Well Machaka has a LOT of crappy troops. Tribal archers and the like. All my guys are top Arco troops and independents - Hypaspists, Hoplites, Heavy Infantries, Knights (!), Heavy Cavs. I also have huge numbers of archers, targeted properly. Lots of those guys have 3 stars too! Not to mention two castings of Troll King's Court. Capable Blade Wind casters (the 4E Troll Kings (w/boots of Earth + reinvig. items)) plus heavily armed and armored (and regenerating) trolls versus lots of very lightly armored Machakan troops. Um, IT'S GONNA GET UGLY!!!

Machaka is already taking grievous losses trying to lift the seige of Abysia's capital - I watched another battle there last turn. They do have a lot of spider guys but they aren't very effective by themselves as they mostly seem to like to shoot their webs, but then there's no other troops around to attack the webbed enemies.

Here's the current map: Click here to view the current game situation. The red circle is Abysia's capital which is being seiged by Pythium. That's the province that Machaka has attacked and been bleeding itself on for the last two turns.

Meanwhile the three provinces circled in green are where we initiated or will initiate attacks on Machaka. Basically Machaka is in a WORLD OF HURT! They still have the *largest* armies but filled with crappy troops. If they'd research 'Flaming Arrows' we'd have something to worry about but I haven't seen them cast it thus far.

Also of note on the map: Ermor (purple circle) and R'lyeh (blue circle) are at war, and we now border R'lyeh's capital province (the two blue dots on the right are the same province).

Ultimately this game is winding down a bit in excitement as the AI's aren't presenting much in the way of challenge. I'll try to finish it though for sake of completeness (plus some fun battles are ahead) - 4 more capitals to capture for the victory.

Have any comments or questions? Love to hear from you!