About a year ago (has it really been that long??) I participated in this thread: "Beeline the Internet!" (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=154222) The idea is to click Fiber Optics on the tech tree in 4000BC, and make no changes until the Internet is built. Just to see, of course, how many outdated techs you can acquire. It sounded like a great idea, but at the time I wasn't confident enough with my Civ4 skills to try it. But now, since I've (finally) mastered Prince level, and even tried Monarch a few times, it's time to go for it!

So here's the scenario:
Leader: Gandhi (see below)
Difficulty: Prince
Speed: Epic
Map: Standard, Archipelago, Snaky Continents, Low Sea Level (best chance for an "isolated" start)
Victory Conditions: Any
Variant Rules: Cannot research or trade for any technology that is not a direct prerequisite for Fiber Optics. If more than one path is available, the shortest reasonable path must be taken. "Lightbulb" techs are not allowed, if they aren't on the beeline. However, techs popped from "goodie huts" are okay...we can't help it if someone wants to give us something we don't need!! :lol:

The absolute required techs are (as ekanata listed in the above linked thread): Fishing, Sailing, Mysticism, Mining, Masonry, The Wheel, Pottery, Writing, Bronze Working, Iron Working, Mathematics, Monarchy, Feudalism, Calendar, Construction, Currency, Compass, Metal Casting, Machinery, Engineering, Optics, Paper, Guilds, Banking, Gunpowder, Chemistry, Printing Press, Replaceable Parts, Astronomy, Scientific Method, Physics, Steel, Electricity, Radio, and Computers.

From Rep. Parts to Fiber Optics, the shortest path requires Rifling, Artillery, Rocketry, and Satellites. (There are much longer paths, but I won't concern myself with those...if you really wanna know what they are, check the thread above.)

To get to Paper, there are many different paths, the shortest being Polytheism, Monotheism, and Theology. However, it costs only an extra 200 beakers to take Meditation, Priesthood, and Civil Service instead...I think it's a no-brainer, the Med/CS path is a lot more reasonable. So that's the path I choose.

I decided the Leader must start with 2 of the required techs...sorry, no Agriculture allowed! :nono: I chose Gandhi because he's Industrious, and the best strategy (that I could think of) was to get as many early wonders ASAP. Of course, the only Wonders available are Stonehenge, The Oracle, The Pyramids, The Great Lighthouse, The Colossus, The Hanging Gardens, The Hagia Sofia, The Eiffel Tower, Broadway, Rock'n'Roll, and of course The Internet. I plan to try and get all of them. :cooool:

4000BC: We start with...OH MY FREAKING GOD! STONE!!!
http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/6340/algore004000bcstartks8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

No WAY am I passing that up! Time to MOVE THE SETTLER and get it in Delhi's fat cross!
http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/1210/algore013960bcdp7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Research Meditation, discover Buddhism. Scout with a few warriors, and pretty soon realize: (1) I'm all alone on this continent, and (2) it's the South Pole. Very marginal terrain, with tons of resources I can't use -- Deer, Sheep, Corn, and Wheat. (Remember, no Agriculture or Hunting/Animal Husbandry allowed.) I didn't take many screenshots in the beginning, but here's a typical battle with some rabid arctic wolves:
http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/6115/algore023280bcwolfpackng7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Here's a preliminary dotmap from 1575BC (which I hardly followed at all):
http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/4291/algore031575bcdotmaprr7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Unfortunately, I made a BIG mistake, assuming I could "access" the food resources by settling right on top of them, the way you can with minerals. I swear, it worked for me before...or at least I thought it did. For example, Bombay (blue dot) was dropped on sheep, and Madras (yellow dot) originally went on the wheat, and only then did I figure out it wasn't working. In fact, Madras was in such a horrific location, I chose to revert to an earlier save and re-plant it. It still sucks as a location, but what can you do. Here's what my core cities look like (actually taken from later in the game):
http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/1909/algore04a430adcitylayoutvt6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Bombay does get +1 health (3/1/1) for being on grassland sheep, and frankly I don't see any place else it could go...you've got to understand, without the ability to farm or hook up resources, it's a much different ball game. I really had to look hard at how much food was really available on each tile; anything GREEN became premium property! Luckily, I've got tons of coastline, so it can function as a Commerce empire -- which is what's most important, after all. RESEARCH!!!

And besides, Bombay has teeny tiny sheep running around the city streets. You can't see from this picture, but one baby lamb is actually jumping up on the monastery roof over and over again:
http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/2937/algore04bsheepcityvf2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Trust me, it's absolutely precious. :love:

Moses the Great Prophet is born in 120BC, built The Mahabodi. Shortly thereafter, I start noticing parts of the map that weren't visible before:
http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/6417/algore07c270adwashingtongetsbuddistst0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/9927/algore07d590adwashingtongetsbuddistam1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

And just across the channel:
http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/9889/algore07a160adalexacrosschannelai5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Hmm, didn't realize there was any land that close. Luckily, the narrow strait by Corinth is the only way for galleys to cross, so as long as I keep borders closed I can backfill at my own pace. And I'm not concerned about Alexander, we've been neighbors before and he always picks on OTHER people, not me. :cool: Plus, Alex & Washington are my Buddhist buddies now. We're all going to get along like one big happy family.

Seriously, that's what I thought at first.

Seriously.

(to be continued...)

You'll notice on the dotmap that copper showed up in a horrifically distant location. In fact, it wasn't until 240AD that I *finally* managed to get a settler party down there:
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/5601/algore08290adcoppercitygu0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I decided right away to settle ON the copper, since the land is so marginal I probably would never be able to work the mine anyway...and some little voice told me, by the time I got down there, I would need copper hooked up in a VERY bad way. Remember, we've only got Warriors so far...no Archery!!!

And it turns out, as it so often does, that little voice was right. No sooner had I settled on the copper, when.....ALEX INVADES!!!!!!

It was just a Phalanx and a Swordsman, but Madras was guarded by two lonely Warriors, and they stood no chance. Before my newly-upgraded axeman could get there, the city fell:
http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/7852/algore09a390adalexwarmadrasbattlecf3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Luckily, both were tuckered out from the battle. And, Bob The Axeman was pissed. Really pissed. Despite chancy odds, Bob charged up the hill and took the high ground from Alex's injured Combat II swordsman:
http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/2528/algore09b390adalexwarmadrasbattleqw5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Next turn, Bob promoted to City Raider I, and despite his wounds, successfully took the city back from Alex!
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/5360/algore09c390adalexwarmadrasbattledk8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Now.......understand something. I've never, ever been invaded before. That's right, in all my Civilization games, I've never had an enemy strike at my heartland when I wasn't looking. Oh sure, there's been the occasional skirmish in an outlying area when Genghis Khan or Louis XIV gets frisky (and the time I declared war on Asoka w/o realizing he had a Defensive Pact with two other civs...but that doesn't count) but never, ever have I been directly invaded by another civilization. Even when I'm trying to be invaded (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=163905), I can't get invaded! And I've certainly never lost a CITY before, and had to struggle to take it back...

...and as it turned out.......I LIKED IT!!

Come on Alex baby, gimme some more!!! (And something tells me, he will oblidge...)

But first, I needed money. BAD. I've got about 10 warriors to upgrade to axemen (for some reason Spearmen aren't available...as it turns out, they require Hunting. Never knew that!) and dropping research to 0% isn't gonna cut it. So, to fund the war, two Former Warriors strike at a Barbarian city that just happened to pop up in the south:
http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/7149/algore09d390adbarbcitytofundalexwarlb4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Even got a free Worker out of the deal. :cool:

One thing I *did* have was Galleys. In fact, when I paired two Galleys together, Alex seemed awfully reticent to do anything about it. I pushed all the way to his capital and ripped up his fishing nets (a measly 6gp, but every bit helps) and then caught Alex sending his second wave...THREE Galleys this time. My Galley #1 suicided, but #2 was fortunate to send 1/3 of Alex's invasion fleet to the briny deep:
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/6361/algore10b600adgalleybattlehn8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I also took the opportunity to slip another Galley past Alex's borders...after all, he was blocking my expansion, too. :lol: Along the way, another Alex Galley is discovered, and against overwhelming odds, is sunk:
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/9140/algore10c600adgalleybattleeq5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The remaining forces landed, but by then I had enough axemen to fend them off quite handily. Still...this is gonna be a lot more dicier than I thought. Worst of all, Alex will NOT accept peace. Not even a Cease Fire. When I ask what he wants for a Peace Treaty, he wants...Madras. A freakin' city! Didn't sinking half your navy convince you that Gandhi's not to be trifled with??

Anyway, the war dragged on, with little action for many years...until suddenly, I couldn't build axemen anymore!!! Turns out a barb city had sprung up on the coast, cutting off my trade route to the far-flung Copper City:
http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/7181/algore12a750ad2ndbarbcitykw6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Yeesh, didn't expect that. Normally I'd let that city grow, until at least they hook up the corn & sheep for me. But this was an urgent situation. And finally, after almost 300 years, Alex accepts a meager peace settlement -- 20gpt, nothing more. (Yes, I'd researched Currency by now.)

Phew! That was a whole lotta fun. Oh, and my exploring Galley/Warrior discovered three more huts -- one gave money, another hostile warriors, and a third...MONARCHY!! Hey, at least it's on the beeline!

Oh, forgot to mention, I *did* manage to build the following Wonders:
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/6431/algore17awondersbuiltqf1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Not bad, not bad. Sure would have loved the Great Lighthouse too, but missed that one by less than 5 turns. (Probably a good thing...the refund money was VERY desperately needed for axeman upgrades!) Of course, we've only got four cities, none of which are very productive, except Delhi which is doing okay. One BIG problem is going to be health issues...even with an aqueduct and harbor, Delhi's health cap is six!! Luckily, happiness is NOT an issue (yet) -- so the whip has been cracking hard, let me tell you. :lol:

Anyway, there is more, but it will have to wait for tomorrow...I've got The Amazing Race 10 on TiVo to watch right now. I promise, I will actually finish this game, for better or worse. ;)

I'm very interested to see how this turns out. Keep up the good work! :thumbsup:

In 640AD I sprout my 2nd Great Prophet:

http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/5114/algore11640ad2ndgprophetbg3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Unfortunately, all he can teach is Polytheism, a useless (and forbidden!) tech, so he gets added to Delhi as a Super-Specialist. In fact, I've decided to add ALL future GPs to this city...Delhi has already maxed out on production, and the Prophet adds +1 :hammers: and +3 :gold: (as well as +3 beakers with Representation); years later, a Great Engineer gets added to Delhi as well, giving an extra +3 hammers. (All the possible Wonders have been built, at least for a long time to come.) One thing I'm very worried about is the utter lack of production capacity in most of my cities -- research is keeping apace, but once we get to Fiber Optics, we still have to BUILD the damn Internet! And it's a Project, not a Wonder, so it can't be rushed and it doesn't get the Industrious bonus (I think.)

Another handicap will be the lack of National Wonders. Believe it or not, the only one available will be the IRONWORKS. That's it. No Epics, no Globe Theater, no West Point!! And I'm wondering if it's worth building Ironworks at all, due to the +2 health penalty and the lack of COAL to fuel it. But maybe we can trade for coal?

At least we've got iron on this continent...unfortunately, the barbs already claimed it:
http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/1285/algore14ironcityclaimedbybarbsae5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Ugh! ARCHERS ON A HILL! My axeman retreats for reinforcements & I build a few catapults, then dial up Washington to see what he'll trade for Ivory:

http://img387.imageshack.us/img387/4554/algore15a860adtradeforivorydx6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Yikes! Gold + Crab + 5gpt! Still...I take the trade. Alex won't be cooling his heels for long, and axemen won't hold him off forever. Delhi starts cranking out War Elephants!

Several decades pass without incident. By 1100AD, however, I make one of my bigger bonehead moves...you see, that little voice in my head suggested whipping a Settler to save 3 turns, but I decided not to waste the population. Once again, I should pay more attention to the voices in my head...because Washington beat me to Sugar Island by ONE FREAKING TURN:
http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/9069/algore16a1100adsugarislandsnafuhr0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Oh man, what a cherry spot. I didn't even notice the 2 fish squares until now. :wallbash: Washington's already running away with the game (his score is 200 points over Alex, who I'm basically tied with) and this city's gonna be a monster. I'm forced to settle on the lesser part of the island, which at least has a single sugar plot:
http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/8111/algore16b1100adsugarislandsnafuqb1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Heh. Kinda looks like Haiti compared to the Dominican Republic. Those bloody Americans are always stealing from the Indians. Oh wait, that was the British. Never mind...I'll get him back by stealing away all his call centers.

Optics is discovered in 1130AD. I check for tech trades -- Alex doesn't have Alphabet yet, but Washington does, and here's what he's got:
http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/610/stechleadnh9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Not so bad, really...he's got Feudalism (which he won't trade) and Calendar, plus a bunch of cheap, useless techs I won't see for centuries. :lol: I'm up Machinery, and he's willing to trade ALL the non-red techs for it...but adding up the beaker costs, it only comes to 1/4 the value of Machinery. Umm...NOT!! Besides, I'm still relying on Stonehenge for border pops, so I'm not looking to get Calendar for some time.

And what's this I spy across the western ocean??
http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/5714/algore17b1130adnewcivacrosspondbe6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Sure looks RED! Tokugawa, perhaps? Great, that's all I need, another psycho neighbor...

One of the cooler things about this variant is building improvements on top of resources you normally wouldn't. For example, ever seen a cottage in a wheat field before? Looks like the city's on fire:
http://img317.imageshack.us/img317/9303/algore21awheatcottagehz5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

And look at this, a Sheepmill!
http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/7015/algore21bsheepmillke9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Uh-oh, no time to admire the pretty improvements. In 1140AD, Alex attacks...again!!!

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/5048/algore18a1145adalexwar2hl2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

However, this time I'm slightly more prepared. Alex's stack gets pummelled with 2 catapults, and the rest of my forces wipe him out with ease. I'll bet he wasn't expecting WAR ELEPHANTS up his skinny ass!

http://img431.imageshack.us/img431/8149/algore18b1145adalexwar2id2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

But wait, there's more! Remember how I just got...Optics?? My freshly whipped caravel screams out of Bombay and takes dead aim at Alex's retreating navy:

http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/4966/algore18c1145adalexwar2pe2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Next turn: Caravel promotes = Combat I. YOU WANT SOME MORE, PUNK??

http://img438.imageshack.us/img438/7907/algore18f1150admadcaravelql1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Next turn: Caravel promotes = Combat II. He's badly damaged, and the last galley will make it to Corinth harbor next turn, so I wait to heal and...HEY!! Where you running?!?

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/4387/algore18g1150admadcaraveluf5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img424.imageshack.us/img424/1805/algore18h1150admadcaravelqp7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

P3WND, BIOTCH!!!!

And...what's this to the north? A settler party??

http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/5833/algore18i1150admadcaravelqt7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

All I've got in the area is a Nav I Galley, and the odds are long, but I've rolled the dice and won before, so...

http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/6627/algore18j1150admadcaraveljx9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Aww, crap. Can't win 'em all, I guess. :(

A second caravel joins the fun, as two fully loaded galleys (plus two empty ones) descend from the north. The results were predictable:

http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/6553/algore22a1190admadcaravelcontinuedlwh3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/4930/algore22b1190admadcaravelcontinuedlqd6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/3932/algore22c1190admadcaravelcontinuedljh3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

It went on like this for awhile. Sink a galley, retreat to ocean and heal/promote, sink another one. I swear to God, I've never dominated the ocean with CARAVELS before!! Usually I build one, send it around the world, and park it. This is great!

Alex must be pissed. He's lost 10 troops, and his navy is decimated. Learn your history Alex...India is where you FAILED. Go pick on Egypt and Persia instead!!!!

In all the excitement, I completely forgot to check out the new civilization to the west. So I send a spare caravel over there, and...well, she's Red all right. But it's not Tokugawa...it's CATHERINE!

(Yes, I know the real Catherine wasn't Communist.)

Tech-wise, she's down Metal Casting, Compass, and Construction. I ask her what she'll trade for Metal Casting, and here's her offer:

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/6351/algore19bcatherinemetalcasttradedb3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

And here's her offer for Compass:

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/8323/algore19acatherinecompasstradewb8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

(For Construction, she'll only offer Calendar + 20 gold.)

Now...I have to think about this. Technically, the rules forbid trading any non-beeline tech. However...I did not expect to wind up with low-production land, tons of resources I can't use, AND a belligerent neighbor to the north. I think it's worthwhile to bend the rules a little bit, and accept the Calendar/Hunting trade. We've got FOUR deer plots going to waste, and I'm think not so much about the extra food they'll bring, but the TRADING possibilities for more health resources. Washington has pigs & wheat, all going to waste since my only tradeable items (gold & crabs) are tied up in that critical Ivory deal.

Still...I'm going to think about this. Sugar Island needs 7 more turns until its borders pop to claim the sugar, so I'll wait and then decide.

Meanwhile, a party of axes & catapults finally take the barb city to the south:

http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/8252/algore23a1190adbattleforzhoung4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/7803/algore23b1190adbattleforzhouxt3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/1971/algore23c1190adbattleforzhouss8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I swear, this is the most UNFAIR resource city imaginable. I mean...just LOOK how crappy it is! It does have crabs to the south (and the bay is totally icelocked, so it will have to build the workboat by itself) but that's it. Not to mention the distance costs are killing me...city maintenance is a whopping -11 per turn! (And no COURTHOUSES in sight!)

On the other hand, Alex has TWO beautiful iron mines, one right outside his capital, the other next to Corinth. GRASSLAND iron, too! Some guys just have all the luck...

Next turn...uh-oh, Catherine's begging for Compass. I don't want her to have Compass yet...not until I'm ready to trade, at least! So I decline to help her. Trust me...with Catherine, this is bad news.

Next turn...sure enough, she won't leave it alone:

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/8485/algore24a1195adcatherinedemandfq8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Part of me wants to say, "Yeah? You and what army?" But...here's the deal with Catherine. She can be a powerful ally, but you gotta know how to treat her right. She's like a high-maintenance girlfriend that wants jewelry, nice clothes, dinners at fancy restaurants, and if you don't give her what she wants, she'll murder you in your sleep. On the other hand...keep her happy, and she's yours. So I agree to gift her Construction:

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/3373/algore24b1195adcatherinedemandor1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

See how easy that was? :cool:

I also notice that Catherine has NO religion! So I queue up a Buddist Missionary in...what's this?? NO MONASTERIES anywhere?!? Dammit, I'm so used to running Organized Religion...okay, Bombay's got a monastery, but will take 12 turns to build one. Start monasteries in other cities, too. We've got the bloody Buddhist shrine...time to spread the faith!!

In 1210AD I take a close look at my economy, and it ain't pretty. We're barely making a profit @ 30% science, and lots of infrastructure is missing -- no Markets, very few Libraries, and only a couple Harbors! That ain't gonna work, friend. So, first I dial up Washington and beg for money:

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/9596/algore25b1210adwashingtongives170gpqr3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

He agrees!! Okay, now we can fund deficit research. Now...here's the land/military situation:

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/7812/algore26aempire1210adva3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

There's enough troops to fend off an invasion, but not enough to mount one. Delhi may look unprotected, but that's because my War Elephants have moved up to the front lines. Now, as for the south and east:

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/2984/algore26bempire1210adxr3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/4236/algore26cempire1210adja5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Most cities are protected by one or two axemen, with a few extra axes hunting down barbarians, and a lonely warrior on fogbusting duty in the south. :) Good enough for now, but...oh, let's face it. My military stinks. BOY do I miss archers!!

And if that's not bad enough, there's a Washington galley exploring the coast. No doubt he's spotted the unclaimed silver hills to the extreme southeast:

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/9771/algore26dempire1210addw0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

So I'd better get a settler down there ASAP. It's gonna hurt, though -- economically, city maintenance is killing us:

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/1316/algore26etreasury1210adcr4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Boy, do I miss courthouses. And farms. And pastures. And theatres. And religious civics. And horses. And so on and on and on...

At least the borders of Sugar Island have finally expanded:

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/8659/algore25a1210adsugarislandexpandsgo6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Unfortunately, the Calendar/Hunting deal with Catherine is off the table. Just a few turns ago, she was down Metal Casting/Compass, and now she has them BOTH!!!! Oh well...at least it prevents me from cheating. :lol: The good news is, Alexander seems pretty gassed out. I'm tempted to load a few elephants & cats to try and take some of his island cities, but...let's take care of the homefront first, shall we?

Thankfully, happiness is a non-issue. So I *cancel* the expensive Ivory trade with Washington, and replace it with this one:

http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/3897/algore26f1210adwashingtontradepa3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Health is taken care of, at least. Not much I can do about military, but raising research to 50% will give us Engineering in 7 turns @ -14/gpt. Hopefully, by then, Washington will be willing trade Feudalism for it...

1225AD: Out of the blue, Alex comes begging for peace:

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/5866/algore27a1225adalexpeacetreatyyf6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Had enough, eh Ally-boy?!? Actually, he offered Polytheism + $$$ at first, but asking "What's the price for peace?" gave me this offer instead. Okay...enough of this crap. I'm tired of looking at all those resources I can't use. If the land were more forgiving, and the neighbors less feisty...besides, we're building THE INTERNET, baby! Our computer geeks need deerburgers and nachos to keep the work going! So, I accept.

Besides, the rules only specify that we can't "research or trade" non-beeline techs. They say nothing about accepting them as part of a peace settlement. That's not cheating, right? :groucho:

Now that the war's over, I send two caravels in opposite directions to circumnavigate the globe. Well...first, I build and Explorer. That's right, and Explorer. Not a field medic, either. Why, then? You'll see...

1250AD: Engineering FINALLY done. Unfortunately, Washington already has it. :( Guess I'm gonna have to research Feudalism myself, due in 10 turns @ -11/gpt.

Alexander wants to trade Calendar + gold for Metal Casting. Wow, he's THAT far behind?!? I think of saying yes, but decide to wait for a couple more border pops before accepting...gotta get as much out of Stonehenge as possible!

1260AD: Sure enough, there's a Washington settler party heading south at full speed:

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/2319/algore281260adwashgalleyislamcityfu5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Not to worry, my own settler is way ahead of him. On the other hand, it looks like Alexander has founded Islam! That doesn't bode well...how dare he break the Buddhist fellowship!!!

1265AD: Catherine converts to Hinduism!!!! Oh yeah, I never did send those missionaries. :hammer2: Luckily she's not running Theocracy, or we'd be really screwed...

...And what's this I spy? A pair of orange-colored Caravels?

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/4431/algore29b1265adhccaravelracemb0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/4764/algore29a1265adhccaravelracegb1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Looks like we're not the only ones in a Race Around The World For ONE! MILLION! DOLLARS!! And Huyana Cupac, apparently, is using the same strategy I use, sending TWO caravels to meet up with each other in the middle! It's gonna be close...

1275AD: Borders have popped in Jaipur & Zhou, and the worker on Sugar Island is ready to hook up the Sugar resource, so I go ahead and complete the MC/Calendar trade with Alex:

http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/2370/algore29c11275adalextrademt9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Notice that he's Pleased again, despite invading me and everything. :lol:

1285AD: The westbound caravel meets Mansa Musa. He's ahead of Washington in score, but surprisingly, not in tech. (Washington has Civil Service!) Also, Huyana Cupac is his Worst Enemy. Gotta be careful how I play the diplomatic game...

Archimedes (Great Engineer) is born in Delhi. He will discover...Feudalism. Ack! Due in just a few turns! I'll wait and see what he'll discover later...

1290AD: Meet Hatsheput. Despite what she says, it doesn't look like she's smiling:

http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/9159/algore31a1290admeethattykq2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

She's Hindu, but didn't discover it. She's also way behind in tech (down Compass & Machinery) and way behind in score. We've already earned a major "Traded With Worst Enemy!" penalty with her -- must be Catherine, that's the only other civ she's met so far. Those two chicks never seem to get along...I'll bet dollars to donuts, we'll see a catfight break out very soon! :p

Speaking of Catherine, I finally got around to Buddhafying her cities:

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/8647/algore31b1290adrussiabuddhafiedze0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

1305AD: Feudalism done, switch civics to Vassalage (but not Serfdom -- we're still whipping cities!) Start researching Civil Service, due in 14 turns @ 50% (+1gpt)

1310AD: Hyderabad, the silver mine city, and the last one on this continent (I hope) is founded:

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/9980/algore32a1310adsilvercityfoundeduy9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

...thus dropping our City Maintenance even further into the toilet. (Did I mention how MUCH I miss Courthouses??) I considered moving the city one space SW in order to claim BOTH mines, but with only a fish resource, there's no way this city could work both mines w/o starving. As for the blue circles...what's the deal? Why does the game always suggest locations that are so clearly awful?!?

OOPS!! Forgot about Archimedes! Looks like he'll discover...

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/2265/algore32b1310adgeforguildspt6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

+1650 for GUILDS!! Well, that's a no-brainer! Burn the GE on tech, which is due in a mere 5 turns! Finally, we'll have....umm, I guess we won't have knights. But maybe I can trade it for something?

1325AD: WE'VE WON THE AMAZING CARAVEL RACE!! But...where's Phil?

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/4908/algore331325adspiceislandgi6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

He must have been eaten by a bear. Oh well, we don't win a million dollars, but our ships sail slightly faster now. And this looks like a nice island, with iron & spices. Unfortunately, you need Astronomy to get there. And I doubt that tech will remain undiscovered for long...

On the bright side, Cathy's Buddist again. I knew that Hindu thing was just a passing fancy. ;)

1330AD: Guilds done, and immediately, GW offers this trade:

http://img461.imageshack.us/img461/5584/1330adwashingtoncstradeef5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Naturally, I remove Polytheism from the table before I accept. ;) I also renegotiate the Ivory trade:

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/5619/1330adwashingtontradewi9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

and then accept this trade with Alex:

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/6454/1330adalextradesk7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

(Later, when more Deer comes online, I'll swap that for Dye instead, and save the Gold for someone else.)

With the spare cash, I upgrade some veteran axes to macemen...including Bob:

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/1255/1330adbobthemacemannk5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Set research to...GUNPOWDER!! Due in 19 turns!

Here's the Diplomatic window, showing who's met who so far:

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/5100/1330addiplowindowpb2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

And...what's this? MORE land to the east? It doesn't look navigable by galley, though. I'll have to send a caravel to check it out!

http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/4883/1330adlandtotheeastsv1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

1335AD: Catherine declares war on Hatsheput! COOL!! I'll bet she asks me to join her soon...

Okay. Here's why you should always bring an Explorer along during the Amazing Caravel Race, it's for all the goodie huts that nobody's discovered yet:

http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/7308/1335adexplorerpopshut1fc8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/4565/1335adexplorerpopshut2lb9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

And here's another one, right under Huyana Cupac's nose:

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/594/1335adanotherhut1mk6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/2548/1335adanotherhut2rb8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Sadly, no techs...only boring gold. (Once I popped ASTRONOMY from a hut; that was a game-winner, to be sure!)

1345AD: Chichen Itza BIADL. (Probably HC; I forgot to check.) My Combat II/Medic caravel finds a barb galley and sinks it. Sadly, no XP gained...it was only a barb.

1350AD: Marble is finally hooked up, so I can get to work on the Hagia Sofia! Normally I don't bother with this Wonder, but I need it for the Engineering points. Delhi's got two mature Towns it's working (one on the Corn, that I haven't farmed yet) so I take advantage of Gandhi's spiritual nature by swapping civics accordingly:

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/1746/1350adcivicsforhagiasofiact3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Only 15 turns to build it! Here's what Delhi looks like a couple turns later:

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/7835/1360addelhibuildinghspu4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Madras is also looking much better...after hooking up the Wheat resource, it's finally able to work the Gold mine!

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/84/1360admadrascityviewzy8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Huyana Cupac keeps encouraging me to stop trading with Washington. Don't think that's gonna happen any time soon! At least he hasn't demanded that I stop trading...yet.

1360AD: Holy cow, Mansa's got BANKING! Yes, it's a beeline tech!!

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/1142/1360admmbankingtradeoc4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Hatty also wants to trade...

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/5417/1360adhattynastytrademj9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Yeesh, she didn't have to be so nasty about it. Not that I would have said yes. We're lawless heathens baby...we're building THE INTERNET! We don't need no stinkin' Code of Laws 'round here!!

1365AD: At last! Catherine asks for war:

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/3033/1365adcathyasksforhattywarki7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Now, this is how you really get on Cathy's good side, share a few wars with her. Too bad that I have no way of getting actual troops over there! I'll send a few caravels to check things out anyway.

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/9587/1365adcathyasksforhattywar2ie3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Heh heh. I am sooo gettin' laid. :D

1370AD: Washington offers Code of Laws + 340 gold for Banking. Umm...I *don't* think so!

I notice that our Internet builders in Calcutta have suddenly gotten quite angry, for the first time ever in this game:

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/4152/1370adcalcuttaangryqm5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Hmm. I queue a temple, but it's not enough. Oh, wait. We switched out of Representation. THAT'S why they're pissed off. Still...something to keep an eye on.

Looking at the map, I notice an Iron + Fish island FAR away, all the way towards the north pole. All the available land's being gobbled up rather quick, so I send a two-galley settler party to claim it. Gonna be expensive as hell, but we can always use a backup iron town.

Work boat in Zhou finally completes, but before netting the crabs, he checks out the southern fog to see if there's anything else down there:

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/2994/1370adworkboatexploresdx9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Yup, totally icelocked. It's important to check these nooks and crannies, you know. In one game, I had an icy bay just like this, which just happened to have WHALES down there...which I didn't discover until the 20th century!

1390AD: Sugar plantation *finally* connected, aiding our happiness woes:

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/1301/1390adnewamericancityonhispanolaul3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Looks like George planted an extra city there, too...why'd he do that? Is he gonna culture me out? Oh well...it opens a canal, at least (not that it's important on this tiny island.)

On its long migration northward (good thing these Galleys move at +3 instead of +2) the settler party sees that George's mega-sugar city has gone Buddhist. Great...the one city I did NOT want to give culture to! Oh well...money is money.

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/7374/1390adsettlerpartyhoustongetsbuddhistac6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

1395AD: GW really wants my gold, but all he will offer is pigs for it:

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/7592/1395adwashwantsgoldforpigkj9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Yeesh! Check out the smug look on that greedy bastard's face. He really wants to win the game, doesn't he?? Thank God refusing trades doesn't hurt your relationship. So I have great pleasure telling him N-O!

1400AD: Washington completes Notre Dame! Good for you, pal. If that were an eligible Wonder for me? I would have completed it centuries ago. Gunpowder due in 4 turns!

1410AD: Okay, this is how NOT to use an Explorer:

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/9004/1410adhownottouseanexplorer1dx5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Thought I'd scout out Hatty's lands by sticking to the trees & jungle...however, they wind up on an exposed hilltop, right outside one of Hatty's smaller cities. Only three units in the garrison, but that's all it took:

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/1038/1410adhownottouseanexplorer2mz9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Well, he managed to take one of 'em down. That was unexpected! :lol:

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/532/1420adegyptgalleyuu5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

An exploring caravel spots one of Hatty's gondolas out in the open...unfortunately, it made it safely back to port the next turn, so no free experience. :cry:

1420AD: GUNPOWDER!!!!!

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/7038/1420adgunpowderhf7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Okay, what to research next....well, Paper will take only 8 turns, so let's do that. Astronomy's available, but requires a *whopping* 32 turns. Chemistry? Wait 'til after Paper. Either that or Printing Press.

And then there's PolytheismCodeofLawsArcheryAnimalHusbandryAlphabet ... naturally, everyone else has those. ;)

Here's what the tech tree looks like now (spoiler boxed to preserve width):
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/6438/1420adtechtree1gc0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

1425AD: Hagia Sophia completes.

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/3251/1425adhagiasofiann4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Now that the building's done, it's time for one of the most powerful civic combinations in the game:

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/7451/1425adcivicchangeoe4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

This, my friends, is how you beat Prince level: Representation + Mercantilism. That's a free specialist per city, each one earning +3 per turn!! Cancelling all foreign trade routes hurts, dropping science from 50% to 40%, but time left on Paper remains steady at 6 turns.

Of course, you need The Pyramids to do it this early. ;) And it's REALLY awesome if you can build the Statue of Liberty as well...but that's not on the beeline, sorry!

One of my exploring caravels discovers macemen guarding an empty pasture:

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/7417/1425admansaemptypastureiy3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Heh. I suppose that supposed to be a horse farm, but they all got out!!

1430AD: Catherine needs to be pleasured again:

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/892/1430adcathywantsgunpowderlo5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

You know how it is...whatever Cathy wants, Cathy gets. In the meantime, I suddenly notice there's a trade network opened between our continents! In fact, it looks like she built a crappy city on an icebound peninsula, just so our borders would touch and galleys can pass between them. Aw Cathy, how sweet of you to do something for ME for a change! :lol:

So now we can trade the following items:

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/7550/1430adbigcathytradeof6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I hold back the spare gold, just in case. Don't want her to get too happy...

Oh, and I trade Corn for Clam w/ George. Unfortunately, there's no longer Pigs on the trade menu...he must have traded them with someone else!

1435AD: CATHY MAKES PEACE WITH HATTY!!!

You know, that is SO like her. Give her Gunpowder, and instead of killing the enemy with it, she uses it to powder her nose. Well...that's what you gotta expect, when dealing with Cathy. She's an awesome ally, but she comes at a price!

Hatty, meanwhile, refuses to give anything for peace:

http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/2124/1430adnopeacewithhattyja8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Hmmf. Didn't killing one of your longbows convince you? Oh well...there's no War Weariness yet, so I'll ask her again next turn.

And if that's not bad enough, Alex is badgering me for Engineering. What...you don't have that tech yet? Well, sorry Alex. You STILL don't have it! He stomps away to his room and pouts:

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/2484/1435adalexwantsengineering2qb2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

SO ..... ?
Verry intersting btw. I'm at work and I feel like playing.
(I have to try this beeline)

WHAT IN THE.....I had another post here, but it VANISHED!! Oh well, let's recap what's happened:

1440AD: The settler party finally completes it's long-distance voyage, only to discover that Iron Island has already been claimed by Alex....or, has it??

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/5836/1435adbengalfounded1hc3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/3941/1435adbengalfounded2rl9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Nice try, Alex. :lol: The location's not my first choice (would definitely prefer the ice/river tile 1 square SW) but you take what you can get. Besides...what was Alex THINKING when he settled there?!? It's off the coast, and can't work either fish square...dumb move, Alex. DUMB. Also, I plan to pump a lot of culture into this city, so Myceane is doomed. If it flips, I'll probably let it auto-raze!

1445AD: The Enemy Has Been Spotted Near Calcutta! How in the world did Hatty slip a Galley behind enemy lines and...oh wait, it's just a barbarian archer. Huh? We're still getting barbs in this day & age? Apparently there's still quite a bit of fog down by the South Pole. No matter, I have a spare axeman deal with it:

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/6157/1445adbarbarcher2hh4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Speaking of Hatty, I finally manage to wrangle a peace treaty out of her:

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/1761/1445adhattypeacehx1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Only 10 gold?!? Feh. What a waste of time that was. Oh well, at least Cathy's Friendly with me now. And...guys? I have a confession to make. I am seriously, seriously HOT for Catherine. There, I've said it. And I don't care who knows it! :yumyum:

Don't get me wrong, I like Hatsheput too. But she's more like a big sister...

1450AD: Out of the blue, Hatty offers this trade:

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/4060/1450adegypttrademd6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Y'know, I can't remember any game where Hatty was this downright snotty! Still...she's nobody's worst enemy, so I accept the trade. (Good thing I saved that Gold, eh?) Now our Internet builders can go out and get sh*t-faced after a long days work...

1455AD: One of my missionaries discovers a Catherine settler party sailing its way towards my territory. Since there's still some unclaimed land on my continent that's not in my culture boundaries yet, I'll have to keep an eye on it...

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/4787/1455adcathygalleyhg0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Paper is finished, and EVERYONE comes begging to trade Code of Laws for it. Obviously, I decline. We're building the INTERNET, baby! We don't need no stinkin' laws on the Internet! Instead, I start shopping around my World Map for cash...most everyone will trade an actual tech (Polytheism) for it, but I settle for gold instead. Veteran axemen start upgrading to Maces, Spearmen to Pikes. Delhi continues to build Muskets.

Start researching Chemistry, due in a whopping 18 turns!

1465AD: The Enemy Has Been Spotted Near Zhou! Hmmf, more barbs. A wandering maceman deals with it:

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/5850/1465adzhoubarbarcher2ll6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Not much happens for the next several years...caravels explore, maps sold, troops upgraded. Hatty demands we trade maps, which is good because it increases the value of mine. ;) Except for Washington, we've got a monopoly on Paper. By 1495AD, a good deal of the world has been mapped out:

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/4348/1495adglobeview1ot8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/6093/1495adglobeview2dh9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

In addition, my caravel discovers something disturbing...you know that land barely visible to the east? It's Huyana's territory, and he's putting together a navy!

http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/8581/1495adhcnavyka2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

It's only Galleys, and he doesn't have Astronomy yet, but...that's bound to change soon. He must already know that I'm guarding all my towns with a single axe & spear (and in some cases, just an axeman!!!) so...next session's gonna be all about (1) building a decent military, and (2) getting to Astronomy myself, sooner than later. So much for the Colossus. :(

1500AD: If Huyana wasn't bad enough, turns out Mansa's building a navy, too...this one with Galleons!!

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/1940/sarmyyw2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I've never known Mansa Musa to be aggressive, but he is Annoyed with me and all that...and, it's only a few squares away from Sugar Island, which is only guarded by a lonely axeman. :eek: Once again, I better start working on military!

Not only that, my economy STINKS. I'm losing money at 40% research, and the profit from map trading isn't bringing in what it used to. I decide to sell Marble to Washington for +9gp/turn, which helps things a bit. Then I...huh, what's this? Delhi doesn't have a BANK?!? We're running Bureacracy, got the Holy Shrine, and there's NO BANK in the city??!? No wonder my economy stinks! All the visitors have to travel to Corinth to use the ATM machine!

Ok, start a Bank in Delhi. Calcutta starts building War Elephants, Lahore and a couple other cities pick up the slack with Muskets. Bombay is building a SETTLER, for some bizarre reason...but the city's not useful for anything else, so I let it finish. Madras keeps cranking out missionaries.

1505AD: Alright, enough is enough. I've been staring at the city screen of Bangalore (the Copper City) and it's downright ugly:

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/6307/1505adcoppercitysucksoj3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

There's not enough food to work the production tiles, so we're stuck at a lousy 7 hammers/turn. Had the city been placed one tile south, we'd at least get deer...granted, settling on the copper directly was an emergency situation, and probably saved the game, but that decision is having severe long-term consequences. So...time to "cheat" again. I check the rules, and decide that while I'm not allowed to "research or trade for" Animal Husbandry, there's nothing that prohibits bullying around a smaller, weaker nation for it:

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/7885/1505addemandahfromhattylz7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Umm...I guess that didn't work. :lol: Lessee...Huyana's my worst enemy, so I can't bully him around, and I don't want to piss off Mansa right now, so hmm...how about if I ask a friend, nicely? How about Alex? Hey buddy, I know you're still mad about that Engineering deal, but...can ya help me out?

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/3424/1505adrequestahfromalex2er0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Fantastic! Now we're in business...

(I hope nobody thinks this blows the Challenge, having "acquired" three forbidden techs via rules-lawyering. But trust me...living without these techs is VERY hard, even without poor terrain and hostile neighbors! It really was getting to the point where it wasn't fun anymore. Anyone who tries this challege will find out the same thing.)

And whaddaya know, we've got Horses. I had a feeling they were there, somewhere. Since we've already cheated this far, might as well hook 'em up. I promise, I won't research Horseback Riding...unless I get invaded. :lol:

Meanwhile, it looks like America found Spice Island. Oh well, we were never in the running for that one:

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/7245/1505adamericagotspiceislandel6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

1525AD: I've sold so many maps that nobody will offer more than 10gp now, and the last person left on the list is Huyana Cupac, so I sell to him for 338gp. Naturally, since he's Washington's worst enemy, George is none too happy when I talk to him next:

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/496/1540adwashingtonmarbletradehcwarningkj7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Heh. He looks constipated in that shot.

Washington completes Angkor Wat. Here's a look at the Top 5 Cities screen:

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/3041/1530adtopcitieswonderskj3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Looks like Mansa snarfed up all the early religions (Hinduism, Judaism & Christianity) while HC grabbed Confucianism & Taoism. This is good, because it means BOTH of them will probably revolt to Free Religion eventually.

Hey, it looks like Catherine actually built the Great Lighthouse. Way to go, girl! Usually, Russia doesn't manage to build any Wonders at all! She just invades and takes them from people. :groucho:

1540AD: Another Barbarian sword pops up in the south. Bessie marches down to teach 'em a lesson:

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/7346/1540adbarbswordvselephant1um5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/3143/1540adbarbswordvselephant2vd2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Sheep's connected to Copper City, it's doing MUCH better now. Horses are also connected...we can build chariots now! :lol:

1550AD: Chemistry finished. Here's what we can research next:

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/8277/1550adresearchprintingpressmd5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

As much as I really, really want Astronomy, I think it's wise to grab Printing Press first. Lots of cottages are reaching maturity (I MM'd several cities to make sure ALL of them got worked) and we're gonna need the extra income when Colossus goes obsolete! Oh, and we've got a TOTAL monopoly on Chemistry -- FEAR MY GRENADIERS!! We're also up Paper to Catherine, Paper/Banking to Alex, and Paper/Guilds/Engineering to poor backwards Hatsheput. ;) Neither Mansa or GW will trade Chemistry for Astronomy, however.

1555AD: Hatty demands Paper. I see no reason to say no, so she gets it.

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/6071/1555adhattypaperdemandil4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Way up by Iron City #2, my caravel spots a barbarian galley trapped in the ice. He attaches a bow line to help drag them out to safety, and...

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/84/1555adbarbgalleybyironcity22cn7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Oops, must've pulled too hard. :cooool:

Also, I cancel the 9gpt/Marble trade with George, and...the +9 gold per turn DISAPPEARS!!! :eek: That's not supposed to happen! So much for renegotiating the trade with Sheep instead...hmm, who's got money? Alex is making 6gpt, so I trade with him instead. I also discover that George is trading Pigs with Hatty, but neither one of them is willing to boycott the other. (Yet.)

1565AD: Delhi spawns another Great Person, and this time it's a...G-G-GR-GREAT MERCHANT!!!!!!

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/8167/1565adgreatmerchantww8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Okay, this is something special. I hardly ever spawn GM's, and since they can explore "rival" territory (people you don't have Open Borders with) he's gonna serve two purposes. One, map out Inca's terrain. And two...make a trade mission in Cuzco, which (ironically) is also the most distant capital city. Load 'im up in a Caravel, and away he goes!

1570AD: Bank completes in Delhi, and research jumps a WHOPPING 20%!!! No wonder our economy sucked! Mansa Musa also demands that I stop trading with Alex, but that ain't gonna happen, sorry Manny. I'm really racking up the negative points with that guy, however...not a good thing.

1575AD: Well, I knew this was coming eventually. Huyana demands tribute:

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/2136/1575adhcdemands120goldfn7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Huh, that's IT?!? A measely 120 gold to get you off my back? I thought he was gonna demand, you know, Chemistry or something. He gets the money, but is still Annoyed and we're still his worst enemy. Oh well, I've already fended off an invasion once...

1595AD: Washington adopts Representation & Free Market. Guess I know what technologies he has, now. ;)

The borders of Iron City #2 expand, stealing a couple tiles from Myceane:

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/8780/1595adbengalexpandszw3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Hey, it's got a farm! I didn't build it, so THAT'S NOT CHEATING!

(What I wouldn't give for a Culture Bomb, though...)

1600AD: Atreyas the Great Merchant reaches Inca. Open Borders? We don't need to stinkin' Open Borders! He bribes the customs official, and walks right into Incan territory unmolested:

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/1323/1595adgminincaxl1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Workers are just about done building everything, so I revolt back to Slavery to save money.

1605AD: Renegotiate a few trades, and look for more partners. Hey...what's this?? Hatty doesn't have iron! I give her some for +6gpt:

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/3849/1605adhattyirontradeyw6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

1615AD: GM/Spy Atreyas continues wandering through Incan territory, and spots the Confucian holy city. Despite Huyana's assertion that he's got a Musketman (Ho-Ho-Ho!) I don't see anything but longbows & pikes guarding his cities:

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/1318/1615adgreatmerchantholycityyp2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Hmmf. Maybe a pre-emptive strike is worthwhile? You know what they say about the best defense...

Meanwhile, here's a look at Delhi up close. Pretty nice, I think:

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/8531/1610addelhicloseuprf3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

1620AD: Printing Press done, and the extra commerce jumps science up ANOTHER 10%!! :woohoo: As for trades...well, Washington will trade Astronomy + every tech he's got for Chemistry/PP, but that's way too rich for my blood. Mansa, on the other hand, is now our worst enemy, and won't trade at all. His blood's boiling so hot, the crown's melting on his scrawny little head!

Well, there's nothing to do but research Astronomy myself. Thanks to the "everyone's got this tech already L0OZR" bonus, it will only take 13 turns to research.

Oh, and Washington discovered Liberalism. His score jumps WAY head of Mansa! Yep, we've got a runaway AI on our hands! Sure glad it's him and not Alexander!

1630AD: Atreyu the wandering merchant finally reaches the Incan capital city. 2250gp? Yes, think I'll take that, thank you very much!

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/9803/1630adgmtrademissionkh4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Okay, let's check with Geoge again...aha! HERE'S a trade I can live with!

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/4681/1630adgwastronomytradedn7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Yes Yes YES I will say YES! Naturally, the loss of Colossal Income plummets our science rate down to 60%, but that's okay, we'll make it back up. We've still got money, so I pick out all the caravels & galleys with promotions and upgrade them to frigates:

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/9433/1630adnewfrigates1cs1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/6426/1630adnewfrigates2hk6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/6986/1630adnewfrigates3tg1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The extra galleys become Galleons. Enjoy this navy while it lasts, because it's the best we'll have for a LONG time to come!! Meanwhile, a few maces in far-flung cities get updated to Grenadiers, more Spears become Pikes.

And to top it off, I sign a Defensive Pact with Washington.

I think this game's in the bag now. ;) Check back in a few days for the thrilling conclusion!

this is really cool dude. you should do a regular game.

stories are only good if they have lots of pictures like this. the ones with made up characters and stuff are gay.

keep up the good work.

Thanks for the feedback. Sometimes I think I overdo it on the pictures, so I'm glad to know it's appreciated!

Here's some graphs from circa 1600AD:

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/3369/1600adinfoscreenscoredd2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/4029/1600adinfoscreenpowerps6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/1817/1600adinfoscreengnpwh7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/4650/1600adinfoscreencropsnh0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/3548/1600adinfoscreenmfggoodsna7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/8514/1600adinfoscreencultureko7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/4034/1600addemographicsyx6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/2955/1600addiplowindowog2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Score's not bad for being down about 40 billion techs. :lol: Power could use work, but at least we're keeping pace with the more aggressive civs. Crops? Well...as you can see, we were pretty much in the dark ages until I caved in and "acquired" agriculture. Seriously, I don't know how this variant could be beaten without that tech. It probably could be done, but it would NOT be fun.

GNP...Ouch! :eek: No wonder Washington's running away with the game! At least we're beating him in production. Mansa's the runaway Culture leader, but with three religions in each city, that's to be expected.

Relationships are a bit lopsided, with some close friends and bitter enemies. But that's all about to change...(heh heh, stay tuned...)

Oddly, Alexander and Hatty haven't even made contact yet...

1635AD: I suddenly realize that Hyderabad (the silver mine city) DOES have enough food to support both mines! Turns out, a fish net w/work boat earns +6 food, not +5!! That makes me :mad: -- so much, in fact, that I open the World Builder and move the city to a more ideal location:

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/9814/1635adhyderabadworldbuildertk5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Okay, I can't deny it...that is *definitely* cheating. :lol: For what it's worth, I'll let the city regrow from scratch -- it does cost a turn towards Replaceable Parts, after all.

Nothing much happens for the next several decades. Build stuff, move troops around, etc. Workers run out of stuff to do, so I have them build useless improvements on tiles no city can use:

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/1286/1635adworkersbuildinguselessstuffyh4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

1650AD: Hatsheput adopts Organized Religion!! Cool, now I can finally convert her cities to the Buddhist faith! Delhi & Madras start pumping out Galleon-loads of missionaries...

I suddenly realize there's an available plot of land on Huyana's territory, with FUR on it! Unfortunately, once I got a settler party together, George Washington beat me by ONE stinkin' turn:

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/2267/1652adwashingtonpoachesfurcityej5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[pissed]

Hey George, your middle name wouldn't be "Cyrus" by any chance? You're sure acting like Cyrus!

To make up for it, I renegotiate a few trades with GW & Hatty:

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/7858/1658adhattyironwinetradery9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/4763/1658adgwgoldforgptpd0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The settler party sets sail again, looking for land nobody else has claimed. They'll be out looking for a long time...

1664AD: Speaking of unclaimed land, Cathy finally got around to settling on my continent:

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/6569/1664adcatherinenewcityax8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Weird location, I would've settled the desert tile instead. I hope she doesn't poach my corn...

1666AD: Huyana Cupac "invites" me to join Hereditary Rule. I tell him to go bugger off. I do notice he's got Gems available, but look at what he wants for it:

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/7668/1666adhcuglygemstradeek1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Umm...I think not. :rolleyes:

1670AD: Replaceable Parts are in. Here is what's available next:

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/1529/1670adresearchscimethmk7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Time to bite the bullet and research Scientific Method, striking yet another blow to our Monastery-driven research and find all that oil we can't use for centuries...

1670AD (cont.): Our ever-searching Settler party swings by Spice Island, and sees that Mansa's already taken up residence on the available plots:

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/6785/1670adspiceislandtakenhu7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

There's some space left nearby Iron City #2, it's rugged and inhospitable terrain, but in my experience that's always where the late-game resources are...not that we'll be able to see them for a long time, of course!

1678AD: Alexander offers Horseback Riding + 240 gold for Banking. I can hardly catch my breath from laughing so loud, but eventually I'm able to tell him to go home and stop dreaming.

1680AD: Washington adopts Free Speech / Universal Suffrage / Emancipation!!! Our happiness takes a small hit, but we absorb it without a problem. I didn't count on the lack of Democracy, though...scoring the Eiffel Tower and Broadway/Rock & Roll becomes more critical than ever, now!

Meanwhile, I renegotiate the trade with Catherine:

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/7857/1680adcathytraderenegum9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Hmm, looks like she's giving us her only Rice resource. Too bad for her, I guess.

1684AD: Huyana Cupac has Galleons!! Thankfully, our cities have, you know, actual military in them now. :lol:

1690AD: Catherine offers to trade Education for Chemistry. A nice deal, but...sorry, honey. Can't do it. We don't need no Education...we don't need no Thought Control...

1692AD: As luck would have it, Mansa's already staked his claim on Iron City Island:

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/5593/1688adiceislandsettledbymansamw2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

There's only one available piece of land in sight, and it's a crappy island with a (possible) fishing resource. Still...land is land:

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/9768/1692adcrappyfishingvillagemaybezu9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

On the other hand, Scientific Method is due next turn. So I decide to wait a turn and see where all the oil is...and where the wars will inevitably break out. :mischief:

1694AD: Sci.Meth in, start researching Physics, due in 25 turns. Nobody has it yet, so we look secure on the beeline for grabbing the free Great Scientist. Delhi could really use that Academy, you know. Meanwhile, I look around the map, and we do have a couple oil resources...sort of. The first one is right in the channel between us & Greece:

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/905/1694adoilinchannelob4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Alexander, I note, does NOT have oil. That doesn't bode well. The second resource is waaaaay down by the South Pole, but not in our culture boundary...in fact, Washington's already sent a Settler party to claim it!!

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/9386/1694adoilpoachedbygway8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

:wallbash:

George...are you SURE your real name isn't Cyrus?!?

On the bright side, there is Oil on Spice Island, and nobody's claimed it yet! The settler party abandons the crappy fishing village and sets sail, hoping to get there first. I know, we can't use the oil for a long time, but might as well get ready for when...hang on a minute, what's this?

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/6927/1696adhcsettlerna2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Another Settler party? From Huyana Cupac?? My bitter arch-rival, trying to poach my valuable resource and gain a foothold onto my continent???

Uh-uh. DON'T think so. AIN'T gonna happen....

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/8122/1696adhcwarji3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

IT'S ON, BABY!!!!!

1696AD (cont.): Okay....we're at war. Now what?

I have no idea if my country is prepared for an unexpected war. Of course, the best way to find out is.......start an unexpected war. :lol: :ar15:

First thing I need...money. And rifles. Well, probably don't need rifles, but they would be good to have. Thankfully, Mansa Musa has both:

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/646/1696admansariflingtradebp1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Man, he got that for a song. But I want to keep Mansa enriched, with that runaway juggernaut G.W. on the loose. Okay, next thing...allies. Everyone hates me except GW, Alex & Cathy. GW's out of the question, I got nothing to bribe him with. Alex won't declare war on his best friend, but Cathy's got no problem with it:

http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/4894/1696adcathychemistryforwarek3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Heh. This is why looooove Cathy. Keep her in style, and she'll be your attack dog. She probably won't do much, but it'll keep Huyana occupied. And going to war totally gets her wet. :groucho: :worship:

Next...take troop inventory. Plenty of frigates, total naval domination. Each city garrison looks secure, and there's plenty of troops to assemble a strike team with. What I *don't* have is Galleons...they're all busy halfway across the globe!! Gonna have to whip a couple. Production capacity looks real good, though:

http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/4184/1702adwarproduction1ct8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/5697/1702adwarproduction2aw8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/3759/1702adwarproduction3sq9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Karachi and Bangalore are set up to start producing catapults once their observatories finish. Jaipur doesn't even have a barracks, and it's so production-poor that about all it's capable of is a single Medic Explorer.

And finally, the most important thing...how much of Huyana's land do I want? This slice of land looks quite tasty:

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/2427/1696adhclandtarget1pj4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

l want that whole island. And I plan to get it.

Am I missing anything? Oh yeah, killin' stuff. The whole reason I started this mess. HC, say goodbye to your Mayflower:

http://img76.imageshack.us/img76/6774/1696adhcwarfrigatevssettlergalleoncq8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

...and your stinkin' spy caravel too!

http://img240.imageshack.us/img240/6519/1696adhcwartakeoutcaravelyw1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Meanwhile, frigates blockade Villacumba harbor. I so hope he tries to set sail. I really do.

http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/8735/1698adfrigatesblockagevilcabambabq1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

1698: Nicolas Copernicus born...in Washington??!? What in the....AW, CRAP!!!

http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/8660/1698adgwbeatmetophysicsyy4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

:aargh: :wallbash: :gripe: :badcomp: [pissed] :nospam: :suicide:

HOW THE HELL DID HE DO THAT?!? I swear to God, he did NOT have Scientific Method, last I checked!! And look at that smiley bastard...he's actually GLOATING! Okay, that's it. I'll get you back, G.W. Well...maybe not you personally. But as I rape and pillage Huyana Cupac's lands, I'm gonna think of YOU the whole time I'm doing it!!

1706AD: Nothing happens for awhile -- a rogue caravel tries to sneak out of Villacumba, but he doesn't get far. Another frigate scouts out HC's cities, and I see lots of longbows & pikes everywhere, with the occasional musket. Sheesh! This is gonna be a cakewalk. Finally I :whipped: the new galleon (because I'm feeling petty)and assemble the strike force:

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/8514/1706adinvasionfleetpx2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Mostly veterans of the Hellenistic wars, upgraded and ready to rock. I can probably take the whole island with 'em, but of course reinforcements will be following. Meanwhile I soften up the target (actually a diversion):

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/3659/1706adicabombard2hx1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

And revolt to wartime civics:

http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/67/1706adrevolttovassalagebv5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

LET'S ROCK AND ROLL!!!

1710AD: As the invasion force sails ever-onward (boy, Galleons are slow) my own Mayflower finally lands on Spice Island, and claims the Oil:

http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/8800/1710adoilonspiceisland1ow9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

It's gonna be a rough border war, but with any luck I'll claim those horses and maybe a forest. I hope. With no production or food specials, this city's gonna be a real money pit for a long time!

http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/3760/1710adoilonspiceisland2yq2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

(Do not look at city maintenance...do not look at city maintenance...)

http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/724/tlookatcitymaintenanceia3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Jesus wept. Knew I shouldn't have looked!!

Frigates continue their patrol, ripping up fish nets & killing the occasional caravel. OUCH! This one hurt:

http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/1945/1712adfrigatevscaravelouchpc5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Oh, forgot to mention that as soon as GW discovered Physics, I switched right over to Steel in order to get the Ironworks started. GW has steel by now, too. (Of course.)

1714AD: Hatty demands Printing Press. She gets it. Hey, no skin off my nose. Suddenly realize that GW's been holding on to 12gp/turn all this time. Renegotiate the Ivory trade so he's paying me money:

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/2288/1712adivoryforfoodgpttr5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

1716AD: The Strike Force has landed! Not at Ica...at Arequipa, where the garrison's a mere longbow & pike! I don't even bother suiciding the catapults -- just toss a few rocks, and storm on in:

http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/5417/1716adarequipabombardxv7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/7247/1716adarequipabattle1oe1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/3552/1716adarequipabattle2qg1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/8553/1716adarequipabattle3gp7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Next turn, the only musket on the island counterattacks. Gotta give him credit, he's got heart:

http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/340/1718admusketcounterattackrr8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I'm sure he'll receive a hero's funeral.

Hatsheput completes her first Wonder, the Spiral Minaret. Hey, way to go! Props to ya, girlfriend.

1720AD: The Battle for Ica commences. Give 'em one last good Frigate-pounding, and Bob leads the attack:

http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/3345/1720adicabombardwp1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/3544/1720adicabattle1iq7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/2426/1720adicabattle2ve2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Nice, the gems are already mined. Of course, it's a bit annoying having to transport all my troops from city to city by Galleon. Hey Cupac, at least ya could've built, y'know, ROADS everywhere? Would've made my invasion of your island sooo much easier...

http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/9100/1720addiplowindowhh5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

On the diplomacy screen, I see that Mansa & Hatty have drawn up a Defensive Pact. Plus they're no longer Annoyed with me, only Cautious. Probably just glad I'm not attacking THEM. And Hatty still hasn't met Alex yet...in the 18th century? That's unheard of!

1724AD: Arequipa comes out of rebellion -- it's already got a lighthouse, so I start a forge. Oops, make that a Confucian temple...gotta get culture in this city ASAP.

Out on the open sea, an empty galleon LOSES to an enemy caravel! Not to worry, my frigate got 'im back:

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/3206/1724adgalleonlosestocaraveldv1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/8491/1724adfrigategetsrevengeku2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

My own scouting caravel spots another Settler party, this time from Mansa Musa. Probably heading for my oil...I really, really don't want to pay for another junk ice city, so I position a settler in place and wait...JUST in case.

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/1869/1730adsettlerguardingoilgh1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

1726AD:Reinforcements land at Nasca. Same tactic as Arequipa, but this one does go so well...

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/5535/1726adnascabombardmd0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/8922/1726adnascabattle1pg8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/4471/1726adnascabattle2ne3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/5579/1726adnascabattle3ov9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/8514/1726adnascabattle4tv0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

The city stands, and I lost a Woodsman II Grenadier. Sheesh, why did I even bother making those?? Seemed a good idea at the time.

War Weariness brings Karachi to a standstill:

http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/2844/1726adwwinkarachipm3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Raise the Culture slider to...oops, I don't have a culture slider! Need Drama for that. Oh well, the gems from Ica will be online soon (they give +2 happy with a forge!) so I'm not concerned. Still, I queue up a Buddhist Temple anyway. Haven't really built many of those!

1728AD: Huyana sends a new garrison to Nasca, so my wounded troops can do nothing but hole up and wait. Once again, you shoulda built some ROADS, HC! Meanwhile, an Incan GALLEON shows up unexpectedly, and sinks one of my own (thankfully empty) boats:

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/2989/1728adgalleonemptylosestogalleonmx2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Luckily, another Galleon (this one full of troops) manages to finish him off. Blub, blub, blub...

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/2742/1728adgalleonfullbeatsgalleonhz7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

1730AD:An Indian revolt has taken place in Portland!

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/7753/1730adportlandrevoltspi1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Looks like I'll have yet another city to pay for, soon. I don't know whether to be :D or :mad:

Meanwhile...HAHA! My frigate accidentally sails into an Incan Caravel, and toasts it:

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/3299/1730adsurprisecaravelam2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

It's so funny when that happens.

1732AD:Catherine makes peace with Huyana! I wonder if she actually, you know, did anything. Didn't see any of her forces anywhere. In other news, out of the blue, Mansa offers to trade Silk for Silver:

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/2215/1732admansasilkforsilverbe1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I was starting to wonder if that resource even existed on this map!

Steel finished, start building Ironworks in Delhi. Surprisingly, Calcutta actually has more production than Delhi while not running Bureaucracy! That'll be good when it's time for more Wonder-building!

1732AD (cont.): More troops land at Nasca. This time I don't mess around...suicide three catapults, and two actually survive! The rest is a mop-up operation:

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/33/1732adnascabattle21yf9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/2200/1732adnascabattle22ou5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/9765/1732adnascabattle23ik2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/8384/1726adnascabattle4lq6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/9120/1732adnascarazedny1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I choose to raze the city, since it's in a crap location. (This will come back to haunt me...)

1734AD:Mansa Musa declares war on Huyana Cupac!! I wonder if that's why he traded me the silk...he probably was trading with HC, and wanted a new customer. This could get exciting.

Forces land at Anda...whatever. Meanwhile, there's an Alexander caravel sniffing around. I wonder which side of the battle he'll join?

http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/4579/1734adforceslandatanhawhateverhn1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

1736AD:HATSHEPUT DECLARES WAR ON HUYANA!!! Hahahaha, it's an AI dogpile! I love it!

I've got too many catapults. Every war I never bring enough catapults, and now I've got too bloody many. Might as well suicide a couple, and send in a City Raider Grenadier:

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/4495/1736adandabattlesuicidecat1ag4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/493/1736adandabattlesuicidecat2ku5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/5096/1736adandabattle1mk4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Only one defender left. Hey Bob, it's all yours baby. Make Daddy proud!

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/4098/1736adandabattle2ac5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/2840/1736adandabattle3af5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Anda falls, claiming a Worker. (I wonder what would've happened if I razed the city while Alex's caravel was in it? Would the boat wind up on dry land?)

And...that's it. Time to make peace with HC:

http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/4126/1736adhcpeacetreatydt4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Kind of a crappy settlement, but that's all he has. Except for those basic techs we chose not to research millennia ago. Don't need 'em, don't want 'em. Well...I could sure use Code of Laws. Hell, I could use freakin' STATE PROPERTY at this point! Just look at our expenses:

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/3916/1772adevilcitymaintenancenc3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Youch. Next time I try this...I'll play as an Organized leader. Perhaps Financial/Organized, like...Washington!

OOC: Okay, Imageshack is giving me fits, my mouse hand is cramping, so that's all for tonight. Trust me, nothing significant happens for the next hundred years or so...but I'll be back with another report tomorrow! Stay tuned!

Haha yeah dude take a break you deserve it. And if you are goin to keep doing stories dont stop using pictures it makes it literally a hundred times better.

this is cool man.

This is a really good story, Congratulations.

I await the next update readily.

Okay, I've decided there will be fewer pictures from now on -- Imageshack is being a real pain in my ***. Don't worry, there will be enough to let you know what's going on. Oh, and you know how I said nothing interesting happens? I lied. ;) Well, I meant it at the time....

1736AD (cont.): After declaring peace, the first thing I notice is that Inca's borders now block the entire channel. Well, that's gonna be a real nuisance:

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/7444/1736adincabordersblockpassagekr9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Fortify troops in newly conquered cities, see that research is commencing apace, and revolt back to Bureaucracy. Ironworks now due in 22 turns.

1738AD: All of a sudden, the orange barrier between me & the sea disappears. I guess it was a glitch or a temporary thing...no, wait a minute. Mansa Musa just razed a city!

http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/2117/1738admansarazesacitylx9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

He's still got maces? That's bizarre. I was sure he was up to Muskets by now.

Huyana Cupac demands Scientific Method, saying it will "Heal the unfortunate rift between our peoples." I tell him to go stuff it.

1740AD: Buddhist missionary arrives in Chittygong-gong. At last, the town can start the culture battle for the horses!!

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/3950/1740adchittagongbuddhafiedoa8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Settler parties from Mansa Musa and Alexander are sailing everywhere. Probably claiming land I've left unnoticed. I really should get in the habit of putting together those Mayflower ships...you know, the Longbow/Worker/Settler Galleons that the AI always seems to have on hand.

1742AD: [Phone rings] "Hello? Oh, Cathy. How you doing, babe? Uh-huh. You say your people don't understand you? Uh-huh. They spread rumors behind your back? Uh-huh, uh-huh. Yes, I know. Being a national leader is tough, tell me about. I totally sympathize with your feelings. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Listen, babe. You caught me in the middle of something but I promise I'll make it up to you, sweetheart. Is there anything you want from me?"

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/1484/1742adcathywantssteelmq3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

"What's that, a big hunk of Steel? Umm...whatever. You got it, baby. Ciao." [Click] Aw, man. Next time, remind me to get a girlfriend who's not so high maintenance...

1744AD: Alexander adopts Nationhood, not that it makes any difference. I also keep forgetting to check the ice oil for intruding Settler parties, so I bite the bullet and found Punjab:

http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/5231/1744adpunjabfoundedtc1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Let the culture battle commence!!

1746AD: George Washington and Mansa Musa both have Steam Power now.

1748AD: Out of the blue, Hatsheput founds a city right where Nasca used to be:

http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/8271/1748adhattyfoundscityvn0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Well, I guess I can live with that. It's not like she's gonna use it to launch an invasion on me or something. I hope not, anyway...she really is being "Evil Hatty" in this game!

1750AD: Looks like I ended the Incan war none too soon. Huyana has Chemistry now...and therefore, FRIGATES!!!

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/3088/1750adhcfrigatebrigadelu2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

So much for naval domination. In fact, the next several centuries will be very dicey. We've got Rifles & Grenadiers, but that's ALL the military we will have for a very, very long time...well, we'll pick up Artillery & SAM Infantry along the way, but everything else will have to wait until The Internet!

1752AD: Delhi has maxed out at 17 population. Another useless Great Prophet is born, so I add him to the city:

http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/5853/1752adgreatprophetaddedtodelhilg3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Calcutta is due for its own GP soon, so I set the city to Max Research (3 Scientists) in order to try and squeeze out a Great Scientist. Delhi could really, really use an Academy!

1754AD: Strangely, the Incan frigates & galleons are returning to port, EMPTY. What happened, did the troops revolt or something? Oh wait...that new Egypt city is GONE!!!

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/7039/1754adhattycityrazednk2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I guess she forgot they were still at war. :lol:

1758AD: Hatty & HC make peace.

Caravels take a quick patrol around Huyana's continent. He doesn't appear to have any oil except a few spots in the water, which means he'll have to wait for Plastics to obtain it. Something tells me he won't ever get that far. ;)

http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/6257/1762admansabombardingcityqu7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Mansa Musa, meanwhile, has a pair of frigates bombarding Incan cities at random. Kinda like how I do it, heh. I don't see any of his land troops, though.

1762AD: Uh-oh, new residents have moved in:

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/4707/1762adcathypoachescitydv5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Well this is just dandy...Catherine & I are now neighbors. Now I get to deal with her insisting on talking about her feelings all day and all night long...

1768AD: Calcutta has popped COPPER from a mine!! Awesome! Now we have a second source to build The Internet with!

1770AD: Physics done. Turns out we have two Uranium sources, one in Jaipur:

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/8755/1770aduraniuminjaipurjy9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Sucks that it's under a lumbermill. That naked tundra looks so terribly gross. The second one is in...Arequipa? Where the hell? Oh yeah, it's one of the cities I just conquered!

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/6466/1770aduraniuminarequipakq1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Cool!! Uranium isn't that critical a resource, but at least we got an extra to trade if necessary!

Out by Chittygong-gong, Mansa Musa is building a railroad. Which means he must have...Railroad. Just a hunch.

Electricity set to research next, due in 22 turns.

1772AD: Cathy offers a straight trade of Education for Rifling. Love to honey, but...you know how it is. We don't need no education, no dark sarcasm in the classroom and all that.

1774AD: George Washington "requests" that we adopt Universal Suffrage. He's trying to kill my Representation- driven research, isn't he?? Well...as much of a friend as you've been to me, Georgie-boy, I gotta say no. We've got the Internet to build!! He doesn't take the news well:

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/5633/1774adgeorgewantsunivsuff2bz6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Poor baby. :lol:

1778AD: Delhi finishes building the Ironworks. Meanwhile, out on Gem Island, Anda-whatever is STARVING!!

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/1838/1778adandaculturebattlenv0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

This could get ugly. I just checked Catherine's civics, and she's running Free Religion AND Free Speech. Couple those with a Creative civ, and you've got a Cultural MONSTER. Man, once you invide the Russian mob into your home, you can never get 'em out....

I also notice that the crappy Fish Island where I almost placed a city, has now been swallowed by American culture. Nobody's going to place a city there, now.

Mansa Musa offers Steam Power + 500 gold for Physics. Thanks, but no thanks. We're building The Internet, baby! We don't need no...umm...dark steam in the classroom? Feh, I got nuthin'.

1780AD: Renegotiate Hatty trade, now I'm getting Wine + 8gpt for Copper (instead of Iron). No reason, I just felt like screwing with her head. Washington has Fur now, so I trade Gems for it.

1790AD: Long time passes...build stuff, send missionaries to more cities, keep researching Electricity...OH WOW! I just flipped an American city!!

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/2503/1790adportlandflipsrh4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I wonder if I can flip Houston, that mega-Sugar plantation? Probably not, but I'm gonna try!!

1792AD: Mansa Musa finally adopts Free Religion. With the "heathen" penalty erased, his attitude improves to Cautious. Huyana Cupac also switches from Theocracy to Organized Religion, but with closed borders, there's no way to spread faith in his lands.

1794AD: Enough missionaries have spread the faith to Egypt, that Hatty converts to Buddhism!! Welcome to the meditation club, baby!

1798AD: Mansa demands that I stop trading with Alexander. Oh b*tch, b*tch, b*tch. Shut up and go away.

I also notice that Mansa Musa now has a Defensive Pact with America, too. Good...more negative reactions from the other civs! A Diplomatic victory will be tricky, though...Washington's only Pleased with Mansa, but MM is FRIENDLY with GW!! Somehow, I've got to make sure that Mansa is high enough in score to be my rival for the Global election. MM & GW have been swapping first and second place all game long, but lately, GW has been pulling away to an astronomical lead. He MUST be stopped at all costs!

Keep it coming :p

Oops...I lay down to rest my eyes, and accidentally fell asleep. Not used to actually doing that while playing Civilization. :crazyeye: Anyway, let's take this opportunity to sum up what we've done so far, starting with a look at "the usual suspects", as it were:

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/5362/1800adaistatusgeorgedk8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Here's George. My Buddhist buddy, but trust me, it's a sham. He's the runaway tech leader and dominating everyone in population, military power, and overall score. He's got Artillery (which I need, but have nothing to trade for it) and Steam Power, and he must be stopped at all costs!!!

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/6408/1800adaistatusmansajv3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Mansa. Former Hindu Isolationist, he's seen the light of Free Religion and has warmed to the Buddhist bloc. He's in second place, and also has Steam Power, but no Artillery. Hopefully by the time I get Radio, he will have Artillery and I can trade for it.

http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/7294/1800adaistatuscathyuv0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Ah, Catherine. My wonderful darling. She doesn't have Physics or Rifles yet, but she's running a solid fourth place thanks to gifts from a mysterious benefactor (gee, I wonder who THAT is??) and is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with.

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/2944/1800adaistatusalexil3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Alexander, my other Buddhist buddy. His dreams of taking over the whole world were shattered in the early A.D. years due to his failed invasion of India, but despite that little misunderstanding, he's my friend and is running a distant fifth. Doesn't have Steam Power, or Physics & Steel, and oddly, doesn't have Horses either! That's probably why he tried, you know, invading me and everything. Despite our shared faith, he's somebody to keep an eye on, but at the moment poses no military threat.

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/3342/1800adaistatusegyptry1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Hatsheput. With Hatty, it's all about religion. She used to be Mansa's Hindu buddy and was really snotty about it, but now she has joined the Buddhist block and we're becoming close friends. She's still upset about my arrogant demands and declaring war on her earlier in the game (man, she likes to hold a grudge, doesn't she?) but no matter, she's tied for last place in score and seems unlikely to advance much further. She could also use a little more Iron in her diet, apparently.

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/8115/1800adaistatushuyanara3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

And...Huyana Cupac. Angry, bitter, and misunderstood by all, he's the lone Confucian worshipper and has become the "odd man out" in this game. I'm sure he dreams of sweet revenge, but having lost a good portion of his land and precious resources, I don't think he'll be a threat to anyone for a long time to come.

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/8393/1794addiplowindow1vj6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Here's the Diplomatic window. Thanks to religion swaps and lucrative trades in their favor, Mansa & Hatty are now Pleased with me, as well as Alex, and Cathy & George are Friendly. HC is pissed, really pissed. But he hates everyone, and everyone hates him, so it's tit for tat. It also appears that Hatty & Alex have finally made contact, at last!

Now for some graphs. First, Score. We're doing good, holding steady in third place:

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/3439/1798adscoresi0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Next, Crops. Yeah, there's no doubt, "cheating" for Agriculture & Animal Husbandry really saved our bacon:

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/7829/1798adcropsln1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Next, Culture. Mansa's still the runaway leader in this worthless category, with George & Catherine quickly gaining speed. My own people are too busy working on the Internet to worry about getting cultured, so this is a category we'll have trouble with for a long time:

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/5933/1798adculturegr3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Next, GNP. As you can see...OH MY FREAKING GOD!!!!!!!!

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/5717/1798adgnpxt2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

That...is SICK. I have never, EVER seen an AI run away with the game like this. It must be that Sugar plantation GW poached from me...at least, we're beating everyone in terms of Manufactured Goods, despite our piss-poor city production:

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/2283/1798admfggoodnh0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

And finally, Power. Levelling off a bit, but at the moment, the only rival we have to worry about is Huyana.

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/7938/1798adpowerno2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Coming up next...the Internet beeline continues!

1800AD: Karachi has maxed out at population 13:

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/5626/1800adkarachimaxedoutar6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Unfortunately, there's no way to irrigate the corn w/o farming over a bunch of mature towns, so it's stuck. At least the city's able to pay for itself now!

Punjab borders expand, the oil is now 78% American and dropping.

1802AD: Caravels scout Vilcabamba harbor, and find NO navy there, thank goodness. There's a Frigate guarding the fish, but only a Rifle & Grennie for defense. More cities in Egypt & Russia become Buddhafied.

1806AD: George Washington has Electricity now! In a fit of pique, I beg 100gp from Mansa Musa...and he agrees!

1808AD: Electricity finished. Start research on Radio, due in 25 turns. Begin building Broadway in Delhi, which has maxed out at 17 pop:

http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/2776/1808addelhimaxedouteo1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I was concerned about the health impact from Ironworks, but apparently that's not going to be a problem. The bright side of this rugged, inhospitable terrain is that we can't support enough population for health & happiness to become a major issue!

1810AD: My caravel finally locates Huyana's navy, or what's left of it:

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/9538/1810adhcfleetpshawoc3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I don't think it will be a problem. :lol: It's a brand-new city, built to replace the one that Mansa destroyed (and Alexander already placed a city on its ruins, which I forgot to mention.)

1814AD: Mansa Musa becomes Emanicpated! No unhappiness issues...yet.

1816AD: Mansa begs for Electricity. I'm feeling generous, so I give it to him. I'm also disgusted by the ugly naked tundra around Jaipur, after building the Uranium mine, so I open the Worldbuilder again and replace the forests that I had chopped...purely for aesthetic value, I swear!

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/6320/1816adworldbuildertreesdn3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

1818AD: Jeanne d'Arc is born in Calcutta, and he's...ANOTHER stinkin' Great Prophet!! As before, he'll only teach Polytheism, so into Delhi he goes, adding another 2 hammers & shaving a turn off of Broadway:

http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/4005/1818adaddgptodelhi2lx9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

(Note: This was a mistake. While the extra hammers & gold are nice, I forgot about something that becomes critical at this stage: GOLDEN AGE. Trust me, I was *dying* for a Golden Age for the rest of the game!!)

GW cancels the Ivory trade, so he must have Industrialism now. Sure wish I'd built more elephants...

1820AD: Mansa has Biology now, and I've also located his fleet:

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/4931/1820admansafleetsi3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Youch. Sure glad he's my friend now! In other news, a wandering missionary also spies on the state of Hatty's forces:

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/2391/1818adhieraconpolisbuddafiedhattysarmyhb5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Hey, she's got Grenades now! Good for her!

Various Banks & Markets come online, so I'm able to raise science up to 60%, shaving 2 turns off of Radio with only a slight deficit. I also try begging GW to give me Artillery, but of course he says no.

1822: Spare workers from the outlying islands are delivered home, not that they have anything to do at the moment.

1824: Huyana, the jerkface, asks me to adopt Hereditary Rule AGAIN. What's your problem, HC? NO means NO!

More Markets built, more cities Buddhafied, etc. etc.

1828AD: My caravel has discovered UNCLAIMED LAND!!

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/4584/1828adcaravelfindsunclaimedlandxg1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

It's a crappy island covered with tundra, but at least there's a forest and a hill and TWO possible fish resources (if I can steal the second away from Mansa!) I've already got a Mayflower loaded, so it sets sail for the far side of the globe. In other news, the borders of Bengal have expanded, stealing two tiles away from Alex:

http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/8605/1828adironcity2expandspf3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

We're lookin' good so far. :goodjob:

1830AD: Cathy has Railroad, although the only way I can tell is that she's building one:

http://img109.imageshack.us/img109/8431/1830adcathyrailroadsmineprobablycoalwl7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I will bet $1000 that mine has Coal in it. Meanwhile, I renegotiate my trades with her to look like this:

http://img118.imageshack.us/img118/9039/1830adcathytradesed8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

GW also has Biology now. Cool, another tech for us when the Internet gets built! I start deleting excess pikes & axes to save money, and workers chop a bank in Karachi.

1832AD: Bengal is STARVING!! :eek: Apparently, the new tiles from Alex's city have made the food balance lopsided. There's no worker in the city, so it has to build one itself in order to farm over the lumbermill (sigh).

http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/5153/1832adbengalstarvingaj8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

GW has Destroyers, not that that's a surprise.

1834AD: I whip the temple in Chittygong-gong, shaving 9 turns off its build:

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/3396/1834adchittygongwhipstemplegn5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

We'll get those horses, I swear! I also demand that Huyana Cupac pay me 5gp/turn -- like a whipped puppy, he agrees. I also try begging more money from Mansa, but he won't hear of it.

1836AD: Two Buddhist missionaries FAIL in St. Louis! The city's already got Christianity in it, so you know how pesky those Christians can be. The Fur/Gems deal with George gets cancelled, so I guess he's got Plastics now.

1838AD: Hatty begs for Steel. She could use a leg up, so I give it to her. Andahuaylas expands, pushing back Catherine's borders and stopping the starvation problem in that city. Bangalore (Copper City) has now maxed out at population 14:

http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/9488/1838adbangaloremaxedoutnw6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

At least it's making halfway-decent production. Good thing I cheated for those sheep, huh? :cooool:

1840AD: BROADWAY!!!

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/4149/1840adbroadwayzg7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I'm so happy to get this Wonder. The AI almost always beats me to it.

In other news, Zhou has maxed out at a whopping population of 9:

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/1932/1840adzhoumaxedoutrs3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

It wouldn't have even gotten that far if I didn't farm over the two tundra forests. Maybe it would've been better to keep one forest (for a lumbermill) and replace a mine with a windmill, but in that case, I don't think I could have worked the second mine. Oh well...once it builds that Market, the city will actually be paying for itself! :lol:

Here's a look at Lahore, which is still growing slowly (I set it to Max Commerce in order to work all the cottages):

http://img103.imageshack.us/img103/951/1840adlahoremaxcommerceforcottagegrowthjx1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Calcutta will never see another Great Person in its lifetime, so I turn off Max Research. It's pumping out 40 hammers/turn, not too shabby! They are getting a little close to the happy cap, so I queue up a Colosseum -- hey, it's got literally NOTHING left to build!

I also look around for the next city closest to producing a Great Scientist. Turns out it's...New Hyderabad, the silver city. Setting it to Max Research allows for three scientists with a GP of +9, meaning it will sprout in...83 turns. Longer, actually, since Delhi's certain to pop a few more GPs. Yeesh, the game will be long over by then. Still, might as well go for it. This means I can no longer work the silver mines, so production plummets to a measely 1 hammer/turn...but hey, it's got nothing useful to build anyway. :p Queue up a Buddhist Temple, due in a blistering 20 turns!

And finally, way down south, the Americans are slowly building a railroad towards the oil near Punjab. The Oil itself is down to 70% American...we might just get it! (And wouldn't it be nice if America builds a well for us?)

http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/6159/1840adpunjabbordersexpandmd2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

1842AD: Cathy offers Steam Power for Physics. Thanks honey, but I'll pass.

1844AD: MANSA MUSA DECLARES WAR ON ALEXANDER!!!

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/591/1844admansaattackatrhodeskj9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

A massive fleet descends upon Rhodes, which is guarded by a mere two Rifles. Predictably, two turns later, the city falls:

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/9954/1848adrhodesfallsgwapollocompletenh6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

He must really want that Rice!! Or, whatever's in that mine...

George Washington has also finished the Apollo Program. You know you're in trouble when a civilization completes Apollo and you're still two techs away from it!

This could get...dicey.

1848AD: Mansa Musa demands that I stop trading with Alex. Naturally, I tell him to get bent. I've already looked at the diplomatic situation, as well as the state of my military, and decided that I am NOT getting involved in this war. You two will have to duke it out amongst yourselves, guys.

I'm also really frustrated by the location of this river:

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/3882/1848adnonirrigableriverza1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Thanks to all that useless tundra, there is NO WAY to irrigate ANYTHING!! Oh, why couldn't I have started on a flood plain instead??

Kolhapur's boundaries expand to cover a fish resource way out in the ocean. The tile can't be used by the city, but since I don't like resources going to waste, I build a useless work boat to catch it anyway.

1850AD: A scouting caravel discovers more unclaimed land, this time a tiny grassland island w/ fish just off the coast of Russia. It's too far away and production-poor to ever be of any use, so I decide not to bother with it.

Radio due next turn...

1851AD:

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/7939/1851admodernagean4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

(By the way, I totally love the Modern Age "World at War" music. Really creepy and gothic.)

Radio's done, and...Mansa STILL DOESN'T HAVE ARTILLERY!! Looks like I gotta research it myself, though it will take only 13 turns at 60% science.

Delhi starts building The Eiffel Tower...the city's cranking out 172 hammers when building a Wonder with a half-cost resource!!

http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/7366/1851addelhibuildingeiffel1rv8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Calcutta, my second-highest production city, starts Rock & Roll. Here's a look at the bustling West Coast:

http://img224.imageshack.us/img224/6138/1851adwondersbeingbuiltdl2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

1852AD: My caravels spy a pair of Greek frigates heading at high speed to the coast of Mali. Yep, 2 frigates to attack a continent guarded by machine guns and destroyers. In addition, he sends a single grenadier to attack Taghaza, the Malinese city on Iron Island -- which is guarded by 2 Infantry, by the way. Whatever you say about Alexander, you gotta give that boy credit...he's got real balls.

1853AD: Alex's frigates starts ripping up fishing nets along the Malinese coast...and Mansa doesn't stop him!! You stupid idiot, ATTACK HIM WITH YOUR TRANSPORTS!! Why is letting that boy get away with it??

And in case you were wondering...yes, forest WILL grow on tundra:

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/1172/1853adforestgrowsontundragm2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I also notice that one of Taghaza's infantry is slightly injured, and I don't see the Grenadier anywhere. :lol:

1854AD: Alexander invites me join the war against Mansa:

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/4066/1854adalexwantsmansawar1ot6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I love the way these warmongering leaders ask for war assistance. Most of the others always say noble, important things like, "The enemy must be brought to justice! Come lend us your assistance!" With Alex, and people like Mao & Genghis, it's always like an invitation to go disco dancing or something.

And I'd love to, but...Alex? You're a madman. You're fighting a country that's almost two eras ahead of you in technology. And frankly, I'M not the one having my cities sacked and pillaged. You go have fun, my friend. Don't forget to send me a postcard of your tombstone. Naturally, Alex doesn't take my refusal very well:

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/4467/1854adalexwantsmansawar2bc4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Aaaaaaand no sooner do I hang up with Alex, the phone rings again:

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/2932/1854adcathywantselectricitynn9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

"Yes? Oh, hello Cathy." (Great...what now?) "What's the problem? You've got a blackout? You want to plug into our power grid? Aw, what the hell, why not. Anything you want, sweetheart." [Click]

Women! Can't live with 'em...can't kill 'em.

1855AD: Alex continues his rampage at Gao, while Mansa's transports sit in drydock and do nothing:

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/9061/1853adalexraidsgaofishnetsuy5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Mansa offers Biology +630 gold for Radio. Thanks, but no thanks. Why don't you research a tech I actually WANT instead??

I do notice he's got extra Oil for trade, but he wants Hit Musicals, Marble AND Stone for it! Umm...well, I'll keep that in mind. I don't yet know how desperately I'll need Oil when The Internet gets built!

Oh, and look what this jerkface wants:

http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/4579/1855adwashingtonartillerytradeph7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Say again, George? You want me to trade Radio for a half-researched tech and some measely gold?? Dream on, buddy. I ain't helping you win the game. Wait until I get the Eiffel Tower built, at least!

1856AD: Hatty demands that I stop trading with Russia. Girls, duke it out amongst yourself, I don't want to know about it. (Interestingly, Cathy's actually Pleased with Egypt, but Hatty's Annoyed with her.)

1857AD: Alex continues to ravage the coast of Mali. Most cities have run out of stuff to build, so I start converting them to Wealth, allowing me to run 70% science and knock two whole turns off of Artillery.

The corn tile near Jaipur is down to 68% Indian! Stupid Creative Catherine!

1858AD: Whoa, the Mali/Greece war has reached the homeland!

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/3296/1858adinjuredmmfleetatspartaxn4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

This is exciting! I start microwaving some popcorn and prop up a beach chair.

Those destroyers & frigates look somewhat injured...and HIGHLY promoted. They must have been busy!

1859AD: Huyana Cupac demands Physics. He doesn't take my refusal in stride:

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/2506/1859adhcdemandsphysicssr1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Umm...you know? I probably should watch out for Huyana Cupac. He's way down on technology now, but we're still more than 70 turns away from building The Internet, and he might start building Destroyers before I'm done. I do notice that there *is* some oil on the Incan continent proper, so I galley over a worker to spy on it. If he starts building a well...umm, best not to think about it.

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/3639/1859adworkerspiesonhcoilfi0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Artillery due in 3 turns...

This is one of the few stories that I've followed this dilligently. Good work and keep it up! :thumbsup:

1860AD: EMERGENCY AT BENGAL! Greek borders have expanded over both farm tiles, and the city's starving again! :eek:

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/5156/1860adbengallosestilestogreeceaa5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

There's not a damn thing I can do about it but watch. Well, first I whip the Observatory...might as well get some use out of those dying citizens! Later, I'll whip a Castle as well.

1861AD: EMERGENCY AT ICA! Russia has stolen two tiles away from the city!

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/3612/1861adicalosingculturebattlert4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

They're not starving (it's just a windmill and a jungle) but this Culture battle is getting brutal. For the first time, I find myself missing THEATRES in a bad way! COME ON, EIFFEL TOWER! I need you like never before!!!

Meanwhile, the Mayflower reaches that godforsaken fish island north of Mali. This place is literally the farthest away you can get from my homeland and still remain on the planet. Still...I could always use more land. I grit my teeth, and click the button:

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/7263/1861addeccafoundedan0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

City maintenance is -19gpt. For some reason, that actually doesn't seem so bad...

GW completes an SS Casing. As if I didn't have enough problems already...

1862AD: Caravel spies on HC's navy in Atico. He's got two galleons loaded with Grenadiers & Cannons, and two empty Galleons. Will he attack me with those forces? He just might. Luckily, there's still no action at his oil.

Jaipur, Ica & Bengal are still under siege culturally. Luckily, we're doing okay with the battle over America's oil...it's down to 57%!

1863AD: Artillery finished. Next up...ROCKETRY!

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/4861/1863adartillerydonerocketrynextww7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I check to see if Washington will trade for it, but of course he says he'd rather win the game, thank you very much! Speaking of Washington, he needs some competition. So I dial up Mansa and gift him a few techs:

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/5439/1863adgiftmansatechou4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


Well, not precisely a gift, but he did get them for a song. His score jumps 130 points, now he's nipping at GW's heels! Plus, I've got extra cash to start researching Rocketry at the ungodly rate of 80% -- massive deficit, but