Well, to start off with, it was nice to see that no one had 5 to start off with. It was certainly an unusual start.

The first couple turns went as expected in the west, but the byzantium NMR gave Persia a huge advantage. I would have, however, postponed a build if I were Persia at this point because there was no need for the extra army. A fleet would have been more prudent.

By the next builds phase, I stole an SC from Rhodes, who I'm sure was in a quite unpleasant mood after the fact. I built fleets to prepare to take over Greece. Byzantium had thankfully come back, but the damage was pretty much already done. Macedonia and I had a stalemate thing going on, which was kind of fun.

The next builds phase gave me a fairly nice expansion. I got another couple fleets on the map, which helped quite a bit. Byzantium was somehow holding persia mostly at bay, but of course it was only a matter of time. Rhodes was even more pissed at me at this point I'm sure.

The rest of the game went pretty much as expected. By the builds phase of 1547, I knew that I had the game in my hands so I just played it for position. Persia and I fiddled around in the eastern seas a little bit but with me having samos, I pretty much always had control. In the west, I finally broke through Macedonia's line (which helped a little bit).

My big problem that didn't change the outcome of the game was my lovely retreat NMR in Spring of 1543, which I want to apologize for. I had too many games going on at that point, and I guess I just forgot about it... It simply elongated the game by like 6 turns....

Good game, though it should have been Persia's.....

I really was not to angry about Athens taking my centers I was already furious for my mistake on bidding for Spartas land. I honestly think if I had of bid correctly persia would have won (no offense athens you played great) because with a more powerful Rhodes and Sparta it would make it harder for Athens to get all the neutral center islands that I should haved bidded on:/

Persia EoG- I think I played a pretty damn good game myself, and(not to make myself sound better than I am or anything) I should have won that game. my only true mistake in that game was the extra army build mentioned in Athens EoG. I thought I would need it more than I did, because I thought Athens would make a play at the mainland. I do not regret attacking Macedonia when I did, even though it did allow Athens to take Pella(Macedonia went suicide on me) because it allowed me some extra gains. the only thing that caused me to lose- Sparta, Rhodes, once it got to the point that Athens was at like, 13/14 centers, did it not cross your minds to stop fighting each other AND him, and work together? I know it was gunboat but you are both smart players and should have known to stop his Solo you would have to stop screwing each other. But anyways, it was a good game and I enjoyed it. Congrats to Athens for the win, although I still think I should've won it(and given 2 more years likely would have)

well personally I would have but I was actually hoping to take more of spartas land then I had (despite my bidding mistake) that way I could hold out athens while Persia took the win. Then i wouldnt have to worry about working with someonw I could not communicate with.

And how did that work out for you ;)
at least I can say that the vast majority of the game(including the winner) think that game should've been mine.

I got a survive XD but other than that bad....

exactly... haha.

gg though guys had fun