Okay, so we have this tradition of doing opponent analysis, don’t we? I think. It’s been a year, man, I
wrote a couple novels so my memory may be spotty. Anyway, let’s see…
Nowfrogger (entertaining, tilty) and Tarkeel (dedicated, determined) as Isabella (Spi/Exp) of Khmer
(Ballin’ Pants, Barry)
Player Strength: ***
Combo Strength: ***
Early-Game: **
Late-Game: ***
Appropriate Caution Sign:
![[Image: ?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.uniformsafetysigns....4ee713c0d4]](https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.uniformsafetysigns.com.au%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F06%2F327-scaled.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=d4443d2079d43afd8b1f943c8762935fd729f173c147557b3b6e644ee713c0d4)
This is Team-Most-Likely-To-Beat-Us-In-The-Narrative. I’m immensely fond of Nuggleflugger’s
reporting, and with Tarkeel on board the discussion will be lively. Nao’s biggest weakness is
“intelligently chasing stupid goals”, so a solid dedlurker should help him there, too. They’re piloting a
fun combo, although I’m sure nobody would have picked this on the jump. Isabella’s cheap granaries
will be good for early expansion, and at an Exp-discounted 40h, Barays are actually worth building in a
bunch of cities. Spiritual also gets a pair of buffs in Classical start (nearer to religion) and CtH Mod
(better civics). I’m underwhelmed by ballista elephants but we can’t all be winners. This is also the
civilization that Thoth and I had the last time we teamed up.
Pleasing jewel-toned blue color.
BaII (mysterious, competent) and Superdeath (in, sane) as Justinian (Spi/Imp) of Native America (Dog
Soldier, Totem Pole)
Player Strength: ***
Combo Strength: **
Early-Game: **
Late-Game: **
Appropriate Caution Sign:
![[Image: Check-Mirror-For-Cars-Sign-K-8548.gif]](https://images.myparkingsign.com/img/lg/K/Check-Mirror-For-Cars-Sign-K-8548.gif)
I don’t know as much about Baii as I should, he’s been around for a long time but I don’t think we’ve
ever come into heavy contact. He’s lurking the great Civac right now, so dude knows what’s up.
Superdeath is going to get ignored, so that’s fine. They’re piloting a slightly more aggro version of the
combo above, with Imperialistic granting a little combat power and the totem poles granting at least a
little decent help over when gunpowder comes into the world. It’s nothing bad, but it doesn’t thrill me.
Unpleasant brown color.
Bing (spacey, blythe) and Cornflakes (competent, competitive) as Mehmed (Exp/Org) of Egypt (War
Chariot, Obelisk)
Player Strength: **
Combo Strength: ****
Early-Game: ****
Late-Game: ***
Appropriate Caution Sign:
![[Image: ?u=https%3A%2F%2Fstatic.vecteezy.com%2Fs...ad2243b489]](https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fstatic.vecteezy.com%2Fsystem%2Fresources%2Fpreviews%2F015%2F281%2F893%2Foriginal%2Fcaution-slippery-floor-warning-sign-free-vector.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=65f4a9b5fe1693e0745ab0d0f095f62f849500acc3cb11282028a8ad2243b489)
So thank goodness it was Bing who got this combo. Bing seems to be a player to whom things happen,
not an active make-things-happen type. Cornflakes is a very very dangerous player, so if he’s able to
weigh in/take over then we should feel ready to hit every single panic button possible. They’re at the
helm of a very good combination, with Mehmed’s top-notch expansion-into-economy very well
protected by war chariots. If they want it, they also have an extremely easy path to a shrine, too, people
discount that part of Egypt but it’s legit.
Calming yellow color.
Yuris (PYFT Master) as Asoka (Spi/Org) of Byzantium (Cataphract, Hippodrome)
Player Strength: **
Combo Strength: **
Early-Game: *
Late-Game: ***
Appropriate Caution Sign:
![[Image: ?u=https%3A%2F%2Fgetsigns.com.au%2Fcdn%2...4019f9d334]](https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fgetsigns.com.au%2Fcdn%2Fshop%2Ffiles%2Fcaution-echidnas.jpg%3Fv%3D1693356952&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=db4f52819b50bc683fa2856b1176680fbd31015a4a149a90b83fb64019f9d334)
Yuris is a cool guy, I like him, but he’s not had a great track record outside of duels. But ah, Byzantium.
Ever the dream of cataphract conquest, always dead or crippled before they make it. Spiritual isn’t
going to help getting to Guilds early. Organized wants to go Code of Laws. There’s nothing bad about
any of this, but oof its not swift. I’m not fond of any part of this combination, but hey, if he makes it to
phracts, it’ll be adventurous.
Pleasing grey color.