"If you chase two rabbits, you will lose them both."

Hello,

This is my second attempt playing at Noble, and I set these goals for myself.

1. To early rush, if possible.
2. To REX, if goal#1 was not feasible.
3. Run an SE.
4. Playtest some new civs and leaders.

That might have been too much all at once, since the game is a bit of botch right now. Basically, I did rush, but not early enough, and I expanded, but not early enough. The situation can probably be remedied, but I probably could have handled it better.

Hopefully, the forum members will find this entertaining, and also be willing to provide pointers to improve my play. At the very least, some of the units and buildings from the downloads DB will be seen in action.

In the Beginning ...

First, this is my personal mod for Warlords 2.08. There is only one minor game-play change: Castles are obsolete with Steel, not Economics, which is consistent with BtS.

The mod has several civs added, two of Amra's (ACG Hyboria and ACG Polynesia), and the Numenor civ by Blackblade, updated for Warlords. There are also three LotR civs I created, the Shadow, the Galadhrim, and the Easterlings. Chandragupta Maurya has also been added to India. There's also some cosmetic changes since I couldn't resist using some of the splendid units in the DB to replace the generic official units. Still, overall, it should still play like Warlords.

Settings used are: Noble, Custom Continents (random), with mostly selected opponents for the playtest. The opponents are:

1. Galadriel of the Galadhrim (Philosophical/Protective) UU = Elven Archer, which is a Longbowman with Woodsman II. UB = Flet, Wall that grant units Woodsman I.

2. Sauron of the Shadow (Agg/Imp) UU = Olog-hai, a Str 9 Maceman with March (to reflect trolls' ability to regenerate). UB = Dark Tower, a Castle that builds land units 25% faster.

3. Ar-Pharazon of Numenor (Agg/Ind) UU = Hirilonde, a Caravel with 2 cargo and no restrictions on the units carried. UB = Shipyard, a Harbor that gives water units +2 exp.

4. Utabeg of the Easterlings. (Agg/Org) UU = Doombringer, a Knight with Cover and Shock, but a -25% vs. cities. UU = Slave Pit, a Courthouse that boosts on trade route by 25% and lets one citizen be turned into a Merchant.

5. Chandragupta Maurya of India. (Spr/Imp). UU and UB as per the official civ.

6. The one randomly selected AI opponent.

My leader is Julius Caesar of the Romans. There was a lot of combat in my previous game, and I missed having the GG exp bonus. Since I intend to start trouble, hopefully I can get many GGs this game.

That's it for the line-up, now for the field ...

(Screenshot#5) Not very promising ... Moving the Warrior to pop the hut, maybe I'll get a map. Nope, a Scout, who doesn't turn up anything. I'll settle in place, perhaps there's Copper or Iron in the BFC.

(Screenshot#7) Bother, there's Gold to the west, just outside of the BFC, and only Rice to the east in the BFC.

The next turns reveal more goody huts, which gives me gold and another Scout. However, the year 3640 BC is more lively, as another village gives the empire gold, and some strangers find Rome.

(FCUtabeg3640BC). So the Easterlings are nearby ... some cause for concern. If I altered the Leaderhead info correctly, he should be belligerent, but not a madman like Monty. He should also carry a grudge, if you offend him. Still, the Easterlings are meant to come into their own in the Middle Ages; I want to kill them before they get those techs.

{Incidentally, that leaderhead is from Amra's Scythian civ.}

[To be continued.]

Forgot to mention that after Rome was founded, I began researching Bronze Working.

3600 BC: Hinduism founded in a distant land. (ADL)
3560 BC: Scout eaten by bears off to the southeast. This will cost me a chance at a goody hut.
3520 BC: BW discovered, start researching Agriculture, am trying to get to Pottery. I'm following the tech path mentioned by Bevo666 in his Immortal REX thread. Since Copper is just outside Rome's cultural borders, I'm more interested in having it grow faster before it spawns a Settler.


3240 BC: Discovery of Agriculture, start researching the Wheel. Finally remember to revolt to Slavery.
2920 BC: A big year for Rome: The Wheel is discovered and Pottery is begun.

Also ...

We meet Galadriel of the Galadhrim, founder of Hinduism. Galadriel has not yet met Utabeg.

My intent with this leader is to have a mostly peaceful AI that is resilient. Unfortunately, previous playtests have resulted in her being crushed or vassalized, though not as quickly as Gandhi usually is. I've tweaked the leaderhead info, let's see if things work out. However, I'd also like to conquer this civ before the Protective aspects make the cities obnoxiously difficult to capture.

2600 BC: Pottery discovered. Now for a more properly Roman tech, Iron Working! Mighty Vulcan, god of the forge, grant us your secrets!
2580 BC: Rome is now size 4, finishes a warrior which heads off to claim a city site near the copper. Rome starts building a Settler.


2280 BC: We meet Maurya, who has met Galadriel and he finds her Annoying.

Maurya I added to the game since I want to see what a militant theocratic AI could do with India instead of the official peaceful and accommodating leaders. The base is Monty, but tweaked to be (hopefully) a more rational, cunning opponent. [Leaderhead by Cybrxkhan]

Rome finishes the Settler, who heads southwest to join the waiting Warrior next to the Copper. The city of Aquae Sulis is founded in 2240 BC. (Forgot to take a screenshot). It begins building a Warrior to gain time to grow.

2000 BC: Worker built, who moves to the Rice. Buddhism is founded in ADL. The next turn, Maurya converts to Buddhism.

1920 BC: Vulcan grants the Romans Iron Working, but he wants sacrifices to be made to him, so Animal Husbandry is sought. The slider is running a slight deficit.


Iron pops to the west of Rome's cultural boundaries. Blast, there's only rice in Rome's BFC! Shouldn't have settled in place.
(By the way, that's Aquae Sulis directly to the south of the Gold mine.)


1840 BC: The Dark Lord Sauron appears. He's Cautious towards Maurya, but Annoyed with Galadriel. He has no idea who Utabeg is. Looks like I won't be trading with Galadriel ... or at least I shouldn't. [Leaderhead by Chugginator.]

Sauron uses Genghis as his base and is even more warlike. His armies grow rapidly, but this is another Middle Ages civ, so destroying him early is a good idea. Unfortunately, I have no idea where any of these people live!

1680 BC: Found the Galadhrim. They are to the east of Rome, perhaps 14 turns away.


1520 BC: Finished researching Mysticism. Since for the early rush one should scout the enemy, Writing is next on the path. Meanwhile, Judaism is founded by Galadriel, who adopts Organized Religion the following turn.

1440 BC: Another big year. The city of Antium is founded to claim the Iron. The placement is poor, but I'm still trying for the early rush, so no Monuments for now, and Julius is not Creative. Antium is building a Barracks, a Warrior having been prepositioned earlier garrisons the newly-built city.


Meanwhile, Maurya's frontier is discovered. He's to the east of Galadriel, a long ways from Rome.


At this point I realize I've neglected my northern frontier when I notice a hint of Easterling orange up there.


There's enough Warriors for home defense but there's no extra for recon right now. Besides, no Open Borders yet anyway. However, that will change eventually. Rome will build a Scout when it finishes its current build.

1280 BC: It is odd how everything happens at once. We discover Writing, and start Alphabet. Stonehenge is built in AFAL (a far-away land). Since I've a Warrior on Maurya's borders, I ask for open borders, and he says yes, but not before boasting of his Archers. He also has two cities besides his capital, and is Pleased with Sauron.

1200 BC: Maurya, you sly dog you! You've skimped on your Archer's uniforms!

{Amazon Archer Babe by GarretSidzaka}

1160 BC: Ask for and get OB with Galadriel. She has 1 city plus her capital. She's Annoyed with Maurya and Sauron.

850 BC: Alphabet! What's on the market?

Trade Agriculture for Hunting with Sauron, who boasts of his "numberless Chariot". Yes, if you only have one Chariot, you don't need to number it!

675 BC: Maurya calls, offers Meditation for Polytheism. I counter by asking for Masonry which he accepts. [My notes don't say when I discovered Polytheism.]

625 BC: Ask Utabeg for OB, which he grants. Sauron trades Sailing to me for (something I forgot to record).

575 BC: Researching Priesthood, planning on going for CoL. Galadriel gets a Great Prophet.

550 BC: Galadriel builds the Hindu Shrine, and the Great Wall is build in ADL.

500 BC: Priesthood discovered, start CoL. To my slight annoyance, but no real surprise, the Oracle is built in AFAL. Well, no Marble anyway. Lose a Scout to the Barbarian city of Vandal, which is to the north. I whip a Settler in Rome. There's a spot with Jumbos, Horses and Sugar about 9 tiles away in the Northeast. That's the closest place with unclaimed Horses.

450 BC: As I have started building Praetorians and Axemen for the "early" rush, I grab the first two completed and send them to avenge the Scout, (and earn EXP!) The Settler and Axe escort head off into the wilderness, following the road a Worker has built towards the site.

400 BC: Confucianism founded in AFAL. DAMN!

375 BC: Sauron becomes a Hindu. At this time a Warrior finds Sauron's borders.

He's far to the east, and probably the bulk of his land is to the south of Maurya. Since he won't open the border, I won't find out.
Galadriel trades Archery for Priesthood.


325 BC: Death to the Vandals! (And a Roman Axeman)

A battered Praetorian remains. He levels up on the next turn and kills the wounded Archer. He razes Vandal. (It's not a bad site, but I can't afford the upkeep right now.)

250 BC: Finally get CoL, start Monarchy. Brundisium is founded. It could have been founded two turns earlier, but I did not want to drop the slider further. It begins constructing a Monument.

Try talking tech trades with Utabeg, but he's not cooperative.

Besides his capital, he has four cities. Clearly I've been too slow in going about the Early Rush. Also, the new Scout built by Rome entered Utabeg's lands, discovered the city of Korimkesh, and was then slain by a Barbarian Archer that had just entered the city's culture boundary.

50 BC: Galadriel offers Math for CoL. Offer rejected.

25 BC: Monarchy completed. Revolt to HR and Caste System.

1 AD. Sauron offers Crabs for Gold. I'd rather not, but he's the only one with spare resources at the moment. He's pleased with Utabeg, Annoyed with Galadriel, and he has four cities as well as Barad-dur (the capital).

[Had to split the post. Too many images.]

25 AD: Galadriel completes the Temple of Artemis.

100 AD: Sauron gets religion, Organized Religion. Galadriel gets a second Great Prophet, which she uses to create the Temple of Solomon the next turn. Brundisium completes its Monument.

150 AD: Start the Currency-Civil Service path. I decide to rush even if it is too late. Besides, in trying for the rush, I could not REX, and now Rome is slightly behind the other civs city-wise.

Here is the SoD. "Go, ye heroes, go to glory ..."

Before declaring, I try to bribe Sauron into joining the war, but he's not having any.


175 AD: Korimkesh falls easily, having only one Archer.


250 AD: Uttar falls at the price of one Praetorian. Not wanting to deal with the upkeep or need to garrison it, I sack it.



275 AD: Great Lighthouse built in ADL.

300 AD: Some time ago, Utabeg built a irritating city named Zorig Marg to the NW of Antium. After the war started, I diverted a Prae/Axe stack to sack it. Despite only being held by a single Archer, and having no Culture defense, both the Praetorian and Axeman are killed!

Also, Maurya switches to OR.

350AD: Zorig Marg is sacked (costing me another Axeman), and the GG Leonadias is born in Rome! He is sent to Antium as an Instructor.



425 AD: Currency finished. Despite the temptation of Construction, I go for CS. Slider is at 60%

475 AD: The SoD prepares to storm Tarkhan Bey, the Easterling capital. After the Zorig Marg debacle, I'm somewhat nervous: the SoD isn't that big of a stack, nor are the troops especially doomy.

The garrison consists of six Archers and a "numberless" Chariot.
My fears are baseless, the Praetorians redeem themselves and take the city without loss! Roma Mater!


500 AD: Another GP for Galadriel, and thus another Shrine. Korimkesh completes a Courthouse, and starts a Barracks.

520 AD: Storming Ur Tarig is costly, the SoD loses two Praetorians. I decide to keep it. The SoD needs healing and reinforcement, so I call Utabeg to offer peace for all his techs (four) and his 20 gold. he doesn't want peace that badly; eventually I settle for Calendar and Meditation. He's down to his new capital of Vulzang Marg, which is at the end of a peninsula, so he's boxed in.


The Power Graph:

I'm ahead, but Sauron is right on my heels. I trade CoL, Currency, and 200 gold to Sauron for Horseback Riding, Monotheism, and Metal Casting. For 110 gold, I sell Maurya Priesthood. He's up to 5 cities + capital.


580 AD: Christianity founded in ADL. (It will prove to be Galadriel ... again.)

600 AD: Rome births its first GP, a GS. He founds an Academy in Rome. It does make a difference: I can now put the slider at 60% with a -3 per turn instead of 70% at -11 and it will still take the same research time.

The Colossus is built in ADL. Call Galadriel to see how many cities she has, which is 5 + the capital. She also has Wheat and Spices, but I've no surplus to trade.


680 AD: Great Library in AFAL. *Sigh* My favorite Wonder too ...

700 AD:
At last! Want to go for Philosophy, but my cities desperately need Culture, so Drama it is. Sauron adopts HR.

[Have to split again.]

700 AD: The barbarian city of Saxon is to the WSW of Aquae Sulis. I diverted a few troops to capture it. It falls easily and provides experience.



740 AD: Peace treaty ends. Again, I try to bribe Sauron, but he likes Utabeg too much and me too little. No one else cares. Sauron gets Annoyed when I declare on Utabeg and will break our resource trades next turn. Unfortunate, but "Alea iacta est." (The die is cast.)

780 AD: Drama, going for Philosophy at -10 per turn. Slider at 60%.

800 AD: "Ceterum censeo, Easterlings delenda est."

SoD knocking on Utabeg's door...

And they kick it in.

Rome is first in power, but Sauron is keeping pace. Gotta do something about that ... after we consolidate our gains. We also need some intel on his land and forces.

860 AD: Galadriel completes the Pyramids. She's got a lot of shinies, and she's my nearest surviving neighbor ... (Galadriel adopts Representation on 880 AD.)

920 AD:

Philosophy! Taoism is founded in Ur Tarig! Start Construction with the slider at 60%, losing 5 gold/turn. Maurya builds the Parthenon.

*****
And that's where we stand. Rome has nine cities, all needing a fair amount of work. What I'd like to do build two more, one on the site of Uttar to claim Banana, Iron, and Gems, and one just to the NE of Rome to claim Incense and a Cow. Also, Taoism needs to spread, so Rome will have a State religion when it next goes to war, and the cities will get some culture in the meantime.

While I'd like to go after Sauron, he's the furthest away, and the civ I've the least intel on. Galadriel is not too far away from Brundesium's eastern frontier, and she's build several Wonders and Shrines. She's also the pariah, so neither Sauron or Maurya will care if I invade Elven lands.

Maurya is on Galadriel's eastern border, and just touches Sauron. He may be a temporary buffer as long as I'm not adjacent to him and not a "heathen".

Analysis please. How could I have done this better? And what comes next?

The World in 920

Civic Options:

Tech Path:

International Relations:

Nice! you can make a Lord of the Rings Mod if you want!

Charles Li said:

Nice! you can make a Lord of the Rings Mod if you want!

Click to expand...

Thank you. Yes, that's my long-term goal. Nothing fancy, just LotR civs using the official tech tree. A true Middle-Earth mod I'll leave for the Arda team. Gondor and the Haradrim are the next on the list, and Rohan will be fun, thanks to the Rohirrim units Chugginator uploaded.

great story! keep up the good work!