shovah (re feeblemind): What's a game without a few bumps along the way?
As an old RPG friend used to say to us when the situation went sour:
"You're heroes. If it was easy,
anybody could do it!"
(It does get worse. Read on...)
TURN 55
On the west continent, I recall my last Demonbred stationed here to my capital. Otherwise, I try to shore up my eroding dominion on this continent as much as possible, but it looks really bad: everywhere, black candles, tall and thick.
Overall, the northeast battles are going well enough, but my southern force, with most of my spellcasters, was hit by the huge undead army, led by the C�tis Pretender. Nasty battle, but eventually the Pretender (the Prince of freaking Death!) got to my command group and slaughtered them all, routing the foot troops, most of whom died in the rout.
I could have had a better tactical setup, but it�s too late now. The C�tis Pretender has a Staff of Storms, which grounded all my flyers. Good thing the Devils weren�t in on this battle, but that staff will greatly reduce the efficiency of my Devils when I do commit them.
C�tis still has 70 troops left here, plus 20 more adjacent to the east bridge fort, plus 70 more coming up from the south. These are the ones I can see. I don�t think that my combined forces on the ground can match his, nor can my afflicted Pretender take on his. Looks like I gambled and lost on this one, but I�ll play a few more turns and see what happens.
On the coast, building enough troops to take even one province is not possible. The war in the east swallows all my resources.
I notice that in two more turns I can have Blood 5. This will let me Send Lesser Horrors at the C�tis forces. I don�t think this will be much, especially against the Pretender, but right now it�s all I can think of.
Scores: For provinces, I lead. The second tier of Man, Pythium, and Ulm have leveled out in a tight group, C�tis is somewhat below them, but this will change radically once C�tis starts taking my provinces.
For income, I lead. Man is next, maybe 80% of my level. At maybe 60% is a tight pack of Ulm, Pythium, and Caelum. C�tis is sixth at about 30%, I hit him hard (*heh-heh*).
(Well, OK, the fact that Ghouls are eating his population is probably more relevant.)
For gem income, I clearly lead. Man is next at 70% of my level; C�tis and Ulm are tied at 50%.
For research, Arco leads, Caelum and Man are a neck-and-neck second at about 70%. I�m next at 45%, Pythium at 40%, C�tis about 25%.
For dominion, Ulm leads and is climbing well. Caelum is about 70% and fading. I�m about 55% and jerky, C�tis is about 45% and dropping, Pythium about 30%, Man 15%.
For armies, C�tis has lost about 5% off its 100% peak. I�m at about 12% total, so I had absolutely no business making this attack.
Oh, what shall I do? Stay tuned...