Preplay:
Notice that we haven't started any of the relations-improving resource trades, so take care of that right away. Also added city specialization tags. None of our cities are connected to the capital for trade routes, which is 4
at this point and more when we make an island city. This will need to change.
I see we have a settler en route to either the corn/gold or a shaka blocker. I think the gold city should be founded where the settler is now, within range of the pigs too, but I decide to found the next city to the east. There are no less than 3
resources there (wine, spices, incense) and it will be a decent spot to work grasslands cottages with little production or whipping potential.
I also micro Adrianople to whip the granary sooner.
I note a possible bug- Is Hammurabi the last un-met civ? Liz has brought the English people under the Jewish faith even though they are not the founders themselves. Hammy is known to beeline for Monotheism so I would guess that he is to the west of England. I'd also guess Hammy is on an island as this is Big & Small.
Turn 1 (128 - 800 BC)
Bren wanders into the palace asking if he can flood our lands with missionaries. Seeing as he is 2 other leaders' worst enemy I send his monks packing. He obviously has writing now though, making 3 others who have it before us.
Turn 2 (129 - 775 BC)
Granary in Adrianople is whipped, with the citizen put back on the riverside hamlet. Barracks next just to grow.
Shaka was also out to nab our spot! Now we'll see if he heads east or plops down a town in our backlands.
Turn 3 (130 - 750 BC)
We complete a warrior in Thessalonica. I thought about changing this as all of our cities have token garrisons and this is one of the few places we can actually build axes. I guess this guy can go fogbust the little peninsula towards Shaka.
Antioch is founded and Shaka continues to move his settler NW. Slider down to 20% so writing is dragging out but cottages will be going up soon.
Turn 4 (131 - 725 BC)
Arrg, Constantinople also builds a warrior? I don't really understand here. We don't even have a barracks. I should have micro'd this better, but better late than never and work is swapped to the clams for growth & commerce.
Monument -> Granary in Nicea. I don't think we'll ever really steal the rice from Bren though
I also notice this! Please do not have workers do automated moves that extend beyond your turnset in SG's. The road-to is a nice function and saves time, but I shouldn't have to click on every single worker to see what they're up to.
Turn 5 (132 - 700 BC)
I sign OB's with Liz to scout through her land. She is WE of Bren though, so we should cancel this deal at 10 turns or when we finish scouting, whichever comes first.
Turn 6 (133 - 675 BC)
Looks like the Barbs got lucky and spawned in one of the two spots possible over here. Our warrior lost a toss-up battle in the woods so the archer is 2.0/3 strength.
Shaka has also founded in our backyard. Unfortunately our capital won't pop its borders for a long time, so we will have to live with this for now. Not a big deal and it's a decent enough spot to take later on. Probably the worst thing will be extra border tension.
Turn 8 (135 - 625 BC)
The crafty Byzantines have discovered how to carve representations of their thoughts onto stone tablets. The joys of this discovery send all the sages in the lands off partying, which halts all research but generates tax revenue on all the booze they down. All the commerce cities building barracks swap to libraries.
Constantinople grows into unhappiness in anticipation of a 3-pop library whip next turn.
Turn 10 (137 - 575 BC)
Our first library is built and Constantinople is set to regrow on the crabs and mined pigs.
Turn 11 (138 - 575 BC)
Indeed, we meet Hammurabi of the Babylonians to the west of England and he is the founder of Judaism. In other news all 4 of 5 cities are connected to the trade network, yay! To celebrate the occasion the warrior in Thessalonica beats back the barbarian archer who ruined the city's micromanagement!
Constantinople has also regrown to 4 pop and we hire 2 scientists and stagnate working a clams + mined pigs. Currently Alpha takes 15 turns at 100% research, with -19gpt. So it will cost us 285 gold to run to either alpha or aesthetics at this rate. Hopefully this will improve shortly...
Turn 13 (140 - 500 BC)
Not really at a stopping point, but back to a nice round number. Here we get a free Islam spread to Adrianople, thanks RNG. Otherwise a quiet turn and hopefully that will continue for a while so I will end my set here.
Closing Thoughts
GW went to Greece and GLH to England during my set. England will likely be an economic powerhouse this game led by Liz and buddied up with co-religionist Hammy. No religious changes on the international scene either.
The continent seems to be a very long and snaky pangea, as we have found Hammy's borders with our warrior. Nicely enough we also have a coastal sea route to Liz that bypasses Celtia and Greece.
Shaka still has his hands free and would declare on Pericles or Washington if we could give him something for it. It doesn't look like he has any metals, which is great news. We should have no problems whipping a few axes if he decides to spam offensive archers. If he does go WHEOOHRN though, we should assume it is targeting us.
Some Micro:
-Constantinople is stagnant running 2 scientists at 4 pop. Whip anger will subside in 11 turns, so be sure to set it to grow to size 5 to coincide with that (keeping the 2 scientists but working the clams or pigs).
-Thessalonica grew to unhappiness thanks to the barb archer pillaging a mine. Currently it's starving down by working cottages and a mine. Be sure to swap one citizen back to the pigs before it shrinks though.
Tech path:
We are currently working on Alpha with 2 scientists and the 1 free beaker. 62 gold in the bank would only support 3 turns of 100% research, and at 0% we are at +10gpt, so it will be a while before we can afford another tech. I'd keep our sights on Alpha until we can fund research, then go for Aesthetics if someone has picked up Alpha at that point, and Alpha ourselves if not.
Team decision:
Up to this point we have been in NSR for diplo but we are running into the happy cap in Constantinople with good tiles yet to work (and the food to support lots of specialists). Is it worth the diplo malus with England, Babylon, and Celtia for the happy face? I'm inclined to say no and hope to get to calendar/monarchy soon enough.
Roster
Sirlion
Grandad1982
cripp7 - Second time is a charm
Pindrus - Just Played
White Dragon - Up now!
narri - On Deck
And the save:
will help too.
. Spy in 1.
