![[c3c]](/images/smilies/c3c.gif "Civ3 Conquests [c3c]")
v1.22
Shalom!
My people unfortunately only came out of the Dark Ages in 260AD when our scolars decided it was worth chronicalling the history of my people. No written history exists beyond this point, however, a rich oral tradition has persisted many details of our past.
The Arabs wandered in the desert for a while, until our scouts located a greener, more pleasant land to the south east. Mecca was founded thousands of years ago on the edge of an abundant forest within a short distance of a large lake. However, the Arabs were not happy. There was a division amongst the people as some of our number thought that the land looked better to the North West.
Settlers left mecca once more accross the desert to the North East and established Medina and Baghdad.
The people of Mecca were proven right to settle in the South West when Iron working was developed and Iron was sighted in the hills. Settlers rushed to build a frontier town and claim the iron for Allah. However, the Ottoman empire disliked the upstart arabs, and founded two towns, Konya and Edrine. Konya was placed between Mecca and Baghdad, Edrine between Mecca and Damascas. Uskudar was placed on the nearest coastline, blocking access to the seas.
These were worrying times. The Arab people feared that Mecca would lose the Iron to Edrine and Izmit, whilst Uskudar took the horses and Konya completed the strangle hold upon Arabia. However, awed by the wise sages of the Arabs, Edrine schismed from the Otoman empire to become an Arab town of it's own free will. Iron and Silks were ensured for years to come.
However, the French and Russians were extorting gold from the Arabs, and the Ottomans were pushing at our borders. War was declared by the Ottomans, and Arabia swiftly paniced to build a military in our previously peaceful empire.
Although the Ottoman's and clearly been preparing for some time, the Iron in Arabia meant their attacks were soon reversed. Uskudar and Izmit fell to the arabs. Uskudar fell in 260AD. Trading with the french and russians brought Construction and the Republic. Which brought revolution and anarchy to the streets of our fair cities. However, our military was strong compared to that of Ottoman, comparible with the french and only outmatched by the Russians. We had the only Iron on the continent. Kafa, an Ottomanian village on a small island easily visible from Izmit also had Iron, but no Ottomanian towns had harbours.
In 270AD a sneak attack from an Ottoman spearman who we had not noticed deep inside our borders took out a party of workers, and set off to disruput our supply of horses. Civil disorder continuing in Medina really meant that the desert road to Bhagdad must be completed, however, as it was so close to the Ottoman city of Konya, work could not continue. Uskudar began construction of a gally to seek out other civilisations to trade for knowledge.
Then a blow in 290AD, the wedge between Mecca and Baghdad widdened as the French settled Amiens in the remaining narrow gap.
In 310AD, peace was found with the Ottomans in exchange for them teaching us Construction and Literature. This gave us time to build up a better military, improve our lands that had suffered neglect during the war and launched us into the Middle Ages.
We looked around and saw that our empire was small. There were no new areas to settle. The French had archers, spearmen and settlers roaming the hills looking for new cities. The russians to the north also had many archers running throught the hills to the north.
The starting location was particularly food-poor, which encouraged players to move before settling. How did you make this decision?
Having read the pre-game thread, I thought it best to move. I was torn. I thought North myself, but, enough great players said south I followed their advice. Initially, I regretted this once I found slightly better lands to the north, but then the fact it meant I got the only Iron so far on the continent made me change my mind there.
How did you execute your initial expansion? What limited you?
I settled one new town near mecca to the south, then my explorers found the good land to the north, so I founded Baghdad and the other town up there, hoping for something better. Then I found the iron and headed south again. Bit of a can't make your mind up. This has ended up with a small, trapped and splintered empire that didn't expand fast enough. Of course the AI has expanded and left me no room. I've sent a settler up to Korea on a galley to try and improve this.
What did you do well, and what did you do poorly?
Control of the Iron, two horses and a couple of luxuries were done well. Everything else sucked.
Come help me at
My Hunting Tips Post
As I mentioned above, Medina's site was very nice for 20k. Once to pop 12 Medina was producing 23 shields and 52 commerce, 20 and 45 after corruption in the early going.
When the scout discovered the wonderland to the NW, I definitely decided in favour for a 20K. Out of the nearby hut the scout popped a worker who could immediately start on improving the 20K-site. The RNG-gods must favour this 20K attempt too. 
