On Research:
'Yep' - there are several ways we could play it.
Firstly, our lack of any defensive unit in the short term, the AI's land grab closer to our borders, and now we've got Judaism (and Saladin might demand that we adopt his faith) is possibly of concern. I think that we're still pretty safe, but I was banking on us picking up Archery along the way in this tech-trade frenzy that I expected would happen once we got the Alphabet <> Metal Casting deal done as the initial step. So - do we just want to 'grit the teeth' and self-research Archery for 'skin saving' purposes? I'm not sure one way or the other.
Secondly - FiveRings's concern on Peter possibly self-researching Metal Casting:
If we do gamble that he might be going after it himself, then sitting back and waiting for another AI to trade us Alphabet when they acquire it might possibly our best course. As such, we can continue to stockpile
, hope that some AI leader doesn't demand a 'chunk of change' from us in the meantime, and then spend it on charging after desirable technologies once our tech' exchange has been executed via an Alphabet trade.
On the other hand, if Peter's going after 'say' Construction or Calendar or some such thing, then us making a dent in Alphabet might be enough to tip the balance and he might change his stance. I am just not sure anymore how the AI behaves in Warlords (re. trading away monopoly tech's) given that BtS made such a huge overhaul to the AI's behaviour.
I must say however, that I'd be really uninclined to trade away Metal Casting for something other than Alphabet within the next few turns on the evidence we have before us. If we were attacked, then out of desperation we might seek Iron Working and/or Archery, but otherwise I'd vote for hanging off for the possibility of a 'Alphabet + whatever' <> Metal Casting trade.
On National Epic
We're still some distance from Literature, but nonetheless, it mightn't be a bad idea to nominate Uzbek or Cimmerian as our future
farm, so the other can look at a Barracks and what-not, and become more of a unit pump. Also, should we put The Great Library in the
farm or Karakorum (assuming all goes to plan)?
On Expansion:
Both the Gems-Gems-Clam and Visigoth have appeal. What's our policy?
Roster:
FiveRings
Pigswill << Up
woopdeedoo << On Deck
Cam