We are now researching Steel (2 turns), which should give us cannons (nice!) and potentially Ironclads in future with Steam Power! If we can get them before Omega get Destroyers , then we should be able to clear our own coast. In other research news the Vikings have completed Rifling, but rate it higher than everything we've currently got (Music+Nationalism). We should be able to give them Steel for it in 2 turns though. Then save up for a mass Cavalry/Cannon/Rifleman upgrade.

The big domestic news is...

Bismarckia builds the Sistine Chapel. Also Artypolis completed the Heroic Epic on the same turn.

Some bad news is that we got absolutely mauled on the high seas - north, east and west! We attacked with good numbers, but lost battle after battle on the dice roll. We had good odds going into some of the battles but lost with little damage inflicted... never enjoyable!! The final count was about 6-2 to them (5-1 after our attack, 1-1 on their counter attack). And so we now have a near total ban on all ships venturing out of port unless they can get back to safety. Tough ask given their +1 movement and our lack of it. Roll on Ironclads!

Also Ragnar attacked one of the Omegan Ships of the Line off our east coast with one of his own this turn... he lost It must have been pretty much a suicide mission as it was one of their 3 star ships and I don't see Ragnar with any drydocks. Bonus XPs for no loss, ah well.

Now I'm definately speculating here but the barb island is starting to look suspicious to me, I don't know how well they're defending it. I hope Omega haven't managed to take it. With every tile a resource, that's the last thing we need.

Still no sign of an invasion force, but given our average 4 tile line of sight off the coast they can land anywhere before we can see them coming. Positioning continent wide, and keeping our larger attacking forces out of cities (which they can to see) but in range of landing sites, should be our top priority in defence.

So NC, or anyone want a piece of this action? ...it's an open floor.

The ability to cause large collateral damage from amphibious cannon attacks gave us no chance. We had a reasonable force, but their ability to defend was gone as soon as the cannons had finished with them. No chance, as we killed all three cannons, but you can't defend against collateral! One turn from Riflemen as well!!! Ragnar's refusal to trade techs with us really hurt us there. We may have held on with a couple Riflemen in there. Ah well.

Ironclads are available in 3 turns so we should have an opportunity to defend our coast at least for a while. If we can't get a hold on the oceans then we can't really do anything at all... unfortunately what is really holding us back is that almost all of our core cities are located inland!! This is extremely limiting, only Palpa and Artypolis had the ability to pump out ships at a reasonable rate...

The good news is I refounded New Demos... but that doesn't sound as good as it did before they burnt our city down!!! Guess we should re-found this one but they'll both take a long time to grow again.

...ouch!!