COTM54 - First Spoiler

[civ_steve]

COTM 54 First Spoiler - the Ancient Age!

Reading Requirements

1. You must have contact with all remaining civs on your continent.
2. You must be able to research a Middle Age technology.

Posting Restrictions

• Please be discreet about off-continent AI locations; however, feel free to discuss contacts and trades.
• No discussions of the middle ages (or later)
• No screenshots of any middle-age (or later) resources.
• Absolutely NO discussion of any other currently active 'X'OTM!

Lots of floodplains (and food) in the starting location. Where did you found and why? There's a lot of civs on your starting landmass - did they put the pressure on you or were you able to expand and establish your empire?

 

[LTJG Perry]

COTM 54 1st spoilr
Conquest?

4000 Settled in place, because I just usually do if it's any kind of a decent spot. Worker to r+i wheat, research writing.
Rome built warrior,settler,wa,wa,s,s,s,s
Met Arabs and Carth very soon, but no trades.
Since it looked like it was crowded, and I had no plans to get to Hospitals, I went for a CxC RCP1. In 3050, I founded Veii at 2N. It builds only workers for a long time. Antium at 2W in 2470, builds warrior,brax, archers and spears.

Carth got writing 3 turns ahead of me, and they are at war with Arabs. I trade writing and 65g and 1gpt to Arabs for BW and Masonry.

In 2190, founded Cumae at 2E, currag, harbor, then various. 1870, Neapolis at 2S, temple, rushed at the end because Carth borders were close by.

In 1790, I was first to Phil, and picked Lit as my free Tech, to increase the chance someone builds the GrLib close to me. A short while later we met China and Germany and traded for 7 more techs. Barbs sunk my 1st Currag; it was the only time they were ever a problem.

By 1000 I had 1 settler, 5 workr, 6 warrior, 2 archr, 2 spear, 1 galley. pop26 in 8 towns.

The Settler went to found a city on a *lux* *somewhere*, and the galley taking him was disbanded to start the harbor.

In 690 BC, I was 1st to Republic, made some good trades with that, and immediately revolted, In 610, the Imperial Senate met for the first time.

Arabs build the Gr Lib in Mecca.

Researched Currency, which traded to Arabs for Poly, and to China for Ivory and Iron, and started in on Engineering. It is 450BC.

Plans are to RoP Carthage, build my awesome Legions with Chinese Iron, and whoop it up on Arabs until they are left with Mecca only, so I can grab the GrLib at the most opportune time.

 

[axehaxe]

Doing Well!! Doing Well!!

Open Class. I had 9 cities when I was hemmed in but soon rushed and completely owned the Arabs, they had 5 cities left when I signed peace with them.

Moderator Action: I've deleted these details, as I believe they are beyond the spoiler limit for this thread. Please post them in the second spoiler.

 

[Sima Qian]

Settled NE of the hill at the mouth of the river, got Colossus in 1575 BC, GLib 210 AD. I'm rather annoyed that Abu decided to settle right next to my border and seize two incense that I would otherwise be able to trade.

Importing iron from China allowed me to upgrade some warriors to legionaries, but no plans to use them for a GA yet. It'll get tricky later on, unless I manage to get a Mil wonder somewhere (universal suffrage might be an option, it was how I got my GA in GOTM83).

The continent seems rather crowded -- 6 civs on the same landmass means it'll be quite a bloodbath as the game progresses.

 

[templar_x]

Doing Well!! Doing Well!!

great your game is going good, but might it be that you spoil just a bit too much information for now?

 

[axehaxe]

Oops! Sorry bout that...

 

[Northen Wolf]

Settled next to mountain (moved two tiles). Owned Arabs, they got 3 cities left and gained acess to horses and iron. carthage is kinda threat, chinese got owned by germans who now own 15 cities, I own 14, but

I got 1 archer army, 1 legionair army + lost 1 archer army to babs (they attacked army on grassland tile ). Going fine I assume but behind of computers by 1 tech (mediveal freebe) + bad economical situation (most towns were found durning war).

Oh and germans are trying to reach me for last 1000+ years now I finally see their first unit...

 

[Kulko]

I settled in place, put out a settler early then set up the 4 turner. I was able to settle all the arable area between the river and the western coast/mountain range. All city but Rome on full archer mode with 2 or 3 galley in between to get the missing contacts.

Got the slingshot and drew 5 turn anarchy. Arabia had settle the eastern desert by then so they were a natural first target. I easily conquered all the remaining terrain south of the Arab Mountains including the town by the Horses and Iron.

Soon after I was the first to reach the MA where I will switch to an Army of HM --> Knights --> Cav and conquer the world.

The AIs are behaving quite nicely so far, China killing Arab, Germany killing China, Persia and India are peaceful and slightly backwards and Carthage is just siiting there in their ironless peninsula and waiting for my knights.

 

[The Professor]

Settled in place. Built Warrior-Settler-granary-Settler-Settler-....
Started Writing at Minimum; traded for CB, Mysticism & the Wheel.
Researched Philosophy at Maximum. Traded it to Germany for Polytheism, and get Monarchy as free tech. Use Philosophy to trade for every other known tech on the continent. Immediately revolted to Monarchy. This is the first time I've ever pulled off the Monarchy slingshot--much less on Demi-God, so I was impressed with myself. Got the nice four-turn Settler factory in the capital, but I'm still being out-expanded by the AI, so I am now in my first war (with Germany) and expect there will be more in the near future.

 

[greatbeyond]

Open class, goal as yet undecided

It seems there is quite a variation in AI responses, add to it the mistake of hitting the space bar when the Settler was highlighted means skipping a turn on Demigod. Not the smartest thing.

Settled in place, even though it's raging Barbs, Settler first, then Archer.
Then it's Settler X3, a Warrior in the new city, and an Archer, then Settler X3 and a Curraugh. I think, I've got a good piece of the pie even though Carthage has settled two cities south of me before they could be blocked and Arabia has settled two cities in the desert. I never see a single Barb, ever!

Research Writing, going for the Philo Sling
1st Settler goes east to the mouth of the river and starts Warrior
I don't meet anyone until the Archer is done and I wonder if we're alone?
Meet Carthage and the next turn, Arabia. I meet China a couple of turns later and trade them Alpha for Pottery and some gold. I wait a couple of turns before trading Writing . Both Carthage and Arabia have lots of other techs. A few turns later when I'm ready to trade (checking MapStat every turn) Carth and Arabia both get Writing the same turn. Is there another Civ they know that I don't? I trade Writing for BW, CB, and gold. A while later my Carrack survives a sea voyage and meets another Civ who eliminates a rival within a few turns.
The Arabs have built a couple of wonders and their culture is already overtaking my two border cities. A short time later the city between my capitol and their border flips. YGTBFKM! A couple of turns later , the next city north of there flips. @#%^#&*^$&%&# . At this rate my capitol should flip in another 10 turns.
I try to start a Galley chain and loose the 1st Galley and the second with a Settler and Archer. I finally meet the Germans and make a minor trade, and hear rumors of a scourge sweeping the north from the sea.

I get to 1T left on Philo and it appears the others are going a different route, I switch to researching COL and when it's done expect to switch back to Philo, only to find that Tech rot has moved me back to 9 turns away from Philo. I lose the race to the Arabs by 3 turns and now I'm about to explode. I've never seen tech rot happen so quickly. Perhaps it speeds up at the higher levels. I finish Philo then continue to The Republic, after trading COL and Philo which gets me most techs except Currency, Construction, and Poly. The Arabs beat me to Republic and I'm thinking, can I just capitulate to them now? I get the Republic and trade it away. Shortly thereafter Carthage DOWs Arabia and I see some hope. I know Arabia has Iron but I can't see it. The rest of the world I've explored doesn't seem to have any available. So, it's build Archers in a hurry. Seven turn anarchy doesn't help one bit and I'm afraid the war will be over before I can get any benefit. I ally China for techs to give Arabia something more to think about. Eventually I retake the two cities that flipped and realize that the city Carthage just captured just to the west was the iron city. The Arabian Archers and Spears have been praying to the RNG gods and I lose my easternmost city to a sneak attack, take it back, lose lit, take it back , then lose twice to a 2/3 and then 2/4 Archer attacker. Disaster after disaster mounts. The Carthaginians make peace with Abu. Can I continue and get a win. I have to bite the bullet and get Abu's last two cities in a peace deal. The Chinese with their Ancient Cavalry are about to eliminate the last Arabian city. At least the Carthaginians and I are on good terms. Hannibal would never betray a good friend, right?

 

[Scratcher]

@ Greatbeyond. When you change research from one tech to another the science beakers you have accrued on the first tech are lost and you start your research on the second tech from scratch.....but I like the term "Tech Rot"

You can also use the clear map function (in the top left corner of the screen) to see where resources are hiding.

I hope you don't give up on this game. I think you have already learnt some valueable lessons and look forward to hearing how you manage with Carthage and the Chinese.

 

[pol1]

IIRC Ctrl+Shift+M clears the map.
note that You can choose what will be removed in map settings (or in similar menu).

about RNG... i believie i've seen in this game Arabs' archer that was attacked by Chineese AC, won the battle and then killed another AC that had attacked him in the interturn... ehm...

 

[Yilar]

I submitted a QSC

So I will try to give a quick run down.

I started off going to fp wheat irragating it, first build was worker, then granny. I mined the oasis/sugars quickly afterwards to etabalish 4 turn settler pump. size 5-> 6

Timeline:
4000BC found Rome
3550BC Meet Carthage
3350BC Researched Pottery, begin writing
3100BC Meet arabs
2850BC Finish Granary
2630BC found Veii
2390BC found Antium
2230BC found Cumae
2110BC found Neapolis
1950BC Researched writing, begin code of laws
1870BC found Pompeii
1790BC found Pisae
1525BC found Ravenna
1500BC Researched Code of Laws, begin philosophy
1500BC Meet China
1500BC Trade Code of Laws for Bronze Working, Masonry, The Wheel, Warrior code, Ceremonial Burial, Iron Working and Horseback riding (who needs research eh? )
1475BC found Hispalis
1350BC Researched Philosophy, get The Republic, switch to republic (6t anarchy).
1350BC trade Philosophy for map making, begin research on mathematics (even though arabs and germans got it)
1100BC Researched Mathematics, in retrospect I should have gone for poly, I gifted the germans poly later , began researching currency afterwards.

Didn't have room for more cities after Hispalis

QSC stats:
9 Cities
35 pop
10 Workers
11 Archers (went to war with Arabs in 975BC )
1 Curragh
4 Barracks
2 Granaries

 

[Più Freddo]

_1 City
10 Towns
35 Citizens
_2 Barracks
_2 Luxuries
13 Workers
_1 Warrior
_4 Archers
_1 Curragh
_4 Contacts
All AA Technologies except Monarchy and Literature

 

[Più Freddo]

Predator Class
Going for a Domination Victory

Rome was founded in 4000 BC and was developed to produce six-turn
Settlers without a Granary using the Wheat tile, two Flood Plains
tiles and three Sugar tiles. Build order was Wealth, Worker, Warrior
and Settlers, the first of which came on growth to size 5.

4000 BC Found Rome
2750 BC Found Veii
2470 BC Found Antium
2150 BC Found Cumae
1990 BC Found Neapolis
1725 BC Found Pompeii
1700 BC Connect Incense
1600 BC Connect Silks
1525 BC Found Pisae
1425 BC Found Ravenna
1200 BC Found Hispalis​

Veii was founded to the north and built three Warriors, a Worker and
then started the Forbidden Palace, which was not finished in the
Ancient Age. Antium was a Worker pump. Pompeii built a Curragh for
explorations.

Rome having no need for Pottery, research went directly over Writing
towards Philosophy and The Republic.

4000 BC Discover Alphabet
2310 BC Discover Writing
1675 BC Discover Code of Laws
1675 BC Learn Warrior Code
1675 BC Learn The Wheel
1675 BC Learn Pottery
1675 BC Learn Masonry
1675 BC Learn Iron Working
1675 BC Learn Horseback Riding
1675 BC Learn Ceremonial Burial
1675 BC Learn Bronze Working
1500 BC Discover Philosophy
1500 BC Discover The Republic
1275 BC Learn Map Making
1150 BC Discover Currency
1150 BC Learn Polytheism
1150 BC Learn Construction​

The Roman Empire had to cave in to demands from Arabia just before
entering its six turns of pre-republican anarchy.

3500 BC Meet Carthage
3050 BC Meet Arabia
1550 BC Peace Arabia 20
1500 BC Establish Anarchy in-turn 6
1350 BC Establish Republic
1275 BC Meet China
1150 BC Meet Germany They discover Engineering
1150 BC Enter Middle Ages​

At this point, a horde of Archers is being collected, which is going
to take the near-by Arab Horses and Iron city and allow Rome to start
building Horsemen and then Knights. Literature is being researched
with the aim of getting to Military Tradition as soon as possible.

 

[I. Larkin]

1500 BC Discover Philosophy
1500 BC Discover The Republic

How you get Republic without CoL?

 

[Yilar]

Look again, CoL is above all the other crap techs at 1675BC. He traded code away for them, just like I did.

 

[Andronicus]

Not much notes from AA.
Settled on spot. Built warrior, warrior, worker, settler, granary, settlers
Research writing on min, allowed me to buy a few slaves.
Veii to west built warrior, worker, granary, workers (2 turn WF). Later built FP once hills mined
Bad luck drawing 2 pop loss to flood plains twice -> upset my 4 turn SF, fortunately after I had completed granary.
Good luck getting booted east from German territory to adjacent Scandinavia. They had writing and I still had 6 (I think) turns to go. Nobody else had writing and Scandinavia only knew Germany with whom they were at war. A trade for techs the others had, netted me all the gold and techs on the continent.
Next researched phil hoping AI would first get CoL or poly. Got a scare when China got lit several turns before I got phil - they would have beaten me if they went phil first.
Phil in 1600BC sev turns after poly avail, so trade for poly and get free monarchy - revolt for 4 turn anarchy. Monarchy for rest of game.
Sorely tempted to resist Arab extortion in 1525BC (they demanded 32g despite my owing them 27gpt as payment for poly), but few units and in anarchy so caved in.
Researched currency in 1000BC trading it for construction, CoL and spare cash to enter MA in 925BC

1000BC stats
10 towns
32 pop
1 settler, 13 workers, 1 warrior, 1 archer, 2 legionaries, 1 curragh
2 granaries, 4 rax, 1 temple (to culture steal iron from Arabs)
2 lux plus iron hooked up
5 contacts
Aim - build up force of legionaries to start on nearby AI, use GA to speed research to knights, then switch off research.

 

[Neo666]

Open, going for domination

Settled in place and started researching Writing on max. Build order was warrior, warrior, worker, settler, granary, 4 turn SF.

The first warrior went scouting, meeting Carthage and Arabia fairly quickly with which I traded Pottery (my only trade before I discovered CoL). The warrior eventually met Scandinavia in 1450BC as the last civ on our island.

Research
2230BC: Discover Writing
1475BC: Discover Code of Laws
1475BC: Learn BW, Masonry, The Wheel, CB, IW, Mysticism, Maths, HbR.
1375BC: Discover Philosophy
1375BC: Discover Republic
1375BC: Learn MM and Poly
1000BC: Discover Currency
1000BC: Learn Construction

After reaching the MA in 1000BC I gifted the Germans whom discovered Engineering, I didn’t trade for it as they were asking 2 much.

1000BC stats:
_1 City
9 Towns
36 Citizens
_5 Barracks
_2 Luxuries
13 Workers
_4 Warrior
10 Archers
_1 Curragh
_5 Contacts