The Asian Dynasties

RL's not great of late and I have a bad habit of losing form in everything when I go into a bad state of mind. So, I decided, throw caution to the wind and go for it.
(Didn't really work, cowardice set in minutes later and I was shaking in mid-match )
Anyway, I used my new standard Aztec tactic set, thanks to DJ Kaiser for making me realise cavs != replacement for pikes and Kiljardi for re-pointing out attack move after I've neglected it for a couple of years. Now my forces can clip people and get kills.

I wasn't the greatest, and made a few questionable moves in favour of excess aggression but I think it's not been a bad match!
Absolute all feedback requested. Nay, demanded.
*prepares for the debate*

Looks 2 me that u didn't do much wrong... But might be because ur opennent wasn't realy pressuring u or anything...

Well played by you. Not that good by iwa

The priests were a bit late in favour of a bigger raiding force, and I did fight to the death just to kill a couple more vills. I was surprised at the lack of early pressure...I even went looking but he was still at home.
Anyhow, it's the early BO that worries me. Maybe it's because I've been on BBR so long but it just doesn't seem....strong enough. It's probably fine, but I'm sure other civs could out do it comfortably.

Well played Cerby Well, here's my thoughts about the game:
Cerbykins have a nice intersting rush cos he doesnt cripple his eco for a hard pushing strike, instead he switches to villies/priests card after the second mace card or the coyote one if i'm not mistaken. That strat is quite familiar with me because its the very same move you do against my japan and my china Tough there are some points in which I disagree with you, cerby:
- You made almost the same coyote numbers you use to do vs my chinese. I dont recommend it against japan since japan can pwn coyotes pretty easy with ashis and even samurai (I had a Japan vs Aztec matchup in which an unexpected samurai army obliterated his coyotes and pumas and the maces could do little under only 7 naginata biting them). Only do that many coyotes if he's going for yumi spam. Try to overwhelm him with maces and pumas to siege down his consulate and make him despair.
- in the end of the game, you did what you use to tell me you need to stop doing, lol: fighting to the last man. You destroyed his army and it was almost a gg, but you insisted to fight under his TC fire then iwa could survive with a tiny army of yumis and yamabushi. Luckily for you cerby, you were already producing more troops and some maces were on the way. Again, avoid fighting to the last man, especially vs japan, in which you can be thinking they're under control with your coyotes and maces and then, suddenly, 10 naginata jump out of the stable, occurring a total lameness.
For the most of the game you did a nice work, cerby, nice map control and, as you always do, refined use of the firepit, I have to admit your ability with the pit is almost an art to my eyes lol. For the japanese player...boy, go for naginata earlier!
Wubbed

I know I shouldn't fight to the death, but on the other hand he leaves vills begging and I know having killed his army that if I take them, his damaged econ will also probably lead to a gg. I don't know the numbers behind it though, it may be very bad judgement on my part. The coyotes...yes Japan can beat em but I'm also using them as my anti-cav much of the time and worst case I can run from the Ashi's and Samurai if I have to. If there's nothing to punch out...it's villager murdering time. Perhaps I do take this vill killing a bit far.

But your point about Bushido is good, I never even considered his force might just be a queue away.

All right i'm reviewing this one.

Excellent stuff, was starting to think you'd given up on reviewing. Good that you haven't.

It didn't look like you were nervous, Cerby. On the other hand, if only I could face Japanese players who didn't push ashis down my throat like this one! You did a great job taking map control and putting on enough pressure to prevent him from being aggressive. That is exactly what you need to do with Japan.

I agree that it's not worth sacrificing your whole army within TC range. True, there was no way he was coming back from that battle, but you could have polished him off a lot earlier if you kept some troops intact.

I know you love coyotes, but I agree with DJ Kaiser that it's not the best idea to rely on them for anti-cav when the Jappos can dump 5-10 nagis on your head in 1 second or less. They are considered light infantry, which means nagis do the juicy 45 damage against them. Still, I understand what you are doing... many times massed coyotes beat my uhlans in colonial. After all, they are so much cheaper than horses and they pack a very decent 18 attack.

Ill try and be done by the weekend

The rec doesn't show the reality of what's going through the player's mind.
Didn't know about the nags and coyotes...will have to look into it to confirm or deny for sure. (2 sets of eyes always > 1, something I usually do for others too )

Edit: I watched again close up. The Nags had 30 damage to give, and the coyote took 31 - but asides that, no obvious sign of any bonus. The reason seems to be that coyotes are classed "hand infantry" and "light infantry" but NOT "infantry" which is where the bonus comes in. Normally it would be a moot point (infantry should obviously carry an infantry tag ) but it's a wierd fake cav and it might have been a bit dodgy, and it was.
Cav vs cav still not a good idea though...at least, not if it can be helped.

Best of luck Clammy, give it your best and don't give Matt any room to doubt your skill.