I decided to focus on defense, because I felt threated on both sides by Monty and Siam. Luckily we have some help from terrain in the west. A long mountain rage, and the only gap is blocked by this marsh. Eventually I'd like to settle a city by it, but I'm worried that it will annoy Monty too much right now.
The east is more of a problem. We're right next to Siamese territory, and there's a lot of rough terrain for his troops to hide in just 2 tiles away from our cities. I cut down most of the forest on our boundary there, which will help a bit.
T97:We've got spare gems, but no one wants to buy them. I sold them to Caesar for just 70 gold, because I assume he'll be dead soon anyway. I also adjusted more horsemen east to defend.
T98: Rome acts us for a pact of secrecty against napoleon, while Siam and Monty declare on him! That's a relief. Apparently the large army that Siam was moving near us was actually headed towards Rome. I still decided to buy a catapult, just in case.
T99:Removed a couple roads that weren't doing anything. some of our roads in Japan were built by the AI, so of course it's bad.
Our silver and wine trade to Ramesses ends, and he won't buy them back. I resell them to caesar for a small amount, because he's obviously on his way out. I also got this list of food production, telling me that the only Roman city is starving, probably because of armies covering all its tiles.
T100:I made a mistake this turn and sold wine to Ramesses, not realizing that it was our only source. I really, really hope that the next patch adds an easy way to tell what resources we have available, and how much. As it is, it's really hard to tell which resources you're getting from trades.
I sign a research agreement with monty, which hopefully will pacify him. I also disbanded the archer in Neapolis and replaced him with the new catapult, which will be a lot more effective.
The greeks managed to sneak in Argos on our east coast, which is quite annoying.
T101:currency finishes, began chivalry. Edirne finished a coloseum, began a library.
T102:Monty is hostile once again! Make up your mind, why don't you?
Our silk deal with Napoleon ended, and I didn't renew since it was our only native source. Began a settler in Ayshe's vineyard, and a library in Constantinople. Catapult finished in Istanbul, and I begin constructing a barracks there. (in retrospect it would have been better to buy the barracks first)
T103:finished a settler in Byzantium. I notice a lot of armies in Monty's territory near our borders, which makes me nervous. I decided to adjust a few units to our western side. I've also begun chopping down the forest on our western border with Monty, to improve defense there.
T104:founded Konya.
T105:I promised you guys war, right? Our opponent this time is...
uhh... OK... didn't expect that one. Not Siam, who shares a long border with us. Not Egypt, who's been hostile forever. Not Monty, who has now turned hostile twice. Instead it's Napoleon, who has always been trading peacefully with us, and who has no way to attack us except to go through a 1 tile mountain pass. Love that genious warfare AI.
Well anyway I sent a catapult and our great general down to defend Cumae. I used the horseman down there to pillage the only road coming into the city from his side, so his units will have to stop on the mountain pass where we can kill them. I sold our wine to Siam, not realizaing it was our only one. At least I got 300g for it. Istanbul finished a barracks, started another catapult, and I bought a coloseum in Konya.
T106:Siam enters the renaissance
I really hope they stay friendly, because look at their troops:
completely surrounding Neapolis! If they declare war we probably can't defend that city. My plan is to just fall back to Tokyo and defend there. We've got so many cities, it doesn't really matter if we lose 1.
T107:Napoleon is trying to attack across the swamp, where we have two strong city state allies. As a result, his army is getting owned. Look at this:
on this turn the Romans were finally destroyed, which gives us our silver and gems back. I sold the gems to Ramesses for 200g; no one else will buy anything from us. I changed a hill farm at Istanbul to a mine, since that city already has plenty of food.
Also, I made a mistake in micro last turn. We were 2 beakers short of finishing chivalry, but I didn't see that. I should have hired one extra scientist in Istanbul, but instead we lost a turn of research. Sorry about that. (I really, really hate that this game throws away research overflow!)
T108:To make up for my previous error, I hire 2 extra scientists in Istanbul. After the library in Ankara finishes, this should give us juuuuust enough science to finish theology in 3 turns.
I upgraded our horseman to knights. I didn't have quite enough for all of them, so I skipped the one that already had 80 experience but was still level 1 (from healing promotions). As a result, our soldiers jump up from 49k to 58k.
T109:stupid governor tries to interfere in Istanbul. I force it back, so we can run 2 scientists and also finish a catapult next turn
T110:A great scientist finishes in MLP, while a catapult finishes in Istanbul. I found Samsun, which should seal off the greeks. I've also hired a scientist in Ankara to give us just enough science to finish theology this turn. Make sure you don't get rid of any scientists this turn! You can fire the on in Ankara and the 2 in Istanbul next turn.
Napoleon tries to move an archer up below Cumae, but the catapult there kills it in one blast
And, here's the end of turn demographics:
#1 in MFG! Actually, for a little while we were #1 in both MFG and GNP, and almost #1 in land, but then Siam and Napoleon surged ahead. Still, looking good. Being #1 in anything important, this early on in a deity game, never would have happened in Civ 4. Especially being almost last in population and first in production should show just how ridiculous the economic system in this game is. Unless we get dogpiled and killed very soon from now, I don't see how we could lose, because our economy is just going to keep growing faster, especially after we get more scientists and the forbidden palace.
When theology finishes I think we should try and build the Hagia Sophia (+33% gpp) somewhere, since it's useful and cheap. Probably not Istanbul though, we can save Istanbul for the forbidden palace. Istanbul needs another production order now though, maybe another catapult.
I used that program to convert my deluxe edition save to the regular edition, so... HOPEFULLY this will work.