COTM 31 - Spoiler #2

[civ_steve]

COTM 31 - second spoiler

Reading Requirements:

1. Must be able to research an Industrial Age Technology.

Posting restrictions

1. No maps showing Industrial or Modern resources.
2. No discussion of Industrial Age (or later).

The initial advantages that the modified AI started with have begun to subside during this Era. Lot's of Conquistadors (there were 12!) don't look so tough when you have Knights or better. Were you able to reassert your Aztec domination during this period, or does your saga continue to a later era?

 

[Chamnix]

Predator Class, for diplo.

I entered the Middle Ages very early (1100 BC), but it seems there is always some “self-correction” during research games. By entering that early, my development was not even close to being able to handle the expensive Middle Age techs at any speed. I didn’t learn my first Middle Age tech (Engineering) until 650 BC. Fortunately the AI was a very good trading partner this game. Spain was my best study buddy early, but eventually France became my partner.

I stuck to the techs I knew the AI wouldn’t research, and let them provide their common choices. In the Middle Ages, the AI provided Monotheism, Feudalism, Theology, Invention, Gunpowder, and Astronomy.

My first war started in 530 BC with Portugal. Despite not playing a military game, I stayed at war pretty much the rest of the game to continue to gain land for scientist farms.

I built Newton’s University but missed Copernicus’ Observatory again. Somehow, I can never remember to start a prebuild for that one early enough .

The Industrial Age was entered in 150 AD.

 

[ignas]

Open, going for 20K culture

Entered MA in 1100BC with techs gained from GLib. Got republic in 900BC, immediately revolted. In 470BC went out of expansion room with 11 cities with furs, gems, iron.With Glib i researched no techs till it expired. Got Education in 190 BC and started my own research to Free Artistry to build Shake's Theater. Could have built it in 260AD, but switched it to Copernicus ( i was aware of losing it, many civs got astronomy and started building it).
Got Shake's in 490 AD and entered IA in 510 AD.
In MA IA researched me these techs: Feudalism, Monotheism, Theology, Engineering, Invention,Chivalry, Gunpowder, Chemistry, Metallurgy, Education, Astronomy, Military Tradition, Physics, Navigation. Got much gpt from AI, so was able to upgrade 30 Horses to cavalry in late MA, started few wars in early IA.
Started my golden age in 470BC with Jaguar warrior killing Incan longbowman
20K city built in MA:
950BC Colosseum
530BC The Hanging Gardens
490BC Cathedral
50BC Sistines Chapel
30BC University
260AD Copernicus
490AD Shake's Theater

 

[AVN]

First : I will not submit this game, because I reloaded in the initial stages of the game. I lost my granary in the capitol, due to a budget problem and this mistake was IMO so big that I had two possible solutions. Stop playing or reloading. I chose the second option.

Still I like to describe my adventures with this scenario, because it was an interesting one.

The intention was domination and I started with fast REX-ing.

Moved worker to the game, found other game and settled in place. Started on granary and alphabet. Noted that the costs of alphabet where those for a standard map, not for a large map. On a large map they are normally significantly higher. This made a fast research game possible.

In 3850 BC I met one of the conquistadors of Isabella. She was already 4 techs ahead and had 4 cities. And in 3700 BC the Spanish started building the Statue of Zeus. Quit impressing ....

Because our warrior returned to the capitol, after finding a good place for a second city, (not too difficult on this food rich map) for MP duties we had to wait till 2900 BC to meet a second civ, the Iroquois. They were 5 techs ahead.

In 2800 BC my second city Tlatelolco was built and it started on a Jaguar Warrior. I would built a number of them for scouting. I wouldn't do fighting with them because I didn't want a despotic golden age. I wanted to get a golden age by conquering a militaristic/ agricultural wonder and after that building the other one.

In 2590 BC the Aztecs learned Alphabet and continued with Writing.

In 2390 BC Spain completed the Statue of Zeus in the "old capitol". They also established an embassy. Their capitol (Madrid) was far away.

In the following years I met the other civs and it appeared that we were quite far behind in tech.

In 2150 BC I saw some interesting trading opportunities. The other civs had quite some money available. I bought Writing from Portugal for 5 gpt and a lump sum of 6 gold. For this I could buy the Wheel from the Incas, BW from Rome, IW from Iroquois, HBR from Inca, CB from Portugal, Mysticism from America and Masonry from America. I also managed to get overall 130 gold in those trades. That was enough to cover the expense of 5 gpt.

This trade was one of the key-turning points in my game. Spain and Celts were still Mathemathics ahead, but I was equal in tech or better with the others.

Suddenly (I became reckless) I had visions of a Republic slingshot, so I decided to continue research with Code of Laws.

The situation with the resources was however not so good. There was no iron (I had not checked the mountains with my JW's because of the slow movement there) or more importantly horses in sight.

In 2110 BC Spain demanded 25 gold. I was in no position to refuse that, so I gave it to her.

In the following years I started building embassies with all the other civs.

In 1790 BC the Maya discovered Philosophy and sold it around.
And in 1750 BC Spain discovered Code of Laws. So I was again behind in tech. In the same year France declared on Spain so Spains Ancient Cavalry had something useful to do now.

In 1725 BC I bought CoL from Spain for 31 gold and 1 gpt. Sold it to the Celts for Philosophy and 76 gold and the Celts for Mathematics and 25 gold.
Spain gave 139 gold for philosophy while England was prepared to give MM for Philosophy and 203 gold. A deal I also accepted. I continued research with going for Republic.

In 1700 BC I found some iron. A least I was able now to build some swordsmen.

In 1575 BC I bought Polytheism from America for a number of techs and sold it to Spain for 299 gold and the Celts for 79 gold. My cash position was therefore good, making it possible to keep research on max.

In the following years the Aztecs signed ROP's with several civs so they could continue our scouting and create some additional cash.

In 1500 BC I had 10 cities and 20 workers to make them productive.
I started building the forbidden palace in my second city (also possible now due to the standard map settings. Normally you need more cities on a large map to be able to build it).

In 1200 BC I finalized reseach on Republic. Sold it to the Celts for Construction, Currency and 59 gold and to Spain for 179 gold and the Celts for 69 gold. I had 732 gold in cash now and started research on Feudalism.

One turn later the Aztecs revolted. 8 turns of anarchy followed.

In 975 BC the Aztecs became a Republic. To reduce costs I disbanded my warriors and JW's (the last one was an error) and joined a few workers to bring cities to size 7.

In 900 BC I was able to buy Literature for Construction from the Mayas.

In 825 BC Feudalism was discovered and in the remarkable year 775 BC the forbidden palace was built and we started our first war against the Iroquois. They had the needed horses !!

In 610 BC Monotheism researched. Start on Chivalry.

In 590 BC I decided to give up on my golden age initiated by building/conquering wonders. It would become to complicated/expensive.
I decided to build some JW's again who hopefully would meet a weak opponent (redlined spear or something similar).

In 490 BC I had conquered the Iroquois horses and connected them to my capitol and 20 years later I learned Chivalry so I was able to build mighty Knights and conquer the world. I continued with Engineering straight to MilTrad.

After conquering Salamanca in 430 BC the Iroquois begged for peace.
They offered 435 gold and 41 gpt. Because this would solve all my financial issues for a very long period I accepted this peace. Of course I could not attack them now for 20 turns, to keep my reputation clean, but this offer was too good to resist.

IMO this was the second key turning point in the game.

In 410 BC the Inca demanded Chivalry. Because I´m not strong enough yet and I preferred to start warring with America first I gave it to them.

In 250 BC I declared a phony war on France. I got Spain in an alliance and they sent a huge pile of Ancient Cavalry in the direction of France.

In 230 BC Caesar demanded Monotheism. Again I gave it.

In 210 BC I declared on America. I didn't want to share their territory with others, so I didn't ask for allies.

In 170 BC I was able to kill an American archer with the joint effort of 2 Jaguar Warriors. My golden age started.

In 110 BC Salamanca (conquered from the Iroquois in the previous war) flipped back to the Iroquois. It was my only flip in this game even if I kept almost all cities I captured.

In 30 BC Hiawatha asked to extend the peace, even with always regoniate turned off. I was surprised, but I guess that even with that option turned off there is always a chance that the AI will ask for an extension of a peace. Because I couldn't use a war with them at that moment I accepted his request.

In 70 AD America was gone. We also signed peace with France and got 12 gold. Spain had signed peace in an earlier stage with them.

In 90 AD we delclared on England. We asked Rome and Spain to be our allies. Main target cities were Nottingham with Sun Tzu and especially London with the TofA. The Temple of Artemis was the most important wonder for my strategy of a fast domination.

In 110 AD we captured Nottingham and in 170 AD London, so we had those 2 wonders.

In 190 AD we discovered MilTrad, upgraded all our knights and stopped research for the rest of the game.

In 210 AD the Spanish Ancient Cavalry destroyed the English.

Things went fast now.

In 250 AD we declared on the Celts. We signed peace with them in 370 AD when they had one city left which was out of my reach.

In 290 AD I asked the Incas to leave my territory. They declared on me. This war I fought defensively initially, only keeping the Incas out of my cities. Therefore they stayed in the game till 480 AD when I destroyed them.

In 290 AD I also declared on Rome. In 370 AD I signed peace when they were left with one city.

In 350 AD I declared on Portugal with Spain as our ally. They were gone in 430 AD.

In 380 AD I declared on France. In 450 AD we captured their capitol with Pyramids and unfrtunately the Great Library. Therefore I had to abandon Paris. In 470 AD the French were also gone.

In 450 AD I asked Spain to leave our territory with all his Ancient Cavalry. They refused and declared. In the next turn I killed all his Ancient Cavalry and the power of Spain was gone. In 470 AD we captured our ”old capitol”.

In 470 AD I declared on the Vikings.

In 500 AD I declared on the Mayas. We captured one city and according civassist2 we had passed the limit.

In 510 AD I got indeed the message that I had won by domination.

 

[klarius]

Open

Entered MA in 1325BC still researching monarchy. Monarchy completed 1200BC and got us republic (6 turns anarchy) and most of the cash around.
In 1000BC we have 15 towns with 51 population.
16 workers and 6 slaves.
3 warriors, 3 jags, 4 archers, 4 swords, 1 curragh
All AA techs.
Embassies with everybody except Spain.

From then on it was bee line to military tradition which was achieved in 230BC. Science was stopped then.

Horses were culture poached from Iroquois in 550BC.

England declared in 975BC. This war was phony for a long time.
But I took the chance for some diplomacy with lots of alliances, so more declarations and war happiness came soon.

The first war with real action was against the Spanish. Started GA in 690BC with a Jag (on the second try).
Captured Teotihuacan in 670BC with GLib and ToZ. It was razed later after giving chivalry and theology (avoiding education).

Next target America (they broke the alliance against England 775BC already). This went on to 270BC when they had 2 cities left.

650BC Romans declared, but they are too far away currently.

510BC Inca declared, I'm not going to go through all these mountains just now.

In 450BC Iroquois declared and I took the opportunity to take out their core.

We are easily doing w/o lux tax now, because of all the war happiness.

370BC also Celts declare and I got further distracted from my goal (I was really aiming for ToA in London).

In 270BC we make a series of peace and alliance trades netting us a large amount of gpt and cash. We also completely shoot our reputation. But with cavs just around the corner we are not anymore careful, but will just take on whoever gets into the way of our troops.

In 110BC we finally get London with ToA. Domination here we come.

Only Vikings, Portugal, Celts and America got completely destroyed, but we took some cities from everybody except France.

Domination victory in 230AD

 

[Beorn-eL-Feared]

Open, Space.
Hit the IA in 280 AD.

Got stolen off Copernicus' by a cascade
I doubt any of them will even compete against my Newton's pre-build now though.

So far there has been no good wars, I've bought away everyone that came too close with troops. I have less than 20 troops, 6 of them being jags, and 50 (+15 slaves) workers or so.



The incans are primitive, they have a bunch of warriors and archers around, so I'll use them to get my GA. My core's infra is pretty much built up at this point, oulying towns will make a few settlers and knights head NE to these rich grasslands that promise lots of beakers.



In retrospect I've spent too much ressources in getting everyone to help techs, but it paid off: the whole bottom path, the optionals and Astronomy were AI-researched. Now, Maya, France, England, Iroquois and Celts are helpful teching partners, and America is almost up to par. That could prove very useful if they don't ALL get stuck a few hundred years into the Democracy and Communism holes.