COTM 26 First Spoiler - entering the middle ages

[ainwood]

Spoiler 1 qualifications:

Reading Requirements:

1. Entered the middle-ages.
2. Requires that you have established contact with a minimum of 3 other civilizations.

Posting Restrictions:

1. No pictures showing middle-age (or later) resources.
2. No pictures showing anything deep-inside the main landmass. Note that this requirement is somewhat nebulous - so please use your discretion. A rough guide would be limiting discussions to "near-by coastal civilization".

 

[IronJeff]

As I didn't like the looks of that volcano, I settled west near the fish. I suspected an Island start so I built a cuaragh straight off, and made the rounds
I had good luck in contacting other civs, and kept a nice tech pace through trading techs, since there was some income from the tech sales I was able to keep the slider up to max. I got a foothold south of the start point but germany declared on me and took it back while I was busy to the east. I manage to get a nice chunk of territory from the egyptians, made peace with them and went after the hittites. those 3man chariots are bothersome and plentiful. I am kind of stalled out on the hittites as a result. but I am a few turns away from knights, have a tech lead and about 10 cities

 

[klarius]

Open, going for the cow

Settled 2sw. Build order warrior-curragh-settler.
Science writing @ max.

Cities (pretty short list )
3900 Carthage
2630 Utica
1700 Leptis Magna
1325 Theveste

All three located around the lake in the north.
For a fabulous QSC with 4 cities, 18 pop.
2 granaries, 2 libraries, 2 harbors, 1 barracks.
3 workers, 2 horses, 1 chariot, 1 galley.
Contact with everybody, thanks to two curraghs. 5 embassies.
All AA techs except currency (researching), construction and monarchy.

775 Hippo still on the home island
690 Leptis Minor near Egypt to celebrate entering MA

Foreign Relations and Science

3850 German warrior hailed over the narrow strait. Buy BW and WC.
3100 curragh finds Indians. Buy Pottery and CB.
2750 find Persians.
2670 find Egypt.
2510 find Hittites.
2390 Buy TW and IW.
2230 Researched Writing.
2030 find 'not so nearby civ' #1
1950 buy mysticism
1675 find last civ.
1575 buy HBR
1550 Germany declares war after a rebuffed demand.
1525 CoL researched
1425 buy mathematics
1375 philosophy researched. Slingshot to republic. 3 turns anarchy
1350 buy polytheism
1150 literature researched
1025 buy MM
975 declare on Egypt and start to pick off some warriors
875 currency researched. I stop research and wait for construction to show up.
730 autoraze Alexandria
690 buy construction. Enter MA. Gift Persia and can buy engineering for republic and literature.
Don't bother with Germany. We just keep the war happiness.

We will continue with Egypt, then go over to 'not so nearby civ' #1, which has the pyramids in it's capital.

 

[fat-mans-reveng]

My first adventure into the monarch difficulty.(I went with the standard download) I had an interesting early game with this one, far more demanding than any of the lower skill levels that I've played until now. I settled SW-SW, and built a warrior straight off, hoping to get a nice foothold to the north. When I went up there, all my hopes were instantly dashed in by glance at the coast line. My warrior wandered up there for a couple turns, both stopping barbarians from making camps, and hoping that some strange act of god will make a land route to the main land mass.

Germany was nearby, and I made contact with an archer of theirs about 10 turns in. I traded their two starting techs and 10 gold for both my starting techs, and changed production from a Curragh to a Settler, preparing myself for a free palace switch to the more abundant territory next to the lake up north (That is legal right? I think I read in a list of illegal and legal moves that it was OK). I settled one square NW of the lake, giving myself fish, whales, and all kinds of other fun stuff.

Before the settler reached his destination though, the last thing I expected to happen happened, I was informed that the Egyptians had been eliminated from the game. I felt this could possibly be more game-ruining than the small island start. I was afraid that in the territory that the Egyptians would have expanded into, one of the other civs would grow and become an absolute power house. I'm yet to see how much of an impact it's had or will have, but I'm fearing the worst, and hoping for the best.

By the time I had a couple of the UU and was confident in my defenses, (I was on an island, I didn't feel too much need to be very defensive in the early game) I built a curragh and explored all around the mainland, getting really lucky in terms of contact with other civs. I managed to make contact with all the civs on my curragh's voyage around the mainland, as well as get the basic idea of where they all were. All this while avoiding a pesky barbarian galley that couldn't catch up to me due to the Seafaring trait of an extra movement point.

Seems everyone else who's been playing this has had one of the same issues as I have, Germany trying to be very aggressive in the early game. But, in my game they were too preoccupied with building the collosus and the Oracle that they neglected a strong military. The Germans declared war after a refused demand of tribute, and I quickly built up a small sword stack, getting getting ready to make a foothold on the mainland.

With about 8 swords, and two galleys (My research was Writing, Map Making, Philosophy, and trading for everything else that I could) I made my way directly towards Berlin, and captured it after 3 Sword vs Spearman clashes(2 wins) and 2 Sword vs Warrior clashes(2 wins). The also netted me the two aforementioned wonders. Germany switched their capital to Leipzig, and was willing to offer two of their remaining 3 non-capital cities as tribute for peace. I gladly obliged, and waited the 20 turns of peace, building up more swords, and preparing to take down Leipzig, and the remaining city. Once that happened, I was now neighbors with India, and two nations were off the face of the planet.

Just then, my construction research had finished, and I moved into the middle ages.

Future goals: My next goal is to take down a couple Indian cities, netting myself the silks luxury, and a wonder or two in the process. I'm going to switch to Feudalism as government as soon as possible, and try to get to knights ASAP, hoping to beat India before they get an overabundance of their unique unit, the war elephant.

Can't wait to work my way into the middle ages, I think some fun twists are on their way.

 

[archphoenix]

I hate GA in despotism, so I choose Predator.
(later I find it's a mistake).

I hate volcano very much! so I wander for a little longer.

I see desert cross my small island, and finally two cattles
found.

I settled beside the lake and since I have choose Predator,
have wandered turns, On such poor volcano and desert island on "Emperor level", I decide to try a new VC--20K.
(last korea regent game should try 20K.)

of course, "Emperor AI" don't leave me more AA wonder.
when I enter MA.
-----
of course,later I am happy I won but at a very very late date....

edit1:
lesson1 learned, don't try Predator, I will not benefit from it.
even it looks beneficial on the surface.
lesson2 learned, it's a risk to wandering, sometimes worthy.
sometimes cripple.
next time I will wander at most 10 turns to decide where to settle.

 

[fat-mans-reveng]

After reading the first couple posts, I've got a question about both of your tactic to go north of the island and tackle the opponents there, as opposed to dealing with the Germans to the southeast, who you are (Probably) already at war with.

Seems to me that it would be easier to just go south, and get a (What I think is) a much easier area to defend. So, could you two, or anyone else, shed some light on the matter?

 

[klarius]

Welcome to the world of GOTM.

The idea is not to defend, but to capture most of the main landmass quickly.
So one doesn't want to get stuck in a rocky peninsula, but have easy access to all the land.

 

[tao]

I settled W-SW and built warrior for exploration, learned soon about the island start, curragh (making contacts with all other civs), settler.

Utica (20k city) was founded on the lake in 2670 - a late start for a 20k approach, but I did not want to try it with a volcano-threatened city. Thus I only got Mausollos and Great Library of the AA Wonders.

Middle Ages were entered 190bc with puny 4 cities, pop 23. I am about to attack Germany, which is at war with India.

 

[azzaman333]

My 20k effort was looking okay, until i only had 3 AA wonders (Colossus, Great Lighthouse, Great Library) and the only reason i got the Great Library was because i kept letting the AI attack me so they wouldnt take Lit...

I was eventually killed in the late-MA, when i entered self-destruct mode (declare war on everyone simultaneously)

 

[Ansar]

Predator, Domination or Space Race
Hannibal stared at the vast coast and sea that lay past the volcano and decided settling on a volcano wouldnt be a suitable spot, so he decided he would go southwest, where it looked like there was more suitable land. the Worker noticed there was nearby coast after a strip of sea, but he decided to go to the wheatfield and begin working the wheat. Carthage was settled in 3900BC and Carthagian citizens decided it would be needed to make a curragh, a sort of boat, to travel and explore the waters. Carthagian scientists started developing a Writing system which would be quite an achievement. In 3850BC, the Carthagian worker was astounded as he saw over the hill, a German archer.

Contact was made, but Hannibal said "no trades for now, lets wait for a little...". Finally in 3400BC, the S.S. Kurag was finished in Carthage and headed south towards Germany. In 2900BC, 2 great feats were made, first, contact with Ghandi of India, and then, the great town of Utica is settled nearby Carthage. Trade with Germany is good now, as we trade Masonry for Ceremonial Burial + Bronze Working + 10 gold, and then trade Masonry to India for 35 gold. Finally in 2630BC, The Navigator (curragh) finds a beautiful spot with fish, cows, and freshwater! In 2550BC, we find contact with the Hitties, and by location, it appears as if we are in a small peninsula, a Madagascar sort of island... On 2470BC, contact with Xerxes of the Persians is made and they have knowledge of making wheels and knowledge of units called "archers", so we traded our Alphabet for their Warrior Code + The Wheel + 10 gold, "a good deal" Hannibal said. Coincidentially, by the end of the turn, he met Cleopatra of the Egyptians, and traded knowledge of Mysticism for our knowledge of the wheel. Also, Hannibal traded Warrior Code for Ghandi's knowledge of Pottery. In 2310BC, contact with Hiawatha of the Iroquis is acquired through navigating through the continent, but they appear backward, a feat for Carthage. Following the knowledge of Writing by Carthagian scholars, a Code of Laws was to be researched next for the Carthagian Empire was planning a technique the ancients talked about, it was called, the "Philosophy Slingshot", which would get them knowledge of a government called Republic . Also, with the knowledge of Writing, embassies could be made, and so one was made in Berlin, the german capital.

In 2150BC, the Germans suddenly came asking for Pottery, not as an exchange, but as a demand, Hannibal was shocked , and said, "forget you!", and so, Germany declared war, but it didnt matter to Hannibal, since Germany couldnt access the Carthagian Empire, now known as Madagascar. Unfortunately, soon after, in 1675BC, The Navigator sank searching for new lands. But to restore Carthagian hope, S.S. Kurag found a new island off the mainland. Hannibal noticed there were Iroqui remains northeast of Egyptian lands and wondered if Cleopatra was in war with Hiawatha, so he decided to make an embassy in 1500BC. Turns out she indeed was in war with Hiawatha. Trade with Xerxes our knowledge of Ceremonial Burial for their knowledge of Iron Working, "another good deal!" Hannibal said. And trade Code of Laws for Polytheism + Mathematics + 68 gold from Hiawatha. In 1225BC, the Iroquis finished the Pyramids. In 1175BC, Philosophy comes in and the slingshot worked, and so, the despotic goverment decided they would switch, and luckily, there were to be only 2 turns of anarchy. At 1000BC, trade HBR + Polytheism for Map Making and 25 gold. "Soon.." Hannibal said, "there will be no German empire, but 2 Carthagian empires!". Germans finished The Oracle...(in 975BC), thats good to know... Xerxes threatens Code of Laws, I refuse and he backs down, "chicken..." Hannibal says. Establish embassy in Delhi to see what Ghandi is up to, and to get a MA against Germany. Ghandi has iron! In other news, we get Literature and start working on Construction. Finally, Berlin is going down!
Before

After

After much waiting, Construction came in, and Hannibal looked in his CivAssistII planning manual and saw that Cleopatra contained information of Currency, and so did many other civs. Hannibal traded Republic for Currency + Monarchy + 5 gold per turn+ 72 gold. And so, Madagascar was in the Middle Ages,along with the other 5 civilizations and with Madagascar's new acquisition, Berlin and I reached the Middle Ages in 570BC. Not an impressive date, but I found it impressive.

 

[IronJeff]

After reading the first couple posts, I've got a question about both of your tactic to go north of the island and tackle the opponents there, as opposed to dealing with the Germans to the southeast, who you are (Probably) already at war with.

At the time Germany was the games powerhouse with many units looking for a fight. but they were seperated from me by water and had no boats. after they took my 2 southern cities it looked like it was not smart to wrestle them back until I got bigger.

Seems to me that it would be easier to just go south, and get a (What I think is) a much easier area to defend. So, could you two, or anyone else, shed some light on the matter?

The east had a bigger landmass with several AI's bunched together. they had not expanded out to the coast yet and I saw a choice spot next to egypt. Also Egypt was a much softer target at the time than germany, they had no horses or iron yet so I was basicly knocking down spearmen. I was not looking at it from a defense point of veiw., just trying to get that first war done, and get placed for the future wars before the AI's with space to grow got too big.

 

[Ansar]

I realize now attacking Germany was stupid since they have their archers and spearman and it seems that the GOTM/COTM staff wanted us to attack them first, unfortunately, I fell for the trap. Should have claimed those horses near the coast before Egypt grabbed them.

 

[RFHolloway]

Not too many details - playing open and going for ??? (but probably 100k like usual) - and still trying to knock the rust off after a 4 month lay off before COTM 24

Settle in 3900 sw sw like most people, contact germans early and refuse to trade, get a curragh in the water early (sending it south and anticlockwise round the german lands), make some good early trades, found one city on the lake.

Then it all starts to go wrong - germany declare (demanding writing - no way)
I am first to philo having refused a republic slingshot ( if 100k is an option I want to be in feudalism, and anyway early mapmaking will be important to get off the island)

lose my Curragh to a misclick, then I come up with a master? plan. Dump a couple of UU's on a hill just outside germany and watch them burn all their archers on it (2v6 should be good right?) it works - kind of. the despotic golden age even gives me a 15spt capital which nets me 10 swordsmen.

This should be enough to do some serious conquering - I am rated strong against all other nations. I however am not a warmonger, and proceed to bring one or two fewer swordsman than i need, or six too many than then are needed elsewhere. The swordsmen get frittered away, or get marched up the hills and back down again. Too few workers (no roads to move the troupes around), too few boats (item 1 where was the second Curragh for exploring? - it never got built).

By the time I have 1 tech to go i have 3 nations at war with me at a time (cycling through 5 different ones - I really should give in to demands some times), and am focusing on military not tech. A culture flip to Egypt was unfortunate, but worth the risk, but trying to take the egyptan capital with an insuficient force and wasting it was not.

never mind - live and learn - I am still largest by area, and germany are down to 3 cities

 

[Più Freddo]

For a fabulous QSC with [...] 2 harbors [...]
1025 buy MM

I wish I could pull something like this off sometime. Rush two harbors on the turn you learn MM.

 

[Più Freddo]

Predator
Military goal

I started with settler W, worker S, then settler S and worker road. So
Carthage was founded 2SW from the starting location. Build order
Warrior, Curragh, Settler, Settler and that's it. I abandoned Carthage
in 2550 BC and the Palace jumped to Utica up by the lake and cattle.

3900 BC Found Carthage
2670 BC Found Utica
2470 BC Found Leptis Magna
2190 BC Found Theveste
1650 BC Found Hippo
1525 BC Found Leptis Minor
0875 BC Found Oea on German territory​

I quickly met the Germans and then using two Curraghs the rest. Had
bad luck with Egypt, which hit both shores only after I had passed by.

3850 BC Meet Germany
2850 BC Meet India
2630 BC War India We declare to break gpt deal
2630 BC Meet Persia
2550 BC Jump Palace from Carthage to Utica
2390 BC Meet Arabia
2190 BC Embassy Germany
2150 BC Peace India
2030 BC War Germany Germany declares over ultimatum
1830 BC Meet Hittites
1600 BC Peace Germany
1600 BC Meet Iroquios
1600 BC Embassy Persia Colossus in 35 730 BC
1250 BC Establish Anarchy, six turns!
1200 BC Meet Egypt
1100 BC Establish Republic
0900 BC War Germany Germany declares over ultimatum
0900 BC Embassy Hittites
0900 BC Embassy Egypt
0875 BC Embassy Iroquios
0825 BC War Arabia in alliance with Persia, Hittites, Egypt, Iroquis​

Having so many turns anarchy didn't help my research, but I still came
in even with Klarius on Currency and could trade Construction a few
turns earlier. Only I didn't land on the continent yet and The
Pyramids are in Berlin, for better or worse. And I lack Literature.

3850 BC Learn Warrior Code
3850 BC Learn Bronze Working
2630 BC Learn Pottery
2630 BC Learn Ceremonial Burial
2190 BC Discover Writing
2150 BC Learn The Wheel
1600 BC Learn Mysticism
1600 BC Learn Iron Working
1475 BC Discover Code of Laws
1400 BC Learn Mathematics
1300 BC Learn Polytheism
1250 BC Discover The Republic
1250 BC Discover Philosophy
1075 BC Learn Map Making
0900 BC Learn Horseback Riding
0875 BC Discover Currency
0825 BC Learn Construction​

Quick Start Challenge Result

7 Cities
19 Citizens
2 Temples
2 Barracks
7 Contacts
2 Embassies
3 Workers
1 Curragh
1 Warrior​

Republic. Missing HBR, Lit, C&C, Mon. Have horses and iron but no
luxuries.

 

[DBear]

The Sea Calls Us
Carthage is built 2sw of our start in 3900BC and we immediately see that this is a small offshore island, so we start a curragh. Worker roads and mines grain. We spot German border in 3450BC, but don't contact them until 3250BC. By this time we've learned pottery and trade them mason+alpha for BW+warcode+10. After finishing the curragh, Carthage built 2 warriors for MPs, then a settler. The Hittites are contacted at 3000BC, but they refuse to trade. Next turn the volcano goes active and I move my worker out of harm's way. The curragh explores the north end of our island and I decide to build the second city by the water source and the cows.

Toasted Wheat
Carthage pops a settler in 2750BC when the volcano erupts and spews on the wheat. I am so mad at this that I quit, fire off a PM to Ainwood, and don't play again for 10 days. I return eventually, and I send my worker to cleanup and have Carthage popping fellow workers to join. Utica is founded in 2510BC and starts building MPs. We find India 2 turns later and trade pottery+4 for CB. The mess is finally cleaned up in 2310BC.

Who Do You Think You Are, Moses?
By the start of the second millenium BC we find Persia and Egypt. In 1910BC we discover writing and contact Iroquois. We trade writing for IW+wheel+mystic+13 to Egypt and writing for 180 to Hittites . I use the money to build embassies to Hittites, Germany, India, and Egypt. We have horses just n of Carthage and iron ene of Utica. Next turn an Arab scout appears, we trade them wheel for 25, which helps pay for the Iroquois embassy. Germans build Frankfort across the strait from Carthage, then in 1750BC Germany tries extorting pottery from us when they don't have mapping. We refuse and they declare. Fools.

The Chase
Meanwhile, Leptis Magna is founded in 1700BC and Carthage starts a Numidian. Horses are connected and Utica is roaded. The volcano is cleaned up. While exploring the north coast of the mainland, a barb galley chases us. The Hittites prove just as stupid as the Germans and demand cash when we're running a deficit. They also declare. In 1250BC we learn maps and start philo as Theveste is founded. We trade maps+5 to Egypt for math and math to Iroquois for HB+40.. We also bribe the Indians to fight Germany, selling them HB for 25. An embassy to Persia is opened. The Hittites build the Colossus in 1225BC and 2 turns later my curragh returns home. In 1100BC Hippo is founded, starting a galley as Leptis Magna is whipped for a harbor. We also trade mapping and math to India for poly+43. Drat, Iroquois beat us to philo. We get philo in 1050BC, researching monarchy.

QSC Statistics
Score: Firaxis 139, Jason 2744
Land: 74 squares, 5 towns
Population: 2 happy, 10 content, 1 sad
Production: 44 food, 83 shields, 22 gold
Diplomacy: 7 contacts, 6 embassies
Buildings: 2 temples, rax, grain, harbor
Units: 4 warriors, 4 workers, 1 galley, 1 numidian
Experience: all regular
Tech: All ancients except construct, coin, republic, lit, law, monarch. We have 32 beakers toward monarch.

Be Careful What You Wish For
The curragh is upgraded to galley. In 900BC the Arabs get in on the extortion game and I tell them where to go. I decide to go after Germany since they are backward and we will face attack from only one direction. We land 3 swords and a numidian outside Frankfurt in 850BC and raze it next turn, moving on to Berlin. Just outside it in 730BC an archer took on the numidian, kicking off our GA. A bit early, but it gives us monarch quicker. Berlin is razed. The slaves are transported home.

Quest for the Crown
Egypt tries moving in, I have to declare on them and take their settler for slaves. We make Germany give us Munich, Hamburg+20 for peace in 670BC. Next turn we sell philo to Persia and India for cash to speed up research. Oea is built on the ruins of Berlin in 610BC, starting a harbor so we can use the spice. Next turn Leptis Minor is built on the ruins of Frankfurt. Rusicade is built in 550BC and we make a straight peace w/Hittites as Utica begins the FP. Arabs pay us 20 for peace We learn Monarchy at last in 510BC and trade it to Hittites for construct, coin, law, lit+61. This moves us into the Middle Ages. We revolt and get 5 turn anarchy.

 

[PaperBeetle]

Running From The Fire God
There's no way I'm going to settle by the volcano, so I found Carthage SW,W. I am assuming that this is an island, and thinking of cramming as many towns as possible on, to get Mapping ASAP. The value of SW,W is that it allows two towns on the southeast coast, while still getting both fish and wheat. Anyway, all these plans change when my exploring axe finds the promised land in 3500bc. Two moos, fresh water, and three offshore bonuses! I "do a klarius" and whip a settler out of Carthage, abandoning it in 3250bc. It is refounded in 2950bc, between the two moos, and I make a spreadsheet for four-turn settlers.

A Belated Boat
In my haste to move the capital, I didn't have a chance to get a curragh out, so I make this my first build in the new place. It meets Mursi first, then Otto, Xerxes, Gandhi and Cleo in quick succession. I trade techs liberally, while researching straight for Philosophy; no Republic for me, as I will go from despotosm to feudalism. In 1475bc I slingshot to Construction.
With hindsight I realise that the island start plays very differently in PtW and C3C; in PtW, the tech dash to Mapping is so crucial, just to get contacts at all, whereas C3C gives contacts easily, and makes tech brokering easier by not allowing contact trading, getting Mapping is no real difficulty, and the player is not so likely to be playing catch-up when he gets off the island.

More Foreign Matters
In 1650bc I dow India, and give Otto Writing to join my war. Gandhi has beeen reduced to a single town by the Persians, and I am hoping to have one rival destroyed before I even send out my world conquest force. Germany duly finishes off India, and in the meantime my exploring curraghs meet the last two civs, the Arabs and Iroquois. The Quois are looking frighteningly powerful, and no wonder; an embassy in 1225bc reveals that their capital has 4 moos . I also start a war with Egypt, and bring the Hittites, Quois and Arabs along with me, and send the Germans up against the Persians .

QSC Stats
9 towns with 22 citizens and 65 tiles.
80 food in the bin, 48 shields in the box, 111 gold in the treasury.
1 granary, 3 barracks.
1 settler, 5 workers, 2 swords (reg), 3 chariots (vet), 3 curraghs (reg).
All ancient techs except Riding, Republic, Monarchy, Literature and Laws (38 beakers).
6 contacts, 5 embassies, 1 civ dead.

Where To Start
I am not really decided where I should start my conquests; I am still at war with Egypt, Hittitia is nice and close to my capital, and the Quois lands would be an ideal place to jump palace to, leaving an FP in Carthage City. It is obvious at least which part of the world I am looking at, so I start with a beach-head town on the edge of the deserts south of Hittita. The same turn, 850bc, I discover Riding and enter the medieval era. Research is set for Feudalism at minimum, so I can spend cash upgrading chariots to horses.