[90 Spoilers] Saxony's splendour and Miguelusten's glory

[Amicalola]

I vote to whack Plemo and keep the game interesting, but you probably already knew that.

Sorry to hear about the map balance, it looks like you got overly-nerfed and Plemo overly-buffed at the same time.

Edit: My vote would also be cats + horchers. The longer you wait, the less likely a move is to work imo. And you might end up ok out of it - perhaps other people will join in once you make the first strike, assuming it's remotely successful.

[Miguelito]

I vote to whack Plemo and keep the game interesting, but you probably already knew that.

But a deathmatch with naufragar also sounds super fun! Would you not recommend?

[Miguelito]

The Persians are dead, murdered by Brennus. There you have your contender whose job now is to challenge the runaway.

First grown town on the map?



The screenhot didn't take, but I've got top GNP once more (none of our most illustrous neighbours is researching though). Even after (most) forges the MfG is mediocre and just half of the top guy. Well at least the whips are also more effective. Crop yield looks even worse, now that the halfdead Persians don't influence the rival average anymore . Oh yes Plemo has Marble and stone. Apparently the jungle settling is going well on the other end as well .
Oh and he whipped Vijayanagara, the southwestern city on our shared landmass, down to size 2. Very wierdly it has an aqueduct despite being on the river. What might be up with that ?

[Hitru]

It sounds like you need to do something to not fall behind others. So how about full steam ahead in war plans vs Nauff, if he is the target you have picked?

[Kaiser]

How is Saxony faring?

[Miguelito]

How is Saxony faring?

You know I'm financial, so, just trying to make a little aquisition here or there...



If gold isn't enough, maybe we need to bring some harder currency:



As you will be aware, nauf does have catapults, but his army is on the other side of the water fighting the Mongols, so maybe he takes it?

[Miguelito]

Hard fail by the Ind players (myself included?). I'm pretty sure he'll get MoM as well.

With anyony else for a neighbour I would feel bullish right now, having managed this little coup:


nauf has his big army fighting the Mongols to claim his natural borders, so I did the same. I feel the haul in buildings alone justifies the price I paid:


I believe I have no city of my own with this level of infrastructure . Particularly nice how the ancient granary->terrace immediately gives 4 culture (and the monument 2). Sadly I also inherited 3 points of whip anger.

The deal of course was offered (my initial offer was the same, without the silver) in a way that he won't want to go to war for the next 10 turns - otherwise he loses out on the payment - while of course I will obey the moral obligation of not doing so myself.
This also allows me this:


Debatable if it justifies the diplo malus, but shrug.

[Hitru]

So what is next play? I assume you still need more land so who is the planned victim and what will be the weapon of choice?

[Miguelito]

"Weapon"... lurkers always wanting blood, when the bribe is so much mightier than the sword, as we've seen. Aim must be domination through city trades.

So I'm finishing HBR/ archery this turn. However Plemo is already flashing me a catapult, and there are no real gains to be made vs Ari (Doesn't get me closer to iron), so I'm a bit sad to have locked myself into peace vs nauf for ten turns tbh. But yeah, that hammer's gonna fall.

[Miguelito]

I went back and forth on it, but Plemo is paying attention and is unassailable ultimately. He's also playing nice






nauf will never see this coming after me just boosting his economy for ten turns