Turn 103, 510 BC

[nbarclay]

No one seems to be saying anything. If I don't get an indication to the contrary in the next half hour or so, I'll go with a MedInf in Arashi (saving the temple for next turn) and leave Hurricane to produce the pike it was originally scheduled to finish this turn.

[Theseus]

Sorry, catching up in the ISDG.

I concur with the MedINf in Arashi.

[nbarclay]

Production phase complete. Cats fired. Only two hits out of seven; fate must be paying us back for the turn practically all of them hit. That leaves Vox with five immortals at 2hp and two at 1hp.

Vox added a regular immortal to the two vet immortals and vet spear at Arashi 8-8.

[Theseus]

Distributing the save?

I'm a fan of going after 2hp Immortals, even on mountains.

[nbarclay]

Proposed land moves:

1) Move three pikes from Arashi to Arashi 9 and move the pike EotS produced last turn into Arashi.

2) Move the MedInf's currently in Arashi to Arashi 1. That places them in a position where they can hit Vox's big stack no matter where it moves but are still in range to defend Monsoon if Vox tries something there.

3) Move Hack (vet MedInf) from Arashi 9 into Arashi.

4) New units: MedInfs from O.G. into Tempest, Bolderberg to O.G.6, and Tornado to EotS 6. Pikes from Hurricane to SS6 and EotS to EotS 8.

[nbarclay]

I guess the question is whether fighting probably three or four 2hp immortals that would be 1hp immortals a turn later is likely to cost us more or whether delaying an extra turn is likely to cost us more. If we're willing to take the casualties, we should be able to make a push for Dissidentville once our troops who attack the southern immortals recover. Doing that a turn sooner might be worth accepting a little bit higher risk of casualties against the western immortals for. (But note that the cat cover needed for that would preclude going after the eastern force for the time being.) On the other hand, if we don't want to attack into the mountains around Dissidentville in the immediate future, I see no compelling reason not to wait a turn before going after the stack.

[Theseus]

I'm a little confused by your suggested moves. What's our objective over the next 1-2 turns? And why place MedInf at risk, and take them off the road network?

[Shiber]

Originally posted by zeit
We have accomplished an important objective, according to Sun Tzu's (TM- we have built his academy, after all ) Art of War: our enemy is uncertain of where we will strike- their defense is streched, while ours is concentrated. This is a psychological as well as startegical victory.

That's my favorite part of Sun Tzu's teachings!
Yes, I really love the way we've tied up lots of Voxian troops at their colony with basically nothing (though it would have been even nicer if they didn't have any units guarding the colony

[nbarclay]

Arashi 1 is the roaded hill between Arashi and Tempest. My plan (which, by the way, was crossposted with your idea of attacking now) was to make sure we're in a position to hit next turn no matter what Vox does but still stay in range to defend Monsoon if Vox makes a move there (or, especially, simultaneous moves on Monsoon and Sandstorm). I wouldn't put it completely past Vox to use troops that are going to die anyhow as a diversion.

If I left any MedInfs vulnerable to Voxian attack, I either missed something or mistyped.

[Shiber]

I'd rather wait another turn. Vox will most likely not fortify in their current position, but move somewhere, probably to the hills around Tempest (which will make them into an easier kill).
Hey, I've got an idea: let's set them a trap. Fortify the pike 6 of their stack, to the other side of the river - maybe they'll think that we do not want them to cross that river and reach some sensitive spot and attack it, losing in average two 2HP immortals on the way (not the most optimal use for that pike, but we'd be able to strike them with MedInfs on flatlands next turn so it might save a MedInf or two from dying).

[nbarclay]

The problem with fortifying a pike across the river from the Voxians is that Vox could use multiple units to attack him. Two 2hp immortals are the equivalent of one 4hp immortal (unless we get lucky and get the pike promoted after a single victory), so odds of Vox's winning with only one immortal lost aren't horrible. And our pike would be almost guaranteed to die by the time twelve hit points' worth of immortals attack.

[Shiber]

I realize that. I don't mind writing off one pike if it means that these immortals will be on flatlands next turn and will make easy kills for our MedInfs.
However, this plan would only work if Vox thinks that we really don't want them to cross the river with all their units and do just that... but I think that they'd learn to be weary of traps by now, so I'm not sure about the prospects of this plan anymore.

[nbarclay]

I just noticed that a RP galley can see our galley that was looking for land southwest of our continent earlier. Unfortunately, that will probably hurt our element of surprise if we go after RP at some point.

[nbarclay]

I can't see Vox crossing the river with all their troops just because we have a pike there. If I were in their position, I'd take out the pike and then hope next turn to nail whatever unit kills my unit that killed the pike.

[Shiber]

I agree. It was a bad suggestion.

Anyway, Nathan, would you mind commenting on the Colossus thread?