[Spoiler] RB Pitboss #2 - Shaka of Rome

[pocketbeetle]

It hasn't really been on my mind lately, but after checking, I've actually got a pretty high view count! Third, nearly second. Huh, imagine that.

Distressingly, my post count is less than a civilization that's been DEAD for quite awhile. How does that work?

Maybe it's because we like watching your paranoia at work.

Maybe it's because the other teams are watching you too...

[Rowain]

Hey, don't feel bad about the post count; the Byzantines were a three-headed monster that probably needed a ton of posts just to sort out what they were doing, in addition to having comparable RB-veteran "star power" as Speaker/Sulla.

And Rego + Darrel are threadspammers who, without remorse, will use 3 posts for a single sentence .

[BobRoberts]

Think any 2+ player team is going to have the within team chatter to bulk out the posts?

I've been avidly reading your thread as I do enjoy the updates! They are good ones.

Unfortunately, I'm a bit leery about spoilering, so keep quiet normally!

[Whosit]

@All: Glad to hear from all of you!

I guess I must post for quality, not quantity. :P Well, I do write long posts, most of the time.

Short one now, though. I have some pictures to upload, and a few back-logged ones, but a couple other priorities at the moment. I do have a good World Map, though, to help put things in perspective.

Construction completed, so yay! Slaze adopts Vassalage, so boo! I thought that I'd have more time. I guess his tech rate isn't slowed down by his expansion . . . . Makes me nervous. In the end, I decided to tech Monotheism in 1 turn. I have about 40/40 odds for a Prophet or Scientist, so if I pop the Prophet, it's going to bulb Theology so that I can adopt Theocracy. I'll have to Confucianize Kuat, though, so that it gets the bonus XP. I'd like to spread Christianity around, to build more Monasteries, but now is not the time.

Pop a Scientist: Hmm, maybe bulb Philosophy! Might as well grab the religion (more Monasteries--gotta take whatever I can get). I'm not sure where to put an Academy that isn't at risk of conquest. But I may build an Academy. We'll see.

Pop an Artist: May Confucius help us all . . . .

[regoarrarr]

And Rego + Darrel are threadspammers who, without remorse, will use 3 posts for a single sentence .

Now wait a minute!!!

[Darkmantle]

Now wait a minute!!!

It would have been better if you used two posts for that sentence and appeared even more outraged.

[Whosit]

Now wait a minute!!!

At least you're increasing my post count.

Anyway, picture time. I could have sworn that I had more than 3 saved up, but apparently not. Sorry 'bout that.

This is just the first Korean Trireme that I spotted. I've seen a second since then, but they probably have more. . . .


A record of that somewhat risky battle I took near Dathomir:


The World, as known by the Galactic Empire (enlarged for your viewing pleasure):



I don't know if any of the other teams have posted such maps, but do not let it be said that Emperor Whosit keeps his subjects, er, lurkers in the dark! You can probably tell who is who, but I'll break it down.

Purple (South): The Illustrious, Glorious, and All-Around Awesome Galactic Empire! The White dots are where my Praetorians are at. As you can see, my empire is relatively compact, so it seems to keep my maintenance costs relatively low.

Teal (South-Southwest): The Hated Koreans. I hate them.

Yellow (Southwest): The Holy Roman Empire. Expanding fairly rapidly, they have some cities that I have not seen yet, including at least one on Centralia.

Brownish (West-Southwest): The Romali. Probably in cahoots with my enemies. Dantski will get his due, someday.

Pink (West-Northwest): The Killer Angels. They live up to their name, of course. They have won "Most Popular Civilization" like a billion times in a row.

Blue (Northwest): The Greeks. A Shell of their former selves. I hope that they will be alright.

Green (Northeast): The Rebel Alliance. The ironic ally of the Galactic Empire.

Orange (East): The monster that is the New Republic (Inca). They are actually larger than my map indicates, since they put down several towns I have yet to see. According to Nakor, they have even expanded further south than indicated, the bastards.

So that's where things are. For now.

[Whosit]

I haven't heard from anyone lately, friend or foe. I am a bit disconcerted.

A great person was born in the Empire this turn. I'll find out which type once I log in. The suspense is nearly bearable.

We're on Turn 149. Only a turn before the world explodes. I'm almost hoping for the Priest, since 5 XP Catapults and Praetorians would be very nice to come by. Imperial Center and Carida have Catapults queued up, in fact. Metal Casting now, since I made that diversion for Monotheism (hopefully not a waste).

[Whosit]

Well, I did hear from plako after all. He fed me some bull about not being able to get in touch with Broker, so he'd have to table treaty discussions (unless Broker objects to that--yeah right). I haven't responded yet. Not sure if I will. Bleh.

At the same time, he's making his military strength known:



My mood was further soured when my Confucian Missionary failed in his mission:



This act of Killer Angel subterfuge shall not go unremarked! It shall, however, go unavenged . . . . Tch'yeah, wouldn't that be funny? "Sullla and Speaker: I am declaring war on you because your Judaism prevented the spread of Confucianism in one of my cities!" Ugh, anyway, 60 hammers gone.

I was pretty sure that slaze was aware of what's going on, but maybe not:



Of course, even if that Worker is still there in 2 turns, grabbing it may not be the best idea, as I would leave a soldier exposed. We'll see. Might not hurt.

You can also see that I popped a Great Scientist after all. After being rudely reminded that I need to research Alphabet before he will bulb Philosophy, and after long internal debate, I am going to build an Academy in Ryloth because it looks to be a pretty strong commerce city. The culture will help push back Seoul's onslaught, and I whipped Walls into a Confucian Monastery (with a chop coming soon!) that will add even more culture. However, it still will probably not be enough to get that hill.

Alzoc III will end up building a Jewish Monastery, I guess, to try and get a little more culture going. But I will surely not have control of that hill in the near future, so it won't help if conflict breaks out.

I've asked Nakor if I can trade for one of his Longbowmen. I'd station it in Ryloth since it is on a hill and will have a valuable Academy to defend.

I am also planning to build the National Epic in Carida once Kuat is done with the Heroic one (and can then build some troops!). I asked Nakor if he could possibly scout out Korea at all. Probably should have asked sooner. If, somehow, I could launch a surprise attack on Seoul . . . . I would need a large number of Catapults, though. Fortunately, I can build them now . . .

Metal Casting in 6 turns. Forges will go up in Imperial Center, Kuat, and Carida. Each Forge is worth 2 happy, as well, but Kuat and Carida don't have much to grow into yet. Once I have stone, Kuat will build the Moai and a Lighthouse, so then it can grow a bit more.

Not much else to say now . . . I'm ready to attack slaze any time, though part of me really doesn't want to shatter this tenuous peace. I don't trust Korea to stay out of this at all, and my attack against slaze will suffer since I cannot devote the full bulk of my forces against him.

[Whosit]

Dathomir is looking more secure now. A Barbarian Warrior is coming in from the north, but Athlete has a chariot there, so that'll probably take care of it. Oh, I still have to send him a hand-made map of the island . . . .

Dathomir will complete a Barracks next turn (due to big overflow) and will finally work both Silver and Gold mines! I will also hook up gold #2, so I can send that to Jowy at last. Then all I have to do is hook up the Iron mine.

Depending on how long it takes to grow, I will either build an Axeman or a Praetorian, after which a Settler. As I mentioned, Dathomir's responsibility is to settle the rest of Carida for me, so my mainland cities can concentrate on not being conquered.

I still need Courthouses and Forums like you wouldn't believe. I'm steady at 30% science, but I think that my costs are still too high to make binary research actually useful. A longer NAP with Korea would really be nice, but of course . . . .

I'll just have to kill them. Then they can't bother me.