COTM 12 - First Spoiler (End of Ancient Age)

[namliaM]

Its my first attampt at GOTM and my first writen history, I hope its not too boring. As for the game I think i did OK-ish on this -for my first attempt-, evenso I picked Open as I am comfertable playing at Regent. but looking at prev posts I feel left in the dirt. I did (conciously) slow the progress into MA by researching my last (Construction) tech at low % to gain some gold.
Edit to add: AiNoPatrol=0

The year is 4000BC the start of history for our people Our scout spots a very nice place for a city, on a river with game in a forest.
We deside to be nomads and travel toward that "sweet spot". Our history "really starts" in 3700BC. Allmost emmidiatly our scout finds borders, it turns out to be the Russians.
We trade BW+10g for CB+WC. However things do not seem to favorable anymore so close to the russians, an early war is ineffitable.
In 3300 we find a wondering french warrior, His leaders know all about Masonry + Alphabet we do a flat out trade. Alpha+Masonry+10g for our Pot+CB+BW+WC.
Yet another neighbour is met in 2950, The Koreans. Unfortunatly they do not bring new knowledge. But tey to still have but 1 town.
We were hoping that would be our neighbours, but no... Yet another neighbour is found in 2800, the ottomans. They have no knowledge either and have 2 city's.
In 2630 a lost village teaches us Mysticism and even later in 2310 we get tought Iron working.
In 1375 our empire counts 4 city's with a 5th on the way. Our peacefull expansion has allmost come to an end as we are about to connect horses to our city's. 3 City's will have barracks and will be building some horsies.
The first cracks in our flying headstart (due to a lot of GHs) are showing Both France & Ottoman have Poly but are unwilling to share.
In 1275bc We are the the first people in the world to learn Philosophy and we take Code of Law as our price on the way to Republic.
As we plan to go to war we take up the stats:
Russia has 6 citys,25g and is Phylo& CoL down
Korea has 6 citys, 0g and is Phylo& CoL down (After we sell writing to them for 25g)
France has 5 citys, 0g and has Poly (unwilling to trade), but does not even have writing yet
Ottomans have 7 citys,12g and has Poly (unwilling to trade) but is Alpha & Iron down
Arabs have 5 citys,42g (at -3 gpt) with rep in ack 41 turns
The question is due we go to war with the Ottoman for having Iron & the lead or do we go and "take" russia for beeing our closest neighbour?
The choice is made for us by Russia in 1150, they DoW on us after not getting Philo as they demanded.
One century later the war really starts after the rus took (razed) 1 town from me and we did same for them now 3 horse stand at the gates of Novgorod. Meanwhile our leaders find time to pull of some nice trades, They trade Philo to Korea for 52g+Math, Poly+48g for Philo with France and "gift" Alpha to Ottoman for 12g
Subsequently Yakutsk (the revenge city!), Novgorod, Vladivostok and Smolensk fall into dust at our feet. Costing them 1 Archer, 3 spears, 5 warriors and a worker. Us 1 town.
In 710BC after we capture Moscow we make peace. Getting Mapmaking, Currency and 3 citys (Yekaterinburg, St. Petersburg and Yaroslavl) leaving the russians down to Rostov (and maybe a settler or 2)

A small peace time lets our people prosper, as they become a republic. The Ottomans however are still unwilling to give up their tech(s). For being stubburn, not trading and having Iron, they will have to pay they price, in 570 we dow and attack!!!
We drop the town of Konya, then rush on to take Iznik (and a slave), Sinop (get our first MGL), then edrine falls and the Iron city Aydin. We now have what we want, Iron & Crippled Ottoman (down to 5 citys), Also we have been building Markets instead of horses so we are running low on them as well. We make peace in 350BC and get Monarchy in the deal as well.
Meanwhile we have rushed the FP using the GL that the Ottoman generated.
Shortly there after in 310BC The arab empire enters the MA having:
17 towns
1 city (mecca)
5 slaves
10 Workers
1 Galey
1 Curragh
324g and 114gpt
ALL AA techs

 

[namliaM]

I kept a turn by turn full transcript of what i did right up to the MA (310BC), do I need to keep track on unit level?
Or is that just for the QSC?
And then only up to 1000BC ?

Greetz

 

[AlanH]

@namliaM: The only mandatory logging requirements are:

(1) If you want to submit a QSC entry then you must include a timeline of your actions and decisions and events during the first 80 turns from 4000 BC to 1000 BC.

(2) ... there is no (2) .... But if you want to participate fully in the GOTM experience then I recommend you try to keep enough notes to be able to post in the spoiler threads. That way you may provoke discussion of your progress and learn from the feedback. Or you may help others to learn from your successes and mistakes.

What you include in spoiler posts is entirely up to you as long as it's relevant and within the disclosure rules. Read what others post and choose a style that appeals to you as the basis for your own contributions. If you have a full transcript beyond 1000 BC then you can always attach it to your spoiler post as a text file. Some players may want to download it and try to replay it. Everyone has their own learning methods.

 

[Chamnix]

Open class, barbs fixed. Goal – Domination or Conquest

Despite the goal I had a completely peaceful Ancient Age. There was just so much open land to claim, I did not feel the need to take someone else’s that early. Since I am not fond of settler hikes, I chose to settle 1 north of the start. I figured it would be better for future production to have the city on a useless desert instead of the hill. It was by fresh water and could easily maintain 5 spt and if desired I could let it grow for extra gold.

Mecca produced 4 scouts, a settler, then barracks and military. My 5 total scouts did OK before barbs claimed them. First, they discovered the rich land nearby – Medina was founded between the game and the cow to the northwest and became my settler factory. They popped Warrior Code, Horseback Riding, Literature, 1 worker and at least 50g, and I met everyone else on the continent by 2900 BC. The worker was popped fairly close to the future Medina so he stayed to prepare the land there before the city was even founded. Some restless barbs interrupted his work occasionally, but he was still clearly advantageous.

I had no problem running away with the tech lead. I would normally go for Alphabet first, but based on F10 telling me there were several civs starting with Alphabet while I had a monopoly on Ceremonial Burial, I chose to research Mysticism first. By the time I finished it, I was able to trade for Alphabet. Although I have gotten into the habit of checking F10 almost every game, I think that is the first time it actually affected my plans. I then went through writing and completed the Republic slingshot in 1325BC before anyone else had writing.

I was a luxury hog early – I built towns far away from my capital early and backfilled the desert later. I managed to claim peacefully 4 different native luxuries, 2 horses (for denial) and the iron by Korea.

Russia was a scary civ – they had 3 towns by 3100 BC and continued expanding much more rapidly than the other AI. I believe even though we couldn’t pop settlers, we could pop towns, so I think Russia must have gotten one of their towns that way. I had to bow to a couple Russian demands, but they did not attack during the Ancient Age.

At 1000 BC, Arabia had:

9 towns
20 citizens
3 settlers
8 workers
2 slaves
5 warriors
5 archers
1 horseman
1 scout

I entered the Middle Ages in 750 BC preparing for war.

 

[Nata]

.
The first cracks in our flying headstart (due to a lot of GHs) are showing Both France & Ottoman have Poly but are unwilling to share.
...
France has 5 citys, 0g and has Poly (unwilling to trade), but does not even have writing yet
Ottomans have 7 citys,12g and has Poly (unwilling to trade) but is Alpha & Iron down

namliaM - welcome to GOTM!

Could I give a bit of advice on that situation as I've been there before and it took me a while to figure it out.

They wouldn't trade Poly for Techs low in the tree but they would gladly trade it for higher Techs you have but can't offer them until they are up the tech tree with you.

Offer Writing to French and Alphabet and then Writing to Otto and then you can offer them the high-tree techs: CoL & Phylosophy for Polytheism. Then they would trade, I'm sure.

 

[Capt Buttkick]

Ottos might even go for Writing + IW, depends on research.

 

[namliaM]

I tried every deal "imaginable" within limits. Did not dare to gift them stuff. Eventually traded Poly somewhere and took Monarch the "pointy stick"-way.

Also i slowed entering MA a lot by setting research to "slow" on construction. I might have entered MA hundreds of years earlier if not for that.
I find myself thinking it might have been better to ram cons home as well. Then gift Korea and russia and later otto into MA as well, then taking their free techs. While research at 0%.

Hmz lessons learned, except no feedback yet on the "learners thread"

Greetz

 

[Megalou]

I also delayed Construction on purpose. I wouldn't say that is a mistake, although not necessarily the right thing to do. It depends on your future plans. My reasoning was "The others might help me with Construction, but they certainly won't help me with Chivalry. So if I want to save money before I have Chivalry, this is the way."

If you hesitate too long to give away Mathematics, that would be a mistake. Without Mathematics, it will surely take ages (sic) for the AI to learn Construction. Giving away Map Making is not a bad idea either, since it seems to have a very high AI priority (at least in PTW; I don't know if it's different in C3C.) I think it was a mistake on my part not to give MM to Ottomans right away.

Another factor to consider is the risk that the scientific civs will research monarchy/republic instead of Construction. If they learn the one government that you have, your trading position will worsen. The only safe way to prevent this is to check that they don't get Polytheism, Philosophy and/or Code of Laws too soon.

Note: I eventually started to research Construction at full speed (4 turns). When there was just one turn left I could trade it. So it didn't pay off in a big way, but didn't hurt me much either, seeing that I had about 1300 gold then.

PS. Namliam, you seem to be more than skillful enough to dare give away techs on this level.

 

[Mark Cutt]

Can I post in this thread a picture showing Iron location?

 

[Offa]

I wandered south east and eventually settled on the forest next to the river beyond the spice hill as this didn't look on a river to me. With a bit of luck this would have been a settler factory (ie if there was any BG under the forest) but it wasn't. I got pretty fed up then when I realized that going NW at the start would have been soooo much better. I then played in a blur of speed and inaccuracy to reach this spoiler, convinced the game was wasted, and I wrote no more in my qsc log. I had 3 turns of anarchy in capital , 40 shields wasted in a futile Colossus build, wasted $$ on science, attacking in disorganized fashion, upgraded reg warriors etc etc). I now see I had pretty good company going south and my mistake was not making the most of the position.

C3C science strategy as always was a republic slingshot. I was on auto pilot for this, as with the rest of the game so far. I had meant to try Monarchy.

1000bc: 10 towns, 23 citizens, 7 workers, 1 slave, 1 hour 34 minutes.
470bc: 14 towns, 50 citizens, 15 workers, 7 slaves(thanks Otto), 2hour 34 minutes.

At least I am on for a quick time!

 

[eldar]

At least I am on for a quick time!

My entire game was a single 13-hour session. That ended at, um, 4.45am...

 

[ionimplant]

My entire game was a single 13-hour session. That ended at, um, 4.45am...

that's cool! ... it's easier to make fatal mistakes this way though.

 

[Più Freddo]

With a bit of luck this would have been a settler factory (ie if there was any BG under the forest) but it wasn't.

You should take a look at Kuningas little trick in the GOTM43 pre-game discussion: Disband a Warrior in your settler factory once for every Settler.

 

[Mark Cutt]

My entire game was a single 13-hour session. That ended at, um, 4.45am...

I can not plat more than 30/40 minutes without a stop, I lose attention and forget even the most obvious things like checking citizens happines

BTW my PC has the same problem ... it crashes after 30 minutes of play.

 

[eldar]

I can not plat more than 30/40 minutes without a stop, I lose attention and forget even the most obvious things like checking citizens happines

BTW my PC has the same problem ... it crashes after 30 minutes of play.

My Middle Ages spoiler will reveal more details, but basically, I was at war from 450BC to the end of the game, for all but 8 turns. Combine that with 5 native luxuries, 0% research so indiscriminate use of the the lux slider was possible, and I didn't really need to concentrate much beyond "okay, who's next?!".

 

[budweiser]

I cant wait to find out haw everyone did in the second age.

 

[namliaM]

I havent even started the MA

 

[Offa]

I can not plat more than 30/40 minutes without a stop, I lose attention and forget even the most obvious things like checking citizens happines

I am sure this is one of the reasons you play so well. I keep telling myself to do this, then suddenly it's 1am and I am at 100bc with a bit of a rubbish game.
Maybe next time....

Anyway, Eldar, 13 hours. Thanks for that it, gives me something to shoot for.
Any chance for a Jason points/minute prize.

 

[ionimplant]

open, 20K

initial sequence: scout1(east-south), scout2(west-north), scout3(north-east), warrior.
1 goody hut: warrior code 3450BC
2nd:3300BC masonary
3rd 3200BC wheel... i start to feel that no one on my continent has alphabet...


2750BC, Madina founded... i'm really surprised since settler has been changed to workers and i take it for granted that scout won't find towns.
Madina, according to Crpring, is at distance 23 from the capitol... and next to a vocano
it has 2 cows in the 9 squars and i guess it was originally designed for France.

2710BC, Damascus founded
2630BC, mystism researched. max on writing, due in 26 turns

2470BC, one scout killed by barbarian. two france warrior walked into my popped city. warrior due in 4 turns for that city...
2430BC French declared war and walked into my 2-cow city!!! and it wasn't destroyed(auto-razed)!!! why?
now i hated my luck.... due to this city, french probably will have a lot to ask for when negotiating for peace.

2390BC, another village inside a jungle joined me. this one is really too far to make any difference. i'll abandon it if someone walk close to it.

2270BC found out my culture city is actually beside a lake... so cannot build colossus!!

2110 BC horse back riding .
it seems i'm extremely luck(though luck can lead to bad luck easily). only french is luckier than me.

1830BC allied Ottomas against French (so that i can get the silk city from ottomas after 20turns) , giving them iron working and wheel.

1735BC, russia asked for writing!!! if it were anything else i would have given in.. but it's writing! i really regretted trading alphabet to it. but after scratching my head for 4 min, i still gave in... i don't want to end my cotm11 so early.

1275, peace with french, getting back my Madina more for a symbolic purpose.
1250, my culture city Damascus rioted due to my negligence!
got republic slingshot and revolted into republic.
925BC, allied French against ottomas
875BC, bastard Russia asked for philosophy... gave in again.

690Bc, russia walked into Damascus... well, you bastard Russia... after giving you two free tech and now you get my 20K city... btw, oracle finished about 10 turns ago and building MofM while waiting for literature to be researched.
So ends my attempt for another 20k…
I really feel sorry for myself.. it’s the 1st time for me to have such good luck in hut popping (2 cities and a lot of free techs) but lost because i didn't have enough deterrence...

 

[Balton]

20K Attempt, C3C Conquest (I think - downloaded conquest file)

My set-up is pretty similar to Redbad's, exactly the same location. But it is my 2nd city so we shall (hopefully) see some benefits of palace pre-built later in the game. I so wanted to build it on the coast (because of my my favorite Wonder=the Colossus - cheap yet very effective) but decided for this one because of high shield capacity.

AA Culture builds:

Temple 2350 BC
The Oracle 1000 BC
MoM 710 BC
Library 630 BC
Great Lib. 270 BC
Hanging G. 10 BC

Later FP also built in Medine