[Spoilers] Alhambram Comes Back for Moor, playing as Arabic-Moorish Civilization

[Alhambram]

Okay, I find the idea of declaring war on Jester and levying Hattusa's army to do it hilarious. It's a play that was briefly discussed in PBEM1 (when Sulla left himself completely exposed and Archduke nearly suzerained the local city-state), but nothing came of it. Part of me wants you to try it just because it'd be funny and remembered for a long time.

My more conservative side suggests "one war at a time." Krill could peace out at any time, and then Jester will be hopping mad and gunning for you in revenge, and your whole army will be on the other side of the map attacking Vilnius. It's a nifty play to keep in your back pocket, though, and I think if you see a good opportunity, go for it.

I like the two settling spots. If you can lock down the Vilnius peninsula (Courland?), that's a pretty hefty core you can claim for yourself. With Jester distracted, then, you can expand into the area to the east beyond the chokepoint.

5 faith holy site is spectacular! Bonuses of 2 or 3 are nice, this one is killer. I think you ought to take beliefs that enhance your ability to generate and do stuff with faith - Jesuit Education is a biggie, but also Meeting Houses or Wats, and perhaps Holy Order let you set up a strong faith/science Arabic civilization, which seems to leverage most of your advantages. With Dance of the Aurora, those tundra tiles all become viable holy sites and can translate into faith for science. Not bad!

Overall I think you've done a solid job so far. Expansion is a little slow, which would be my only critique, but with your neighbors all distracted you're in a good spot to play a builder game.

Ha Chevalier, I already suspected that you were busy with your own PBEM, therefore I didn't call you out, just waited when you feel to post here again. 

I am also interested in possibility of making use of levy armies, till now in PBEM's it never happened. I shall check diplomatic situation and situation around Pan Mei after 8/9 turns and then decide to do it or not.

And about that Vilnius peninsula, locking it down don't mean that I create choke point, after all the players are starting to get sea related techs. Japper already improved sea resource: whale. 
This implies that he already got sailing and possible celestial navigation for harbors. Not yet Great Admirals and score increases which indicates a galley, but I am vigilant, not only my gaze focused at land choke point but also at sea.

heh, 5 faith holy site don't feel spectacular for me, after all I did run four holy sites with 6 faith from adjacent tiles in PBEM 2 as Russia with Desert Folklore. Yes, I am intending to get Jesuit Education and Wats. Also Church Property is high on my list. Holy Order however....don't misunderstand, it is a good belief and big reason why I won PBEM 2. But now everyone know trick and are less likely to sign DoF, altough Japper's DoF with me is a hopeful signal. I consider to do a experiment with Monk Warriors, but that mean less faith for Jesuit Education related buildings. So I am still thinking about the final belief that I want to grab.

Yeah, Expansion is slow, this is somehow always same story with me. I have habit to build 2nd settler normally and then wait till right moment to put colonization policy card in my government to build 3rd and 4th settler, while everyone else seem to build 3rd settler soon as colonization is unlocked or even without it. This mean late 3rd settler for me and roughly equal or bit earlier 4th settler for me compared with others. Then I use room between settler 2 and 3 for other things for example campus/science in this PBEM and faith/lavra in PBEM 2 as Russia laying a foundation for future plays. I try to use policy cards to maximum, so for example I won't produce builder now till Drama and Poetry is complete, instead investing in trader, watermill (soon in Granada) and science project (I need do it after I finished settler, then I should grab Hypatia around turn 60).
And indeed due geography and neighbor's movements, I can afford a builder game. Despite that I have currently highest military strength.   This is likely due all other players fighting against each other of against city states which results in injuries.

[rho21]

My own apologies for not saying anything for a while. I've been away (and will be again soon for Christmas).

I really like the new city site in the west. Hopefully we can get a strong border there and dissuade Rome from attacking during the Praetorian era. The plan to conquer Vilnius ties in nicely with the need to have defenders over in the west when the friendship runs out.

Not so sure about the Hattusa plan. It's certainly fun, and if it succeeds in razing a city it would peg back CFCJesterfool significantly. But what would the effect of that be? We're not really in a place where we could benefit quickly by expanding into the space between us, so perhaps a weakened Jester would benefit Krill more.

Let's see if we can get eyes on the current fighting to help with the decision.

• If it looks as though Jester is winning, they will need holding back and the levy sounds worth considering.
  
• If it's swinging the other way, it's a tough call. We'd need to have our own units over here to really gain from a dogpile.
  
• If it's evenly balanced, with no cities looking like changing hands, I'd say we should leave well alone. The longer they're duking it out without effect, the better for us. Also the longer Hattusa will stay alive and providing us with science.
  

[Alhambram]

I am also not sure about Hattusa plan, that is why I wait till I can swap to Oligarchy. That is when I shall make decision likely, before that I shall check my situation and that of others.

Turn 57:

Nothing special this turn:
   
Settler completed next turn and then swap to campus project. I shall settle city in west at turn 59 and at turn 65 in east due rough terrain. Good thing that I sent archer to east since barb archer appeared there, together with Zanzibar's archer I am going get rid of it.

International news: CFCJesterfool sports Oligarchy now, which mean it is likely that he plans to continue war against Krill, Krill running Classical Republic mean that he don't want be in war and yet not peace.
Japper completed a encampment, I need to pay attention to his domination score regularly. It is currently lower than mine, but age of Legion soon appears, likewise our DoF till turn 68.
My settling at west might piss him off, so I need to be prepared. So next turn Horseback Riding likely 50%, therefore swap for Iron Working (3/4) turns.

Also I am thinking about soon to be completed trader: send it to Zanzibar for extra coin. Or start it from new western city to Granada, this way I make a lifeline between 3 cities which I can move my units faster from Granada to new western city in case of attack from Japper.

[Alhambram]

Turn 58 and 59:

Founded Seville at turn 59.
   
Started a wall there, it is a risky spot, so some defense needed. When swapping to Oligarchy, I shall use Ilkum to mass produce builders if possible.
Also next turn trader completed, he shall create route from Seville to Granada, giving route for my units to move on, also extra food and production to help Seville grow.

I plan to upgrade warrior near Seville in swordsman when Iron Working is completed, it shall aid in quicker conquest of Vilnius and also increased defense in all cities.
It was fun to fantasize about levy army of Hattusa to attack CFCJesterfool, but I need gold for upgrades and tile purchases, so that idea is called off. Archer nearby shall scout further to find possible more city states and Pindicator. 

Krill got Great General, also his strength rose to roughly 180 while Jester do fall back bit to roughly 120. It doesn't seem good situation for Jester, yet he seemingly completed a commercial district, seeing his Great Merchant Points started counting. Maybe he needed coin for army, but generally it is better to invest in units in time of war. Speaking about Great People, I expect to nab Hypatia after 2 turns or 3.

[Chevalier Mal Fet]

Calling off the Hattusa levy is probably for the best. But still, let's keep that in our back pocket for possible later use, yes? I just think this would be quite comical and I want it to happen at some point.

Seville is quite close to Rome - when does your DOF expire, again? Might be wise to have Mamluks on hand to threaten Japper with in case he gets frisky at that point.

[Alhambram]

Calling off the Hattusa levy is probably for the best. But still, let's keep that in our back pocket for possible later use, yes? I just think this would be quite comical and I want it to happen at some point.

Seville is quite close to Rome - when does your DOF expire, again? Might be wise to have Mamluks on hand to threaten Japper with in case he gets frisky at that point.

I actually don't plan have Mamulks till around turn 100. You can beeline for it and have it around time right now. But economy would be total wreck and unimproved cities across civilization. therefore that player would fall behind too much. I favors more balanced game and have dozen Mamluks around turn 100 instead couple at turn 60. I shall try to extend DoF with Japper, it expires at turn 68 by the way. 

Turn 60:

Previous turn I forgot to arrange tiles in Seville to growth, now it is working at oasis tile.
   
Finished Trader and relocated it to Seville, next turn create trade route. I decided to start builder without using Ilkum in Cordoba, Seville really needs some chops soon.
Next turn hopefully Hypatia already and then Granada shall build water mill.

Regarding Hattusa, Krill and CFCJesterfool are also investing in it, Krill finished a Campus. Investing in Hattusa by 3 players make city state stronger and it just completed archer (also increasing levy cost).
   
Losing Suzerainship isn't a disaster since I got iron and city in east shall hook up horses. However CFCJesterfool might declare on Hattusa next turn to steal builder.

[Chevalier Mal Fet]

oh, yikes, didn't realize it was so soon. Military scores match up well? I can only see one archer in our lands, which makes me a bit nervous.

[Alhambram]

oh, yikes, didn't realize it was so soon. Military scores match up well? I can only see one archer in our lands, which makes me a bit nervous.

My strength is currently second in world with 140.
Krill 180, CFCJesterfool 120, Japper 97 and Pindicator unknown but he is fourth between CFCJesterfool and Japper.

2 warriors (soon swordsman) and 2 archers near Vilnius/Seville (therefore they are defense force against Japper).
1 archer east of Granada to secure settling spot for eastern city.
1 archer walking around Krill's borders. 

With placement of Seville, it is probably good idea to build more units soon when I swap to Oligarchy. I also want produce some builders, therefore I need to seek balance.

[Chevalier Mal Fet]

Ah, that's way more significant than I thought! 2 swordsman backed by walls and archers should be able to hold against anything Japper can whip up in 8 turns, and if he builds you can match him. I feel more secure now.

[Alhambram]

Turn 61:

Completed campus project in Granada and nabbed Hypatia! I move her to campus, next turn she shall create free library.
Next Great Scientist is Omar Khayyam, 2 eureka and 1 inspiration for medieval/renaissance era. Nice but no really must-have Great Scientist, therefore I won't race seriously for him. 
I also got eureka for Education, but Madrasa don't come with Education but with Theology, I shall research that civic after Drama and Poetry. 
Sent trade route from Sevilla to Granada, eureka for currency. 
   
All cities prioritize growth for now. Start water mill in Granada, I shall rearrange tiles in Granada when it hits size 4.

International: Pindicator founded 4th city and finished a campus. My archer walks through Krill's lands, it might hit builder or trade route. 
   
I don't intend to do that, therefore to make Krill not worry I sent DoF offer to Krill. He isn't my neighbor, therefore DoF do little harm here. Though CFCJesterfool might be unhappy by the news if Krill accepts it.
Japper's city of Fenris still show garrison strength of 10, which mean its strongest unit is warrior/archer. 
   
So no legions, this is why I wanted having an visibility of Japper's city. It warns me whether he got legions or not.