@ ichi: Thanks. I don’t seem to have much luck with assassins. Besides, it’s much more fun charging into the valley of death with my valiant 600.

@ tokai: No, second in line is not that bad, but I wanted to build a strong and stable empire and decided to take no chances. As it turned out, I took fewer chances than I thought. ;) And my war itch was flaring up, so I felt compelled to scratch it.

Unfortunately, I built too strong of an empire and became bored with the game. But not until many years later. My toe-headed prince (no, not tow-headed) eventually took a couple units of Saracens and one unit of DAs, and marched into the sunset. Besides a sunburned toe bordering on 3rd degree burns, he knocked the stuffing out of the Elmos ( Get it?). He had to stop in Algeria, though, because he stumped his toe on Spanish skirmishers near the Moroccan border. No wonder Elmo didn’t put up much of a fight.

Alas, he ultimately shared the fate of every great warrior and faded away into legend. The Elmo campaign was to be his last. Farewell, my prince, and may your forehead never suffer from athlete’s foot.