[spoilers] Comm-ny-Sudragh

[Commodore]

With the warrior/chariot stack, wil the warrior actually defen against spear?

Yes! Unfortunately, I was off my count for Pin's GG points by one combat, so a Formation Axe killed my cool toy. Swingy as ever, oh early game civ.


Eh, I'll still be okay. Suddrey is going to get a crap-ton of math chops into another quick army. Because yep, we landed the Oracle!

Definitely okay with how this is shaking out.

[Commodore]

Take math, go down on history!

Make sure you wear protection first, I hear she moonlights as a whore.

Yeah, I do need Maths, much as CoL and MC are much more efficient. Hey! This is a first...I had Agriculture as an Oracle option.


Sadly, Pindicator is feeling a little less pressured now, and is opting for growth. The settler needs to not go north, all I'll say.


I'll be planting Wellsworth here next turn, though. That ought to be more than sufficient; a cheap Pro Wall ought to let me handle anything this side of HA/cats.


Border security time! Sheep and cows will be online soon. Peel Godred is such an awesome city.

[Commodore]

Ow, ow, ow. New cities are brutally expensive even now. Currency vs. Construction will be a big choice. I'm leaning Wealth...

Pindicator might violently object to Wellsworth, so my first priority is going to be gettin' up cheap protective walls.

[Ceiliazul]

Leveraging the math bulb requires currency. You dont need any more offense at present, and on defense PRO archers should cover you until the age of catapults truly dawns, in another 15t or so.

[Commodore]

PBEM 62, Turn 50
Welcome to the bustling PBEM 62, most reportingest game in the forum. I'll give you all a quick thumbnail sketch of the India-eye view of the world.
-Ichabod is the strong game leader right now, with seven cities, Judaism (in OR), and the least neighbor issues of us all. His prospects are pretty much “get conceded to when he Libs Communism in the middle of his Taj-MoM third golden age”.
-Dazedroyalty is running around with an insanely huge power level, Stonehenge (settled a prophet looks like), and a middling number of cities. He's doing well, but needs to crunch into someone edible soon to compete.
-The Human Hydra seems to be doing fine, civilizationally, but the wind is out of his sails...his last couple cities are “Beijing” and “Shanghai”, that should tell you a ton right there.
-Pindicator, finally, is in last place, having only now settled his third city. But for his own goal of trolling my game? Doing well, and I expect horse archers here soon. That's a tight empire to crack, too.


As for jolly old Suddric India, well, my city count is finally respectable with the settlement of Kirk Machan here; I like the chain roading that enabled this one.


The Kirk is pretty spectacular, actually. Ivory and deer rely on the third-ring of others, but culture is going to be appreciated here too for those horses. I love sugar-settlements.


So, here's Sodor at large: Plenty of forests, lots of non-grain resources...just need to chop and hook heavily now.

All other screens take place after ending turn and gaining Sailing (so THH trade routes online).

Demographics show the same story as ever. Land area shows potential, good mine totals, but definitely need more citizens working more cottages and farms. I'm second to Dazed in solidiers, Ichabod in crop, and everyone actually researching in GNP.


Here's the Victory Screen, for the wonks who care. Right now, looks like Time Victory is our best bet.


Minor little Peel Godred is going to have her sheep pastured next turn and the cows won't be long after; for all that, I think a granary comes second. My next build here is a galley, in four turns I can get into nasty-threatening range of Pin's Dorter.


The end of turn gave me my first unhappy citizen in a long while in Tidmouth; I'll whip him and an innocent along with him for a granary and the big overflow goes directly into a Fast Worker. I considered a lighthouse (to follow with a Great One), but I need more workers first for simple chops and cots.


Poor overworked Cronk finally finished her granary. I'll grow on an axe and then make fast workers at happy cap.


Critical and probably fatal Suddrey is going to need to wean from the silver for a while; alas, a grass cow ain't stellar for growing. Buddhism has still staunchly avoided making any spreads, damn the luck. Still, I'm about to have like six cottages here being worked and the forests will be a mighty army very soon, right?


Finally, and best, our dearly beloved Knapford. I'm going to shuffle back an MP and let her grow one more tile; that new citizen works a cottage next turn and then I reclaim my mines next. This is a stellar capital...not as good as Pindicator's, but still loaded with awesome rivers and awesome hammers. I just want to grow grow grow my dear capital, but unfortunately Monarchy is going to be a bit. Even still, the whip hand officially stops here in Knapford, and I'm making it a goal to be working four more cottages in a dozen turns.


And that's that. Comfortably third place, with great land prospect and a terribly hate-filled thorn in the side. Kingdom of Sodor, ladies and gents!

I'll now take questions from the floor...

[spacetyrantxenu]

When you go to pull the thorn from your side what are the odds that you end up bleeding out instead of having a tidy surgery?

[Commodore]

When you go to pull the thorn from your side what are the odds that you end up bleeding out instead of having a tidy surgery?

Eh, I suspect it'll be somewhat in between. Messy, ugly, non-fatal but definitely slows me down more than three-four whipped and huddled little cities are worth.

[Commodore]

Ah, Pindicator, why must you tempt me so? I really want to hit up the pillage ATM some more. I'm researching Archery before the long line drive to Currency; protective archers are solid MP and decent filler, sure 'nough.


Here's the diplomacy situation, by the way. Ichabod is winning the diplomatic game right now, I don't know if THH/Dazed realize how much he's winning by (Pindicator probably does, but his object is the above-mentioned bleeding out of me). Ichabod owns stone, so Pyramids are going to be online over there soon I'm sure, might be enough to worry the others then. The trouble is, actually, I don't think either Dazed or THH are really playing to win at this point either.


I'm noting with mild amusement that the game personalities here fall into humor categories very nicely:
Sanguine - Ichabod

"The sanguine temperament is traditionally associated with air. People with this temperament tend to be lively, sociable, carefree, talkative, and pleasure-seeking. They may be warm-hearted and optimistic. They can make new friends easily, be imaginative and artistic, and often have many ideas. They can be flighty and changeable; thus sanguine personalities may struggle with following tasks all the way through and be chronically late or forgetful."

Choleric - Commodore

"The choleric temperament is traditionally associated with fire. People with this temperament tend to be egocentric and extroverted. They may be excitable, impulsive, and restless, with reserves of aggression, energy, and/or passion, and try to instill that in others. They tend to be task-oriented people and are focused on getting a job done efficiently; their motto is usually "do it now." They can be ambitious, strong-willed and like to be in charge. They can show leadership, are good at planning, and are often practical and solution-oriented."

Phlegmatic - Dazedroyalty

"The phlegmatic temperament is traditionally associated with water. People with this temperament may be inward and private, thoughtful, reasonable, calm, patient, caring, and tolerant. They tend to have a rich inner life, seek a quiet, peaceful atmosphere, and be content with themselves. They tend to be steadfast, consistent in their habits, and thus steady and faithful friends. People of this temperament may appear somewhat ponderous or clumsy. Their speech tends to be slow or appear hesitant."

Melancholic - Pindicator, The Human Hydra

"The melancholic temperament is traditionally associated with the element of earth. People with this temperament may appear serious, introverted, cautious or even suspicious. They can become preoccupied with the tragedy and cruelty in the world and are susceptible to depression and moodiness. They may be focused and conscientious."

Completely silly, of course, but it amused me.

[Commodore]

Good news? I've been building spears. Still, horse archers/chariots are going to be an annoying addition.

[Commodore]

I ought not have worried too intensely; Pindicator finally built a chariot...in his capital. His window to 2-turn Peel Godred slammed shut with my third-ring border pop there. I'm keeping him a bit defensive here at his homeland, while also maneuvering my general to threaten Dorter. Igros needs to die, but sadly, it's just too expensive now.


Peel Godred whipped in a granary, because I can afford to whip in the spear immediately this turn as well. The combined overflow will then dump 13 hammers into a galley next turn and then, brutally, I'll whip this poor beautiful city a third time in four turns. This is extremely painful, but if I can burn Dorter or even lock down a big garrison in it, I'm content. Then I can plug away at a quick fast worker or three while waiting for happiness (and, er, tile improvements).


I'm whipping and chopping a good wave of fast workers now. I need to grow on more cottages when time for Currency comes. It's a mild bummer, but I'm going to have to just hang out with the silver and ivory for my luxuries now. Eh, cest la vive, non?


Buddhism conversion would help, if the damn fat man would spread his religion anywhere else in the world. In general, I'm reasonably happy with my current growth balance. Protective archers are coming online in the rearward cities, chops are rolling in, and cities are growing. A wave of French horse archers is probably going to issuing forth very soon, phase three of the tower defense game. But let's be perfectly frank; the one I'm trying to run down is Ichabod.

Good thing I have a broken combat UU, right?