GOTM 118 Spoiler

[Jokemaster]

I played until 1000 BC, or to turn 151 (in Deity years, that would be 1000 AD) My initial strategy was to try and expand quickly to the mountains, while getting a few explorers for hut popping. I would try to get to Monarchy and Trade quickly, and to build Pyramids early (I know that sounds a bit unusual, but I will explain later) My overall strategy was to get to the AI grasslands ASAP using a few canal cities and start EC on a few civs when I get there. I would meanwhile expand as fast as possible (and when I mean ''as fast as possible'' I don't mean ''a new city every five turns'' No, WAY faster.) on the mountains in the maze and also make some canal cities for a future shipchain to the (AI) Colossus city for big (thanks to the distance between trading cities) trade bonuses. I would then rb some Harbours, watch my mountain cities PDS their way to 8 or so, build the odd aqueduct/sewer to keep growth going, and start conquest with some decent units backed by van/truck science.

Anyways, on with the spoiler.

Date notes

4000 BC: Move settlers.

3980 BC: Paris built. Road started with the other settler. Techrate 5 turns. T4L0S6

3960 BC: What the? Map Making not available for research? Checking the EL guide in sethos.gmxhome.de reveals that Map Making is in the tech group 0, thus removing it from the choices for the first research. Oh well... Ceremonial Burial chosen for research.

3900 BC: Warrior built in Paris, Settler started.

3880 BC: Ceremonial Burial discovered, Mapmaking chosen next. Techrate 9 turns.

3760 BC: Paris size 2. Biggest civs in the world: French 1st! Très bien!

3700 BC: Mapmaking discovered, Bronze Working started as Code of Laws is not available. Paris production switched to Trireme.

3660 BC: Paris builds Trireme, settler and warrior board.

3620 BC: Orleans founded. Pop hut: Archer.

3560 BC: Pop hut: 100g

3520 BC: Pop hut: 50g.

3500 BC: Bronze Working discovered, start Code of Laws.

3480 BC: Pop hut: NOMADS! Rush 6s in Orleans.

3380 BC: Lyons founded.

3360 BC: Pop hut: Code of Laws!

3340 BC: Research Monarchy. Techrate 9 turns. Pop hut: Pottery. Techrate 11 turns.

3300 BC: Reims founded. Techrate 9 turns.

3280 BC: Pop hut: Nomads again! My hut luck is great!

3260 BC: Monarchy discovered. Start Currency. Paris settlers. Pop hut: Horseback Riding. Techrate 15 turns.

3240 BC: REVOLUTION.

3220 BC: Monarchy established. T3L0S7

3200 BC: Pop hut: Chariot.



Status at 3200 BC:

Population: 0.08M Cities: 4 Trade routes: 0D0F Government: Monarchy
Gold: 219 Cost per turn: 0 Total advances: 8 Production: 10MT 0 polluted tiles
Wonders: None
Units: 2 Settlers, 2 Warriors, 1 Archer, 1 Chariot, 1 Trireme
No contact with anybody.


Nothing else to mention. However, having the 1st hut being an Archer really helped with hut hunting, and allowed me to focus on settler building.

I decided to wait a turn before settling on the 4-tiled island because I wanted more food and trade: I was planning to try and WLTPD that city to full size, and I wanted more food and trade. (It was also good because Paris eventually became an SSC, later in my game. Needless to say, mountains and glacier squares are not very trade happy.)

I was delayed at getting Map Making and Monarchy by the cycle, which could have hurted a LOT. However, delayed Map Making turned out to be actually a good thing (I was forced to do a warrior, which popped an explorer... left me with great hut popping speed that really, really helped) I was also delayed when Code of Laws was not available. I later got CoL from a hut: that helped a lot.

 

[mackerel]

I've also played to 1000BC with a similar plan (independently conceived, not a copycat attempt). The copycat bit is that I'm only posting to 3000BC at this time too.

This is not a map for the French to conquer. Conan took the reins immediately.

The plan is to bridge the maze with cities whereever necessary. We will not lament our homeland, we will embrace it, and come into the fertile land not meekly, but with strength. The strength we choose is the one size fits all hammer of trade, with the goal of overwhelming economic and technical superiority enabling rapid conquest when the time for war arrives. Or we just buy them all.

4000 - Cimmeria founded (41,57)
3980 - Researching Code of Laws, first road begins.
3920 - Code of Laws > Map Making
3840 - All Cimmeria is covered in roads.
3780 - Cimmeria reaches size 2.
3740 - France is the most gloriously happy civilization. Cimmeria settlers, first irrigation complete. Map Making > Writing.
3640 - All Cimmeria is irrigated. Trireme 15/40 with no way to rush yet, nothing to do but wait.
3540 - Spent 25/25 gold to finish trireme. Time to break out the map editor and plan the next two cities.
3500 - Hut>Masonry.
3460 - Vanaheim founded (30,62). Writing>Literacy.
3420 - Aesgaard founded (24,66), will never grow without a harbor but bridges the mountain.
3300 - Cimmeria settlers.
3280 - Literacy>Republic.
3180 - Vanaheim trireme>settler.
3160 - Hyperborea founded (17,69).
3140 - Cimmeria rush 38g toward settler because trireme is ready to move it.
3120 - Cimmeria settler.
3080 - Republic>Pottery, oedo year in 3060. Revolution! Republic instantly, and there was much rejoicing. 5 turns per advance. Support on triremes and settlers tells me early republic may have been a mistake, we'll see where it goes.
3040 - Hut>Horsemen next to Hyperborea, moved into town and disbanded for shields. Aesgaard trireme>pyramids. Second largest civilization.
3000 - Pottery>Seafaring. 4 cities, 5 total population, 2 settlers, 3 triremes. Income 4, upkeep 0, 15 beakers, 5 turn discoveries, 8 techs.

 

[Peaster]

I like the logs so far
(the intros to the logs, to be more precise - haven't read the logs yet)
I like discussion of game plans, thought processes, chest-beating and all that.

I'm at about -2000 now, which is a little early to be here, but I've gotten thru the maze and settled the near isle with 5 cities, and have decided on almost all of my plans already.

I settled on the original tile, for the whale, and used the size-1 trick. I irrigated the shielded grass and forested the other grass, and roaded them all before heading West in 3480 [tri+2S]. Monarchy + 1st canal city in 3220. I was probably too cautious with huts, fearing support issues, but eventually built 2 explorers (for E and W) and this has helped. No WoWs yet, but 1 granary in Paris, which is size 5. Not much else to brag about.

But the grassy isle is growing quickly now and I can start thinking about conquest soon. Mainly, I still need LH and polytheism. The huts gave me every early tech EXCEPT Poly and Writing, driving up my tech costs. My advisor says I need 56 turns per adv. So, I may need MPE or more-better huts or maybe I'll just attack with chariots. Not sure about that part yet. Will probably post a log soon.

 

[Jokemaster]

Interesting.

I thought of going to early republic too, but decided that increased settler costs would not make up for the increased trade, decreased corruption and decreased happiness issues. A whale city in Republic would be unable to support a settler, and a fish city could only support one. (that would assume a size 1 city without a harbour) My early game strategy (which relied very, VERY heavily on both agressive and nonagressive expansion) and Early Republic were simply incompatible. Time will tell what strategy worked best.

 

[mackerel]

The early years of republic were indeed difficult. I put a lot of effort into getting settlers to their build points quickly, and had to rehome at least one to prevent total starvation. Despite the difficulties, I found that in this situation settlers are not in play long enough for their support to matter terribly much, while the cost of maintaining triremes is a major drain.

 

[Jokemaster]

3140 BC: Pop hut: Polytheism. (2) Pop another hut: 50g. Techrate 9 turns.

3080 BC: Pop hut: Masonry. (0) Techrate still 9 turns.

3060 BC: Orleans builds 1st settlers not from Paris or a hut. Pop hut: Currency. 13 huts popped and no barbs yet...

3040 BC: Research Writing (1) Paris builds its last Settlers. Build Tours as the last canal city needed to go to the Prairie lands. Trireme will dart to the AI lands with the NONE settler in board It will NOT pop huts on the way because I do not want to lose my settler. (I should have planned a warrior for hut popping... mistake). Techrate 21 turns... obviously a PR change.

3020 BC: Paris builds Temple (first improvement built) and starts the Pyramids.

2980 BC: Techrate back to 15 turns...

2960 BC: Discover Writing (2) begin Literacy.

2940 BC: Pop hut: Archers. Wow, am I lucky. 14 straight.

2920 BC: Marseille is founded as the 1st city whose purpose is to solely serve as a canal city. Techrate 11 turns. Pop hut: Math. (0) 15 straight.

2900 BC: Build Chartres for the same purpose as Marseille.

2880 BC: Pop. exceeds 100.000 people. Pop hut: 50 gold, 16 straight.

2860 BC: Reims builds Settlers.

2820 BC: Avignon founded.

2800 BC: Besançon founded as the 1st city founded on gold. Techrate 9 turns.

2780 BC: Pop hut: BARBS! (was going for 17 straight) At least it’s not an important explorer. I expect my warrior to hold on mountain versus a legion (remember we are playing warlord, barbs attack at 50% normal strength)

Status at 2780 BC:

Population: 0.16M Cities: 9 Trade routes: 0D0F Goverment: Monarchy
Gold: 195 Cost per turn: 1 Total advances: 13 Production: 18MT 0 polluted tiles
Wonders: None. Currently building Pyramids
Units: 1 settler (NONE) 3 warriors, 2 archers, 1 chariot, 2 Triremes.

My hut luck was still very great, and my speed at popping them helped a lot.
This period consisted mostly at expanding, popping huts and starting to build the Pyramids.

 

[Peaster]

I've played past -1500 now, and got the techs I needed from huts; Poly, Wri, Repu and some not needed; BB, Inv. I certainly didn't have Jokemaster's luck with huts, and lost several explorers to barbs. I've conquered the Indians, Japs and Chinese, and razed capitols of Russ+Gr, so it's a pretty easy game now. I may go from Mon to Republic soon, along with some minor trade, probably with the Greeks. I moved my capitol awhile back, but didn't get the big boost in taxes I expected, and Paris is now fairly worthless ... I think this decision was OK, but unclear.

 

[Jokemaster]

Well, after a while my hut luck was really shaky: I got Invention from a hut way too early, which caused me to miss out on several pre-Invention techs. (i.e. Banking, Astronomy, Feudalism) While the extra gold was welcomed, I was still at the point where I'd get mainly nomads from the ice continent. At some point I had 10 of them, IIRC.

At 750 BC I have conquered Russians and Japs, petted the Indians and will soon destroy the Chinese. I'm planning to switch from Mon to Demo soon... or maybe I'll wait a bit for me to get a foothold on the Spanish. Or maybe even build the SoL and switch to Fundy/Commy. (And I am also planning heavy trade with the Greeks, who have Colossus)

Thought about moving my capitol, but decided against it.

 

[Peaster]

So, here's a log and some stats.

-4000: Paris(1), will do the size one, using whale/mt to get 19 food sheaves at birth. I sketched a few timelines, and expected a slight excess of laborers on the island until I can learn mapmaking and build a boat. Will irrigate x 2 and forest x1.
-3720: S is born, and Paris grows next turn.
-3660: Have cb, c laws --> mm. Some workers on ocean, to get mm before getting 40 shields.
-3500: mm-->moy, make 1st boat next turn. It goes West into the maze with 2S's.
-3220: Monarchy, ->bw. I realize that my S's can "charge" en route, but can't see much advantage. Am not agressively popping huts, fearing new units might overload support at Paris, but soon started to try it. Orleans (2) founded as a canal.
-3140, 3120, 3100, 3040: hut = pots, mys, horse [will disband it], barb legion which loses to my S on mts. Then got chariot, more barbs, horse, 50g [the first really good hut].
-2800: hut = 100g and bw-->seaf [for explorers]. Boat at 155,49 is "near Canton".
-2620: hut = Rheims(4) on grass. My luck is improving; next, I got a nomad, though it was in the maze and so not very useful.
-2500: hut = trade. Have [soon, but date unclear] 8 cities, 4 boats, 2S.
-2300: explo sent to Eastern ice [I have seaf]. I pop lots of huts, get lots of techs [mostly pretty useless] and coins, etc.
-2140: hut = Poly! good!
-2120: LH in Paris. Paris will mainly make v's for WoWs, w help from Orleans, while the "real civ" is built up near the AI. [I didn't try for trade, Paris-AI, because of the lengthy transportation time].
-2000: 15 cities (about half on grass IIRC) 2S, 4 ele, 7tri, 2v, 4misc, LH.
-1880 (approx?): Move capital to the new lands to reduce corruption/waste there. The immediate effect was much smaller than I expected, but this was probably still a good decision because the new lands kept growing while Paris was a dead end. I've won and lost a city to Spain, and soon meet the Japs. A period of rather poor luck in establishing outposts delays conquests.
-1700: India declares war and is no more. Jap cap down. Huts = lit + inv [bummer...I probably should've just gone for simple EC at this point, but had already made plans for Republic and trade]. 21 cities.
-1640: Japs down, and Chinese cap down. A hut gave Chiv a while back, so I am using mainly knights to conquer. I've essentially lost control over science - my tech costs are thru the roof, I won't get more from huts, and I'm not set up well for Big Trade. Like I said, I probably should've just ended this ASAP.
-1580: Find the Greeks and get their map [same boat picks up stray S's from the Great Ice]. I don't seem to need Marco here. I made a couple of embassies with dips, but they aren't very useful.
-1560: I switched science from zero to 10 or so, and suddenly got Repu..not sure what happened.
-1460: China down. 3 down, 3 to go, but for some reason, I wanted to play on, and have kept the last 3 as pets.
-1300: First trade van gets 92g, a small disappointment. With Inv from the hut, and rather small distances between islands, it doesn't get much better. Over the next few centuries, with growth from harbors and Republic, my bonuses probably averaged about 140g.
-1260: I sneaked vs Spain, then second van = 88g.
-1220: HG. Van3 = 84g to Russia.
-1140: Republic. Lux at 50 to cele/grow. Taxes at 50 give income of 157g/t, rising soon.
-1080: vans = 148 and 174 = better...
-1040: Senate forces peace with Greeks. Gunp-->mono.
-1000: 59 cities, LH+HG+Pyr, Repu, 18S, 19kn, 19tri, 26v, 30adv [without mono, nav, explo...] Vans are averaging 140g now... a small profit even without the beakers and routes.
I could probably conquer easily now, except for my Senate.
-860: Mike's, which allows celebrations again, and probably growth of most cities to approx size 8.
-840: A van gets 294g , and I'm hoping the average will rise to approx 200g soon. I have approx 38 vans, with some reserved for WoWs such as Leo's/Mag's. I've played on just a few turns from here and don't have any clear plan.... I'm kind of curious about how far I can take my economy in this setting, but at some point I'll probably just switch govts and conquer.

 

[Jokemaster]

Interesting.

I can see that you did not built many cities on the mts in the early game. Comparing to my game I have more cities, but have not conquered as fast as you did... maybe you focused on conquest while I focused on expansion?

I'm at 620 BC. I had the opportunity to switch to Demo for Big Trade (I have a round-trip shipchain going from Paris to Athens) but decided on Fundy instead, courtesy of the SoL. One civ left (besides the pet Indians) so I think I could finish that pretty quick if I want to go for green star (but probably won't)


Date Notes

2760 BC: Barb Legion attacks my warrior, it dies but my warrior has almost no HP left. Pop hut: Seafaring! (1) Techrate 11 turns.

2720 BC: Pop hut: Nomads. Pop another hut: Construction. (2) Techrate 13 turns.

2700 BC: Pop hut: Archer.

2680 BC: Pop hut: Literacy!

2660 BC: Start the research of Trade (0) Techrate 14 turns. Pop hut: 50g.

2640 BC: Discover Trade, start Myscitism (1) Build Rouen on Ivory. Techrate 12 turns.

2620 BC: Pop exceeds 200.000 citizens. Pop hut: Myscitism. Techrate 13 turns.

2600 BC: Start research of The Republic (2) TERRE! Unload Settler in prairie land mass 16.

2580 BC: The French are most powerful. Pop hut: Philosophy! (0)

2560 BC: Republic discovered, Mono is next (1) Orleans first food van. Build Grenoble. Build Dijon on AI grassland. Pop hut: Chariot.

2540 BC: First food van in Paris: 42s left. Pop hut: Nomads. Pop hut: Medicine. (2) I have 21 techs: Techrate 22 turns.

2520 BC: Pop hut: Mono!

2500 BC: Start researching Banking. (0) Amiens founded.

2480 BC: T7L0S3 because science rate sucks and need cash to rb food vans, triremes and settlers. Will depend on huts for science. Techrate 38 turns. Pop first hut on AI grasslands: 50 gold.

2460 BC: Pop hut: 7 barb horsemen! Don’t expect my Chariot to survive (still have Settler to explore the ice cap south) Pop hut: University. (1)

2440 BC: Only 2 horsemen attack my chariot. One dies, chariot is vet, but the other horsemen kills my unit. Grrr. Pop hut: 25g. Pop hut: Warrior Code (2) Oh oh.

2420 BC: The Chinese start Colossus. FINALLY! Pop hut: 50g. Pop hut: The Wheel (0)

2400 BC: Pop hut: Engineering (1). Crap. Pop hut: 50g. The first AI land does not appear to be colonized.

2380 BC: Pop hut: Archer.

2360 BC: PARIS BUILDS PYRAMIDS. Now the pace of expansion will really pick up. Marco started. Pop hut: Sanitation. (2)

2340 BC: 2 vans in Paris for Marco (95 left) Pop hut: Advanced tribe of Cherbourg, yay! Pop another hut, Invention. (0) NOT YAY. Could use the extra gold however... but this is too early. WAY too early.

2320 BC: Pop hut: 25g. Build Poitiers. Pop hut: 50g.

2300 BC: Another van in Paris: 35s left for Marco. Pop hut: Barbs! 3 legions, don’t think my warrior will survive.

2280 BC: 2 legions attack my warrior. It holds and gains Vet status! Pop exceeds 400.000 citizens. Pop hut: 50g.

2260 BC: Pop hut: 100g.

2240 BC: Pop hut: 100g. Pop hut: Nomads. Pop hut: 25g. Build Toulouse.

2200 BC: Trireme sights Russian archer unit.

2180 BC: Bayonne is founded. Pop hut: 50g. Pop hut: 100g.

2160 BC: Paris builds MPE, starts Mikes. 1 van in Paris, 350 shields left. My power is Supreme. I can see how much units my opponents have (forgot I had that option in Warlord!) Hail Russians: Give them Map Making and Construction. Swap maps. Peace. Hail Japanese: Give Map Making, Peace, Give Construction and The Wheel, swap maps.. Hail Spanish: Give Map Making, Peace. Give Math, Construction. Swap maps. They have Iron Working, which I don’t have: but not willing to give up Invention for it. Hail Chinese: Give Sanitation, peace. Give Literacy, swap maps. Hail Greeks: Give Map Making, peace. Give Philosophy, swap maps. Hail Indians: They ask for Invention. I take the risk to reject... they offer peace, accepted. Give Construction, Ceremonial Burial. Swap maps. Stratsbourg founded.

2140 BC: Brest founded. Bordeaux founded.

2120 BC: Pop hut: Nomads. Build Issos. 2 food vans in Paris: 240 shields left.

2100 BC: Pop hut: 50g. Cunaxa founded. Pop hut: Nomads. Pop hut: Crusader. Cremona built.

2080 BC: Pop hut: Legion. Pop hut: BARBS! If the Settler does not survive, it will hurt... Pop hut: 50g.

2060 BC: Settler kills 3 barb horsemen, but dies to the 4th. This is bad. Food van in Paris: 175 shields left.

2040 BC: Build Cannae.

2020 BC: Food van in Paris: 115 shields left for Mikes. Build Capua. Build Turin. Pop hut: Barb Legion. Pop hut: 50g.

Status at 2000 BC:

Population: 0.64M Cities: 27 Trade routes: 0D0F Government: Monarchy
Gold: 52 Cost per turn: 1 Total advances: 28 Total production: 55MT 0 polluted tiles
Wonders: Pyramids, Marco, Currently building Mikes
Units: 7 Settlers, 3 Warriors, 4 archers, 1 legion, 1 chariot, 1 crusader, 7 triremes, 2 caravans.
Russians: 4 cities, 10 techs, 15 units, peace
Japanese: 3 cities, 9 techs, 11 units, peace
Spanish: 4 cities, 9 techs (1 I don’t have) 13 units, peace
Chinese: 3 cities, 10 techs, 9 units, peace. Currently building Colossus
Greeks: 6 cities, 7 techs, 13 units, peace.
Indians: 4 cities, 8 techs, 10 units, peace.
Every single enemy civ is in Despotism.


The pace of expansion really picked up after building the Pyramids and raising taxes. High taxes meant that a mtn city did not stay size 2 for long before a Settler was built. Pyramids meant 15 food in the box when the city grew, and when a Sett was built, 15 food left in the food box and 5 food needed for size 2. 5 turns later, size 2, rush another settler. 5 turns later... rinse and repeat.

I am unsure if getting Invention early (which turned every single scroll hut in a gold hut) helped for settler and caravan rushing, or if it was not worth the missed tech that I did not got from huts (especially Navigation... the speed of getting triremes to settler buildpoints was hindered because often, the 3 movement points ended in a canal city, so I had to stop if I did not wanted the chance of 120 shields down the drain)

 

[mackerel]

I've played to 660BC, I got distracted by Big Trade and absolute tech dominance and have neglected to destroy or pet any civilizations. I took a different route through the maze and didn't reach fertile land until 1640BC, whereas Peaster landed before 2620 and it seems most others also hit green before 2000. It amused me to build a thriving civilization in a harsh environment, hopefully the incredibly detailed account entertains.

2960 - Brythunia founded (14,70). Vanaheim settlers, race against time as we have 1 hunger vs. 6 stored food. Yay republic! Cimmeria accidentally spends 48 toward settler.
2900 - Cimmeria could rush a settler or wait 2 turns, trireme is in place but I'm going to save the money. Seafaring>Bronze Working. Production of Explorers commences.
2880 - Vanaheim is dangerously low on food! Nemedia founded (9,63) and problem solved, for now. Cimmeria settlers.
2840 - 8g toward explorer.
2820 - Brythunia buys explorer.
2780 - Hut>Legion. Bronze working>Currency. Civil disorder in Aesgaard, stupid free legion.
2760 - Legion disbands in Aesgaard, Pyramids in 47 turns.
2740 - Order restored in Aesgaard. Hut>25g. Rush 29 on explorers.
2700 - Aquilonia founded (1,65). 25g toward Brythunia explorer. Hut 100g. 100k citizens.
2680 - Brythunia 25g to finish explorer, done making those for now. Hut barbarians. Hut barbarians again. Maybe I'll make another explorer after all. Looks like I can outrun one of the hordes, it was a single horseman and I had 2 moves left. Southern explorer dies bravely. Currency>Trade.
2640 - Cimmeria 33g toward settler.
2620 - Hut>Trade.
2600 - Working on Banking, choices were Mathematics or Warrior Code. Hut>Nomads. They're near enough to home I can put them on a ship soon, otherwise it would be a never-growing oil city. Hut>Banking. Working on Ceremonial Burial. Hyperborea settlers, brief scare as I realized I have 4 turns to deliver it, but rehomed in Brythunia to ease that burden.
2580 - Cimmeria settlers.
2560 - Hut>Barbarians. Only one but I have no movement left, that was smrt, but the explorer wins. Another explorer finds a wounded barbarian horse, defends and becomes veteran.
2520 - Hut>Construction. Hut>50g.
2500 - Ceremonial Burial>Mysticism. Southern Explorers begin polar expedition.
2480 - Zingara founded (193,63). Hut>Elephants, homed to Cimmeria and near the north pole, disbanded. 56+56g complete harbors in Nemedia, Aquilonia. Shields are an issue, debating using the nomad to mine iron near 3 cities.
2460 - Aquilonia,Nemedia harbor>caravan. Hut>50g. North polar expedition begins. 4 more bridge cities required.
2440 - 92g buys a harbor in Hyperborea.
2420 - Southern explorers reach Greenland.
2400 - Northern explorer reaches Greenland. Hut>Legion near Aquilonia, the shields will help with something. 28g toward Brythunia harbor.
2380 - Hut>25g. Hut>Nomads.. in Greenland. Hut>Horseback Riding.
2360 - Harbor rushed in Brythunia. Chinese begin HG.
2340 - Legion reaches Zingara, disbands to help build harbor. Argos founded (188,70). Hut>Monarchy, next Oedo year is 2260. Switching would give me 6 shields but cost 13 trade. Hut>Mathematics.
2320 - Hut>Mysticism. Hut>Warrior Code. 18 turn discoveries and 7g at 80% science, cranking tax to 80 instead gives 28g and 69 turns. Taxes stay at an all time high for now. Working on Philosophy. Vanaheim settler.
2300 - Hut>Elephant(Cimmeria), disbanded rather than riot. Hut>25g. Hut>Legion, disband. 200k citizens.
2280 - Hut>100g. Zingara harbor.
2260 - Hut>Barbarians, northern expedition comes to a brutal end but takes one down with him. Hut>Feudalism.
2240 - Cimmeria caravan wine. Hut>barbarians, explorer takes two down but there are 6 left over.
2220 - Ophir founded (61,85). 69g toward Cimmeria settler, 116 Vanaheim harbor. Hut>Elephant, disbanded.
2200 - Cimmeria 16g settler. Hut>Barbarians, southern expedition ends. Taxes 2.0.8 because I want Philosophy first after all.
2140 - Ophir spends most of the treasury on a new explorer. Cimmeria is size 3 with surplus, many others are size 2 and growing.
2100 - Zingara diplomat>Sun Tzu. Aquilonia van copper. Hut>50g. 48g harbor in Argos. 7/10 cities have harbors and can support growth/settlers.
2080 - Nomad finishes iron mine at Aquilonia, production tops out at 8 with no food surplus or deficit. As it only adds 1 to total production, I'm not sure it's a brilliant idea. That nomad could have been another city along the escape route.
2060 - Nemedia salt caravan. Corinthia founded (177,65). Hut>25g. 49g rush.
2040 - Philosophy>Medicine>Astronomy. Hyperborea copper van. 300k citizens.
2000 - Largest civilization. Tax 8.0.2. 11 cities, 2 settlers, 4 triremes, 1 diplomat, 4 caravans, 1 explorer. Income 41, upkeep 7, 11 beakers, 51 turn discoveries.

 

[Peaster]

Interesting.

I can see that you did not built many cities on the mts in the early game. Comparing to my game I have more cities, but have not conquered as fast as you did... maybe you focused on conquest while I focused on expansion?

I was mainly interested in expansion until at least 2000BC. I felt that cities on grass would be worth much more than ones on mts [ICS-thinking], so I only built a few canal cities, and a few others from stranded nomads. My grassland cities did blossom pretty fast after 2000BC, and it wasn't hard to smother the nearby AI's with that growth.

But the grasslands weren't great for production / shields, so with your 27 cities + 7 settlers, I think you stood better at 2000BC, even if your cities were mostly on mts.

@Mackerel - I'm enjoying the Conan theme. I'm a big fan, and even made a not-quite-functional Civ2 Conan scenario. "Peaster" is Howard's home town in Texas. Keep it going !

 

[mackerel]

Since you liked it so much, I'll post up to 1000BC tonight also.

In which real progress is made, fertile lands found and weaker tribes..traded with? Conan took a wrong turn and spent his fortunes on learning and earning more fortunes, rather than crushing enemies, seeing them driven before him, and hearing the lamentations of their women.

1980 - Hut>100g. 100g finishes Pyramids. Brythunia beads van. Aesgaard Pyramids.
1960 - Cimmeria silver van.
1940 - Hut>Barbarians, Greenland is a dangerous place to visit. Hut>Horsemen near Corinthia.
1920 - 98g for harbor in Ophir.
1900 - Zamorra founded (173,65). Argos settler.
1860 - Rush harbor in Aesgaard.
1820 - Rush explorer in Ophir. 500k citizens. 8 cities are size 3, nearly celebration time.
1780 - 80g harbor in Corinthia. Aquilonia gold van. Vanaheim salt van. Cimmeria settlers.
1760 - Khauran founded (161,61) and we're out of the maze. Rush 78g harbor in Zamorra. Tax 2.8.0, all size 3 cities except Aquilonia will celebrate, corruption is huuuuge in the farther cities.
1740 - Brythunia settler. 800k citizens.
1720 - Khorasa founded (34,56). Greeks begin HG. Nemedia gems van. 1M citizens.
1700 - Indians begin Colossus.
1680 - Zingara celebration ends at size 6 with a red hat. Trade 8, corruption 12. Hut>100g. Cimmeria, Hyperborea entertainers allow continued celebration. Koth 84g harbor. Aquilonia grows to size 4 and begins celebration.
1640 - Argos begins celebration. Hut>Iron Working.
1620 - Shem founded(15,63). Tax 6.3.1, riding the happiness line, 12 upkeep, 73 income, 10 science, 58 turn discoveries. Argos copper van.
1600 - Celebrations end, but there will be more later. 108g harbor Khorasa. Truly green land discovered, and.. nobody's home?
1580 - Hut>NONE legion, and the east coast of Greenland discovered. Chinese nearly complete HG.
1560 - Hut>NONE legion. Shanghai builds HG. Chinese change from HG to GL. Greeks change grom HG to Colossus.
1540 - Hyperborea gold van. Hut>Advanced Tribe! Stygia(147,53). Civil disorder in Zingara, Elvis to the rescue. Aquilonia silver van. Cimmeria dye van.
1520 - Nemedea copper van. Aesgaard salt van. Vanaheim copper van. 2M citizens.
1500 - Hut>University.
1480 - Hut>Chemistry. Japanese located but not encountered, they don't want the caravans on board the first ship.
1460 - Hut>NONE legion. Cimmeria silver to Osaka 416g. Hyperborea copper Osaka 220g. Rush various triremes, caravans, harbors, down to 114g. Japanese begin Colossus. Astronomy>Polytheism. Khauran harbor. Brythunia copper van. Ophir makes another explorer and produces 0shields per turn, oops. Barbarians will fix that soon enough.
1440 - Hut>Navigation - not what I was hoping for but it'll do. Zingara changes to Magellan. Disorder in Shem, an unfortunate assembly line accident resulted in an extra trireme. Cimmeria settler.
1420 - Argos van to Zingara, 177 shields on Magellan. Hut>NONE legion. Hut>Tribe Darfar, in just the wrong place on Green Island. It will make settlers for proper colonization. Khorasa celebrates with just one Elvis helping. Vanaheim settler. Russian and Japanese warfare observed.
1400 - Argos settlers. Cimmeria salt van.
1380 - Hut>100g. Nemedia settler. Hyperborea settler.
1360 - Kush founded (190,64). Hut>Theory of Gravity. Hut>Physics. Hut>50g. Aquilonia settler.
1320 - Greek trireme spotted on the east coast of Greenland. Hut>Nomad, also east coast Greenland. Hut>The Wheel. Keshan founded (28,50). Stygia settler. Khorasa tops out at size 5, Elvis put back to work. Koth silk van, Corinthia silk van - headed to Cimmeria as I try to set up a profitable ship chain.
1300 - Cimmeria wine(d) Osaka 558. Hut>Barbs on an explorer, he takes down 2/8. Keshan harbor 118g. Kush harbor 102g. Greeks nearly completed Colossus. Shem copper van. Disorder in Vanaheim, didn't see that coming.
1280 - Hut>Nomads, Greenland again. Hut>100g. Punt founded (22,48). Zembabwei founded (10,84). Turan founded (199,55). Sparta builds Colossus. Japanese change to Great Wall. Indians change to Lighthouse. Zamora silk van.
1260 - Hyrkania founded (143,53). Aquilonia copper Kagoshima 108g. Hut>Barbs. Turan, Zembabwei, Punt harbors. Khorasa wine van. Vanaheim gems van. Cimmeria beads van.
1240 - Vendhya founded (4,82). Indians change to Great Library. Russians begin Lighthouse. Disorder in Hyperborea.
1220 - Hut>Elephant(Ophir), happiness and shields permit it to live.. for now. Shem buys harbor, gold stockpile is low but coming in fast. Russians change to Copernicus. Zingara completes Magellan. Triremes move 5, Caravels move 5. Time to put the ship chain in order.
1200 - Finally officially meet the enthusiastic Japanese, refuse to trade Navigation for Polytheism but welcome peace. They have 611 gold, despotism, researching Currency, and have no other tech to offer me. Makkalet founded (149,43). Polytheism discovered (probably should have traded after all)>Magnetism.
1180 - Vanaheim salt Satsuma 312g. Stygia hides van. Khauran silk van. Argos silk van. Aesgaard copper van. Vanaheim silver van.
1160 - Hyperborea gold Satsuma(d) 294g. Nemedia salt Kyoto(d) 160g. Nemedia gems Osaka(d) 204g. Nemedia silver Osaka(n) 68g, bleh. Hut>25g. Vendhya harbor. Khorasa gold van. Magnetism>Engineering. Aquilonia food van. Hyperborea dye van.
1140 - Greenland settlers pop hut>nomad.
1120 - Japanese learn Currency.
1100 - Koth silk Cimmeria(d) 276. Kush silk van. Shem beads van. Koth dye van. Zamora beads van. Disorder in Zingara, caused by growth, 2 Elvis required to correct. Nemedia beads van. Hyperborea silver van. Aesgaard beads van. Vanaheim beads van.
1080 - Corinthia silk Khorasa 114g. Vanaheim gems Osaka 486g. Khorasa wine Satsuma 300g. Cimmeria dye Kagoshima 444g. 700g in rushes, 1100 left over. Punt copper van. Keshan beads van. Engineering>Invention, Sanitation was tempting but I want democracy asap. Stygia dye van. Ophir gold van. Argos copper van. Settlers in Brythunia, Darfar, Hyrkania.
1060 - Rush various vans, 509g left. Ship chain is nearly functional. Turan silk van. Kush copper van. Shem gold van. Koth copper van. Zingara silk van. Vanaheim gold van.
1040 - Hut>Nomad, west coast of Greenland. Ship chain reaches from Cimmeria to Japan, with about 1 space of slack and 1 space of error at the moment. No deliveries this turn. Rush from 626g to 139g, all caravans and settlers. Supply is blocked in Cimmeria, Vanaheim, Aesgaard, Hyperborea, Aquilonia, Koth. Demand blocked in Satsuma. Chinese nearly completed GL. Japan Mathematics. Zembabwei beads van. Keshan copper van. Stygia settler. Ophir dye van. Aquilonia food van. Nemedia spice van.
1020 - Cimmeria beads Kagoshima 444g, salt Kagoshima 222g. Stygia hides Hyperborea 98g. Zamora silk Cimmeria 243g. Vanaheim gold Cimmeria 114g, unblocked beads from Cimmeria and beads in Kagoshima. Ship chain is finally working as planned, and could eventually be doubled if happiness and production allow. For now, shipping to Japan and Cimmeria is paying off all right. Xapur founded (2,72). Rush 1366g to 935g. Spanish begin Oracle. Beijing builds GL. Indians change from GL to Oracle. Hyrkania dye van. Invention>Democracy. Zamora copper van. Zingara copper van. Brythunia beads van. Cimmeria beads van.
1000 - 4 caravans and 796g>Leo's. Hyperborea dye Osaka 220g. Hut>50g. Rush down to 205g. Xapur harbor. Ophir salt van. Aquilonia completes Leo's, goodbye triremes!
Tax remains 7.1.2, discoveries 45 turns (22 beakers), 154 income, 21 cost (all harbors). 27 cities, met only the Japanese. 4 Elvis clones supplement the peace. 35 techs.

Short term plan: continue blitzing trade, next turn all caravels become galleons and 4 deliveries per turn becomes simple. Slack in the chain should allow a galleon to start transporting diplomats to our first targets, who we will attempt to purchase a foothold if not an entire civilization. Democracy should be achieved in 1-2 turns, next Oedo year is 980>900BC. I can't get Democracy in 980, so 900 is the target. I don't care about city science at all, and barely care about science at all, just need to keep troops some steps ahead of the victims. After Democracy, Theology>Bach's seems like a good idea. Railroads will do nothing for me, I will avoid the trade reduction as long as possible. If Democracy fixes my happiness issues, I'll see about growing cities to size 12. Mike's may be a requirement, or at least a payout improvement.

 

[Peaster]

Conan took a wrong turn and spent his fortunes on learning and earning more fortunes, rather than crushing enemies, seeing them driven before him, and hearing the lamentations of their women.

Of course, his imperfections only made him more human...

1000 - 4 caravans and 796g>Leo's. Hyperborea dye Osaka 220g. Hut>50g. Rush down to 205g. Xapur harbor. Ophir salt van. Aquilonia completes Leo's, goodbye triremes! Tax remains 7.1.2, discoveries 45 turns (22 beakers), 154 income, 21 cost (all harbors). 27 cities, met only the Japanese. 4 Elvis clones supplement the peace. 35 techs.

Short term plan: continue blitzing trade, next turn all caravels become galleons and 4 deliveries per turn becomes simple. Slack in the chain should allow a galleon to start transporting diplomats to our first targets, who we will attempt to purchase a foothold if not an entire civilization. Democracy should be achieved in 1-2 turns, next Oedo year is 980>900BC. I can't get Democracy in 980, so 900 is the target. I don't care about city science at all, and barely care about science at all, just need to keep troops some steps ahead of the victims. After Democracy, Theology>Bach's seems like a good idea. Railroads will do nothing for me, I will avoid the trade reduction as long as possible. If Democracy fixes my happiness issues, I'll see about growing cities to size 12. Mike's may be a requirement, or at least a payout improvement.

Sounds like you've got a great game going, and are reaching several mileposts ahead of me (and maybe jokemaster) - such as Leo's, Nav, Magnetism, Demo. I'm surprised you don't seem to need Mike's yet. Could you post more -1000 stats; for example how many boats and vans you have ?

Also, I'm curious about your ship-chain. Does it reach from your original capital to the AI ? From the size of some bonuses, I'm guessing it is pretty long. But from the number of vans involved, I'm guessing there are many Cimmerian cities involved (in the maze??)

 

[mackerel]

I'll have to look for the full details when I get home, closest saves I have on this computer are 1460 and 740 BC. At 740 BC I have 12 canal cities along the whale trail through the center of the maze, 8 off-path cities that exist to supplement caravans, 8 on the first green island, and 3/5 spanish cities. My trade is entirely with the Japanese; I noticed right away that the first set of islands outside the maze were 90-100 spaces from home horizontally, and 25-50 vertically. I refuse to give science to the weaker races even to improve trade payouts, so they're still in despotism. Their life of ease will be their undoing.

I had great luck with tech from huts, so much that I was able to neglect city science from very near the beginning. I didn't get Invention until I had almost every other possible advance, which was pure luck, but the biggest help was a high tax rate allowing the instant purchase of harbors in canal cities. Luxuries from trade routes and having 7/8 workers on the water take care of happiness, delivering 4 caravans each turn offered one-turn advances with only 10% science (and I could almost certainly get away with just one scientist).

The ship chain does indeed reach from the capital to Japan. I'm sending 4 vans every other turn from the east side of the maze to Japan, and 4 back from the first green island for a bit less but still respectable amounts.

 

[mackerel]

All right, I'm home with the 1000BC save. I have 4 cities on the green island, Cimmeria at the home point across the maze, one on the ice continent from a nomad, and 27 total (so 21 in the maze). 13 trireme+5 caravel+2 galleon, 35 caravans + 24 in production, 7 settlers. Leo's is 400/400 in the save.

At 660BC that changes to 28 galleons, 6 diplomats, 44+26 vans, 5 engineers.

 

[Jokemaster]

@mackerel: Under Republic, what strategy did you used to support your boats for the ship chain? Mountain cities are not very full on shields, and you needed one seed shield to rush stuff... did you built any cities on iron/ivory to support boats? (at 620 BC, I have 7 ivory cities, 2s per turn, and 9 iron cities, 4s per turn, with 51 Galleons, with 34 35 of them part of the round-trip shipchain)

Also, you started delivering in 1160 BC. Did you tried for a round-trip ship chain? And if yes, when it was completed?

 

[mackerel]

Each city made one ship, for happiness reasons during trireme/caravel season as well as support. The ship chain is one-way, as 4 caravans per turn is generally enough to give an advance every 1-2 turns. A few cities have access to iron, though most rely on whales. I have a few spare galleons to ferry caravans from outlying maze cities to the ship chain. Since I can only carry 4 vans per turn, it makes more sense to build a new city and rush 3 vans than to hope for wonder bread to work.

My only city on Ivory is on the ice continent (Greenland), because I got a nomad and there were no other survivable options for it.

 

[mackerel]

Done to 500BC, the log gets long and tedious and mostly about trade.

980 - Hut>100g,50g. Ophir salt van. Cimmeria beads Kagoshima 444g. Argos silk Cimmeria 225g, backfired and blocked demand, 2 more silk vans will wait to be delivered. Japanese nearly complete GW. Vendhya copper van. Turan dye van. Zembabwei gems van. Darfar gold van. Disorder in Zingara again, grew into a stupid worker assignment. Nemedia copper van. Hyperborea silver van. Aesgaard gold van. Cimmeria beads van. 3M citizens.

960 - Not sure why I still have some caravels. No deliveries, the final ship was one space off because I expected caravels to become galleons. Largest civ, Japan is third with 6 cities. Kyoto builds GW. Russian elephant dies to Japanese horseman. Finally at the end of the turn, galleons everywhere. Democracy>Monotheism.

940 - Cimmeria beads Kagoshima 444g. Aesgaard copper Kagoshima 128g. Zingara silk Cimmeria 231g. Koth copper Khorasa 118g, Khorasa demand changes to (Silk) Hides Wool, thumbing its nose at the other two demanded caravans offshore. Zamora copper Cimmeria(n) 81g but unblocks silk. Turan silk Cimmeria 171g, blocks. Koth dye Cimmeria 92g, unblocks. Kush silk Cimmeria 192g. Cimmeria is left with beads supply open, and wine demand (but no city anywhere produces it). Hut>Legion, disbanded toward caravan in Vendhya. Indians nearly complete Oracle. Xapur beads van. Vendhya gold van. Monotheism>Chivalry. Hyrkania gems van. Turan copper van. Zembabwei silver van. Kush dye van. Darfar silk van. Cimmeria beads van.

920 - Vanaheim copper Kagoshima 340g. Shem copper Kagoshima 116g. Beads stay blocked, that wasn't part of the plan, vans from Cimmeria, Keshan, and Nemedia stranded for a turn or two. 2 vans + 1200g makes Mike's. Hut>100g. Revolution! Madras builds Oracle, Spanish abandon. Vendhya builds Mike's Hard Lemonade Cathedral, and there was much rejoicing. Hello Democracy!

900 - Between Mike's and the elimination of corruption, happiness issues are a relic of the past. All but 3 cities will celebrate next turn, and those because they're too small. Nemedia beads Edo 224g. Sukhmet founded (151,51). Exploratory galleon meets Spain, subjects in Toledo are found to be prone to revolt, 220g investment nets 53g return and 3 warriors, one of which is disbanded immediately for happiness and diplomat production, another accidentally establishes contact with the enraged Isabella, but a cease fire neutralized her bad attitude. Senate signs a permanent peace treaty I don't intend to keep. Zingara copper Cimmeria(n) 106g, demand changes to Silk Wine Coal. Darfar gold Cimmeria(n) 111g. Zamora beads Cimmeria(n) 91g. Tax 5.1.4, 233 income, 22 out, 25 turn discoveries. Japanese demand navigation but do not attack when denied. Celebration in 24 cities. Keshan wine van. Khauran coal van. Warriors become pikemen. Chivalry>Theology. Vanaheim, Cimmeria aqueduct.

880 - Ophir dye Satsuma 304. Keshan copper Satsuma 220. Cimmeria beads Edo 456. Keshan beads Edo 216. Hut>50g,50g. Diplomacy with Spain - refuse to give Navigation, demand withdrawal, war is Isabella's idea. 320g buys Cordoba, 56g instant refund and a phalanx thrown in. Rush 1000g or so worth of caravans and diplomats. 3.4M citizens before the first major growth spurt. Spanish move in the troops and demand Navigation again, denied again, cease fire accepted. Senate signs another permanent peace treaty. Japanese learn map making. Sukhmet silk van. Makkalet spice van. Phalanx become pikemen. Theology>Gunpowder. Vendhya copper van. Zembabwei gems van. Punt gold van. Zamora silver van. Aquilonia coal van. 4.6M citizens.

860 - Zamora silver Brythunia 56g, nobody wants silver and this makes routes in unpopular cities. Khauran coal Vanaheim 225g. Darfar silk Vanaheim 342g. Aquilonia coal Cimmeria 187g. Khauran silk Cimmeria 291g. Xuchotl founded (147,41). Rush 1885g to 124g, caravans, harbors, and 1192 on Sun Tzu. Stygia grows stupidly and ends celebration. Shem spice van. Khorasa builds Sun Tzu's War Academy. Koth, Hyperborea, Cimmeria aqueduct. Pikemen and legions become musketeers, Gunpowder>Leadership. Zingara silver van. Nemedia spice van. Brythunia copper van. 6M citizens.

840 - Incited war with Spain again, bought Valencia for 230-57, disbanded 3/5 of the units into a new diplomat. Brythunia copper Satsuma 304. Kush copper Osaka 184. Aesgaard salt Satsuma 248. Shem beads Kyoto(n) 132. Vanaheim beads Kyoto(n) 262. Brythunia beads Osaka(n) 152. Aesgaard beads Osaka(n) 124. 20 shield unit is gone. Hovering around 1500g income per turn. Leadership>Explosives. Makkalet harbor **Gamble paid off, it couldn't meet the happiness requirement without working water and couldn't meet the food requirement if it did, so I bought a harbor and assigned workers to the water, and it grew**. Stygia harbor and re-celebrates. Aquilonia aqueduct. Vanaheim copper van. 7.4M citizens.

820 - Stygia dye Cimmeria(n) 178. Hyrkania dye Cimmeria(n) 164. Somewhere in here I got tired of recording rush buys, they're still happening on caravans, aqueducts, and diplomats. I'll note when that changes. Xuchotl silk van. Hyrkania silk van and celebrates, just hit size 3. Punt salt van. Darfar settler, auto-assignment cancels celebration. Zamora silk van. Corinthia gold van. Argos silver van. Zingara aqueduct. Hyperborea marketplace (now +34g). Aesgaard coal van. Cimmeria dye van. 8.9M citizens.

800 - Embassy with Spain, they have 2 cities, despotism, 8 units, 11 techs. War with Chinese is the least of their worries. Hyrkania gems Cimmeria(n) 171. Ophir salt Satsuma 428. Cimmeria dye Osaka 620. Keshan wine Osaka 460. Hut>NONE dragoon. Settlers become Engineers. Explosives>Sanitation. Engineers in Makkalet, Vendhya, Zembabwei, Stygia. Turan, Keshan, Kush, Shem aqueduct. Koth marketplace, 31g now. Valencia wool van. Cordoba wool van. Toledo silk van. Cimmeria gets a red hat at size 12 with one working the mountain, adjustment fixes that, sewer system will come soon. 9.8M citizens.

780 - Located China, diplomats investigating. Aquilonia silver Makkalet 270. Khemi founded (152,46) to allow easier transport to and from Green Island. Corinthia gold Cimmeria(n) 150. Xuchotl dye van. Hyrkania harbor. Punt, Aesgaard aqueduct. Darfar dye van. Hyperborea bank, 46g now. Cimmeria dye van. 11.1M citizens, most cities are near or at final capacity.

760 - Vanaheim copper Kagoshima 560. Vendhya copper Kagoshima 364. Kush dye Kagoshima(n) 142. Cimmeria dye Kagoshima(n) 304. Aquilonia gold Stygia(n) 119, all three of those (n) demanded last turn and changed on me. Messantia founded (144,42), 8th city on the green island. 1536g buys Bach's in Ophir. Japanese develop seafaring. Sanitation>Metallurgy. Valencia silk van. Ophir builds Bach. Zingara marketplace. Toledo wool van. Aquilonia copper van. 12M citizens.

740 - Turan copper Kagoshima 160. Nemedia copper Kagoshima 256. ***screwed up ship movement again, time for sleep*** Xuchotl silk Vanaheim 423. Hut>25g. Makkalet spice Aesgaard 504. Zamora silk Aesgaard 330. Rush to 327g. Messantia dye van. Khemi silk van. Sukhmet dye van. Hyrkania salt van. Shem salt van. Makkalet, Darfar, Stygia aqueduct. Punt, Keshan, Kush, Cimmeria marketplace. Metallurgy>Economics (over Atomic Theory, Bridge Building, Steam Engine). Toledo stops celebrating because a musketeer stepped outside, Bach's only makes the 2 angry people content. I'll take that under advisement.

720 - (partially from other log) Kuitai founded (97,5) for the sole purpose of getting 2/3 NONE engineers out of Greenland. Toledo silk Brythunia 246. Tarantia founded (198,92). Xuchotl beads van. Valencia silver van, celebrates along with Toledo and Cordoba. Corinthia dye van. Brythunia copper van. 14M citizens.

700 - Ship chain is in disarray near Cimmeria, straightening it out is pulling my hair out. Sukhmet silk Cimmeria 483. Greek island located. Darfar dye Cimmeria(n) 175. Valencia wool Keshan 312, demand changes to silk coal hides. Khemi silk Keshan 357. Leftover wool van that's not wanted anywhere.. maybe it will unblock supply somewhere. With 2000g in the coffer and Economics on the horizon, delivery can wait. I think the ship chain is repaired except the last one at Cimmeria, and that's one turn out. Sold 700g worth of aqueducts from cities that can not support more growth. Celebration has notable effects on 12 cities, planning to lower luxuries once they're full grown, if the game lasts that long. Overwhelming force is near. Russian explorer contacts Kuitai, refused to part with Gunpowder twice, or go to war with Japan, senate signs another unwanted peace treaty. Messantia spice van. Khemi beads van. Sukhmet beads van. Xapur silver van. Hyrkania aqueduct. Economics>Conscription. Zembabwei gold van. Punt silver van. Keshan copper van. Kush, Zingara bank. Makkalet, Stygia engineers. Khauran finally celebrates, what a horrible place for a necessary city. Zamora silver van. Aquilonia marketplace. Cimmeria sewer, just in time for dye supply to unlock.

680 - Zingara silver Ophir 385. Xapur beads Ophir 73g (demand changed and return to sender was too inconvenient, bleh). Hyrkania silk Cimmeria over 700g, expected 678. Located Mycenae, 264g buys it with 51g refunded, nothing but a single warrior thrown in to sweeten the deal. Poitan founded (195,95), should grow to size 17 or so. Turan copper Kagoshima 332, Zembabwei beads Kagoshima 432, Aquilonia copper Kagoshima 376, Shem spice Kagoshima 206. Rush down to 2000g, nothing left to spend it on. Enraged Greeks initiate contact at Mycenae, I refuse to give gunpowder, accept cease fire, senate signs peace treaty. Turan gold van. Darfar gems van. Shem silver van. Koth bank, fully grown so aqueduct sold. Cordoba dye van. Corinthia copper van. Ophir dye van. Toledo dye van. Nemedia food van. 15.5M citizens.

660 - Hut>Barbarians. More exploration around Greece and China. Ship chain restored to function, 2 extra ships on Cimmeria side could ferry to outlying cities or could deliver 3 rounds west in a row. Tarantia founded (139,49), Tauran founded (143,47), 10 cities on the first little green island, and easily room for more. Largest trade route is Vanaheim to Kyoto @6. Blocked supply is becoming quite the issue. Russians nearly complete Copernicus. Poitan harbor. Khemi dye van. Makkalet gold van. Vendhya, Zembabwei aqueduct. 2 engineers. Stygia sewer. Aquilonia bank. Cimmeria beads van. Leo's upgrades musketeers to riflemen; Conscription>Tactics. 16.4M citizens.

640 - Brythunia copper Satsuma 328. Punt copper Osaka 516. Corinthia copper Kagoshima 272. Argos copper Kagoshima 324. Khitai founded (141,45). Punt gold Kush 351. Darfar gems Brythunia(n) 130, unblocks copper supply. Time for aggressive plans to begin - war provoked with Greece and Russia, Japanese down to enthusiastic. 4 vans and 800g complete SoL in Aquilonia, the final wonder in the strategic plan. Russian island discovered. StPete builds Copernicus. Japanese develop Construction. Tauran copper van. Tarantia harbor. Messantia salt van. Shem gems van. Cordoba copper van. Brythunia copper van. Aesgaard gold van. Leo's upgrades remaining musketeers to riflemen, dragoons to cavalry. Tactics>Amphibious Warfare. 17M citizens.

620 - Kambuja founded (145,55), Lemuria (150,50), 13 cities on Green Island with room for 3 more, but it's time for the next phase. Sparta bought for 688-111+colossus, free trireme and warrior. Ephesos bought for 88-23, free warrior elephant explorer. Greeks demand 50g, offer cease fire. Hyrkania salt Cimmeria(n) 269. Valencia silk Hyperborea 396. Valencia siver Vanaheim(n) 176. Punt salt Satsuma 504. Cimmeria beads Kagoshima 756. Keshan copper Kagoshima 588. Hut>50g. West side of the empire retooled for war, east side continues to focus on trade (since there's no one to attack and I could only ship out 4 troops a turn, and that would preclude trade). Gold sits at 4541, few rushes this turn, it is the calm before the storm. Vendhya beads van. Amphibious Warfare>Fundamentalism.

600 - Paikang founded (132,64) as the landing platform in China. Invasion force purchased, down from 5300 to 2600g. Cordoba wool Vanaheim(n) 203, silk demand unblocked, supply all blocked. Toledo wool Vanaheim(n) 174, supply still blocked.. Moving on, Sukhmet dye Cimmeria(n) 243, salt supply unblocked. Zamora silver Cimmeria(n) 199, salt supply re-blocked, gold demanded. Makkalet gold Cimmeria 870g, supply blocked, silk demand unlocked. I'm very confused but I'll take it. Back to 4314g. Rush to 2198. Poitan copper van. Tarantia silk van. Kuitai harbor. Xapur gold van. Keshan gold van. Khorasa gold van. Khauran copper van. Koth stock exchange (70/turn tax). Zamora gold van. Aquilonia copper van. Cimmeria bank (78/turn). 17 vet marines recruited, because Conan would approve. 18.5M citizens.

580 - Secunderam founded (145,81). 3 marines and an engineer disembark in China. 4 marines discover the presumably Indian continent. Ophir gold Satsuma 642. Zembabwei gold Satsuma 828. Zembabwei gems Osaka 894. Aquilonia copper Kagoshima 376. Paid 202 for a Greek catapult that was in an inconvenient place, still 5590 gold to dispose of. Rush to 3295. Revolution! A few cities need worker adjustments to avoid unhappiness in Anarchy, easy enough. I thought SoL would prevent anarchy though. Chinese demand withdrawal from Canton, they're not going to get it. Darfar gold van. Several dips and engineers.

560 - New government: Fundamentalism. Bought Delphi for 591+82+phalanx+trireme. Argos bought for 318+70+3warrior+settler+elephant+phalanx. Thermoplyae bought for 400+40+phalanx. Cease fire offered and accepted, Greeks have 3 cities out of 9 left. 2 marines capture Canton+32g, cancel Chinese treaty. Marine and rifle attack Madrid but need reinforcements, Spanish treaty cancelled. Meru, Onagrul founded in Spain. Back to Democracy. Sukhmet beats Aesgaard(n) 148 hoping to unblock spice demand, failed. Messantia spice Cimmeria(n) 211. Corinthia dye Cimmeria(n) 187. Zamora gold Cimmeria(n) 199, salt supply unblocked. Feeling poor with only 2585g, unexpected anarchy hurt. Rush to 654, really feeling the burn now. Caravan stockpile is also getting seriously low, with resupply problems all over the eastern empire. Spanish capture Meru, take Gunpowder, senate signs permanent peace treaty. Lemuria silk van. Kambuja silk van. Khitai salt van. Tauran dye van. Tarantia gold van. Messantia beads van. Xuchotl harbor. Zingara gold van. Several engineers, dips. Cimmeria salt van. Fundamentalism>SteamEngine.

540 - Nemedia spice Satsuma(n) 154. Shem salt Satsuma(n) 194, unblocks gold demand. Rhamdam founded (126,58) in China. Revolution! Anarchy again, SoL is a lie! Madrid reduced to size 1, reputation reduced to Atrocious. Nanking captured+54g. Pharsalos bought for 308+60+elephant+phalanx. Cease fire offered and accepted with China and Greece, Spanish hostility remains despite our pleasant history. Rush to 495g. Spanish capture Onagrul and take Navigation, I shouldn't be leaving these baby cities undefended. Poitan silk van. Tarantia gems van. Vendhya silver van. Zembabwei copper van. Koth gold van. Zamora silver van. Corinthia silver van. Ophir hides van. Nemedia copper van.

520 - Fundamentalism returns. Madrid destroyed. Seville bought for 213+218+phalanx. Spanish civilization destroyed. Athens captured. Corinth bought for 264+105+phalanx. Greek civilization destroyed. Beijing captured+Great Library+75g. Asgalun, Gazal, Kordava founded in Spain. Marines land at Minsk. Back to Democracy. Keshan gold Satsuma 846. Shem gems Satsuma(n) 194. Cimmeria salt Satsuma(n) 388. Darfar gold Vanaheim(n) 172, unblocks no supply but blocks silk demand... Corinthia silver Cimmeria 467. Lemuria silk Cimmeria 558. Zamora silver Cimmeria 497. Rush from 3500 to 1167. Japanese develop Writing. Lemuria dye van. Kambuja dye van. Khitai spice van. Tauran gold van. Tarantia dye van. Poitan silver van. Kuitai coal van. Hyrkania gold van. Darfar gems van. Stygia gold van. Ophir hides van.

500 - Shanghai captured+HG+63g. Xinjian bought for 174+24+musket+settler. Tsingtao found but out of reach, for now; Beijing rushes diplomat. Shu Chen, Shaulun founded in China. Indians discovered, Calcutta bought for 388+52+phalanx. Embassy planted, they have 5 cities, 500g, republic. Minsk captured+83g+BridgeBuilding. Leo's upgrades several units, did I accidentally end the turn? Apparently not. Senate signs another worthless peace treaty. Sythia founded on the Russian coast. Khorasa gold Satsuma 498. Aesgaard gold Satsuma 690. Nemedia copper Kagoshima 348. Ophir dye Kagoshima 468. Rush from 3609 to 2857. Aesgaard coal Zamora 290. Rush 3147 to 2928 as both cities unblock supply. Sold various barracks, granaries, bought dips and marines and an engineer or two, 1268 left but Invasion Japan is readyish. Revolution! SoL still lies, anarchy again.

Stats at 500BC:
68 cities, largest is Cimmeria at 17 (made 2 engineers recently)
11+11 engineers, 20 marines as the main attack forces, 4+12 dips, 48+35 caravans, 35 galleons. 7 explorers are my only casualties to date.
Atrocious reputation, everyone hates me but keeps offering cease fire. Spanish, Greeks down. Chinese have 1 city, Japanese 8, Indians 5, Russians unknown but one less than at 520BC. Japanese have 1500g so taking Kyoto is only the first marine goal.
82g upkeep, 167 incoming in anarchy at 6.0.4, closer to 1050 in democracy at 6.0.4. 1650 turns per advance, or 2 if I remember to keep a scientist in a city when I'm not being revolting.
50 techs. Steam engine beaker box is full, anarchy keeps me from finalizing it.
It's getting very hard to make caravans on the east side of the maze, supply is blocked and deliveries to those cities aren't unblocking them.
It was immediately apparent and predictable that marines are sub-optimal for rapid conquest, and frustrating that the AI builds few coastal cities to amuse myself with, but I'm sticking with them for this game. SoL not preventing anarchy seemed like a blow to the plan, but in practice it's costing me 5 minutes of disorder prevention and about 950 gold every other turn, and gives me the full advantage of democracy's trade bonuses and anarchy/fundy's attack capabilities every single turn. Oh, and my cities don't stay in WLTPD long enough to grow while I'm oscillating governments.

 

[Jokemaster]

So you have, at 500 BC, 9 more techs than I have, but I have almost twice as many cities, and every civ is dead in my game save for the Greeks (5cities) and Indians (1 city)

I don't understand why you seem to switch it up between Fundy/Demo. The UN and spies would make your conquest life SO easier with the Emissary's Ploy. Oh, and SoL reduces Anarchy to 1 turn, not 0.


Anyways, on with my game. Up to 1500 BC.


Date Notes

1980 BC: Barb legion attacks my warrior and is defeated. Food van in Paris: 55 shields left for Mikes. Pop hut: 50g. Pop hut: Barbs! This is bad, I am probably left with only one exploring unit left in the great ice continent... and that settler just stepped next to a Russian warrior. Not like if I’m frightened by that, but I probably lost on that hut...

1960 BC: My archer kills 6 barb horsemen, gets vet, one flees, but the last kills my unit. Am I pissed. Russian government overthrown. Oh oh. THE CHINESE SWITCH FROM COLOSSUS TO GL. Now I’m mad.

1940 BC: Russian monarchy is established. Pop exceeds 800.000 citizens. Pop hut: Nomads.

1920 BC: Pop hut: Nomads. Crete founded. Pop hut: Crusader.

1920 BC: Genoa founded.

1900 BC: Pop exceeds 900.000 citizens. Verona founded as the last city on landmass 16. Salamis founded. Pop huts: 2x100g. Elvis in Paris as it would otherwise be in disorder, thanks to the riot factor.

1880 BC: Bordeaux builds 1st Harbour. Stratsbourg builds its last Settler and begins war production as a Crusader is started for eventual conquest of the Japs and Russians. Lisbon founded.

1860 BC: Pop. exceeds 1.000.000 citizens. Hamburg founded. Pop hut: NOMADS! Back to 2 exploring units on the great ice continent. 2 unsupported settlers.

1840 BC: Pop hut: NONE crusader. Pop hut: 50g. Pop hut: 1 barb horsemen and 1 barb legion. The archer should survive. Build Prague. Build Salzburg.

1820 BC: Archer easily survives Barb attack. Pop hut: 50g.

1800 BC: Greeks start Colossus. Good. Pop hut: Nomads. Bergen founded. Pop hut: Crusaders.

1780 BC: Pop hut: 3 barb horsemen! No idea of my Settler will survive... if he does not I’m in trouble again.

1760 BC: 2 barb horsemen attack: My Settler survives (barely) and gains Vet status. Discover Banking and start Astronomy Paris builds Michelangelo’s Chapel, starts the Hanging Gardens. 3 food vans in Paris: 50 shields left. Build Venice. Build Milan. Pop hut: Legion.

1740 BC: Indians start Colossus. Good. They also develop Pottery. Russians develop Masonry, declare war with Japanese. Good. Pop hut: Nomads.

1720 BC: Indian Trireme (empty) sighted near Verona. The city of Ghent is founded. The city of Pisae is founded. The city of Dublin is founded. First war crusader produced in Stratsbourg.

1700 BC: Pop hut: Nomads. Pop hut on ice continent: Nomads.

1680 BC: Toronto founded. Pop hut: 25g.

1660 BC: Pop huts: 2x50g. Hail Indians: They demand Invention, refused. Give Sanitation, Republic, Polytheism, Philosophy, Writing, Warrior Code, University, Trade, Seafaring, Myscitism, Monarchy, Banking, Math. Update maps. Tech rate was 33 turns, now 27 turns.

1640 BC: Pop hut: 50g. Pop hut: 25g.

1620 BC: Melborne founded. Why the heck is it using a square already in use by Dublin? (whale) Pop hut on ice continent: Nomads...

1580 BC: Indian government overthrown. Russians develop Iron Working. Montreal founded. Indians have apparently switched to Monarchy AND ARE RESEARCHING FEUDALISM. Crap. Elvis in Paris: HG will be built next turn and the city will celebrate. Build Quebec. Hail Chinese: Give Trade, Republic, Philosophy, Construction, University, Seafaring, Monarchy, Banking, The Wheel. Update maps. I’m hoping that with new tech they will reswitch to Colossus (having diminished the need for GL to ‘’keep abreast of the water’’ I should have done that WAY earlier. Lyons II founded.

1560 BC: Paris builds the Hanging Gardens, celebrates and starts Leo’s. Celebration makes tech rate go down to 21 turns. 3 food vans in Paris: 250 shields left.

1540 BC: Chinese government overthrown. Pop hut on ice continent: Nomads again... Now THIS is getting pretty funny. 5 nomads and no offensive units. Loaded Spanish boat near Dijon: Move in 3 crusaders and fortify.

1520 BC: Chinese government is now a monarchy. Pop hut: 50g. Build Dorémy. Pop hut: Crusader. Build Versailles. 2 food vans in Paris: 140 shields left for Leo’s. Pop hut on ice continent: Nomads. Guess I’ll have to get used to that... more than 12 squares away from the nearest city and on another landmass. 44% odds are 44% odds.

1500 BC: Hail Japanese: They demand I declare war on Russians, rejected. They demand Invention, refused. They profess threats. I now demand tribute, they ‘’ignore my weak threats’’ The city of Marseilles (notice the last S) is founded. 2 vans in Paris: 35 shields left for Leo’s. The city of Baton Rouge is built. The city of Avignon II is built.

Status in 1500 BC

Population: 1.79 mil Cities: 52 Trade routes: 0D0F Government: Monarchy
Gold: 102 Cost per turn: 3 Total advances: 29 Production: 215MT 0 polluted tiles
Wonders: Pyramids, Marco, Mikes, HG, Currently building Leo’s
Units: 24 Settlers, 2 Warriors, 2 Archers, 1 Chariot, 1 legion, 11 crusaders, 9 triremes, 4 caravans.

Russians: 5 cities, 14 techs (Iron Working I don’t have) Mon, 12 units, peace.
Japanese: 4 cities, 14 units. 10 techs, Despo, peace.
Spanish: 5 cities, 10 techs (IW I don’t have) Despo, 18 units, peace.
Chinese: 5 cities, 21 techs, 12 units, peace. Currently building GL twice, Mon
Greeks: 8 cities, 9 techs. 18 units. Peace. Despo, currently building Colossus.
Indians: 5 cities, 23 techs. 14 units. Peace. Currently building Colossus, Monarchy.


It was mostly expanding during this period that kept my attention. I wanted the maze to be full of cities.