Let's start with a small curiosity. I realized that I am not getting the crabs as a resource here... until I reach Sailing.
Traded Horseback Riding for Alpha, and then Alpha for Iron Working, among other things. And look what we find:
Then I go and gift Alpha to the ladies. They seem unimpressed though. Oh and
@Pedro78, I met Boudica only recently so only -2 from religion -> was still cautious.
Still pondering whether to attack Justi or Peter. Will send the first units out to explore and find out what's going on. But Peter doesn't have ivory, so...
Which is why I trade him Horseback Riding for last 2 turns of Math. Don't like it, since he is a guy who will trade techs around once 10% of other people know it. He could spread it to Justi, whom I might attack. But I figure that facing War Elephants isn't the biggest disaster ever. Furthermore I don't mind them building Horse Archers, and... every turn counts etc. If I can attack 2 turns earlier, could be the difference between facing Archers and Longbows in a big fight.
Unit spam can begin. Some micro, but I don't go "all out". Working 4 scientists total, not whipping away too many cottages etc. I have one city dedicated to 5XP War Elephants, but with iron available it's not the biggest priority anymore...
And so the scouting begins. Peter...
or Justi? Going for this guy has some distinct advantages... 1) I can see what he is teching (getting alert on possible Longbows) and 2) he built the Buddhist shrine... worth at least 20 gpt already. So if he stays away from stuff, he is probably going to get it. And 3), get rid of his annoying culture.
Got a Great Scientist in Rome and thought for a long time. Next useful thing I can bulb is Philosophy, and that is still 10 turns away. Also, Philosophy won't actually be useful for a long time (I want to switch into Paci after the war, also trade bait etc). So I make an academy instead, Cumae will get the 2nd GS in ~20 turns, that should be good enough. I don't have to be first to Philo, so... generally I didn't trade many techs at this point. Could have traded HRB+Math for Monarchy and Calendar, but I thought... it's not useful now and no need to speed up anyone. Justi still lacking HBR, self-teched Construction though.
I was first to Construction (not a blazing tech pace, that's for sure), Justi got it soon after though. Now going Currency, because attacking Justi means that I have to take some precaution vs a Peter bribe. Beg 1 gold, maybe bribe him in.. also, here is the weakly guarded shrine city
note Justi going for Currency too, the punk.
Last look at diplo before declaring. Only Peter likes him...
So I waited for Currency before declaring, begged 1 gold (can't bribe Peter with anything!
) and declared on Justi with this. Give shrine.
Here is the tech situation when I attacked. (I took Currency for Monarchy with Bismarck here). But I don't see a reason to get Calendar, for example. Boudi is plotting, most likely on Asoka. She has jumbos. If I give her HBR+Construction now, who knows, she might stomp the Asoka wimp and there is just no need for that. Been very careful with trades so far.
Speaking of Asoka, I got him to do something surprisingly useful. I didn't plan for it, because he has the same religion as Justi. But only cautious due to peaceweight or whatever, so this became possible...
I'm starting to put hammers into a Forum in my capital. It will probably become my GP farm, so maybe this UB can actually be useful. Also, I have ivory+silk (trade, and in my own territory soon), so it's 150
for 2
So, this is the fight for the Buddhist shrine. Bombarding would take 3+ turns. Not worth it. I bombard with 3 pults, then throw the remaining 3 straight at him. One even survives.
Lost one CR1 Praet, the remaining ones win their fights easily. And here is the jackpot. Could make peace right now and it's already so worth it. Wouldn't mind his capital either though. Bonus points for Statue of Zeus, which he just built recently. Yeah, if I left him alone, he might have flipped my city at some point.. and he is going for Theology after Literature, good guy.
Next, I teched Code of Laws (intending Civil Service follow-up and Philo bulb in... 12 turns).
Peter could be bribed out. I am considering it.
Bought sugar from Peter for 14 gpt (of course it became available just the turn after I sold him crabs for 4 gpt.....), because when the shrine comes online I am basically swimming in cash. And capital was unhappy, we don't want that. Healing up a bit, waiting for a few more units and then pushing for Constantinople (has Stonehenge).
Overview:
Maybe it's wrong to wait and heal, but I am only at 0.8 at Justi power and I don't want to get whacked because I was too greedy. I could push with this right now, but well... don't feel comfortable.