- What were your initial priorities?
My initial priorities were to secure some resources and sell them. I wanted to try a naval strategy eventually, but before that I needed cash, which meant I needed some friends to trade with. Lots of early scouting and friendships with just about everybody. I did a tradition four city opening, and used bowmen for defense. I settled my second city SW on the South coast, at the mouth of that flood plain river, next to more sugar, and with sugar and marble in the third ring. My third city was settled West on a hill next to a mountain, next to the river, next to more sugar, and two tiles from the natural wonder. My fourth city was SE, on the SE coast, next to more salt, and with two wheats in the second ring, and four fish in the third ring.
Little things were annoying this game. I built a worker first b/c the luxes were so sweet (salt then gold then sugar as I teched). However, the moment my worker appeared, two barbs showed up - one from each direction
. So, I had to sit there while I built a warrior and shot them both down. Secondly, Great Library went on turn 45, while I was due to build by turn 51. That is ridiculous on King. I ended up getting Pyramids as my one wonder, since two CS asked for it. If I had missed that one, I would have been really mad.
- What tech path did you follow?
Lux techs, then compound bowmen and iron
, then Navigation.
- Who did you decide to attack first?
Byzantium attacked me first. I was extatic b/c she would have been my first victim. Her attack was so predictable b/c my military consisted of two warriors, and my third city was close to her outpost city and it was only a matter of time. We had been friendly, so I got great lux sales, but she denounced then attacked within maybe five turns of her city plopping down near mine. I was sitting on about 1000g, so I instantly materialized a few bowmen and whipped her attack. Everyone else still loved me and denounced her. It took me another 15 turns to build a fourth and fifth bowman and a spearman, but then her first and second cities fell and were razed. Her capital was a tougher nut to crack, due to a wall and two dromonds aiding the defense. I ended up trading for some iron, and attacking with seven bowmen, a spearman a sword, and a quadreme that had sailed around from my second city on the south coast. The spear and a couple bowmen died, but I took her capital (turn 110-ish). Another bow joined the front along with a pair of pikemen, and Germany simply had to go. I waited ten turns to upgrade to crossbows, which in retrospect was a waste of time. I could have been much faster if I had been braver. Oh well.
Napolean was raising hell down in his part of the world, really kicking Caesar's teeth in and angering everybody. I had been friends with everybody, but Napolean was straining my relationships. With my second round of lux sales, I build a 4 Galleas, 2 Quadreme navy, and sailed to take Rome. My attack on Germany and sacking of Rome were nearly simultaneous (around turn 130).
From here on out, everybody was ultimately going to hate me. I'm on turn 150 now. Napolean is my only DOF Friend left, however, I'm plotting with him to attack Sully, and I'm plotting with William to attack Pacal. I have my big navy going clockwise around to the french capital. I have to decide whether to attack Sully first with France, or to backstab France, since he is on my way. Paris is awkwardly situated so I'm going to have to make a decision and hope for the best.
I have my big land force to the West, that can come attack Pacal and then William counterclockwise. I also have two Galleas and the Quadreme on that side of the world, so my plan is to complete a second navy from my south coast city by the time all of these land units get in the water to attack Pacal. We will see how those attacks go. I am ten turns from upgrading to Caravels, then 12 more to get Frigates. I need gold to get iron tho, so it will be a tough 20 turns to raise money for CS Iron then the upgrades.
- What Social Policies did you choose and why?
Tabarnak convinced me of the strengths of the four city Tradition opening. After the first two Tradition techs which put monuments in all my cities, I had to dip into Honor for the barb culture. There were simply too many barbs around and I wondered at first if they were raging. Turns out, I was just surrounded by encampments. I was having lots of requests from CS tho, and I still managed to finish tradition by turn 100 or so.
I'm surely going to lose some units.
