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This is SlowThinker's personal thread of the PBEM duel Peaster-SlowThinker.
You can talk with me here (on condition that you do care not to indicate anything about Peaster's position).
The main thread is here: Peaster vs. SlowThinker Fast PBEM duel
Peaster is allowed to enter now
_______________________________________
1 Hradec found (#1)
2 Alphabet started
4 Peaster has 3 cities, and because we had no starting techs, he had to disband one NONE warrior(?)
5 Hradec builds settler, therefore I can build 2nd city:
Cheb found (#2)
6 Alphabet, next tech 10 beakers (?), therefore I am switching from warr to to Courthouse in Cheb
Kladno found (#3), built on wheat for irrigation during Despotism (but later I found the era of Despotism was very short), hoping for some forest around
Peaster has only 6-shield production (6 Mtons in the Demographics window)
8 Code Of Laws (next 18b), hesitating between straight way to Monarchy (Cer, Mon), or some rushbuy-helping tech, like Writing; decision: Monarchy first. Revolution is planned in 20 AD.
Hradec builds warrior (for exploration west from Hradec).
9 taxes 60% (40% is enough science to get Monarchy in 20AD)
exploration around Kladno finished:
no forest
10 rushbuy of warrior in Hradec (for martial law)
11 Cheb builds Courthouse
13 Ceremonial Burial (next tech 24b - again a surprise; so science 60% and some ocean square will have to be worked to reach Mon in 16AD)
Hradec size 2
14 Kladno size 2, ocean ... corruption! ... I forgot ... still I can have Mon in 16, but I lose more shields (more oceans)
Hradec builds warrior (for martial law)
Cheb builds Warr - for exploration
16 Monarchy (next 36b), instant revolution
taxes 70%
Which tech next? Writing, BronzeW, HorseR+Poly? I decide to go for Writing and to be rather defensive. The area has lot of Mountains that may be defended by warriors. And I need to establish an embassy soon. Also Writing is better for rushbuys than Bronze and HorseR.
17 Cheb - size 2
Hradec builds warrior - for exploration to east
error - my western warrior should go for the hut nearby, but I forgot to check Civ2 Administrator now...
18 Cheb builds warr - for exploration
I have 8 warriors now (2 of them are NONE). 2 explorers in the Cheb area, 2 explorers in the Hradec area
19 Slany found (#4)
error in Hradec - Hradec from warr to Settler, warr will be in Slany...
20 Zulu Archers found near Cheb
23 Writing (next 45b); go to Map Making (again a bit risky choice; no good defense, but boats will help my transport in planned cities SW from Hradec and to establish an embassy; This is a bit a poker: I suppose Peaster won't assume I would play without Phalanxes)
Slany builds warrior (for Martial law); stopping to report new warriors
hut 50g
25 Cheb builds diplomat
26 my warrior N of Hradec near Mpondo! (7th city in city.txt?)
Hradec builds settler
27 hut 25g, Archer bribed for 85g, so 28.3 for a warrior, distance Peat-capital is about 11
Uvaly found (#5)
my warrior S of Cheb near Intombe! (6th city in city.txt?)
error in Kladno, should do partial rushbuy next turn, lost 4 arrows+2 food
28 hut Map Making
(next 54b)
Next Masonry+Mathematics or BronzeW? I see the isthmus NW from Uvaly may be defended well by a Catapult and so I chose it. But again it is a bit risky.
30 my warior E from Slany near Isand (5th city in city.txt?)
31 Zulu warrior pops hut at 17,41 just before me
Stribro found (#6)
33 Masonry (next 63)
I am hoping the Zulu warrior N of Hradec will think there is a diplomat in the stack and move from the hill
34 the Zulu warrior moved back, my warrior moves forward ... and finds a horse on the Mountains
35 hut 100 g
Nymburk found (#7)
my warrior near Ngome
fight for land N of Hradec - trying to fortify ... will the Zulu horse attack before I finish fortifying or not?
36 error in Hradec - it riots
science 70%
blocked warr near Tugela now (so Tugela is a new city)
37 taxes 70%
a Zulu warrior pops hut at 51,35 just before me
blocked warr near Umtata now (so Umtata is a new city)
38 my warrior near Ulundi
39 Kutna Hora found (#8)
40 hut 50g
Benesov found (#9)
41 sci 70%
near Lonsim (the city has to be found this turn)
42 hut Chariot
Mathematics (next 80b); next choice BronzeW
43 Mpondo would revolt for 56g; Embassy with Zulus
I get also Zulu Demographics stats: P. is leading in economy - 40 Mtons vs. my 32
Mtons, I must do something or I will lose. There is 16-23 Zulu citizens.
Peaster has 73 gold - maybe he has no Barracks and keeps a reserve for them in case of emergency?
There is 12 Zulu cities.
Zulus have techs of Monarchy, Writing, BronzeW, Horses, Myst, Warr Code, Currency and they are researching Trade. I suppose P. wants HG, so he needs Pottery (let us say he is 10 turns from Pottery - I suppose his science is maxed now) ... If I attack with Phalanxes and Catapults then I am safe (also on rivers) until he gets Elephants ... I think I should have time for an attack, anyway I must convert my production for a total war.
The trireme that was used to get the diplo near Mpondo must be disbanded. The embassy was expensive, 70 shields, but I am satisfied. I must hope P. didn't have a sleeping unit in Mpondo. The warrior that was on the boat moved on the stack on the hill. He will go back to Benesov and will wait 1 turn on the forest position (32,30) E from hills. Peaster will think I exchanged one warrior on the hill position for a vet.
I have 170 gold now (I saved it until now - I wanted to decide next course after I would get the info from the embassy), I will spend it now: 2 Barracks are rushbought (Uvaly and Stribro, both cities with production of 5). I should be able to finish two landing forces in 8-9 turns. One from North, one from South, both will consist from a phalanx, a catapult and a diplomat.
I will try to get deeper in Zulu's positions, Peaster might think they are for exploration only and that there is only Phalanx and diplo in the stacks.
Lonsim was located with the use of near-city-XX; it is clear now it was found by a settler that came by a hut "stolen" by Zulus in 37 AD; I will ignore the city now, I will destroy it later.
I will attack the Zimbabwe area since it is accessible from both my positions.
The 3rd city in the northern area was supposed to be built on the three-special non-shield Grassland (16,2), but will be placed on the two-whale Mountains now. I will have no time to build more cities here. Also with all cities on good defensive squares I will be able to use my warriors for exploration (in place of blocking entrances).
Science is set so that I can get BronzeW in 7 turns (30% now), but then I must minimize it - I will want to get Horseriding by a conquest.
Hut-hunters found the Main ocean east (N from the Chariot). So the area is split in two. I hesitated what to do now but I decided to send the Chariot north, the warrior stays here.
The warrior west from Kutna Hora started to move... I follow him and I see 19,37 is near Umtata but 19,39 is near Tugela
My hut-hunter east from Stribro found a Zulu warrior. I will attack if he tries to fortify, my warrior would consume a shield of support soon.
Jachymov found (#10, red)
my warr near Zimbabwe
44
Zulu diplomat is approaching to bribe my warr west from Kutna Hora. I could disband it, but I will let him to bribe it... 25 gold out from Zulu coffers, that's not bad. But I will have to ignore his units after they approach my cities around Kutna Hora and not to reveal I have Catapults.
45
Zulus finished Trade and started Pottery
I found a strait in the eastern hut-hunting area. The Main ocean (#1) is coming from east and so not from north probably. So the two lands A and B are connected probably and I needn't send one unit to each of them. So the Chariot will go south, there should be at least one hut and P. might want to send units from Lonsim there.
46
hut nomad; first it will hunt remaining huts in the area, then it will found a city. It could serve as a base for attacks against the Ulundi area, or it could be found near Cheb if Cheb will be reachable by a Trireme.
error in Hradec - it riots
48
My explorer confirms there are no Zulu cities on beaches of the lake of Hradec. So my cities is safe from a naval attack from the lake.
49
Zulus finished Pottery and go for Map Making (one tech per 4 turns? maybe P. got Pottery from a hut; probably not, because clearly HG completion was prepared in advance; BTW during last 5 turns P. spent all his 70 gold. It looks it was a nice timing of HG); Oh, I see on the Demographics window: last turns P. had 39 Mtons+ 17 GNP, now he has 48 Mtons + 29 GNP. So he put all his workers on oceans and maximized science. No science is low, so I will have enough of time to attack, Zulu Polytheism is far away.
I am behind in number of cities 11:12, but shields are 37:48, so P. must have some nice forests there.
Hlobane is building Hanging Gardens. Where is Hlobane? It is the 4th Zulu city, and it was Zimbabwe that built 1st settler when there were 3 Zulu cities - so Hlobane should be near Zimbabwe.
Now it is important if P. will concentrate to new cities or army...
The Zulu choice of Map Making is better than Polytheism for me, but I will have to be prudent on the sea. Maybe I will have to destroy Mpondo sooner than I originaly wanted.
Map Making in Zululand will induce another danger - shall I await an early attack from Lonsim? Probably not, P. spent his gold in rushbuys of caravans, he needs Barracks+Trireme+units in Lonsim and has no gold for them.
Kralupy found (#11) between Slany and Hradec
Maneuvres with Zulu units north from Hradec
Next turn I would like to rehome my catapult to Hradec. But Hradec supports 3 units already. Also the warrior E from Kutna Hora that may be bribed is supported from Hradec ... so I hope P. will bribe it next turn.
the warrior that was near Zimbabwe is near Isand now
the chariot found no hut in its area and will return north. The nomad found a river that goes is heading towards Cheb.
50
Zulu finish HG, they build a 13th city immediately.
my warrior was bribed. Hurrah! Perfectly in time.
BronzeW discovered (next 90b), for next research I chose horseriding naturally
My warrior near Ibaba (the new Zulu city)
Intombe uncovered (on a river). An order of Zulu cities indicates Intombe is the 3rd city in the Zimbabwe area (Zimbabwe-Hlobane-Intombe). So Zimbabwe and Hlobane are probably west on the same river... And Tugela and Umtata are somewhere south. These 5 cities will be target of my attack.
51
Zulus +27 gold last turn - so science is minimized. This is good, but I must go to a total war because P. wants to build new cities from the gold. Maybe I should build also some cities slowly so that my Mtons in the Demo window are increasing, otherwise P. will understand I am preparing for war?
The Zulu warrior near Lonsim - I am really interested what it will do now ... He could drag a diplo here, but I suppose he will try to be quiet in this area
Zulu land area in the Demo window grows fast after the HG, it looks his warriors started to run around
I want to get Kralupy and Uvaly to size 5 so that I can use Elvises and free warriors from there. My free support (3 units per city) is almost full.
52
bad news
P. switched science to maximum (GNP went from 34 to 19)
I played with my warriors blocking the Mountains NW from Hradec so long that I lost a part of territory. My defending line has a hole and Zulus might want to penetrate towards Benesov. I hope P. will be afraid of a bribery or an attack and will move back. Anyway I won't waste resources to bribe or kill him.
war declared - my NONE Chariot 62,26 attacks a warrior 62,24 and kills him. The warrior that was bribed recently is revenged! (My reputation is still spotless... It looks in scenarios reputation and power doesn't change?)
The Chariot got a veteran status
My forces (2 triremes, catapult, phalanx, dip, warrior) leave Benesov and go east. I hope Mpondo will be kind, won't go away and will wait for next wave of attackers.
53
a 14th Zulu city found
Zulu maximized taxes back...
A Zulu diplomat near Mpondo - what he wants to do? He is arriving to Mpondo and wants to establish an Embassy after P. finishes Map Making and a boat in Mpondo? I should be able to block the water access to Benesov, but my new Trireme can be there in 4 turns only... and the diplo in 3 turns ... I won't embark the warrior near Mpondo back to the boat but send it to Mpondo (anyway I need to know if there is a good terrain to disembark Phal+Catap safely later). P. might want to bribe it - this would slow down his diplo.
Kladno and Cheb eat -1 shield because of support. The warrior from Cheb will be disbanded soon - it will only uncover the shape of land near Ibaba. A warr from Kladno is near Swazi (he is pursued by a Zulu warrior and so I hope he will be destroyed soon.
of course I would prefer a rushbuy over an attack)
My nomad just uncovered whales and will build a city on the rivered jungle. The new city can be reached from Cheb (3 turns of Trireme), so its asset will be not only arrows but also shields will be employed. And maybe a Trireme can reach and attack the Zimbabwe area from here?
I am rushbuying Barracks in Benesov. There is one Elvis in Benesov and now I see last turn I should order Elvis to work in the forest. Benesov would riot but I don't need shields in the turn of a rushbuy.
I hesitated if I shall buy Barracks in Benesov or not but from a long-term view it saves gold (gold is a problem for me - now I want to maximize production of war units, so I need spend gold in cities with Barracks only. Other cities must produce auxiliary units (triremes, diplos, warriors, non-vet catapults to attack cities on non-rivered Grassland) with no use of gold).
45,23 is near Isand but 44,22 near Swazi
20,24 near Intombe but 20,26 near Umtata
54
P. has no Map Making yet. So I will be able to block Benesov against a Zulu diplo in case of opportunity.
a Zulu warr near Jachymov,
33,11 is near Ibaba but 32,12 near Osizi
my nomad will delay foundation of a new city but continues exploring in direction of Zimbabwe. It is important to know a shape of the continent around Zimbabwe: the strait between the land of the nomad and land of Zimbabwe is narrow and so the first Zulu trireme will be able to reach a city found by the nomad. So I must be careful with the foundation.
The NONE Chariot was supposed to move towards Isand to hassle Zulu cities, but now it is redirected to the nomad position to help in the area.
I stupidly moved my Cheb's trireme with landing forces in position where it could be spotted from Hlobane (if Hlobane is close enough). And I couldn't investigate the Plains with my dip because I stupidly embarked the dip too late...
Warriors between Umtata and Mpondo (one from Cheb, another one from ships) are heading to Mpondo. There is a dip coming from Umtata. I hesitated if the warrior from ship shouldn't embark back to ships and help in the Umtata area but I want to know if I can attack Mpondo easily.
55
Zulus finished Map Making and are going for Literacy(?). P. plays a SP game! ( It is clear my trireme from Cheb wasn't spotted. I am a lucky man, in this game I don't pay for my mistakes.) So Zulus might be an easy morcel for me... I might be able to destroy all the Zimbabwe area.
I will stop to risk, since I have a good chance to win without risking.
Map Making causes that -
1) I should add a defender to Cheb (maybe P. is heading there - he sees Cheb has no defender). So my nomad will sleep and patrol the strait of Zimbabwe.
2) I must be careful in the Slany area. But Lonsim would have to spend much of gold, and Peaster knows nothing about position of my cities there, so he wouldn't want to spend a big money because of a blind attack
3) Benesov could be attacked. It is 4 turns to finish a Phalanx in Benesov and Catapult in Uvaly. Maybe I will have to rushbuy them...
Again P. uses low science rate. He spent 40 gold last turn ... trireme? ... dip in Lonsim? I will withdraw my warrior E from Slany a bit closer to Slany.
My boats between Mpondo and Umtata choose each its own path to get a maximum information from "near XX" messages. Umtata is located more and more precisely. I must avoid P. spots my trireme, ideally I should attack Mpondo, Hlobane/Zimbabwe and Umtata/Tugela in one turn. But...again I am hurrying too much in the Umtata area. I found a river with my last turn and my boat could be spotted if there is any traffic on the river.
Maybe I should try to destroy the capital first. 5 Zulu cities on rivers will have a large corruption and so the Zulu research and gold for rushbuys of war units will be complicated.
There is no good attacking point near Hlobane. I hoped there would be more mountains and hills and the ocean would go closer to Zulu cities...
I will have to send 2nd boat to the Zimbabwe/Hlobane area. Originally I wanted to hide Phal+dip near Zimbabwe/Hlobane and return with the 1st boat but it would be too slow.
My nomad + Phalanx take a patrol position on the cap near Zimbabwe.
West from Mpondo was uncovered. There are two squares (hills and mountains) good for an attack.
56
My warrior near Mpondo was bribed. Very good. But there are 4 more warriors that should be bribed soon optimally (they eat or will eat shields of support) - two from Cheb, one from Kladno and one from Slany. My warrior near Swazi found a river and will be encircled soon probably. My 2nd warrior at Mpondo too. My warriors near Isand and Osizi are not uncovered probably.
Mpondo built a Settler... P. continues to build new cities also in such a dangerous area? But this fact causes I needn't to be afraid of a trireme from Mpondo and so an attack against Benesov or a try to establish an embassy several turns...so I won't spend any gold in Benesov and Uvaly (my barracks cities) and a catapult and phalanx will be completed in 3 turns.
This turn my boats neat Umtata are very silent... They have enough of time, it is 4-5 turns to The Global Attack. Unfortunately I cannot get deeper to Hlobane, the lake ends soon here.
Zulus encircled my Archers+warriors combo between Stribro and Intombe. No problem, my cities are built on hills. It would be only good if P. drags more units here, they would be missing for the defense. Jachymov is building a non-vet phalanx, Stribro will provide a vet warrior for Cheb and some defender for Stribro itself (usually in the city there will be a fighter to be dispatched against Zulus). Now there are 3 stable American units (non-vet warriors: in Stribro and Jachymov, one creates ZOCs against the Zulu stack, Cheb has no defender) and Catapult+Phalanx for the raid (next turn 2nd trireme will be rushed in Cheb) in the area of 3 cities around Cheb.
Zimbabwe position has been limited to two squares, it is clearly on a river. Forest is the only square visible for an attack... it should be enough... maybe I should attack the hills near Hlobane first? I will have 2 Phal, 1 Catap and 1 dip (and 1 vet Chariot) in the area, maybe I will split them ...
The log continues on page 2:
and on page 3:
You can talk with me here (on condition that you do care not to indicate anything about Peaster's position).
The main thread is here: Peaster vs. SlowThinker Fast PBEM duel
Peaster is allowed to enter now
_______________________________________
1 Hradec found (#1)
2 Alphabet started
4 Peaster has 3 cities, and because we had no starting techs, he had to disband one NONE warrior(?)
5 Hradec builds settler, therefore I can build 2nd city:
Cheb found (#2)
6 Alphabet, next tech 10 beakers (?), therefore I am switching from warr to to Courthouse in Cheb
Kladno found (#3), built on wheat for irrigation during Despotism (but later I found the era of Despotism was very short), hoping for some forest around
Peaster has only 6-shield production (6 Mtons in the Demographics window)
8 Code Of Laws (next 18b), hesitating between straight way to Monarchy (Cer, Mon), or some rushbuy-helping tech, like Writing; decision: Monarchy first. Revolution is planned in 20 AD.
Hradec builds warrior (for exploration west from Hradec).
9 taxes 60% (40% is enough science to get Monarchy in 20AD)
exploration around Kladno finished:
no forest10 rushbuy of warrior in Hradec (for martial law)
11 Cheb builds Courthouse
13 Ceremonial Burial (next tech 24b - again a surprise; so science 60% and some ocean square will have to be worked to reach Mon in 16AD)
Hradec size 2
14 Kladno size 2, ocean ... corruption! ... I forgot ... still I can have Mon in 16, but I lose more shields (more oceans)
Hradec builds warrior (for martial law)
Cheb builds Warr - for exploration
16 Monarchy (next 36b), instant revolution
taxes 70%
Which tech next? Writing, BronzeW, HorseR+Poly? I decide to go for Writing and to be rather defensive. The area has lot of Mountains that may be defended by warriors. And I need to establish an embassy soon. Also Writing is better for rushbuys than Bronze and HorseR.
17 Cheb - size 2
Hradec builds warrior - for exploration to east
error - my western warrior should go for the hut nearby, but I forgot to check Civ2 Administrator now...
18 Cheb builds warr - for exploration
I have 8 warriors now (2 of them are NONE). 2 explorers in the Cheb area, 2 explorers in the Hradec area
19 Slany found (#4)
error in Hradec - Hradec from warr to Settler, warr will be in Slany...
20 Zulu Archers found near Cheb
23 Writing (next 45b); go to Map Making (again a bit risky choice; no good defense, but boats will help my transport in planned cities SW from Hradec and to establish an embassy; This is a bit a poker: I suppose Peaster won't assume I would play without Phalanxes)
Slany builds warrior (for Martial law); stopping to report new warriors
hut 50g
25 Cheb builds diplomat
26 my warrior N of Hradec near Mpondo! (7th city in city.txt?)
Hradec builds settler
27 hut 25g, Archer bribed for 85g, so 28.3 for a warrior, distance Peat-capital is about 11
Uvaly found (#5)
my warrior S of Cheb near Intombe! (6th city in city.txt?)
error in Kladno, should do partial rushbuy next turn, lost 4 arrows+2 food
28 hut Map Making
(next 54b)Next Masonry+Mathematics or BronzeW? I see the isthmus NW from Uvaly may be defended well by a Catapult and so I chose it. But again it is a bit risky.
30 my warior E from Slany near Isand (5th city in city.txt?)
31 Zulu warrior pops hut at 17,41 just before me
Stribro found (#6)
33 Masonry (next 63)
I am hoping the Zulu warrior N of Hradec will think there is a diplomat in the stack and move from the hill
34 the Zulu warrior moved back, my warrior moves forward ... and finds a horse on the Mountains
35 hut 100 g
Nymburk found (#7)
my warrior near Ngome
fight for land N of Hradec - trying to fortify ... will the Zulu horse attack before I finish fortifying or not?
36 error in Hradec - it riots
science 70%
blocked warr near Tugela now (so Tugela is a new city)
37 taxes 70%
a Zulu warrior pops hut at 51,35 just before me
blocked warr near Umtata now (so Umtata is a new city)
38 my warrior near Ulundi
39 Kutna Hora found (#8)
40 hut 50g
Benesov found (#9)
41 sci 70%
near Lonsim (the city has to be found this turn)
42 hut Chariot
Mathematics (next 80b); next choice BronzeW
43 Mpondo would revolt for 56g; Embassy with Zulus
I get also Zulu Demographics stats: P. is leading in economy - 40 Mtons vs. my 32
Mtons, I must do something or I will lose. There is 16-23 Zulu citizens.
Peaster has 73 gold - maybe he has no Barracks and keeps a reserve for them in case of emergency?
There is 12 Zulu cities.
Zulus have techs of Monarchy, Writing, BronzeW, Horses, Myst, Warr Code, Currency and they are researching Trade. I suppose P. wants HG, so he needs Pottery (let us say he is 10 turns from Pottery - I suppose his science is maxed now) ... If I attack with Phalanxes and Catapults then I am safe (also on rivers) until he gets Elephants ... I think I should have time for an attack, anyway I must convert my production for a total war.
The trireme that was used to get the diplo near Mpondo must be disbanded. The embassy was expensive, 70 shields, but I am satisfied. I must hope P. didn't have a sleeping unit in Mpondo. The warrior that was on the boat moved on the stack on the hill. He will go back to Benesov and will wait 1 turn on the forest position (32,30) E from hills. Peaster will think I exchanged one warrior on the hill position for a vet.
I have 170 gold now (I saved it until now - I wanted to decide next course after I would get the info from the embassy), I will spend it now: 2 Barracks are rushbought (Uvaly and Stribro, both cities with production of 5). I should be able to finish two landing forces in 8-9 turns. One from North, one from South, both will consist from a phalanx, a catapult and a diplomat.
I will try to get deeper in Zulu's positions, Peaster might think they are for exploration only and that there is only Phalanx and diplo in the stacks.
Lonsim was located with the use of near-city-XX; it is clear now it was found by a settler that came by a hut "stolen" by Zulus in 37 AD; I will ignore the city now, I will destroy it later.
I will attack the Zimbabwe area since it is accessible from both my positions.
The 3rd city in the northern area was supposed to be built on the three-special non-shield Grassland (16,2), but will be placed on the two-whale Mountains now. I will have no time to build more cities here. Also with all cities on good defensive squares I will be able to use my warriors for exploration (in place of blocking entrances).
Science is set so that I can get BronzeW in 7 turns (30% now), but then I must minimize it - I will want to get Horseriding by a conquest.
Hut-hunters found the Main ocean east (N from the Chariot). So the area is split in two. I hesitated what to do now but I decided to send the Chariot north, the warrior stays here.
The warrior west from Kutna Hora started to move... I follow him and I see 19,37 is near Umtata but 19,39 is near Tugela
My hut-hunter east from Stribro found a Zulu warrior. I will attack if he tries to fortify, my warrior would consume a shield of support soon.
Jachymov found (#10, red)
my warr near Zimbabwe
44
Zulu diplomat is approaching to bribe my warr west from Kutna Hora. I could disband it, but I will let him to bribe it... 25 gold out from Zulu coffers, that's not bad. But I will have to ignore his units after they approach my cities around Kutna Hora and not to reveal I have Catapults.
45
Zulus finished Trade and started PotteryI found a strait in the eastern hut-hunting area. The Main ocean (#1) is coming from east and so not from north probably. So the two lands A and B are connected probably and I needn't send one unit to each of them. So the Chariot will go south, there should be at least one hut and P. might want to send units from Lonsim there.
46
hut nomad; first it will hunt remaining huts in the area, then it will found a city. It could serve as a base for attacks against the Ulundi area, or it could be found near Cheb if Cheb will be reachable by a Trireme.
error in Hradec - it riots
48
My explorer confirms there are no Zulu cities on beaches of the lake of Hradec. So my cities is safe from a naval attack from the lake.
49
Zulus finished Pottery and go for Map Making (one tech per 4 turns? maybe P. got Pottery from a hut; probably not, because clearly HG completion was prepared in advance; BTW during last 5 turns P. spent all his 70 gold. It looks it was a nice timing of HG); Oh, I see on the Demographics window: last turns P. had 39 Mtons+ 17 GNP, now he has 48 Mtons + 29 GNP. So he put all his workers on oceans and maximized science. No science is low, so I will have enough of time to attack, Zulu Polytheism is far away
.I am behind in number of cities 11:12, but shields are 37:48, so P. must have some nice forests there.
Hlobane is building Hanging Gardens. Where is Hlobane? It is the 4th Zulu city, and it was Zimbabwe that built 1st settler when there were 3 Zulu cities - so Hlobane should be near Zimbabwe.
Now it is important if P. will concentrate to new cities or army...
The Zulu choice of Map Making is better than Polytheism for me, but I will have to be prudent on the sea. Maybe I will have to destroy Mpondo sooner than I originaly wanted.
Map Making in Zululand will induce another danger - shall I await an early attack from Lonsim? Probably not, P. spent his gold in rushbuys of caravans, he needs Barracks+Trireme+units in Lonsim and has no gold for them.
Kralupy found (#11) between Slany and Hradec
Maneuvres with Zulu units north from Hradec
Next turn I would like to rehome my catapult to Hradec. But Hradec supports 3 units already. Also the warrior E from Kutna Hora that may be bribed is supported from Hradec ... so I hope P. will bribe it next turn.
the warrior that was near Zimbabwe is near Isand now
the chariot found no hut in its area and will return north. The nomad found a river that goes is heading towards Cheb.
50
Zulu finish HG, they build a 13th city immediately.
my warrior was bribed. Hurrah! Perfectly in time.
BronzeW discovered (next 90b), for next research I chose horseriding naturally
My warrior near Ibaba (the new Zulu city)
Intombe uncovered (on a river). An order of Zulu cities indicates Intombe is the 3rd city in the Zimbabwe area (Zimbabwe-Hlobane-Intombe). So Zimbabwe and Hlobane are probably west on the same river... And Tugela and Umtata are somewhere south. These 5 cities will be target of my attack.
51
Zulus +27 gold last turn - so science is minimized. This is good, but I must go to a total war because P. wants to build new cities from the gold. Maybe I should build also some cities slowly so that my Mtons in the Demo window are increasing, otherwise P. will understand I am preparing for war?
The Zulu warrior near Lonsim - I am really interested what it will do now ... He could drag a diplo here, but I suppose he will try to be quiet in this area
Zulu land area in the Demo window grows fast after the HG, it looks his warriors started to run aroundI want to get Kralupy and Uvaly to size 5 so that I can use Elvises and free warriors from there. My free support (3 units per city) is almost full.
52
bad news
P. switched science to maximum (GNP went from 34 to 19)
I played with my warriors blocking the Mountains NW from Hradec so long that I lost a part of territory. My defending line has a hole and Zulus might want to penetrate towards Benesov. I hope P. will be afraid of a bribery or an attack and will move back. Anyway I won't waste resources to bribe or kill him.
war declared - my NONE Chariot 62,26 attacks a warrior 62,24 and kills him. The warrior that was bribed recently is revenged! (My reputation is still spotless... It looks in scenarios reputation and power doesn't change?)
The Chariot got a veteran status
My forces (2 triremes, catapult, phalanx, dip, warrior) leave Benesov and go east. I hope Mpondo will be kind, won't go away and will wait for next wave of attackers.
53
a 14th Zulu city found
Zulu maximized taxes back...
A Zulu diplomat near Mpondo - what he wants to do? He is arriving to Mpondo and wants to establish an Embassy after P. finishes Map Making and a boat in Mpondo? I should be able to block the water access to Benesov, but my new Trireme can be there in 4 turns only... and the diplo in 3 turns ... I won't embark the warrior near Mpondo back to the boat but send it to Mpondo (anyway I need to know if there is a good terrain to disembark Phal+Catap safely later). P. might want to bribe it - this would slow down his diplo.
Kladno and Cheb eat -1 shield because of support. The warrior from Cheb will be disbanded soon - it will only uncover the shape of land near Ibaba. A warr from Kladno is near Swazi (he is pursued by a Zulu warrior and so I hope he will be destroyed soon.
of course I would prefer a rushbuy over an attack)My nomad just uncovered whales and will build a city on the rivered jungle. The new city can be reached from Cheb (3 turns of Trireme), so its asset will be not only arrows but also shields will be employed. And maybe a Trireme can reach and attack the Zimbabwe area from here?
I am rushbuying Barracks in Benesov. There is one Elvis in Benesov and now I see last turn I should order Elvis to work in the forest. Benesov would riot but I don't need shields in the turn of a rushbuy.
I hesitated if I shall buy Barracks in Benesov or not but from a long-term view it saves gold (gold is a problem for me - now I want to maximize production of war units, so I need spend gold in cities with Barracks only. Other cities must produce auxiliary units (triremes, diplos, warriors, non-vet catapults to attack cities on non-rivered Grassland) with no use of gold).
45,23 is near Isand but 44,22 near Swazi
20,24 near Intombe but 20,26 near Umtata
54
P. has no Map Making yet. So I will be able to block Benesov against a Zulu diplo in case of opportunity.
a Zulu warr near Jachymov,
33,11 is near Ibaba but 32,12 near Osizi
my nomad will delay foundation of a new city but continues exploring in direction of Zimbabwe. It is important to know a shape of the continent around Zimbabwe: the strait between the land of the nomad and land of Zimbabwe is narrow and so the first Zulu trireme will be able to reach a city found by the nomad. So I must be careful with the foundation.
The NONE Chariot was supposed to move towards Isand to hassle Zulu cities, but now it is redirected to the nomad position to help in the area.
I stupidly moved my Cheb's trireme with landing forces in position where it could be spotted from Hlobane (if Hlobane is close enough). And I couldn't investigate the Plains with my dip because I stupidly embarked the dip too late...Warriors between Umtata and Mpondo (one from Cheb, another one from ships) are heading to Mpondo. There is a dip coming from Umtata. I hesitated if the warrior from ship shouldn't embark back to ships and help in the Umtata area but I want to know if I can attack Mpondo easily.
55
Zulus finished Map Making and are going for Literacy(?). P. plays a SP game! (
It is clear my trireme from Cheb wasn't spotted. I am a lucky man, in this game I don't pay for my mistakes.) So Zulus might be an easy morcel for me... I might be able to destroy all the Zimbabwe area. I will stop to risk, since I have a good chance to win without risking.
Map Making causes that -
1) I should add a defender to Cheb (maybe P. is heading there - he sees Cheb has no defender). So my nomad will sleep and patrol the strait of Zimbabwe.
2) I must be careful in the Slany area. But Lonsim would have to spend much of gold, and Peaster knows nothing about position of my cities there, so he wouldn't want to spend a big money because of a blind attack
3) Benesov could be attacked. It is 4 turns to finish a Phalanx in Benesov and Catapult in Uvaly. Maybe I will have to rushbuy them...
Again P. uses low science rate. He spent 40 gold last turn ... trireme? ... dip in Lonsim? I will withdraw my warrior E from Slany a bit closer to Slany.
My boats between Mpondo and Umtata choose each its own path to get a maximum information from "near XX" messages. Umtata is located more and more precisely. I must avoid P. spots my trireme, ideally I should attack Mpondo, Hlobane/Zimbabwe and Umtata/Tugela in one turn. But...again I am hurrying too much in the Umtata area. I found a river with my last turn and my boat could be spotted if there is any traffic on the river.
Maybe I should try to destroy the capital first. 5 Zulu cities on rivers will have a large corruption and so the Zulu research and gold for rushbuys of war units will be complicated.
There is no good attacking point near Hlobane. I hoped there would be more mountains and hills and the ocean would go closer to Zulu cities...
I will have to send 2nd boat to the Zimbabwe/Hlobane area. Originally I wanted to hide Phal+dip near Zimbabwe/Hlobane and return with the 1st boat but it would be too slow.
My nomad + Phalanx take a patrol position on the cap near Zimbabwe.
West from Mpondo was uncovered. There are two squares (hills and mountains) good for an attack.
56
My warrior near Mpondo was bribed. Very good. But there are 4 more warriors that should be bribed soon optimally (they eat or will eat shields of support) - two from Cheb, one from Kladno and one from Slany. My warrior near Swazi found a river and will be encircled soon probably. My 2nd warrior at Mpondo too. My warriors near Isand and Osizi are not uncovered probably.
Mpondo built a Settler... P. continues to build new cities also in such a dangerous area? But this fact causes I needn't to be afraid of a trireme from Mpondo and so an attack against Benesov or a try to establish an embassy several turns...so I won't spend any gold in Benesov and Uvaly (my barracks cities) and a catapult and phalanx will be completed in 3 turns.
This turn my boats neat Umtata are very silent... They have enough of time, it is 4-5 turns to The Global Attack. Unfortunately I cannot get deeper to Hlobane, the lake ends soon here.
Zulus encircled my Archers+warriors combo between Stribro and Intombe. No problem, my cities are built on hills. It would be only good if P. drags more units here, they would be missing for the defense. Jachymov is building a non-vet phalanx, Stribro will provide a vet warrior for Cheb and some defender for Stribro itself (usually in the city there will be a fighter to be dispatched against Zulus). Now there are 3 stable American units (non-vet warriors: in Stribro and Jachymov, one creates ZOCs against the Zulu stack, Cheb has no defender) and Catapult+Phalanx for the raid (next turn 2nd trireme will be rushed in Cheb) in the area of 3 cities around Cheb.
Zimbabwe position has been limited to two squares, it is clearly on a river. Forest is the only square visible for an attack... it should be enough... maybe I should attack the hills near Hlobane first? I will have 2 Phal, 1 Catap and 1 dip (and 1 vet Chariot) in the area, maybe I will split them ...
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