the border?

Yes, exactly, I think, my defense would be more successful. I have cut a lot of corners to be able to pull off this invasion that early and there were very few units on the southern border.

[Gavagai]

Also, 8 players on a standard, cylindrical, map will always be...unusual. can't fit 8 players on a large map though.

Something like a large map with high sea level may be?

[Krill]

PB42 is 10 players on a large map with high sea levels, and honestly feels right. Imagine 2 fewer players on that map. This map is 8 on standard size low sea level. There is nothing that fits between the two without being hand built

[Gavagai]

I have sent Iron for Iron offer to Commodore because of this and am going to end this game by attacking Rusten. My INITIAL plan was to band together with Rusten against Commodore but Rusten REALLY does not want to try to win. I have sent my CG2 LB to this area to indicate as clearly, as possible that I want it to myself. I think this is only fair, given that I really need happy from the gems and I Rusten has already weaseled himself into the region by taking a city which was initially mine. But Rusten pays these signals no heed, so I figured that our alliance is not going to work. If he thinks that this Cow is more valuable than my friendship, I am going to prove him wrong.

[Gavagai]

Rusten actually has a source of Gems of his own. Demanded it from him for free, my last attempt to reason with him, pretty much.

[Gavagai]

(To be clear, this is not going to happen soon: need to clear up Donovan and tech Chemistry first. Bu I have very few cities and if my primary ally makes it his point to deny me city spots, what else I can do.)