sticks and BRicks will break their bones! {spoilers}

[thestick]

Today
The minutes seem like hours
The hours go so slowly
And still the sky is light
Oh moon, grow bright
And make this endless day endless night!

Why are all my games moving at a snail's pace?
Anticipation is killing me:



AT seems to have his hands full:



Here's hoping he's launching an invasion of Ceiliazul.

[thestick]

Well here we are again

Mackoti's cousin has been missing since Friday, however.

Catwalk appears to have disappeared (345+ hours for PBEM 37), so he probably need to be replaced.

Kjn is still around, but no longer has the time or motivation to play.

It's always such a pleasure
Remember when you tried to kill me twice?

Oh how we laughed and laughed
Except I wasn't laughing

I doubt anyone cares about us, except as 'Future Site of Kjn Industries.'

Under the circumstances I've been shockingly nice

You want your freedom?

Yeah, I haven't really had time for the game, and I sadly have lost interest in the game as well.

Take it

In seriousness, I'll post a recruitment message in Civ General.

That's what I'm counting on

I used to want you dead but
now I only want you gone

...

With apologies, but I'm definitely surprised how well the lyrics fit.

[thestick]

Fuller report to come, need to head to bed early.

I razed Silvery. It was harder than expected - 2 of my CR3 Grens died at 75% odds, then my Muskets had trouble against his Pinch Knights and CG Muskets. I'm pretty sure it was worth it, though. AT's currently attacking Ceiliazul, so I doubt he'll attack into the forest tile I'm sitting on. Since the tile is now in my cultural control, I can retreat assuming I live through the interturn.

I settled my replacement city of Lunate (Silvery, get it?). The raze cash let me finish Scientific Method, bringing me into the Industrial age. There's Oil near Ulna, should I need it.

Ceiliazul picked up Chemistry, that means tech path is Communism -> Replaceable Parts (Watermill hammers) -> Steel.

[thestick]

Images:
Silvery's defences:



Combat log:



Lunate:



What's left of my stack:



Oil:



Also note in that picture that Ceiliazul retook the Gold near Stapes. I'm pretty sure he'll attack Stapes - I'll just let him, I can't defend that position since there's no way to flip the Gold tile quickly (It's 25% me 50% Ceiliazul).

[thestick]

AT didn't counterattack, meaning that my stack ran away to Lunate. I realize that it was a mistake not to chop the forest tile my troops were standing on... I also realize that I have a Worker Workshopping on a tile that can be hit with a 2-mover.

First order of business is to get a cultural majority on Lunate's first ring before AT's borders pop and reclaim those tiles.

I'm probably going to abandon Stapes to Ceiliazul - no way I can keep that position. I could use those Pikes elsewhere.

Ceiliazul's heading for Steel (2 turns) AT's heading for Military Tradition (9 turns). Communism in 5 turns. Great Person from Ulna in 4 turns, guess I'll need to pop out another one. AT's Taj Mausoleum Golden Age FINALLY ended.

[thestick]

Incoming!




And still, the War Chariots. That's 9 Knights. I should be fine, I'll have 7 Grenadiers 3 Pikes at full strength next turn, plus other assorted wounded junk. Though this round of whipping yet again delayed the Great Person from Ulna. I abandoned Stapes as planed.

Ceiliazul's getting his research on:



He's definitely the longer-term threat. Pretty sure AT is hosed, losing the strong Bureaucap killed him, and with his Golden Age over and no Education (I think, haven't checked) I don't think he'll get much farther than Cuirssairs. Definitely Steel after Communism (4 turns).

Military adviser:



Feel fairly secure, though a bit drained on Catapults.

Anyway, I'm not quite sure I can keep this up forever, Crop and MFG are still bottom of the pile. Communism/Lunate will help, but I still have the smallest empire. Though given my rival's Ceiliazul, I hope I have enough prebuilt Grenadiers to keep a power edge over him.

[Qgqqqqq]

You worried about a 34s-esque swing around?
(I.e. you'll be unable to take advantage of youre position because of everyone being focussed on you)

[thestick]

You worried about a 34s-esque swing around?
(I.e. you'll be unable to take advantage of youre position because of everyone being focussed on you)

Actually, a bit. Don't know if it's paranoia or actual reality.

From AT, borders are fairly secure, have a two-tile buffer around Lunate, and Pelvis (other border city) is stuffed to the brim. AT's going to get Cuirssairs; I think he might have the edge over my Grenadiers since he can get C1/Pinch but I can only get C2. That dictates Walls/City Garrison in cities that can be one-moved, and Cannons on the open field.

Ceiliazul's hitting Steel, which means I'll either need Cuirssairs, enough Grenadiers to chew through his Musket cover, or Steel myself. Definitely Steel. He'll probably attack near Os Coxae (I'll get a picture eventually...)
Dangerous thing is his research, it's near (possibly higher?!?) than mine. I can't do much to stop him, none of his cities are in reasonable attacking range (can't see them, even!).

And AT's apparently laying seige to Ceiliazul:


(Oh, it's tempting to try to Knight rush Be, but I'll pass.)

Summing it up, I think I'm being overly paranoid. My Grenadiers beat AT's Knights (well, they should), and with the Communism Great Spy Golden Age I think I can get Cannons before AT gets Cuirssairs. As for Ceiliazul, my cities are buffered and fortified, plus he's last in power, so I should be able to defend well enough against him.

As for research... hope Communism pulls through? I probably can't chain Golden Ages, since I can never get enough Specialists without whipping them away.

[thestick]

And another thing, I'm pretty sure I've been lucky. Kjn attacks with a Crossbow army while my defences are down... AT attacks Kjn, making Kjn retreat long enough for me to occupy the crucial forest hill. AT attacks Ulna... Ceiliazul Knights AT's capital, AT retreats, killing AT's research and letting me occupy the forest Deer. I attack Silvery... AT's army is off attacking Ceiliazul.

Though then again, luck went against me with Scapula, so it might balance out. Then again, it could be considered poor planning instead of luck for picking a Hunting civilization to start. Then again, Ikhandas + early Civil Service basically carried me through the Classical/Medieval eras...

[NobleHelium]

Wow. That avatar...