GOTM 45 First Spoiler - entering the middle ages.

[Markus5]

I'm realizing just how weak Persia was in my game. It first I didn't understand. They should have been expanding like crazy. They didn't seem to be wonder-pigs. You know, building wonders in all core cities instead of expanding. They just sat there. My only guess is that they were hit hard by barbs. I certainly had no significant problems with barbs. But, at one time, there was a horde of barb horses that ran by me heading toward Persia.

My plans at the time I entered the Middle Ages:
-Beeline to MilTrad.
-Expand to fill available territory.
-Connect, trade or steal horses and iron.
-Build cossacks.
-Trigger Golden Age.
-Take over Persia.
-Build second core in Persian territory.

Second spoiler will have the results of that plan.

 

[Markus5]

Has anyone else noticed the display artifacts near the north and south edges of the map?

 

[Offa]

It’s not like the old-school barbarians from civ 1, who would take over the city and start producing their own units!

WARNING: COMPLETELY OFF TOPIC POST

I don't know about them but the barbs in civ2 were fun. The thing was to let them take a town, and then use the wildly overpowered diplomats/spies to bribe NONE units that emerged, and to trade with the town with the even more overpowered caravans.

 

[Lmtoops]

Victory Goal
I'm trying to win a peaceful UN-victory game. Of course that my change, depending on resources, forced wars, and if I get bored.

Initial Moves
As many before, my settler went 2 tiles South and settled. I researched Alphabet at max. My inital build queue was Sc-Sc-Grainary-Settler. I 'm taking a bit of chance considering the number of civs and the barbs. Fortunately, all worked out.

Huts
Not much luck here; I only popped 3 huts. I got Cer. Burial, a warrior, and 25g. Two of my scouts were axed by barbs, fairly early. I probably should have build more, but I did not want to interupt my settler production.

Wonders
I build the Colossus in my Western coast city...future research city.

Palace Jump in 750BC, to center my capital.

Research
Initially, Alpha, Writing, and Phil. I am shotting for Republic. Hope to be near the top in research, which should not be much of a challenge.

Persian Wars
Persian War began approx. 500AD. My only goal is to get their iron, and hopefully a favorable peace deal. I did get the iron in the East. I'm not sure about the peace deal...I think I got a little, but nothing to brag about. Persia is set up for a fall in the future.

1000BC Stats
5 Cities (slow)
4 workers
1 Scout (barbs ate my other two)
1 Warrior (popped)
3 Archers
5 Spears
Score: 153 (10th)
342 gold
Researching Republic

Next Age Goals
I need to eliminate the Persians, probably with my Cossacks.
Must keep on friendly terms with all other civs.; expecially China and Babylon.
Keep military fairly strong.
Stay at the top in research.

 

[ainwood]

Has anyone else noticed the display artifacts near the north and south edges of the map?

Yes - its a pain. It tends to happen with maps like these, unfortunately.

 

[Twonky]

Ptw 1.27f, open

Like many others, I founded Moscow 2S of the start. Initial builds were Scout, Scout, Settler, Granary and Settlers. I don´t know why I built a Settler before the Granary, probably a foolish mistake.
I concentrated on growth, building up a rank 3 ring. I could secure iron and ivory, but missed out the horses by far. This means I´ll probably have to change my usual plan to attack with Knights or Cavalry. That´s not funny, I´m a poor warmonger. Ah, maybe I can trade...
Started Research with The Wheel to see horses and, as there are not very many MIL civs, maybe have something nice to trade. That was a bummer of course, having Japan next door. Well, at last it traded in Mysticism and thereby Masonry, so no real complaints here. Another goody was my Maths-monopoly in 1625 BC, which finally brought me to tech parity and some gold for a few embassies.
1475 BC, the Vikings dowed upon denial of Philosophy, but a scout of mine played bikini-babe and lured Ragnars stack away from my lands, so the war was phoney and ended soon enough. I got demands for gold from others on a regular basis, but paid them all.

QSC-stats:
9 towns with 15 citizens and 4 granaries.
5 Workers + 2 Slaves, 1 regular Warrior, 1 Scout
Contacts (all):
Persia (3350 BC), Japan (3050 BC), Scandinavia (2590 BC), America (2550 BC), Zulu, Iroqois and Rome (2470 BC), China (1830 BC), Celts (1725 BC), Babylon and Aztecs (1625 BC), Embassies with Zulu, Persia, Japan, America, Aztecs (1525 BC).
Techs:
CB (hut, 3750 BC), Wheel (self, 2850 BC), WC (hut, 2710 BC), Mysticism (Vikings, 2590 BC), Masonry (Persia, 2590 BC), Alphabet (Zulu, 2470 BC), IW (Persia, 2230 BC), Maths (self, 1625 BC), Writing and HBR (Iroqois, 1625 BC), Philo (America, 1500 BC), CoL (self, 1175 BC), MapMaking (Iroqois, 1175 BC)

Upon researching The Republic, I started to fall behind in techs. No problemo, as long as I get my monopoly there. Vikings even enter MA in 730 BC! But the plan succeeds: I discover Republic on the 510 – 490 BC interturn and trade it around. The richest civ (in this case Rome) pays me Poly, Curr, Con, Lit, 113 gold and world map for it, frankly everything they have! This catapults me into MA, and I draw Monotheism and a 6 turn anarchy

 

[ionimplant]

after failing to get the iron, i started a war on japan and allied persia. it is really surprising that Japan and Persia are razing each other's city like crazy and very soon there're at least 3 ruin sites on the map where some beautiful cities used to be. my settler factories which already entered troop-producing stage shift gear back to pump out settlers and very soon the used-to-be persia and japan empires are covered by brown color from russia. next plan: be peaceful and try to balance the power (Roman is sort of running away. but it shouldn't hurt since i'm also running away) and research full speed toward space schuttle. for some reason, my research capibility is really slow... hopefully this will be solved by palace jumping which will take place probably in the next spoiler..


one strange thing that i observed- japan is building its cities in funny places. it only has 1 city close to kyoto while about 4 or 5 cities that is very far away. they may be closer to persia or me than to its own neighbor cities. i know AI tend to place cities like cXXXXc. but japan really went to the extreme this time.

 

[k-a-bob]

one strange thing that i observed- japan is building its cities in funny places. it only has 1 city close to kyoto while about 4 or 5 cities that is very far away. they may be closer to persia or me than to its own neighbor cities. i know AI tend to place cities like cXXXXc. but japan really went to the extreme this time.

I noticed the same thing. Japan actually did not have ANY cities near their capital - they were all split by Persia and all their cities were founded either on my/China's coast area or north of Persia and just east of Russia.

 

[denyd]

Catherine was excited to finally be chosen to lead another colonization team. For over two years she had watched others lead successful parties and was happy to once again be planning an expedition. The initial surveys showed lush green landing site with a nice river for fresh water with mountains and furs to the north. Unfortunately, this colony transport pilot wasn’t very as good as most and Catherine found herself on the wrong side of the mountains. “We need to head south, look for a trail and a suitable city site” she ordered Lewis, the scout and then assembled the colonists and marched off after him.

With the founding of Moscow in 3900 BC, the Russia Empire had begun, the initial research was Ceremonial Burial and almost immediately, Lewis returned with the knowledge of the Warrior Code from a nearby village. As Lewis continued his southern travels it became clear that all eastern and northern roads would need to cross formidable mountain ranges and in 3550 BC he met Persia. Trade discussions their leader proved fruitless and he head off to the west having found the southern shore and soon be the proud Japanese people. A quick exchange of knowledge and suddenly Xerxes was willing to trade and soon Masonry & Wheel would join the recently discovered Ceremonial Burial in the Russia Knowledge Text.

Clark was happy to be sent to explore, as his brother scout had done before him. He was also successful in gaining knowledge, Horseback Riding from an eastern village. He also was able to recruit a warrior from another village and this warrior headed off into the jungles in the southeast. About this time the third and final scout, Boone left Moscow in search of western neighbors, but soon discovered that there was very little lands west, though they did contain spices, He turned south and scouted what would become future sites for the primary Russian core of cities and in 2630 BC, the first those cities St Petersburg was founded. Meanwhile Lewis had met another pair of tribes, the Chinese a somewhat backward people and the Americans from who both Mysticism and the Alphabet would be obtained in trades. As Lewis continued west he would meet his final pair of tribes, the Celts a very backward people and the Vikings, from who Iron Working would be acquired, Lewis would make a fatal move when he climbed a hill to check the lay of the lands and would find himself face to face with a barbarian warrior. In 1750 BC in the southeast, Thor the village warrior Lewis recruited had completed his trek through the barbarian infested jungle to me Caesar and his Romans. A trade for Writing from would lead to contact with the rest of the nations, mathematics from America and most of the world’s supply of gold.

As time passed, the Russian empire continued to grow and with the claiming ivory, iron and horses, by 1400 BC Russia would have three native luxuries and both ancient age resources. However, Russia had virtually no army and was forced to cede the knowledge of Mathematics to Persia in 1300 BC. Catherine, ordered barracks be constructed to build troops to revenge this insult on Xerxes. With the discovery of Polytheism and trades to acquire Map Making and Philosophy, things continued to progress peacefully until 1125 BC when Caesar demanded the knowledge of Philosophy, that was known only by America and Russia. Catherine’s refusal to part with such a valuable commodity with no quid pro quo caused the Roman leader to declare war. Catherine was not concerned as current information revealed that Rome had no access to iron and it would take the Archers of Rome a long time to reach even the most distant Russian city. Even poor Thor was not threatened by Rome as a pair of barbarian horsemen had caused his demise shortly before the blackmail attempt. About the same time Clark met the same fate as Lewis as a mountain top move, placed him next to a barbarian village.


In 900 BC the first Great Wonder of the World was completed with the Oracle in Babylon, to be followed by the Pyramids in Rome and following the discovery of Literature in 825 BC a major trading session in 710 BC would lead to Russia acquiring the knowledge of Construction, Currency and Code of Laws as well as the territorial maps of all the nations and most of the world’s gold.

Catherine was pleased that her nation was technologically advanced and had connected a fourth luxury (dyes in the northeastern tundra) and both strategic resources. The size of her lands and population rivaled that of the worlds largest and her economy was about to benefit from an upcoming change from despotism to monarchy. Where her nation was headed she was not yet sure, becoming a culture master was not likely and while she excelled in diplomacy, she tired of the lies and deceit necessary for that path. A return to Alpha Centauri was tempting as was using her Cossacks (a secret research project she personally was overseeing) was also appealing. Her only plans at present were to remove the Japanese from what lands that she considered to be Russian and to avenge slights by both Xerxes and Caesar. Once those goals were complete, she vowed to revisit her long term plans and decide on her destiny.

 

[MiniMe]

I took my settler wandering for 3 turns before settling, in what looked liked a good position for RCP 3. My first GH around 3600BC nets me a worker. He goes back to Moscow to join in order to get first settler out as soon as possible. We start with zero research thinking (or hoping) that Rome was placed next to us. That was a mistake, should have started alphabet right away since I was forced to research it anyway. Didnt start research until I realized I was not going to meet Ceasar. I should know better ...

We steadily meet new civs:
Japan in 3400BC.
China in 2950BC.
Vikings in 2710BC.
Americans in 2630BC.
Persia in 2390BC.
Zulu in 2390BC.
Iroquois in 1750BC.
After that didnt keep track...

Purchased workers whenever I could, even at high cost. With so little food around it was a high priority to get settlers out as quickly as possible.
Worker from Japan in 3200BC for 4gpt + 37g.
Worker from Japan in 1750BC for 4gpt + 37g.
Worker from Iroquois in 1650BC for 109g.
Worker from Persia in 1450BC for techs and gold.

Including the early worker from the hut I think this allowed some decent early expansion. I focused completely on settlers this time. No barracks or warriors.
First settler built in 3150BC.
Second settler ready in 2800BC.
etc...

Sacked twice by barbs, once loosing important granary prebuild and another time loosing a little cash.

QSC stats:
12 towns
25 population
10 workers
2 warrior
3 granaries
1 library

Missing Construction, Currency, Monarchy, Republic (16 turns).

Rome built the Pyramids. Too bad.

Discover Republic in 690BC and roll for 6 and then reroll for 5 turn anarchy (same I guess). I trade for Construction and Currency to enter MA in 670BC.

 

[compmage]

I didn't keep detailed logs like everyone else. Didn't know it was the norm since I hadn't read any spoiler threads before.

Anyway, decided to play vanilla conquests since I have only every played 1 game above warlord before. Pretty standard first city (2s from start). Was worried about the raging barbs (never having more than roaming on my normal games) so my build queue was scout, spear, settler, granary.

Didn't get much from huts, mostly empty and maps with the first being a worker.

2nd city W of the spices, 3rd city 4 tiles SE of the capital, managed to get my 4th city between the Iron and Ivory near the Persians capital. Had contact with all civs by about 1000BC. Found myself behind in techs almost immediate and haven't been able to catch up yet (about 5 techs behind right now - 600 AD).

Just finished my war against Japan, they had 10 cities and are now left with just their capital. Gained 2 techs in the peace negotiations. Persia is my next target. They don't have Iron that I am aware of and I need to grab their horses so that I can start on some knights (still need chivalry though).

Currently 2nd in territory, 3rd in manafactured goods and 4th-5th in productivity.

Plan for tonight, get some of the top civs involved in a war so that I can catch up in techs, destroy the persians trying for some pointy-stick research. Hope for a leader to build the FP in the heart of persian territory and GET MORE SLAVES. Infrastructure could do with a lot of improving.

Will see if I can post a map tonight before I start playing again.

 

[PaperBeetle]

Open class, looking for a 100k win. That's a bit of an obvious one for this map, isn't it?

Settler heads S,S like everyone else. I don't like the look of RCP3 from this location though (too many mountains), so I then go W and settle. Build order is scout, scout, granary, settler.

Research starts with Wheel, as I'd like to see the horses early, and Wheel can often have good trade value, although I'm aware that the Japanese are in the game. After Wheel (2710bc), I start min research, as there will be so much trading opportunity in this game. The tech is Mysticism as I have decided to go Monarchy -> Communism.

First contact is China in 3250bc, with Japan the next turn and Persia in 2950bc. Before Writing, I go on to meet Scandinavia, America, Aztec, Zulu and Iroquois. I had a scout get through the jungle on the eastern route to Rome, but he got toasted by barbs before making contact.

St Petersburg is founded on a spice source in 2350bc. I have switched plan to RCP4 now, which is unusual for me, but I want more cities in my first ring. Kiev is founded east along the river, and in 1675bc, Minsk is founded among the furs.

Writing is acquired in 1625bc and I get contact with Rome, Babylon and Celts. I am not deliberately accelerating or retarding the tech pace - just trading enough to keep up in tech, and hoard as much of the world's cash as possible. For 100k, the only benefit of fast tech is the availablity of better governments.

1625bc is also the year that St Petersburg, a dedicated barrack town, builds my first military unit, a spear. Moscow has been doing scouts to fill in time between settlers; I see no need to produce regular axes or spears, and so I build seven scouts before Moscow finally gets its barracks.

My scouts don't find too many huts; I get two techs (Masonry and Burial) a bit of cash and maps. I don't see may barbs around, and several scouts will survive into the medieval era.

QSC stats:
6 towns with 14 citizens, 2 granaries and 3 barracks.
1 settler, 2 workers, 2 slaves, 3 scouts, 1 veteran archer, 7 veteran spears.
All contacts, no embassies, all ancient techs apart from Currency, Contruction and the 3 optional techs.
I am 16 turns into min research on Monarchy, and have 386g in the treasury.

It is a very slow start, and I'm probably last in terms of land area, bar the Japanese, but now it is time to turn my mind to strategy. Persia and Japan need to be removed to give me room to expand, and the food to do it. For this, I will need iron, and in 975bc, Sevastopol is founded nex to the iron in the mountains near Japan.

Map trading started back in 1175bc, but I didn't sell mine, as I didn't really want AI settlers swarming over my pninsula. In 750bc, Julius demands my map, and doesn't get it. He dows, but I don't see him as a threat. I spend most of my cash establishing embassies, and then give out lots of techs in exchange for war on Rome.

In 730bc, Persia reaches the medieval and triggers the barb uprisings. Unruffled, I found Sverdlovsk near the ivory, only two tiles away from a stack of 25 barb horses. The town is defended by two spears and an archer, but they are not tested, as the barbs just shuffle around in an idiotic manner (although they do pick off a nearby Japanese settler combo). I don't have any other problems with barbs at this time.

In 690bc, I decide it is time to reveal my map - it is worth about 100g, and I use it as part of my trade for Currency, which brings me into the medieval age.

 

[Più Freddo]

Just post my timeline since there seems to be something wrong on the QSC results page.