I'm having fun, but kind of lost in strategy. When I met Ram-k, I knew that I'd have to take him out to win... even though I forgot what VC I was supposed to aim for. He's a PITA for any VC, imo. At about t100, I checked the announcement thread to learn (re-learn) that I'm going for diplo VC.
The early game I'm just trying to take advantage of Ghandi's traits by going for growth. First 3 SP's into the Tradition tree.
I had aligned with CS-Ragusa (merc) for early growth, but let that expire since I couldn't afford to keep it. Ruins gave me an extra pop in capitol, which was nice. Got maybe one or two more ruins which gave cash.
I did a take-down on Ram-k using war elephants, horsemen, and a couple pike (got civil service early -- again to aid growth). I denounced him before the war, and Japan had denounced him and was in decl of friendship with me. Friendly Mongols and I likewise denounced Darius.
I took four cities from Ram-k and left him one so as not to be too bloodthirsty. I annexed his capitol eventually when I could buy a courthouse. Just after making peace with his ally cs-Genoa, I realize that Ragusa will love me if I eliminate Genoa... and it was strategically well-placed and had incense, and my troops are nearby, so why not? I declare on Genoa and take it very quickly. Not only Ragusa, but three other cs's became my allies for that act, so it seemed like a really great move.
I join the Mongol war on Darius at his request, though I only will fight defensively in that war.
What happens next? Japan, Mongol, Ottoman, ()not to mention Ram-k and Darius which were anticipated) all denounce me. In a couple turns, they all declare war on me. Not a great big deal at this point, since I have the cash to upgrade to cavalry (after burnig a GS on the enabling tech) and can fight a defensive war without problem. Just have to get cannons and troops out to defend Vienna from Mongols. Most of my units by now are gifts from military cs's.
But I'm a little miffed. Why did my friends turn on me? OK, the Mongols will turn on you when they have nobody else to turn on, but Darius was still holding out, and still at war with Mongols! Otto was never more than guarded, so ok, I can understand he listens to the denouncements of other. But my good buddies Japan? And Ram-k is in no condition to be declaring war on a city-state, let alone on one of the biggest world powers.
And why do they hate me? Lets see... I've settled too aggressively (actually have built only 3 settlers, rest are captured puppets). They covet my lands (well duh, I've got lots of resources, enough to keep a big empire happy). I've settled to close to them? Excuse me... its them who settled up to my borders, not me!) I'm a bloodthirsty warmongerer? Really? Only wars (other than Genoa) that I was in were either declared by someone else or in at the request of one of those now denouncing me!). So my conclusion is that if I try to win this game, they will all eventually hate me. Whats the point of making friends?
Anyhow... I've been taking the patronage tree to get +25% cs bonus and -25% decay bonus with cs's. I'm wondering is it worth it to get the 33% cs science bonus before going into rationalism or should I just go for rationalism asap?
Too much gold being wasted on wars... would rather buy buildings and more CS's. But not much I can do about it. Just detroy their armies and make peace deals, I guess. Or should I just take more cities? Nothing adjacent to me has any resource I want, so I'm tempted just to kill their armies. But will I come to regret that later on with more and more DOW's? Probably. So maybe the best best is to just weaken them forever, so that all furtue wars are nothing more than a minor annoyance.
I'm making about 150 gpt, 150 science, and 70 culture. Got a couple/three sp's each in commerce, tradition, Patronage. Time to aim for more science bonus, I think. Just about to complete Navigation.
Don't really know what I'm doing, but I seem to be on a winning course, if not an especially fast one. Just need 4 more CS's I think. Shouldn't be too much to ask for. I haven't been successful with RA's, though. Had one give me theology. Had two other's cancelled when my RA partner dow'd me. That sucks... should I get my money back?
Anyhow... this game seems to be taking the same trajectory as all my games. I'll win by the sword and then fix whatever VC I decide. I'll be the biggest and baddest civ out there. Kind of sucks when I just wanted a nice peaceful ghandi-like science race to the UN followed by bribing my way to victory by diplo. Not to be. Never is. Psychopathic AI won't let me.
World Wonders are Forbidden Palace and Oracle. Failed on a couple others... didn't even try on most of the ones I would have wanted... because my tech path didn't really take them into consideration... mostly aimed for techs that improve economy and/or happiness or science.
Need another Uni before I can do Oxford, but no hurry for that. Got one GS in reserve... will probably use it as soon as I open a next-tier tech. I suppose it would be smart to time my sp's so that I get the 2 free techs to go into globalization... but I doubt I have the patience or skill for that kind of game management... too many distractions.
Very annoying...
