TURN 40
Oceania has been eliminated. At times like these I really want a post-game playback. I haven’t done much with that nation, and I’m curious to see the progress of its collapse.
In the northwest on the western continent, the Devils attack, hopefully opening my way to the special site. The Amazon Sorceress at the fort site builds a Lab. The cheap Priest I built here is on his way to the Amazon province and another has been recruited for local defense.
On the coast and capital region, I’m reorganizing and resetting the blood hunting. I rarely play Blood magic, as I prefer “good guy” factions overall, so I’m on a fairly steep learning curve here.
The blood hunts all failed this turn. I have enough for 4 Devils, or 3 and a rod.
In the north, the attack against Bogus goes in. The forces cut off by his siege overloaded their province, but I doubt it will be a problem. If I win, there’s plenty of food in the Citadel. If I lose, there won’t be enough troops left to trigger starvation. In we all go.
My script for the Manticore: Berserkers, Twist Fate, Astral Weapon, Attack Large Monsters; I positioned my Pretender carefully next to Rexor. Besides the Manticore and Rexor, there is a small squad of 3 Lizard Warriors, a squad of 5 Militia, and a unit of 17 Archers, backed up by a Salamander priest with orders to cast Blessing first, followed by general spellcasting. Everyone else dogpiles Bogus (attack/fire at large monsters). Waiting for this turn to resolve is tough. Bets are on the table.
On the northeast C’tis border, he threatens with 80 Militia, City Guard, and Tomb Worms. I shove all local troops in to face off, increase province defense to 10, and build a Lab in the northeast corner province.
The east bridge area is quiet, but small C’tis units of 30-40 seem to be moving into the area. The balloon might go up next turn.
My scout against Caelum had been following a trail of temples back to the capital. He didn’t get there, this turn he is discovered and killed.
Scores: For provinces, Ulm is ahead, I am second, followed by C’tis and Man, though Pythium is accelerating and should pass Man soon. For income, it’s Ulm, me, Man, and Caelum. Man actually led me for a short time, but I’ve spiked up past him. For gem income, C’tis leads, I’m second by a gem or two, Ulm is third and static. Man and Caelum form a second tier at a little more than half our levels. For research, Arco leads, Caelum is a clear second, and Man is clear third. I’m fifth by virtue of Oceania’s elimination, though I still am below it in the third tier pack that includes Pythium and me. For dominion, Caelum is still first and declining, with Ulm almost caught up and climbing. C’tis is third and static with an up-tic. I’m fourth and stagnant with a down-tic, Pythium has plateaued behind me and is static. Man is far behind and static, while Arcoscephele has declined almost off the graph. (Forgot armies again—I’m last.)
TURN 41
In the northwest on the west continent, the Devils open the way to the special site. However Caelum turns up next to my base with 60 Caelian Archers, independent Archers, and Militia. I ramp up the province defense and order the Devils back to hold the fort. A cheap Priest is recruited.
In the north, Bogus is annihilated in an epic battle. The enemy Dark Knight Griffon Rider swooped down and slew the commander of my archers. I am disappointed that the Berserker spell only affects four barbarians, and they’re in the back.
The raider Warrior-Mage and Troll Mage buff, the Troll Archer shoots, and Bogus the Troll just looks mean (Str 31!). The Dark Knight is killed immediately by Rexor’s barbarians, while we suffer incoming Shards and Ghost Wolves. The barbarians turn and charge the advancing Bogus, supported by my Archers (I don’t mind a few friendly fire hits on the barbarians; it just makes them mad). The Manticore finishes buffing with Twist Fate and Astral Weapon, then flies to the attack and slays the Warrior-Mage outright.
That leaves just the Troll Archer and Bogus. The Archer took on the Manticore, while Bogus was swarmed by the entire barbarian force. The Archer didn’t like the odds and fled, narrowly missed by a Fireball, but Bogus did not go down until the Manticore itself entered the fray. Rexor took Precious (the ring) and Black Steel Armor, Abysia recovered the Faithful short sword and a Cat Charm. The victorious survivors received a great feast that night. I recruit a cheap Priest here, renew Rexor, and bid on the Ghostfather. Next target, the local Amazons.
In the northeast, C’tis backs off as the Celestials show up for me. Turns out they are a little battered but still potent; about half have an affliction or two, but no disease. Should they last until I can summon a Faerie Court (Conj 8), I might be able to restore the entire unit.
At the east bridge, I recruit an Anathemant Dragon. My total income now is 1,112 gold, with troop upkeep 310 gold. I have reached a milestone in which I can build a fort without saving for a turn. Next turn should see another Warlock or two and, finally, the rebuilding of the Lizard Lab.
TURN 42
In the northwest on the west continent, Caelum backs off, followed by one of my scouts. The Devils fly directly to the special site. Lots of enemy dominion popping up to the south; I have to remember that Man is there and we are at war. I need to reinforce this base quickly so I will be hard to push off the west continent.
In the capital, I’m trying to reorganize blood hunting again. I am recruiting another Demonbred, but I don’t have enough Apprentices blood hunting to support two full-time summoners. A continuing problem is the low population of the inland provinces, which is making the coast look increasingly attractive.
In the north, the attack against the Amazons commences. The northeast corner is static; I put the Lizard Shaman on research.
By the east bridge, C’tis seems a little twitchy, and my dominion is shrinking here. The Anathemant Dragon sacrifices a precious Blood Slave to bolster my dominion. My Druid forges a Thistle Mace.
I’m thinking that I’ll probably have to fight C’tis before Caelum. I will try to fortify my foothold on the west continent and expand down the west coast of the east continent first, at least to the large forest, but the instant C’tis puts up a global spell, I will re-evaluate this stance. I figure I have enough Astral gems now for one Dispel attempt, but it’s really hard to build a reserve of these. I have reached Construction 4. I will reach Evocation 4 next turn (rushing a little), so I shift the rest of my production to Blood (to be adjusted to half the following move).
TURN 43
Disaster in the north! Total annihilation of Rexor’s expedition: both mercenary units and commanders, my Hall of Fame Salamander priest, and my Prophet are all dead. I will be devoting half my income to building up the north fort garrison. Right now, I am sending the Manticore and bidding on the Wind Lord to get a force to crush the Amazon resistance. There are 2 commanders and 12 troops surviving the battle, so two turns should see the ladies off. To make sure, I will recall the Celestials and guard the northeast front with Lizard Warriors.
On the west continent, the special site is secured; next step, last independent province adjacent to my base. A new Demonbred flies over from my capital with more Devils; I will build another Demonbred this next turn. I beef up the normal troop contingents and province defense in the west continent provinces.
On the east continent coast, blood hunters flock to my large coastal city, and the first one in gets a Sanguine Rod. Small numbers of troops move in to reinforce the city guard. The cheap Priest arrives in Amazon province.
By the east bridge, the dominion loss is now alarming. Despite this, I dispatch a Druid to the island with orders to raise Shamblers and build a Temple. The Anathemant Dragon conducts a blood sacrifice. If this doesn’t work, I’ll have to pull the priests off research to preach up the province dominion. Incidentally, I have exactly one Warlock with Water magic, and he's in the capital. The Shamblers don’t come with a leader. I must build a replacement Warlock before moving the one in place, and it’s five moves to the island, so I have time to put together a Shambler force before their leader arrives. Or I can make a Water Breathing Ring and send a local commander.
TURN 44
In the northwest on the western continent, the Devils return to the base for refit and reinforcement. It takes three turns of flight to get to this base from the capital. Just hunkering down, scouting, and building a little PD and a few more troops on this front. I’d really like to connect the two cities across the bay, but I don’t think that’s too realistic an expectation at this point.
In the north, the attack goes in on the Amazons. It occurs to me that this may be a poor use of the Windmaster, since I have no Air sites and this is my ticket in. Still, I make sure to transfer 11 of his gems to the Manticore, so I will have a stock if he falls.
I play a deep tactical position, setting up on my baseline to draw in the ground troops. After holding two turns, I’ll attack rear to take out the commanders before the ground troops can get back to them. In the last battle, both commanders had bodyguards, so maybe that will draw in my attacks (normally combat units ignore commanders unless they actually run into them).
The northeast just got interesting. C’tis just took out the Earth Mother with 110 City Guards, Militia, and Falchioneers. We now have a two-province front, and I’m really weak, since his other province has 50 units! It’s a good thing the Celestials are headed for the fort. If C’tis attacks, I will be hard pressed to man it. It is imperative that the Amazons be subdued and added to my forces before a general war starts. Although it will cost me two sure Abysian Infantry, I risk a bid on the Dragon Tamer to bolster the fort.
It’s quiet by the east bridge. I have two Salamander priests out to build temples on my side of the river, but there is no money in the collection box this month, so they preach.
As a refinement of my strategic vision, I will try to slowly shift forces so the east continent is mostly Abysian, while mercs and normal humans spearhead the effort on the west continent. We'll see how it works.