[RedRover]

Shovah:
Actually, I have no idea what Caelum's pretender is. On this turn I am nowhere close to their capital. It hasn't shown up in any Arena fights. It's whatever the AI decided to field at Difficult level.

[I later had the opportunity to record the exact Pretender chassis, but didn't take it, sorry. At this point, I semi-recall it was something fairly weak, a Frost Father or Ghost King, but I just don't know for sure. The only thing I can easily determine at this point is that the AI stuck them with the Return of the Raptors theme. Not a choice I would have set voluntarily for this game.]


TURN 51
With war against C’tis brewing, I have a large number of items on the checklist: Manticore fully buffed, including Ring of Poison Resistance. Rings of Fire Resistance for the Druids. One or more Fire Wands on each front. At least 3-4 Priests per army group. Enough troops in the pipeline to make good on losses. Enough troops in the base forts to stop any C’tis who get through the front line. More Priests to bolster PD. Enough Warlocks to keep up research while the war continues. My most sensitive spot is the northeast corner. With three of five Astral gems a turn coming from there, I would be in deep trouble if I lost that province.

From the west continent, I pull the large Devil unit (16-17) back to my big port on the east continent. I will need them to solidify the border with Arco, and possibly raid east into C’tis territory. They are at once my greatest striking force and mobile reserve, and I need them where the action is.

On the west coast of the east continent, I blow the tactics and it costs. My small Devil unit rushes in and hits the advancing body (of Knights!) head-on instead of the Horse Archers or command group. The God’s Justice pikemen piles into their rear, taking heat damage, which a misplaced Hellfire spell does not help. I won, but the army is in shambles; most of the Devils are gone, and God’s Justice is a lot weaker than 37 survivors would suggest. Instead of husbanding my resources, I have squandered them.

Worse, Arco has pushed 30 Cardaces and Heart Companions into his bridgehead, so I must attack the independent 40 Heavy Infantry/Crossbows next to him immediately to seal him out of this area. Pikes far forward with attack orders (to minimize missile casualties). Devils ordered to charge enemy archers to disrupt their fire. With any luck, I will crack the defenders and hit the commanders before the Devils are all killed. Go, go, go!

In the northeast and by the east bridge, it is the quiet before the storm.