Took my shoot at the Gauntlet for the first time.. first time deity, epic and Siam too!
No rerolls, first map = first go. The starting location was rather decent, marble, diamonds, wheat and fishes, with (double) cotton looming to the north. Except all plains and just a short river, decided to settle on the west coast.
It went nicely, had three tall, coastal cities in good spots (spare luxuries to trade around) that were also choke points into my domain, with beastly Gandhi beyond mountains to the east and Germany to the north; two regular CS allies, one friend.
One peculiarity at start was when I paid 500g around turn 34 for alliance with Genoa that had whales my cities desired - triple checked the amount before paying and it said 60 influence, great! But after purchase only got 59/60. Trolled me good! Sold the cotton couple turns later and paid the rest of missing influence for growth bonus.
Haven't bothered with any wonders except for Notre Dame - AI completed on the same turn as me, but obviously didn't get it. No problem, was still 10 happiness ahead, I just hoped it'd free up some luxuries for trade and RAs.
Been friends with pretty much everyone on the map, at one point Germany asked me to join war against much larger Egypt that was on the other side of his borders, so I politely asked for 10 turns rather than pissing on our relationship. Meanwhile God-Emperor Gandhi with his 11-something cities declared on Germany and soon my lands swarmed with rushing catapults and elephants. I thought Germany's done for, so when the time came to "kick it off" I picked "changed my mind" middle finger option..
Bismarck was not too pleased, which eventually has led to a war around turn 190 that lasted til 203. Gandhi's horde stopped at one, smallest city of Germany, swarming in awe around double cattle.. completly ignoring Bismarck's troops marching south at me.
Third city settled on choke of coast and pure hills, allowed me to butcher 6 of his landsknechts that tried to come across the water while his catapults camped on hills. Two veteran archers and two pikemen held their ground against entire German army and almost won. His last melee was down to two hp, 1/3 on my city def, one archer and two pikemen of mine still alive, about to down that knecht and another catapult.. and bam! My city has been conquered by said half-dead landsknecht and remaining pikemen ended being pushed into a corner, sandwiched between German army and couple trolling indian elpehants.
With my remaining forces gone, I've whimpered GG and went to bed. Time for a take two :S
~D~
and a Medieval tech with the GL, so I'm not entirely sure it's worth building. The way I see it, popping a pair of ruins techs is usually as good as or better than the GL on Deity, and that's not out of the question in an isolated corner.
