Abysia CB 5.0 AAR

[RedRover]

TURNS 113-115

By this time, the turns are taking about 45 minutes to an hour or more each, and I keep losing track of where I am. (I’m not even sure without checking this record exactly which AI positions I’m currently at war with!) I’m starting to suffer from severe burnout on this game, just a time when I have to rally back and keep fighting.

The huge number of Man troops is daunting. I really think the only thing that can save me now is if all those Man troops are actually starving and becoming diseased; otherwise, this is likely to end badly.

If I thought the AI didn’t need supplies, I’d just call it here. Last turn, I could see 1,900 Man troops (combined intelligence reports) before my scouts started dying. Not many of them left now. For me, a west continent army of 60-70 is about as big as it gets. (But reading in the Forum about the AI’s problem with supplies keeps me slogging on.)

I crank research and start building troops as fast as I can. I summon Fire Snakes in the west continent forts. My best play is quality against quantity, I think. I’ll give up non-fort provinces here to concentrate on surviving the sieges to come. It’s going to get ugly, but I think I can prevail as long as I can keep him off the east continent.

I’m scrambling for Greater Horrors, the Haunted Forest Global, the Earth Attack ritual; anything to slow up and cripple the armies of Man. One Couatl has been sniping with Mind Hunt for the last few turns. Four kills, but no visible effect on the advance of Man.

I manage to pump out the Ghost Armada, but it hits Ulm (lowest numbered enemy coastal province—not sure if it’s a pattern or just abominable luck). The Armada is wiped out in its first attack. Crud. I won’t be doing that again. Sea Trolls are much more cost effective for me now. I commit my buffed shapeshifter to the water campaign after giving him a Ring of Water Walking.

I have three Demonbreds and an Arch Devil summoning devils now. I have to keep a wary eye on my Blood Slave level. I wouldn't want to gain the ability to Send Greater Horrors and then not have enough Blood Slaves to actually use them. Arch Devils are hideously expensive for me, but I try to summon one whenever I can get enough Slaves accumulated--a slow process. I have two majorly buffed Arch Devil commanders now, plus one summoning devils, plus one researching and producing Fire gems. Although I have been using Apprentices for blood hunting, I have discovered that the Demonbred are somewhat more efficient, so I have been building Demonbred hunters rather than more Apprentices.


TURNS 116-120
Man’s large armies break up to take provinces. Great news! I hit the smaller forces in a series of sharp counterattacks. I have invaded his east coast from the sea, found big armies, and am marching south along his east coast away from them, burning Temples. I crush Man’s counter-invasion of the sea south of the west continent, and I mass amphibious forces to begin seriously raiding this coast. However, I’ve lost both my Sea Troll Kings and my shapeshifter with the Ring of Water Walking.

I have met Sir Perceville in the employ of Man and killed him—I got his cursed armor back, a Priest got to it. (The Manticore gave Perceville the artifact armor as a gift when he was bought...er, loyal. The Manticore is foolishly generous at times, but I try to ignore it as long as it doesn't interfere with the game too much.)

I don’t want to think about all the magic Man has taken off my dead Leaders the last few turns--it's just too depressing. Next turn, Man hires the Couatl mercenary away from me. I now have a single merc, Mamor the White Wizard, who is tucked away in a forest lab somewhere north of the C'tis capital.

To the far west, a large force of Caelum aquatics has appeared in an ocean province—I ignore them. Ulm is quiet—or maybe he is still crushing Pythium—my scouts on the south continent are dead again.

I equipped my chief assassin with Armor of Virtue (I really lose it about 3 AM). He attacked an Avalon Warden and, well, it’s a long walk back to the front from the capital…

Other than that, we seesaw. Man is in the oceans, I’m on his coast. Vice versa and back again. He is deep-probing me with Blackhawks and Impress Soul spells, I am buying back the Couatl merc turn 120. I get to Blood 8 and Greater Horrors, so Man may be in trouble.

Scores (turn 120):
For provinces, I dominate; Ulm 50%; Man 40%; Pythium and Caelum at 5%.

For income, I lead, Man 65%; Ulm about 50%; Caelum 7%, Pythium 0%.

For gem income, I dominate; Ulm at 40%; Man at 30%; Caelum about 3%; Pythium 0%.

For research, Man leads; I'm next at 75%; Pythium 20%; Ulm 15%.

For dominion, I lead; Ulm about 90%; Man 12%; Caelum 10%; Pythium 1%.

For armies, Man leads; Ulm 90%; I’m 70%; Caelum 15%; Pythium 1%.

I was thinking of knocking on Caelum’s door, but looks like I’m going have a big pain in the south in 2-3 turns. I will try to hold off Ulm and take out Man fast if it happens. Now that I have Blood 8 and Greater Horrors, I am going to burn my way up the Alteration track to Level 8 and Crumble.

Treasury (turn 120): 1,217; gems 37F/8A/16W/18E/21S/22D/26N + 61B this turn. Schools: Conj 8, Alt 1, Evo 8, Cons 8, Ench 8, Thaum 7, Blo 8.

I will prevail!