French, Regent Difficulty, 8 civs, random standard-dized map, random climate, random age, babarians at Restless Tribes.

The capitol of France, Paris was founded next to a river, with grassland and floodplains nearby. In the early years, I used my warriors and explored a lot, finding good sites with wines, horses, furs, incense, and silks. I have a lot of jungle on my
northwest and a large desert on my east. The sea is not far from my southwest. I raided many babarian settlements and took lots of gold. This is a good way of making money in the early years.

Before long, I met the Babylonians to my southeast, and later the Persians to my northeast. Since the Babylonians were much closer to me, I made a mental note that this will be the first neighbour I crush.

Mistake 1. I didn't build settlers fast enough. From the 5 resources mentioned above, furs was taken by Persia and incense by Babylon. In 825 BC, I managed to trade for the territory maps of all other civilisations (see attached 825 BC map). Most of the other civilisations had more cities than I did (some had more than double!). The civilisation ranking was: Japan, Persia, Russia, Germany, England, French (me), Zululand, Babylonians.

Anyway, what's done is done, so I decided to crush the Babylonians early. At least I'd clear my south eastern front and wouldn't need to worry about being sandwiched by Persians and Babylonians and whoever that may come through the jungles on the northwest.

Mistake 2. I didn't have a large enough attack force. I started the conquest in 350 BC, and only managed to kill off the Babylonians in 610 AD. During this time I even had to offer peace for a short while to regroup before re-declaring war. I should have been more patient and built up a larger attack force, rather than losing multiple smaller groups of attack forces and having to replenish. During this time the Germans have crushed the Zulus (in 490 AD, see attached 490 AD map). The Persians, seeing that I am busy on the southern border, threatened me. I ended up paying tribute to Xerxes in order to maintain peace. Lesson learnt: all the AI civs are bullies and opportunists. They will sieze the moment when you are vulnerable and make unreasonable demands. Sometimes you'll have to give in to them. Being in a multiple front war is probably worse.

By the time I managed to kill off the Babylonians, the Persians have expanded to my northwest, creating a large U-shaped country. I decided to step back from being militaristic in order to do some nation building. I have spent too much effort in invading Babylon and have neglected my city improvements. I lost out in a number of wonders. Thankfully I managed to build the Sistine Chapel. Now the civilisation ranking was: Japan, Persia, Russia, Germany, French (me), England. Japan has the highest culture whereas Persia is the most powerful. Overall, Japan was the top dog.

Mistake 3. I didn't have a coastal city and thus didn't have a harbour. A harbour is important for trade. I could only trade with all other countries in 730 AD. Before that I could only trade with Persia and Babylon.

Technology-wise I was trailing one or two techs behind, but sometimes managing to catch up to the save level. The middle ages (i.e. French musketeers) came and went without any battles, i.e. no Golden Age. The Japanese built a few isolated cities on my west, creating a split country (divided by the English). The Japanese capital is on the other side of the globe to my west. Now, on my western flank I was bordering both the Persians (north and northwest) and the Japanese (west and south west).

The Japanese declared war on the Persians. I didn't join either side since these two are the largest nations and I didn't want to be a target of either one. However I did sign a Right of Passage agreement with Japan to, ahem, indirectly help with a bit of their military logistics. Later England joined the battle on Japan's side. Again, I delighted Queen Elizabeth with an ROP. Japan conquered West Persia (with has ivory) and England passed through France to conquer 3 or 4 Persian cities. This is the fall of Persia, from 2nd largest empire to smallest. I must say I have enjoyed sitting by the side and watching, since Xerxes has been a pr!ck all the while. At the end of the war, I grabbed the opportunity to send in settlers to found cities in those unclaimed land between the previously-Persian-now-Japanese/English cities. Since I was geographically nearer to old Persia, I could do this faster. Also, I have just discovered steam power and could see the coal deposits in those unclaimed territories.

I started to gain a tech lead in the industrial age, and, unlike the AIs, I do not easily trade away my newest techs. I was happily building my nation (at the time I was number 4, behind Japan, Russia and Germany) when suddenly a few Russian cossacks came in through my western border. Russia is far, far away on the otherwise of the world to my northwest. I wanted to tell them to buzz off, but when I had the diplomatic conversation with Catherine, I couldn't just say "Please buzz off". I could only choose between saying "Buzz off or die" (Remove your troops or declare war) or not say anything at all. Since I was enjoying my peaceful prosperity, I decided to tolerate the rudeness. I also remembered from previous games that sometimes the AIs just sends huge stacks of soldiers through your territory to attack another AI civ. As you can probably tell, this is Mistake number 4.

Mistake 4. Never trust the AI civs (and never under-defend your cities). Japan (largest nation) declared war. Yes, Japan. In the next turn, they took a young city in former Persia which has coal. Lesson learnt: when the AIs sneak attack, you know for sure they are well prepared. When they threaten you, usually they are ready to carry out the threat. My young coal city was defended by 2 or 3 riflemen, without any walls. It fell to a few Japanese cavalry. Thankfully upon Japan's war declaration (before Shogun Tokugawa actually attacked), I immediately signed Mutual Protection Pacts with England and Germany (paying a price in both cases). So upon Japan's attack, it became a 3 vs 1 war. Germany was right to the north of the main Japanese territory, whereas England was between mother Japan and the Japanese colonies. So I thought I wouldn't do too bad in this war. Sure, the Japanese had taken one city, and had 5 or 6 more colony cities to my northwest (former Persian cities) and west (older Japanese colonies), but being so far away meant they were pretty unproductive. Wait... let me get back to Mistake 4...

Russia declared war out of the blue, and immediately took 2 lightly defended (1 or 2 defenders) core French cities! I wasn't very prepared for war. I only had about 4 cavalry, and an average of less than 2 riflemen per city. I was in a democracy. I decided to mobilise for war. Due to the MPP, Germany and England also had to declare war against the Russians. Now it's 3 vs 2 (Number 3, 4, 5 against Number 1 & 2, while tiny Persia - 6 cities - sat and watched). One of the captured cities revolted and returned to France, and the other one was quickly re-captured. Unfortunately most of their city improvements were destroyed. A very costly mistake indeed.

The first wave of Russian cossacks didn't last very long. However, soon Russia started sending in stacks and stacks of riflemen, i.e. defenders, mixed with an odd swordsman or longbowman. Why do the Russians send in huge stacks of defenders? They just wandered about my territory. I couldn't take them out because of their sheer numbers. All I could do was move my defenders around whenever their stacks approach any city. Sometimes I do use cavalry to take out some of the smaller stacks (2 or 3), but I needed more for the huge stacks. Then came Replaceable Parts (infantry and artillery). I built many artillery to bombard the stacks. Soon the injured soldiers started marching back home. Another thing I did was build one musketeer and let it attack an isolated longbowman (riflemen in the same stack as the longbowman have been killed by my cavalry). This triggered my Golden Age.

Meanwhile, Persia declared war and took another one of my young cities (in former East Persia), which had - oil! Again, Xerxes was very ready for this sneak attack and he won a valuable prize - oil. I was too occupied with the huge Russian stacks and smaller Japanese stacks on my west border that I couldn't spare units on my eastern border. I could only send enough defenders to ensure I didn't lose any more cities. Now it's World War I, 3 vs 3.

After bombarding the Russians into retreat (probably they are also going back to defend their homeland from the Germans / English), and securing my western border from further attacks, I started to get on the offensive with Persia, taking all of their cities on the mainland of East Persia (they had one small town on an island in the middle of nowhere off their eastern coast), capturing a few wonders including Smith's Trading Company. Germany later killed off the Persians by taking that last island town. After Persia, it was Japan's turn. I conquered all the Japanese colonies in former West Persia, and also took a few more to my west (one of them had dyes), before making peace with everyone.

By now, 1650 AD I am the biggest kid on the block (see attached 1650 AD map). Well, since I am Joan of Arc, I guess I am the biggest Saint on the block.

Lessons Learnt:
1. A good start is very important. Time the building of settlers accurately in order to grab as much land as possible.
2. When planning an offensive, make sure you have a large enough attack force.
3. Have a coastal city and build a harbour, for world trade's sake.
4. Never trust wandering AI units to be not threatening and never under-defend your cities.
5. Defend your resource cities well.
6. Make use of diplomacy in war and in encouraging other people's wars.
7. Don't underestimate the AI. You have to be meticulous because they don't miss any mistake you make.

I don't know why the pictures don't show. I'll put them on this website:
http://hecose.tripod.com/FrenchLessonBC0825.gif
http://hecose.tripod.com/FrenchLessonAD0490.gif
http://hecose.tripod.com/FrenchLessonAD1650.gif
http://hecose.tripod.com/FrenchLessonTerrain.gif

EDIT: :confused: doesn't seem to work either... let's try this...

http://hecose.tripod.com/FrenchLesson.html

Say, now they work!

:lol: and I have no idea why it works now.