GOTM 164 Spoiler

[Ali Ardavan]

This scenario is somehow tougher than I expected. While we do have a decent size army, due to lack of roads and ships they are not very mobile. Furthermore the enemy seems to be well entrenched with a lot of forces. I picked Greeks as my first target partially due to their proximity. The first two cities I attacked had no walls and many units causing both to be razed in the process of being captured. Their third one faced the same fate, but I refrained from moving in when it was defenseless and size 1 because I wanted to preserve the Oracle.

Starting Status
Objectives: 3/19
Population: 0.64M; Cities: 6; Techs: 20; Government: Monarchy
Gold: 250; Cost: 17; Trade routes: 0D1F;
Wonders: Great Wall
Units: 3 settlers, 2 Warriors, 2 Phalanx, 2 Archers, 9 Legion, 3 horsemen, 2 chariots, 3 catapults, 2 Triremes, 1 diplomat
Goals: Tech exchange with rivals; Trade, Philosophy; Trade with the only two offshore cities Caralis and Rhodes; Colonizing all islands; More Triremes and diplomats; Road from Neapolis to Heraclea; Conquest of Greeks, nearby Celtic objective cities, and then Macedonians.
Carthaginian: 6 cities, ? techs, 2 objectives;
Macedonian: 5 cities, ? techs, 2 objectives;
Ptolemic: 5 cities, ? techs, 4 objectives; Pyramids and Great Library
Seleucid: 5 cities, ? techs, 3 objectives; Hanging Gardens
Greek: 6 cities, ? techs, 3 objectives; Colossus and Oracle; war with me
Celt: 6 cities, ? techs, 2 objectives;

-278 Republic, Bridge Building, Iron Working, peace -> Carthaginian (Zulu)(1) -> Polytheism, Trade, Seafaring, 0g.
Republic, Bridge Building, peace -> Ptolemic (Spanish) (5) -> Astronomy, Philosophy
Republic, peace -> Selucid (Chinese) (4) -> 0g
Bridge Building, peace -> Macedonian (Viking) (0) -> 0g
Power is inadequate. T7L0S3
-277 Ran into Celts (Mongols) (3) and agreed to peace. Power is still inadequate.
-276 Greeks lose an archer attacking Heraclea.
-275 Greek elephant kills Legion in Heraclea. Greeks of Massilia bribe a vet legion away which kills a chariot and a diplomat. Lost a legion attacking Greeks. Catapult kills traitor legion.
-274 Greeks leave hilltop and back up into Taras.
-273 Greeks lose 2 units attacking my units on hilltop by Taras. 3 defenders of Taras killed and the city razed.
-271 Massilia wants a whopping 472g to defect. Greek embassy established. They are allied with Ptolemic and have no techs that I do not.
-270 Greeks lose 2 units attacking me on hilltops. Greek Phalanx, caravan, and trireme killed in Massilia and the city razed for 12g. Hispalis founded at the heel near the former site of Taras.
-268 Lost a horseman and a chariot killing 2 Phalanx defenders of Delphi rendering the city defenseless. I refrain from capturing it because it is size 1.
-267 Delphi is still size 1. Viroconium founded on island 3.
-266 Phalanx defender of size 2 Delphi killed but the city cannot be captured for being size 1.
-265 Copper from Neapolis to Caralis for 72. Delphi is still size 1.
-264 Lugdunum founded on island 4. Celtic embassy established. They are expanding rapidly, they have 9 cities now. Delphi is still size 1 but has a defender. This is getting ridiculous. Greek elephant killed.
-263 Delphi is still size 1. Lutetia founded in southern Italy. Greek diplomat killed. Catapult killed in attack on Syracuse.
-262 Renounced Carthaginian treaty rather than move my fortified legion on a hill by Syracuse which is also within the radius of their Lilybaeum. The vet legion survives Greek catapult. Celts declare war rather than move their chariot. 2 Celt chariots killed. Delphi is still size 1.
-261 Delphi is still size 1. Celt warrior killed.
-260 Celtic warrior killed. Accepted Carthaginian offer of cease fire. Lost a vet elephant attacking Syracuse. It must have city walls.
-259 Celts reach peace with Macedonians and kill my vet legion. Gold from Rome to Caralis for 228. Delphi bribed for 106g. Got 28g, Oracle, marketplace, phalanx, and settler! What a great deal! Carthaginians declare war when I demand tribute.

Status after 20 turns
Objectives: 4/19
Population: 0.75M; Cities: 11; Techs: 25; Government: Monarchy
Gold: 261; Cost: 19; Trade routes: 0D2F;
Wonders: Great Wall, Oracle
Units: 5 settlers, 3 Warriors, 5 Phalanx, 2 Archers, 5 Legion, 2 horsemen, 4 catapults, 3 Triremes
Goals: More offshore trade; Colonizing more islands; More Triremes and diplomats; Conquest of Greeks and nearby Celtic objective cities. Republic and celebrating cities to at least size 8.
Carthaginian: 6+ cities, ? techs, 2 objectives;
Macedonian: 4+ cities, ? techs, 2 objectives;
Ptolemic: 5+ cities, ? techs, 4 objectives; Pyramids and Great Library
Seleucid: 5+ cities, ? techs, 3 objectives; Hanging Gardens
Greek: 3 cities, 22 techs, 2 objectives; Colossus; war with me
Celt: 10 cities, 13 techs, 2 objectives; war with me, Carthaginians, and Selucids

 

[Major Advantage]

My military strategy was pretty the same, however I kept peace with Celts. Luckily, my Delphi was size 2 when it was emptied of defenders, so I could grab it and move ahead faster.
Here is what my log says:

Tech costs are extremely high, let's see what the AI have to offer:
Hail Carths, get trade, leave polytheism and seafaring for now, peace
hail macedonians, peace, they offer philosophy, not now
hail ptolemaics, the same
hail seleucids, peace, get polytheism (other choices philo and Astro)
hail independants, they don't want to talk
We could do with some more cities, move some troops towards Taras
We have some unnecessary buildings (courthouses, city wall in Rome, will sell them when we are in need of money)
Set science to 0, if we should discover something, it will be done by trade, preferred destination is Rhodes
-276 So far our attacks on Taras have been fought off, have a ship coming down the Adria for direct attacks
-275 Sign peace with Celts; Corsica founded
-273 Raze Taras (14g)
-268 Capture Delphi (48g+Oracle), go for Syracuse next or for Athens? Independents hail us, we agree to peace, so Athens next, then some trade with Rhodes; Perpignan founded
-267 Unload 2 catapults next to Athens
-266 Demand macedonian tribute, get philo; we attack anyway, kill 2 defenders but there are still more; Barcelona founded
(Three units outside Athens, don't get attacked)
-265 Capture Athens (86g)
-262 Hides (d) to Rhodes for 272g; open embassy with Celts
(Carths hail us, we get seafaring)
-261 Calabria, Torino founded
-260 dye to Caralis 136; Olbia founded

Stats at -260:
pop.: 1.05M; Cities: 14; techs: 24; gold: 122; Gov.: Mon; wonders: GW, Oracle; cost per turn: 24; Objectives: 5/19
units: 1 settler, 2 warrior, 3 phalanx, 1 Archer, 5 Legion, 1 horse, 3 elephants, 2 catapult, 4 boat, 2 vans
Goals: Capture Macedonian Greeks in Greece, next goals are Antioch, Seleucia, then Egypt; Trade with Rhodes; Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam

 

[Ali Ardavan]

We have some unnecessary buildings (courthouses, city wall in Rome, will sell them when we are in need of money)

There is a city wall in Rome? How could I miss that?

 

[grigor]

I played this scenario a few times about 15 years ago – all I remembered was that there was pretty good science available by trading only with Rhodes, and that it was possible to get to Ironclads. I tried that plan here too. Peaster will finish quicker, but I thought I did pretty well.

Like most scenarios, the opening position is like a chess problem. I traded for all the available techs and made peace with everybody, and then studied the position on and off for a week.

278 We are in terrible shape.
First action: get all techs and peace with all except ind Greeks. I was able to get everything without giving up Iron Working, hoping for easier defense...
Carts: Trade and Poly for Rep, BB
Seleucia: Phil, Astro for Rep, BB
Macedonians: won't trade Seaf. Peace.
Ptolemy: trade Rep for Seaf. Peace.

After a week of study, I came up with the following plan:
Set Taxes to 70%.
Use one warrior to rush a dip in Herakleia
Rehome vet legion to Herakleia
Disband Chariot and rush a Hides van in Sena
Move southern legions into Herakleia to await developments and boats
Send 2 Roman legions to Massilia on a trireme
Send Roman Dip north to meet up with the legions
Move northern units toward Milan, but slowly – they are vulnerable
Chariot goes north
Settlers complete Pisae-Heracleia road.
Sell many buildings (Rome Walls, Pisae MP, Neapolis MP)

277 Rush a Trireme in Herakleia. The vet legion should defend well, and if it’s cheap enough we should be able to bribe Taras with its units.
Sena Hides van joins ship and heads south
Buy barracks in Pisae.
Disband catapults.
Rush Trireme in Neapolis
Adjust happiness in Rome
Sell more buildings.

276 Unload Legions near Massilia. Dip hops on the boat.
Taras bribed for 309g – we get a Trireme, a vet ellie. 2 phalanx.
Disband chariot in Pisae, make vet ellie.
Meet Celts, decline peace: War.
My Horse kills Celt chariot, becomes vet but won’t survive.
Rush van in Herakleia.
Sell more buildings including granaries in slow-growing cities –
there will be time to rebuild later but we need caravans and boats now.

275* Herakleia: Hides van.
Vet Horse is not attacked! AI is probably trying to lure me into overextending. I won’t bite - there is time for Milan.
Pisa: vet Ellie
Attack one time, then bribe Massilia for 354. get another trireme!, phalanx, and Hides Van.
Power is Mighty.

274 vans set sail for Rhodes. A settler joins Neapolis trireme bound for Malta

273 Pisa: vet Phalanx. Massilia settler off for Provence.

272 Massilia legion defeats one Celt chariot but dies on the other. Vet legion survives horse attack.
271* Malta founded. Trireme rehomed.
270 Herakleia Hides to Rhodes (d, 232)

269 Milan captured.

268 Sena Hides to Rhodes (d, 360). Rome Gold to Rhodes (u, 212). Buy many vans.
Tribute: Seleucia: 75g; Ptolemy: 100g; Macedonians: 125g

267* Engineering => Nav
Taras: vet ellie (joins van)
Pisae: Dip
Tarracina, Milan, Herakleia, Rome: Vans
Provence: Legion
Massilia grows, disorder.
Herakleia hides to Rhodes (d, 232)
Tribute: Macedonians: 75; Seleucia: 125; Ptolemy: 125; Carts: 125

266 Aleppo bribed, renamed Venice. Build granaries in growing cities.
Army for Seleucia is waiting in Delos (4 ellies, 1 legion).
Tribute: Carts 0; Macedonia 50; Ptolemy 125; Seleucia: 100;
peace with ind greeks.

265 Granaries in Provence, Malta, Milan, Venice, Herakleia.
Tribute: Carts: WAR; Macedonia 25; Ptolemy 75; Seleucia: 50:
Celts: accept 200 for peace.; Ind greeks.: WAR

264 Ind Greeks sink a trireme. Celts declare war.
Herakleia: Temple;
Massilia Hides to Rhodes (d, 464)
Tribute: Carts: WAR; Macedonia 25; Ptolemy 50; Seleucia: 25: Celts: war;
Ind greeks.: WAR

263* Wow! – Independent Greeks sink another trireme.
Tribute: Carts: WAR; Macedonia 25; Ptolemy 50; Seleucia: 25:
Celts: war; Ind greeks.: WAR

262 Annecy founded. (staging city for La Tene – need 3-4 dips for the walls there)

Status: 13C
2Sett, 1War, 5 Phalanx, 3 Archer, 5 Legion, 1 Horse, 7 Ellie, 1Dip,
6 Trireme, 14 Vans
Res Nav, 1 big delivery away.

Goasl: Nav, reorganize shipchain, prepare to deliver the 14 vans i have bought.
War with Seleucia ASAP – need 3 more units in staging area.
Definitely need more boats – wait for Caravels or start triremes right away?
I have 2 vans 2 turns away, so waiting for Caravels seems indicated.
build Settler in Neapolis.

 

[grigor]

Goals: Nav, reorganize shipchain, prepare to deliver the 14 vans
War with Seleucia ASAP – need 3 more units in staging area.
Definitely need more boats – wait for Caravels or start triremes right away?
I have 2 vans 2 turns away, so waiting for Caravels seems indicated.
I think Settler in Neapolis.

261 Tribute: Carts: WAR; Macedonia War; Ptolemy 50; Seleucia: 50:
Celts: war; Ind greeks.: WAR

260 Herakleia Hides to Rhodes (d, 232). Neapolis Wine to Rhodes (u, 132)
Ptolemaic city (Valladolid) bribed 48gx2.

259* Navigation => Physics. Brindisi founded.
Ptolemy: withdraw. Seleucia: 50g Rush Caravels.
Plan: rush caravels, attack Seleucia, get HG

258 Milan Silk to Rhodes (d, 306) Sena Hides to Rhodes (d, 208)
Seleucia: War!!
257 Seleucid Trireme attacks my trireme unsuccessfully.
Rome: Coliseum (appropriately enough!)

256 Provence Hides to Rhodes (d, 264) Rome Salt to Rhodes (u, 122)
Malta has been building dips. Embassy with Ind Greeks.

255* Neapolis Coal to Rhodes (u, 82) Tarracina Wine to Rhodes (u, 90)

254 Physics => Magnetism (Galleons and Frigates)
Neapolis Salt to Rhodes (u, 82)
War with everybody except Ptolemy

253 Tarracina beads to Rhodes (u, 96) Embassy with Carts. Seville (16).
Elephant army attacks Antioch. Lose 2 ellies.

252 Antioch captured.

251* Venice Hides to Rhodes (d, 208) Venice Copper to Rhodes (d, 208) Milan Hides to Rhodes (d, 204

250 Sena Hides to Rhodes (d, 208) Pisae Cloth to Rhodes (u, 112)

249 Magnetism => Inv
In retrospect, this was a mistake – the cut in van deliveries after Invention slowed later science enormously – Monotheism was indicated
Build some galleons.
Seleucia builds Copernicus. Goodie!

248 troops repair in Antioch.

247* Venice Silk to Rhodes (d, 312) Milan Hides to Rhodes (d, 212)

246 Damascus

245 Pisae Coal to Rhodes (u, 112); Heracleia Hides to Rhodes (d, 140); Neapolis Beads to Rhodes (d, 82)

244 Massilia Gold to Rhodes (u, 126)/ Pisae Wool to Rhodes (d, 112)

Status
Cities: 19. Invention next, then Steam.
3 Sett; 5 Warr; 6 Phalanx; 4 Archer; 6 Legion; 2 Horse; 11 Ellie; 8 Dip
3 Trireme; 9 Caravel; 4 Galleon; 1 Frigate

Plan:
La Tene – seems to have too many units. They are all withdrawing upon requests for tribute. Need to kill settler so it can grow. Maybe need to provide some bait for the AI to attack out and lose– a legion?
Seleucia – will fall in 3 turns to 5 vet ellies
Athens is an easy target with 5 Ellies. Should have taken it earlier.
Delphi should be takeable with 6 ellies.

243* Navigation => Steam Engine
Sena Hides to Rhodes (d, 208)

242 Embassy with Seleucia

241 Seleucia captured; HG, Copes.
Status: 20C, GW, HG, Copernicus.
6 Sett; 7 war; 6 phalanx; 4 archer; 6legion; 4 horse; 23 Ellie; ; 7 dips
2 trireme; 8 caravel; 4 galleon; 2 frigate

Plans: Defend Seleucia, vans to Rhodes.
Rush vans for Steam.
Send 6 ellie to Athens.
Try to bait AI into attacking out of La Tene


240 Heracleia Hides to Rhodes (d, 140); Venice Hides to Rhodes (d, 220); Milan gold to Rhodes (u, 106)

239 * Ptolemy: War (finally!)

238 (Equivalent of 2000 bc) Macedon: 350 for peace.
Frigate empties Cyrene. Cyrene conquered.

237 Tarracina Salt to Rhodes (u, 96)

236 more maneuvering

235* Steam Engine => Guns
Herakleia Hides to Rhodes (d, 140)
Caralis emptied and captured.
Rapha emptied and captured.

Spoiler :

(Roman marginal victory)

La Tene walls brought down by dips. Horse offering made…

 

[grigor]

234 Horse offering accepted! La Tene empty.
Carts: 550g for peace. Finally have some loot for battle.
La Tene captured.
Venice Hides to Rhodes (d, 220); Annecy Copper to Rhodes (d, 224);
Sena Hides to Rhodes (d, 220)
Everything ready for Alexandria.
Ironclad is nearing Syracuse – need some units for occupation
Should rush an ironclad for Delphi.
Can put science low., or continue for guns and RR

Goals: Alexandria, Heliopolis, Memphis (Pyr)

233 Carthage develops Banking – we can get it from them…
Some Celt cities bribed. Alexandria captured (GL)

232 Syracuse emptied and captured. Delphi captured (Oracle).
Memphis (in disorder) bribed for 249 (Pyramids).

Spoiler :

Roman Decisive Victory.

Heliopolis captured.
Sell all granaries. Build dips for tech theft from Ptolemy and Carthage.

231* Steal Univ from Ptolemy. Macedonians: War. Carts withdraw.

230 Gunpowder (all barracks sold) => RR
Milan Coal to Rhodes (u, 96); Sena Hides to Rhodes (d, 196);
Provence Hides to Rhodes (d, 232); Venice Hides to Rhodes (d, 192)
Numantia bribed. Athens emptied and conquered.

229 buy vans.

228 Break treaty; Gades emptied by a frigate and occupied.

227* Carthage, Hippo Regis. Steal Banking.
Brindisi Hides to Rhodes (d, 96) Heracleia hides to Rhodes (d, 86); Venice Hides to Rhodes (d, 156) Venice Hides to Rhodes (d, 196)

226 RR (cancels HG…)

225 Seleucia Gems to Rhodes (u, 39g) – one turn too late… Lilybeum captured.

223* Rome Wine to Rhodes (u, 83g); Neapolis Wine to Rhodes (u, 50g); Massilia Coal to Rhodes (u, 78)

222 Pella captured. Leptis captured.


220 Sena Hides to Rhodes (d, 131); Massilia wine to Rhodes (u, 78)
219* Industrialization -> Communism

217 Heliopolis Silk to Rhodes (d, 124)
216 Milan Salt to Rhodes (u, 64)
215 *Pergamum captured. (416g!) Herakleia hides to Rhodes (d, 83)
214 Seleucid Ellie kills a settler.

212 Communism => Demo – switch next turn
Damascus Wool to Rhodes (u, 28) Malta beads to Rhodes (u, 48); Madrid Hides to Rhodes (d, 152)
Status: 46 Cities

211*Sena Hides to Rhodes (d, 136); Herakleia Hides to Rhodes (d, 86); La Tene Hides to Rhodes (d, 150); Massilia salt to Rhodes (u, 84)
Revolution

210 Government: Communism
Heliopolis Hides to Rhodes (d, 120)

209 Mpondo bribed – Cartago delenda est.

208 Demo => Medicine
Venice Gold to Rhodes (u, 78)

207 *Herakleia Oil to Rhodes (u, 48) Benghazi Silver to Rhodes (u, 46)
Miletus captured.

206 Antioch Coal to Rhodes (u, 32g) Rome Oil to Rhodes (u, 86)

205 Heliopolis hides to Rhodes (d, 115) Raphia Hides to Rhodes (d, 132)

204 Valencia Hides to Rhodes (d, 150); Taras Beads to Rhodes (u, 42) Madrid Hides to Rhodes (d, 163)

203* Medicine => Chemistry
Caralis Spice to Rhodes (u, 64). Alexandria wine to Rhodes (u, 64) Malta Oil to Rhodes (u, 72). Delphi Wine to Rhodes (u, 31) Lyon Wine to Rhodes (u, 71); Brindisi Hides to Rhodes (d, 86)

202 Seville Hides to Rhodes (d, 160) Foix Silk to Rhodes (d, 244) Milan Coal to Rhodes (u, 68) ; Seville Hides to Rhodes (d, 160)
Demetrias captured.

201 Chemistry => Expl
Damascus Coal to Rhodes ( u, 31) Heliopolis Hides to Rhodes (d, 102). Numantia Silver to Rhodes (u, 81); Munich Hides to Rhodes (d, 163): Provence Hides to Rhodes (d, 187)’ Lilybeum Silk to Rhodes (d, 68)

200 Antioch Oil to Rhodes( u, 27) Valencia Gems to Rhodes (u, 83);Seville hides to Rhodes (d, 160); Heracleia coal to Rhodes (u, 50); Madrid Hides to Rhodes (d, 172)
Abdera captured

199* Explosives => Sanitation. Make some engineers.
Heliopolis Hides to Rhodes (d, 123); Vienna Silk to Rhodes (d, 192)’ Provence hides to Rhodes (d, 187): Madrid Hides to Rhodes (d, 176); Carthage Oil to Rhodes (u, 76)

 

[Major Advantage]

Nice job, Grigor!
I did not plan that far from the beginning or press for trade with Rhodes that hard, just had a little bit of income to pay for elephants and later for crusaders. I had an eye on fregates or ironclads, but should have let that go and not developed navigation/invention for better payouts.
Next 30 years of my log:

-259 Capture Demetrias 28g
-258 Capture Pella 29g
(Seleucia builds Copernicus)
-256 Delivery 288
-255 Get Engineering from Carths
-254 Research Monotheism; Capture Abdera 36g; delivery 420g
-253 Mono->Astro (even though we do not want any more techs right now)
-251 Toulouse founded
(Alexandria builds LH)
-250 Hail Celts and join their war with independants; lose one ellie attacking Syracuse, three defenders killed, city empty; kill defenders in Pergamum and take the city, 200g; get Astro from Seleucids
-249 Take Syracuse 298g; bribe Massilia 894g, get 174
-248 sign peace with independants, deliveries for 368, 256
-245 deliveries 256, 216

Stats at -245:
pop.: 2.14M; Cities: 21; techs: 27; gold: 806; Gov.: Mon; wonders: GW, Oracle; cost per turn: 43; Objectives: 7/21
units: 3 settler, 2 warrior, 8 phalanx, 1 Archer, 5 Legion, 1 horse, 6 elephants, 4 crusaders, 2 catapult, 6 boat, 2 dips, 4 vans
Goals: Attack Carthage next turn; continue building army in northern italy; set sails for Antioch

-244 Attacking Carthage, 1 unit lost, three won, city empty; Tirana founded
(two crusaders outside Carthage lost)
-243 Capture empty Carthage 230g; bribe Caralis 360g (82); Hannibal hails us, we sign peace
-242 deliveries 230, 392; Avignon, Valencia founded; Attack Antioch, two units lost, two killed
(units outside Antioch get killed; we need a new plan)
-241 Navigation->Physics
-240 building more crusaders
-239 delivery 196; bribe Miletus 504g(79)
-238 Sneak attack Celts in northern Italy; conquer Milan 74g, we have marginal victory; sign peace
(Celts sneak attack and take back Milan, 10g)
-236 Delivery 56; Belgrad founded
-235 Bribe Milan 143g (get 38g + 3 units), sign peace; plan, head for Antioch with boats filled with crusaders, March along the Rhone with crusaders
(Celts bribe Avignon, didn't see that coming!)
-234 deliveries 196, 275
(Carth sneak attack, kill defender in Carthage; Celts sneak attack, die attacking Athens)
-232 delivery 132
-231 deliv. 196; kill a celtic stack north of the Alps; 11 vet crusaders ready to hit Antioch next turn
-230 Delivery 140, bribe Gades 805g (175+settler); bribe back Avignon 115g (30); lose only 2 crusaders and grab Antioch 111g; bribe Lilybaeum 336g (108+80)

Stats at -230:
pop.: 3.78M; Cities: 32; techs: 27; gold: 448; Gov.: Mon; wonders: GW, Oracle; cost per turn: 43; Objectives: 11/21
units: 4 settler, 2 warrior, 19 phalanx, 4 Archer, 6 Legion, 1 horse, 2 elephants, 14 crusaders, 2 catapult, 12 boat, 2 dips, 1 vans
Goals: Grab La Tene and Seleucia (objective*3) and it is over, no need to bother with egypt

 

[Ali Ardavan]

-258 City walls in Rome sold for 80; should have noticed this sooner.
-257 Celts lose 2 units attacking me.
-256 Celts kill a legion. Revolution started. T0L6S4
-255 Celts lose a unit attacking me. This should have been an oedo year but it is not. Byzantium founded near Syracuse. Lost a catapult attacking Celts.
-254 Celts lose 2 units attacking me. cease fire -> Carthaginian -> 0g, Macedonian -> 250g, Iron Working -> Ptolemic -> Engineering, 0g, Seleucid -> 100g. Celtic Ormuz razed. Celtic chariot killed. Aleppo bribed for 192g. Got 24g and 3 units. Republic established. T2L6S2
-253 Celts lose a chariot attacking me. -> Navigation. Celebrations in 4 cities.
-252 Seleucia builds Copernicus. Celts lose a unit attacking me. Silk to Caralis for 216.
-251 Celts lose 2 units attacking me. Celtic diplomat killed.
-250 Navigation -> Monotheism. Brundisium founded. Single defender of Milan killed and the city captured for 54g and barracks. Celtic chariot killed. Domestic offshore copper for 38.
-249 Kabul defender killed. Lost a catapult and legion attacking Sparta. Domestic offshore wine for 65.
-247 Celts bribe away the wounded catapult by Kabul and lose a chariot attacking me. Celtic chariot killed. T4L5S1
-246 Ptolemics build Lighthouse. Celts lose 2 units attacking me. 4 Celtic units killed and Kabul razed. T5L4S1. Celebrations end.
-244 Celts lose 2 units attacking me.
-243 Hides, coal to Rhodes for 204, 290. Domestic beads for 24.
-242 Syracuse catapult loses attacking my vet Legion fortified on hilltop. Vet Catapult kills Phalanx defending LaTene. Lost a vet Legion on LeTene.
-241 Lost a catapult on LeTene before killing its 2 defenders and capturing the city for 71g, barracks, and city walls. Vet Catapult kills archer defending Syracuse.
-240 Silver to Carthage for 75.
-239 Greeks lose an elephant attacking my legendary legion on a hilltop near Syracuse. Celtic Abdera bribed for 204g. Got 36g and 2 units.

Status after 40 turns
Objectives: 6/21
Population: 3.25M; Cities: 17; Techs: 27; Government: Republic
Gold: 126; Cost: 41; Trade routes: 6D6F;
Wonders: Great Wall, Oracle
Units: 5 settlers, 6 Warriors, 6 Phalanx, 4 Archers, 2 Legions, 2 horsemen, 2 Chariots, 2 catapults, 1 Trireme, 2 Caravels, 2 diplomats, 1 van
Goals: More offshore trade; Colonizing more islands; Conquest of Greeks, purchase of Celtic cities. Celebrating cities to size 12.
Carthaginian: 6+ cities, ? techs, 2 objectives;
Macedonian: 4+ cities, ? techs, 2 objectives;
Ptolemic: 5+ cities, ? techs, 5 objectives; Pyramids, Great Library, and Lighthouse
Seleucid: 8+ cities, ? techs, 4 objectives; Hanging Gardens, Copernicus
Greek: 3 cities, 23 techs, 2 objectives; Colossus; war with me, allied with Celts
Celt: 5 cities, 13 techs, 0 objectives; war with me, Carthaginians, and Selucids

 

[Ali Ardavan]

In this next segment of 20 turns, I made the same costly mistake of leaving a frontier city unprotected (or lightly protected) not once, not twice, but three times. No wonder that after 20 turns I had the same number of objectives.

First it was LeTene. The city was rioting and I decided to build a temple before a garrison thinking that there are no Celtic cities nearby and Celtic units from the west usually travel close to the coast where I had another city and unit traffic. A Celtic chariot showed up in the far north unexpectedly and just took the city. It took me 12 turns to make a diplomat and get it up there for bribing it back.

Next came a much bigger mistake. I shipped the Phalanx defending Delphi out for an unsuccessful attempt on Sparta. I had a catapult there but neglected to bring in or rush a defensive unit. The good relationship with Macedonians was a contributing factor to my false sense of security. All of a sudden they got greedy and put a catapult next to Delphi and declared war when I asked them to remove it. I killed that catapult, but the next turn an elephant emerged out of Athens, killed my catapult easily and took the city. This was very costly. I lost control of Oracle which threw two of my cities into disorder one of which was beyond help and had to stay that way till I took the city back 12 turns later. I also lost a settler which was about to make an offshore city and 2 diplomats who were on a ship heading for bribery of Greek and Celtic cities in Greece. This set me back quite a few turns.

Last one was Basra, a formerly Celtic city at the mouth of the Black sea. I had an archer next to it but a Celtic chariot managed to sneak in and take the city costing me a van on route for delivery. This one I bribed back in a couple of turns.

-238 Barbarian legion lands near Delphi. Lost a catapult attacking a celtic Phalanx. Celtic Basra bribed for 66g. Got 12g and a unit.
-237 Delphi's Phalanx survives barbarian Legion. Celtic Phalanx killed.
-235 Celtic chariot walks in and takes back LeTene. Lost a chariot attacking Celtic Galatia. Palmyra founded. Vet catapult easily kills a Phalanx in Syracuse. Macedonian embassy established.
-234 Vet catapult kills archer defending Syracuse. The city captured for 421g, granary, and marketplace. Celtic Braunsberg bribed for 455g. Got 69g, 2 units, and 2 structures.
-233 Celts build a new capital in Sparta.
-232 Celts kill my Legion. Horseman kills warrior in LaTene.
-231 Celts kill my horseman.
-230 Archer kills approaching Greek elephant and turns vet. T2L4S4
-229 Cetlic chariot kills my warrior. Monotheism -> Physics. Lost a horseman attacking Celtic chariot. 2xHides to Rhodes for 248, 212.
-227 Cetls lose a unit attacking me. Seafaring -> Seleucid -> Medicine, maps.
-226 Domestic Cloth for 50. Celtic chariot killed.
-225 Barbarian legion dies in attack on Basra.
-224 Macedonians deliver to Rome. Celtic settler killed. T3L4S3
-223 Celts kill 2 units. LaTene bribed for 96g. Got 37g, barracks, and warrior. Carthaginian embassy established. T4L4S2
-222 Physics -> Sanitation. Malta founded. Wool to Seleucids for 76.
-221 Salt to Macedonians for 72. Celtic warrior killed. Macedonians declare war rather than moving their catapult which is killed by mine.
-220 Macedonian elephant kills my catapult and takes Delphi. I lose a settler and 2 diplomats who were heading for bribery and more importantly Oracle, the loss of which causes some unrest. Hides to Rhodes for 216.
-219 Ptolemic embassy established. Barbarian leader for 100g. Mahon founded.

Status after 60 turns
Objectives: 6/21
Population: 5.2M; Cities: 22; Techs: 30; Government: Republic
Gold: 590; Cost: 53; Trade routes: 12D8F;
Wonders: Great Wall
Units: 9 settlers, 7 Warriors, 8 Phalanx, 5 Archers, 2 Legions, 1 Chariots, 1 crusaders, 1 Trireme, 4 Caravels, 1 diplomats, 8 vans
Goals: More offshore trade; Colonizing more islands; Conquest of Macedonians, purchase of Celtic cities, conquest of Greeks.
Carthaginian: 7 cities, 25 techs, 2 objectives;
Macedonian: 5 cities, 24 techs, 3 objectives; Oracle; war with me
Ptolemic: 8 cities, 29 techs, 5 objectives; Pyramids, Great Library, and Lighthouse
Seleucid: 8+ cities, ? techs, 4 objectives; Hanging Gardens, Copernicus
Greek: 2 cities, 23 techs, 1 objectives; Colossus; war with me, allied with Celts
Celt: 3 cities, 13 techs, 0 objectives; war with me, allied with Greeks

 

[Ali Ardavan]

I finished last night and submitted a few minutes ago. I had a good start, a major set back when I lost several cities and then a march to victory as planned. I left the Carthaginians and the Seleucids alone. I went after Greeks first partly because of their proximity, partly because we were already at war, and in no small part because of Oracle. I started battling Celts early because they were expanding fast and I knew I will be in trouble with them. Macedonians volunteered to be the next victim by attacking me. Their strategicly located canal city of Athens was my prime target. This took me to marginal victory. After that I figured I can achieve decisive victory by going after Ptolemic despite having excellent relations with them.

Reflecting back I should have been more careful not leaving cities empty, expanded less, and built more boats. The latter is a major weak point of all my games. Near the end I had too many soldiers and not enough ships to move them around quickly. One of my better decisions in this game was achieving Magnetism. Those Frigates were super useful and delivered the final blow in several conquests.

-218 Celts take Basra. I lose a caravan. Genoa founded. 2 Greek units killed. Domestic Beads for 54.
-217 Carthaginians develop Gunpowder. Archer survives Celtic chariot.
-216 Celts lose an archer attacking me. Celtic Numantia bribed for 565g. Got 76g, barracks, and 2 units. This was the source of many units in northern Italy. Basra bribed back for 61g. Got 2 units and the temple is still preserved.
-213 Caesarea founded.
-212 Tarentum founded. T0L4S6
-211 Macedonians ally with Celts. Sanitation -> Magnetism. T4L4S2. Ibiza founded. Deliveries to Rhodes for 270, 315, 268, 204. Lost 2 Crusaders on Athens. Celt archer killed.
-210 Macedonian unit killed. Gold to Carthaginians for 165. Lost 2 archers on Celts.
-209 Macedonians kill 3 units. Greeks lose a unit attacking me. Magnetism -> University. Lost 2 catapults on Athens.
-208 Macedonians and Celts kill a unit each. Single defender of Delphi killed and the city taken for Oracle and 66g. Domestic Wine for 45.
-207 Frigate kills Phalanx in Athens and turns vet.
-206 2 Frigates kill 2 Archers in Athens. Celtic settler killed. Lost 2 Crusaders on Athens. Vet Frigate kills catapult in Athens. Another Frigate kills Trireme in Athens. Athens captured for 290g and 4 structures.
-205 Greek phalanx killed. Celtic Galatia bribed for 310g. Got 106g, 2 units and barracks. Physics -> Ptolemic -> University, maps.
-204 -> Chemistry. Hides to Rhodes for 268.
-203 Celts lose 2 units attacking me. Domestic Beads for 40.
-201 Macedonians lose a unit and kill 2. Lost 3 crusaders attacking Pella. Frigate kills an archer in Pella.
-200 At the cost of a crusader the remaining 2 defenders of Pella killed and the city taken for 307g, barracks, and city walls. Marginal victory achieved. Macedonian settler, turned None, bribed for 292g.
-199 Macedonian Demetrias bribed for 415g. Got 194g, 2 units, and 4 structures. Silk to Rhodes for 318. Navigation -> Carthaginian -> Banking.

Status after 80 turns
Objectives: 9/21
Population: 7.6M; Cities: 32; Techs: 34; Government: Republic
Gold: 859; Cost: 84; Trade routes: 16D21F;
Wonders: Great Wall, Oracle
Units: 13 settlers (1 none), 11 Warriors, 18 Phalanx, 6 Archers, 4 Legions, 1 Chariots, 5 crusaders, 1 catapult, 1 Caravel, 7 Frigates, 6 diplomats, 3 vans
Goals: More offshore trade; Colonizing more islands; Conquest of Ptolemic.
Carthaginian: 7 cities, 28 techs, 2 objectives;
Macedonian: 2 cities, 25 techs, 0 objectives; war with me, allied with Celts
Ptolemic: 8 cities, 32 techs, 5 objectives; Pyramids, Great Library, and Lighthouse
Seleucid: 9+ cities, ? techs, 4 objectives; Hanging Gardens, Copernicus
Greek: 2 cities, 24 techs, 1 objectives; Colossus; war with me
Celt: 1 cities, 14 techs, 0 objectives; war with me, allied with Macedonians

-198 Greeks lose a unit attacking me. Chemistry -> Invention. Domestic Cloth for 60. Salt to Seleucids for 102. Macedonian Viborg bribed for 219g. Got 118g and Phalanx. 2 defenders of Greek Pergamum killed with vet units and the city taken for 725g and 2 structures.
-197 Barbarian legion lands near island city of Lugundum.
-196 Barbarian legion pillages irrigation.
-195 Barbarian legion killed in attack on my city. Barbarian leader for 100g.
-192 Approaching Greek elephant killed. Deliveries to Ptolemic for 105, 106.
-191 Bucharest and Artaxata (on island 11) founded. Archers land near Alexandria.
-189 Refused to remove my units. Ptolemic declare war and kill 3 units. Greek settler killed. Domestic deliveries for 60, 102. Sanitation -> Seleucid -> Invention, maps. Lost 3 vet units attacking Alexandria. Vet Frigate kills a Phalanx in Alexandria. T6L4S0
-188 Unbelievable vet archer (fortified on river) survives 3 Ptolemic attacks. Lost 2 more vet crusaders on Alexandria. Should have brought in half a dozen diplomats and taken down its walls instead. Frigate finishes off the remaining two wounded archers. Hero archer takes Alexandria for Great Library, Lighthouse, 312g, and marketplace. Aurelianorum founded in the South East corner of Spain. Physics -> Carthaginian -> Gunpowder. T4L4S2
-187 -> Explosives -> Democracy.
-186 Carthaginians develop Philosophy. Alexanderia survives Ptolemic crusader. Hippo founded on island 2. Heliopolis bribed for 1024g. Got 295g, 3 structures, and 5 units. Raphia bribed for 339g. Got 88g, 3 structures, and 1 unit. Silk to Rhodes for 186. Domestic Spice for 168. Nicopolis founded.
-185 Cyprus founded. Domestic Hides for 34. Memphis bribed for 540g. Got Pyramids, 183g, 4 structures, and 2 units. Decisive victory achieved.