04-06-2005 09:17									#61
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Toxic Avenger!

	06-06-2005 08:38									#62
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1625BC

There are now no teams who are militarily strong against us. BON and Euphorica are average, while the rest are weak compared to us.

Next turn we shall have another Immortal and Spear. The turn later, 2 more Cats and a new Barracks.

I have laid out our planned military tactics in the appropriate thread.

	07-06-2005 22:14									#63
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1600BC

Ok lads, it's crunch time. The Horde has escalated tensions by murdering our Warrior. Meanwhile, the Euphoriscians have signalled their intent to launch another invasion. Clearly they do not intend to sit back and wait for our Immortals to overwhelm them with force.

They have sent a stack of 10 Swords, 4 Spears and 2 Horses (all Vets, one Elite Horse) into the mountains north of Inner Sanctum. This must be nearly their entire army, since we are average compared to them.

A quick analysis:

Euphorica Stack:

10 Vet Swords: 260
4 Vet Spears: 56
2 Vet/Elite Horses: 36

Total power rating: 352

Desolation Row entire army:

9 Immortals (7 Vet, 2 Reg): 270
3 Vet Horses: 48
3 Spears (2 Vet, 1 Reg): 38.5
5 warriors (Reg): 37.5

Total power rating: 388 (excluding the Cat - I forget how they rate).

To be average compared to us then, they can be no more than 20% greater than us.....which is 466....but they could quite possibly be lower. The most they can have in addition to that stack therefore is about 4 Vet Swords, but I would wager they have virtually nothing else.

If they come over the mountains, they will be within striking distance of Invictus in 4 turns. The bulk of our army can reach the required mountain north of Invictus in 2 turns, the rest in 3. We must also guard against the remote possibility that this is some sort of feint or bluff. My reasoning here is that as a military strategy, marching 16 units across the mountains in clear view seems rather crude.

We will however, almost certainly be forced to fight them in the mountains, which of course will neutralise the advantage of our 4-attack Immortals.

Also note, I have now moved a Horse adjacent to their town of U2, and have found it empty. But look - there is a Horde Horse there too! Has he moved there opportunistically (their turn was after Euphorica), or is he there in peace to watch over their lands?

Research has been dropped back for a turn in order to upgrade at least one Warrior.

Build queues: 2 more Vet and 1 Reg Immortal ready in 3 turns. Unfortunately this will be too late for the initial attack, and will have to be the reserve army to protect Invictus. One more Reg Immortal in 4 turns, and a Barracks ready next turn to churn out 4 turn Spears.

Attachment: eod 1600.jpg
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	07-06-2005 22:24									#64
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Here is the scene that will become the battlefield. Note also, they have pillaged their Horse resource to prevent us attacking Nirvana using that roaded tile. I will also be asking AM to remove their watching Warrior immediately. 4 Workers will move onto the mountain north of Invictus next turn to road it.

I have also sent Euphorica a peace offer, hoping to make them believe we are afraid.

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	08-06-2005 05:54									#65
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Very tense. Are we going to take that city if the Horde doesn't? It would be worth losing a single horseman to raze their city and cut off their iron.

	08-06-2005 06:05									#66
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Yul Brynner is going to do as much damage as is possible! Either take the city if the Horde doesn't, re-take the city after the Horde does, or capture a worker!

	08-06-2005 06:23									#67
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You do realize they have time to move units into the city, right?

	08-06-2005 06:45									#68
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Yes of course....but I'm hoping they will have one unit at best available to do so. And then I'm hoping that the Horde will attack with their Horseman, so we can counter-attack next turn. So yes, I'm an optimist

On the other hand, if they have a spare Horseman in U2 or Nirvana, we could find Yul Brynner dead next turn

	08-06-2005 06:50									#69
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But the road is blocked by the Horde and their nearest city is three tiles away. So I don't think they will have a defender in there next turn. Leaving that city undefended is really stupid. What were they thinking? Unless it's bait.

	08-06-2005 07:20									#70
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The tile between the Iron Hill and U2 has probably been roaded since we last explored the area.

	08-06-2005 07:33									#71
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Ah, didn't think about that.

	08-06-2005 19:46									#72
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My guess is that our unit will be gone next turn.

	08-06-2005 21:29									#73
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Nope, it wasn't. However, the Horde did not attack and Euphorica moved at least one Swordsman into the town, possibly more. The odds of Yul Brynner finding only one Sword there AND being able to kills him were not favourable enough to try. He could have captured a Worker, but the road had just been finished meaning both the Horse and the captured Worker would have been slaughtered next turn by their Sword. So, our Horseman withdrew to fight another day.

They have now split their stack, obviously hoping to split our forces (as we wanted to do to them!). One stack is continuing south-east towards Invictus, while the other has turned south-west in the direction of Sidon. Both stacks have 5 Swords, 2 Spears and a Horse. I believe this is a mistake! I have continued to move half of our Immortals towards Invictus, moved some back to Sidon and left a "swinging" contingent in Antioch to monitor their next move.

2 Regular Warriors were upgraded to Immortals. Not an optimal decision and quite expensive at 120g, but under the circumstances I believe it was wise.

More Immortals on the way....they will naturally be closer to Invictus when they are completed.

	09-06-2005 06:25									#74
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I'm kicking myself for not realising that the Euphoricans splitting their stack was probably a feint designed to split our forces between Invictus and Sidon. As it is, I moved some units back towards Sidon (2 Horses for their mobility and perhaps 2 Immortals) and left some in Antioch to wait and see.

I expect the stack will be joined again next turn and continue on its way towards Invictus.

Nevertheless, with 11 Immortals available now and 2 more in 2 turns, we will certainly have at least 8 or 9 on the mountain, together with 2 or 3 Spearmen, by the time the Euphoricans are in position. If necessary we can also have 2 Horsemen there. I believe that will be enough given our units will have 4.5 defence value (2 defence + 100% mountain + 25% fortified) against the 3 attack value of their 10 Swords.

I'll confirm numbers next turn

	09-06-2005 06:31									#75
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As an aside, I've noticed the Euphoricans have rushed production on at least one occasion, though I haven't gone back through the turns to check their population movements in more detail. Presumably this was to advance production of their military units.

Long term of course, this will damage their growth and prospects. As of last turn our raw population was 35% higher than theirs.

	09-06-2005 06:35									#76
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All these numbers boggle my brain. I'm glad I went for arts in university . . . .

	09-06-2005 06:42									#77
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Yes, and just as it is the manipulation of the numbers that makes Civ3 so much fun to play for those so inclined, by contrast it will be the simplification of such concepts and the greater importance placed on meta-strategy that will make CIV even more fun (and unpredictable) I expect

	09-06-2005 06:57									#78
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Then numerically challenged buggers like meself will have a chance in the Iron Civ competitions.

	09-06-2005 08:36									#79
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An interesting suggestion Moonbars made last night was that we should build walls in Invictus. I guess Sidon would also be a candicate for that.

Comments?

	09-06-2005 10:30									#80
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we can do walls in 3 turns in invictus. i'd rather have walls there ready for the enemy than a reg. imortal.

	09-06-2005 11:22									#81
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Paddy has just announced that the Horde has completed the Statue of Zeus


Speaking of Wonders, I'd like to start construction of the Pyramids.....this would put us in a fantastic long term position, and will be achievable within 20 turns during our GA. that is assuming of course, that no-one is currently pre-building it

	09-06-2005 14:55									#82
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Or that we are not destroyed by enemies.

But let's stay positive.

	09-06-2005 19:36									#83
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With all due respect, with our current situation I don't believe we can afford to spend resources on wonders right now.

Walls in Invictus are probably good. We can prevent them from attacking our stack on the mountain north of Invictus, then they move and we can attack FROM Invictus onto their hill and tear their stack up (assuming the road on the mountain is completed, of course). They will then have a weakened stack and can either attack us with our Walls at bad odds (hopefully) or retreat. Perhaps we should start setting up a different force to catch them retreating once we're confident our force can crush their incoming stack.

	11-06-2005 06:51									#84
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1550BC

Just to keep you all up to date, here is a screenie showing approximately what I did last turn (didn't have time to post it then).

They have indeed rejoined their stack, so our units now sent back from Antioch towards Invictus again. Antioch is quite exposed, but we can bring Horses back quickly if need be. They can actually move their 2 Horses off the hill and within one tile of our capital next turn, which is why I left the fortified Spear there with 2 immortals on their way to the mountain.

Walls in Invictus completed next turn. The mountain currently has 4 Immortals on it with another 5 arriving next turn together with a couple of Spears. That should be sufficient. There are also a couple of Horses lurking around as backup just in case we need firepower.

I predict they will move to the mountain next turn, but possibly the hill. Even if they are on the hill, I would suggest we wait for them to attack first - better odds, plus we need that mountain road finished.

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	11-06-2005 09:02									#85
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I agree that waiting for them to attack is the best policy. The best offence is a good defence.

	12-06-2005 06:19									#86
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1525BC

The battle lines are drawn. Their stack is on the mountain - 10 Swords, 2 Horses, 4 Spears.

Our stack is on the mountain - 9 Immortals, 3 Spears and a Cat (which took a hit point off their Spear already). 3 more Immortals can be on the mountain or possibly attack next turn depending on where their stack moves. Another Immortal built in Marcopolis next turn. Unfortunately a fair few of our Immortals are Regular, but it couldn't be helped.

The chances of their Sword killing our fortified Immortal is less than 30%. We have the odds firmly in our favour if they attack.

Attachment: c3cdg - 1525bc.jpg
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	12-06-2005 06:41									#87
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This is the turning point in the war, I think. Whoever loses this battle is in for a long, slow death. Pray to your gods!

Unless they make a couple of attacks and then run away.

	12-06-2005 14:32									#88
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They've played the turn, but posted no battle report. Clearly they had no stomach for the fight. Very wise decision.

Now it's up to us to press the advantage if we can.

	12-06-2005 19:32									#89
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Some stats for interest sake:

Their Swords attacking our fortified Vet Spears/Immortals on the moutain: 29% chance of victory (45.6% against our Regulars)

Their Swords attacking our unfortified vet Spears/Immortals on the mountain: 34.7% chance of victory (51.5% against our Regulars)

Our Vet Immortals attacking their fortified Spears/Swords on the mountain: 43.6% chance of victory (29% for our Regulars)

If they move to the hill and remain unfortified - our Vet Immortals attacking their Spears/Swords: 65.3% chance of victory (48.5% for our Regulars)

If we catch them on the plains/grassland: we have 79.2% chance of victory (63.7% for our Regulars)


Clearly our strategy is to wait for them to attack, or try to force them onto the hill or flat terrain and attack them.

Meanwhile, all new units will move towards Sidon to carry out the original attack plan on Metallica/U2.

	12-06-2005 19:38									#90
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Hopefully they won't see our attack until it's too late.