GOTM 193 Spoiler

[Major Advantage]

So, back in the game. I have been away for a few months because...I bought a new computer! And that has opened up a lot of opportunities to play a lot of games I was not able to play before. But I still keep my XP-machine to play some classics that my new computer wouldn't like, such as WCS 2003 and CIV2 of course!
I skipped the last game since it was a scenario, that I am not that interested in, so it was #193.
With the settings we have in this game (3 civs, small map, restarts off), it was a very easy choice where the game would go in the long way, just some minor decisions what to do first. I spent some time and started with 3 arrows. Hut luck was good, not great because I got some bad techs, delaying monarchy.

-4000 move to buffalo
-3950 build road
-3850 pop hut: Horse
-3750 Archer from hut; Karthago founded on 3-special-site
-3700 Research Alph
-3600 Pottery from hut
-3550 Nomads!
-3300 Horse (supported)
-3150 Supported Chariot...we will...keep him and rehome to our 2nd city
-3050 Settler built; Russians already have 2 cities
-3000 Discover St. Petersburg, sign peace with russians, get burial + 50g tribute
-2900 Utica founded; 50g from hut
-2800 WC and weeds from huts, could have gone better...
-2650 HBR from hut
-2600 None Archer; Russians offer BW to share, not now
-2350 Alph->Bronze; Get Bronze + 25g from Russia
-2300 Research Laws
-2250 Meet Persians, sign peace, they offer Masonry, declined
-2200 Malaca founded
-2150 Run into Persepolis
(Persians demand retreat)
-2100 None-horse from hut, now we have 2 horses + 1 archer near Persepolis
-2000 Barb horse from polar hut

Stats at 2000BC:
pop.: 30k; Cities: 3; techs: 6; gold: 114; Gov.: Desp; wonders: -; TR: 0D/0F
units: 2 settler, 2 Archer, 3 horse, 1 chariot
Goals: Expand, explore, see if we can get Persia down with our units nearby, will we ever get to monarchy?

 

[grigor]

So, this is the first new thread I have ever created in this forum.

Of course I was going for a BC conquest, which I did not achieve despite good luck with huts. This was another game with dreadful starting territory, and I am not sure I did a good job of switching mindsets from growing a workable civilization to a military juggernaut.

Detailed logs to follow

 

[grigor]

Beginning to Monarchy

1 Settler, Emperor, only 2 AI. No techs, Restarts ON, Roving Bands, 25x40 (smallest) map.

This looks like conquest, covering the small map to leave very few respawn places. First goal 50C

Initial considerations
- The area around Carthage is so bad that we can neither grow nor discover advances in a timely manner.
- Maybe the Wander strategy will lead to good results.
- A real possibility could be to develop the site before founding – road the buffalo, or even irrigate the buffalo before founding.
- Alternatively, one might consider building directly on the buffalo.
- Much depends on the first hut. Outcomes analysis
Unit: quick conquest – find good city sites. Best result is a 2-mover.
Money: build early, perhaps in place, and RB a warrior and size 1. This needs some thought.
Tech: this could be good or very bad. Monarchy is crucial and this could slow It down a lot.
Without Monarchy, I would need to irrigate a square and build on Buffalo.
In that case, wandering should be better than spending 7 turns of prep for a crummy city.
- With such a small map a tiny amount of effort will need to be put into defense. (as opposed to my usual plan of zero defense)

So I will risk popping the hut.

4000 Hut: Carthage. I didn’t think of that!
Wander immediately or develop? Size 1 with the buffalo is possible, and I can make some minimal development: road buffalo, irrigate buffalo, then wander.
Build a warrior first? Maybe – but I don’t really know which way to go. South seems natural given my map location. And black clicking shows a lake near the southern buffalo! so I will at least go there. On the other hand, if the land is really terrible I might need both buffalos irrigated. No, Carthage will just build two settlers and then units. Maybe even a wonder the hard way?

3950 res CB. Working ocean for science. Move SW.
3900 Carthage working Buffalo. Road SW.
3750 Now roading Buffalo.
3650* Now Irrigating Buffalo.
3550 CB => HB
3450* Buffalo Irrigation finished.
3400 Ah – a rivered grass square for next city.
3300 Size 1 settler. Building a settler for making a horse.
3250* hut: Utica (2). Wow. OK, this will be a fun wipeout.
3200 Malaca (3) on unshielded river near a gold mine. Utica has a buffalo too.
Setting workers to max science to get HB and Poly fast. I will even work the gold next during the next tech advance.
3100 HB => Alph. Monarchy first.
3000 Carthage Horse. Utica warrior.
Status 3000BC:
3C, 1Sett; 2 tech res Alph.
1 warrior, 1 horse

Plan for 2000:
6 cities
Monarchy, maybe Poly
Plan for elephants after Poly.

2950 Russians: they want HB. That’s a no. They offer BW. No - we will take it from them. Peace.
2900 Alph => CoL.
2850* Russians have Pottery too. Hut: 50g.
2700 CoL => Mon (0/45) Not enough science to get to Monarchy by 2450. I will shoot for 2250 at a leisurely science pace.
2650* Hut: Maps. Monarchy: 5/66. Now we need to hustle science. Work that gold again!
2600 found St. Petersburg. The NONE settler will settle now.
2550 Horse is surrounded. Caralis (4). Russians: WAR. Kill Russian warrior.
2500 Russians have Currency now.
2350 Fortified horse on mountain endures two warrior attacks and is now vet.
2300 Panormus (5).
2250* Mon => BW. Revolution. Gov: Monarchy.

 

[grigor]

Monarchy to HG (750 BC)

2150 Persians: Trade MM for Myst. Give Monarchy, Alphabet Trade Maps!! Tribute: 100g. Hut: Ruins.
2050* Russians kill a horse.
2000 Barbs appear in the East. Russians: peace. Trade MM for BW. Give monarchy, Alph, Myst. Get maps. Tribute: 50g.
Status 2000BC:
5C, 1 settler. Gov: Monarchy. 8 Tech res nothing.
3 Warrior, 3 Horse.

How did I do? Really good in tech...
Cities +2
Tech +6
Wonders -

Should have been a little more energetic with the ICS.
6 techs this cycle because of trades.
one barracks in place for Elephants

Plan for 1500
Take currency and Pottery from Russians after Poly
Make 2 cities in the east. On the rivers.
Make 2 port cities for getting to Persians.
Restarts are ON, so ICS is still on

1950 Res Poly. Workers set to science. Leptis Parva (6).
1900 Barbs near Utica. They come toward us!. Hut: NONE chariot.
1800 Poly => Curr.
1750 More barbs in the east. Hut: NONE elephant. Takes out some barbs.
1700 Barb leader 50g.
1550 Settler survives horse attack. Cartenna (7)
1500 Rusicade Canal (8) in East. Elephant defeats barb chariot, becomes vet.
Tribute from Russians: 100g. Persians: 25g.

Status 1500BC:
8C, 0 Sett. Gov: Monarchy 9 tech res Curr
3 Warr, 2 vet Phalanx, 4 horse, 1 chariot, 3 Ellie.

How did I do? Kind of sluggish. I had to make defense to deal with Barbs
Cities +3
Tech +1
Wonders -

I will take currency and Pottery from Russians this cycle.
Eastern cities - Made 1
Port cities. – made 1
ICS is still on – OK, but I had to make defense to deal with Barbs.

Plan for 1000
This is tricky. For continuing ICS I will need HG, so I need Trade and Pottery. To conquer the Russian cities without razing them I may need Writing. Russians have currency and pottery, but I couldn’t get it before now, and I will discover Currency next turn.
Turn science down to prevent Currency before I can take it.
Conquer St. Petersburg or otherwise get Curr from Russians, then get Trade the following turn, then either steal or develop Pottery, then Writing.
Build one round of Settlers, then 4 vans for HG. The army is strong enough for defense and some offense, so I should be able to control the AI.
I will need MPE eventually in the event of restarts

[in retrospect, I should have started Elephant spam right here with higher taxes and just razed the Russian cities]

1450* Persians: offer us Currency for War with Russians. We accept. That wasn’t where I was expecting it, but, Hey! Res Trade. Science back up. Hut: 50g. Set workers for max science – 6 turns it says – It looks like maybe this turn?? -let’s hope…
1400 didn’t get Trade this turn. Next turn for sure.
1350 Trade => Writing. Persians cancel alliance.
1250* Kiev captured by Barbs. That will be cheaper.
1200 Persians: WAR.
1150 Gades (9)
1100 Ruscurru (10)
1050* St. Petersburg gets to size 3. Elephant empties it, phalanx captures it (11). Pottery.
1000 Girba (12)

Status 1000BC:
12C, 1 sett Gov: Monarchy. 12 tech, res Writing (next)
3 warr, 3 phalanx, 4 horse, 1 chariot, 3 Ellie, 1 Trireme.

How did I do? Pretty good.
Cities +4
Tech +3
Wonders -
Settlers, then 4 vans is happening but slowly
Writing next turn

Plan for 750
Bribe Barbarian Kiev
HG in Malaca.
Another round of settlers, then vans for MPE.
Writing, Lit, Phil, Mono path.
Energetic ICS to 18C.

975 Wri => Lit (9 turns.) Leptis Magna (13). Building settlers and vans next 9 turns
[should have been Elephants]
800 Literacy => Republic. Phil not offered. Carthago Nova. (14)
775 HG in Malaca. Hut: Philosophy. Kiev (15) emptied and bribed.
750 Republic => Mono. Minsk, Pasagardae found. Persians: 100g for peace.

Status 750BC:
15C, 1 Sett gov: Mon HG 16 tech, res Mono.
5 warr, 3 phalanx, 2 Archer, 5 horse, 1 chariot, 3 Ellie, 2 Dip
2 Trireme.

How did I do? Very good growth.
Cities +3
Tech +4
Wonders HG

Building 9 Sett, 4 vans.

 

[grigor]

HG to MC

Plan for 500
MPE, Mono, Finish road network, Bribe Minsk, Expand South
+7 cities (22) I even planned where to put them.
Conquer Pasargadae if possible.
Start vans for MC
If possible revolt to Republic 525BC. That would mean Mono and vans coming in 3 turns; otherwise wait till 425.

725* Minsk bribed (WC). Russians: 100g
675 Oea near coal.
600 Tingis, Russadit, Alalia.
575 Selinus
550 Mono => Banking.

Status 500BC:
21C, 6 Sett gov: Monarchy HG 18C res Banking
9 warr, 4 phalanx, 2 Archer, 5 horse, 1 chariot, 3 Ellie, 1 Dip
2 Trireme. 3 van

How did I do? Good ICS but slow tech.
Cities +6
Tech +2
Wonders -

MPE in 2 turns
Road network – almost done
dip is coming for Pasgardae
Vans for MC – that needs some work
Republic will be hard by 425.

Plan for 250
MPE; MC – maybe first?
Offshore trade with island
Cover the map
Bribe Pasagardae
Republic 425bc, maybe 325 if slow.

[plan should have been: Win Game]

475 Himera Island
450 Persians: 25g.
400 Akragas
350 Banking => IW. Theveste. Revolt
325* gov: Republic
300 Saguntum, Naples. Barb leader: 50g.
250 Utica builds MC. Issus.

Status 250 BC:
27C, 5 Sett gov: Republic HG, MC 19 tech res IW
4 warr, 3 phalanx, 2 Archer, 6 horse, 1 chariot, 3 Ellie, 1 Crook, 2 Dip
4 Trireme. 0 van

How did I do? good growth again.
Cities +6
Tech +1
Wonders MC

MPE – this sycle
Hides coming from island offshore.
Map is almost covered.
Pasagardae too expensive to bribe.

 

[grigor]

MC to MPE

Plan for 1AD
Conquer planet
Probably revolt back to monarchy 50BC if no war.
MPE for unlikely respawns
Want Pyr in Carthage
Trades for Inv? Need Wheel, Const, Engineering. Not probable – science is at max of 8 turns/advance. This is almost our last science. OH!! We need masonry. Maybe trade with somebody after MPE.

12 New Cities, and I planned where.

175 lux 30, tax 20, science 50. MPE in 3 turns.
150 Cremona (28) on southern river system.
125* Barbs near Carthage. Horse takes them out, becomes vet. Cannae. Capua. Utica builds MPE. No cities or tech held by AI.

I finally started conquering soon but was unable to finish before 1AD.

 

[Major Advantage]

So, this is the first new thread I have ever created in this forum.

Of course I was going for a BC conquest, which I did not achieve despite good luck with huts. This was another game with dreadful starting territory, and I am not sure I did a good job of switching mindsets from growing a workable civilization to a military juggernaut.

Detailed logs to follow

Congratulations on your first thread!
You could have replied to the thread I had started before, but none of the mods was around to pin it, so I guess you missed it.
I think you did pretty great in terms of wonder building (I did not build any) and city building. I was way behind in that, but they did their job. I was also very lucky regarding barbs, one from a polar hut and that moved away.

Log until 1000BC

-4000 move to buffalo
-3950 build road
-3850 pop hut: Horse
-3750 Archer from hut; Karthago founded on 3-special-site
-3700 Research Alph
-3600 Pottery from hut
-3550 Nomads!
-3300 Horse (supported)
-3150 Supported Chariot...we will...keep him and rehome to our 2nd city
-3050 Settler built; Russians already have 2 cities
-3000 Discover St. Petersburg, sign peace with russians, get burial + 50g tribute
-2900 Utica founded; 50g from hut
-2800 WC and weeds from huts, could have gone better...
-2650 HBR from hut
-2600 None Archer; Russians offer BW to share, not now
-2350 Alph->Bronze; Get Bronze + 25g from Russia
-2300 Research Laws
-2250 Meet Persians, sign peace, they offer Masonry, declined
-2200 Malaca founded
-2150 Run into Persepolis
(Persians demand retreat)
-2100 None-horse from hut, now we have 2 horses + 1 archer near Persepolis
-2000 Barb horse from polar hut

Stats at 2000BC:
pop.: 30k; Cities: 3; techs: 6; gold: 114; Gov.: Desp; wonders: -; TR: 0D/0F
units: 2 settler, 2 Archer, 3 horse, 1 chariot
Goals: Expand, explore, see if we can get Persia down with our units nearby, will we ever get to monarchy?

(Barb horse disappears)
-1950 Caralis founded
-1850 Discover Pasargadae
-1800 Sneak attack Persians, conquer Persepolis (24g+Masonry); Panormus founded
-1750 Kill defender in Pasargadae, city destroyed, Persians defeated! Two russian cities on our maps, both on river, this won't be as easy as Persia; switch production in Karthago to barracks
(Pirates west of Karthago! Need some defences quickly)
-1550 Discover Moscow! Quite far away from the other russian cities)
(Phalanx in Panormus barely survives Barb attack)
-1400 Laws->Poly
-1350 Leptis Parva founded

Stats at 1000BC:
pop.: 190k; Cities: 7; techs: 8; gold: 90; Gov.: Desp; wonders: -; TR: 0D/0F
units: 1 settler, 1 warrior, 2 phalanx, 5 Archer, 3 horse, 1 chariot
Goals: get poly and take out Russia with Elephants

 

[Major Advantage]

Anybody else playing? Deadline was some time ago....

 

[Major Advantage]

Not much to add, I only submitted one file. It was clearly kind of lucky to be able to take over the Persians with units from huts. Final part:

-950 Poly->Mon; Sneak attack Russians, horse loses to phalanx in Kiew, so we need ellies
-925 Vet archer kills defender in St. Pete's, City captured for 43g; sign cease fire, at least until we have more troops
-775 Demand russian tribute, they declare war, capture Kiev (57); sign cease fire again
-725 Mon(rev.+est.)->Writing; I think we are done with science
-625 Sneak attack and kill defender in Moscow, city razed (30); Raze Minsk (32), Russians destroyed, game over!