Groundhog Day Mk. VII - Round 5

Guess what: it's Groundhog Day again! In the previous round, Great Qing finally snagged that outright victory that was so cruelly withheld in round 3, rising to first place with 1.5 points. It's been a while since a civ developed a lead this early—but can Cixi hold it? Let's find out!

The second cities are settled, and it seems some people have chosen new locations. The Faroe islands have reverted to a spot they chose in one or two early rounds, while the Mughals have decided to settle on the coast in between Torshavn and Peking. Samoa, meanwhile, hasn't settled yet at all.

The first war breaks out—it's South Korea vs. Algeria! Although their units somewhat difficult to tell apart, it doesn't look like either side has an army large enough to conquer the other.

Looks like that Mughal settlement really wasn't a great idea! Cixi declares war on Akbar and marches a huge army toward Gaur.

But as Great Qing bombards Agra, Calusa joins the war! Now it's a race to see who will capture the first capital.

Calusa also teams up with South Korea against the Faroe Islands, despite the mountain range blocking any conceivable path of attack.

Ethiopia attacks Liège! Érard de la Marck has an army an order of magnitude smaller than Amda Seyon's, so he may be in serious trouble.

Cixi snags Gaur, which was almost undefended, but Agra still stands...

Oh wait, no it doesn't. Calusa rolls into the city, eliminating Akbar of the Mughals in 21st place.

Ethiopia captures Liège! Érard's army has been utterly destroyed and there's no hope of recovery.

Cixi, robbed of Agra, decides to try for Torshavn instead. In the background, South Korea and Algeria decide to fight again.

Sure enough, Torshavn falls. As usual, Cixi is performing very well right off the bat.

Park Chung-hee gives away Busan and its associated canal to Algeria. Brilliant. In the background, the Coast Salish attack the kalinago, but without a view of the battlefield it's hard to know what might happen.

Suddenly, Calusa attacks Great Qing! Is Caalus the hero we need to stop Cixi from racking up another victory point?

He is! Anqing has fallen—can Calusa push on to Peking?

Kairouane gives away Wai'tukubuli in a peace treaty with Seattle. What was he thinking? We may never know...

Anyway, it's time for the turn 100 stats. The Salish actually have a narrow lead in soldiers, with Algeria and Denmark neck-in-neck for second.

There's no clear leader in technologies either.

And the Salish have a surprisingly large lead in production, which I guess explains how they have such a large army.

Alright, back to... wait what? Yes, Great Qing has made peace with Calusa and given away Torshavn. But... remember that Calusa is still at war with the Faroe Islands?

Yep, Tróndur í Gøtu has recovered his capital, and there's not a damn thing Caalus can do about it.

Five turns later, however, the Faroe Islands make peace with Calusa and give away Klaksvik. Wouldn't it be funny if they just keep switching between these two cities?

Algeria attacks South Korea another time, and this time Hejaz joins the fight. But Seoul is a notoriously hard nut to crack—is Abdelkader strong enough to pull it off?

Ethiopia decides it's time to finish off Liège. I agree with this sentiment.

And just like that, Amda Seyon captures Tongeren, eliminating Érard de la Marck of Liège in 20th place.

As a bloody battle rages between Tuscany and Hejaz, Gudit declares war on Lorenzo de Medici. In the background, Calusa attacks the Faroe Islands again, along with Montenegro.

France builds the Great Wall, ensuring that no one relevant can use it to win.

And would you look at that! Algeria has captured Seoul, eliminating Park Chung-hee of South Korea in 19th place.

The Salish team up with Algeria to attack the Kalinago again! Seattle has already unlocked his pikeman replacement, which could do serious damage to the weaker Kalinago units.

Meanwhile, the Cherokee give away Tahlequah to Victoria, who razes the city.

Sure enough, Seattle's stronk pikemen make short work of Camerhogne. Kairouane of the Kalinago is eliminated in 18th place.

Fascinating—the Faroe islands have managed to recapture Klaksvik! However, Calusan units are poised to recapture it on the next turn.

BUT NO! Tróndur í Gøtu strategically gives away the city to Montenegro in a peace treaty, ensuring that Calusa can no loner reach his lands!

I missed when this happened, but Semien gave Wolleka to Tuscany in a peace treaty some turns ago.

And just like that, Lorenzo attacks Gudit again...

Meanwhile, the Coast Salish and Great Qing team up against the Calusa! Caalus has a formidable empire, but can he hold the line?

Perhaps not, as Algeria joins the war!

The first city to fall is Mayaimi, captured by the Coast Salish.

But before going any farther, we have the turn 200 stats! Seattle still has the largest army by a decent margin, with Amde Seyon of Ethiopia in second.

The Salish have also developed a lead in science, with four techs over the second place Great Britain and Calusa.

And they still have the most production too, with their opponents the Calusa in second.

Finally, some action in this corner of the world! The Ilkhanate has declared war on Bosnia, and Vhrbosna is already taking damage!

Great Qing also makes gains against the Calusa, recapturing Anqing!

And the Ilkhanate absorbs Vhrbosna like some kind of horrifying Amoeba. No nearby Bosnian units can be seen.

Suddenly, Great Qing snipes Escampaha right out front under Seattle's nose! If I were him, I'd just declare war on Cixi here and now.

The Algeria snipes Muspa! Is Seattle going to walk away with anything besides Mayaimi?

Okay, at least the Calusa flip Muspa back and the Salish catch it on the rebound.

And then Algeria takes Agra, eliminating Caalus of the Calusa in 17th place. That was a shockingly quick rise and fall!

But the world doesn't stop for the death of civilization, and so Samoa and Great Britain team up on the Ilkhanate.

I wasn't looking, but apparently Semien managed to recapture Wolleka during their still-ongoing war with Tuscany.

But then Denmark descends from above with ships and berserkers to pillage the shit out of Semien!

Sure enough, Harald Bluetooth easily takes Wolleka for himself.

Maragha flips to Victoria and back to Ghazan, who fails to recognize the city and accidentally pillages it. (EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.)

And now it's back in British hands again.

But the loss of his capital won't stop Ghazan from capturing Pago Pago, Samoa's second city.

But then he loses Vhrbosna to Great Britain and Salamasina retakes Pago Pago.

Ethiopia and the Coast Salish attack Algeria! This is already Abdelkader's best performance by far, but is this the beginning of the end for him already?

Great Qing joins in, because Agra is looking like it'll be ripe for the picking.

And just like that, Cixi takes the city. I have to say, Great Qing has been undergoing a remarkable comeback so far.

And then Algria gives Seoul to Cixi in the peace treaty. FUCKING OUCH.

And Ethiopia takes the Busan canal, but that looks like the end of the line for Amda Seyon's Algerian campaign.

Turn 300 is here! And guess what: Great Qing has overtaken the Salish in soldiers!

However, Seattle has expanded his tech lead from four techs to five.

And he still holds his large tech lead, with 60 more hammers than Great Qing.

Montenegro attacks the Faroe Islands! This is your chance, Tróndur: TAKE BACK WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY YOURS!

Oh shit, what's this? Yes, that's Ethiopia attacking Denmark, not the other way around! Great Wing joins in too, because why the fuck not. LET THE BLOODBATH BEGIN!

After an 11-turn grind, Ethiopia finally crosses the Danish Channel and captures Kaupang! With a foothold on the Danish mainland, will more conquests follow?

Oh, would you look at that. Yep, the Faroe Islands have retaken Klaksvik from Montenegro.

Yep, Ethiopia is not slowing down! Amda Seyon has captured Ribe, while Great Qing launches a naval attack against Aarhus.

Cixi captures Aarhus as Copenhagen starts taking damage!

Farther south, Semien turns the tables and attacks Denmark, seeking to retake Wolleka before Cixi can snag the city.

Denmark retakes Aarhus, and this time it flips to Ethiopia. Great Qing might not be getting any overseas conquests after all.

Gudit retakes Wolleka yet again; only Copenhagen remains...

And Ethiopia takes Copenhagen, eliminating Harald Bluetooth of Denmark in 16th place! This is Denmark's worst performance by far and the only time they've been eliminated before the endgame.

Great Qing and Tuscany team up against Hejaz! In the background, you can see that Cixi is trying again to kill Algeria.

Oh hey, it's working. Great Qing has captured Oran; will Cixi go for the kill?

Meanwhile, Great Britain takes Bobovac with a naval attack, eliminating Tvrtko I of Bosnia in 15th place.

Tuscany takes Mecca, but their hold on the city is anything but secure.

Moments after losing hold on Mecca, Lorenzo de Medici is faced with a declaration of war from Ethiopia!

It's all the distraction Cixi needs to sweep in and take Mecca for herself.

Time for the turn 400 stats (really turn 402 but shhh). Great Qing solidly holds the lead in military now, with the Coast Salish having dropped all the way to third.

Seattle's tech lead hasn't gone anywhere, however. Of course, that means it also hasn't increased at all.

And somehow the Salish still have the lead in production, but Great Qing has almost closed the gap.

Oh hey, this was unexpected. Samoa is harassing France with a naval-only invasion and has actually managed to flip Lyon.

Six turns later, Salamasina manages to grab hold of both Lyon and Paris at the same time, eliminating Napoleon III of France in 14th place. Learn the lesson, folks: the Great Wall is useless against boats.

Cixi strikes against her next target: the Faroe Islands. There's no way Tróndur í Gøtu can survive this one, is there?

For some reason, Algeria attacks the Coast Salish, as though Abdelkader somehow expects to not die by doing so.

Oh, I see, he's got the support of... oh. Two faraway civs and the fucking Ilkhanate. I guess Seattle will soon be eliminating two civs instead of one.

Meanwhile, Ethiopia makes good on its earlier DOW against Tuscany and captures Florence!

Cixi takes Torshavn! It looks like this really is the end for Tróndur í Gøtu, who really should have died ages ago.

Seattle captures Tabriz, eliminating Ghazan of the Ilkhanate in 13th place. But in the background, the Faroe Islands somehow managed to make peace with Great Qing. Tróndur lives on!

And two turns later, Seattle captures Algiers, eliminating Abdelkader of Algeria in 12th place.

Most of the major ongoing wars just concluded, but don't worry, for another has begun—Ethiopia has declared war on Semien!

A few turns later, Montenegro decides to have a go at eliminating Hejaz. By the way—Hussein bin Ali's last city contains Petra.

Ethiopia took Wolleka when I wasn't looking and seems to have secured the city.

And... what? Yes, Tuscany has sniped Medina from Montenegro, eliminating Hussein bin Ali of Hejaz in 11th place.

Five turns later, Ethiopia takes Gondar, eliminating Gudit of Semien in 10th place.

Amda Seyon then turns against Tuscany again, launching a war that is all but guaranteed to end with Lorenzo's elimination.

Pisa falls; only Medina remains...

...And Medina falls, eliminating Lorenzo de Medici of Tuscany in 9th place.

Turn 500 stats are here! Great Qing now has a definitive lead in soldiers, while even Samoa has overtaken former leaders the Coast Salish.

The Salish tech lead has also begun to erode, from five techs down to three.

And Great Qing and Ethiopia have both overtaken the Salish in production by a wide margin. In fact, Cixi only has one more hammer than Amda Seyon, so it's a close race. Part of the reason for this might be that Cixi has planted about a dozen citadels next to Seattle's borders and stolen a nontrivial chunk of territory.

And Cixi seems set to expand her lead even more with a devastating attack on Montenegro!

Indeed, Podgorica falls, and Qing troops are marching on Cetinje...

OH SHIT WHADDUP! SEATTLE HAS AWOKEN! The technologically superior Salish, armed with their freshly unlocked artillery, launch a massive invasion of Great Qing! Podgorica has already fallen! Is the tide finally turning? Are the civs rising up against the civilization that has ground them into the dirt several times in a row?

OH MY GOD! NO FUCKING WAY! Ethiopia joins the war, striking Great Qing with a much less advanced force, but at least Amda Seyon has the spirit and the numbers. Cixi is in major trouble now!

The Coast Salish surge forward, capturing Escampaha! They should have taken this city a long time ago, but Cixi sniped it, so I would say it's back with its rightful owner.

Ethiopia, after throwing enough industrial-era units against a 98-strength city, finally manages to take Mecca. Seoul, which is almost as strong, presents an even more formidable challenge due to its location.

Meanwhile, Seattle is tearing across the wide Qing plains, capturing Agra and moving on Anqing.

Oran falls to the Salish, but Amda Seyon still hasn't put a scratch on Seoul.

Anqing falls, and Peking itself is in Seattle's crosshairs... dear jesus, I never thought I'd see the day!

Ethiopia finally captures Seoul and begins landing units around Torshavn.

Peking has fallen! I don't believe this!

Seattle also takes Gaur as both civs close in on Torshavn...

And the Salish take that as well, eliminating Cixi of Great Qing in 8th place. I haven't spoken those words since round 2.

Fresh off their joint conquest of Great Qing, the Salish and Ethiopia team up again to bring down Montenegro.

Five turns later, the roulette wheel lands on Ethiopia and Amda Seyon gets Cetinje! Petar II of Montenegro is eliminated in 7th place.

Ethiopia then turns on the Cherokee, who are already at war with the Salish.

But it was too little, too late, and Seattle gets the city. John Ross of the Cherokee is eliminated in 6th place.

And here comes our dynamic duo once again, this time to take down Great Britain!

Four turns into the war, Seattle lands a devastating blow by capturing London!

But Victoria responds by capturing Chota, which the Salish had a hard time defending.

Meanwhile, Seattle dominates the international games, which should come as a surprise to no one.

Maragha falls, opening the way for Salish ships to exit the inland sea and attack more British cities.

Ethiopia takes Chota from Victoria, ensuring that the city probably won't return to Salish hands.

But Seattle doesn't care, because he's captured Leeds, and more cities seem sure to follow.

Vhrbosna is captured...

And Birmingham... only Bobovac remains...

As Ethiopia closes in on Bobovac, Salamasina decides to join the fun. She has a pretty decent shot at taking Bobovac as well.

But later that same turn, Seattle turns on Amda Seyon in one of the greatest betrayals in Groundhog Day history! This is simply heartbreaking—our dynamic duo, split by the drums of war!

Seattle starts by taking Chota. Given the tech difference, Amda Seyon doesn't stand much of a chance here.

With Ethiopia distracted, Samoa has no problem taking Bobovac, eliminating Victoria of Great Britain in 5th place.

Seattle continues, to push into Ethiopian territory, taking Cetinje.

Seoul is the next to fall, though I see some flips in its future.

Medina is also captured, but Ethiopia is finally bringing a large (albeit outdated) defensive force to the front lines.

The turn 600 stats reveal that Seattle's military lead is insurmountable.

His tech lead has also grown out to seven techs. And it's Samoa that's in second; he has 16 more than Ethiopia.

And the Salish are the unquestionable leaders in production as well.

Pisa and Busan are captured...

Mecca falls, but Ethiopia retakes Busan...

Florence is captured...

Ethiopia retakes Florence but somehow loses Qeste-nihb.

In the meantime, Seattle makes sure to knock out another international project.

And then he's right back to the war, where he has now recaptured Florence and occupied Gondar.

Tegulet falls! Will Amda Seyon keep fighting, or has he had enough?

He's had enough! He makes peace with the Salish and gives away Addis Ababa, Tongeren, Hareb Gonda, Ribe, and Aarhus.

This of course means the Salish are all but uncontested in the next international project.

Turn 700 arrives, bringing with it one last round of stats. It's no surprise that the Salish have a massive military lead, but Samoa and Ethiopia have built formidable armies of their own.

The Salish have finished the tech tree; the others are a ways off still.

And production, of course, isn't even a contest.

On turn 750, I get tired of waiting and declare world war. The Salish will ultimately win, but Ethiopia and Samoa look like they'll put up a tough fight.

The first city to fall is (unsurprisingly) Klaksvik. Tróndur í Gøtu of the Faroe Islands is eliminated in 4th place.

A massive three-way battle between the remaining civs is erupting around what used to be Denmark, as Ethiopia swarms back through cities they gave away to the Salish and Samoa sends a huge fleet to try to take some of this pie for itself.

Ethiopia begins to make gains against the Salish, capturing Aarhus.

Samoa also lashes out at the giant, taking Vhrbosna.

Ethiopia takes Hareb Gonda, and also recovers its capital, Tegulet, from Salish hands!

Unfortunately, they lose it again later that turn.

Samoa is the next to strike, taking Wolleka and Aarhus!

Samoa also manages to take Spahbahdeed, Seattle's second city. Damn.

On the next turn, Seattle strikes back, capturing Wolleka, Copenhagen, and Liège.

But Ethiopia isn't giving up yet, and so Amda Seyon captures Ribe and retakes Copenhagen and Liège.

Samoa responds by taking Ribe while the Salish retake the two aforementioned capitals.

Ethiopia recaptures Aarhus and Ribe from Samoa, but his resolve is crumbling.

Shire falls, and Samoa retakes Aarhus.

The Salish take Kaupang and Samoa takes Ribe...

On the eastern front, Samoa and the Salish continue to flip Vhrbosna and Spahbahdeed over and over again.

Apia falls! It will flip back, but this is a major blow to Samoa! Seattle has also retaken Vhrbosna and Spahbahdeed.

Meanwhile, Seattle takes Korem and Aarhus, while Ethiopia somehow manages to recapture Ribe.

Ribe then falls to the Salish, and only one city remains...

On the eastern front, Samoa has retaken Apia, Spahbahdeed, and Vhrbosna.

Seattle finally takes Hareb Gonda, eliminating Amda Seyon of Ethiopia in third place.

The fight is now solely between Samoa and the Salish, a battle that the Salish are sure to win. But how long will it take? So far, Seattle has only managed to retake Vhrbosna.

But then he surges forward and takes Spahbahdeed and Pago Pago!

And Samoa strikes back, retaking Spahbahdeed, Pago Pago, and Vhrbosna.

Four more turns, and Seattle has still only retaken Vhrbosna.

Apia flips again, along with Spahbahdeed...

But Salamasina quickly retakes both cities.

This time, Spahbahdeed, Pago Pago, and Lyon all flip...

Apia then follows... I think Samoa has finally run out of steam now.

Vailele falls, but Samoa has retaken Apia...

Then Samoa also retakes Pago Pago, Vailele, and Vhrbosna!

And the Salish recapture Vhrbosna and Vailele...

Paris falls... holy shit, Seattle's army is enormous all of a sudden. Look at all those units!

Apia and Pago Pago fall once more—for good this time.

And it's over. Coming back from behind, Seattle of the Salish has won!

The score now stands as follows:

Great Qing: 1.5
The Mughals: 1
Samoa: 1
The Salish: 1
Denmark: 0.5

Thank you for reading, ad I'll be back with more next weekend!