So, thats my second Emperor-level game completed in a week. Two defeats, both to spaceship while I was heading for the last forlorn hope of a diplomatic victory. My main hope is that Im learning something from this, as the games themselves, after interesting starts, each turned into drab affairs with no hope of victory.
A Little Violence
The early history ended where we were planning to remove Qin from the iron island. This we achieved, but it didnt quite go as planned. Had some bad luck in losing at 95% and then 85%, ruining my first attack force. Built up a second force and succeeded at taking Nanjing (renamed Ironopolis) in 720AD.
We then bolstered our defences and Qin never managed to threaten us seriously. We patched things up with him. Having got what we wanted we didnt mind giving him a tech for peace.
A Lot of Resting
Things then went horribly quiet, and I can trace my defeat back to passivity at this time.
Thinking of Violence
We had recently met Asoka, and spent a while mapping out his land. I often considered an attack on him, but although he didnt have any iron, he always seemed to have large numbers of defenders compared to me. Our productivity was just never good enough (except for Paris) to churn out military, and I was also very worried about what a large army would do to my economy.
I see from my notes at around this time that I was also thinking of throwing the Chinese off of an island to the south, and near the ivory island. Again, this never materialised.
No Wonder
I was trying to encourage the production of Gt People, and did see a few. Just not enough to make any difference. In retrospect I suffered from my failure to go for any wonders at all after the Oracle! What did I say right at the start of my notes? Strong military, and Wonder-builders. Ha!
Out and About in the World
In the 1500s we met J Caesar Esq, who seemed to have drawn the short straw and spent time isolated and backwards. At least it made our position look a little better, to see him propping up all of the scores.
We also met Frederick, who we had known about since we exchanged world maps with Huayna Capac a few years earlier. He immediately took on a formidable position near the top of the scoreboards.
With our first caravels, we had discovered the untouched (and quite resource-rich) lands off to the south-east. We were just trying to colonise these, but due to a stupid miscalculation I hadnt realised that it couldnt be done with galleys! What a waste of time!
A Bit of Fist-shaking
In the 1600s, Saladin asked us to join his war against Asoka. Desperate to throw off our inactivity, we accepted, in the hope that Asoka would find it more of a struggle being split fighting two opponents. Naturally, just a couple of turns later, Sladin made peace and left us to it alone! Thanks, chum.
After a few more turns we were force to hand over a tech for peace.
Chasing the Leaders
As we got into the final decades, we kept our technology somewhere within sight of the leaders by careful trading. Rome came in handy here, as they were not as advanced as the others and were often the only taker for our latest research.
Despite this, as 1900 arrived we looked a lonely sight at the foot of every scoreboard. All of the others, even Caesar, had run away from us as we stood still.
We headed at all speed towards Mass Media, knowing the UN was our last hope. Even this was pretty much a lost cause. We just werent well enough liked. Our best friends were Huayna Capac at +5. Everyone else hovered around zero. Certainly no-one was likely to agree a defensive pact, or join us in a war. We just wouldnt get the votes.
During the 1900s, we watched as - one by one the other civs got their Apollo programmes completed and starting building components for their spaceships.
Some Bullying
Saladin demanded money with menaces a couple of times, but this never amounted to anything.
On the other hand, in 1972, without any form of warning or threat, Julius attacked us and snatched the lightly-defended Orleans. This was on an island on its own, to the south of Ironopolis. We made peace, having no chance of reclaiming it militarily. It revolted a couple of times in the years that followed, but these public protests were ruthlessly suppressed, so we never got it back.
Spectator Sport
In 1994 the game ended effectively, as Frederick built the UN. I was still a couple of turns short of Mass Media. It wasnt even a close race.
Watched as Frederick was elected secretary of the UN, but failed to get the necessary votes for a diplomatic victory. On one poll, Huayna even got the most votes, though he, too, fell short of the required total.
Also watched as all of the main rivals built their spaceship parts. I was convinced Huayna Capac would win. He had just his SS Engine left to build. Then, in 2031, Frederick launched, having completed his last two components in 2 years.
France had been reduced to a spectating role for so many years that I would normally have long since stopped.
Epilogue
What have I learned? Well, its probably too soon for a true objective view. I could do with going to Civ College. I can see from other write-ups that the better players think about, and do, things that I dont do enough of:
- How best to use Gt People.
- Which wonders are most use to you in given situations.
- Best use of chopping.
- Best use of slavery.
Its a fairly quick game. Maybe Ill go back and have another look at it now that Ive submitted.
