Turn 99 - 590BC -

[Aeson]

Aye... we certainly would rather lose Arashi than Tempest. But then again, they would rather destroy Tempest than Arashi (more to pop rush there, hurts us more).

We can hold both, but our Pikes on a Pike by Pike basis are more vulnerable in Tempest (2 Pikes in Arashi can be fortified). Giving them the Cats means we should have overall better chances of having Pikes survive than otherwise.

The two fortified Pikes will have Cat support in Arashi, which gives them basically a 50:50 chance at surviving 2 Immortals and getting the upgrade.

All our Pikes in Tempest will have close to 50:50 chances as well (given that some will be hit by 3 HP immortals).

[Aeson]

Maybe we should block the Galley? If we take the 2 coast tiles 6 and 63 of the Iron, Vox can't get around without attacking... it almost guarantees that they are delayed getting reinforcements down the coast. Of course they could attack with a loaded Galley... but who does that?

If they are 9 of the Iron, they are probably going to pick up units farther N though.

[nbarclay]

I still think Arashi is Vox's better target, unless they're in a somewhat suicidal mood. They have one more immortal in a position to attack Arashi than they do Tempest, and they have to figure Tempest is probably the more strongly defended of the two. (Unless they're ready to hope we placed our bets on out-guessing them and guessing they'd attack Arashi.) Also, we have seven pikes to go around between the two cities. If Arashi has three pikes and Tempest has four, I think three cats in Arashi would be a good thing.

[Arrian]

Excellent, thanks.

-Arrian

[nbarclay]

If I'm Vox, I don't pick up units until the GS galleys are dealt with. Sending a loaded galley into the teeth of two enemy galleys is just asking for trouble.

Actually, having Vox go around our galleys would probably be a very good thing for us. Assuming we win, that leaves us closer to our core than if Vox's galley keeps retreating, so we're in a better position to go back and pick up troops.

[Aeson]

Ok with me. Lets try our luck with the Cats?

[nbarclay]

Arrian, is three cats in each okay with you?

[Aeson]

I was thinking we could fortify our Galleys there and end the E coast nonsense. Galleys get the 10% terrain defense bonus, and Vox could never get a Galley around our 2 without risking either a less than even odds attack, or sinking at sea.

Anyone know if the fortification bonus works for Galleys?

[nbarclay]

I went ahead and moved one cat into Tempest and attacked. Bombardment failed.

[Arrian]

Sure. That's fine.

-Arrian

[alva]

Galleys don't get any fortification bonus.

[nbarclay]

I see two possible problems with a blockade. (1) It ties up our galleys. (2) Vox may possibly have a second galley they can send in as a reinforcement (although if they do, we'd probably have seen it by now). I'd just as soon take on their galley as a singleton rather than risk its being reinforced.

[nbarclay]

Our cat from Arashi missed too. I guess fantastic luck two turns in a row would have been a bit much to hope for.

[Aeson]

Galley warfare is tricky... 27% we lose both Galleys on attack. I'd rather take the 10% defense bonus than fight against it.

[Arrian]

Nathan, what were the rushing moves again? Cat in monsoon, pike in Tempest?

-Arrian