COTM13: The Hunt Continues (middle ages)

[Renata]

General "hunting tips" rules may be found in the Hunting Tips thread. Please read the first post in that thread before posting here.

Any conquest-class player is free to post their saves in this thread. Ideally, they should have reached the start of the industrial ages, but if they feel that they are really struggling, they can post earlier.

Saves and screenshots from after the end of the middle ages should not be posted.

Any player from any class who has posted their middle-ages spoiler is free to download the saves, analyse them, and post feedback.

Renata

 

[berserks01]

Ok, I'll start again

Let me start of by saying that this is my 2nd Deity game (with my first being an AWD in SGOTM 7 where I'm on Team Darkness and we suffered a pretty quick lost ), and all the games I've played previous to these 2 have been Chieftan/Warlord level ... so you can say I'm pretty much a newb, which is why I'm playing Conquest

So, I'm in the middle of the Middle Age Era. Everyone was at war with Arabia about 5 turns ago, now at 950AD everyone except Aztec and Portugal are still at war with Arabia. I'm guessing Arabia would last past the next 5 or so turns. I'm doing pretty well in this war with a cavalry army and I could easily crush use it to help crush Arabia by the 4-5th turns from now.

However, I'm seeing Aztec already at the infantry stage and my strongest troop is still the cavalry. So, unless I do something quick to improve my military strength I'm afraid I'll be the next in line for a dogpile (which my most likely be started by the Aztec since they're the one that started most of the wars in the game so far).

My plan is to try and trade as much techs from the other civs as I can, then sue more techs from the Arabs for peace. Also, the Arabian cities I just took over that are bordering Arab have a very high chance of flipping, so I plan on giving one of it to another civ to get them gracious with me and to build a lib in the one with the horse in it's border to prevent flippance. What do you suggest?

So ... I implore you peeps ... help!!!

BTW, how the heck do you create the animated minimap gif with CivAssist2? I have CivAssist2 and have read through the help doc online and have reloaded my current save several times trying to get it to work, but unfortunately the interface doesn't look very much like what the doc is saying

Edit: I meant Middle Ages. Sorry.

 

[Renata]

Is that save from the middle industrial era? That's not allowed by the thread rules. Please read the thread-starting posts; this is the second time.

Renata

 

[Zelda's Man]

Also, the Arabian cities I just took over that are bordering Arab have a very high chance of flipping, so I plan on giving one of it to another civ to get them gracious with me and to build a lib in the one with the horse in it's border to prevent flippance. What do you suggest?

Building a library will do little to prevent a flip. The number of foreigners, esp resistors, the cultural level of the city before you took it, and its relative proximity to the Arab capital will have the greatest effect (besides the Arabs having more total culture than you to start with). Build workers and then military or whatever you need.

 

[Markus5]

Conquest Class

1110AD Start of the Industrial Age
Score 2115
Culture 6232
Culture per turn 113
Gold 552 2nd
Cities 31 1st
Land 451 3rd
Units 135
18 workers,
10 slaves,
14 cavs,
34 knights,
17 musketeers,
7 horses,
15 pikes,
6 spears,
4 warriors,
3 trebuchets,
2 swords,
2 mid inf,
1 galley


Behind on tech, but not much. I spent a nice Golden Age with research turned off and building units to expand by conquest. Arabia is down to 4 cities, but they are stilll powerful. I never got any Leaders, so my FP remains near the capital. With a leader I might have moved it. Portugal declared on the Aztecs and sent over 80 units south through France. When they made peace, I blocked the units from returning. I'm not crowding the border, but there is a line that they can't cross. I'm not sure if thats a good idea or not. I'm holding onto some cash to continue some upgrading. Obsolete units are slowing being replaced.

You can see my minimap in the other thread.

I'm looking for some general advice. You might not even need to download the save.

Normally, I'd go for a ToE slingshot. Research to it first, then Rep Parts. If I can get 5 banks, Wall St makes a good pre-build. But, in this case, I'll try that, and keep researching along one line to get trade options. Hopefully I'll have coal to build lots of railroads on the premium tiles.

How do I get to the Modern Era and take a shot at the SpaceShip? Or, isn't that reasonable? ANyway, general tips to make progress at this point are very welcome.

 

[MeteorPunch]

@berserks01:These are things I would do differently.

1. Defenders in your interior cities - unnecessary. They are really only needed for borders. If AI units start to waltz through my territory though, I would put some defender there just in case.

2. Don't research Economics - the Inca have Adam Smith's Trade Co.

3. Generally use scientist before taxmen. Taxmen may be worthwhile though if you've determined that.

4. Almost all your cities have barracks.

5. Your low production perimeter cities are building units. Have them build workers, settlers, harbors, aquaducts, marketplaces, courthouses. Temples or Libraries for border expansion. Paris is building a settler. :shakehead The productive core cities should build military.

6. Looks like you are taking out the Arabs. Have a bunch of settlers following the army to build cities as you raze and replace. Faster, easier, and less risky than starving.

That's all I can think of, otherwise everything looks good. If you know how to use artillary, you can start taking over the world at Replaceable Parts.


@Markus5:
1. Too many defenders in interior cities. Same as berserk01 above.

2. You have a lot of military units that are just sitting there. You could probably take out Arabia in 15 turns. Also, capture Poiters and Naissus.

3. Upgrade non-Elite horsemen and knights.

4. Disband warriors

5. (*warning:may not be good advice*) The Aztecs seem very strong. If they attack one of their neighbors, I would consider going to war with them just to sign Inca, Egypt, and Rome vs. them to keep them in check. You will have your hands full getting rid of Portugal and another superpower wouldn't be good.

 

[Markus5]

Thanks for the advice. I plan to disband the warriors ASAP. I'll upgrade horses and knights, reserving elite units for leader fishing. I'll move interior defenders to the borders. Should I keep MPs (2) in each city?

Should I mass a Stack of cavs and attack Arabia? To what end?

Will I need to take out Portugal to have any chance? War-weariness affects me more than my civ.

 

[MeteorPunch]

Thanks for the advice. I plan to disband the warriors ASAP. I'll upgrade horses and knights, reserving elite units for leader fishing. I'll move interior defenders to the borders. Should I keep MPs (2) in each city?

you're in republic so there is no MP.

Should I mass a Stack of cavs and attack Arabia? To what end?

To Arabia's end. I would spy their cities to see how much defense they have, postion your Cavs and knights at the border, declare war, then attack.

Will I need to take out Portugal to have any chance? War-weariness affects me more than my civ.

You could stop expanding and go for diplomatic or space. Space may be harder because you'll need to catch up in tech. Diplomatic might work though. You would need to build the UN first or capture it.

 

[Markus5]

I'm thinking of either:
- Space
- Diplo
- quit and play GOTM44

Wiping the Arabs out would be satisfying.

Republics don't have MPs. "Click"
I knew that.

 

[MeteorPunch]

I'm thinking of either:
- Space
- Diplo
- quit and play GOTM44

Wiping the Arabs out would be satisfying.

As long as the Portuguese don't send a massive army your way, you are fine.

 

[Genghis069]

Okay, I'm not quite through MA yet, but I have an interesting dilemma.

Game situation: It's 1070 AD. Arabia has only their capital, Egypt dead. Portugal is #1 to the North, Inca is a close #2 on the other continent. I'm a distant 3rd, with the weak Aztecs owning 9 cities to my SW (and only 6 left on their own continent) and the rest floundering.

I am far behind in the tech race (3 turns from Metall., still need Astro., Physics, ToG and Magn.) with Inca and Portugal already in IA and the others close. I also am still a monarchy, which I half panicked into because of all the wars around me. (I'm also more confortable dealing with Deity lvl happiness using MP)

Question: I just took a 2nd Saltpeter near the Portugeuse border. Inca is absolutely loaded with gold, and offers me 60gpt for it. Do you accept?

Positives: 60gpt would go a long way towards helping me catch up in tech. Inca might also war the Aztecs again, which would be a prime opportunity to wipe them off my continent as well.

Negatives: I'm trading saltpeter to an already strong nation, which may prevent me from ever catching them.

 

[Markus5]

As long as the Portuguese don't send a massive army your way, you are fine.

Guess what? About 3 turns into the Industrial Age they did just that.

Edit: And they are coming from both sides. About 80 units passed through to battle the Aztecs, so they are coming back from the south. And a new horde is coming down from the north.

 

[MeteorPunch]

Guess what? About 3 turns into the Industrial Age they did just that.

Edit: And they are coming from both sides. About 80 units passed through to battle the Aztecs, so they are coming back from the south. And a new horde is coming down from the north.

That can work out in your favor, as long as they are not attacking you.

 

[Markus5]

That can work out in your favor, as long as they are not attacking you.

But, they are attacking me. They politely declared and sent units from north and south and ships are heading up the coast.

 

[Renata]

I think he's implying that they are. Sorry, Markus. If you don't have Steam yet, you could post a save in this thread to see if people think the situation's salvageable. Just as a question, not that it'll help you this time out, did you have lux or resource (or gpt from you to them) trades going with Portugal at the time? Maintaining those at all times is the best way I've found to keep a superior AI from declaring, but occasionally they will anyway, and if you're weak, there may not be anything you can do.

Renata

 

[MeteorPunch]

Ouch. I thought they were just using your territory to attack the Aztecs.

You had a lot of units in the previous save, and were a few turns from Cavalry. Hope is not lost, especially if you can get a MGL. Try to hold out and see if he will give you peace soon.

Another good thing is that they are at war with the Aztecs - the other superpower in your game. Try to help the Aztecs out (this goes against what I dsaid previously, but you need it). Give them a RoP if they'll take it.

I think the next spoiler should be up soon, I don't know if you can post in it though.

@ Renata: Is there a way someone like Markus5 can post a save if they are midway through an era like this?

 

[Renata]

I'm not sure how, without spoiling either Markus (if he posts in the next thread) or other people (if he posts in this one). There has to be a break-off point somewhere. It didn't sound like he did have Steam, though.

Renata

 

[Markus5]

No. Only 3 turns into the IA. I'll stop posting, though. I'm running out of time anyway. I will probably resign, submit, and play vicariously through the others.

 

[Twonky]

Genghis: I gather that every civ on continent 2 is in IndAge, so they will have rifles. Giving saltpeter to Inca shouldn´t be too hard then. 60 gpt is a lot! It will hamper incan research and fuel yours. But be careful: the AI might try to avoid paymant - by attacking you...
If you have former arabian cities, see that Abu get´s out of the game to prevent flips and WW. If you can´t do it alone, try to persuade Henry to do it.
Maybe you could take on the Aztecs. Cavalry might be advisable for that. Once you have cleaned your backyard of nasty green, you might get a tech for peace. Afterwards, you can concentrate your troops on your northern front.

 

[Genghis069]

Twonky, thanks for the response.

Results: I ended up at war with the Aztecs... the following turn. Shortly thereafter, Inca and Portugal went at it, so I figured it was a safe time to trade him the Saltpeter. (Inca had LOTS of gold = easy upgrades to cavalry? That's what I was worried about most) Long story short, Aztecs triggered my GA and have been removed from my continent, and I researched most of the later-MA techs at 4 turns a piece. Arabia also jumped in against Portugal and got removed. The RNG has been kind this game...