GOTM 124 spoiler

[Magic_gorter]

Finished the game....here's my log:

4000 bc Zimbabwe
3950 bc start Alphabet (12 beakers)
3450 bc Alphabet->Code of Laws (26 beakers)
3300 bc first settler
3200 bc Ulundi
2950 bc Code of Laws->Currency
2500 bc hut->25g
2350 bc Currency->Monarchy / hut->100g
2300 bc Bapedi + Hlobane
1850 bc Monarchy->Trade / MONARCHY
1300 bc Trade->Map Making / Mpondo
1200 bc Ngome
975 bc Swazi
800 bc Tugela+Umtata
775 bc Marco Polo build -> got Map Making, The Wheel, Writing, Mysticism and Pottery
750 bc start learning Literacy
725bc Umfolozi
675bc Ibabanago
650bc hut->Seafaring + chariot
625bc Isipezi
600bc Hanging Gardens build
525bc Literacy->Republic
500bc Amatikulu
425bc Lighthouse build
400bc hut->Horseback Riding
325bc Naples
275bc Issus
200bc Republic->Polytheism / Cunaxa
175bc Cremona
125bc REPUBLIC / hut->Cannae
50 bc Capua
25 bc Turin
1 ad Genoa / hut->Philosophy
20ad Polytheism->Monotheism
80 ad got Masonry from Persians / first caravan ->dye to Pasargadae 304g
120 ad Crete / hut->warrior code
160 ad Monotheism->Construction / Verona / hut->Banking
180 ad Salamis
200 ad hides tp Pasargadae (392g)
300 ad Lisbon
320 ad beads to Persepolis (536g)
340 ad Construction->Medicine / Michelangelo's build / copper to Susa (312g)
380 ad hides to Persepolis (536g)
400 ad Medicine->Engineering
440 ad silk to Susa (504g) + dye to Arbela (376g)
460 ad Engineering->Astronomy / salt to Cardiff (680g)
500 ad Hamburg
520 ad Astronomy->Sanitation
540 ad Shakespeare build
580 ad Dye to Antioch 656 g
600 ad salt to Antioch (400g)
620 ad Sanitation->Invention / wine to Pasardagae (690g) / Prague
640 ad Salt to Pasardagae (180g) + wine (260g)
660 ad Invention->Democracy / silk to Persepolis (160g)
700 ad got Iron Working
720 ad Dye to Susa (236g)
740 ad Salzburg
760 ad Bergen / dye to Carmarthen (340g)
780 ad Democracy->Bridge Building / beads to Susa (288g) + wine to Carmarthen (425g) + gold (280g) + silk to Tarsus (336g) / DEMOCRACY
800 ad Bridge Building->Navigation / Copernicus build / silk to Caernarfon (90g)
840 ad Silk to Kells (150g)
860 ad Dye to Tintagel (280g)
880 ad Navigation->University
900 ad Dye to Tintagel (192g)
940 ad Venice / salt to Kells (236g) + silk (252g) + dye to Cork (180g) + silk (124g)
960 ad University->Theory of Gravity
980 ad Copper to Cremona (308g) + wine to Kells (585g)
1000 ad Leonardo's build
1010 ad Theory of Gravity->Theology / beads to Caerarfon (344g) + wool (146g)
1020 ad Dye to Armagh (384g)
1030 ad Theology->Physics / gems to Ulundi (81g) + wine to Carmarthen (885g)
1040 ad Dye to Tarsus (68g) + silver to Kells (435g)
1050 ad Physics->Magnetism
1060 ad Isaac Newton build
1070 ad silver to Caernarfon (460g) + wine (435g) / Milan + Ghent
1080 ad Magnetism->Chemistry / Pisa / dye to Caernarfon (120g)
1100 ad got Chivalry and Gunpowder / silk to Susa (180g)
1110 ad Chemistry->Explosives / silk to Susa (408g)
1120 ad silver to Ulundi (235g) / Dublin + Toronto
1130 ad J.S. Bach build + Melbourne
1140 ad Explosives->Economics / silk to Pasargadae (372g) + wine to Tintagel (400g + 160g) + salt (156g) / Sydney
1150 ad Silk to Pasardagae (234g+216g)
1160 ad Economics->Steam Engine / gold to Tintagel (222g) / Zimbabwe / silk to Arbela (366g)
1180 ad Steam Engine->Railroad / wine to Tintagel (415g) / Ulundi
1190 ad Coal to Carmarthen (285g) / Bapedi
1200 ad Magellan's build / Railroad->Industrialization / Hlobane
1210ad dye to Susa (120g) / Isandhlwana / silk to Tintagel (340g+172g)
1220ad silver to Kells (397g) / Intombe
1230ad Industrialization->Metallurgy / hut->100g / silk to Tintagel (360g) + gold (284g)
1240ad Metallurgy->The Corporation / silk to Tintagel (324g) + gold (260g) /Mpondo
1250ad Wool to Cardiff (150g) + copper to Caernarfon (243g)
1260ad Ngome / gems to Susa (304g)
1270ad The Corporation->Electricity / gems to Ulundi (176g) + silver to Caernarfon (370g) + gold to Tintagel (1164g) + silk (522g) + dye (172g)
1280ad Electricity->Genetic Engineering / Adam Smith build / dye to Iona (112g) + Caerphilly (140g) / got Leadership / gems to Susa (606g) + silk to Pasargadae (546g+498g)
1290ad Genetic Engineering->Refrigeration / silver to Caernarfon (470g) + silk to Antioch (492g) + gold to Swazi (198g) + gems to Ulundi (336g) + coal (325g) + gems to Kells (258g)
1300ad Refrigeration->Refining / Cure for Cancer / gold to Ulundi (92g) + salt (90g)+ wool to Carmarthen (142g) + gold to Cardiff (210g) / advanced tribe (Swazi) / silver to Kells (800g)
1310ad Refining->Steel / oil to Ulundi (98g) + wine to Kells (470g) + silk to Tintagel (606g) + wine to Cardiff (385g) + silk to Armagh (738g)
1320ad Steel->Combustion / Tugela / salt to Cardiff (492g) + wine to Kells (645g) / hut->100g / hides to Tintagel (372g) + gold to Kells (256g)
1330ad Combustion->Automobile / dye to Iona (160g) + silk to Tintagel (594g) + silk to Caerphilly (198g) + wine to Kells (810g)
1340ad Automobile->Electronics / wine to Armagh (1105g) / Umtata / dye to Carmarthen (328g) + gold to Carmarthen (180g) + salt to Kells (258g) / Umfolozi
1350ad Electronics->Conscription / Ibabanago / copper to Caernarfon (120g) / gold to Armagh (2304g)
1360ad Conscription->Mass Production / gems to Ulundi (504g) + wine to Kells (795g) / Isipezi + Amatikulu / gems to Kells (296g) + oil (240g)
1370ad Mass Production->Tactics / dye to Carmarthen (1308g) / Zunguin / hides to Ulundi (333g) + oil (184g)
1380ad Tactics->Machine Tools / Darwin's Voyage build / Machine Tools->Flight->Miniaturization / dye to Carmarthen (115g) + wine to Tintagel (310g) + silver to Swazi (150g) + oil to Kells (160g) + silk to Tintagel (492g) + oil to Kells (208g) + silk to Armagh (608g) + beads to Iona (211g) + dye to Kells (84g)
1390ad Miniaturization->Computers / gold to Caernarfon (288g) / Naples / silk to Armagh (224g) + dye to Cardiff (264g) + gold to Caernarfon (316g)
1400ad Gold to Caerphilly (380g) + beads to Gordium (107g)
1410ad Computers->Radio / dye to Cork (206g) + gold to Caernarfon (480g+166g) + wine to Cardiff (350g) + wine to Tintagel (300g) + salt to Armagh (190g) + oil (210g)
1420ad Radio->Advanced Flight / Seti Program build / coal to Ulundi (292g) + gold to Caerphilly (104g) + gems to Ulundi (362g) + gold to Cunaxa (104g) + spice to Tugela (336g) + gold to Pasargadae (118g)
1430ad Flight->Rocketry / oil to Caernarfon (168g) / Issus / gold to Caernarfon (258g+68g) + dye to Zimbabwe (111g) + dye to Swazi (122g) + dye to Cremona (54g) + spice to Tugela (264g)
1440ad Rocketry->Mobile Warfare / copper to Ulundi (454g)
1450ad Cunaxa / silver to Carmarthen (410g) + silk to Armagh (226g) + salt to Tintagel (151g) + oil (96g) + dye (136g) + dye to Kells (134g)
1460ad Mobile Warfare->Space Flight / silver to Ulundi (605g) + silk to Armagh (608g) + gems to Ulundi (372g) / dye to Prague (162g) / advance tribe (Cremona) / beads to Persepolis (251g) + wine to Carmarthen (274g) + silk to Armagh (612g)
1470ad Space Flight->Plastics / dye to Tintagel (936g) + hides to Ulundi (133g)
1480ad Plastics->Robotics / gold to Iona (168g) + hides to Bactra (235g) / advanced tribe (Cannae) / gems to Ulundi (648g) + hides (139g) + dye to Armagh (2x 178g) + gold (172g) + gems to Cork (272g)
1490ad salt- to Antioch (64g) + gold to Turin (218g) + oil to Gnome (2x268g) + hides to Ulundi (134g)
1500ad Apollo Program build / Robotics->Atomic Theory /capture Persepolis (Pyramids+Great Wall+364g) ->Cease Fire / Spice to Tugela (222g) + hides to Ulundi (124g) + silk to Armagh (648g) + gems (168g) + due (532g+134g)
1505ad captured Passargadae (214g) ->cease fire (salt to Tarsus (120g)
1510ad Atomic Theory->Nuclear Fission / susa captured (299g) / Capua / salt to Ulundi (123g) + oil to Zimbabwe (164g) + gold to Salamis (182g) + salt to Antioch (320g) + copper to Caernarfon (206g) + spice to Armagh (176g) + hides (204g+150g)
1515ad Nuclear Fission->Nuclear Power
1520 ad Capture Kells (93g+Collosus)

After this date there were build a few wonders, the Celts got destroyed and the Persians lost almost all their cities...
Full spaceship launched in 1615ad
landed in 1626 ad

I will add the stats soon...

 

[Major Advantage]

The final part of my log:

1260 Autom.->Refrig, rush some SHs
1270 Refrig.->Atom. Theory, Basel founded
1280 Atom. Theory -> Genetic Engineering (get CfC for easier celebration)
1300 Gen. Eng. -> Electronics Celts refuse to tech-trade(Sun Tzu), lower science, won't get tech next turn
1320 Electron. -> Fundy, CfC finished
1330 Fundy-> Mass Prod.; getting dip ready to subvert Swansea on cont. 9
1340 subvert Swansea (2*86), 6g+Chivalry
1350 Mass Prod.->Communism, ~3000g from deliveries, Linköpping, Herning founded
1360 Communism -> Leadership; forgot about comm. hurting Mike , most celebrations stopped
1370 Leadership->Tactics; Östersund founded
1380 Tactics->Machine Tools
1390 MT->Espionage
1400 Esp->Mini
1410 Mini->Computer; Re-establish Embassy with Celts, subvert Illauntanig(2*450g; 42+Feudalism), prepare zoom-home to finish SETI before main cities are processed
1420 Comp.->Theology (need Bach), SETI built, T0S7L3 to get two advances
1430 Theo->Nucl. Fission->Nucl. Power, Bach bought for 1592g, Reggio founded
1440 Nucl. Power -> Flight->Laser; 70% not enough for 1 advance by city science, rush some libr/uni
1450 Laser->Radio
1460 Radio->Adv. Flight
1470 Adv. Fl->Rocketry
1480 Rocket.->Mob. Warfare, start preparations for ss-building
1490 Mob. W-> Spaceflight; start wonders for ss-parts, prepare zoom-home to build Apollo and start Spaceship next turn
1500 Spaceflight->Plastic; Apollo built as planned. demand Celt retreat, war, take out their units in italy
1505 Plastics -> Supercond.; 19 struct. built
1510 Supercond.->comb. weapons; Ship: 28-2-1-0-0-0
1515 comb. weapons -> Fusion; ship: 35-2-2-1-1-0, raise taxes to hopefully finish ss next turn, fusion & launch 1 turn later
1520 ship: 38-3-3-1-1-1; sell plenty of improvements to raise money, disband some units and hopefully complete spaceship next turn
1525 Fusion -> Robotics; ship still misses two components, launch anyway at 39-7-7-4-4-4
1526 Robotics -> Guerilla
(stupid Persians capture empty Baku, two Partisans)
1527 Guerilla->Stealth; Baku taken back by Partisans (87g+WC)
Endgame options:
1. increase score peacefully (pop growth, wonders, peace, FT)
2. go to war (mainly spies and stealth fighter/paratroopers), grow and build wonders, cut down science after stealth
Pick option 2, although 1 might be more efficient for score
bribe persian fregate outside Baku (395g), sink Celt galleon with it
1528 bribe Antioch 1120g (216 + 5 units)
(STUPID! Left Astana empty and Persian explorer marched right into it, 4 Partisans)
1529 Stealth -> Labor Union, Astana taken back
1531 First stealth-fighter action: kill persian catapult
1532 Labor Union-> Recycling; Hoover Dam built, some big deliveries, start atcking with st.fighters, cap Gordium 315g, Bactra 109g, Arbela 223g (+GL)
1533 Recycling -> FT; cap Persepolis (246g+Oracle), Tarsus (297g), Pasargade (122g+LH), Bribe Susa 700g (145), Persia conquered, cap Methyr (22g)
1534 Adam Smith built, stop building engineers, keep rushing city improvements for growth/happiness
1535 UN built, sign peace with Celts and gift them writing out of generousity
1537 FT1->Amph. Warfar; Eiffel Tower, Liberty built; let Montreal drop out of Celebration by carelessness; complete last available wonders
1538 Build KRC, Manhattan and WS; Clean up pollution, settle engineers, subvert Llangollen (cont. 48) 2*88g
1539 The Eagle has landed

I didn't mention all cities founded during this late era. In the end, I had 95 cities and ~120 Mio citizens.

 

[mackerel]

1000 - Bridges>Economics.
1010 - FD 320, 352, 360. DD 456, 228. 26.9, 42.3, 28, 21 founded. Hut>Musketeer. Tax 6.4.0 as enough aqueducts are near completion to celebrate home island again. Economics>Steam Engine.
1020 - FD 670, 1010. DD 483. 51.14, 26.10, 26.11, 34.4 founded. Hut>Barbs, 50g, 100g. 41 cities are too small to celebrate, 64 are celebrating, 2 can't because of food/happiness, 1 can't because Science doesn't have a sewer. I should have 65 cities at size 8-12 when the first railroads come online. Steam Engine>Railroad.
1030 - DD 148, 240. 9.22, 26.12 founded. Hut>Musket, 50g. Shipchain messup prevents additional deliveries.
1040 - FD 582, 316. DD 384. 26.13 founded. Lux rate to 5.5.0 to prepare for HG cancellation while hopefully continuing celebrations. Railroad will be discovered by the last possible city, hopefully that helps. Barb attack nearly kills musket, kills crusader. Railroad>Industrialization.
1050 - 51.15, 34.5, 9.23, 26.14 founded. Darwin visits island 21 with 1596g spending money. Barb horse bought for 41g, threat eliminated.
Celts raze 26.10, plunder 0g and gunpowder. 21 completes Darwin, Industrialization>Sanitation>Corporation.
1060 - FD 447, 497, 243. DD 202, 356, 112. Celtic catapult bought for 240, trireme for 224 to save another defenseless city. Tax to 8.2.0 to end celebrations and earn 1600 gold per turn for buying Celtic cities and curing cancer soon.
Celts adopt monarchy, attack one caravan. Corporation>Gravity.
1070 - FD 240, 765. DD 170, 268, 254, 306. 9.24 founded. Carmarthen bought for 1470+GW+100g+market+archer+legion+caravel. Tintagel bought 685+63g+granary+harbor+archer. Kells 1080+58g+elephant+phalanx+settler. Celts down to 8 cities, peace accepted.
Persians develop writing. Celts revolt again. Science builds first sewer system. Gravity>GenEng.
1080 - FD 536. DD 385, 312, 290, 290, 172, 150. Hut>Crusader. Dip set up to zoom from Lisbon (completing harbor) to Southbridge (building Smith->CureCancer).
Celts adopt Republic, end war with Persia. GenEng>Metallurgy. Cancer cured in Southbridge for 2392g.
1090 - FD 380, 220, 690. DD 344, 214, 272, 145. 9.24, 9.25, 36.1 founded. Hut>Crusader.
Celts begin Adam Smith. Forgot to doublecheck science guy after adjusting taxes, no discovery.
1100 - 39.19, 36.2, 26.15 founded. Hut>100g, musketeer.
Metallurgy>Electricity, GW cancelled. 38.7m citizens.
1110 - FD 720, 202, 560, 492, 624. DD 198. 9.27, 9.28 founded. Hut>Crusader.
Electricity>Refining. 45m citizens.
1120 - FD 402, 960, 324n, 400, 510, 318n, 324n, 216n. DD 450, 94, 300, 366, 198, 246, 136. 47.4, 9.29, 9.30, 9.31 founded. Celts and Persians withdraw troops.
Refining>Refrigeration. 51m citizens.
1130 - FD 908, 258n, 780, 325, 320n, 308, 615, 780. DD 426, 252. 26.16, 26.17, 34.6, 34.7, 51.16, 51.17 founded. Hut>Crusader. Caerphilly bought for 580x2+63+4 units. Hut>Barbs. Smith bought for 1300 in Hlobane, saving 75/turn.
2250 beakers per advance @51 tech, Indians 23 tech; GL is obsolete so I could give tech away.
Persians develop Trade. Refrigeration>Steel.
1140 - FD 1564 (SSC silk to celt size 8), 716, 1400, 160, 312, 332. DD 218, 488, 408, 258. 26.18, 34.8 founded. Shake's bought for 1120 in Science.
Steel>Combustion. 65m citizens.
1150 - FD 480, 484, 372, 452. DD 528, 346, 125, 89. 26.18, 41.3, 51.19, 9.32 founded.
Combustion>Electronics.
1160 - FD 570, 855, 1170, 188, 236, 244, 315, 745. DD 404, 194, 198, 254, 203, 111, 290. 26.19, 26.20, 26.21, 26.22, 26.23, 34.9, 34.10, 45, 47.5 founded. Hut>100g. Celtic Rhondda bought for 470x2+86+temple+2 phalanx. Gifted Railroad to Celts.
Electronics>Automobile. 82m citizens.
1170 - FD 864, 480, 488. DD 542, 357. 34.11, 34.12, 47.6, 26.24, 9.33, 9.34, 9.35, 38.2 founded.
Automobile>Chivalry. 90m citizens.
1180 - FD 252, 320, 456, 306n. 1075, 1056, 594, 312n, 1392. DD 402, 532, 390, 525, 480, 280, 413. 9.36, 9.37, 9.38, 9.39, 26.25, 14.1, 47.7, 33.1, 14.2 founded. (crashed, had to replay deliveries)
Chivalry>Leadership. Pollution near Science (1 caution sign). 99m citizens.
1190 - FD 412, 1146, 330n, 732, 560, 668. DD 3xx, 977, 1478, 810. 23.1, 14.3, 47.8, 47.9, 9.40 founded. Tax to 0.4.6, I'm feeling like vans can cover the need for tax now.
Leadership>Conscription>Tactics. 108m citizens.
1200 - FD 1656, 130n, 1434, 648, 334n. DD 396, 615, 677, 548, 527, 266, 1230, 948, 441, 344, 630, 972, 422. 9.41, 9.42, 9.43, 9.44, 9.45, 23.2 founded. Hut>Rifleman.
Celts land near 36.1, invasion imminent? Tactics>MassProd>MachineTools. 117m citizens.
1210 - FD 328, 194n, 525, 352. DD 1142, 1200, 737, 374, 822, 1200, 1218, 945, 1458. Amatikulu, 18.1, 18.2, 9.46, 9.47, 6.1, 6.2(AT,temple,market,size2) founded. Celtic caravel bought 194, they are not allowed ships. Stacks of 2 diplomats placed near Celtic and Persian cities, it is time for provocation.
MachineTools>Recycling>Miniaturization.
1220 - FD 1350. DD 960, 945, 1040n, 1100, 2149, 1090, 528n, 393n, 934, 924, 591n, 496n, 758, 378n, 996, 200n, 480n, 882, 787, 381n, 399n, 448n. 1100 spent on Newton in Science. 241g for Persian warrior blocking the railway. 654x2 for Illauntanig+144+temple,musket,catapult. Pay 50g for Celts to declare war on Persia, Persia declares war on me. Tarsus razed+58g, 26.26 founded in its place.
Senate gives Persia peace. Miniaturization>Computers>MobileWarfare. Science builds Newton finally. 134m citizens.
1230 - DD 728, 630, 1864, 1206, 1052, 848, 414n, 319n, 486n, 742, 1060, 707, 600n, 588. 46, 36.3, 12.1, 6.3, 6.4 founded. Celts demand I declare war on Persia again, how convenient. Pasargadae captured+377, senate forces peace again. Antioch bought for 552x2+377+barracks+temple+market, Persians reborn as Americans (peace, computers, railroad, invention -> maps). SETI bought in Amatikulu for 2392. After giving Indians everything but Democracy, 30% science is enough for one turn discoveries. (crash)
MobileWar>AtomicTheory>Fission>NuclearPower. 143m citizens, 80% of the next tech discovered, bleh.
1240 - FD 745, 1386, 260, 152, 348. DD 1304, 1429, 362n, 1429, 614n, 819, 744, 489n, 786, 1113, 632, 712n, 1429. 25.1, 30.1, 30.2, 12.2, 8.1 founded. Hut>Rifleman. Engineers begin building into cities smaller than size 3, allowing a few turns of celebration before the end. 20% science gives one turn advances - 2.4.4 tax rate should land 3 advances this turn and leave Flight partially complete.
NuclearPower>Robotics>Laser>Flight (10% overflow). 155m citizens.
1250 - FD 800, 340. DD 977, 960, 412n, 1113, 630, 174, 1540, 997, 667, 543n, 513n, 1540 (SSC demands oil), 373n, 562, 902, 303n, 1540, 391n, 650n, 1540, 399n, 1540, 517n, 1452, 430n, 1540, 391n, 1354, 517n, 1396, 346n. 9.48, 20.1, 20.2, 25.2, 48.3, 36.4 founded. Hut>50g. Industrialization to America for maps, they planted Washington. Spent 28875g down to 17319. Iona bought for 826x2+196g+temple+market+harbor+3 units. Caernarfon bought 904x2+90g+2 units.

Status at 1250 AD -
Population: 156.08M; Cities: 211; Techs: 71; Government: Democracy;
Gold: 13500; Cost: 734; Trade routes: more than I care to count;
Ancient Wonders: Pyramids, HG, Colossus, LH, Oracle (captured), Great Wall (captured)
Medieval Wonders: MPE, Mike's, Cope's, Magellan, Shakes
Industrial Wonders: Leo's, Bach, Newton, Smith, Darwin
Modern Wonders: SETI, CFC
Units: 1 settler, 116 engineers, 143 freight, 47 boats, 13 dips, 5 crusaders, 7 musketeers, 1 NONE cannon
Celts: GL; peace; 3 cities, 32 tech, 724g, republic
Persia: Eliminated by me
America: 1 city, 25 tech, 0 gold, despotism
Indians: 1 city, 70 tech (missing democracy), 187g, republic, researching amphibious warfare.

Notes/goals:
I should discover 10 techs in the next 2 turns, enabling a space victory. In preparation, my engineers are racing to build into small cities for some turns of celebration. I have enough gold in the bank to cover the world with airports, and enough vans to replenish funds for spaceship parts. I had wanted to make 254 large cities but boredom is going to have something to say about that; I'll have to settle for 220 or so and some of them won't be over size 8. Nearly all the green land is covered, just a few islands near the Celts left. The northern islands are less hospitable, and I'm not bothering to terraform them at this time, they just get a boost to size 3 and a harbor.

 

[Jokemaster]

1010 AD: Swazi market. Some cities aqueducts, harbours. Population exceeds 21 million citizens. Kill Celtic chariot. They oddly have not requested any talks, which gives me a free hand in conquest. Hut: Nomads.
Interturn: Celtic capital moved to Caernafon. Annoying. Guess I have to change my target: I was going after Armagh.

1020 AD: 1 cities harbour. 2 cities aqueducts. 1 city temple. Population exceeds 24 million citizens. Hlobane copper (d) to Persépolis: 380g. Decide to attack Caernafon immediately, with crusaders at 2/3 strength: the city is unwalled, defended by only 2 units and I don’t want to risk a Senate-enforced peace treaty next turn. Storm Caernafon for 60g+3 citizens after killing the 2 defenders: no casualties. Hut: Nomads.
Interturn: Persian capitol moved to Persépolis. Very. Annoying. At least I don’t have to deal with walls anymore in their case.

1030 AD: 4 cities harbour. 3 cities aqueduct. Persia: taunt fails. Kill Celtic unit stack. That they are not trying to talk with me is very unusual. Melbourne II built.

1040 AD: Gênes II hides. Some cities build harbours. Population exceeds 28 million citizens. I decide to end the celebration: T1L3S6, discoveries 2 turns! Tech cost is 1488 and I’m generating 903 science per turn: Democracy is officially overpowered. Swazi wine (d) to Persépolis: 555g. Sydney II built. Zimbabwé III built. Kill Celtic Catapult near Armagh.

1050 AD: Discover Astronomy: start Navigation (Medicine not available...) Celebrations end in a load of cities. Ulundi silk (d) to Tarse: 564g. Ulundi III built.

1060 AD: Discover Navigation: start Medicine. Vérone silk. Cunaxa hides. Intombe gems. Bapedi temple. Pasargades settlers. Ulundi harbour. Kill Celtic chariot near Kells. Position some crusaders to attack Armagh. Prague wine (d) to Bapedi: 170g. Capoue II wine (d) to Tugela: 185g. Bapedi III built. Hlobane III built.
Interturn: Persian sneak attack?!? Archer unit kills one of my caravans. At least I can take out their capitol now. Celtic catapult and settler move near my crusaders.

1070 AD: Discover Medicine: start Sanitation (Chemistry not available) Isipezi II riots. Capoue dye. Umtata dye. Isa wine. Hlobane copper. Mpondo silk (d) to Antioche: 702g. Kill Celtic catapult near Armagh. Kill Celtic Archer in Armagh. Kill Celtic Settler near Armagh. Kill Celtic Phalanx in Armagh. City empty, but I don’t have any units left to take it. Attack Persépolis: first crusader dies to archer. 2nd crusader kills off Archer. 3rd crusader kills Warrior. Storm Persépolis for 51g+4 citizens+barracks (sold) Cardiff is demanding Silk: maybe domestic trade would be worth more now for silk trade. I’ll have to make Cardiff grow however: at. Any.cost. In retrospect, I should have started this earlier. Rush marketplace in Cardiff to make city grow. Gênes II hides.

1080 AD: Isipezi II riots... again! Crap! I thought it would go back to peace, but no... and everyone knows what that means. Cremona copper. Cunaxa hides. T0L6S4. Next Oedo year is next turn. Isipezi II grew to size 5 by normal means, that’s what caused it... :facepalm: should have went the safe way. That’s going to slow down things quite a bit. Kill Celtic Chariot in Armagh: Armagh stormed for 34g+2 citizens.

1090 AD: Bergen II silver. No option to have a change of gov’t? That’s not good... but I thought today was an Oedo year! No comprendo. I guess I’ll have to build the SoL in haste. Good thing I have 4 vans lying near Ngome and another one built next turn... but I’ll still need to do some fire-sales. Not good. Attack Tintagel: Kill Celtic archer. Tintagel stormed for 44g+3 citizens. Attack Antioche: 2 Crusaders kill 2 Archers. Antioche stormed for 52g+4 citizens. Persia: They offer cease-fire, I say no, war. Isa III built. Hut: Barbs, crusader goes back in boat.

1100 AD: Ngome food, starts SoL. Intombe food. 5 vans in Ngome: 150s left. I need 470g more. Hut: Nomads... on grassland! Kill Barb horse with crusader. Hut: Moar nomads. Send another van in Ngome: 270g left. Kill Archer defending Tarse: Tarse stormed for 43g+3 citizens+Granary (sold for 60g) I have 233g: need 167 more. Kill Celtic Phalanx defending Caerphilly: Caerphilly stormed for 50g+3 citizens+Harbour. Sell Harbours in Issos II, Kells. Rush the SoL in Ngome for 400g.

1110 AD: Ngome builds the SoL. SoL works: choose Fundamentalism. Kill Archer in a fort near Arbela. Kill Settler near Arbela. Celts: They offer cease-fire, I say no, war? Normally, I would kill in an instant, but with restarts on... I still kill the Phalanx. Revolution to Democracy. T3L2S5: some infrastructure needs to be rebuilt, need cash. Intombe III built.

1120 AD: Some cities celebrate. Ghent II dye. Milan II dye. Discover Sanitation : start University. Isandhlwana silk (d) to Arbela: 468g. Tech cost 1750. I’m thinking of relying on domestic trade and to compensate for the loss of the foreign bonus with greater recipient city size and control of recipient city arrows. Attack Arbela: Kill defending Phalanx. Arbela stormed for 38g+2 citizens. Celts: Peace. Rush bank in Cardiff. Rush temples in Ulundi, Swazi, Isipezi, Zunguin, Crète, Lisbonne, Bergen, Isipezi II. Rush marketplace in Hlobane. Both enemy civs are down to 1 city. T2L2S6. Mpondo III built.
Interturn: Persian gov’t overthrown.

1130 AD: Toronto II silk. Hambourg II gold. Salamis II spice. Umtata II salt. Discover University : Start Chemistry. Cunaxa dye. Hlobane builds market, celebrates but no sewer in place yet. Bapedi gems. Cardiff bank, worker change will trigger WLTPD. Zimbabwé silk. Ngome III built. Persians switched to Monarchy. Persia: peace. Disband Cardiff musketeer, rush temple. Disband some crusaders in Celtic lands. Disband some garrisons in Celtland and Persia. Umtata silk (d) to domestic Cardiff: 807g. Not bad! Rush bank in Pasargades.

1140 AD: Toronto hides. Discover Chemistry: start BB (Explosives not available...) Cannae gems. Amatikulu copper. Tugela dye. Mpondo dye. Isa wine. Pasargades bank, celebrates. Rush temple after disbanding garrison. Cardiff temple, celebrates. Hut: AT (Swazi III) a size 3 with granary and temple. Sell granary. Oddly enough, it was an AT even if the food potential for the city is rather poor (without Harbour, that is) Hut: Barbs. Knight is doomed. Tugela III built. Intombe silk (d) to Gordion: 660g. Rush sewer in Hlobane. Rush settler in Isipezi II: I’m planning on disbanding that city to make room for Cardiff, my STC. T1L2S7. Swazi rushes bank.
Interturn: Knight kills 2 attacking barb horsemen, vet. And whaaaaat?!? The knight actually survives all 6 of them?!? Not expecting that for sure! In other news, musket smacks another barb horse.

1150 AD: Dublin II silk. Cunaxa II gems. Naples II settlers, disorder. Dublin wine. Salzburg silk. Salamis settlers and disorder. Need to build temples in these cities: don’t want another collapse. Turin wine. Discover BB: start Explosives (finally!) Umtata gems. Swazi bank. Carmathen settlers and WLTPD. Hlobane sewer, but for some reason exits WLTPD. Bapedi dye. Pasaragades bank. Population exceeds 32 million citizens. Rush sewer in Cardiff. Gênes II hides (d) to Carmathen: 200g. For some new random reason Hlobane is back in celeb mode. Pop hut: Nomads.

1160 AD: Salzbourg II dye. Intombe II wine. Ulundi II spice. Hlobane celebrates, rush bank. Leonardo’s upgrades all Settlers as Engineers as Explosives is finally discovered. Physics up next. Cardiff sewer, size 13. Cannae gems (d) to Cardiff: 669g. Pise dye (d) to Cork: 284g. Umtata III built. Rush courthouse in Pasargades.
Interturn: Persians develop Currency.

1170 AD: Venise II coal. Prague II engineers and disorder. Ngome II dye. Zimbabwé II coal. Discover Physics: start Magnetism. Isa dye. Hlobane bank. Pasargades courthouse. Persépolis dye. ZImbabwé dye. Vérone silk (d) to Pasargades: 342g. Umfolozi III built. Ibabanago III built. Rush courthouse in Cardiff. Isipezi III built.
1180 AD: Zimbabwé III wine. Gênes II hides. Cremona II wine. Pise gems. Cunaxa beads. Ngome dye. Cardiff courthouse. Leonardo’s upgrades all Caravels to Galleons. Discover Magnetism: start Economy. Cunaxa II gems (nd) to Cardiff: 140g, unblocks... silver?!? Not expected. T2L2S6, one-turn advances are not needed so badly anymore. Rush sewer in Pasargades. Start Magellan’s. 8 vans in Ngome: Mag’s next turn. Umtata dye (d) to Caerphilly: 454g. Rush courthouse in Hlobane. Amatikulu III built. Hut: 50g.

1190 AD: Bergen II dye. Capoue II dye. Bergen silk. Cannae silver. Zunguin copper. Umfolozi gems. Suse gold. Ngome builds Mag’s. Intombe gems. Isa food. Pasargades sewer, first pollution triangle. Ulundi food. Zimbabwé dye. Rush harbour in Cardiff. ZUnguin III built. Naples III built. Issos III built. Hut: 100g.

1200 AD: Melbourne II gems. Discover Economy: start ToG. Dublin gems. Ghent dye. Isipezi beads. Tugela gold. Mpondo dye. Population exceeds 35 million citizens. Rush stockmarket in Pasargades. Zimbabwé II coal (d) to Cardiff: 432g. Cunaxa III built. Hlobane (SSC) Pasargades (KRC) and Cardiff (STC) still growing. Hut: Musketeer.

1210 AD: Toronto hides. Cremona dye. Naples silk. Discover ToG: start Metallurgy. Swazi silk. Armagh silver. Intombe dye. Isa food. Hlobane silk. Pasargades stockmarket. Zimbabwé food. Cannae silver (d) to Cardiff: 652g. Bapedi gems (d) to Cardiff: 897g. T1L3S6. Rush library in Cardiff.

1220 AD: Almost every under size-8 city celebrates, but the size 8 ones can’t be pushed to 12 yet (happiness, not enough black hats for 30%). GW’s effect is cancelled as Metallurgy is discovered. Steam Engine up next. Bapedi II gems. Prague gems. Hambourg copper. Salamis coal. Capoue silver. Cardiff library, produces 76 science beakers. Population is above 37 million citizens. Rush a library in Hlobane. Zimababwé silk (d) to Caerphilly: 636g. Cremona III built. Hut: 100g.

1230 AD: Isa II gems. Ulundi II gems. Melbourne coal. Lisbonne wine. Crète dye. Cunaxa dye, celebrates and discovers Steam Engine. Electricity is next. Ngome dye. Intombe food. Isa gold. Hlobane library, produces 70 beakers. Pasargades wine, production 26. Ulundi spice. Zimbabwé food. Population goes over 40 million citizens. Isa dye (nd) to Cardiff: 292g, unblocks Gems in Cardiff. Zimbabwé gems (d) to Cardiff: 978g. T2L3S5, could use a tax increase right now (I have to build temples/harbours and to plan for Adam Smith’s, Darwin’s and CfC) and van science looks promising enough to send the science rate down. Cunaxa hides (d) to Tintagel: 340g. Cannae III built. Capoue III built.

1240 AD: Bapedi III silk. Gênes II hides. Discover Electricity: start Leadership (RR not available) Zimbabwé II dye. Bergen dye. Turin gems. Cannae dye. Amatikulu wine. Umfolozi dye. Tugela spice. Mpondo food. Population is over 43 million citizens. Isa wine (d) to Caerphilly: 452g. Cremona copper (d) to Caernafon: 254g. Gênes II hides (d) to Tintagel: 278g. Dublin wine (d) to Tintagel: 445g. More like it.

1250 AD: Leo’s upgrades all mounted units to Dragoons as Leadership is discovered. Railroad up next. Ibabanago dye. Bapedi II dye. Ghent spice. Salzbourg gold. Salamis dye. Vérone beads. Capoue dye. Swazi gems. Ngome gold. Hlobane dye. Bapedi dye. Pasargades dye. Population is over 46 million citizens. Turin wine (d) to Celtic Cork: 405g. Turin III built. Cunaxa hides (d) to Armagh: 318g. Zimbabwé III wine (d) to Armagh: 260g. Ngome starts Adam Smith’s. Gênes III built as a fillup city on my homeland. Crète III built. T3L3S4: I’ll need some money to rush Darwin’s.

Status at 1250 AD:
Population: 46.3M; Cities: 117; Techs: 48; Government: Democracy
Gold: 47; Cost: 205; Trade routes: All but 2 domestic.
Wonders: Pyramids, LH, HG, Marco’s, Mikes, Colossus, Oracle, GW, KRC, Leo’s, JSB, SoL, Mag’s.
Units: 83 Engineers, 8 Musketeers, 51 Galleons, 3 dips, 85 vans, 2 dragoons, 1 explorer.
Notes: Working okay enough. The accidental gov’t collapse was a pain in the you-know-where, and the forced diverting of trade vans to the SoL was also not welcomed, but everything is going more or less according to plan (except that foreign opposition has been wiped out by force during the anarchy period, instead of being bought off) Domestic trade, mainly with Cardiff, is working fine with great payouts and tech is no longer a problem. Engineer and van count okay. A bit behind schedule as far as celebrations go, but I’ve been able to push all my newly founded cities to size 8 and to send STC Cardiff, SSC Hlobane and KRC city Pasargades to size 20+ (could not do that when I was rushing to Explosives/Magnetism... but KRC is going to expire soon) and I think I’ll be able to send city sizes through the roof after I’m done with CfC/Hoover and get these last critical techs needed for whatever version of PD I’m doing right now (namely RR/Ind/Corp/CfC/Hoover)

Goals (1500 AD) Gun for Genetic Engineering and Electronics, and build CfC, Hoover, Darwin’s, Adam Smith’s, and superhighways in Cardiff. Afterwards, raise enough money to prep for celebrations and do some general celebrations up to the highest that I can: the endgame is coming, as I will soon take a vacation (at time of writing) and I need to make sure that I can mop it up fast. Prepare for the endgame by starting to rush some courthouses and for-score wonders, and keep expanding and doing (mostly railroads) groundwork.

Both civs are capital-less.
Celts: 1 city, republic
Persians: 1 city, monarchy.

Right now, there is no question that I'm way behind mackerel, thanks to my sloppy start. It will be interesting whether my next 25 turns will be able to make a difference.

EDIT: I'm still plugging away. I'll probably have to say goodbye to a full spaceship, but I think that I'll still be able to finish by Sept 1st.

 

[mackerel]

Finally finished. I went for extreme sprawl and PD. Hopefully the tedium of 4 hour turns will be worth the final score.

Looking back, I see I kept luxuries at 40% from 1190 to the end with a two turn dip to 30% for 5 discovery turns during the crucial flight-apollo phase, then back to 40% to finish the game at a 4/turn rate. I used the zoom trick to build Apollo during the turn I discovered space flight, and learned all the necessary tech to build the ship that same turn, so spent 25000g building the fastest ship immediately.

Endgame, I rushed nearly all my engineers into new size 3 island cities, bought harbors and one freight where possible. Most of those cities grew to size 6-8 before the landing.

Lessons learned: A city poised to both grow by food surplus and build a settler will build the settler and shrink, and the new food box will not be full. However, a harbor built into a starving city will not prevent that round of starvation.

Final status -
Population: 262.89M; Cities: 241; Techs: 99; Government: Democracy;
Gold: 12674; Cost: 1616; Income: 1734; Trade routes: more than I care to count;
Ancient Wonders: Pyramids, HG, Colossus, LH, Oracle (captured), Great Wall (captured), Great Library (captured)
Medieval Wonders: SunTzu, KRC, MPE, Mike's, Cope's, Magellan, Shakes
Industrial Wonders: Leo's, Bach, Newton, Smith, Darwin, SoL, Eiffel
Modern Wonders: Suffrage, Hoover, Manhattan, UN, Apollo, SETI, CFC
Units: 10 engineers, 63 freight, 64 boats, 8 dips, 1 NONE musketeer, 1 NONE cannon
Celts: Eliminated by me
Persia: Eliminated by me
America: Eliminated by me
India: 1 city, 76 tech (missing democracy), 266g, communism, researching amphibious warfare, still no capital.
Russia: 1 city, 20 tech, 6g, republic. Never bothered to introduce myself.

 

[Jokemaster]

I'll be finishing in a few more days. I'm 6 turns away from a 400 points SS landing, not in the running for green star but in the running for blue, so I'll hopefully be able to submit in the next few days.

It's amazing what PD can do when you have the time to spare, even without the foreign bonus. Took way more turns than mackerel, but I think that I may come out on top due to massive farmland building... having 500 Engineers at the end is long but good for score

EDIT: Done. The last few turns were extremely good, and I think I may have a shot at this one... but we'll have to wait and see.