AAR two biologicals vs three silicones

[Doo]

Started this game from a discussion on the Elemental: War of Magic forums.

Its two humans vs three easy AI's, I'm Bandar Log and the other human is Man.

I've played a fair bit of SP and one MP game, the other human has only recently purchased the game and has little experience. I hope we do beat the AI's but its no worry if we don't, its all a learning experience.

Turn 1:


The world as I know it.

I spend two turns recruiting Elephants and making my initial Bandar Commander my prophet:

From this:


To this:



I then start recruiting Guru's to research, with the occasional Rishi. My target is Alteration 3 for the ever popular Body Ethereal



Also at Alteration 3 is Protection, which is a cast on others version of Barkskin.





Its probably no surprise to anyone, I'm going for the transparent trampling elephant hoard. Protection is a bonus buff my Guru's can cast after the trampling has begun.

I spend the next couple of turns stomping indies and recruiting mages to research. In one of my newly conquered provinces I can recruit scouts so each turn I recruit on and send them out to explore the world. I find my fellow human in the forest to the south of my starting position (see the picture below). A good position as we both have one less border to defend.

Turns 8 and 9 bring these events:





Two provinces lost

At turn 10 I have located Machaka to my west:



And on Turn 12 I find the Machaka home castle and some Marignon provinces (not in the pic, they are south of Machaka):



Thats where we are up to now. I will research Alt 3 this turn and have sent 4 Guru's to join my main army. I'm creating a second army in my home castle and am two turns from completing my second castle (on the turn 12 map, to the right of the selected province is an amazon indie province and to the right of that is where my castle will be).

Any discussion, tips or cheering greatly appreciated