Noob's shot at an R'lyeh AAR

[Taqwus]

The Djinni lamp is an expendable artifact; you forge it, use it, and lose it. In exchange, you get a Djinni mage. If anybody else forges the lamp again, you'll lose the mage.

[CharonJr]

Thank you I don't think I will forge that one, enough other things to do

CharonJr

[Arryn]

Have you tried blood hunting with scouts? If you find that it's effective, that may free up mages for you to use elsewhere.

EDIT: in your self-described precarious situation, I'd advise that you knock Jotunheim out as soon as you can and make no aggressive moves towards Atlantis or Ulm. Especially Atlantis. Atlantis may seem a natural next victim for you, but you'll probably be better off with going after Ulm once the Jotuns have been dealt with. Tritons are a nuisance, and land provinces have better/more gem sites.

[ February 24, 2004, 19:01: Message edited by: Arryn ]

[CharonJr]

Originally posted by Arryn:
Have you tried blood hunting with scouts? If you find that it's effective, that may free up mages for you to use elsewhere.

EDIT: in your self-described precarious situation, I'd advise that you knock Jotunheim out as soon as you can and make no aggressive moves towards Atlantis or Ulm. Especially Atlantis. Atlantis may seem a natural next victim for you, but you'll probably be better off with going after Ulm once the Jotuns have been dealt with. Tritons are a nuisance, and land provinces have better/more gem sites.

2 of my hunters are scouts actually, I am only using 1 mage at the moment

I am concentrating some forces in Jotunheim just now and due the castle's 100 defense the walls should be breached fairly soon.

At the moment I am most tempted to go after Marignon since this would shorten my borders.

And yes, mainly due to the pesky tritons my attack vs any water province will be delayed as long as possible. My mages and bLasters need time to be effective and those fliers are taking that away from me.

Ulm has gathered a huge army (about 170 troops including the pretender) next to me. This might get VERY ugly soon. On the other hand I would no longer have to think about what to do next since fighting for my life will have a fairly high priority

Thank you

CharonJr

[CharonJr]

Turn 32

Conjuration is up to level 7 and the research points will be split between construction and blood magic (blood magic will reach level 4 this turn).

Acashic record was cast on Cacian Forest and 2 sites were found, a Cedar Forest (+20 prod, +2 nature gems) and The Jervellan Wall which created the Jervellan Wall (0 Admin, 1000 supply, 30 defense).

7 blood slaves were captured in Gol Phalas and 4 in Gol Ryepe.

A vengeful witch has cursed 1 of my troops for taking her gems in Cacian Forest.

200 additional taxes were levied in Aenasia.

Ulm did attack in Bolfagon as was to be expected. The attacking army included the Ulm pretender (a Moloch) who caused the indie Barbarians to route on the third turn.

When my forces attack the Moloch summoned some Imps who were quickly dispatched. The Moloch jumped behind my troops and attacked the Illithid Soldiers. Shortly after this (about 70% of the militias were killed) the forces of Ulm routed.

The battle in Faran was easily won vs. PD forces.

Glisas only faced PD forces in Black Forest, too, which were defeated without any problem.

In Birman Highs my troops faced roughly 20 Jotuns lead by 3 Nifel Giants. 2 of the Giants were enslaved and fought very well for my side Overall I lost about 6 fodder troops, but gained 2 Nifel Giants and 3 Jotuns.

In Jotunheim my forces were mainly met by 25 Jotun Militias (in addition to 4 Hurlers) some were enslaved, but due to just one enslaver in my forces a lot of my troops had to engage in close combat. In the end I lost about 4 Centaurs and my other Centaurs routed while the enemy lost about 50% of his troops and routed due to my summons keeping the preasure up.

Atlanasha managed to summon 1 Greater Otherness bringing her skill up to 17.


Provinces: 31
Treasury: 1.187
Income: 1.728
Upkeep: 890
RP: 314
Fortification: 4
Temple: 8

Conjuration – 7
Alteration – 6
Evocation – 6
Construction – 6 (researching)
Enchantment – 7
Thaumaturgy – 6
Blood Magic – 3 (researching, will reach 4)

Fire gems: 11 (+5)
Air: 41 (+2)
Water gems: 1 (+8)
Earth: 10 (+1)
Astral gems: 8 (+9/+9)
Death: 40 (+5)
Nature: 15 (+11)
Blood: 24


Updated province information:

Due to the map (and time constraints ) I will skip this section and just make some general comments here.

I can see 2 provinces of Pythium to the east now making it very likely that the still missing Arcoscephale is located in the northeastern corner of the map.

Atlantis took the indie province of Endless Oceans with 60 troopers commanded by a Wyrm (likely the Atlantis pretender), destroying my buffer and making the situation even more volatile due to the fairly large force close to my capital and my forging province of Tiash.

Ulm has massed 170 troops including their pretender in Monherboa and this has me VERY worried, but at the moment there is not much I can do about it if they should decide to attack. If Ulm should attacak me I will wait till the armies are starting to split up and then try to destroy the smaller forces with coordinated attacks and potentially some PDs.


My Provinces:

R’lyeh (10) – 29.740 pop, 100% tax, 0 UR, 284 inc, 72 res, 25 def, dom9 – magic site (+3As/+2W) - Temple
Gol Phalas (26) – 12.680 pop, 100% tax, 0 UR, 68 inc, 8 res, 0 def, dom 5 - Temple
Dunheim (28) – 11.440 pop, 80% tax, 6 UR, 45 inc, 4 res, 0 def, dom 5
Talito (36) – 7.320 pop, 100% tax, 0 UR, 33 inc, 11 res, 0 def, dom 2 - magic site (+2W, +1N) - Temple
Dershid (20) – 6.380 pop, 100% tax, 0 UR, 35 inc, 9 res, 0 def, dom 8 – magic site (+1W, +1As)
C’tis (27) – 32.790 pop, 100% tax, 0 UR, 223 inc, 108 res, 0 def, dom 1 – magic site (+2D/+2N/+1W, +20prod, +10gold) - Temple
Hoburgdorf (34) – 13.670 pop, 100% tax, 0 UR, 80 inc, 9 res, 0 def, dom 3
Abysia (40) – 24.680 pop, 100% tax, 0 UR, 153 inc, 103 res, 0 def, dom 1 – magic site (+5 fire, +30 gold)
Nifel (57) – 1.560 pop, 100% tax, 0 UR, 3 inc, 28 res, 0 def, dom 3 – magic site (+1Ai, +1D/D imp, +1D/D imp, +20prod) - Temple
Gol Ryepe (46) – 18.430 pop, 90% tax, 2 UR, 65 inc, 8 res, 0 def, dom 1 - Temple
Glimmering Field (61) – 23.770 pop, 100% tax, 0 UR, 104 inc, 11 res, 0 def, dom -1
Giant’s Rest (67) – 1.520 pop, 100% tax, 0 UR, 5 inc, 28 res, 0 def, dom 1 – magic site (+1A, 1+D/increases death)
Scytha (35) - 4.890 pop, 100% tax, 0 UR, 24 inc, 26 res, 0 def, dom 1 - Temple
Kolermegor (5) – 9.650 pop, 100% tax, 0 UR, 52 inc, 30 res, 0 def, dom 2 – magic site (+2W, +2S/recruit loremaster/sage)
Vepitre (14) – 5.040 pop, 100% tax, 0 UR, 44 inc, 12 res, 0 def, dom 3 – Marble Temple (UR-5/+20 gold/can recruit High Priest)
Aran Plains (23) – 11.890 pop, 100% tax, 0 UR, 62 inc, 24 res, 0 def, dom 1
Pangaea (12) – 26.810 pop, 100% tax, 0 UR, 125 inc, 92 res, 0 def, dom -4 – magic site (+5N)
Tiash (15) – 2.510 pop, 100% tax, 0 UR, 13 inc, 42 res, 0 def, dom 6
Oune (19) – 1.730 pop, 80% tax, 10 UR, 5 inc, 12 res, 0 def, dom -1
Old Aran (29) – 3.990 pop, 90% tax, 2 UR, 15 inc, 6 res, 0 def, dom -1
Agenor (37) – 11.120 pop, 90% tax, 4 UR, 46 inc, 15 res, 0 def, dom -4 – magic site (40 blood magic bonus, +1E/+1N)
Cacian Forest (45) – 6.580 pop, 70% tax, 10 UR, 17 inc, 24 res, 0 def, dom 1
Aenasia (54) – 12.310 pop, 90% tax, 5 UR, 42 inc, 13 res, 0 def, dom -5 - magic site (+1S)
Birman Highs (24) – 4.880 pop, 70% tax, 15 UR, 10 inc, 27 res, 0 def, dom 0
Black Forest (31) – 7.010 pop, 60% tax, 18 UR, 13 inc, 21 res, 0 def, dom -1 – magic site (+2S)
Jotunheim (68) – 35.770 pop, 70% tax, 15 UR, 51 inc, 34 res, 0 def, dom -7
Faran (60) – 4.020 pop, 60% tax, 20 UR, 8 inc, 9 res, 0 def, dom 0
Bolfagon (63) – 1.850 pop, 70% tax, 13 UR, 19 inc, 11 res, 0 def, dom -3


I got a 1FA, 1W, 1E, 3S mage and a 1F, 1S, 2N Lore Master who will research for now. The Lore Master might later be used for summons, too.

A Treelord Staff (32N) will be forged in addition to a Clam of Pearl (8W), a Water Bracelet (4W) and a Starshine Skullcap (8S).

Glisas will fly from Black Forest to The Weald and try to take it before Atlantis gets any funny ideas.

My 2 armies from Birman Highs will move to Solam and should be able to conquer it without to many problems.

My commander and 20 fodder troops from Runia will move to defend Black Forest.

The 2 mage lead armies from Runia will attack Vldmyre and should face no opposition there.

The Troll King and his 15 trolls with move from Aenasia to Jotunheim in order to support the siege there.

The 2 remaining mage lead armies from Aenasia will attack the 2 Jotuns in Iron Range and even with just 2 Greater Otherness and 6 Centaurs will hopefully able to conquer the province due to their spells.

My priest from Nifel and the 2 mage lead armies from Faran will reclaim the province of Chilad.

The 2 armies from Bolfagon will move to Faran in order to support the siege in Jotunheim on the next turn.


I will buy 1 more starspawn mage and a Lore Master, in addition to 7 Crossbowmen, 9 Heavy Infantries and 1 Archer.

A lab will be build in Gol Phalas in order to transfer the blood slaves from Gol Phalas and Dunheim faster to one of my labs.


To be continued...

CharonJr

Map: http://homes.highspeed3.de/CharonJr/R'lyehAART32.JPG

[ February 24, 2004, 19:38: Message edited by: CharonJr ]

[CharonJr]

Turn 33

Blood magic is up to level 4 and I will continue to split the RPs between blood magic and construction

3 blood slaves were captured in Gol Ryepe.

Chilad had been conquered without any problems (10 knights and 10 militias) and my troops were able to enslave 5 knights.

Iron Range was defended by roughly 10 Jotuns and 10 Flagellants. In the end 2 Jotuns were enslaved with my forces losing just 1 Centaur (due to me making a mistake – I forgot the set my Centaurs to hold/attack and they charged on the first turn).

Yldmyre was defended by 15 Jotuns and militias who were easily defeated without losing a single man. Suddenly Pythium attacked Yldmyre with just their prophet (an Emerald Lord), a High Priest and another Emerald Lord. There was no real combat, but my forces managed to enslave the 2 Emerald Lords (sadly the prophet is only holy3 ).

Glisas faced about 15 light infantires, 10 heavy infantries and 5 crossbowmen who were easily dispatched.

Solam was defended by 5 Jotuns and 5 archers who were easily dispatched by my forces.

My forces in Yldmyre are starting to starve and will be moved this turn.


Provinces: 36
Treasury: 1.223
Income: 1.867
Upkeep: 966
RP: 350
Fortification: 5
Temple: 10

Conjuration – 7
Alteration – 6
Evocation – 6
Construction – 6 (researching)
Enchantment – 7
Thaumaturgy – 6
Blood Magic – 4 (researching, will reach 5)

Fire gems: 16 (+5)
Air: 0 (+2)
Water gems: 2 (+8)
Earth: 11 (+1)
Astral gems: 0 (+10/+10)
Death: 39 (+7)
Nature: 25 (+11)
Blood: 43


Updated province information:

Due to the map (and time constraints ) I will skip this section and just make some general comments here.

I can see 2 provinces of Pythium to the east now making it very likely that the still missing Arcoscephale is located in the northeastern corner of the map.

Marignon has massed about 80 troops in Great Aran Waste further adding to my worries. They seem to be boxed in the the southeastern corner of the map, making it VERY likely that they will attack me further strengthening my resolve to attack them next.

Atlantis took the indie province of Devourer with 60-70 troopers commanded by a Wyrm (likely the Atlantis pretender) and keeps on reducing my sea buffer provinces.

For some reason the 170 Ulmish troops have vanished out of my view, with a bit of luck they are fighting somebody.

There is an army of 40 Jotuns in the province of Stone Heavens which might try to break the siege of Jounheim.


My Provinces:

Due to the info about my provinces getting longer and longer I will skip this one, too.

Mainly I reduce taxes by 10% for each 5 points of unrest/raise them again when is unrest is going down.


I got a 1W, 3S, 2N mage who will cast Acashic Record on Feldan Forest and a 2A, 1W, 1E Lore Master who will be empowered to 3A by transforming some death gems.

The Treelord Staff and Ivy Crown are given to the 2N Lore Master who will summon Vine Ogres in Kolermegor.

The Sceptre of Authority, Water Bracelet and Starshine Skullcap are given to a 1A, 2W, 3S mage who will lead some troops to Aran Plain on the next turn.

The Clam of Pearl was given to another Star Child and another Clam will be forged this turn.


My 2 armies from Solam will move to Glade Woods which is defended by 10 Jotun Militias and a Great Hag.

The army from Black Forest will move to Birman Highs in preparation for the attack/defense against Marignon.

The mage and his troops in Yldmyre will attack the indie province of Old Forest which is defended by 10 knights and militias which the priest and his fodder will move to Iron Range.

The 2 mage lead armies will attack the 8 Jotuns in Temiglia.

My 3 fodder armies will move from Faran to Aenasia and finally reach Jotunheim on the following turn. The 2 mage lead armies from Chilad will move to Aenasia,too. If I knew how many provinces Jotun still holds I might move them to the south, but since I lack this information I decide to play it safe.

The priest with his fodder troops from Chilad will move to Bolfagon to build a temple there later.

Since I can’t be sure if the Jotuns in Stone Heaven will attack Jotunheim or just stay there I have decided to attack myself. Since I don’t want to stop the siege of Jotunheim the only forces I can bring to bear is my mage in Jotunheim with his 8 summons, 3 Centaurs Cataphracts and 5 Sea Trolls I have exchanged for 5 enslaved fodder troops which are more useful at the siege. As additional firepower I will send Glisas there, too.

I will buy 1 more starspawn mage and a Lore Master, in addition to 8 Illithids, 1 commander, 4 crossbowmen, 10 heavy infantry and 5 archers this turn.


To be continued...

CharonJr

Map: http://homes.highspeed3.de/CharonJr/R'lyehAART33.JPG

[CharonJr]

Turn 34

Blood magic is up to level 5 and I will continue to split the RPs between blood magic and construction

3 blood slaves were captured in Gol Ryepe and 5 in Gol Phalas.

2 magic sites have been found in Feldan Forest by Acashic Record, a Ancient Temple (1S) and a Boiling Bog (1F, 1W).

A thief in R’lyeh has stolen man of my gems, apparently the special events happen before items are forged since I have been unable to forge the Clam of Pearl.

Marignon declared war this turn, some turns too early for my taste, but I should be able to find the Marignon captial fairly fast and hope to be able to stop their incursions into my territory in by laying siege to it. Marignon took my fairly undefended province of Oune with 4 commanders (2 friars, 1 Knight of the Chalice and a Knight of the Chalice prophet) who lead 10 Crossbowmen, 10 Men at Arms, 10 piketeers and 5 Flagellants.

Pythium attack Jotunheim in Glade Woods with about 30 Velites, 5 Alae Legionnairs, a serpent Cataphract and 5 Barbarians who were lead by a Hydra Hatchling and 2 Centurions. Jotun fielded 10 Jotun Militias, 10 militias, 5 archers, 1 Principe, 1 Standard, 1 Jotun Herse, 1 Jotun Herse prophet and a Great Hag. The Hydra poisoned many of its own troops and was fairly fast dispatched by the Jotun Militias. About 3 turns later both sides began to route. Roughly 15 Velites still pressed on while the Hag and some bodyguards stood their ground. About 3 turns later the remaining Jotun forces routed.

My invading army in Glade Woods only faced the remaining Pythium forces of roughly 15 Velites, 2 Centurions, the Snake Cataphract and an Emerald Guard, a Standard, a Principe and a Barbarian. Due to the enslaves and burns my core troops never reached close combat before the Pythium forces routed. In the end my forces enslaved the Snake Cataphract, the Emerald Guard and the Standard.

My troops in Old Forest faced 5 knights and 10 militias and beat them easily, enslaving 5 knights.

Temiglia was defended by only PDs and taken without a problem. Right after this Man attacked with 50 troops, about 15 slingers and longbowmen, 30 militias and spearmen and some knights. 2 knights were enslaved very soon and charged the enemy ranks. The spearmen and militias routed after my Centaurs joined the fight who quickly killed the slingers and broke the longbowmen right after this. 2 Knights and 2 longbowmen were enslaved.

Jotun fielded 3 Nifel Giants in addition to 20 Jotun Huskarls, Hurlers and Militias in addition to 8 slingers in Stone Heavens. The Nifel Giants made it to my main forces while Glisas jumped into the Jotuns. The Giants managed to route my 3 Centaur Cataphracts and the Sea Trolls, but were killed soon after this. This broke the Jotun forces and they fled. 2 Troglodytes attacked after this fight, but were easily enslaved in addition to 1 Herse from the previous fight.

I completly forgot that I hired 20 mercs Last turn in order to help with the siege of Jotunheim and with the help of the mercs the doors were breached. The mercs will be used as fodder on the charge which will follow.

The troops in Glade Woods and Temiglia are starving and will be moved this turn.

Provinces: 41
Treasury: 852
Income: 1.929
Upkeep: 1.088
RP: 343
Fortification: 5
Temple: 10

Conjuration – 7
Alteration – 6
Evocation – 6
Construction – 6 (researching, will reach 7)
Enchantment – 7
Thaumaturgy – 6
Blood Magic – 5 (researching, will reach 6)

Fire gems: 6 (+6)
Air: 4 (+4)
Water gems: 4 (+9)
Earth: 2 (+2)
Astral gems: 6 (+12/+10)
Death: 37 (+7)
Nature: 29 (+11)
Blood: 48


Updated province information:

I can see the Altantean capital now in the easternmost sea province in the north in addition the the Pythium capital on the middle of my eastern border.

Most of the Ulm forces in Monherboa are back (120 troops including the Moloch). Well, we will see if I can get around this fight again.

Atlantis moved its troops to Endless Ocean which raises my hopes that it will continue to go after the indies.

The indie province of Illidar is defended by 20 Vine Man.

My Provinces:

Due to the info about my provinces getting longer and longer I will skip this one, too.

Mainly I reduce taxes by 10% for each 5 points of unrest/raise them again when unrest is going down.


I got a 1W, 2E, 3S mage who will become my earth forger and will move to Tiash and a 2S, 2D Lore Master who will become my death forger and will be moved to Tiash, too. But since he can’t cross the sea I will first have to forge a Ring of Water Breathing for 4W which will be used to move all other potential Lore Master forgers to Tiash, too.

More Vine Ogres will be summoned in Kolermegor since I lack the nature gems to cast Gift of Health and I need the troops anyway.

I will try to forge another Clam of Pearl for 8W.


My equiped mage will move with 3 Greater Otherness and 8 Illithids to Aran Plains in order to protect the province and maybe even catch the Marignon forces trying to move there.

The army in Birman Highs will stay there in order to defend the province if Marignon should choose to attack.

The 2 mage lead armies from Glade Woods are moving to Wicker Woods which is defended by 7 halberdiers and I am fairly certain that I will attack the Marignon capital from this province in the following turn.

Solian is defended by 20 Jotuns and will be attacked by my mage lead army from Stone Heavens. I would love to support this attack with Glisas, but it will be better used in an attack on the Marignon province of Rame which is defended by 5 piketeers.

Gipha is defended by 10 Jotun Hurlers and I will attack with my 2 commanders leading the slow troops (including 15 Illithis Soldiers) while the 2 faster mage lead armies will go to defend Old Aran.

Due to the lower supply usage I exchange the armies from Iron Range and Temiglia since I want to have some troops in place if Pythium should decide to join the war. For the same reason my army in Old Forest will stay were it is, especially since it directly borders on the Pythium capital.

The mercs in Jotunheim are set to attack closest and are put in the front row for the attack on the castle while the Sea Trolls are standing right behind them with orders to attack closest, too.

The Marignon army in Oune consists of about 60 Men at Arms, Piketeers, Crossbowmen and Swordsmen. I am afraid that none of my provinces would be able to stop a concentrated attack of these forces. I will raise the PD in Aran Plain and Old Aran by 11, while Birman Highs will be raised by 23 due to having the weakest forces.


In order to field 2 more 4S mages I will forge 2 Starshine Skullcaps for 8S each.

I will buy 1 more starspawn mage and a Lore Master. Due to the PDs I lack the money for anything else.


To be continued...

CharonJr

Map: http://homes.highspeed3.de/CharonJr/R'lyehAART34.JPG

[ February 26, 2004, 07:28: Message edited by: CharonJr ]