[RedRover]

TURN 50
New developments on west continent! Man is definitely at war with Caelum. A force of 20 Blackhawks from Man has replaced the Caelum Militia next to my fort. All my provinces within flight range of this province now need to be proofed against this attack.

It’s just as well I didn’t try the Arena. Caelum’s pretender has almost 500 hit points and regenerates 17 per round, in addition to being lightning- and poison-proof. My 230-point Manticore would have been chutney.

On the west coast of the east continent, I can now see why Arco stopped. The big city’s garrison is 100 Barbarians. I divert my attack line into the smaller inland town (20 Militia/Light Cavalry). Apparently, Arco has only a small bridgehead in this area. I have to seal that off as quickly as possible, so I can mop up the remaining Forest provinces on my own schedule.

For the second turn running, the blood hunts are dry. I pull from the sacrifice pool to summon a single Devil this turn. I *must* solve this blood hunting issue. Interestingly, a Blood economy thread has started on the Forum. Just what I needed!

Scores: For provinces, I lead. Ulm (declining), Man (rising), C’tis (stagnant) and Pythium (dip down), form a second tier pack.

For income, I lead, but have spiked down and Man is close behind and growing. Ulm, Pythium, and Caelum form a second tier, and are declining.

For gem income, I clearly lead, with C’tis more than one find behind. Ulm, Caelum, and Man are almost a dead heat, with Ulm stagnant and Caelum spiking down exactly the same as Man spikes up. They are about half me, and C’tis splits the difference.

For research, Arco leads, Caelum and Man are a neck-and-neck second at about two-thirds Arco’s value, and I’m next, chased by Pythium, I’m about two-thirds Caelum’s value.

For dominion, Ulm leads, but has leveled off, and Caelum is closing the gap. C’tis and I are virtually tied, me rising, him declining. Pythium is falling rather sharply. Man is oscillating but static. Arcoscephele has fallen completely off the graph.

For armies, C’tis is still so strong it’s scary (I’m at 2, C’tis is at 18!), almost as strong as everyone else put together. Man and Ulm are about equal (at 8 and 7), Pythium leads Caelum (about 4 to 3). I’ve passed Arcoscephale.

This changes things a little. The Man/Caelum war is going badly for Caelum. The time to strike C’tis is now or soon, before Caelum falls—I have to beat C’tis quickly enough to bolster the west before Caelum goes completely. Should I close the border with Arco and build more troops before striking? I get the feeling that if I go to war now, I will destroy a mighty empire. Stay tuned.