RBP3 [SPOILERS] - Zara of the Ottomans

[WarriorKnight]

First turn of the war.

Killed Krill's WC with one of our maces,

Carthage didn't move their NC to kill our last chariot () so that means we can probably draw a Carthage defender to attack it somewhere.

Carthage pillages the spice tile as expected, but our HA made short work of him. We'll probably start improving that again next turn.

Apart from that, we have a few more knights completing over the next 2 turns. I'd like another pike or 2 inside Koth just in case Krill decided to get frisky, but we probably don't have to worry about that yet.

Sorry for no pics this turn, will try and get some next turn.

[WarriorKnight]

Looks like Carthage and Krill have been busy with making defenses.

We killed the FortK city last turn, but sadly Krill had too much in his border city for us to try and attack - 2 longbows, pike, spear, 4x cats, and several WCs.

Carthage don't have any advanced units though (other than the mace) so I think we will head there. We won't be able to make much headway against Krill anytime soon though.

[Pegasus]

Ok - so it looks like maybe it's our turn up. I would like to say I know what I am doing, but in reality I was just going in for a sneek peek to see what was happening.

Based on my earlier gmail conversation with WK and the diplo email he has sent out on our Ottoman account I was comfortable in rejecting the offer from Dantski gifting us Banking and Philosophy for now as PAT do not have Banking and we don't want to give them any undue benefits in research discounts.

A Knight completed in Aquilonia and Zingara so I have set the next build to a 1 turn Cat. I couldn't remember what we said we wanted in each between Cat or Pike (which is 2 turns). So feel free to change this guys.

A Knight has also completed in Cimmeria and again I have selected a Cat (4 turns).

We have 1621 / 3240 beakers in Education so far. GS will bulb the rest I believe.

War News



It looks like India lost their fast workers to Krill this turn as expected.
Carthage hit one of our knights and won

Whats worse - it looks like there are at least 4 pikemen in Lakewood.

As much as I would like to go for Lakewood - I think that move would be now.

I've not made any moves - so leave that to you WK. :neenernee

[WarriorKnight]

Peg got most of what happened this turn. We got Edu and attacking Lakewood isn't going to happen

Plan is to retreat and play a defensive war now. Building some cats to see if we can hold them off.

In other news, Cimmeria will be unhappy for a turn thanks to us lacking spices. We'll get it reconnected next turn though.

[WarriorKnight]

The war has largely turned cold. We've retreated and Carthage/Krill aren't sending anything into our lands. I guess it'll just remain quiet again until PAT Lib MT and get gunpowder, but nothing much is happening.

Had a chat with DIM, mainly expressing their dissatisfaction with CUDDLE, India and the map. CUDDLE since everyone in CUDDLE except the two of us and Rome accepted Banking despite that being one of the only techs we've managed to get before PAT (Drama and Feudalism being the other 2). India since they founded 3 new cities a couple of turns ago (bringing their count to 11, although they didn't take river junction though so that is still available) which doesn't help CUDDLE's lack of gold and the map since the floodplain area gives the civs near there tons of space with food all over and the rest of us don't have much food to use.

I'd like for there to be an alliance shift so we don't have to have Inca or Rome on our side any more, but since PAT will probably get MT soon, I'm not sure if they'll want to consider anything like that.

[WarriorKnight]

I'm a bit busy in RL ATM, so I'll just report on the stuff I can think of at the top of my head (I'll see if I can get some screenies sometime for a real update)

Unfortunately, we didn't get a 10xp unit in the war for HE (never did any fighting), so I'm seeing if I can kill the English sentry chariot near our lands with a HA that's close. I'll cover it with some knights just in case they have something up their sleeve, but I hope we can get 2xp from it. Might also distract Carthage/England a bit.

We got Babylon's graph a few turns back, they are doing alright in GNP, but they aren't doing so well in food or prod (well, we're near the top in most things so it's probably not fair to compare to us ) Will switch to Mali next turn.

Built a 1 turn library in Aquilonia since it's our best commerce city (despite the fact that we've set it up for prod, gold + palace + bureau it beats every other city in research) which means that Nationalism is due in 10-12 turns (Carthage get it in 1 ). I rehired the Engineer there since even though we probably won't get Taj, the sooner the better and we aren't under a huge military threat anymore (well, we still are, but they've cut the road suggesting they aren't sending stuff to us).

I'll work on our next settler in Ophir after it whips a worker since we are falling behind in cities somewhat (we're used to being near the top ). Current standings are:

11-India(!)
9-Portugal
8-us, HRE, Krill, Mali, Inca, England
7-Maya, Babylon, Byz
6-Carthage, Ruff
5-Rome

[WarriorKnight]

T127, a fairly big turn

Maya got Liberalism and took Military Tradition, which is kinda sad but expected. We'll need lots of pikes and Jassinaries in place to defend against the inevitable Cuirasers (although PAT hasn't got Gunpowder yet, whereas India should get it in 3). Babylon also got Banking, so at least we can get that whenever we want. PAT are now up Nationalism,Music,Military Tradition and Theology on us

Locally, we managed to pop Gold from a mine (again) in Cimmeria. That's actually not very good news, since Cimmeria has practically no commerce potential (again), but converting 1 hammer to 7 commerce is just funny (although I again ask why couldn't it be Gems or copper/iron).

I'll get a proper update up on T130, a nice round date.

[WarriorKnight]

OK, T130 update is here.

2 bits of good news this turn. India got gunpowder, which means we can start training our UU. Good for the war effort. Also Operation 'Unlock HE while killing an enemy sentry' succeeded.



I haven't started HE yet anywhere since DIM promised to send their marble our way and I'd like that before we start it. I will chase them up about it.


Looking at our cities:



Our glorious capital. Is currently in 'growth' mode until it grows to size 14, then its back to production mode to start mass-producing Janissaries. Just waiting for India to accept Gunpowder.

Also working on an engineer, which will get GE in 12 turns which will complete a wonder of us. Not sure which one yet though, best choices are Notre Dame or Taj, but I dunno if they'll be around for that long. Most National Wonders will probably not be a problem either. If we can't find something to use him on then we might even wait until the Statue comes along (which is huge, although even with this game's tech pace it is a while).

I'm not sure if HE is best here. This is definitely a good candidate but I think Ironworks should go here instead (or we could have both I guess). I think I prefer Cimmeria since that'll be working on Military for almost the whole game.



Our second city. Kind of a mixture of stuff with the mines and cottages but we'll probably be putting NE here . Main reason is because we don't have much excess food for specialists in most of our cities. We'll farm the grass S of the city which will gives a food surplus of +10 (3 farms, corn and spice), and can work several cottages as well.

Nemedia is currently on a theatre to unlock Globe for Ophir (one of our short term goals). I might start NE after that or a Janissary. (depends on the marble situation).



Front line commerce city. Not as much worker improvements here as I would like but wars sometimes do that. There are 2 workers on the grass tile cottaging who will probably then start cottaging some of the remaining forests. It's also working on a theatre for Globe and afterward will probably start on a University.



Somewhat mediocre production city with no commerce potential (well, except the popped Gold and the silver). I think HE should probably go here since it'll probably be working on military the whole game. We'll probably Workshop/Lumbermill/Farm the remaining tiles someday (other things are too important right now ).



Our main commerce city. Will probably put Oxford here someday. I just 2 popped whipped a Uni here and will probably work on a barracks here next (in preparation of the drafting era).



Awesome high food and commerce spot. Planned location for Globe and will try and draft here every turn or so. Just finished a worker and will whip the settler here and then start on the its theatre.



A production city still getting up to speed, so we're cranking Missionaries from here to help Ruff's shrine. We'll probably make it start working on some Janissaries after it starts working more of its mines.



Our newest commerce city is still getting up to speed. I just 2 popped whipped a forge here and will start a theatre next. After that, probably either a Library or a courthouse.

The next 2 spots:



Not very appealing, but this is one of the best spots we have left. I think we should move 1W and get the sugar in the BFC since we don't yet have one and sugar is a food resource. We also need a name.



The long awaited fur spot. We've been delaying here for a while since there's no food but now there's not much food anywhere nearby and this is first ring to our capital.

Also notice the Carthage mini-stack sentry nearby. I thought it would head further NE to one of their usual sentry spots but they've stopped short (which is good for them, we had a couple of Knights in range that could take care of them). We can probably hook up the fur under protection of a couple of Janissaries and can ignore it (for the most part).

Carthage also refounded Fort Klameth this turn:



I think that city is also too close to us. We can't do much about it right now as they have 2 pikes in there against our Knight heavy army but we get our UU this turn and still have 7 cats .

Demographics:



We're doing fairly well here (was even better before we whipped some stuff this turn).

GNP: I'm not 100% sure, but I think Portugal and Maya are above us here. Fairly solid research rate we have

Production: We've been 1 or 2 in this while Aquilonia is in Production mode, but we aren't doing quite that well here as we usually do. Will work on it.

Food: It's hard to tell who's above us here. I know India is, but the others have to be Maya and Portugal since it can't be Ruff, Byz or Rome (well, it could be but unlikely) and we have everyone else's graphs. Otherwise we're solid here too.

Soldiers: India is first, England 2nd, Krill 3rd, Carthage 4th, us 5th. Not really ideal (we're at war with 3 of them) but we're working on it.

Our current goal is getting Globe up, which we'll need for mass drafting. Since theatres are cheap anyway and we're CRE (for even cheaper threatre's), it shouldn't be much of a problem.

Have it: Cimmeria, Brythunia
Working on it or 1 turn builds: Aquilonia, Nemedia, Zingara, Koth
Will probably slave or overflow in Ophir and Stygia

[WarriorKnight]

Interesting proposal from Babylon:

...hows life in the mighty Ottoman empire?
5:27 PM oh, and might i add, from watching your civ from afar it seems to me that you guys have played a brilliant game so far. Although we're on opposite factions i genuinely hope you can keep it up as i'd much rather see someone like you guys win than one of the 'big name' players
5:28 PM me: well, thanks for that
kttwrbpb3: it's only the truth. A few people have acknowledged it so good job mate
me: well, thank you
5:29 PM kttwrbpb3: im actually a bit gutted we're on seperate sides. Would happily trade you for Krill so we have a 'newbies' vs 'oldies' game haha
me: well, that might be fun
although im not sure how realistic that would be
anyway, how is mighty babylon doing?
kttwrbpb3: oh its totally unrealistic
5:30 PM but would be fun nonetheless
Babylon is.. meh
me: well, that's what I thought Ottoman is
kttwrbpb3: been running solo too long and because work got busy, there were points where it didnt get as much attention as it deserves
i had to give up on micro plans and the like for a long while
5:31 PM me and TT were sposed to run the team but TT quit as soon as he started his own game in pbem3
we do ok in our role. We provide a LOT of great scientists to our alliance and tech well considering how low our cost are comparatively
but in reality, we can never win and im cool with that
5:32 PM you're actually on my 'can win' list, providing cuddle can catch up with PAT
5:33 PM me: hmmm, need to make my own version of that list
although it's kinda hard since anything can happen
5:34 PM kttwrbpb3: ha, it's fun. i have Ottomans, India, England, Egypt and Maya down
me: well, no suprises for india and egypt
kttwrbpb3: out of interest, when your alliance are discussing things, does Rome ever contribute? Sandover never seems to reply to diplo for me
5:35 PM me: haven't really communicated much with rome, didn't meet them for a long time
but it's fair to say that he's kinda lost interest in the game
5:36 PM kttwrbpb3: hmm, suspected as much
lots of people seem to be in the same boat there
Aztec and Byz seem to be the same
5:37 PM me: yeah, that sucks but there isn't much you can do about it
kttwrbpb3: glad to hear you guys are still fighting though
ready to join PAT?
me: hmmm, well we're at war with half of you
5:38 PM kttwrbpb3: well, im half-joking because im guessing you would have zero interest in doing so
but if you did want to
i could easily arrange things
peace treaties etc.
me: true
i like to keep options open
5:39 PM right now, im going to have to say no, and probably will
kttwrbpb3: well, you would likely be a techer for us and we'd fund you to keep you at 100%, depending on the beakers a turn you can pull.
ha mate, it's cool
i never expect you to say yes today
i just wanted to make you aware that the option is open
5:40 PM and if you were fed up with providing free tech to dead weight civs, then there was another option
me: well, its certainly interesting
kttwrbpb3: PAT are all active and all participating and, by the word of two of your own members, by far more organised than cuddle
me: true
5:41 PM i cant commit anything right now and am 90% sure that i wont join wnyway
gotta discuss with team etc.
kttwrbpb3: as i say, just be aware that the offer is there
5:42 PM circumstances chhange and you might feel oneday, you'd like to use that offer
me: ok, i'll keep it in mind
5:43 PM kttwrbpb3: right, im gonna have to go pal
take care and havea great weekend
me: ok well cya
5:44 PM kttwrbpb3: nice chatting to you
me: same

Couple of interesting things there.

1. They reckon that the 5 teams with the best chance of winning are us, India, Krill, Maya and England. Kinda confirms that Maya are doing well on the graphs (we're gonna get their graphs soon enough).

but more importantly:

2. PAT might allow us to join them! I'm certainly not considering doing it anytime soon (too complicated, and we can't defend our (soon to be) 5 city front anytime soon) but it's an interesting option which we should keep in mind should circumstances change. We would want HRE to join as well (and I don't really see why they wouldn't be able to join as well) but I don't think we'd be able to get anyone else from CUDDLE in.

[WarriorKnight]

Maya want an Espionage agreement with us. Unfortunately, we have twice as many EPT as them and no-one in CUDDLE has their research, so it seemed unwise to accept. While trying to find a solution, they confirmed that they aren't researching gunpowder. Which means they are researching Economics (well it could be Constitution, but I somewhat doubt that). Which means that this is the tech situation.

PAT: Up Nationalism, Theology, Music, Military Tradition, Liberalism

Maya-Economics
Mali-Printing Press
Babylon-Gunpowder

whereas we have

CUDDLE: Up Gunpowder

Otto-Nationalism
HRE-Printing Press
India-Chemistry
Portugal-Music (most of Liberalism)

Yeah, we're kinda behind but I guess that's just how it goes.