[LP] The Happiness of the Lotus

[krc]

I've decided to present another game, to illustrate a couple of points. I keep reading in the strategy forums that razing cities is a "good thing". That might be true on higher levels; I don't know, since I usually play on king or emperor. But I like building empires that control vast swathes of territory, and one of the best ways to do that is to take captured cities into your empire as puppets. This general strategy works for all victory conditions. Puppets do not affect social policy costs, so they can be part of a cultural victory. Puppets contribute to a larger population (if you can manage the unhappiness), and population produces science, so a puppet empire can help with a science victory. Puppets focus on gold, so they can contribute to a diplomatic victory by providing the resources to bribe city-states, or to a domination victory by helping pay for troops when you need them.

There are two other issues I want to explore with this game. First, there is continuing debate across the forums about whether declarations of war or player eliminations affect your diplomatic relations with AI that you have not yet met. I believe that they do not. So, I'll play on continents and try to test this. Second, I want to try to pay attention to managing happiness. I recently played a game as Darius (to get the civ-specific achievement) and learned that (a) it is possible to keep your happiness higher than I was used to and (b) lots of other good things result when you do that. Since happiness is important for a large puppet empire, this is a natural thing to do here.

So, let's get started:

Spoiler:

I decided to play as China, for the simple reason that I haven't done that recently. Otherwise, I use my most common settings: king, continents, standard speed, standard size.

Spoiler:

The starting position looks terrific. I'm on a coastal riverside hill. The water forms a bay, which means I have a couple more land hexes than a typical coastal site. I can see wine, marble, wheat and deer. I settle in place and start recruiting a scout and researching pottery.

[krc]

Spoiler:

My warrior heads to the north and rescues some survivors in an ancient ruin. More people this early just improves the start.

Spoiler:

Beijing finishes recruiting scouts and sends them eastward. The city starts building a monument.

Spoiler:

The scouts find another ruin, giving us a cultural boost. Since we believe that bigger is better, we take Liberty.

Spoiler:

My scouts also quickly discover that the world may be a crowded place, since they run into both the Mongolians and the English.

[krc]

My scouts are doing a great job. They find and pop another ruin, which gives access to Mining. One turn later, my people discover Pottery. Because the Chinese unique building (Paper Maker) is a replacement for the library, we are going to follow the path of least resistance and start researching Writing.

Spoiler:

If you look very, very carefully at the screenshot, you can see the barest hint of the English border under the fog to the east of the wine resource.
If you also study the mini-map, you'll see that our starting location is beginning to look even more promising. The city-state to the northwest of the mountain range is Venice; it is becoming clear that there are no AI civilizations in that direction. So, we should be able to find plenty of land to settle, and only have to worry about enemies from the east.

Spoiler:

Beijing finishes its monument and starts on a granary. With both wheat and deer in the first ring, how could they do anything else?

[krc]

Spoiler:

We get a second policy, and select Collective Rule for the free settler. Some people prefer to take the free worker first in order to have more time to explore and find good locations. I almost always take the settler, believing that I'll find some location that is "good enough". In this case, I know that I want to head east, and will probably claim the silk that lies in that direction. The locations to the north and west will be there whenever I want them. But England lies to the east, and I want to make sure Elizabeth doesn't get her pick of the choicest spots. I am aware that settling in her direction is likely to provoke her, but that's just what I want. My long-term goal is to be the biggest and baddest empire on my continent. So, I expect, sooner or later, to turn English cities into my puppets. As long as I'm expecting it, it is better to have her declare war rather than having to do it myself and take a diplomatic hit.

Spoiler:

My scouts continue their exemplary work. They have discovered the fountain of youth. Since I know I'll be fighting some wars, it would be really nice to have troops that heal twice as fast because they paid a visit to FoY. That helps me decide where to settle: somewhere that controls FoY.

Spoiler:

With my liberty-derived settler heading southeast, I'm still going to want to build a plantation on that source of silk. So, when Beijing completes its granary, I start recruiting settlers.

Spoiler:

As you can see, the suggested city locations place a lot more value in those fish off the coast than I do. I like the extra production from settling on the hill, and I really like making absolutely certain that the Fountain of Youth is mine. So, I settle Shanghai on the hill and start building a Paper Maker. Note from the upper left corner of the screenshot that I have discovered writing and started researching archery. I'm going to want to recruit archers soon, both for defense against an expected attack from England and because I'll eventually want to upgrade them to Chu-ko-nus.

Spoiler:

As expected, Elizabeth doesn't like the site I have chosen for Shanghai. Let's see what she wants to do about it.

[krc]

Spoiler:

After Beijing completes the settler, I decide to try for the Great Library. Since the Chinese UB is a science building, heading toward a science victory is always a possibility. On the same turn, I finished researching archery and started on calendar.

Spoiler:

Elizabeth decided to emphasize her distaste for my placement of Shanghai near her by telling the other leaders the "grim truth" about me---whatever that is. It's always a little annoying when the only reason that the diplomacy screen shows you for being denounced is that "they have denounced us". But I know that she really covets my lands....

Spoiler:

It's time to choose a spot for my third city. The riverside hill next to one of the suggested spots has better growth potential, but no luxuries. The hill that my settler is standing on, however, fits best with my other cities, and gives me the silk that is an absolute requirement for any successful Chinese civilization. So, I settle Guangzhou there and start building a monument.

Spoiler:

I use my next social policy to get the free worker from Citizenship. He's going to start by constructing a mine until I discover calendar, and then he'll plant a vineyard on one of those wine resources.

Spoiler:

After calendar, I research masonry, animal husbandry, and trapping. With one of the wine luxuries developed, my happiness is still positive. My worker is getting ready to quarry the marble, and there is more wine and silk ready to be developed as well.

Spoiler:

Since I'm expecting Elizabeth to declare war any turn (having built yet another city on her doorstep), I sell my wine for whatever I can get. Now, 114 gold isn't very much, but it is more than half of what I'll need to purchase an archer later on.

[krc]

Spoiler:

Meanwhile, Shanghai finishes building a paper maker and starts on a monument. Beijing completes the Great Library, and I use the free tech to get Philosophy. Since there is (surprisingly) still no movement from Elizabeth, I decide to recruit yet another settler. My happiness remains positive, and there is a source of dyes on the coast just to the northeast of the mountains. As long as I can keep my people happy, I'm going to keep expanding.

Spoiler:

Guangzhou built its monument first, and is now ready for a paper maker. Beijing finishes the settler and requires another decision. Since none of the other wonders has been constructed yet and Beijing is so productive, I decide to make a try for the Pyramids. I still have only a single worker, so the two workers and improved construction speed is attractive. And I like the prospect of getting some Great Engineers later on.

Spoiler:

My warriors have been trying to remove the barbarian infestation near Shanghai, and get a promotion as a reward for their efforts.
Although I know where England is, I still haven't figured out where the Mongolians live. The city-state to the northeast is Genoa. I can't get through their narrow territory because the only passage is occupied by units (one of theirs, and one Mongolian). So, I don't know if it is on the coast or if it is a passageway to something larger.

Spoiler:

The scout that has been trying to find a way through brings back word that he has met the Japanese, which suggests that there is something other than ocean on the far side of Genoa.

[The Pilgrim]

Great read so far. Keep it up!

Two remarks though.
While having extra immediate hummer is nice, in the long run you lose 3 tile, 4 after Chemistry. Which wouldn't be terrible, if there were more hills in city radius. This way with only 2 hills both in 3rd ring Shanghai is stuck with very low production forever.
Another point, if AI doesn't have enough cash for trade, you can take some gpt. Could have sold the wine for 114 + 3 gpt.

[krc]

Originally Posted by The Pilgrim

Great read so far. Keep it up!

Two remarks though.
While having extra immediate hummer is nice, in the long run you lose 3 tile, 4 after Chemistry. Which wouldn't be terrible, if there were more hills in city radius. This way with only 2 hills both in 3rd ring Shanghai is stuck with very low production forever.
Another point, if AI doesn't have enough cash for trade, you can take some gpt. Could have sold the wine for 114 + 3 gpt.

The forests (with lumbermills) will give some production in Shanghai. But population growth will be slow. Anyway, I'm counting on Beijing and Guangzhuo for most of my production in the future.

And you're also right about the gpt. I just hadn't bothered to take the time because I was convinced that a DoW was coming any turn now.

[krc]

Spoiler:

After trapping, I researched bronze and iron working. I then face another decision. One possibility is to head straight for education and the Porcelain Tower. I decide instead to beeline machinery so I can take full advantage of the double-attack bonus for Chu-ko-nus.

Spoiler:

Shanghai finishes its monument and starts recruiting archers.

Spoiler:

I settle Nanjing on the northern coast and start constructing a paper maker.

Spoiler:

Japan and England are united in their response: they both think that I am building new cities too aggressively. They may be correct....

Spoiler:

Beijing constructs the Pyramids, giving me the workers that I need to develop the tiles around my cities. Here one worker is mining the 2-spot of iron near Beijing and another is building a silk plantation near Guangzhou. Since no one else seems interested in wonders, I start constructing Stonehenge in Berlin. My plan is to make Beijing a continuing source of Great Engineers.

Spoiler:

Shanghai and Guangzhou have both been recruiting archers, and I had purchased an archer earlier in Shanghai to get rid of the local barbarians. I now start building a barracks in Shanghai so they can produce promoted double-heal troops. And, with my iron from Beijing online, I start recruiting catapults in Guangzhou.

Spoiler:

I'm still expecting a declaration of war from England and am very surprised that it hasn't come yet. I'm trying to stockpile some cash in order to buy defenders when the time comes. Oda is the only one of my neighbors with any gold at the moment. Since he doesn't like me, he's not willing to part with very much of it in return for my wine.

[krc]

Spoiler:

My next social policy arrives, and I continue down the liberty track, taking Representation, which brings reduced culture costs in the future and a Golden Age immediately.

Spoiler:

Beijing successfully constructs Stonehenge, giving my capitol two wonders that produce points toward GEs. Since my happiness is perking along nicely, I decide to recruit another settler. There is a site east of Shanghai and south of London that controls a 6-spot of iron. Settling there may also finally provoke the DoW I've been expecting from Elizabeth.

Spoiler:

Four turns later, the settlers leave Beijing toward the frontier. Since I appear to be on a roll with wonders, I decide to gamble on yet another GE generator, the Great Wall. This is China, after all.

Spoiler:

My beeline toward machinery is proceeding apace. It's 900 BC, and I have just finished researching engineering and have entered the Medieval Era.

Spoiler:

This turn also brings another surprise. If you look back at the mini-maps on the previous screenshots, you can see that my scouts, after strenuous efforts, have managed to pass through Genoese territory and discover the locations of Mongolia and Japan. One of those Japanese cities, however, is the former Mongolian city of Beshbalik. As my scouts continue pressing northward, they discover that there is another AI civ out there somewhere: India. Gandhi-ji may be neutral toward me, and may not have very much gold to spend, but he is willing to offer full price to get open borders.

[krc]

We've seen activity in Beijing recently; now it's time to take a look around my other cities.

Spoiler:

The northern city of Nanjing has completed its paper maker and started building a monument. Their population has grown to three citizens, and they are supplying dyes throughout my empire.

Spoiler:

Shanghai has finished constructing a barracks, and started recruiting catapults. My road-building workers have passed through Guangzhou and reached Shanghai, where they will soon turn their attention to improving the local tiles; there is both wheat and wine to harvest.

Spoiler:

I have founded my newest city, Xian, to the south of London. The location was selected to control the 6-spot of iron (under the spearman that a friendly city-state gave me after I killed some barbarians for them) and a 4-spot of horses. The wheat and dyes to the east will eventually belong to me as well. Xian is going to begin its civic growth by building a paper maker.

Spoiler:

Guangzhou has finished raising my first unit of catapults. Since workers have already built a pasture on the horse tile in the city radius, Guangzhou can construct a circus to keep my happiness high.

Back in the introduction to this game, I mentioned that I wanted to focus on keeping my happiness in positive territory. Even though I now have five cities and a total population of about 17, I still have a fair amount of excess happiness. I couldn't figure out why at first, for the (embarrassing) reason that I forgot about the major effect of the Fountain of Youth: just discovering it gives you 10 extra happiness! The more I think about it, the more overpowered this seems. Along with the double-heal feature for troops, even +2 or +3 happiness would seem to be plenty. This also means that my game will be less about how to manage happiness (though I hope there will be some of that) and more about the amazing benefits that excess happiness can bring. At this point in the game, the +10 happiness from FoY is probably worth two cities, which means extra science and (since the paper maker brings in gold as well) extra gold. All of which probably explains why I reached the Medieval Era as early as I did....

[krc]

Spoiler:

Planting a settler at Xian has gotten the response that I expected from Elizabeth. But she still hasn't declared war. I think that she must have already fought an uneventful war with the Japanese.

Spoiler:

I complete the Liberty track with Meritocracy. This brings increased happiness from cities that are connected to the capital, and a small decrease in happiness from population. Of course, the finisher also brings me a Great Engineer, who I send off to Guangzhou to get ready to build a wonder.

Spoiler:

Beijing completes her third engineering wonder with the Great Wall. She then starts construction on a water mill to continue her focus on production.

Spoiler:

Nanjing finishes a monument and starts on a colosseum; with five citizens, it's time for her to worry about contributing to the empire's happiness.

Spoiler:

Gandhi pays full price for a supply of wine.

Spoiler:

Machinery! China instantly becomes a superpower. I now shift my research to climb the theology - civil service - education chain.

Spoiler:

Beijing follows the water mill with an aqueduct. Meanwhile, I have upgraded my four archers to Chu-ko-nus. In Shanghai, recruitment of a second catapult is followed by another Chu-ko-nu. And in Guangzhou, my patient Great Engineer watches as a circus is completed and recruitment starts on another Chu-ko-nu.

Spoiler:

The extra happiness from the Fountain of Youth contributes to a Golden Age.

[krc]

Spoiler:

I make one more attempt to provoke England by denouncing Elizabeth.

Spoiler:

When she still doesn't respond, I purchase another Chu-ko-nu in Shanghai. Then I go ahead and declare war myself.

Spoiler:

My troops have already moved into position around London. One of my Chu-ko-nus is destroying an English swordsman, the only visible troops.

Spoiler:

London comes under attack by the Chinese hordes...

Spoiler:

...and falls after extensive bombardment to an occupation by my original warrior.

Spoiler:

It takes some time to get my troops through the marshes and forests northeast of London. Heavy fire from Chu-ko-nus and catapults has reduced the defenses of York to the barest minimum. Although the opportunistic Japanese have entered the war against the English hoping to snatch control of York, my spearmen make the final assault and capture the city.

Spoiler:

Both London and York have been made Chinese puppets.

Spoiler:

Elizabeth responds to the fall of York with the best peace offer she can come up with. Since she only has one city and I don't really want the warmonger hate that comes with eliminating a civilization, I graciously accept. The war against the English comes to an end.

[krc]

During the period when my troops were maneuvering against York, my civilization kept advancing. Xian completed a paper maker and a monument, then started building a colosseum. Beijing finished its aqueduct and start constructing the National College. I discovered Theology, and used my GE to build the Hagia Sofia in Guangzhou. This earned another GE, who also started hanging around Guangzhuo waiting for something to do.

Spoiler:

The discovery of civil service in 125 BC was accompanied by the birth of yet another GE in Beijing.

Spoiler:

This provided an irresistible opportunity to construct another engineering-focused wonder in Beijing.

Spoiler:

Meanwhile, Guangzhou finished recruiting its unit of Cho-ko-nus and also started on a colosseum. My acquisition of the puppet cities of London and York has pushed my happiness into negative territory, which explains why both Xian and Guangzhou are constructing happiness buildings.

Spoiler:

My next social policy arrives a little faster than I might have wanted, since I'm not yet able to open rationalism. After some thought, I decide to open patronage. I haven't done anything with city-states so far, but I'm accumulating gold and may want to take advantage of it in the future.

[The Pilgrim]

Looking good.
What VC are you going after? Domination I assume?

And yes, FOY is ridiculously OP'ed. Much more than Skilldorado, IMO. You really hit the jackpot.

[krc]

Originally Posted by The Pilgrim

Looking good.
What VC are you going after? Domination I assume?

And yes, FOY is ridiculously OP'ed. Much more than Skilldorado, IMO. You really hit the jackpot.

I haven't really decided on the VC yet. Domination is certainly a possibility, because I think I can now just roll over my continent. But my science is moving along pretty rapidly even without RAs or anything special yet (mainly because the extra happiness from FoY makes a larger population easier to maintain). So I plan to keep the science option open at least until I see what the other continent looks like.

In my initial goals for this game, I wanted to confirm that DoWs and/or eliminations on your own continent don't affect diplomatic relations with civs that you meet later. If that is really the case (and I'm all but certain that it is), then I should be able to trade luxuries at full price and sign RAs with everybody on the other continent, provided I can dominate my own before we meet.

[krc]

Spoiler:

Having captured York from the English, my troops are sitting idly on the Japanese border. Before doing anything rash, I take a look at the current state of the world as I know it. Oda has clearly been active; he is currently at war with England, Mongolia, and India --- everyone on our continent except for me. I think it's time to join the fray.

Spoiler:

I start by asking what Oda would like in exchange for all of his gold. Nothing burdensome (especially since it will all be mine again momentarily). I then take care to denounce him before declaring war.

Spoiler:

The initial push against Kyoto meets with little resistance.

Spoiler:

Almost immediately, the Japanese capitol falls to the rain of arrows from my Chu-ko-nus. My reliable spearmen (who in my previous war captured York) lead the occupation that turns Kyoto into another Chinese puppet.

Spoiler:

My second declaration of war of the game has unexpected consequences. Gandhi comes to visit me, two turns in a row. Just before the first visit, Oda has made peace with Gandhi. This action is followed by a denouncement from Gandhi directed towards Oda. He comes to inform me, and although guarded, there are two positive modifiers in our relationship. On his second visit, he goes so far as to propose a Declaration of Friendship. I decline.

Spoiler:

My troops push on, with the main thrust directed at Osaka along with a diversionary attack towards Beshbalik. This time, my swordsmen (promoted recently from warriors) lead the occupation of Osaka.

Spoiler:

Just as Elizabeth did before him, Oda comes requesting peace, which I grant.

[krc]

While the Japanese war was being waged, life went on in the rest of my empire.

Spoiler:

Nanjing completed a colosseum and started building a temple.

Spoiler:

Shanghai sent another unit of Chu-ko-nus off to the wars, and started building a circus.

Spoiler:

Beijing completed the National College, and tried to snatch another engineering wonder.

Spoiler:

My scientists discovered education. With a GE already waiting in Guangzhou, I decided to rush Notre Dame for the extra happiness. Next Guangzhou stared building a university.

Spoiler:

I also decided it was time to prepare to meet the civilizations on the other continent. So I finally stated filling in the path to astronomy.

Spoiler:

And I surveyed the state of my continent. The year is 125 AD. England, Japan, and Mongolia are reduced to one city each. Only India remains as a distant but weak rival, and only has two cities. I control five cities that I built myself, along with four puppets. I'm well into the Medieval Era, and expect to enter the Renaissance relatively soon. Unless there is another super-runaway civ on the other continent, I probably have my choice of ways to win at this point.

[CELTICEMPIRE]

I'm following this.

[krc]

Spoiler:

Since I had a well trained army sitting idly, I sent them northeast through the unoccupied territory between my new border and the Indian border. There was very little indication of a military presence, even in Indian territory.

Spoiler:

My diplomatic visit to the Indians found Gandhi worried about the buildup of troops on his border. Now I could withdraw them "for the sake of future peace". But I don't really see any reason to do that, so I declared war instead.

Spoiler:

My troop swept into Indian territory, destroying two Indian war elephants along the way. On the next turn, my catapults and Chu-ko-nus have seriously weakened the defenses in Delhi. Having previously upgraded my city-capturing spearmen to pikemen, I now give them the honor of being the first troops to enter the former Indian city and newest Chinese puppet, Delhi.

Spoiler:

Although I have no real interest in capturing Mumbai (since I don't went to accumulate any extra warmonger hate), I'm perfectly happy to use the city for target practice while my ranged units farm experience points.

Spoiler:

As my troops explore further to the north, they learn why India only had two cities: one of their settlers had been captured by barbarians. One might wonder why they had ever sent a settler to the north of Mumbai or Delhi, since the only good city sites were to the southwest. But it is impossible to understand how the AI chooses the locations where it wants to plant cities.

Spoiler:

When Gandhi comes offering peace, I accept, since I know this is the best he can offer.