CTIV-2: The Money Game

[ChrTh]

This may be the easiest 10 turns ever.

...

Yep, it is. On Turn 10, the Workboat is built on the Crabs. No other borders seen. Settler due next turn, Mathematics due in 5.

Here's the save:
View attachment 108443

Roster:
Conroe
Bede
ChrTh -- Easiest 10 Ever
afpunk -- UP!
Methos -- On Deck

 

[afpunk]

I've got it. Before I play, I'd like some more input on the 2nd city placement. From what I can tell we have
ChrTh->One N of Blue Dot
Bede->No preference
Conroe->Blue dot
Methos->?
myself->I tend to think the blue dot is the best spot, given the reasons cited by Conroe.

If Methos or anyone else has any more input on this, I'd be glad to hear it before I play.

 

[ChrTh]

I've got it. Before I play, I'd like some more input on the 2nd city placement. From what I can tell we have
ChrTh->One N of Blue Dot
Bede->No preference
Conroe->Blue dot
Methos->?
myself->I tend to think the blue dot is the best spot, given the reasons cited by Conroe.

If Methos or anyone else has any more input on this, I'd be glad to hear it before I play.

I'm not opposed to blue dot, I was just wondering if the spot 1N might be better. Conroe provided good arguments against that.

BTW, we'll need to build the Panama Canal in the north between the two fishes ...

 

[Bede]

The only compelling reason I see to go 1N of BD is the canal. But if we put the canal on the icy wastes then we accomplish the same thing.

 

[afpunk]

Agreed on the canal point--blue dot it is.

 

[Conroe]

The only compelling reason I see to go 1N of BD is the canal. But if we put the canal on the icy wastes then we accomplish the same thing.

Regardless of the decision on blue dot, I think we need an icy wastes canal. I would suggest the spot between the two fish, maybe even 1N or 1S of the fish.

As for blue dot, we now know more about our map since I originally proposed blue dot. While I still like blue dot, I think I should point out that it will have a single tile, a plains hill, on that southern island. We will need to send a worker to mine that one hill. Then, will BD have enough food to work that hill and still allow growth? I don't recall off the top of my head how much food a pig pen will generate; if it's 4f, then no problems.

EDIT: does the location of blue dot impact our colonization of the southern island? Or do we know enough about the map yet to make an intelligent decision about that island?

 

[afpunk]

2200BC
Everything looks as good as it can be at the moment.

2160BC
Settler finishes, and starts a trek towards the blue dot. Beijing resumes work on the workboat in Queue. This brings up an interesting problem. We have horses in range that, if improved, would help production greatly. However, a worker would not have much else to do besides that, until the pigs are in our second city's borders. I decide to hold off on the worker. Varient rules make normally easy decisions quite difficult.

2080BC
Math comes in, and we start on Currency. Our settler gets into position and founds Shanghai. Shanghai starts on a warrior.

1840BC
Workboat finishes in Beijing. Barracks was next in the queue. Given that the city will grow in 2 turns, I let it go to put at least those into the barracks, then a decision regarding a settler or worker can be made.

I would suggest settling the canal city somewhat soon. We will need a larger military though, either to defend the city or to clear up that icy fog. Good luck, this looks to be a fun and challenging start.

In response to Conroe: The square that Shanghai will have on the southern island is actually a desert hill. Still, it could produce 3 hammers if need be. And yes, pigs are a good food resource. Once it has a pasture, that square will be 6 food. Sheep and cow split their food increase with commerce and production, respectively.

Our growing empire:

Edit to include that pesky save.

Second Edit to address Conroe's edit:
The southern island is pretty....poor. Its all desert and desert/hill except for 1 tile. We can probably put 1 fishing village down there, and that's it. We have exhausted our good city positions already, it appears. We need to find some land, hopefully to the east.

Yet another edit for a picture showing what I mean...you can't even get both sea food resources in the same city, and to get the fish, you have to forfeit the 1 plains square. Its pretty bad...

 

[ChrTh]

Roster:
Conroe -- On Deck
Bede
ChrTh
afpunk -- Just finished
Methos -- UP

That southern island is pretty bad...a lighthouse, though, should salvage it enough that it can grow, even if it can't build anything until Slavery.

 

[afpunk]

Two things to add.

Yeah, the southern isle can support a half decent city...Its just a shame that 5 of the 6 tiles are realllly weak.

If I happen to come up before Monday, I'll need a skip. Merry Christmas, happy holidays, have a great weekend, and whatever other well wishes I missed.

 

[Methos]

Got it....

 

[ChrTh]

Gang,

There's a new patch out. (Marathon speed?!?) I'm upgrading my PC today, so when it gets back to me we'll be on 1.52 (if you upgrade before it gets back to me, let everyone know).

 

[Methos]

As I mentioned in Meth01 I won't be upgrading until I finish GOTM1 due to this statement made by Gyathaar about GOTM1 and the patch. Since I'm up now this shouldn't be a problem but may if I haven't finished GOTM by the time my turn comes back around. I have off until January 3rd so should (hopefully) be able to finish GOTM1 by than. If not, apparently I'm not being lazy enough during my time off!

 

[Methos]

I won't be able to play this until early tomorrow morning. I hope that's okay.

 

[ChrTh]

Not a problem, it's the holidays.

 

[Methos]

Turn 55 (1800 BC)
Methos: I don't see anything specific for the workboat so decide to use him to do a little scouting. It appears he can still explore to the northeast.
Beijing grows: 5

Turn 56 (1760 BC)

Turn 57 (1720 BC)
Shanghai finishes: Warrior

Turn 58 (1680 BC)
Shanghai begins: Warrior
Methos: Man, Shanghai doesn't really have anything worth building.
Judaism founded in a distant land

Turn 59 (1640 BC)

Turn 60 (1600 BC)
Shanghai grows: 2

Turn 61 (1560 BC)
Beijing grows: 6

Turn 62 (1520 BC)
Methos: Beijing is at max happiness and health. I MM to increase research and stunt growth.
Methos: Our exploring workboat has found another small landmass within reach.

Turn 63 (1480 BC)
Beijing finishes: Barracks
Shanghai finishes: Warrior

Turn 64 (1440 BC)
Beijing begins: Library
Shanghai begins: Worker
Shanghai begins: Barracks

Turn 65 (1400 BC)
Beijing begins: Settler
Beijing begins: Library

Several options we have here. As you noticed in my turn log a new habitable landmass has been found and is within reach of ancient age ships. IMO after Currency we need to make our one off-shoot to Sailing to pick up both the galley and lighthouse.

Here’s a snap shot of the nearby landmass:

Here’s the 1400 BC save.

Roster:
ChrTh
afpunk
Methos- Just Played
Conroe- Up
Bede

 

[Conroe]

Got It.

With this being Christmas Eve, I don't see how I will be able to play it today. I think if my wife caught me playing I would quickly find out that I'm married to Lorena Bobbit! A theory I would rather not test ...

Merry Christmas!

 

[ChrTh]

Got It.

With this being Christmas Eve, I don't see how I will be able to play it today. I think if my wife caught me playing I would quickly find out that I'm married to Lorena Bobbit! A theory I would rather not test ...

Merry Christmas!

Well, after she goes to sleep tonight, tell her you have to stay up late to wait for Santa

 

[Methos]

I'm patched now.

 

[ChrTh]

Conroe, any updates?

 

[Conroe]

Sorry for the delay in getting my turn done.

In looking over the save, it appears that this will be an uneventful 10 turns. No production is scheduled to complete nor any research during this turnset. I do, however, spot what appears to be some borders south of the southern island.

Turn 0 1400BC - Everything looks good. I press Enter.
Turn 1 1360BC - MM Beijiing to halt growth (city is maxed out) and emphasize commerce.
Turn 2 1320BC -
Turn 3 1280BC -
Turn 4 1240BC -
Turn 5 1200BC - fiddle with the MM some more. Currency is due in 4 turns. The library will be complete in 8 turns. I'm kind of wondering if I shouldn't be starting a settler for the next person.
Turn 6 1160BC -
Turn 7 1120BC -
Turn 8 1080BC - Shanghai grows to pop 3.
Turn 9 1040BC - Currency is learned and the first beeline is now complete. Our second beeline is for Banking. I, instead, opt for the optional Sailing.
Turn 10 1000BC -

As expected, everything was uneventful. Too uneventful, I think. Have we seen a single barbarian, yet? The tech tree is starting to look a little better. With this beeline, we will be picking up some useful worker techs.