COTM 6 Portugal Goal: Domination Win
Note:My 2 cents on the Goody Hut settler debate, if you're going to pop a goody hut making sure you have no active settlers and that you have as many techs as you can from trading before you do so helps tilt the odds in your favor of getting a good result. Just popping a hut when you see it isn't the best choice.
This is my very first post in the Game of the Month. I submitted last month for COTM 5, but spent most of it trying to figure out how I could best play and write about what was happening. I tend to play very quickly so it took a while for me to change my habits and slow down to the point where I could write about it. Ive never achieved a Domination win at this level of difficulty so I figured Id give it a go. If anyone has any advice I'd love to hear it! Most of my information on strategy I've recieved from the amazing resources here.
4000BC- Scout1 NE, N; Worker1 SE onto BG to mine, Settler NE to take advantage of 2BG revealed by scout. I typically dont like to move my initial Settler at all, but in this case I think itll be worth it long run as the extra shields from moving will be very good long term.
3950BC- Settle Lisbon
3900BC- Start on Writing a turn late and set research to 10%. I still havent consistently remembered to set tech going before Im reminded by Sid.
3650BC- Scout1 pops ceremonial burial
3550BC- Scout1 reveals silk ever since I started learning more about the game and playing on the higher levels of difficult Ive become a luxury junky. Capturing silk will be a priority for me.
3450BC- I see a Spanish warrior, but they have nothing to trade. I now know I have at least the Spanish to deal with on my home continent. Im torn in that Id like at least one more civ so I can be the go between in trades, but just having to take out Spain and have it to myself would work for me.
3300BC- Scout1 pops a hut and they give me a map. I dont even know what a map is yet! I always thought it was funny that barbarian tribes would give you maps when you didnt have map making. Is there a map reading tech thats implied somewhere? In any case with a ship Ive now got a better chance of meeting more civs.
2950BC- Seeing the shape of the continent now I decide to send the Curragh off on a suicide mission into the unknown. I could have it reveal the rest of the coast, but I can see most of the shape already. Ive never played a seafaring civ before so at least Ill find out how well the trait helps keep ships alive in treacherous waters.
2850BC- I see land! I end my turn in the sea with a decent chance to survive with the seafaring ability I hope. Scout1 pops the hut and out come settlers, in the middle of nowhere; I send them towards the silk 13 turns away.
2800BC- Scout2 reveals Madrid; grow sweet Madrid and produce wonders so that I may take them from you.
2710BC- Worker1 Finishes mine starts road; I move citizens to newly mined bg so the granary pops one turn before the city grows to four. Scout2 goes to hang out near silk in the square I want to found the city in. Curragh1 moves into what looks like a bay maybe?
2630BC- Granary finishes in Lisbon, and it is time to start making Settlers.
2590BC- Luxury to 10% as Lisbon is now size 4.
2430BC- Settler2 Finishes at Lisbon, though a Spanish warrior has seen my migrating Settler I hope he ignores it. I send Settler 2 N 3NE to found my first expansion city.
2390BC- Settler1 S being chased, may have to send out warrior to protect it so it can found. In fact I decide to do so with warrior in Lisbon itll take 9 turns to reach the Settler, but I have a one move advantage on the Spanish Warrior.
2310BC- Settler2 founds Oporto; Start a granary in Oporto; Settler1 founds Guimarães and it starts a warrior;
2150BC- I see the (Civ3) A (Civ3) warrior is along the coast and my ship spots them. We trade Ceremonial Burial, Pottery, and 150gp for Masonry and The Wheel. We then trade Masonry and Pottery to the Spanish for Warrior code and Bronze Working and 10gp. I then trade Warrior Code to (Civ3) for 180gp.
1950BC- Settler3 founds Lagos S, 3SW along coast. This city takes advantage of the fish I initially left behind and another fish I discovered.
1870BC- Curragh1 sees (Civ4) borders and a warrior! I trade 300gp to Spanish for mysticism and then almost trade (Civ4) for Iron working through the nose, but stop short and decide to wait a couple turns for the price to come down.
1790BC- Settler4 finishes and I switch to build Curragh2 in Lisbon; I send Settler4 2N, 2NW to settle.
1750BC- Trade Mysticism to the (Civ3) for 5gp and Iron Working;
1700BC-I finish writing and establish embassies with (Civ4) and Spain; Switch to Code of Laws at 80% Science 10% Luxury; Curragh2 heads to near Madrid on autopilot; Settler4 founds Emerita and starts a barracks
1625BC-Oporto finishes Granary and switches to Temple
1550BC-Lisbon finishes Settler5 and starts Warrior; I send Settler5 and the Warrior in Lisbon 2SE,4E to Settle to help bridge the gap between the core cities and the silk; I see a (Civ5) city; (Civ5) has nothing to trade; Something I just realized is the only iron on my continent is near Madrid, Im in trouble as I also dont have ready access to Horses; I decide to prepare for an Archer rush, something Ive never done before but I set out to have a domination win and I plan to succeed in that. Another thing I realize is Im probably going to have to switch to Communism at some point since my empire will be quite spread out.
1400BC- Settler5 founds Sagres and Warrior fortifies there.
1375BC- Curragh2 Sinks; Lisbon finishes Settler6 and switches to Warrior. Settler6 heads to Se, 2E of Oporto;
1350BC- Science to 40% to prevent overrun and Luxury to 30% to keep Oporto from rioting;
1325BC-Finish Code of Laws, switch to Philosophy Science 70% Luxury 20%. Lisbon finishes warrior switches to Settler;
1300BC-I trade writing to the Spanish for 170gp and Mathmatics;
1275BC-Science to 80% Luxury to 0%; Oporto finishes Temple starts Settler;
1250BC-Coimbra founded by Settler6; Starts on warrior;
1200BC-Lisbon finishes Settler7; Send it 6 North;
1175BC-Emerita Riots, sloppy; Science to 50%
1150BC-Philosophy finishes and I leap frog to Republic. Draw a 4 turn Anarchy; Though Ive made Republic much faster before Im still happy that Ill be in it by 1050BC.
1125BC- I trade writing to the (Civ3) for Horseback Riding; I trade Horseback Riding to the (Civ4) for 40gp, and I gift it to the backward (Civ5);
1075BC- Settler7 founds Leiria; Leiria starts Warrior;
1050BC- Lisbon is rioting; I switch to Republic and most problems are fixed; I go to each city to adjust citizens to optimal configuration;
1025BC-Lisbon finishes warrior switches to Settler; Oporto finishes Settler8; Makes another Settler; Sagres finishes worker, switches to temple; Settler 8 heads 5NE of Oporto with warrior escort; I switch to Map Making with research at 70%
1000BC-Lagos and Guimarães finishes barracks.
QSC No clue if I did well or horribly I do know that the free settler helped. I just wish it had been at a closer hut.
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8 Cities with 23 Population
Contact with 4 other civs
15 of 20 AA techs.
1 Settler
4 Workers
2 Scouts
7 Warriors
1 Curragh
2 Granaries
1 Temple
2 Barracks
1 Barracks in 1 Turn
Map Making in 5 Turns.
975BC-Settler8s automove stopped by a Spanish Warrior, I decide to shift it to camp the tundra along the river leaving the grassland open to irrigation.
950BC-Settler8 founds Evora starts a spearman. Make contact with (Civ6), but cant get them to give up Polytheism at any price.
925BC-Lisbon Produces Settler9. Settler9 goes to settle between the game and Wheat 3NE, E of Coimbra.
900BC-Oporto produces Settler10, stays producing Settlers. Settler10 goes 2SE, 2 S to close up the center of the empire. Reduce science to prevent overrun Map Making next turn.
875BC-W now have a road connecting East and West, Archers will flow along it to attack Spain. I trade Spain Horseback Riding, Philosophy, and Code of Laws for Construction and 6Gp. I give the Maya Alphabet to improve relations.
850BC-Lisbon and Lagos produces Archers and continue to do so. I send them to Guimarães. I change my mind and switch Lisbon to Barracks.
800BC-I hurry the barracks in Lisbon.
775BC-Oporto produces Settler11 and continues producing Settlers. Settler11 goes to Settle in the Forest near the desert south of Braga.
750BC-Hurry Temple in Sarges.
710BC-Curragh1 Lost at Sea it is a sad day indeed.
690BC-Spain has entered into our territory repeatedly, soon they will declare war Im sure of it as Ive kicked them out each time they enter.
670BC-Rio Janeiro founded. Rush an Archer in Guimarães.
650BC-The Maya have Monarchy now too, I want it so I trade Writing to them to open up the higher end techs in that chain on the cheap for 20gp. I trade Philosophy and Code of Laws for Polytheism; I trade Map Making and Republic for Monarchy. I trade Polytheism to Spain for 150gp. I change a citizen into a researcher in Lisbon as it is now size 7 and I need to do so to prevent disorder.
590BC-I threaten Spain for 10gp and they pay it!
550BC- Spain enters our territory again and this time declares war. I egged them on the previous turn by demanding 1gpt switching them to furious with me. I hurry Archers in Guimarães, Leiria and Sagres. I kill a warrior near Oporto with an Archer;
530BC- I kill a warrior near Emerita with an Archer. I have my units preparing for a 3 prong attack to take Valencia, Murcia, and Seville. The Valencia attack group is weakest, but closest to reinforcement. Murcia may present a problem, but Im almost 100% certain the stack of archers will take Seville.
510BC-Ive finishes researching Currency and Ive entered into the Middle-Ages. I start working towards invention so I can turn my massed archers into longbow men though itll be a good long while before that happens.