MLG7: Another Race to Space

I do chop/whip libraries soon.

And I'm ashamed to admit it, never knew how to add the turns to that bar.

Plus yeah, so far I haven't even settled that "marginal" spot yet. That was a low priority, but I did settle it eventually in the spot with the clamses.

Leader/civ combination allows for huge early cities. Ball's Court is great for happiness and Exp trait is self-explicit.
Also, financial on a river is a great point of departure for a CE.

Get to pottery fast, cottage fast to sustain a good early eco.
Close as much good land as possible and then off we go.

After discovering a coast with a fish, I decided to stay where I was. The start is rather poor, but the irrigated early rice should enable me to work a few cottages pretty early.

Sorry, no pic of settling, you already now the place .

First few turns went uneventful. I popped some gold here and there, followed by a warrior. That made me a better scout - I almost discovered the whole continent by now (think so).

After getting Agriculture for the rice, I went for Wheel/Pottery. Worker finished and farmed the rice asap before setting up a mine to the north.

I met rather fast Izzie's archer and Monty's scout. Not the best neighborhood I would have hoped for, but maybe I'll get to conquer the Spain later (no, this ain't the game purpose).

Religions went fast : Buddha in turn 9, Hindu in 15. Izzie was still chasing, when she got first to Judaism. I think it should make a one happy continent - Monty has no religion.

BW came in, no copper around. I decided to hold on Slavery, as I was going for the early Henge.

Had a small luck with a hut:



Finally, I met another guy, Surya. I don't like him because he's prone to DoW at Pleased...

Anyway, with Pottery I cottaged a river grass and two river plains. I tried to work them as often as possible switching here and there to jongle with the Henge and the food deficit. Got already two hamlets by the end of the set

Big build came in:


Well, I have build the Henge for the land grab. I plan on going for a close to Surya spot, so the border has to be strong on that side of the world.

I don't know what I'll do with the Prophet - will think about it later.

In the mean time I got Hunting, revolted to Slaves and started a settler.
Our small country:



And, I hope so, our next city:



I'm still unsure I want an early border war, but the spot is just too beautiful for a cottage spammer

Grab and close the lands, mature cottages and get IW to clear this ungly patch of the jungle.
Get some defense - Monty ain't a merry guy and border tensions with Surya may occur soon.

OMG, that's a really aggressive strategy! I'd love to see how this pans out, especially with two warmongers/backstabbers over where you're grabbing land.

Unsure I'll make it
No barbs surely helps fast expansion. If I can't take this one, I'll go for the cow/gold to the south. Have to land lock as much as possible and protect the border.

I 100% agree. I'll be doing the same, a big empire with more cottages just means more science. I think this is why the CE's may win this game, cause most of the SE's settled in that spot farther to the south, which means they'll likely not have as much cities as us, which means less specialists.(although it does depend on wether or not SE's can match our many cottages in Specialist's.

Close my lands and grab as much good lands as possible from Surya
Discover IW and go for CoL

Well, it went not bad at all, though some points are concerning.
But don't go too far ahead

I discovered Writing in turn 52, signing an OB agreement with everyone for diplo +s and unharmed warrior spying.

As it became an option, I whipped the settler in Mutal with overflow into a warrior. What was concerning was the fact that Surya was already going for the spot of mine

On the other side of the world, Monty got the GW (which, in a no barb game, was kinda funny event )

Worker finished in Mutal and I started the Library while getting the pop back (whip hurts when all you have is a rice).
Workers went on roading toward the north and the selected city spot, which I settled in turn 59:



As you see, Surya went for another spot than mine, so I got the cow/gold beauty.

As I discovered IW in turn 67, and surprisingly an iron popped south to Mutal on one of those empty plains , my both cities were connected. We also got a visit from a spanish missionary. I didn't convert yet (will not until Monty decides what religion to follow - Surya already converted, so I am awaiting eagerly the Spanyards spreading it to Monty as well - need +++ with Surya).

A few turns later (research is quite quick with these villages/hamlets around Mutal, and the gold in the north), I discovered AH and horses not that far away from the capital.

On turn 74 (seventy four) Monty got Pyramids
Of course he revolted to Police State, so I set a survelliance on his cities.
Let's take a look on his capital (he was the RNG preferred guy):



I followed the Oracle route, getting Polytheism. When I was a turn off Priesthood, someone finished it IDL... Well. I think an ind civ got MC as no Confu was founded.

Started CoL asap.
Monty is preparing a nice surprise (Police State-powered) to someone.
I follow his stack, and he seems to be heading for Izzie (who, as usual, is lagging in defense - well me too ) :



On my side, I started two settlers in my both cities - need to fight fast for the land.

Turn 84 has seen Monty Dow Izzie. He razed Toledo on the next turn.
Surya has settled a spot I was seeing for myself - a cow/banana food paradise to support massive grassland cottages - I need to go as fast as possible.

A settler has finished in Mutal on turn 89, just one turn before the slave revolt. Luckily I had enough money around to pay 10 gold. Still, -1 pop hurts.

Monty got Madrid on turn 90, matching perfectly my slave revolt. I decided it was a good moment to convert - Monty did as well. One happy continent, with just poor Izzie eating the dust.

She did ask me twice to join the war and to cancel deals, but as I think Monty has a brighter future before him, I declined.

Code of Laws has been discovered on turn 92 and Lakamha has become the Confu holy city. I sent the missionary to Mutal - no need to risk Surya becomes Confu while everyone is Jewish.

Finally, Lakamha finished the settler and my both land grabbers were in place.

Monty has got Barcelona on turn 97, after suffering serious damages (three archers with 40% culture defense) - Izzie still struggles to get the Copper.
She settled Cordoba to the north, desperately trying to connect it.

On my side, I settled two following cities.
Chitchen Itza:



This one was of greatest importance as it will close my lands to the east.
And Uxmal:



Too bad I missed the northern spot, still it's a prime location to settle.

I got a Great Prophet on turn 98 from the Henge, checked the rules and settled the freak
Money & hammer bonus are highly appreciated

On the last turn, someone got ToA.

Not that bad, methinks.
First of all, our continent :



As you can see, there is a nice patch of land (free of barbs, oh thank you pholk - though I think it's cheating, as the AI plays as though there were barbs around) almost closed to our civ.
Need just one more city...

Here is the land grab fight in all its beauty - and I have a fine contender to face my efforts :



I still hesitate between those two spots. The SE is better site but the NW gets me more land.
There is also a settling party to the north... It goes so fast!

Plans:
- Get this 5th city
- Improve eco through workers, cottages, libraries & courthouses
- Trade some techs (like Mono for instance) once I get Alpha, also to get +s with Surya and Monty
- Defend the border vs my neighbours (even though we share a religion, have OB&peace bonus and will trade asap) - get more units to raise the power graph.

CRAZY city placement, well played!

I'm actually surprised you aren't dead yet. After all, there are a couple of things that could've killed you...
0. Barbs (off)
1. City Maintenance (surprisingly decent science rate at 4 cities far from each other, is it only the Great Prophet doing all this? what gives!)
2. Survayaman
3. Montezuma

Nope, the science rate is due to:
- Mutal with two villages and (think so) two hamlets
- Library in Mutal
- Gold worked by Lakamha
- well, the prophet too - +5 gpt

The last city should be payed by even more maturing cottages and the library in Lamakha.
I CE

-Settle at least 3 more cities
-Get pyramids done
-Get Libraries up

Turn 0 (50)

All is well.

And I decided to read the reports, so I know that Monty and Issy are out there. How did they meet some people so early!

SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN HERE I FINISH MYSTICISM

Turn 10 (60)

Sury gets writing before me.

FINISH WRITING SOMETIME

Turn 15 (65)

Meet monty.

Turn 17 (67)

Settle Boston fairly close to Sury. Not that close though. After calendar this will be a good city.

Turn 18 ()

Finish Masonry, start Math and the Pyramids.

Turn 24 (74)

Meet Issy.

Turn 25 (75)

settle Philly very far away in a jungle locaiton. Calendar and IW are needed quickly.

Turn 26 (76)

Issy asks to cancel deals with Sury. No no no non onkonononnononsdadf

Turn 27 (77)

Oracle gets built, Judaism gets founded.

I forgot to mention earlier that the Great WAll was completed.

Pyramids at risk!!!!



Turn 35 (85)

Math finishes, IW starts.

Turn 38 (88)

Oh good god, did Pholk edit Monty's capital?

Turn 42 (92)

GS number 1.

I could either make an Academy in the capital or settle him in NY for the +1 hammer.... Academy in captial.

Turn 47 (97)

Buddhism spreads to one of my cities. I will wait until there is a demand before converting.

Turn 48 (98)

IW discovered research set to sailing.

Turn 50 (100)

Some dudes settle down to found Atlanta.

17 turns left on the Pyramids. FINGERS CROSSED.

3 objectives completed. Well, I nearly have the Pyramids.

All I can say is that ISABELLA, WHY DID YOU NOT FOUND A RELIGION!!! NOW OUR CONTINENT IS LOVEY DOVEY! WHY COULDN'T MONTY HAVE ATTACKED YOU! At least he didn't uild the Pyramids.

I guess there is a reason I get the Pyramids before you... De Gaulle is Industrious. Mine is 5 turns left. Since I am CE, I won't be building the 'mids if I wasn't Industrious or trying the "wonder steal" strategy though...

Where did you build the 'mids anyway? I'd like to check your save.

Like you I went for Math to chop the 'mids faster.

Your game is unusually peaceful, in mine, everyone including myself was Hindu, yet Monty and Sury both still backstabbed Isabella.

spam settlers (seeing as I’m IMP) and found coastal cities because I will build Great Lighthouse (from whip overflow in the main).

Masonry in on T53, time to get GLight started. Writing next to be learnt (T59) then have a mining disaster outside London on T65 and pay 20g to keep the mine.




Commerce/production hybrid. Coastal, too, natch.




Sweeet. Then sour: lose all the grain in London two turns later

Judaism spreads in London and we adopt it, seeing as everyone else has. Very early Currency in BC785. Found Hastings over in the west coast (cows, banana, sugar). I’d been scouting in Sury’s lands and did like what I saw: too many units. Sure enough, Dr Evil has plans for me:




Monty has been skimping on military, either.




Another horsehockey event: slave revolt in London CoL in 550BC by hand (I was already committed when I saw Sury in WHEOOH):




Just beat Monty to it by a couple of turns! Canterbury is a filler for the pigs (and a plains mine it can share with York). IW next, of course, and we have Iron near London (T97). Sury’s troops are starting to roll south-west. There just at edge of his lands for now, so I’ve a few turns to whip up a defence force.

Get the Horse Whispering quest on T99. No time for it now, but doesn’t it give +1 food from Stables? If so, I might just do it down the line.

war is inevitable of course. With Iron hooked up and Construction in 3 turns, I’ll be fine, unless Monty dogpiles/is asked by Sury to declare. Thus my plan is for Alpha next and try to get Monty to DoW Sury first.

Well as I said I am going for a Trade Route Economy powered by the Great Lighthouse and Cothons. Now this might mean to some lots of Coastal cities on our Productive South Coast but actually they are not a priority. At this stage it is better to stake out our Territory by aggressively settling northwards and leave those lovely southern coast cities for later. This is one of the reasons for having prioritised Iron Working as it means I can afford to settle in the jungle to the north of us blocking off my land.

So I will finish the Henge in my capital then start whipping in settlers and workers with the overflow going into the great lighthouse which will also receive the hammers being produced as our population grows back. If I don’t whip the capital at least four times this set I will be disappointed as it is so food rich it can really pump workers and settlers for me.

When iron working comes in we have Iron nearby. Now I don’t connect my 2nd city (cows, rice and hills) to the capital yet as I want cheap warriors for garrison duty and it can pour out 3 or 4 of them quickly to go with settlers from my capital before I hook it up.

Turn 56 Henge comes in and for Hannibal this means 1 extra happy per city. Lovely

Research goes into pottery (whip efficiency) then masonry (so overflow can go into Great Lighthouse) then start out on the Literature path for an eventual Great Library)

Turn 70 3rd city founded (I whipped in a worker prior to the settler as without workers to make the city productive it would be a bit pointless.

Turn 75 get a very nice lucky event which catapults the development of this city.

Now we had opened borders with Isabella and Sury and this was just what we wanted as she sends me a Jewish Missionary. It will irritate Monty but makes these two firm friends of mine and with a bit of luck Monty will send a S of D in their direction.

Turn 88 Great Lighthouse in mainly a chop + whip overflow

Turn 90 Issie steals a nice city site from me (there is a settler under the warrior) so maybe I wasn’t aggressive enough with settling but this city isn’t a bad 2nd Prize


Turn 94 5th city founded and you can see the power of the Great Lighthouse as it si immediately cash flow positive as soon as it is settled.


I have now effectively blocked off my lands and can think of the southern coastal cities.

Turn 97 Our prophet from the Henge is settled in our capital giving it a nice boost

Empire


Economy


I have succeeded with my land garb but need to be wary of my power rating but now have some cities that can pump axemen to boost it

Great Library in cow rice city to produce my much needed Academies
Settle southern cities and get lots of cottages going
Tech to calendar for the happies that can be unlocked.

Great land grab!
And very nice GLight landing

You're not doing bad for the land grab yourself. Your game has taken a very interesting turn with Isabella being close to being wiped out despite there being on shared religion through out the continent.

Can't work out how Monty didn't get & stick with his own religion in your game.

So how are you going to deal with a big Monty in your game as when he gets strong he can cause grief..

Interesting. Your dot mapping for coastal cities just about exactly matches mine but whereas you have settled the prime sites immediately I have land grabbed in the center first. So it will be interesting to see if I lose from not founding them early or if my Land grab works out stronger

We're not going to be able to compare settling strategies because the Khmer have decided to attack me, which marks a total change in priorities for me.

I'll be interested to see how you get on in the jungle. I try to leave this for an AI to clear & improve then claim it later if I feel the need.

Well, the only real plan I had for these turns was to build the Pyramids, I’d selected Memphis as the city where they would be built and I’d actually built Memphis where it was for this specific purpose.

I whipped the obelisk in Memphis and started a worker, I needed more workers for the chop, once this worker was completed in 1680BC Memphis was set to build the Mids, fingers crossed and hope there were no industrious civs out there.

I ‘d already by that time met this Psycho, I was quite gratified to find he hadn’t founded a religion. The thought perhaps of he and Izzy having a religious war mmmmm!



Another off my least favourite AI’s showed up in 1000BC, he always seems to expand like crazy



a nice little event, will help in the long run



850BC Heliopolis founded claiming clams, sheep and one flood plain

775BC and the Mids were built in Memphis (okay I forgot the screenie but we all know they’re big and pointy). I will now dedicate Memphis to building Military, with both izzy and Monty on the same landmass one or both of them will explode on me at some stage.

Teching for this round was writing – hunting – maths – med – priesthood – polytheism –monotheism – CoL (started)



the plan now is to explore and expand into the jungle, i'd completely missed the no barbs so i'd been hanging back on the expansion.

at the moment Izzy is Hindu, Sury is in Judaism ( someone else on the land mass? or did izzy found Judaism too, i need to check religeous screen) and monty has no religion. War is coming.