Emperor Cookbook Shaka

[Gumbolt]

In that case I'll do what I can do to get a save up tomorrow. As long as I don't manage to suicide myself somehow I'll definitely put the save up.

If things are that tough its not life threateningly important you do a round. Real life should come first. It is just a game right?

 

[Solon70]

Still haven't been able to squeeze my round in, but I'll definitely have it by Saturday afternoon. If you'd rather close the round earlier I won't be upset though.

 

[Gumbolt]

Still haven't been able to squeeze my round in, but I'll definitely have it by Saturday afternoon. If you'd rather close the round earlier I won't be upset though.

Thats not a problem. I have not played either yet. will do tomorrow. We will close the round then.

 

[Ambro]

If things are that tough its not life threateningly important you do a round. Real life should come first. It is just a game right?

Lol, I was on about suiciding my empire, not much point putting up a save if my civ is wiped out

Not to worry, that didn't happen and so I have attached my save.

Spoiler :

Reasonably happy with this one, although it was a fairly straight forward plan. Gear up for war, plough through what I could of the HRE and maintain what teching I could. I decide to use this as a test of binary science, so it was either all on or all off. I was quite impressed by how well that works, however it did require a bit more management than I am used to and probably took my mind off of a few other things I should have been keeping an eye on. I started the round by pushing units out while I teched up to metal casting for forges (this was before I decided to try out the on or off style of teching, believe I would have been better off building wealth and 100% teching metal casting first but I know to try that in the future). Built forges (another mistake here, with the spare workers I chopped a lot before forges were complete but I think forges increase chop hammers so should have waited). another tech mistake was not teching or trading for monotheism to get organised religion until the war was already in full flow (would have helped with all the forges).
Aroung 900AD I declare on Charlie and plough through his first city, I expected to have a slow start due to this city being on a hill, however I suffered only one casualty, had a lucky elephant retreat and had a unit not even get damaged. I should note here that I feel I got extremely lucky with combat results, maybe even too lucky as towards the middle of the war my economy was crashing due to the ridiculous amount of catapults I had (never seen so many escape from fights). I went to Augsburg next and this again fell easily (about 3 defenders) and after a short rest moved onto Vienna which only cost me a few catapults a couple of axes and a swordsman to take down against what I assumed was his main stack. This left me at about 1050AD and some cleaning up to do, I had promoted a unit to medic1 so it wouldn't take more than a couple of turns to get most of the stack moving again. I arrive outside of Aachen on 1080AD and proceed to beat down his cultural defence. On the turn of 1100AD he has been brought down to 2% city defence and has a second stack with which to defend (but it's small, weak and has no real counter to the elephants). I decided to leave it here so that everyone could take the initial attack on the city however they wanted if it's picked, there are spare promotions to take (some units I think are unpromoted so that they can be used however seems best, especially catas).
One note is that I gnored his smaller city on the way past, I can see what units he has there (3, nothing special) so I can react if he moves them out but it seemed like it would waste time to trudge over to it since it is rather insignificant. Once it is cut off and Charlamagne is on the ropes it should come to us easily as part of his capitulation I think.

Edit: One last note, I went for music as I noticed no civ had had a great artist when I checked the log. Won it and got my free great artist. This was a big boon as I saved it to use for a golden age just as the war was starting (after forges) to help prop up the economy and churn out the reinforcements for the expected ealry and mid war stalls. This is probably another reason why I was so overstaffed in my war cabinet.

 

[Ignorant Teacher]

I don't know if I'll be able to participate in all rounds / votes. If that's alright, here's my 1100AD save.

Spoiler :

Farmed all over the place. I saw Soirana didn't want us to be able to farm former Sumeria without attacking Kublai, which I didn't. I decided to tech now. One turn away from Liberalism thanks to three great scientist that came from caste + pacifism + golden age. I founded two more cities: one to get the iron near Kublai and the other 1N of the razed city north of Uruk. Judging by our continent, we may postpone lib and get something like steel. Both our neighbors are friendly and we are two universities short of starting Oxford. I completed the capital moving started by Kossin. There's a standing great scientist to bulb Chemistry if that's the case.

Capital:

Techs:

 

[huerfanista]

@Ambro:

Spoiler :

Good job taking the war to Charlie. Aachen can be taken for sure if we can do it before he moves a bunch more defenders in there. The economy is really in the toilet, though.

@Ignorant Teacher:

Spoiler :

Hey, who let a peacemonger in here? 13 axes, 2 impis, and a warrior - you call that a zulu army? Very nice job with tech, especially get those 3 GSs. To be able to bulb chemistry you'll need to research PP first, though. I don't know if it's worth taking a risk like that, you're more than 20 turns from being able to take steel from lib, and we have no idea what the rest of the world is doing. And yet another save where Charlie has failed to get a GP for the hindu shrine.

 

[Gumbolt]

@Ambro:

Spoiler :

Good job taking the war to Charlie. Aachen can be taken for sure if we can do it before he moves a bunch more defenders in there. The economy is really in the toilet, though.

@Ignorant Teacher:

Spoiler :

Hey, who let a peacemonger in here? 13 axes, 2 impis, and a warrior - you call that a zulu army? Very nice job with tech, especially get those 3 GSs. To be able to bulb chemistry you'll need to research PP first, though. I don't know if it's worth taking a risk like that, you're more than 20 turns from being able to take steel from lib, and we have no idea what the rest of the world is doing. And yet another save where Charlie has failed to get a GP for the hindu shrine.

Spoiler :

Have IT escorted out the building immediately!!! Playing peacefully with Shaka. Unheard of!!!

 

[Gumbolt]

Okies played out my round to 1100ad.

Spoiler :

Well our starting save was quite strong.

I basically teched out construction and built catapult and phants with a few impis to help take out keshiks.

My initial problem with Kk was his stack in his outter city. I allowed 3 turns for it to leave city wiping out 2 axes, a chariot and a spear. I lost a few units taking his first and second city. I whipped out a few phants and catapults for this task.

I reached karakorum with 5 units defending after my smallish stack had persuaded a few keshik to attack my stack. My phants got a bit lucky and took out his 1 longbow. My catapults weakened the remaining defenders and my phants finished off the capital. I was lucky that the capital kept its courthouse and had an academy. I took 145 gold for peace.

I traded philosphy away to both HRG and KK after I took peace. Taosim was founded in our lands.

Downside to attacking KK was he had LB defence. HRG annoyingly built a shrine 1-2 turns into my war. He didnt have archers at that point. There was a risk if he reached engineering I would be in trouble due to his UU.

Overall HRG is at friendly so wont DOW. KK is still pleased. I have the Great light house and a GS to use up towards liberalism.

Spoiler :

 

[Ignorant Teacher]

Come on people, Shaka has a gentle heart.

 

[Solon70]

To 1100 AD:

Spoiler :

As usual I seem to make war a little slower than the rest, particularly since medieval war is slowwwww. One thing I missed was the GG super-medic that I like to build.

Took KK's outer 2 cities, razed them both to rebuild in better spots. One is built, one is ready to be built next turn. It's finally going to be the GP farm I've been missing the whole time. WW is kind of sucking, can't get a good peace deal from KK though so no choice but to march on to the capital. I have plenty of units to take it in a few turns.

After researching Construction for a turn I was able to get it + archery + mono in a trade with Charlie. Aesthetics and Literature after that, built HE in Uruk. Philo->Compass->Machinery->Engineering, traded for MC somewhere in there.

As always this was a good learning experience for me!

 

[kossin]

@Ambro

Spoiler :

Nice alternative, good success against Charley there. Soirana really set the map well as now in either saves one of the other AIs is really big. I would not stagnate the Capital though.

@IT

Spoiler :

Another save 1 turn away from Liberalism, but you haven't given away all the techs to your neighbor like me Economy seems a bit low for a round focusing on it though? You could shift some units so that the Capital can use the corn and keep growing without happiness. Nice GS army though

@Gumbolt

Spoiler :

Nice early DoW on KK though. Economy is pretty good too. Lacks some irrigation though

@Solon70

Spoiler :

That's a lot of gold saved up that could be spent! Looks like you're the only one that razed KK's stupidly placed city too. Army is kinda small though.

It's interesting to see that HRE has got its shrine in some saves but not in others. It might make a difference come voting time.

 

[Gumbolt]

@Ambro

Spoiler :

Nice alternative, good success against Charley there. Soirana really set the map well as now in either saves one of the other AIs is really big. I would not stagnate the Capital though.

@IT

Spoiler :

Another save 1 turn away from Liberalism, but you haven't given away all the techs to your neighbor like me Economy seems a bit low for a round focusing on it though? You could shift some units so that the Capital can use the corn and keep growing without happiness. Nice GS army though

@Gumbolt

Spoiler :

Nice early DoW on KK though. Economy is pretty good too. Lacks some irrigation though

@Solon70

Spoiler :

That's a lot of gold saved up that could be spent! Looks like you're the only one that razed KK's stupidly placed city too. Army is kinda small though.

It's interesting to see that HRE has got its shrine in some saves but not in others. It might make a difference come voting time.

Does HRG having the shrine making it a better save or worse. With HRG UU a war would be tough without cannons.

Plus with shrne is you have a great capital to fund your nation and a great wall street site. Downside is HRG will be a tech powerhouse as he expands. I suspect whichever save is chosen one of KK or HRG will be serverely weakened.

 

[Gumbolt]

We will go ahead and vote for the next 2-3 days. Hopefully finish by Sunday/Monday or when all that have played have voted. Its not always about voting for the best save but the save that will be most interesting or challenging to play. Anyone that submitted a save is free to vote.

Please rank your top 3 in order.

First place 3 points.
Second place 2 points
Third place. 1 point.

PLEASE NOTE!! To keep voting fair you cant vote for your own save. You are expected to vote for 3 saves and give reasons for your voting. Remember this is a learning game. I would encourage everyone to act within the spirit that the cookbook is intended.

Anyway here are the saves:

Solon70

Gumbolt

Ignorant teacher

Ambrose

Heurfanista

Kossin

Cabert

MJG5591

Did nares post a save or did I miss this? Someone let me know! I think waiting 24 hours has allowed 2-3 more saves.

Voting will end on Monday 6pm GMT or at the point where everyone from this round has voted or there is a clear winner.

 

[kossin]

Does HRG having the shrine making it a better save or worse. With HRG UU a war would be tough without cannons.

Plus with shrne is you have a great capital to fund your nation and a great wall street site. Downside is HRG will be a tech powerhouse as he expands. I suspect whichever save is chosen one of KK or HRG will be serverely weakened.

Nah, Macemen get 50% odds in the open against them, more since we are Aggressive. If you're really concerned, a few Xbows will do the job. I'm more concerned about CGII-III Lbs en masse really.

 

[Gumbolt]

Nah, Macemen get 50% odds in the open against them, more since we are Aggressive. If you're really concerned, a few Xbows will do the job. I'm more concerned about CGII-III Lbs en masse really.

I hadnt even considered his pesky LB. At present i think HRG is friendly on most saves so would not attack. Even KK is pleased on my save.

Do they attack at pleased or friendly? HRG is hardly a great teching AI.

 

[kossin]

20/60/100/100

I think the quickest (in turns) way to win this game will be Domination again. Capitulating KK and HRE should be possible and from there we can whoever else is out there (given they're not Monty/Ragnar/Alex ).

 

[kossin]

Anyway, my votes:

1. Gumbolt - GLH for solid economy, Liberalism likely secured, good diplo, army spent though.
2. IT - The only peaceful round. Maybe not the strongest but interesting for certain. Liberalism 1 turn from completion.
3. Ambro - went after HRE and Aachen can be captured this turn. Does not have the Shrine unfortunately but The Colossus so it'll help the Economy.

 

[Gumbolt]

Anyway, my votes:

1. Gumbolt - GLH for solid economy, Liberalism likely secured, good diplo, army spent though.
2. IT - The only peaceful round. Maybe not the strongest but interesting for certain. Liberalism 1 turn from completion.
3. Ambro - went after HRE and Aachen can be captured this turn. Does not have the Shrine unfortunately but The Colossus so it'll help the Economy.

I think if you tech philosphy first its always a good sign. In all fairness we had such a strong save from last round I would expect most to get liberalism. Question is what have soirana done to the other AI. From the pictures perhaps he has let one Ai expand into a huge empty land mass. Either that or put a few financial Ai like Vikings somewhere.

 

[Solon70]

There were a number of late decisions in my save that I would have left for the next player in a SG, but probably should have just gone ahead and made in this situation. As Kossin noted, I have a bunch of gold (mostly failure gold on Shwedagon Paya) and it's would pay for some nice upgrades prior to continuing the war against KK. Charlie is willing to trade some techs but I was reluctant to help him out as I founded Tao and figure I probably have a Lib lead still.

Hard to figure out exactly where I should have improved this round. One is that I definitely should have found a way to generate a GP, even though none of my cities seemed to have an awesome food surplus. Another is that I should have taken a closer look at KK's cities before building my stack, as I probably built too many cats (not real useful against someone who tends to defend with 2 LBs).

 

[mjg5591]

My votes

1. Kossin - Again best save I can see. Has KK capital and few other cities. Irragated Nodwenga and eridu. KK is far from ENG a counter for our WE. 1 turn to lib also.

2. Cabert - Even though he doesn't have capital and left workers idle. Has Colussus and some nice trades with Charlie. Teching education and should win LIB.

3. IT - Peaceful game. Both KK and Charlie friendly with us. Looks like a Diplo win this way. He is 2 Universities from OU. 1 turn from Lib. Building UoS in Uruk could help tech rate also. Downside he has no army, but if both neighbor's friendly he doesn't need one.

I might have put Ambro here but Charlie is close to teching ENG and his UU. This will halt the war IMO. Also no Hindu shrine.