Jaguar - finished, Szumo declared winner

[Lazy_Perfectionist]

I'm considering saving this turn file, putting it in a password protected zip, uploading it as an attachment, then revealing the password later, so people can watch it directly. It might reveal unfortunate information about my forces, hence the delay. Now if I could mod my turn file to just display the battle, and remove the most sensitive information... While its not the brightest idea to reveal my situation, I'm not to worried about it, given I'm already at war with R'lyeh, and my neighbor Pythium is at war with Man. The informations only really dangerous if the war with R'lyeh continues at a stalemate. If I win, the additional land changes my position greatly, if I lose, well, it goes without saying.

What I could have done differently, part one, untested, speculation. - Getting closer approach
Earthpower-> Attack (once) -> Blade Wind
By scripting Blade Wind first, I hoped to take out your Star Children right away - they are hardly well armored or as damage absorbent as my Oracles. I could have gotten more casts in by earthing first, though I'm surprised I wasn't able to get in all four. I presume that spellcasting encumbrance is taken into account after gem discounts.

I'd rushed the cast in the hope to BW you before you got communions AND ethereal form up, since most earth spells are mundane. But that was a waste as I didn't quite have the range to reach you anyway, and ended up exhausted anyways.

My pretender probably would have survived if I had set her as fire support. 26 paralysis is a bit much for even MR 22 to handle, and gift of heavens would had that much more range deviation to deal with.

I also probably would have seen benefits from Sermon of Courage or Fanaticism. Certainly, enough of my troops ran off, though with the limited review time I didn't figure out why they ran, but was focusing on the star children, then my pretender. I was disappointed to see those 'Legions of Steel cast by the AI... at that point they were a bit late to the game.

[Starshine_Monarch]

Why don't you send it like maybe 5 or 6 turns later? That way it wouldn't matter if we knew where your forces were half a year ago.

[sum1lost]

I must say that man has a whole lot of indy knights raiding his provinces. Scales like that, you don't need legionnaires pouring down from the north.

But, like I said, the nation of pythium is goodhearted.

[Lazy_Perfectionist]

Sure... Sounds good, Starshine Monarch. Anybody else willing to save a turn to share later?

[Lazy_Perfectionist]

You know you've lost a battle when the results read regular units lost , -25.

[sum1lost]

The nation of Atlantis, with its repeated aggressions, has given the nation of pythium reasonable cause to suspect its duplicity.

The nation of atlantis has encroached on pythium territory without sending any clarifying messages. The nation of pythium has further waited to respond to said aggression (as the first attack was of an extremely ambigious nature), even unto sending messages requesting clarification. None has been forthcoming. Instead, the nation of atlantis has continued to attack positions held by pythium. Pythium therefore demands an explanation from the nation of atlantis.

[Lazy_Perfectionist]

Hmm... I've dramatically suicided my troops. I hadn't meant to do that... but there go my oracles. I'm going to stay in the game for now, but I'm eventually going to go AI if I can't figure out a way to retaliate. I think R'lyeh isn't interested in peace, but I did kill two thirds of those 60 commanders.

So, I'm sane now, won't go AI without a specific warning ahead of time, but just letting people know so they can prepare. If I go AI, I'll try to warn you three turns ahead. I'll be focusing on retaliation at the moment, but I'll also consider wrapping up any loose ends of trade and whatnot, and what, if anything, to do with my treasury if my capital is taken.

I would be interested in negotiating peace between Man and Pythium, followed by trying to talk man into striking R'lyeh while his army is still devastated. If I can pull that off, I'm probably not going to go AI.

So, lessons learned...
Planning war against R'lyeh? Prepare for Mind Hunt, and Lead Shield your best or most likely targeted units.

Find a chokepoint, and patrol it with around 80 units- it's a big help on reducing Assassinations.

Oracles do fairly well up near the front of your formation.
With regard to large armies and the spell Blade Wind, 2 oracles are not enough. Four is necessary if you want to use Blade Wind decisively. If you're just using two, while the other two buff, it'll have an impact, but not a decisive one.