Turn 134, 110 AD

[Shiber]

Opening...

[Shiber]

RP offers WM, 3g and Barcelona.
We're rejecting because we can defend Barcelona fine from B-4, right?

[notyoueither]

Hang on that. The theory goes that if we stick pikes in there, then GoW will avoid the fight, as usual.

I think we should accept it and stick 4 pikes in.

[Shiber]

Then our attacking knights will remain on B-4, most likely wounded and though on hills, unable to defend themselves.
Hold on, that's actually not such a bad idea. If we bait GoW to counter-attack our wounded knights we can hold more riders in the area as slowmover targets. Interesting.

[Shiber]

Nah, bad idea. They can escape and/or cut roads.

[zeit]

I strongly support defending from B4- much better odds should GoW decided to attack, comfortable spot to attack with our Knights from. I hardly GoW WILL not attack us if we're there, and if they will- they'll pay dearly for it. I just don't see any advantage we could get from accepting the town and garrisoning it at this turn- maybe next turn, but not this one.
We're trying to destroy GoW stack while defending RP's important towns- by sitting on B4 and attacking with everything we have, we're doing both while letting RP enjoy another turn of income and harbor access.

[alva]

B4 looks the best option to me too (not sure if I would even use the knights to attack this turn).
We can get some pikes, MI and knights on that hill and see were GoW will head too. ( and what they will do when a larger army presents itself)

[alva]

Does RP have ANY units in the south? ( Merida, Valencia,murcia)
They can take these 3 cities next turn.

[notyoueither]

re Barcelona

If GoW stay on course they will not attack anything showing a pike. We could accept Barcelona and send a pike there. One of the passing knights can Fortify All so that the pike shows as fortified.

Then we can move 3 pike and 3 mi to B4. We can get 5 knights there for shots at riders in the open. If things go against us, we have 3 pikes to defend the knights. If they get lucky and punch through, they will still face a pike in Barcelona. They will not touch it.

Also, the road to Pamplona is cut by GoW. That means that without us having that port, we are cut off from the silk.

I think we want Barcelona in our hands.

[notyoueither]

RP coordination, important bits

RP has 2 workers at NM 4 4. We need a couple of pike on NM 4 7 7 to keep the riders off them. 2 pike from NM would do.

We should gift back Toledo and NM this turn. They will do better generating taxes for RP. We can leave 1 or 2 pikes by each to cover if the bad guys come back.

It is up to us to cover P 9. It is 50-50 for each of their riders vs forted knights. 3 knights secures the road, and they will move off, most likely. We can push the 2 pikes from P 6 6 to take over covering the critical mountain road.

[Shiber]

We can defend Barcelona perfectly well on our own from B-4. In fact, I'd like GoW to try to break through B4 - their wounded riders will have to deal with 4 pikes on hills (these battles will most likely provide us with some fabulous losses-in-shields ratios) and then the knights (wounded, but still good). If you ask me, chances are that they'll never get to the medinfs, providing that our knights will kill some riders this turn.
So sure, if GoW sees that Barcelona is in RP's hands and ungarrisoned, they might go for it - but even if they succeed in breaking through B4, their fabulous stack will be reduced to nearly nothing in the process, and we'll be able to finish the job the following turn.

In short, I wouldn't want to take Barcelona and put a pike in it just to scare off GoW - in fact, I want them to attack. Sure beats losing the entire south of RP if they go running about.

[notyoueither]

We lose a luxury. How much do you like the slider? How dangerous is it if GoW can't win?

[notyoueither]

Besides, if GoW stay in character, they are not going to touch 3 pikes, 3 mi, and some knights on a hill. They would be less likely to attack if there were 4 pikes there.

If they do, then we have 5 more knights and some pikes coming up.

[zeit]

Having less defenders on B4 (even one pike) encourages GoW to attack that tile, and if they attack B4- I'm sure as hell they'll attack B as well- Pikes on flats, defending a relatively important town. Our best chances of defending the town, while inflicting maximum loses to GoW's stack is from B4, whether or not we claim the city. Now- luxs is a factor- do we need that lux? and if we do, how much does this cost for us?

[notyoueither]

zeit, they have never attacked our units to date. If you want, put all 4 pikes on the hill. They still will not attack them, if they stay on course.

However, we do indeed lose the lux if we do not accept Barca. We can have 3 more pikes there next turn. Why should we pay anything we do not have to?

Is there a sudden problem with accepting RP cities to defend?