A Portugal Game

[Fresol]

I somehow forgot to take a screenshot of taking Caqonatambu. Inca is basically a pushover when you have 3 knights and 2 bombards in your conqueror armies. Typically Inca will capitulate before you take their 2nd city.



It is year 1450. Poland has just collapsed. Catholicism spreads to Limatambo (the former Caqonatambu) swiftly.

I didn't expect to steal the fish from Newcastle!



Conquerors against Aztecs! The Spanish must have been near but they didn't get near enough. I think reaching Aztec territory from northeast or the Pacific would be tactically better, since capturing their capital, their only city in core will result in their immediate collapse. We aim for their two other cities instead.

The conqueror army is shabby with only 2 knights and a single bombard. In lots of cases it's not enough to capitulate Aztec.

I'm about to make strategical blunder though. Not ferrying troops from south America to join the battle delays our occupation of the Aztec territory.



In the same year we have negotiated a deal with the Chinese. Don't know how long it could last.

Did I mention Phillip II is in charge of Spain now? We traded maps with him, which connected us to China once again.

 

[Fresol]

I've never thought of going down to 0 science to save money for 100. That's a very Keynesian way of thinking. It would benefit you more since you have more cash on hand for a long time. Hm.

It allows more flexibility in some cases. You may be able to trade for the tech, or you can use the cash for other opportunities.

But it also depends. Things like the number of science/gold/espionage buildings (which are, the respective modifiers) should also be taken into consideration.

 

[Fresol]

While the carrack went west to send doom to the Aztec people, the passenger settler settled our first Caribbean city: Santiago de Cuba. While on foreign tile, the city can work 2 clams and owns a tobacco resource (need to get rid of native Chichen Itza though).

What's more, the city doesn't need any further investment and can grow quickly on its own. Catholicism will soon spread here and whipped Catholic buildings provide hammers and culture. The clams make sure the city grows like wild grass. Portugal has lovely growth modifiers, only 20 is needed to grow from pop 3 to 4. Take granary into consideration it's only 10. And with whip it's 10 = 30. Amazing isn't it?

We'll settle more Caribbean islands near clams and crabs. And then we'll secure the 2 spices in northwestern Brazil, before the French get there.

 

[Fresol]

With Santiago de Cuba settled, we have finished our harbormaster quest. I'm choosing the navigation I promotion reward, to make up for the lost circumnavigation race. (Too bad Ferdinand Magellan served the Spanish.)



Once again, Inquisition against Portugal fails. It worries me that Phillip II voted yes...



Sieging Tiwanaku. Inca capitulates after losing a few more units and we happily agree to their capitulation. Incan territory is not historical for us, and it works better through the vassal mechanism.



After gifting them all techs I have, I also gifted the city of Limatambo back to them. I traded for their stone with horse. I may have been too lenient with them but I have no idea of how to make use of them otherwise.



Meanwhile in Aztec territory, our conquerors have captured the city of Tuitan with some losses. I feel our armies are not large enough to capitulate Montezuma.

 

[Fresol]

Thank you, readers, for watching my story so far. Have you got any suggestions or requests for my story? I'd love to see some feedback from you, and to know there're people who actually like reading it.

 

[Royal Tenenbaum]

Your organization is clear and your writing is clear. It's refreshing.

 

[need my speed]

I've never thought of going down to 0 science to save money for 100. That's a very Keynesian way of thinking. It would benefit you more since you have more cash on hand for a long time. Hm.

If I remember correctly, that's the norm for playing Civilization III.

 

[Leoreth]

It's called binary research and is a common advanced technique in Civ4. This was mostly because before BtS, you would lose commerce to rounding effects when your sliders are set to fractional values. With BtS two decimal points were added to most calculations, reducing that effect to negligible amounts.

It also has the advantage that you generally have cash on hand to react to events. It can also be a disadvantage though, because it can motivate a stronger AI to demand that gold from you.

 

[Fresol]

Your organization is clear and your writing is clear. It's refreshing.

Thank you. I'll try to keep it interesting for the readers and myself.

If I remember correctly, that's the norm for playing Civilization III.

And when people are playing on Deity. To them, the lost 1 matters.

It's called binary research and is a common advanced technique in Civ4. This was mostly because before BtS, you would lose commerce to rounding effects when your sliders are set to fractional values. With BtS two decimal points were added to most calculations, reducing that effect to negligible amounts.

It also has the advantage that you generally have cash on hand to react to events. It can also be a disadvantage though, because it can motivate a stronger AI to demand that gold from you.

The demand can be helpful, though, because it guarantees peace.

As it turns out in the game, binary research is no match for a lucky hut pop. Frankly, I don't like the whole villigers-give-you-tech thing, and think it should not apply to Regent, which is the default difficulty.

 

[Fresol]

The ruthless Portuguese would not rest until all Aztec territory belongs to them.



San Juan settled. Another city on foreign tile, but it's a good city on itself and provides 1 spices.



In year 1480, the Spainish discovered Astronomy and began their colonization era. The city of Manila would be their first oversea colony.

Lisboa and Coimbra (Belfast) kept pumping out settlers. They were the only cities which could train settlers at a reasonable rate.



Barbados settled. Historical city to beef up our economy. The pearls looks interesting, but Spanish Caracas would take it eventually.

 

[Fresol]

Belem settled. It's a very poor city at the moment, but we need it early to prevent French settlement in the vincinity. The 2 spices are critical for our 2nd historical goal.



The Aztecs finally capitulated. I spent some cash on upgrading the jaguars to heavy swordsmen, and it paid off. A great general is born... in Ireland. Shouldn't GGs appear among the armies? It would be more logical that way.



Gifting techs, liberating city, the old stuff. Their slaves are quite useful in building rainforest plantations.



Kamikaze attack from two pikemen resulted in the destruction of the city of Chichen Itza.



Our stability is starting to plummet.

 

[Fresol]

This is big. The Chinese are willing to trade Printing Press to us. Founding Protestantism? If Spain converts we would have to convert with them, but I really need the from Catholic buildings...



Can you see on the scoreboard I'm at war with the 2 independents? Yep that's cheesy play from me. Declaring war changes the random seeds, so that Spain joins the counter-reformation rather than the reformation.

I haven't tried, but I believe not standing on the same side as Spain would be your partial cure to DoC addiction.



It's safe to join the counter-reformation now. You'll see later that Protestantism didn't spread to any of my cities.



The Vikings are mad at us, but there's nothing they can do.



Trying to maintain healthy relationship with Spain the best I can.

 

[Tigranes]

Belem settled. It's a very poor city at the moment, but we need it early to prevent French settlement in the vincinity. The 2 spices are critical for our 2nd historical goal.

Just to be on a safe side why not settle 1W? As 1700 scenario indicates French still can wrestled left Spice out of your control if they settle Cayenne soon enough.

 

[Fresol]

Just to be on a safe side why not settle 1W? As 1700 scenario indicates French still can wrestled left Spice out of your control if they settle Cayenne soon enough.

Yeah I guess that's a better idea. I'm not totally sure about the city placement. But in this game the French are sitting on 3 cities and wouldn't start colonizing until much later.

 

[Tigranes]

Gifting techs, liberating city, the old stuff. Their slaves are quite useful in building rainforest plantations.

It is funny how one can be pleased with his worst enemy It was always puzzling why being an enemy does not add even -1 diplo modifier...

 

[Fresol]

It is funny how one can be pleased with his worst enemy It was always puzzling why being an enemy does not add even -1 diplo modifier...

Being worst enemy just means you have the lowest attitude score doesn't it? "Worst enemy" updates once each turn, that's why Aztecs is pleased with their worst enemy (me). It's not updated yet.

 

[Tigranes]

No I think it is just random mood swings, based on several objective factors.

 

[PizzaProwler]

Thanks for posting this; it reads more like a loose strategic narration than a story, which is helpful. I've been fiddling around with Portugal lately, and can't ever seem to get anything right. This story has given me a few ideas. For example: I never thought to settle Ireland.

 

[Tomorrow's Dawn]

I'm on the fence for this to be moved to S&T, but if you focus more on strategic play by plays, I think it can stay.

Good job on the reloaded seed by the way. That's one of the few last possible resorts to get out of a bad situation.

 

[The Diocletian]

With Mercenaries it's possible to kill Spain on spawn as Portugal by rush-buying trebs. It just takes a lot of reloading until Spain's knights aren't in the area. All you have to take is Santiago and Madrid, and Spain collapses. Gives Lisbon the space it deserves and nets you Cordoba, Barcelona, and a potential city on the northern Iberian coast.