BNH01- Conquesting Emperor

[jb1964]

The save, BNH01 800AD

This is all wrong! Why would the three of you do this? I know you meant well but this is irreparable. Oh, sorry. I thought this was an email to my kids.

The horses at Atlay are the target. We’re average compared to the Mongols. We send a knight up north to scout our horses. Mongols are still w/o Monotheism and therefore w/o Chivalry to build their Keshik’s. Also sending a knight to bust the fog up on our northern coast. We have plenty of arty that will be best used to beat the snot out of Mongol units that are in and near our territory when the horse thieving begins.

Spanish have three galleys messing w/ our trade route. Isabel wants Chemistry for peace. Bite me.

I execute the deal w/ Abu; Gunpowder for Theology, dyes, furs, 17g.

Luxury down to 0% and research up to 70% bringing in Metallurgy in 8 turns.

Swap Leiria to a settler since they have growth queued. No other city looks good for a settler w/o disturbing the production.

IBT: Renew RoP w/ the Koreans. Renew peace treaty w/ Theodora. We do not renew RoP w/ the Mongols.

Turn 1, 710 AD
Move knights, upgrade units, worker actions, want defense in place up North when we slice into our Mongol friends. I executed the deal w/ the Arabs prematurely without checking the trade route. Some naval units to try and keep the route clear may be called for if we could build better than a galley. I’m going to bring over some trebuchets to nail these Spanish ships.

IBT: The Mongols are overrunning the Iroquois and returning more than a few slaves to their territory. The Mongols have put down a road on our horses but have not connected that square. Need to bust a bit more fog. I thought the Mongols had a second source for horses but I can’t find another.

Turn 2, 720 AD
Lots of troop movements. Trying to get the most out of workers where they stand but generally migrating to the North. Build orders support defensive units where shields per turn are optimal. MM some cities. Putting up libraries, markets and courthouses where called for. Treasury is drained from upgrades but I’m keeping the research pushed up to bring in Metal in 6 turns.

IBT: The Mongols are sending heaven and earth at the Iroquois and I noticed some mounted units. We might move on the horses quicker than I would have liked. Ah, the mounted units are AC’s. But I did verify that the horses are now hooked up. Blah. Spain landed two horsemen. They’re dead.

Turn 3, 730 AD
A crusader and MI take care of our mounted adversaries. We’re still importing the luxuries from the Arabs. The most vulnerable point in our route would take two units to block. More troop movement with the knight forces headed towards our horses and a musket to anchor the city once it’s taken. We pull back research to 50% (Metal in 6) to collect some coin to upgrade remaining units. Muskets and pikes ring our southern boarders because the last thing I want is two horses landing next to a city w/ a warrior.

IBT: The Mongols are not thrilled with our spying and ask us to leave. We shall for the moment. The Mongols continue to dump swords and spears into Iroquois territory.

Turn 4, 740 AD
Trade route still intact. I need to get a better understanding of trade routes. Troop movements and worker actions in support of the coming action. Keeping research at 50%. We’re still at the top of the technology dog pile.

If needed Sumeria has spices and are a bunch of backwards morons. Killing these fools should be considered a global beautification project.

IBT: We lost our supply of dyes and furs. The trade route was cut.

Turn 5, 750 AD
The trade route w/ Sumeria is similarly cut. According to the trade advisor we’re out of luck. Looks like peace w/ the Spanish is on the table. I could have executed this last turn but didn’t for a petty amount of gold.

Make peace w/ Spain for 4gpt and 9g. Then trade Isabella Chemistry for horses, 165gpt and 21g. This is turning out better than I could have hoped.

Now lets look at the trade route. Yep, all the trade routes are in play again.
Samaria gets a sweetheart deal of Currency for spices. Hey, they’re stupid and I don’t see this as a big negative. We get gems from Shaka for Ivory, 19gpt and 15g. Abu does not get another deal which is fine w/ me. At least we got Theology out of the deal.

Research up to 70% and Metallurgy in 3 turns. Top 9 cities switched to knights.

IBT: Renew RoP w/ England and get an extra piece of gold out of it.

Turn 6, 760 AD
Troop movements and worker actions.

IBT: St. Regis falls to the Mongols. If provoked the Mongols could do major damage with large stacks of swords and the odd AC. Quite a few spears in the mix as well that could go on a pillaging campaign. And I don't want to chase spears around in these mountains.

Turn 7, 770 AD and 2 am. Time for bed.
This was a good time for reflection as the acqusition of horses for 20 turns from Isabella changes things. Plus this mountainous terrain in the NNE needs to be used correctly. I need to set up some serious killing zones for all the Mongol units bent on exterminating the Iroquois but there's too much area for the number of units allocated to this front.

Troop movements and worker actions.

IBT: Same as it ever was.
Metallurgy comes in and we set our sites on MT in 8 while adding 125gpt to the treasury.

Turn 8, 780 AD
Troop movements and worker actions.

IBT: Mauch Chunk falls.

Turn 9, 790 AD
Troop movements and worker actions.

IBT: Nothing
Turn 10, 800 AD
Troop movements and worker actions.
Founded cites at sites A and B.
Getting control of mountains around Tonondaga and Tyendenaga.
We’re up to 25 knights.
Much of the Mongol SoD’s are out on the Iroquois peninsula and a war now looks much more workable.
Finally got workers up north to extend the roads.

Check trades before moving on because I didn't.

Save was too large to add as an attachment.

The save, BNH01 800AD

 

[BigNHuge]

Reallife has really creeped up as of late. I will not have any civ access until the 25th of August, as i will be on a trip. I will have Internet access, so i will keep my 2 cents in wherever possible. Looks very nice so far jb. Keep it up man.

 

[SJ Frank]

Enjoy your trip. See, isn't it nice to have a break from civ once in a while.

Since we haven't posted a roster in a while, here it is:

Rik Meleet - On Deck
BigNHuge - On vacation until the 25th
SJ Frank - Just played
jb1964 - Playing

 

[jb1964]

Done w/ turns.

Save at top and bottom of post below.

Pictures pending. Ok, the .ppt file didn't get to me from home so the pictures will have to wait.

I'm feeling much more confidant about our position and forces vs the Mongols. We have had units waiting around to grab the mountains while hordes of Mongol spears, swords and AC's wander through. Also, those hordes are now getting deep into the Iroquois peninsula so we'll have time to work on them before they arrive at our doors.

In the north next to our horses are parked 12 knights with a musket, MI and 4 trebs to help occupy the city. There's also a settler up that way that needs a home and some defense now that I think of it.

Nearly all of our homeland coastal cities have a musket garrison and there are some MI's scattered in between to deal w/ landings. We're still at war w/ the Incans.

 

[Rik Meleet]

I'm up in this one as well ?? Wow; that's 3 SG's where I'm up.

I got it

 

[BigNHuge]

Looks good everyone. Expect me ready to play on the 25th. Having lots of fun on this last hooray of summer. Keep the Mongolians in check, some for me.

 

[BigNHuge]

P.S~ Late i know, but good job picking up those horses.

 

[Rik Meleet]

IHT: I'm going to finish the road to the horses before I attack. Perhaps even wait for Cavs. We own Leo's and Sun Tzu, might as well use it.

IBT: Mongols continue destroying the Iroquois with overwhelming force.

[1] 810 AD. positioning troops in blockades.
Hmmm. I'm not sure about all those troops; we are already paying 148 gpt on upkeep. Switch some knight-making cities to libs and markets.

IBT: Mongols demand us to leave. ok
Mongols clear our continent of Portuguese. They are stuck on a 1 tile island.

[2] 820 AD. Found Ourique, close to the horses. This will be our base of operations.

[3] Arabs acquired Education. That means the Great Lib is dead. Sell them Chemistry for Dyes + Furs + Education + 18 gpt + 27 gold.

IBT: Many WLTK days.

[4] 840 AD. Found Goa.

[5] 850 AD. Move as many knights as possible into cities. For Mass upgrading to cavs. Spain over 106 gold + 88 gpt for Metallurgy. I'm very tempted. I decide not to; in 10 turns our peace-treaty expires. Position galley to keep traderoute through Sumeria open.

IBT: We lost our Wines. Because of expiring trade-deal with Byz. They want too much, let it expire.
We learn Military Tradition !! Next tech: Astronomy.
Full scale production on Cav happens.

[6] 860 AD. Spain has Astronomy. And wines. But they won't trade both for Mettallurgy. Sign a Byz-deal Wines for Ivory + Incense + 6gpt.
Sell Mettallurgy to Spain for Astronomy + 64 gold.
We have safe traderoutes !!
Buy Silks from China for Currency + Iron.
Choose Banking as next tech.

In our nation are 3 people unhappy and 2 content. We'll have many WLTK next turn.
Upgrade cost Knight -> Cav 15 gold. Upgrade 27 for 405 gold.
Treb to cannon: 15 gold. Upgrades Several in Ourique to strike at Altay soon.
In fact, upgraded all knight and trebs.

IBT: PAlace expands

[7] 870 AD. Found Diu. Dial up Genghis: "Hey Khan-boy, get those troops out of our lands!!" -> "Perhaps I shall" the coward replies.
Well, then I declare on you.
2 Altay spear die and Altay is ours. No casualties on our side.
Hutag falls on the first day. St. Regis too. Gayagaahe as well.

Switch Caughnawaga to harbor so it can upgrade our galleys to Carracks.
Start Oporto on Copernicus and Lissabon on Sistines (Prebuild for JS Bach or Smiths). If needed we can always change back, the cities have no shields in the box.

IBT: We get hit and loose units, but no cities.

[8] 880 AD. Maneuver into position. Replenish defenders and give injured cavs rest. Capture Grand River. There are a lot of Mongol swords around, from the Iroquois war. But: More stray units = more chance of Leaders.

IBT: Everything holds, loose some swords and MDI's. Big deal.
Spanish galleys sail along our east coast. Sending Carrack to follow them.

[9] 890 AD. 4 MDI's capture Kiohero + 9 workers. Mauch Chunk is captured. Gandasetaigon captured. There are no more Mongol city south of our horse-city Altay. Kill many stray units, but no leader.

IBT: 18 swords, 4 spears and 2 archers position themselves directly in front of our guns, near our Cavs.

[10] 900 AD. Reduce the 18 swords, 4 spears and 2 archers to 12 swords, 2 spears and 2 archers. Our lands are nearly safe.

--------------------------
Banking in 1.
The Red-colored route (see map) is the only way to get water to our North-Eastern lands. I started to irrigate towards it.

Portugal in 800 AD and 900 AD.

And: The Save 900 AD.

 

[SJ Frank]

Great turns Rik!

How far are the Mongols from Gunpowder? Can we disconnect any of its iron/saltpeter? Not that we don't have enough of an advantage already.

In our nation are 3 people unhappy and 2 content. We'll have many WLTK next turn.

We're going to party like it's 999 ...

Oh wait, it is going to be 999

IBT: Everything holds, loose some swords and MDI's. Big deal.

I think that's one of my weaknesses in war. I hate to lose units. Hence during my turn 2 rotations ago, I took only 1 Iroquois city, while Rik conquered half of their empire with roughly the same amount of troops.

I think I need to get better at looking at the big picture, rather than trying to play the perfect game.

* * *

On the wonder situation, Rik, are there any other wonders getting started during your turn? I'm trying to figure out if we need to use our golden age here. I think the most efficient use of our golden age is a factory + university + Hoover's push. So if we could afford to, I'd like to delay the GA until the early industrial age.

* * *

Totally random thought: I'm not a big fan of Leo's. I just don't think its money saving benefit is worth the 600 shields. I'm going to keep the score at home, to see just how much benefit Leo's provided us in this game. So far, from reading Rik's report, I think the saving is around 500 gold, roughly equal to shutting down research for 1 turn.

* * *

Another totally random thought: with a growing territory and rail coming up, let's peel off some workers from our size 12 cities in between cavs.

* * *

This is NOT a got-it. Since it's the 24th already, and BigNHuge will be back on the 25th, Big will get to take his turns in the regular rotation.

 

[Rik Meleet]

How far are the Mongols from Gunpowder? Can we disconnect any of its iron/saltpeter? Not that we don't have enough of an advantage already.

I'm NIFOS now, but I think the Mongols still lack Monotheism and Engineering. They're far away from Gunpowder and Chivalry. We can roll them up quickly. I'm breaking their back in the SoD and then they'll fight a loosing war. It's cannons + Cavs Vs Ancient Cavs, pikes, spears, swords and archers.

We're going to party like it's 999 ...

Oh wait, it is going to be 999

Party like it's 1999. You only forgot 1000 years.

I think that's one of my weaknesses in war. I hate to lose units. Hence during my turn 2 rotations ago, I took only 1 Iroquois city, while Rik conquered half of their empire with roughly the same amount of troops.

I think I need to get better at looking at the big picture, rather than trying to play the perfect game.

What use are swords and MDI's when you have cavs ? They are obsolete and cost us 2gpt for each unit.

* * *

On the wonder situation, Rik, are there any other wonders getting started during your turn? I'm trying to figure out if we need to use our golden age here. I think the most efficient use of our golden age is a factory + university + Hoover's push. So if we could afford to, I'd like to delay the GA until the early industrial age.

I've started Copernicus (in our highest science-generating city) to speed up science and I've started Sistine's as a prebuild for JS Bach's or Smiths.

* * *

Totally random thought: I'm not a big fan of Leo's. I just don't think its money saving benefit is worth the 600 shields. I'm going to keep the score at home, to see just how much benefit Leo's provided us in this game. So far, from reading Rik's report, I think the saving is around 500 gold, roughly equal to shutting down research for 1 turn.

I've never used Leo's really, but it was build and I used it's benefits. Combined with Sun Tzu it's a nice Wonder. It will be used again, for spear/pike/musket -> Inf -> Med Inf, cannons -> Artillery and tanks -> Modern Armor.The total savings can easily exceed 2000 gold.

* * *

Another totally random thought: with a growing territory and rail coming up, let's peel off some workers from our size 12 cities in between cavs.

I think we have sufficient right now. I've captured 9 workers in 1 city and several others on other locations. And we'll get more. We should use highly corrupted cities with a lot of food for this. I think I've already started a worker-pump in former-Iro lands. Worker every 3 turns. It's not that important yet, as our core is improved enough. But don't stop the pump !! We'd be needing 2 or 3 pumps that pump out a worker every 3 or 4 or 5 turns. But don't use size-12 cities; get them producing the core of our army and a universities and banks to sustain our research and fighting-capabilities.

 

[SJ Frank]

Party like it's 1999. You only forgot 1000 years.

I mean, in the game. BigNHuge will get to celebrate the first millennium during his 10th turn, while I'm left with the clean up duties when I inherit the game

I've started Copernicus (in our highest science-generating city) to speed up science and I've started Sistine's as a prebuild for JS Bach's or Smiths.

Sorry, I meant what wonders had the AI's started. I don't mind losing Copernicus to a cascade, because it's not a good wonder for a huge map anyways. Smith and Bach's both sounds good.

If the total saving of Leo's is only in the 2~3 thousand range, then Leo's is not worth it. 600 middle age shields are worth a lot more than 2000 gold in the later ages.

The worth of the 600 Leo's shields is totally subjective. In this game, I'd say that it actually isn't much, because the opportunity cost (ahem, I mean, what we could have build instead of Leo's) is so low. Our miliitary is not in dire need of 8 more knights, and Sistine's would have been useless also, because we are not building cathedrals.

Okay, so after all the analysis, I've just convinced myself that Leo's was a good call. We had the shield to spare, and we used it for a good purpose.

But don't use size-12 cities; get them producing the core of our army and a universities and banks to sustain our research and fighting-capabilities.

When a size 12 city has a full food box, we can afford to build a worker from it, since it will grow back the next turn. We won't even miss the production and commerce from that worker, since that's calculated after growth.

 

[jb1964]

Leo's calcs...

I upgraded a number of pikes and a spear or two to the muskets that ring our lower peninsula. Also upgraded cats to trebs and warriors and non-elite swords to MI.

 

[BigNHuge]

Well whos up now, Im kinda behind in all these.

 

[jb1964]

Rik Meleet - Occupied for the moment, can switch w/ jb or SJ
BigNHuge - up
SJ Frank - On deck
jb1964 - Played last

 

[BigNHuge]

this is my got it, but i might only be able to play 5 turns.

 

[BigNHuge]

if you can wait until sunday night, id be very glad. Last minute summer real life stuffs going on. [dance] [dance] [dance] [dance]

 

[SJ Frank]

Party on, dude

... I've always wanted to find a occasion to use that smilie

 

[BigNHuge]

sorry for being so late, will have it soon

 

[BigNHuge]

These turns take forever. Ive already got 2 turns done and i have great news, good news, and a couple of questions.

Great news- We got a MGL and have a cav army.
Good news- All Mongolian units in peninsula are destroyed.
First question- Banking is in, should i start banks or keep on truckin' the cavs/muskets?
Second question- Should we rush Military Acadamy or Herioc Epic with the second MGL we got on turn 2?

On the MGLs subject- arty: ance: :Band: ance: arty:

 

[SJ Frank]

These turns take forever. Ive already got 2 turns done and i have great news, good news, and a couple of questions.

Great news- We got a MGL and have a cav army.
Good news- All Mongolian units in peninsula are destroyed.

First question- Banking is in, should i start banks or keep on truckin' the cavs/muskets?

Depend on if you feel that we have enough troops to take out the Mongols.

Second question- Should we rush Military Acadamy or Herioc Epic with the second MGL we got on turn 2?

Between the Epic and the Acadamy, I vote for the Epic. Better chance to get that 3rd leader to rush the Acadamy.