Immac's Arabs (a 5-headed hydra)

Arabian Religious Challenge

I’ve decided to try and share my attempt at a multi-headed religious hydra.

I will be playing Saladin of the Arabs.

The game will take place at my standard difficulty, Monarch.

I will be playing a Pangea map on Epic speed. All other conditions will be standard.

Here are the settings.


Here is my starting position. I had a hut near my city and when I founded it provided a scout. I think if you are going to get a scout this would be a perfect time for one. I decide to work the grapes despite reduced growth. I need the immediate gain in research to beat any other civilization to meditation.



In 3880BC I meet Cyrus.



In 3850BC, my warrior pops a hut and gets a scout and my scout pops a hut and gets 88gold.



In 3820BC, I meet Asoka. I really hope he is making a run at Meditation. This way I can beat him to that tech and still remain competitive for polytheism. Time will tell, but I am optimistic.

In 3760 my scouts find 40 gold and my warrior meets Hatsheput. What a hat! No wonder they call her Hatty. She usually isn’t a contender for Buddhism or Polytheism but is very often a strong contender for Judaism.



In in 3670BC I meet Frederick of the Germans and Victoria of the English. One of my scout also popped some money from a hut. The other one got attacked by a panther and is healing atop a wooded hill. These early scouts from huts have played a decidingly large role in my early game.





Also this year, I have the chance to take one of Hatsheput’s workers. I decide to play it tough. I don’t have much to build other then warriors anyway, so I might as well use them. Here goes.




Soon afterwards, Mecca founds Buddhism. I switch tiles to the floodplains or river corn to get to size two quickly then will switch them to the two wine tiles to try and get polytheism first. My only real competition (I hope) is the Indians and if I am lucky, I just beat them to Buddhism. If he was researching polytheism off the start, we will soon know. Well, I like to gamble in CIV, so here goes. Onwards to Polytheism.

In 3580, I meet Montezuma. He is a contender for polytheism also as he also starts with Meditation. Lets hope that he also went for Buddhism (or worker techs).



In 3550BC, my second warrior pops experience from a hut. In 3340BC, I make peace with Hatsheput. In 3310BC I get more money from a hut. In 3250BC, I lose my starting warrior to a lion in the jungles east of Egypt. I am still pushing on towards Polytheism and no one else has yet claimed it.

In 3160BC, I found Hinduism. As evidenced by my bankroll, I’ve also found more cash from goodie huts. No techs yet, but that’s okay; these scouts have already provided me with so much money. So the next phase of my plan calls for a push towards Judaism, but in the meantime, I want my worker to have something to do. There are two hills that he could potentially mine and there is obviously some fields he could farm. If I push towards agriculture, then I can grow faster. My long-term goal is to grab code-of-laws and philosophy after Judaism and I want to grab philosophy from running scientists, so I will need plenty of food. On the other hand, I want to grab the pyramids if it is possible. If I want any wonders, I need hammers. The pyramids are also a great place to sink hammers while I get more religions. In the end I think I will push towards mining, then masonry, monotheism, then priesthood and writing and code of laws.



In 3100BC I pop a warrior from a hut. I guess that replaces the warrior I lost to a lion earlier. Shortly thereafter I lose both the warrior and the scout to a bear and a lion. I guess my luck with the scouts is running out.

I should mention that i went back and picked up agriculture. I wanted to grow quickly and only working one food tile and many hammer tiles also helps with the construction of wonders. In retrospect i should have researched farming before mining and farmed the corn and floodplains before mining the hills, but i guess i screwed up.

In 2470, our hopeless power is published by Thucydides. This will probably remain true until I am ready to start expanding my empire. If everything goes to plan that will be shortly after developing Taoism (or Confucianism if this goes badly).



In 1870, we found Judaism. That’s three religions in the capital. Lets hope we can snag two more and that will be more then enough. We’ll have a hard time getting all the shrines and the required missionaries to make use of that many shrines anyway.



In 1210BC, I notice that Mecca’s culture will soon expand to allow us to make use of the gold in the distant west. I make the Egyptian worker start a road towards it.

In 1090BC, I finish writing and start code-of-laws. Hatsheput also converts to Judaism, so I do too. Since I am spiritual, it doesn’t make much of a difference at this point. As long as I have any religion, I get the organized religion bonus and I get the happiness required for size 6.

In 970BC, Cyrus completes Stonehenge. In 955BC, I finish the pyramids, and adopt representation. I begin work on a library so that I can start using scientists.



In 835BC, I finish the library and finally reconfigure for growth and trade while working two scientists. This will help me get code-of-laws that much sooner and will help me get the scientist I need to pop philosophy (note that I will need mathematics first I believe).

In 715BC, a great scientist, Merit Ptah, is born in Mecca. I hold on to him for now.

In 685BC, Cyrus completes the oracle and adopts vassalage. Wow, that’s pretty scary. And he is right on my doorstop. And I am the only way he can expand. I’ve already seen some of his Immortals running around. This could be very messy.

In 625BC, I found Confucianism. Now, I am not sure if I should research alphabet and trade for mathematics, or research mathematics myself so I can lightbulb philosophy as soon as possible and start cranking out settlers (or an army).



Running four scientists under caste system, I take a run at alphabet. I know that someone will have mathematics. I will trade for it. If I have to, I will send my Confucian missionary to convert them, assume Confucianism myself and thereby assist with the trade. This way I am closer to bronze working, pottery and other good techs also.

In 535BC, Cyrus adopts Hinduism, and I do too, because he is the most powerful country and he is right next door. In 520BC, Mecca produces Imhotep, the great engineer. This will be used to produce the Ankar Wat in my GPP city as soon as it is founded/conquered.

In 435BC, I finish alphabet and am faced with multiple trading opportunities. I start civil service. I trade Frederick Polytheism for Pottery. I trade with Victoria for hunting and bronze working and provide her with monotheism and priesthood.



The following turn I trade Victoria code of laws for animal husbandry and mathematics. Merit Ptah gets down to some really serious thinking. He contemplates the nature of the universe, and how mathematics, meditation and laws contribute to its working. In the end, he uncovers a new philosophy and calls it Taoism.

I rethink my research path and decide that I would best be served by catapults next and therefore begin research on construction. In addition, i trade Asoka writing and pottery for fishing and archery. The next turn, I trade mathematics to Frederick for iron working. Luckily, I have iron near Mecca.



I also decide to let my capital’s culture really grow by dropping out of Hinduism. I remain in organized religion because I am not yet losing money.

In 250BC, England builds the Parthenon. I have been hooking up iron and building swordsman. This will probably continue until I can expand my empire sufficiently. I trade monotheism to Frederick for sailing and the following turn trade mathematics and sailing to Asoka for Monarchy. In 145BC, I trade Hatsheput monarchy and iron working for calendar.

In 145BC, I ‘found’ my second city- i use the swordsmen with 'settler' promotion on a barbarian city. It comes with a worker. I move my great engineer over to it and rush-build the Angkor Wat.



I have to wait until 85BC when the city comes out of revolt for Imhotep’s work to come to fruition. Cherokee will be my GPP city, but first it needs to get up to size and that means a granary.



Shortly afterwards, I adopt Taoism, pacifism, and slavery. I am not using caste system, nor am I producing missionaries, so this seems like a good decision. I also send my Taoist missionary to Cherokee. In 25BC, Cyrus begins a golden age. I have five swordsmen, and will soon be producing catapults.

Here is the state of the world in 5AD.



As you can see, perhaps pacifism was not a great idea. I am losing money very very quickly from my growing army. I am not sure if i should return to organized religion or paganism. Saladin is spiritual so I am not sure at this point.

I have finished posting for some time and may not get a chance to play and post for a bit as i will be out of town. In the meantime, i can think about what i want to do next.

Some of my priorities include getting my GPP city up to size and providing it with enough food to run 3+priests so that i can provide prophets for the capital's shrines. I should also expand my territory. I have not yet decided if Asoka or Hatsheput are currently squating my territory. I guess they both are, but which one do i want to kick out first?

Well, i had fun writing this up. Its only my second time writing up a game and it took lots of time, but was lots of fun. I look forward to playing more and writing more.

Since i will probably not be playing for a week or so, i would welcome any comments or suggestions you may have.

Thanks for reading,
Salam,
Immaculate.

This looks to be a very interesting game. Keep up the good work.

In terms of the Flavour Challenge, some decisions that I thought were appealing are:
1) the synergy i was able to provide from running representation. I got the pyramids just before library, so when i ran scientists they were stronger.
2) the use of caste system to hurry alphabet with 4 scientists. I needed to get philosophy (so i had a five-headed hydra) as quickly as possible, so i could get back into the game properly and that was the quickest, most efficient way to do so.
3) we'll see about angkor wat- but i think it will allow me to get my shrines up quickly because i don't need temples. meanwhile, the priests that i do run won't be as useless (partially due to representation and partially due to the angkor wat).

I have decided that i need a new long term GPP farm. Cherokee just isn't going to cut it in the long term.

That's a nice start with a unique strategy, but don't you think that your capital would have been a better GP farm choice?

Its also a good thing that you didn't get attacked early... this strategy really relies on some early clemency from the AI, but it worked this time.

Landmonitor said:

That's a nice start with a unique strategy, but don't you think that your capital would have been a better GP farm choice?

Its also a good thing that you didn't get attacked early... this strategy really relies on some early clemency from the AI, but it worked this time.

Click to expand...

If it had been Monty instead of Cyrus to my East, i probably would have chosen to build an army faster and may have had to forgoe the pyramids. But you are absolutely right, i was lucky not to be attacked.

Session two:

Here is a view of the financial advisor at the beginning of this session:


Based on this information, I do not yet need to be in pacifism. It is costing me much too much and I am not yet running any specialists (capital is building an army, Cherokee is growing). I consider changing from representation to police state to grow my army faster, but realize that the lost happiness would make this a very bad idea. So I change only the religious civic and adopt organized religion. The next turn expenses are reduced to 4gpt, only two of which are from unit maintenance.

In 110AD Christianity is founded by the Egyptians. Mecca is still building catapults, while Cherokee is continuing its work on a granary.

In 140AD, I am ready to attack the Egyptians. I move my army into range of Pi-Rameses. I declare war and get a diplomatic “you declared war on our friend” modifier with everyone except Monty. I wasn’t able to get anyone to stop trade or declare war on her prior to declaring, so there wasn’t much I could do there. If anyone knows of any tricks to avoid this, please do tell.


I bombard with both catapults (reducing defence to 14%) and use the two most accomplished swordsman to attack. We receive 102gold for the capture of Pi-Rameses. I keep the city. The cows and lots of grassland will allow for a cottage-specialized city. My intention is to make this city a commerce city.


In between turns, the Germans demand Monarchy and I indulge them. Hatsheput adopts theocracy. In 185AD, Hatsheput sends out a settler with an archer/war chariot escort. A swordsman loses (at 79% odds) when trying to attack them, but two other swordsmen are able to finish the job. The same turn, I whip the granary to completion in Cherokee and reset it to grow while building a courthouse.
In 260AD, I trade Asoka code of laws and construction for currency. Shortly thereafter, I sell Monty Monotheism for 270gold. This serves me very well; I hope he spreads his religion, it will eventually feed my shrine anyway.
After taking both Pi-Ramses and Elephantine, I turn my attention to Heliopolis.
In 325AD, Pi-Rameses finishes its granary and begins a courthouse.
By 350AD, a series of skirmishes have taken place, and though for the most part fighting at good odds, losses are taken. The war with the Egyptians has been bloody and furious. War chariots are serving the Egyptians well; I should have built spearmen earlier then i did. Three braves swordsman, a catapult, and an archer have been lost to the battle with the Egyptians. The army have defeated one swordsman, one axe man, one spearman, eleven archers, and 4 war chariots. Swordsman and catapults have taken Elephantine and are at the crux of taking a third Egyptian city. Mecca has built a new Taoist missionary to spread the faith to Elephantine. At this rate, it will take a long time to conquer a significant amount of territory, but I am hoping that once the ball gets rolling, it will accelerate.


Heliopolis is set to fall... and in 380, it does.

I considered police state to increase military production; the +2 unhappy faces present in Mecca for war weariness with the loss of representation happiness, but realize that in 395AD Cherokee has grown large enough to run three priests specialist. This will be the function of this city until either a better GPP factory can be conquered, or sufficient shrines are built. I am really looking forward to having MANY shrines in one city. In past solo games I have produced a three-headed hydra from the Inca in a Prince game. It would be nice to have four or even five shrines built in Mecca.


In 470AD, Calcutta, to the North of Mecca, flips to Arabian rule. Cherokee finishes a courthouse and begins a Taoist monk for Calcutta.


In 500AD, civil service is complete and the bureaucracy civic is adopted. Literature is chosen despite knowing that Asoka has had literature for some time. It may be much too late for the great library, but I would like to try, especially if we end up with another great engineer from Mecca.

In 515AD we receive news that we are the second largest civilization after the Persians. The Egyptians are still fourth.

In 560AD, I decide to make a run for the great library despite the head-start Asoka has had. This means I need to focus on the wonder, not the war (only one city, Mecca, is building my army and even then Mecca has built two missionaries). I make peace with Hatsheput for 60gold. Obviously, I had hoped to take more cities prior to suing for peace, but the Egyptians have put up a spirited fight and I will need to recuperate my economy prior to attempting further wars.
I finish literature next turn and set Mecca upon the Great Library. I also set a worker to chop one forest near the river’s edge. I set research to Music in hoping to get Homer.

In 634AD, I pop a great Engineer from Mecca. To build the great library anywhere else requires a library there already. I will try to build a library elsewhere very quickly (before Mecca is done).

In 650AD, Cyrus develops the Colossus. Just previously, he had assumed bureaucracy. I also lose the music race to Asoka.

In 725BC Asoka builds the chichen itza

In 800AD, a great prophet is born in Cherokee and immediately goes to establish the Taoist shrine in Mecca. I also trade Federick civil service and literature for metallurgy.

Elephantine whips a library and in 810AD, using the great engineer, builds the great library.


In 815 AD, the Taoist shrine is built. I also trade to Asoka civil service and metal casting to get feudalism, horse-back riding, and to get him to assume slavery. I also receive some money from the pre-build of the great library in Mecca. I decide at this moment that I will try to build an aqueduct and the hanging gardens. I don’t often get so many great engineers and its been great.



At this point I seriously consider returning to pacifism. I’ve already had several great leaders and need at least three more priests. Cherokee is running four priests (it built a Taoist temple recently). Mecca will soon have an aqueduct, a forge, an engineer, and the hanging gardens (if everything goes well) and so would be better fitted to gather GPP for an engineer. Lastly, with the representation-powered great library will produce a lot of science, but under pacifism, we may get a great scientist out of it that much sooner.
I convince myself.
Before:


After:


The Arabian empire is paying 4gpt to produce great people, mostly prophets, that much sooner but is sacrificing hammers to do so. I always have some doubts when doing this, but I hope it works out well with increased shrine income.

A peaceful period of quite building follows and by the end of the first millennium the empire appears as follows.
Southern empire:



Northern empire:



Power graph- you can easily see where I began to gather an army and to expand.


And lastly, the capital, Mecca, with one shrine in place.


In terms of the flavour challenge, I must admit that I have lacked real direction. The great library and even peace with the Egyptians were not well thought-out decisions. Getting beat to Music was obvious in retrospect. I should have chosen music instead of civil service if I had really wanted the great artist.
Arabia has grown considerably, and this is good, but it needs to be much larger to assure victory. I very much enjoyed expansion after being hemmed in so much in the early game. I intend to continue to take over territory, but may have to wait for grenadiers and cannons as most of my opponents already have longbows and I am not in a position to develop maces very quickly. I will continue in my quest to make my capital a great engineer factory while using Cherokee to get shrines in place. Other cites will be mostly commerce (cottage-based)-specialized cities, but i will need production cities to assist in further conquest.

PS: Sorry about the French to those who can't read it, but the meaning of what you are seeing should be pretty obvious anyway.

Peace (or as Saladin would say, As-Salamu Aliquum)

That's a very nice capital. I think you did pretty good; getting beat to music was no big deal... its just an artist. You may have wanted the GL in Mecca, although I understand your predicament about having already started it there and not wanting to waste. Now, however, if you tone down the GP points in Cherokee, you could if you build the HG (not hard) get two engineers fairly easily in Mecca... if I were you I would even think about putting the NE in Mecca... it looks like a nice GP farm to me, especially since it will likely have more wonders. It's too bad Heliopolis doesn't have those Bannanas (they look like they belong to Elephantine) and maybe some fish...

Landmonitor said:

That's a very nice capital. I think you did pretty good; getting beat to music was no big deal... its just an artist. You may have wanted the GL in Mecca, although I understand your predicament about having already started it there and not wanting to waste. Now, however, if you tone down the GP points in Cherokee, you could if you build the HG (not hard) get two engineers fairly easily in Mecca... if I were you I would even think about putting the NE in Mecca... it looks like a nice GP farm to me, especially since it will likely have more wonders. It's too bad Heliopolis doesn't have those Bannanas (they look like they belong to Elephantine) and maybe some fish...

Click to expand...

Yeah, i am still unsure where the late-game GPP city will be placed. In regards to Cherokee, I don't want to tone down the GPP in Cherokee until i get all the shrines, but there are many competing GPP sources. Great engineers are important, but the five shrines in the capital are much more important i believe.
Hopefully the philosophical trait and the pacifism civic will mean that i can actually get use of all of them.
(to make matters more complicated, i think Elephantine will be made to produce a few great scientists before things are done. see below)

I am also considering the fate of Elephantine.


I had thought to make it into a commerce-specialized city and make use of cottages extensively. The more I consider it however, the more I think I should leverage my advantages currently held. If I use the library already in place to run scientists instead of trying to grow cottages, the immediate gain will be much greater (especially considering the representation bonus). Six beakers is much greater then one commerce coin. In addition, they will also produce great scientists. I am running pacifism and am philosophical; it may be best to leverage those advantages. In addition, the presence of the great library will mean that future great scientists from this city will be accelerated by the two bonus scientists as well as the GPP generated by the library itself.

If I were you, I would definetely put two more scientists in Elephantine, but I would probably cut things off there and grow some cottages; if you have two rep scientists in every city and a few scattered priests (because of Ango Watt), that should be enough research. The cottages you grow will let all the money you get by running low science go to supporting a large empire, expensive pacifist armies, and upgrading your troops immediately with all the techs your large community of proffessionals is constantly researching!

At the beginning of the next millennia, I realize that Cyrus, Hatsheput, Asoka, Frederick, and Victoria are firm friends and none of them are likely to wage a war of aggression on any of the others. They are all mutual trading partners and refuse to either stop trading or go to war with any others amongst their numbers. In addition, when I attack one of their members, the others will no doubt impose diplomatic penalties in response. Wars will isolate me further and further diplomatically. Additionally, as seen in the above power graph, I am not in a position to start pushing anyone around too much (except maybe Hatsheput).
Montezuma is perpetually outside the ring of friendly civilizations. Perhaps this can be used to my advantage. If one of my potential enemies (Asoka for example) can be induced to trade with him, this will make other civilizations, for whom Montezuma is worst enemy take a dim view of the trading civilization. This would let me pounce on the offending civilization without incurring diplomatic hardships. The only problem, as I see it, is that if Montezuma is already worst enemies to the civ (lets say Asoka) I am trying to persuade into trade relations, there is little I can do to encourage trade. Montezuma is Buddhist and most other civs only have 4-5 cities, so for 4-5 missionaries, I may be able to encourage their conversion to Buddhism and push them towards Montezuma. This bears some analysis.
After examining the relationships of the various AIs towards each other, the only modifiers negatively affecting trade with Montezuma is the ‘religious differences’ one.
For now, my short term goals are to develop the infrastructure of the cities currently in my possession. An army will have to wait (but not too long); this works well with my pacifist government for the moment.

In 1010, Victoria converts to Taoism, thereby joining the rest of the ‘friends club’ I am trying to fragment. Damn. The following turn, the forge completes in Mecca and an engineer is assigned. The Arabian empire makes use of its spiritual trait to adopt organized religion and Mecca is set to build a Buddhist missionary. This will be sent to Cherokee and Cherokee will build a monastery and missionaries. As soon as possible, the Arabs will return to their pacifist ways.
In 1025AD, Frederick declares war on Montezuma. Amongst the ‘friends club’, Frederick is the only one who ultimately isn’t on my hit-list. I trade philosophy to Cyrus for Machinery, his world map, and approximately 200gold. I trade Frederick philosophy for Theology, his world map, and 320gold.
In 1040AD, Montezuma tries to join the ‘friends club’ by assuming Taoism also, “Hey guys. Can I be in your club; I’m not crazy.” “Sorry Monty. No feather hats allowed. We still think you are nuts.” This development will make fracturing the ‘friends club’ that much more difficult. In the IBT, Montezuma demands feudalism and I agree. This will slow Frederick’s attack on Montezuma. Later I will need open borders with Montezuma to introduce Buddhism to his people properly.
The following year, Mecca completes a Buddhist missionary. I send it to Cherokee and set Mecca to build the Hanging Gardens.
In 1085 Cyrus declares war on Montezuma as well. Better him then me I say. Goodbye Monty.
In 1100AD, a great prophet is born in Cherokee. He is sent to Mecca to build a shrine. Money does not seem to be a problem with all the trading that has been taking place. I am running at -19gpt at 100% science and about to build a shrine. I currently have 1184gold banked. I am not in a position where I need to upgrade troops anytime soon, so I drop representation and assume universal suffrage. Priests, engineers, and scientists are returned to the field to grow cities. I intend to spend some gold under organized religion and then return to pacifism and representation. Dropping out of representation brought unhappy faces to Mecca, but I ignore that for now, knowing that in 5 turns, the happiness from representation will return.



The following turn, the great prophet, Zoraster is ready to build a shrine. Hinduism is the world’s second largest religion (after Taoism), but I am not sure which shrine will have the greatest diplomatic effect. Whichever shrine I build, that religion will probably spread to cities that do not yet have religion. It may be useful to build the Buddhist shrine since Cherokee will soon have a Buddhist monastery and will be ready to produce Buddhist missionaries. In the end, Buddhism is the worlds smallest religion with only 7% of followers and Hinduism can be spread from Calcutta to Cherokee while we remain in organized religion, especially with the spending power afforded by Universal Suffrage and 1200gold. This will allow Cherokee to build a Hindu monastery instead of a Buddhist one.
Zoraster builds the Hindu shrine and expenses go from -21gpt to -9gpt at 100% science. Calcutta’s forge is hurried (339gold), as is Heliopolis’s Taoist monastery (114gold) (required to fight Persian and Egyptian culture). After the forge, one turn of building reduces the cost of a Hindu missionary to 156gold which I gladly pay. I send the missionary to Cherokee and it will shortly begin work on a monastery to spread Hinduism. Now, as soon as the civic options can be returned to representation and pacifism, they shall be. On the last turn of universal suffrage, I hurry a settler from Cherokee to take advantage of a furs and silver spot in the far north that will never grow into anything useful but will provide the Arabian empire with two luxury resources. Hatsheput builds Notre Dame.
In 1130AD, I revert to representation and pacifism. To make use of the extra science and the greater GPP generation rate, Mecca receives an engineer. For the same reason, Cherokee receives 4 priests. It also continues work on a Hindu monastery prior to spitting out Hindu missionaries. Elephantine receives two scientists. Heliopolis whips a library.
Islam is founded by Asoka. I hope he assumes this religion and fractures the religious landscape. In that case, I can use Hindu missionaries on the English instead of the Indians.



Heliopolis whips a lighthouse in 1148AD. Additionally, Medina, the ice block that will be perpetually useless is founded purely for access to silver and furs. It is set on the long road to building a forge. This improvement will allow hammer production from the engineer specialist and allow some research from the specialist. (EDIT WHILE POSTING: In retrospect I should have made use of the Angkor Wat and the spiritual trait to just build a temple and run a priest specialist.)



In 1166AD, I finish Education and begin work on gunpowder. I want to liberalism-jump chemistry, but will require engineering prior to that. I don’t want to give up paper, but I need to acquire engineering.
In 1178, Mecca completes the hanging gardens. It is now producing 27 great engineer points/turn. This is why earlier I set an engineer to work here. Production is set to a maceman and to complement that, civics are changed from bureaucracy to vassalage (Bureaucracy is great for building wonders, but vassalage is better for building units). Cherokee completes a hindu missionary and begins a new one.



Hatsheput declares war on Montezuma.
In 1184, Cyrus circumnavigates the globe (wow!) and Elephantine produces a great scientist. I decide to use it immediately for an academy in my cottage-specialized city (Pi-Rameses). Calcutta finishes another Hindu missionary and because Arabia now governs through vassalage and a war is coming, it is set to build barracks.
In 1196, Mecca strikes an iron vein while mining materials for the construction of macemen. Ummmm… in proper English we say WOOT! yes?



In this year, the paper monopoly is broken by Cyrus who is becoming quite a research monster. I trade paper and philosophy to Victoria for Engineering, 300gold, and her world map. I trade the Germans paper for drama, 70gold, their world map, and adoption of pacifism and slavery civics. Forcing the Germans to assume pacifism will be difficult on their economy and forcing them to adopt slavery might mean that they spend an extra turn in anarchy. I trade Asoka paper for compass, 510gold and his world map.
In 1202AD, Victoria adopts Hinduism. Hindu missionaries en route and in production will be sent to reinforce her conversion while new missionaries (these ones Buddhist) will be sent to Asoka to convert him to Buddhism (also produced in Cherokee once a Buddhist missionary is built).



I give Montezuma theocracy, code of laws, and metal casting. I should have done this earlier. He is fighting a war against the world’s two greatest powers and is far behind in techs. That makes me feel like the United State and like he is Israel (There are other analogies; that just came up first.) In 1208, I provide him with civil service and machinery. Hopefully this helps him somewhat. In 1214AD, Victoria demands 160gold and I acquiesce; its very little money and it will keep me on her good side for just a little bit longer.
In 1244 I complete gunpowder and work begins on liberalism. No one else has yet developed education, so we should be safe.
In 1274, Montezuma converts to Buddhism and Hatsheput converts to Christianity. Meanwhile, Cherokee produces a third prophet. The prophet is sent to Mecca to produce the Buddhist shrine. Asoka and Cyrus both have gunpowder but I do not yet trade it to everyone. I want to beat on Hatsheput while she is relatively undefended first.



The English develop education and I trade them gunpowder for guilds. I was about to immediately switch Mecca to a grocer to make the most of its three shrines, then realize I can probably get banking next turn, so I wait to finish the current maceman, then set Mecca to bank afterwards. The following turn, I trade Frederick Education and gunpowder for divine right, 300gold, his world map and banking. I ask for, and receive a handout of 160gold from Frederick. Because we are in representation and running pacifism, mercentalism is a no-brainer. I switch (and assign another priest in Cherokee).

Next, I demand all of Hatsheput’s money before I INVADE. Sucker!


The following turn, Asoka adopts Buddhism. It took relatively few missionaries to fracture the religious landscape. Now, if only there was a way to force him to trade with Montezuma. Cherokee builds one last missionary and is set to build a barracks and to contribute to the war effort. I would like, if things go well, to absorb the Indians and the English before this era ends.


In 1322, Liberalism is completed and I select chemistry as a free technology. I set research to steel. The representation civic can only do so much research. Steel is going to take an amazing 24 turns to complete. Hopefully these wars will uncover cities with well-developed cottage improvements. I need more commerce.


Thebes comes at a high cost in catapults but no macemen were lost. Thebes comes with a granary, an aqueduct, an academy and Notre Dame. Workers are sent to Thebes to make the best use of the academy by replacing floodplain farms with cottages.


The offensive is slowed at this point because only two catapults remain from taking Thebes. I want to gain some experience for my macemen anyway (I would like to upgrade a good handful of them to grenadiers with City Raider 3 promotions), so maybe we will fight in the field.
In 1340, a great engineer is born in Mecca. I am unsure what to use him on. The Spiral Minaret is the only wonder available currently in Mecca, but Versailes would be available elsewhere. The Spiral Minaret does not interest me too greatly.


Within a few turns, Frederick gets a great engineer and the next turn Versailles is built by the Germans. I guess that takes care of that decision.
The war goes well and soon Alexandria falls (at the cost of one maceman). Alexandria comes with a harbour, a lighthouse, a granary and a forge. T
he tide soon turns in Asoka’s favour with the construction of two wonders simultaneously:

Stupid Asoka!

A great scientist is born in Elephantine. (EDIT WHILE POSTING: I actually forgot about this great scientist and ended up wasting him almost completely. I wanted to settle him in Pi-Rameses and completely forgot. He has been around since 1412 or so and has still not been used by 1508. Immaculate=very maculate).


The war on the Southern front comes to an end with the fall of Memphis. I don’t relish chasing the last Egyptian city down because I don’t know where it is. Memphis comes with a granary, an aqueduct, a forge and an academy. It also has several well-developed cottages in its vicinity.


Egypt has nothing to offer for peace, but is willing to accept a few new civics (I think adopting 4 new civics will force even a spiritual civilization into anarchy). I also get a map of its last city in exchange for peace. She is left with one tiny island city. Luckily for her, it has two large food sources.
In regards to fighting Egypt, I could have progressed more quickly, but I wanted to provide an opportunity for all macemen with city-attack promotions to reach 10 experience so that they could be upgraded to CR3 grenadiers. Once upgraded, I possess 5 CR3 grenadiers.

As I sign peace with Egypt, Montezuma’s last city falls to the Persians.
I decide to settle the great scientists in Pi-Rameses which is developing nicely as a science city.
St. Augustine rates us as the 3rd most cultured civilization. Poor Hatsheput, she ranks last.


In 1490AD, Mecca builds a fourth shrine.

The same year, I demand 200gold from Victoria and she accepts.
The next year, I declare war and move two stacks into her territory.
First Vandal falls.

Then, Nottingham falls.

I end the session here. Here is the state of the empire.

Demographics:

Frederick and Cyrus have much bigger armies. Asoka, Victoria and I have approximately the same sized armies (despite being pacifist- hehe). Here is a look at the power graph:

Here is a look at Arabic territory. The southern Egyptian provinces:

Central Arabia and the northern Egyptian provinces:

Northern and Central Arabia:

New English cities:

Here is a look inside some key cities.
Mecca the four out of five-headed hydra:
At 100% science, it produces 92 gpt. Various cities are producing banks in preparation for the national wonder , Wall Street. At 100% science, wall street will increase gold intake by 46 gold. Once wall street is complete, every missionary built produces 3gpt once it finds a home. In addition, not all cities yet have religions and religions with shrines will expand faster. A captured Egyptian city is the Christian holy city and does not have a shrine. Asoka controls the Islamic holy city (but it’s a tiny frozen nugget in the north).

Cherokee, the prophets’ crib:
Notice that 12.5 (10x1.25 for the forge) hammers are being produced by priests. The Angkor Wat is doing its thing here in a major way. Cherokee is producing a respectable 51 GPP/turn. Once the fifth and final prophet is born, those priests will be returned to the field (or turned into merchants).

Pi-Rameses:
You’ll note that Pi-Rameses doesn’t have a settled scientist. I am so dumb. Pi-Rameses’s cottages are starting to mature nicely despite the late start.

Elephantine:
After the generation of the last great scientist (the one who decided to just chill in Thebes and never was used properly), Elephantine was switched to cottage specialization. Its cottages are still young, but they will mature (especially if the Arabs can adopt emancipation), and things should accelerate.

Heliopolis:
The citizens of Heliopolis have been whipped so much, their backs are made of pure scar tissue. Motherland, smotherland; stop griping and be happy you aren’t being drafted to fight the English. Life is easy. You live in little villages and hamlets in the countryside and everynow and then some of you are forced to die to build a library or something. That’s not so bad is it? And besides, you are united with the motherland. All real Egyptian cities are Arabic anyway. You want to move to Giza? It doesn’t even have a countryside.

Thebes:
There’s that great scientist. How did he get there? Does it matter where I settle the great scientist as long as the city has a library, university and academy? I guess it should go where oxford goes, but I don’t think it matters too much the maturity of the cottages around that city does it?
Anyway, Notre Dame helps the empire obviously. I replaced most of the farms with cottages and am still in the process of replacing them. The fact that Thebes has an academy sort of begs for it I figure.

So that’s where the game is in the early 1500s. I’ll post some thoughts when I get some. For now my brain is empty.