I feel like I've screwed the pooch on this game. Started out pretty well, ruins gave pop, camps, Writing on t12, and Scarcher. I debated going for GLib, maybe could have nabbed it as Sul got it t34, but who knows what the RNG/cheating AI would have done...
I had very little faith for a long time (2 Shrines). I was going to take God-King, but decided to try to wonder-whore early, with a strong eye at GW (I have no idea why I keep adding my own stupid approaches to many challenges!). So I took Monument to the Gods and took Aristocracy 4th (very silly - esp with Gandhi in the game). ToA 48, HG 66, MoH 78, and Borobudur 125. I built HS t116 and founded Catholicism 5th.
No buildings left, so took Tithe and Divine Inspiration (so decent faith from 6 wonders), Enhanced with 2 happy Temples and Itin Preachers.
Very strange playing Tradition and focusing so much on the lower tree - I detoured to BW and Calendar to get the Spices online and Optics for MoV, and so Gandhi beat me to the GW. Big regret there. Sul beat me to GLH too (and I wonder why I am always so behind on buildings and TRs in Venice!!!).
Sul could have stomped me the whole game, he got one of Wu's cities after a long war. I'm bringing half my army back from the E as he can't be bribed against Arabia. Tempted to take Bejing with SoZ as then I can liberate a city Sul took... Hard to get at him with the mtn and KSM. Darius is often a pain as he rarely accepts war bribes, but he asked me to join vs Rome and I said yes though woefully unprepared as I'd like to stay on his good side. You know he probably hit a GAge right then.
I miraculously stole an early Worker from Nappy at the E side of Paris, he had already claimed El Dorado... So Orleans was my going to be my prize, but Rome started steamrolling him. I was able to put 2 Scouts E of Lyons and with just one CB took Lyons as he pounded it. In retrospect Lyons should have been my resurrection city. If Rome could have swept him I could have taken Orleans and Rome, sigh. So now my roads go thru Orleans, I know OB will close at some point.
So when the Dow offer came I had maybe two more units there (terrible terrain to get E!). Managed to get Paris and soon Troyes - would have liberated Troyes but it had Cocoa. So Arabia has been uppity all game, lux are 1.5 usual cost. DOFs with Gandhi and Darius, and have gifted Sul Spices.
I kept considering peace with Rome as he was offering huge deals - I finally agreed getting Neapolis (Wine), Wine, 69g, and 45 gpt. Happy hit 1. He will buy me a nice military. I will likely play peaceful for 30 turns then take Rome with Cannons.
I MoV'd Bratislava t81 from Optics and Hanoi t120 from Brats MoV. Gold and happy were low much of the game - not able to feed Venice much. Real late to Education and NC. Venice is only pop 20, Brat 15 and Hanoi 10.
2 in Liberty (Republic) and Commerce opener, but will likely save Collective Rule MoV for later. Likely to fill Commerce ASAP, likely to skip Rat as I don't think I'll be happy soon, and unless I can get a two-fer there it will be a waste to open. Maybe I should have proposed WF, as I was surprised to see I have the most production (really focused on mines most of the game), did culture for wonders instead, which may not pass. Rome founded WC and proposed Scholars, can't see that passing.
Man, Venice and Rome's colors are almost the same!
Well, I will get some in a while. Venice grabbed a jungle coal tile, so 15 or whatever turns. I'm going to try to coup Sofia, but who knows if any is hooked up. I can Citadel some near Paris, but I would rather keep Nappy happy for now, so it will be in my own borders.
It will be impossible to CV without eliminating Gandhi, maybe just go SV?
None built Factories either, but they will build Workshops, WTF? I suppose to not eat up the Coal for units.
