PBEM: Crustacian's equal map game...

[Carolus Rex]

We have launched our space ship; it will arrive in the same year as the Viking one...

The Egyptians are welcome to ravage our continent.

Carolus

[La Fayette]

Originally posted by Carolus Rex

I'm a little bit confused to see 34 structurals in the Viking ship...

Carolus

I knew that perhaps you would enjoy destroying some SS parts. One more structural doesn't mean a slower ship, but can be helpful if other structurals are missing.

[Carolus Rex]

Originally posted by DaveV

To the Sioux: as you noted, your ship cannot beat the Vikings'. If you launch, we will take this as yet another vote for a Viking victory, and launch our fleet against your homeland. If you are willing to work together against the vile Vikings, we offer our strength in arms to that end.

The Sioux Fools' Council (before recent events known as the Sioux High Council of Wise Chiefs) will meet and ponder the Egyptians' proposal. We will report our answer here.

Carolus

[Carolus Rex]

Originally posted by kengel

Though the Japanese are far back in science in past, they are ready to rush-explorer the knowledge in approximately 4-5 turns (presently with science rate of 4 techs per turn).

Four techs per turn?!

Carolus

[Carolus Rex]

Originally posted by La Fayette

Beautiful screenshots!

Especially the second one, eh?

Carolus

[Carolus Rex]

Originally posted by kengel

If I am right, our year counter is going in ten years steps, so the viking ship should be in AC the next or overnext turn?

After a SS launch each turn will take a year. A launch in 1570 AD will result in a 1575 AD landing, with 5 turns left to play for the civs moving before the launching civ. Lots of time for aggressive neighbours to intervene?

Carolus

[Carolus Rex]

Originally posted by Carolus Rex

I don't think La Fayette did this, so (in hindsight) if I'd had a couple of explorers in my most western island city, I could have reached his mainland and entered a couple of the cities building SS parts... That would have been so sweet!!!

I could have reached those cities with freights, but they can never conquer a city, can they? I sure hope they can't or else the taste in my mouth will be so much fouler...

Carolus

[Carolus Rex]

Originally posted by Sparrowhawk

Alternatively, how close are the other three civs to launching a faster ship (though we don't know how fast La Fayette's is)? I realize the other three of you don't want to reveal anything crucial to your plans, but can you give us a hint ?

Enquiring minds want to know!

Hm, I guess I can reveal the bitter truth (with a few reservations)...

If nothing unexpected has happened during the others' turns, then I will launch a 33-8-8-1-1-1 (fusion-powered) ship the same turn as La Fayette (I have yet to play this turn). Because it has been quite some time since the last time I built the fastest ship, I asked about the optimal configuration in the thread below:

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=81320

Hence I've built the SS with 33 structurals, which I think will take 5.7 years. That's why I'm a little bit confused to see 34 structurals in the Viking ship...

Anyway, suppose my ship also takes 5.7 years. We will both arrive the same year, but La Fayette will win since he (due to his civ's colour) moves before I do. This is what I hinted at in the posts above (which DaveV correctly read between the lines)...

I have established embassies with all civs and have been able to monitor each civ's progress... I was always one tech ahead of the Vikings (regarding the space race), but I didn't want to build Apollo too soon, revealing the map. This was Big Mistake number one...

Because when I actually decided to build it, La Fayette had already started building it (which I didn't know, but was soon to find out ), resulting in a 600 shield temple when my turn came... I was completely shocked (and mad as hell), realising that he was now going to win...

Big Mistake number two was that I was so confident that I was going to build the ship first, that I didn't plan for anything else... Some turns before I started building the ship I didn't have enough cities (I wanted to build and launch it in a single turn, requiring 52 cities); the same was true for La Fayette, I think. When I pinned down the remaining cities I made sure they had a defender each... I don't think La Fayette did this, so (in hindsight) if I'd had a couple of explorers in my most western island city, I could have reached his mainland and entered a couple of the cities building SS parts... That would have been so sweet!!!

Anyway...

Carolus

[La Fayette]

Beautiful screenshots!

(I'll be back on saturday)

[DaveV]

At the start of my turn:

[DaveV]

The minimap (revealed by Apollo):

[DaveV]

The Viking spaceship:

[DaveV]

Arrgh. After a survey of Egyptian resources, we are sorry to conclude there is no way we can stop two spaceships (maybe not even one!). Here is our stance:

To the Japanese leader: even if you have no wish to win the game, we at least ask that you not actively contribute to the Vikings' win.

To the Sioux: as you noted, your ship cannot beat the Vikings'. If you launch, we will take this as yet another vote for a Viking victory, and launch our fleet against your homeland. If you are willing to work together against the vile Vikings, we offer our strength in arms to that end.

To the Vikings: have at you, sirrah!

[kengel]

Geeeee....
That was a big surprize!
I always thought that Dave would be the running horse...

(LOL... and I even supported the vikings with traderoutes to my big cities)

Anyway, I take my hat off to the great viking leader!
Since I am very unhappy about the option to get back a spaceship by military force after milleniums of peace, I will not even try it, and ensure the mighty viking astronauts my best wishes for a successful landing (LOL... wouldn't have said that for the treacherous egypts )

If I am right, our year counter is going in ten years steps, so the viking ship should be in AC the next or overnext turn?

Though the Japanese are far back in science in past, they are ready to rush-explorer the knowledge in approximately 4-5 turns (presently with science rate of 4 techs per turn). With our economic power, we should be able to start a space ship in another 2 turns, but then I believe we will meet our viking friends already there...

Oh well, Michel, excellente job, congrats

[Sparrowhawk]

Originally posted by La Fayette
The Egyptian, Japanese and Sioux leaders are expected to be angry and all out war is forecasted by the Viking Headquarters here in Livercrusty.

Originally posted by La Fayette
but the Egyptians (daveV) are VERY strong.

Originally posted by DaveV
... but probably not strong enough to take two capitals, if I read between the lines correctly . Am I going to be put in the position of spoiler/kingmaker? For the benefit of the non-players, I'll try to post some screenshots tomorrow, after I play my turn.

It seems the question is not so much if the Egyptians are strong enough to tackle the Vikings alone, but whether the Egyptians, Sioux and Japanese are strong enough to take down the Viking ship Or for that matter, whether the three can work together in a concerted effort to bring it down.

Personally I would like to see it happen (no offense La Fayette) with a supreme battle with all four nations and then see which of the 4 has enough resources left to build another ship.

On a side note, does anyone else see a problem with a spaceship being brought down from space because the capital city of the empire that launched it is taken by enemies?