Quod facere deinde? - 625 AD to 680 AD

625 AD: What to do next? Caesar asks...The advantage of having a happy Empire is that it allows numerous options. On the continent Russia is by far the more powerful potential adversary while Turkey and the Persian 'colony' in Egypt are mere sideshows. My main concern is that if I go against either of the latter two, Russia will take advantage of the situation and make a move against me in Eurasia.

Another consideration is the Unhappiness hit one takes when annexing captured cities - Moscow and Istanbul are both Capitols and I have the  -11 from Athens fresh in my memory. Thebes however is a captured city and there is also a new Luxury resource there: Cotton = +4 Happiness bonus. The downside is its geographical location....

A third consideration is that I don't necessarily want to be the aggressor - I do have to think of my Approval rating because it affects how much Gold I receive for my exports and I need ready cash for my warchest and unit upgrades.

630 AD: The situation - Russia has 4 combat units, I have 8 plus 3 in reserve. I want to test Catherine's leadership and I have the beginnings of a plan...

Warchest time...

645 AD: Interesting in the pic below is that it tells me Askia of the Songhai is still at war with Ramesses and the Chinese - nice to see him occuppied! In Rome my Monastery has been built and I have decided to build a new Settler. I also have enough cash to upgrade a Horseman to a Knight - 280 Gold pieces!!!

655 AD: My southern front - Sabha has started building a Colosseum - got to keep my subjects happy. I've just noticed that all six of my Ballistas are south of Odessa. The two in Africa can stay put but the others need to be on roads so that they can respond swiftly...

65 AD: Finally, Engineering as arrived - next Tech is Education primally because it leads to Astronomy which allows one to build Caravels - New World here I come...

670 AD: Time to send one of my Trireme south to look for new friends/targets. Hopefully I can renew my export deals with Wu Zetian and Gandhi....

Done!!!

675 AD: You may have noticed that I have been quiet concerning England - there wasn't much to say! I've entered an Open Borders agreement with Elizabeth so I can take a look at what forces she has...Well look at that - I have another Ballista in southern Spain.

680 AD: The Empire and my statistics - impressive as always. Note that Egypt is the worst in almost everything.... Also I am Friendly with 4 nations, including the Ottomans - maybe I don't have to worry about them after all.

My look at England tells me that I have nothing to worry about. Their Navy is no better than mine - strange for a nation that should be following a maritime strategy.

The real news is that my Settler has arrived and is heading eastwards - I wonder why - more in my next post. Ave, Caesar!

Caesar on the Olymp - 565 AD to 625 AD

565 AD: The Aftermath - The operation was a huge success - I only lost 3 units and my Mediterranean strategy is now secure. Neither the Ottomans nor the Persians are a threat anymore.

 There is one down side though....I took a -11 Unhappiness hit - from +5 down to -6! But I have a plan ;-)

My statistics are looking fine - my Approval rating took a hit but I can live with that - after all, this is not a popularity contest....

The usual denouncements - as you can imagine, I am trembling with fear - they are not even worth the bother to counter-denounce...

The situation after pressing NEXT TURN - nobody appears to be making any aggressive moves. Note that the Roman Wall in the Balkans as expanded greatly!!!

570 AD: I've decided to send an expedition to the Middle East in order to reconnoitre the region...the Persians have more forces in Egypt than I could see earlier. I wonder what other surprises are in store. I'm moving my badly battered, but heroic Legion from Turkey and replacing it with a Longswordsman.

575 AD: Palestine is empty - there is room for a city but nobody appears to have built one - or maybe one was razed to the ground. A new Trireme as arrived in Rome - maybe we should explore the Black Sea and also see what is south of Africa...

580 AD: The Ottomans don't seem to have many heavy armed forces - probably due to a lack of Iron ore - a necessary resource for Swordsmen and Catapults - (that's what other mortals call their Legions and Ballistas).

And I wish you a great day, too!!! I may have to take out my continguency plans for 'Lebensraum Ost' again

590 AD: Meanwhile my Legions and a captured Worker are busy connecting Athens to my road network.

 605 AD: So Askia declares war on China - he must be taking some strange medicine! I'm glad to see that the Songhai are leaving me alone.

610 AD: Road and Trade network to Athens has been completed - time to start transferring troops gen Russia. Nothing aggressive but just enough to show that I am not easy prey...

615 AD: Chivalry has arrived - great stuff - my Longswords, Ballistas and Knights are a formidable force!!!

My next Tech? I choose Engineering in order to increase the mobility of my forces - river lines no longer slow down movement with bridges built.

625 AD: I can choose another policy - Organized Religion. Why? Because every Monument, Temple and Monastery I have built adds on +1 Happiness - I told you that I had a plan....

My Happiness Level jumps from -5 to +9!!! Back in business :-)

A half-century and more has passed since the fall of Athens - their Empire has been assimilated and the Gods are happy. Ave, Caesar!!! :-)

The Gods at War: Mars vs Ares (IV) - 560 AD to 565 AD

560 AD: The Greek counter was ineffective - the Phalanx NE of Athens died while attacking my Legion - it only just survived the barrage and assault though. Alexander's remaining Trireme bombarded my Legion on the southern tip of Greece.

Now my turn - Mersa Brega's coastal defence blows away the annoying Greek Trireme.

My Ballista on Crete blasts Athens....

...and it is time to rid the world of the Greek presence in Asia Minor - 1, 2, 3 and you're out!!!

 Now it is Athen's turn to receive my special attention - another barrage...

 ...then two Legions assault...

 ....and a couple of battered Legions get out of the way so that fresh forces can take their place.

565 AD: It's time to finish this! Three barrages...

 then a single assault from relatively fresh Longswordsman is enough!!!

Adieu, Alexander - Rome has triumphed :)

Ave, Caesar!!!

The Gods at War: Mars vs Ares (III) - 555 AD

555 AD: The first thing I must do is neutralize the Greek Navy while at the same time tighten the grip on Athens. The enemy Trireme near Mersa Brega is barraged twice but still hangs on....

...and is still a threat to my embarked Legion. So let's try by removing the Legion itself as a threat. The Ballista on the N. African coast bombards the Phalanx SW of Athens, destroying it and my Legion storms the beach...

The Ballista on Crete aims at the other Greek Trireme and literally blows it out of the water!!!

 Next, another Legion carries out a successful amphibious assault against the Archer W. of Athens.

Now some very good news - my previously thought lost Trireme had in fact sailed into the Bosphorus and I had lost sight of it. It returns to bombard the damaged Phalanx in W. Turkey.

 Now my two Legions next to Athens assault the city suffering acceptable losses - there is a noticeable dent in Athen's defences.

 Now some of my reserves N. of Athens reorganize - a 2nd Ballista can now barrage Athens next turn - turn up the heat, guys :-)

Finally, a Great General was created which I use to start a Golden Age...oh, I almost forgot my N. Sea Trireme which has just arrived in the western Med.

A fairly even turn - I lost a Trireme and a Longswordsman, Alexander lost a Trireme, Phalanx and an Archer - but I have reserves and he doesn't - Ave, Caesar!!!