Hallo All,

Basically I'm a achievment hunter, right now, so I'm trying to achieve as many Steam Achievemnts as possible.

My next, main, goals will be:
- main goal will be to achieve a scientific victory
- win as Augustus
- win on King difficulty level.

Additionally I would like to describe it here as a AAR so you may expect some updates on that in the nearest future.

If anyone has a comments on what I'm doing right or wrong I'm looking forward to any good advices :)

I have already started the game and collected some screenshots so I'll upload it all todays evening, but first:

Game Settings

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/6900/4000bcgamesettings.jpg (http://img140.imageshack.us/i/4000bcgamesettings.jpg/)
http://img140.image[IMG]http://img140.imageshack.us/i/4000bcgamesettings.jpg/http://img140.imageshack.us/i/4000bcgamesettings.jpg/http://img140.imageshack.us/

And first city - Rome

http://img510.imageshack.us/i/4000bcmap.jpghttp://img510.imageshack.us/i/4000bcmap.jpg/http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/3874/4000bcmap.jpg (http://img510.imageshack.us/i/4000bcmap.jpg/)

More will come later today.

Few comments regarding settings.

I have also selected Quick Combat and Random Personalities options. The Map Type is also random but I don't know if it works or not.

First of all at the beginning I have selected:
- Research - Minning
This is to be able to improve production of the city. Rome is placed mainly on plains so I think this will be needed.

Next step - Calendar so I can use resources I have in Rome.

- Production - Scout
Have to look for some new spots for new cities.

This is how Rome looks inside


http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/2564/4000bcrome.jpg (http://img72.imageshack.us/i/4000bcrome.jpg/)


Next step is to take my Warrior to a little trip around Rome to find out what's around, but suddenly out of nowhere ...

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/2776/3865bcadvancedweaponsfr.jpg (http://img217.imageshack.us/i/3865bcadvancedweaponsfr.jpg/)


... and I don't have Warrior anymore :) and I find see. At least one side will be safe at the beginning.

I don't know what type of map I'm playing on so I wasn't sure that I will ever find the see but lackily

And few turns later I meet

- Darius, which seems to be a great and remarkable man

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/4317/3835bcdariusthepiet.jpg (http://img269.imageshack.us/i/3835bcdariusthepiet.jpg/)


- and Wu Zetian which just seems to be reasonable ... but we'll see about that.

http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/9575/3835bcwuzetianquitereas.jpg (http://img841.imageshack.us/i/3835bcwuzetianquitereas.jpg/)


Next few round I continue exploring with my Spearman and I find Darius. A little close and looking at his attitude I think I might have some problems with him in the future.

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/2903/3820bcpersepolis.jpg (http://img152.imageshack.us/i/3820bcpersepolis.jpg/)


I continue to explore and in year 3790 I meet Ramses and ....

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/7997/3790bcramses.jpg (http://img716.imageshack.us/i/3790bcramses.jpg/)


Year 3715 the Scout is completed so I can go for Culture and a Monument.

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/9297/3715bcscoutreadynowmonu.jpg (http://img23.imageshack.us/i/3715bcscoutreadynowmonu.jpg/)


... and still exploring which gives me some more pop out of nowhere :)

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/8756/3700bcsurvivorsfound.jpg (http://img251.imageshack.us/i/3700bcsurvivorsfound.jpg/)


And in the end I find barbs

http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/8464/3670bcbarbsfound.jpg (http://img709.imageshack.us/i/3670bcbarbsfound.jpg/)


I did destroy them with my spearman, but it took quite a hit doing that so I decide to send him back to Rome for treatment, and I think he'll stay there as Rome will need some Barb-wire at least for the nearest future.

In year 3655 BC I am finally able to select a policy (gained 90 points out of ruins) and I choose ... Tradition.

I was wondering whether Tradition or Honor would be better at the beginning, but Rome isn't really placed that good when it comes to food so I think improoving my economy first is a better idea.

http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/8751/3655bc90culturereceived.jpg (http://img844.imageshack.us/i/3655bc90culturereceived.jpg/)


Year 3635 I meet Askia.

http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/8997/3635bcaskia.jpg (http://img715.imageshack.us/i/3635bcaskia.jpg/)


Askia is located to the south of me.

http://img574.imageshack.us/img574/430/3625bcaskiafoundandfigh.jpg (http://img574.imageshack.us/i/3625bcaskiafoundandfigh.jpg/)


To be honest now I'm not so sure that I will complete this Scientific Victory as it seems I will be in a need for a decent army with such neighbours. And I need to plan my cities placement with regarding to defense otherwise I might finish this game earlier then expected.

Year 3595 ...

... I find more population in the ruins, again ...

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/1444/3595bcsomemorepopfromru.jpg (http://img100.imageshack.us/i/3595bcsomemorepopfromru.jpg/)


and this is how Rome looks like after that.

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/71/3595bcrome.jpg (http://img168.imageshack.us/i/3595bcrome.jpg/)


Gotta tell you that I feel quite lucky with that pop - that speeds things a little for me :)

I also meet Harun al-Rashid of Arabia in year 3595 BC.

http://img718.imageshack.us/img718/6416/3595bcmeetrashid.jpg (http://img718.imageshack.us/i/3595bcmeetrashid.jpg/)



Year 3535 I'm offered PoC from Wu, which I accept.

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/7900/3535bcwuzetianpactofcoo.jpg (http://img268.imageshack.us/i/3535bcwuzetianpactofcoo.jpg/)


One thing should be noted here - I still don't know where Wu is located - but she can't be far as she met me right at the beginning of the game. I would say Northwest or Southwest.

Mining is finally completed after year 3535 BC, so now I'll go for Pottery.

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/5415/3535bcminningcompleted.jpg (http://img413.imageshack.us/i/3535bcminningcompleted.jpg/)


Year 3520 BC comes with a new neighbour - Alexander, which I'll soon find on the Northwest - so that leaves Southeast for Wu.

http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/1779/3520bcalexanderthegreat.jpg (http://img577.imageshack.us/i/3520bcalexanderthegreat.jpg/)


and in 3505 Askia comes with a bussiness to me

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/4185/3505bcaskiawantsposagai.jpg (http://img221.imageshack.us/i/3505bcaskiawantsposagai.jpg/)


Guess what did I say? It's a little to early for picking sides.


Year 3370 - Alexander found on the Northwest (as I mentioned before) and I think it's time to go.

Oh, as you can see there's also second see on the West. It's not Great Plains :)

http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/5551/3370bcsecondoceanandale.jpg (http://img707.imageshack.us/i/3370bcsecondoceanandale.jpg/)


Plan for next session:
- Army buildup
- New city - but where? Need to choose between resources, growth potential and defense
- Worker - I think I'll buy one when Calendar is completed
- and some more exploration (the Scout is in the automate mode now as I have to focus on Rome some more)

If anyone has any comments feel free to post :)

Next update: truns 44 -> 140 (year 3340 BC -> 2100 BC).

First of all some summary screenshots so you can see how situation looks like, exactly.

North

http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/714/3340bcnorth.jpg

and South

http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/2694/3340bcsouth.jpg

Now, here are my basic thoughts about the situation.

1. I have a food problem in Rome, which I plan to reslove by building some Farms along the river. Granary will also help a little.
2. I have 2 resources to get and improove so I'm planning to get a Worker and Calendar, quick.
3. Need some army to defend my self. And money for army upkeep.
4. Happiness will not be a problem as I have enough Happiness resources for the beginning. Later on I will have to find some more.
5. Will have to thing about increasing prouction in Rome (but food first).

Resources that I have around me:
- Silk (plenty), planning to improve the nearest one. Rest we'll see.
- Cotton, it's also next to Rome, so that's my next improvement.
- Silver. There is some to the north and west, but I'll grab the north one as it's closer and gives me better position against Darius.
- Gems. It'll be quite hard, as both are far. If I'll put a city there it will be hard to defend.

Resoruces I won't get:
- Marble. Too far and right next to other civs.
- Spice. Alex is a Tycoon here in spices.
- Wine. Askia is in the same position as Alex.
- Whales. Close to Rammy.

Bonus resources:
- there's planty of Wheat around. I will have to grab as much as possible using new cities.

Year 3265 BC
I move my scout (manually) from Alex down South. I need to discover those lands to see if there's any resources I would need, and basically to get the strategic information. I meet a Barb almost killed so I finish him off.

http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/6927/3265bcbarbstodestroy.jpg


No more new resources, unfortunately, but I find the sea, which is good as there will be no new civ there.

Additionally I plan my next cities. Red marks are planned settlements.

http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/7113/3250bcplansforthecities.jpg

Year 3205 BC

I discover Whales near Rammy (already in the summary above), I find Rammys city. In the same turn Alex offers me PoS against Rammy. I agree, as Alex is a quite close neighbour and I want him to be my ally against Darius.

Year 3190 BC

Pottery is finished. Now going for Calendar. Worker is under construction.

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/9716/3190bctechnologytreecal.jpg

I move my scout south to discover some more terrain.

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/2711/3145bcwestsouthrammy.jpg

And I stop him on hills to finally heal some wounds (these are from the barbs he has killed)

Year 3100 BC

I'm planning to grab a worker from a CS. Unfortunately Tyre has none so Brussels most problably won't have one either. Second thing is that I don't plan to steal worker from Brussels even if it has one since it's a cultural CS, and quite close to my borders so making it unhappy about me is not my plan at this point.

Rome

http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/9046/3100bcromeis4andneedwor.jpg

Tyre

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/1144/3085bctyrehasnoworker.jpg

Year 3025 BC

This year I meet Ghandi. He's polite and must be far. To far to be my concern right now.

Year 2970 BC

I change some production settings in Rome so I'll get the Worker a little bit faster. Cost is Rome not growing for a while, but it is planned to grow in 120 turns so this is not an option anyways.

I'll get worker and Rome will get it's food.

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/7858/2980bcchangedsettingsin.jpg

Year 2950 BC

And this what comes to my view in year 2950 BC. A Pikeman rush or someone grabbed to many huts?

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/3747/2950bcpikemanrush.jpg

To be sure that everything's fine I check demographics, and it doesn't look that bad.

http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/5531/2950bcdemographics.jpg

Year 2890 BC

I get a Policy to adopt. I choose Aristocracy, which is going to be useful as I'm planning to build some wonders in Rome (starting with Stonehenge).

Year 2875 BC

A Pliny comes and tells me that I'm first in the pops, and second in production. That is good news - I'm not falling behind as I though I am.

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/9251/2875bcplinybusiestpeopl.jpg

Year 2845 BC

This year I meed George W which comes out of bush and he want's to trade with me. I sell him OB for 50 - that's a good deal and it means he's friendly to me. That is good.

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/3852/2845georgewtrades.jpg

I don't need his OB as I don't even know where he is exactly, while money is a good thing, always.

Year 2755 BC

This year fun begins. Darius is becoming to be a problem, when he settles in place where I planned to do it.
I urge him not to do so in the future, but he's not too cooperative. Will have to handle him differently, but I have to tell you at this point that I have had seen it comming from the very beginning.

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/3729/2755daruisisatrouble.jpg

Few hundred years pass in peace, but it doesn't mean it will always stay like that. Especially that my Worker is done in

Year 2740 BC

And I'm going for Settler. Right after Settler few Warriors will have to come. Additionally I secure Silk (at least one I will have for sure).

Year 2695 BC

I sign PoC with Ghandi and George W. out of Bush.

Year 2635 BC

I sign PoS with GW against Rammy (that's a second one against Rammy)
I ask Alex about PoS vs Darius - and he agrees. Yeeey. PoC he refuses.

Year 2590 BC

Calendar is done. Going for Archery to improve my military a bit. I would also like to go for Bronse and Iron - but it's going to take to much (Iron Washing takes 84 turns)

Year 2530 BC

Brussels wants Belgrade eliminated. Don't care as Belgrade is waaay to far. I don't even know where it is.

Year 2470 BC

I sign PoS vs Rammy with Askia.

Year 2360 BC

I get Archery. Going for Animal Husbandry.

Year 2340 BC

I refuse PoS vs Wu Zetian with Alex. To shame, I like Wu a little - she's being nice and polite to me.

Year 2290 BC

Finally expansion is starting. New city is build which is clearly aggressive against Darius, but he is the one who started it. We'll see how he is going to react, but I think now I'll focus on army to be sure I can take his reaction.

http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/2392/2290bcnewcity.jpg

Year 2150 BC

Silk is finally improved. I sell it to Alex for 900. He clearly likes me. That's good.

For money I buy:
- Settler
- Warrior

Additionally I meet Oda and Wu comes to me to ask about PoS against Darius. Guess what I say about that :)

Year 2130 BC

I refuse Oda a PoS vs Harun. I don't know anything about Harun and Oda. Don't want to be a part of their politics. Got my own problems.

Year 2100 BC

Time to finish for today. Below some overview screenshots.

Me and Darius:

http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/4089/2100bcgoingtosleep.jpg

Alex:

http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/7508/2100bcalex.jpg

Rammy:

http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/4268/2100bcrammy.jpg

Askia:

http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/3007/2100bcandaskia.jpg