We're obviously in a strong position on turn 70. We still have a number of chariots and the economy is doing just fine. I was inspired by the recent Immortal game with Ramesses to abuse the WCs just a little more. I checked in on Zara to make sure this was feasible and, sure enough, Gondar is very lightly defended.
Rome is no threat now, so there's no need to finish him off just yet. I debated all three options -- stay at war, cease fire, and peace treaty. In the end, I decided the techs were valuable enough that having to re-declare on people's friend later and having to wait ten turns would be worth it.
I already had 7 chariots ready to go, so I 1-pop whipped four more in the former Roman empire. 11 should be enough for what I want to accomplish. The northern cities are so heavily whipped already that I can't afford to whip there and instead focus on growing. Also, Fred adopted Hinduism. So in order to help those relationships a little bit, I convert as well.
Question: Fred doesn't have currency yet, so I can't beg gold. But if I research archery, for example, to almost complete can I beg for the rest of it? It's equivalent to asking for 20g yes? So should work.
Question: Do techs begged in this way count in the WFYABTA limit?
I don't think of this at the time and Fred falls back to Cautious. He has no troops on my borders. So if Zara bribes him I'll have time to whip a few axes and archers for defense.
I prepare the troops around Egypt. Also notice the Roman workers. They'll be mine soon enough.
War declared and I move in for the city annexation. So lightly defended it's almost a joke. Even if he emergency whips a spear I'll have more than enough units.
He whips an axe instead. Very poor choice Zara. I sacrifice a WC to weaken the archer and then take the city.
I press ahead immediately on the capital and find it, too, available.
No more units come the next turn fram Zara so I don't wait for mine either and attack. Got a little lucky and survive the first attack on the archer. And the city is captured.
He won't give me poly. But I'm broke and out of units so take peace. A quick little war that essentially knocks Zara out of contention and gets me two very nice cities.
No Hindu shrine. But I might build it later. I have the Oracle earning me prophet points in Aksum and can build an Obelisk -- a building whose prophet slots I almost never use, so that could be fun. Probably not worth it though.
Question: What do you think? Try and get a GP for the Hindu shrine?
I move the troops around to re-declare on Rome. In the meantime I get this complete gift:
Yes please. Happy to help!
Perfect timing: the turn before the treaty ends JC prepares a settler party.
Two cities fall on the first turn.
Elsewhere in the empire I "steal" a forest from Isabella. Creative coming in useful.
And the war ends:
Except it doesn't! Because two turns previously Rome must have captured a barb city. I'm not in the mood to go find it. So I take peace for Maths.
And it turns out Maths is a monopoly tech. On turn 84!
I raised the small Roman city as it had no food. Perhaps that's a mistake as it means people can annoyingly settle down there. But whatever.
Question: Keep the city on the coast?
I have just enough chariots left for garrison duty. I'm finished with granaries almost everywhere. The empire has 14 cottages, 5 hamlets, and 1 village and is growing on to more every turn.
Hindu spreading organically:
I think going for Mono and OR makes sense. I can then put some super powered OR + marble chops into the Parthenon and the HE and NE for fail gold.
Priorities are Mono, Lit, and Currency. I may go straight to music and then trade for Currency. Not sure. A great artist GA + starving out three scientists sounds good. Early cuirs look very possible here.