[BTS] BOTM 293: Willem, Monarch - First Spoiler to 1AD

[kcd_swede]

BOTM 293: Willem, Monarch - First Spoiler to 1AD




Please tell us about your strategy at the start. Did you SIP or find a better spot? What were the first 2 or 3 techs you sought, worker first build or something unconventional? Are there any "must have" World Wonders for your strategy that you went for?

Tell us if you learned anything unusual, and what you plan to do going forward.

Use this thread to tell us what happened in your game, up to 1AD

Reading Requirements
If you are participating in BOTM 293, then you MUST NOT read this thread unless EITHER

• You have reached at least 1 AD in your game, OR
• You have submitted your entry

Posting Restrictions

• Do not disclose ANY events or information gained post 1 AD.
• Do not reveal your final result if that happened after 1 AD.
• Do not discuss the location of resources that may not show up before 1 AD (Iron is OK, coal and oil are not)
• Do not post any savegame file from the game. Discussions and screenshots are fine but not actual games

 

[Conquistador 63]

Pretty smooth sailing for us so far.
We did SIP and don't regret it. Discounting the lack of happy resources, generous starting island.
Worker 1st, WB next.
TW/Pottery/Mining/AH/BW were the initial techs.
Met Shaka, Monty and Sal early, 2 more rivals also shown up before 1AD.
Peaceful start, killed 3 animal/barb units in the BCs and that was all (for now). However, Saladin planted a city in Monty's island, and it did not go well for him, now he's at war with the Aztec and the Zulu (luckily for me, bought me some time to build an army).
Expanded to 8 cities (45pop) and got the 2 WWs I wanted: GLH (875BC) and Oracle CS (625BC). Should start building the Colossus soon enough.
1 AD stats: CS, Currency, MC, Calendar, Monarchy.

Plans for the near future: get rid of the 2 psycho neighbors, then decide between Space or Domination.

 

[nocho]

I had a pretty similar game to @Conquistador 63 only must have settled slightly more aggressively as I have 11 cities but very similar pop (47). For some reason Monty barely expanded (still only 3 cities at 1AD) so I settled a city on his island which Shaka managed to do as well, so I hope they keep each other entertained as they have different religions. I also planted a city on Shaka's island which I have been reinforcing just in case.

I SIPped too, tech went mining/BW/sailing IIRC. I was quite lucky popping gems quite early on. I have the same WWs in GLH (975BC) and Oracle (550BC, quite late but the gamble paid of as I also got CS from it). Colossus will be done in 3 turns.Tech situation is also the same, I'm some turns into paper right now. I got a GM and shipped him over to Ulundi which very conveniently built the ToA just a few turns ago, I'll get 1300 gold next turn so that gives some room to steam ahead with tech. I did meet one AI less though.

Maze like map isn't all that ideal for space, but the dike will make up for that a bit, so I guess I'll go to the stars anyway.

 

[Xcalibrator]

As usual, I have fewer cities and pop (7,30) than my esteemed colleagues, but at least I've matched them on completed Wonders (GLH and Oracle, for Currency). I can start the Colossus in a few turns. SIP, City#2 went NE, N of the cows, and city#3 way down in the SW on the ivory for badly needed happiness. 1st in score with 664, Rome is 2nd with 565 and 4 cities, and has SH, Mids, and just got HG. I've met all the AIs but took a wrong turn that has slowed my attempt at circumnav. Saladin rudely planted a city on my island by the dyes; I've planted one on Shaka's island to prepare my attack (which will be awhile because I need to build units).

 

[Mitchum]

The Good: I managed to settle 2 cities on Shaka's starting "island" and 2 cities on Monty's. I also got the GLH as planned. I decided not to go for the Oracle since we didn't have marble. It went in 675 BC so I wouldn't have gotten it anyway.

The Bad: So far, events have not been good to me. I lost a cow pasture very early on setting my already-stretched workers back I also had a slave revolt in the capital which is never fun. In addition, I missed out on founding Confucianism by 1 turn. Not a major deal frustrating nonetheless. Sal settled a city on the SE end of our island quite early. His settling location messed up my planned city locations down there so I had to re-jigger the city locations to make it work. At 1 AD, I only have 5 workers. I recently learned Calendar and my crew is WAY to small to handle all of the tasks at hand. I should probably have 8 to 10 workers by now; at least I have 3 more partially done already.

The Ugly: One of my cities in Shaka's territory is right next to his third city. I stole the pig from him. At 1 AD he has a stack of 10 units that just showed up on my border. That seems quite a bit for a Monarch AI but I guess all he could build is units since I crowded him early on.

SIP, wb -> wkr (I never know which one to build first), Wheel -> Pottery -> AH (for the cows) -> Mining -> BW

At 1 AD, I have 8 cities (+2 settlers), 31 pops. Research is +195b @ -60 gpt and +121 sustainable. I have 137 gold in the bank. I have learned Calendar, Currency, CS and Monarchy. I have met 5 of the 6 rivals and my knowledge of the world is quite bad at the moment; maybe I'll circumnavigate via buying maps! My first GS will be born next turn.

 

[kcd_swede]

The Good: I managed to settle 2 cities on Shaka's starting "island" and 2 cities on Monty's. I also got the GLH as planned. I decided not to go for the Oracle since we didn't have marble. It went in 675 BC so I wouldn't have gotten it anyway.

The Bad: So far, events have not been good to me. I lost a cow pasture very early on setting my already-stretched workers back I also had a slave revolt in the capital which is never fun. In addition, I missed out on founding Confucianism by 1 turn. Not a major deal frustrating nonetheless. Sal settled a city on the SE end of our island quite early. His settling location messed up my planned city locations down there so I had to re-jigger the city locations to make it work. At 1 AD, I only have 5 workers. I recently learned Calendar and my crew is WAY to small to handle all of the tasks at hand. I should probably have 8 to 10 workers by now; at least I have 3 more partially done already.

The Ugly: One of my cities in Shaka's territory is right next to his third city. I stole the pig from him. At 1 AD he has a stack of 10 units that just showed up on my border. That seems quite a bit for a Monarch AI but I guess all he could build is units since I crowded him early on.

SIP, wb -> wkr (I never know which one to build first), Wheel -> Pottery -> AH (for the cows) -> Mining -> BW

At 1 AD, I have 8 cities (+2 settlers), 31 pops. Research is +195b @ -60 gpt and +121 sustainable. I have 137 gold in the bank. I have learned Calendar, Currency, CS and Monarchy. I have met 5 of the 6 rivals and my knowledge of the world is quite bad at the moment; maybe I'll circumnavigate via buying maps! My first GS will be born next turn.

Sounds like you got some challenges, I hope you power through it all and have a fun game!