Entry class: Open
Game status: Domination victory
Game date: 1872 AD
Firaxis score: 5169
Jason score: 4552
Time played: 56:18:57
Did I really spend 56 hours on this game? Uhhh, yeah, I guess I did.
So, I had entered the Industrial Age in 1420, nearly 500 years into the Second Egyptian War. Just before this, I had accepted an MPP with India and India joined in the war. The war continues, with one more massive barb uprising as a minor distraction. I capture Copernicus's Observatory and, regretfully, raze the city with the Great Library, as I'm razing most of the Egyptian cities due to a shortage of garrison troops. That does wonders for my slave workforce.
England allies with India against Egypt, but contributes little and makes a separate peace. Finally, with only one city left in 1565, I give Egypt peace for Medicine, Free Artistry, 8 GP and 3 GPT. India will conquer that last city in 1585.
I begin to plan my next campaign against England, when India, with our MPP still in force, signs an MPP with England in 1575. I do NOT want to war with India, whose army is larger than mine, with weapons I can only dream of.
I briefly consider switching from Monarchy to Democracy to try for the Space Ship, but I decide their tech lead is insurmountable and stay with Monarchy for the remainder of the game.
But patience pays off in 1660, when England--foolish, foolish England--declares war against me! And India honors our treaty with a DOW against England. Now this is more like it!
By 1752, I've finished off the English, with the India taking only two of their smaller towns.
The Hittites are the smallest remaining faction, so I look at making them my next target, when India gives them an MPP in 1762.
All right, then, I'll go for the Ottomans. And when I declare war in 1792, the Indians and Hittites join in. India also switches from Democracy to Fascism, slowing down their science
Again, I take most of the spoils. Once the Ottomans are driven off the eastern continent, I sign a peace treaty, in exchange for the three towns comprising the whole of the northernmost island, in 1816.
India has MI and Rocketry but hasn't started the UN, yet. I research Fission, thinking I might beat them to the UN. But in 1824, the same turn I start building it, so do they. They'll be faster, too, despite my having about 300 shield towards Battlefield Medicine when I switch production. I have to eliminate the threat of a UN vote in 16 turns...
India finishes the conquest of the Ottomans in 1828, but their MPP with the Hittites is over! I fail at planting a spy and the Hittite declare war. India declares war on them. By 1836, they're destroyed.
I lose one town in a culture flip but settle some more towns (following ICS spacing whenever possible for science farms) in unclaimed territory and push my territory up to 64% land / 73% population. Every land square is covered, but India only has 30% land! Where's the missing 6%??? Oh, land
and coast are counted for the domination limit.
I settle some more, wherever I can push the borders back a square or two. One more town flips to India, so I also rush build temples on the borders, even in preference to upgrading infantry to MI. India completes the UN in 1852, but there's no longer a third power to cast a tie-breaking vote.
And, in 1854, I finally have 66% land. The next turn should give me a domination victory. India renews its MPP with me. And immediately after that, the Indian ambassador hands me a DOW.
And an Indian blitzkrieg proceeds to take 15 of my towns and cities in one turn!
But that's their high water mark. I take back five in my counterattack, abandon a couple that are indefensible and then slowly proceed to roll them back in the following turns. Properly using artillery in the offensive, along with some tank armies, will make the difference against a computer player. Domination is achieved in 1872, with 66% land / 74% population.
Meanwhile, Delhi was up to 17,551 culture points, with India at 93,394, total. About ten more turns would have given them a 100K victory. This was cutting things close!
I had captured Alexandria with 4 spices and rushed a Temple and a Library to prevent it culture flipping...
