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It started to heat up on the diplo front, AIs demanding things, asking me for stuff and sending in spies. I even intercepted one from Boudica in a message that I have never seen "We have identified Holy Roman agents who are systematically and actively aggravating the situation in Mutal!". I also checked the game sit-rep (a BUG addition that combines AIs relative strength with their attitude to you to give you a sliding thread index - see pic at right - more details here) that shows that Mansa was in trouble - the little fist is WHEOOH. Sure enough, a few turns later, Boudica sends a stack towards Mansa (Sword, 3 x Axe, 4 x Spear). I send along a spy to watch. War is declared and the first action sees Boudica's stack up against 2 x Axe, Chariot and 2 x Archer behind a 40% defensive city. The result? Mansa loses 2 units while Boudica loses 5. Meanwhile, Alex and Monty's worse enemy has swapped from Mansa to Sitting Bull. So, naturally, Alex sends a stack (3 x sword, 3 x axe) through my lands and towards Sitting Bull. And Monty? He turns up with 3 x Praet, 2 x Axe ... and declares on ME!! Mwah!!! Not to worry because my cities facing Boudica, Alex and Monty were on hills, had 2 x Archers and 2 x Axes. I was pretty save (I think). Sure enought, I was save from Monty. He pulled back and sulked then Monty asked for peace a few turns later. |
My second Great Priest lightbulbed Theology and I completed the AP, then proceeded to lose the election to Boudica - duh. She didn't really use it at all, just kept waring against Mansa. She did manage to take a few of Mansa's cities and he vassaled to her.
Alex got no where with Sitting Bull and Monty got up-itty again ... with me. He had exceeded his free DOWs against me so after he gave me his bank roll for peace, I concentrated on putting together a force to take him out of the game. A few rounds building units (maces, cross bows and cats ... lots of cats) and it was on. Monty folded like the Monty of old - even with his Preats.
Several turns after cleaning up Monty, Louis XIV comes begging to be my vassal. I accept only to find out later that I cannot get rid of the leach. I didn't know I could ask him to research certain techs until I read T-Hawk's report - next time for sure.
So, I have 1 slice of land, a vassal and I have reduced everybody's thread index to Low (the lowest) or Guarded (the second lowest). Things are looking good.