Euro PBEM Part 2

[nbarclay]

By the way, do we want to adopt a convention that the attacker gives a full report of all combat results (including victories, losses, retreats, and damage status of victorious/surviving units) to the defender, since that information is available in a regular game but not in PBEM?

[DeepO]

I don't know on that convention... it adds a bit of mystery to the game. On the other hand, in this case it would suit me well

I'll abstain on that for the moment, let's see what the other two think

DeepO

[alva]

Hmm, you could call it FOW , even if we do a report, shouldn't it be done by mail?

Whether we do or don't , is fine by me.

Ahh, it's good to be a builder...*leans back*

[FrustratedPoet]

This all makes for great reading, guys. It would be great if you could make a screenshot every few turns - and then release them when the game is over. That might be quite inconvenient, of course, and I wouldn't expect you to - but it would be cool.

This situation would also make for an interesting thread in the Strat forum. Diplomacy and negotiating with human opponents is a major part of the game that hasn't received much analysis (probably because everyone's involved in the practical, rather than the theory, at this point).

[DeepO]

Turn sent to Alex.

Nathan, I have to congratulate you on sending the turn before attacking me, and warning me of your intentions one turn earlier then strictly necessary. You really are playing the Gathering Storm role in the most honorable fashion

It allowed me to gather all defenses I had, and prepare for the worst But the Glory of War will not fold to empty threats, we will prevail!

DeepO

BTW, FP; I was thinking on offering limited screenshots of things happening later on, but right now it would be too soon... I don't want to give away my troop position before Nathan can see them.

I was thinking on writing a long AAR on this game, I'm keeping all saves, and private communication to be able to write a nice history. Posting that on the strat forum might be a good idea, it could serve as a propaganda tool to us, instead of giving away our secrets. If any of the other players would like something like that, maybe we can have some kind of joined effort... would be very cool to see the different opinions on certain events (like the current one), explained by the situation a certain player is in.

[alexman]

350 B.C. sent.

It's funny to see how a little galley collision can cause a World War!

[nbarclay]

Originally posted by DeepO

I was thinking on writing a long AAR on this game, I'm keeping all saves, and private communication to be able to write a nice history. Posting that on the strat forum might be a good idea, it could serve as a propaganda tool to us, instead of giving away our secrets. If any of the other players would like something like that, maybe we can have some kind of joined effort... would be very cool to see the different opinions on certain events (like the current one), explained by the situation a certain player is in.

I've been saving my materials too, so that's at least two of us who can contribute to an in-depth after-action report.

[nbarclay]

Originally posted by alexman

It's funny to see how a little galley collision can cause a World War!

Well, what do you expect when you put such a heavy ram on the front of your galley before you collide it with mine? Although DeepO's insistence on fighting me first has to be nice for you.

Operation Leapfrog is now underway, with casualties so far more or less as expected. Turn to Alva.

[DeepO]

Turn to Alex.

Operation TickleFrog launched to counter the rumours... no evil frogs have been spotted so far, but nothing has been heard from our brave guards. They had been ordered to be extra vigilant, but alas, we fear the worst, and notified their families.

Support for the war on the home front has been raised considerably by latest events. Militias have been formed, plows melted to swords, women are being trained to handle bows and ride horses (granted, this takes some time, women are legendary for their bad driving skills ). Now all we need is a visible enemy, instead of this army of ghosts, ambushing jungle guards.

DeepO

[alexman]

Sorry for the delay, the save didn't come until now.
Enough trash-talking. Fight already!

[nbarclay]

Alex, what do you think "with casualties so far more or less as expected" means?

DeepO, didn't your mother teach you that tickling leaping frogs can be a dangerous sport? By the way, I'm impressed with the force you've managed to assemble in spite of your Great Library project.

Turn to Alva.

[DeepO]

Well, let's wait until I see what you turned up with to be any bolder, but you have seen nothing yet

DeepO

[alva]

Great read

I'm so close, yet so very far

To DeepO

[DeepO]

Before opening the turn, I was quiet anxious. I have to say, that curiosity is gone. It was as I feared, I could tickle those leaping frogs, I could not smack them back on their side of the jungle.



Above a screenshot of what I opened. Those are (I think, Nathan, correct me if I was wrong) 6 spears, 26 swords, 2 archers and 5 workers, all vet. They are standing on forest, which I didn't clear to stop WCs the first turn. My defenses are about 3 spears on each hill, helped by a couple of swords, and a few horses Nathan already spotted. The rest of my forces (not many of them, though) are out of sight, to keep my strengths (or rather, weaknesses) to my own.

So, I used my scouting horse to first of all kill a spear, and then move onto the jungle, spotting what kind of reserve forces Nathan still has in his sleeve. I was hoping he would survive with 2 hps, but a kill was already nice to have with this guy. Nathan has 1 sword and 12 WCs in sight, totalling his attack force to about 45 units. Impressive, I was hoping it would stay to 30-some units, which I could have defeated with a bit of strategical advantage. 45 though... Ouch.

So, I did my best. I think I managed to take down 3 spears, 5 swords, denting 6 other units, but as the initial swords force was too tough to take, I couldn't push further. I pillaged the road, so Nathan can't get his swords to me next turn, maybe this will buy me enough time to heal, regroup, and rush some more defenders. I already got all the women, but if neccesary, I'll train the children too



Moral story of the day: if you see that one of the players is getting over double, maybe even triple your cities, and does not intend to fall down soon, you should attack ASAP instead of letting him attack you. It is simply impossible to match those forces.

DeepO (still sobbing in a corner after his last look into the crystal ball)

[alexman]

Mr. Glory of War, I got a different moral story of the day: get along with your neighbors early, instead of hampering both yours and their expansion, while the rest of the world cooperates and prospers!