Geezers WOTM03

[Sam_Yeager]

I like the idea of the archer rush first off. For all we know, there aren't any metals right by us for axemen in any case. Perhaps we end up taking out one civ with archers and the next with gallics.

I've checked in the XML and the AI get archery as a free tech at monarch. I really do think that researching archery would be a waste of beakers at this stage, unless we find we're next to a maniac like Monty. If we find no copper nearby then it might be worth getting it then whilst we wait for IW. I'm pretty certain that there will be some metal nearby although not necessarily copper.

 

[AgedOne]

I've checked in the XML and the AI get archery as a free tech at monarch. I really do think that researching archery would be a waste of beakers at this stage, unless we find we're next to a maniac like Monty. If we find no copper nearby then it might be worth getting it then whilst we wait for IW. I'm pretty certain that there will be some metal nearby although not necessarily copper.

Ohh! Yes, you're right. I was just playing a monarch level game and everyone I met already had archers wandering about.

Another thought. This is a rocky map. It could mean (tho not definitely) that we'll meet a lot more cities on hills than we would normally. We'll need something better than archers to topple them. In fact (thinking again) if they've got promoted archers fortified in hill-top cities from the outset, just how are we going to get rid of them?? We'd have to wait until cats - and that's goodbye to our early rush.


But we need an early rush to gain living-space - or so we imagine. Maybe we just need a lot of gallics.

But you've convinced me. We go for BW, not archery.

 

[Harbourboy]

Can we do the first scout move anyway?

 

[AgedOne]

Can we do the first scout move anyway?

Absolutely! We need the roster, and the first player to make move 1 and show/tell the rest what they see.
(I can't volunteer to be player 1 as I'm off to work soon. Won't be back for about 12 hours)

 

[markh]

I think the scouting moves anybody can do. I am at work now, so I cannot do it for the next 10 hours.

You ask for a roster ? Here it is :

Roster :

AgedOne
Harbourboy
Erik
Sam
Mark

 

[Harbourboy]

I can do it. Any strong views on where to move him (or her)?

 

[Harbourboy]

So, what do we think?

 

[Sam_Yeager]

So, what do we think?

Underwhelmed. I think we might as well settle where we are. We'll probably need a city by the coast at some point but it doesn't need to be now.

 

[markh]

Hm, In the West we have coast. In the East it looks like even more jungle.

The original spot has corn, cows, 3 spices, hills and forests for chops. Not bad. However it is 3 tiles from the coast which will not be optimal if we want to squeeze in another city to the West, but it seems like the best spot to settle.

 

[Harbourboy]

Settle where we are, or where we started off? Doesn't seem to make that much difference. Development of the spices are a long way off. Shall I do anything more or just load up the save for AgedOne to pick up?

 

[markh]

If we settle where he stands I do not think that we will settle a city at the coast as teh distance will be just two tiles. If we go to the original position we will have the option to settle a city at the coast with distance 2 to the capital.

Both is fine with me, although I would settle where he stands not to waste another turn.

I do not think that you need to upload the save. AgedOne can just move the units as you did and go on IMO.

 

[Harbourboy]

It's so weird not playing with the HoF mod.

 

[erikthecelt]

I think AgedOne should post a summary of what he intends to do before he plays. What are the priorities? Do we grow asap, build the warrior asap or tech as quickly as we can. Are we working the corn (growth) the forest (warrior) or the lake (tech).
Have we agreed on a build and how many turns AgedOne will play?
When does he play to, first contact or first tech or first build or 10 moves?

Why the haste? I thought this was a practice round to work out the posting and focus issues. I didn't think we had agreement on where to move the scout. I also thought the plan was to move the scout and then discuss whether to move the settler? I don't see any shots of the scout move or discussion of the settler move.

 

[markh]

Why the haste? I thought this was a practice round to work out the posting and focus issues. I didn't think we had agreement on where to move the scout. I also thought the plan was to move the scout and then discuss whether to move the settler? I don't see any shots of the scout move or discussion of the settler move.

I do not see any haste. We just set up a roster and did not say that AgedOne must play now. Scouting was ok I think. The scout did show more jungle to the East, so it was pretty obvious to move the settler West or NW.

Usually the first player plays at least 20 turns.

Everything else is still open for discussion.

 

[erikthecelt]

It all happened while I was asleep

Might as well settle where he is now. Getting the 2 spices back into the bfc is not worth losing another turn.

 

[drhirsch]

I think we already lost one turn.

Deciding to move the settler AND the scout wasn't the best idea, IMHO it is better to move the scout and than leave the move of the settler as an option, depending on what the scout reveals.

In this case eriks idea of moving the scout W and than not moving the settler and settling in place would have been better.

 

[markh]

I see your point, but if we decide to settle where the settler stands we gained one turn.

 

[Sam_Yeager]

I think AgedOne should post a summary of what he intends to do before he plays.

In this particular case I don't think it's feasible for AgedOne to post a summary because the rest of the team haven't agreed our way forward yet.

What are the priorities? Do we grow asap, build the warrior asap or tech as quickly as we can. Are we working the corn (growth) the forest (warrior) or the lake (tech).
Have we agreed on a build and how many turns AgedOne will play?
When does he play to, first contact or first tech or first build or 10 moves?

Whether we build a warrior or worker first I think we should work the corn as it benefits us in both cases. For the warrior it grows the city and for the worker it provides an additional two to speed the worker build. If my arithmetic is correct the worker will take 30 turns and the warrior will take ~ 19 turns assuming we work the 2f1h forest to the N when the city grows. I think we're probably safe to start a worker first if wanted.

This leads in to the question of our early research. I favour Mining -> BW as it gives us slavery and also informs our choice for the second city. Mining should be in by the time the worker finishes so at least it can build mines if nothing else. Going warrior first ensures that we have some sort of defence in case there are any aggressive AI(s) or barbs nearby. I'm leaning towards worker first but I have no major preference either way.

Our other priority is to scout the area. Off the top of my head I suspect we may be on an island with one or two AI. Whether I'm just blethering is another matter.

In terms of turn length I suggest 30 turns mainly because that's what we've done in the past.

Why the haste? I thought this was a practice round to work out the posting and focus issues. I didn't think we had agreement on where to move the scout. I also thought the plan was to move the scout and then discuss whether to move the settler? I don't see any shots of the scout move or discussion of the settler move.

I thought there was general agreement on moving the scout although I must admit I didn't expect the settler to move as well. OTOH I suspect we might have decided to do that anyway.

I think we're already finding some of the benefits of playing this game as it is exposing some of the hiccups in our communication and with dealing with timezone differences. Certainly better to discover this now rather than later. Now we just have to find a way to resolve these hiccups, he says glibly.

EDIT: If anyone thinks my arithmetic is wrong I would appreciate some feedback as this forecasting lark is new to me.

 

[erikthecelt]

I'm for the first person to play until something happens and not worry about turn counts. This is epic speed so it will take some time, of course they can pause at any time to consult. Popping a tech from a goody hut would count as a reason to pause.

I'll work out the turn counts tonight (8 hours from posting this) on warrior first vs worker first. I would like to look at AG, M, BW as an option to M, BW, IW. I'm thinking we might want to time the settler to the turn we complete BW and have an escort ready. This means we might need another settler if there is no copper close by.

Does anyone else have an option they would like considered?

The barb option was not listed in the game description, does that imply Normal?

@Sam - are you updating your summary of rules, if so it would be good to add always move scout first and pause for consultation before settling or moving the settler as a note.

 

[erikthecelt]

I see your point, but if we decide to settle where the settler stands we gained one turn.

We now have an option to work a 3 square to grow city faster from turn 1 so we can grow to size 2 before the city border expands. if we go warrior first.

Further to my previous note, I'll look at timing the warrior to be built at the same turn we grow to size 2 with no food overflow. Work the lake for the extra