[SPOILERS] TheArchduke creates the final empire as Macedonia

[TheArchduke]

The more I think about it, the more I would have loved to have been in suboptimal shoes. I am Macedonia, a one trick pony, he has a insanely good builder civ. Not only has he a superior defensive position to the W but also to the E.

Check this out:

   

A means Archers, H means Horseman or Swordsman. How would I supposed to be attacking this. All tiles NE of the city are death traps and flood plains and the northern approaches can be chopped and covered by Archers or left and provide cover for the northern Horseman/Swordsman.

Establish this line of defense, tech up, liberate Kandy, eat me up. Seriously.. Now suboptimal is not done yet, but he could have had a much easier time.

[TheArchduke]

Well, a lot of thoughts for now. We will see if I can put a dent into suboptimal, survive, thrive and build more cities. All against a united Persian Empire with Polish subjects. (Although the encampment healed this round, so yay Emperor K ).

Let´s hope some reads this and roots for me.

And finally, on I wish I was a builder civ. If I had some economic trait. MAN..

My backfill lands, and the west.

   

   

[Ituralde]

I'm looking forward to see what your pony is up to!

[Cornflakes]

Let´s hope some reads this and roots for me.

  ............

[TheArchduke]

Suboptimal does not fall for a trap or attack. Smart, his milpower does not allow any more losses, thus it is time to be bold.

   

The Hypasist uncovers not only citrus ripe for plunder but an unwalled city.
With my hypasists nearly through the Gap, next turn will show what we are up against. One Horse and one Archer are out of position to the west. We will see if our hypasist lives next turn.
If I encounter too much resistance, I will strike at Blue Ringed Octopus with 4 hetairoi and 3 archers in about 6-7 turns. Plundering money for crossbowmen. In any case, suboptimal is in trouble. Especially War Exhaustion could become an issue as well, he has a lot of losses already.

[TheArchduke]

After a rather stupid move, attacking over the river to wound the archer, instead of fortifying my hypasist, this turn my patience pays off.

This is the situation at the start of the turn. Instead of smashing our heads against Blue-Ringed Octopus, which is in an excellent defensive position and becoming bottled up in the Gap as I call it, we used the one tile which is safe from bombardment and our GG to rush through before Suboptimal can recover from our blitzkrieg-style destruction of his western army.

Now instead of investing the capital we suffer bombardment to go for our main prize. An outpost in the east, 1 less city to build units, no city walls yet due to being safe from the front and a place to heal up.

Initial situation

   

Positioning, notice I moved the units in the back before getting the GG into position.

   

And a devastating 3 unit strike. The archer was chopped out this turn, the overflow probably going into the half finished city walls. Well your economic efficiency is my win.

   

The very damaged hypasist gets a promotion next turn and then we invest and plunder the capital. I think I can pull off to storm it without a ram, but we will see.
Possibility of a victorious war? 80%
But I have been burned by a capital twice before in PBEM #2 and #4, although Suboptimals tactics are not Singaboy worthy. And to be sure those macedonian units pack a punch.

The war enters its crucial phase. I am a 100% confident Alhambram will supportdow ™ Suboptimal to annoy me, well guess why I sent Emperor K an extra horse for nothing.

In the north I kill 2 barbarian scouts and I fear for my 5th hetairoi which I decided will do barb duty, there are only so many units I can stuff into suboptimal´s territory anyway.

   

And yeah, the hetairoi is in trouble, a 3rd barbarian looms in the fog.

[TheArchduke]

Also already last turn I noticed that Emperor K lost his encampment due:

   

The encampment which nicely protected Bastion has been razed. Alhambram has about 3-4 units in his core, so not all his strength is at the front, but still, I hope Emperor K fights for his life.

   

If I can successfully conquer Australia and that is still quite an if, at least with Persia things are straightforward and scouted out.

   

[TheArchduke]

Well, cheese dow incoming. Although I knew the jigg was up, we were ok with DLC civ it still sucks to have to attack Australia, the only civ boostable by a random dow by a player. Alhambram does not even have to send money. I do hope my horses annoyed Alhambram and supported Emperor K.  

   

Anyway, my initial setup, not really anything I want to kill right now. I got two promotions to cover and I need to cross the river to avoid the penalty. I kill a barbarian scout in the south for 5 GG points.

   

Also finally I have 2 archers in position next turn and a crossbow next turn.

   

The ram is also on the way finally. Time is of the essence, first off we need to besiege Irjukandji.

   

[CFCJesterFool]

Looking good!

[Chevalier Mal Fet]

I have to say, looking at the balance of power before the war started, I thought this was gonna be a stalemate between you and suboptimal. Really nice work giving him such a sound thumping so far!