GOTM 48 first spoiler

[tR1cKy]

I didn't dare!

Considering that in the initial part of the game the strategy was almost forced (take over Persia quickly or be toast), the predator penalty is tough. The lack of alphabet means no immediate trade for Warrior Code, and the increased units + building advantage made Persia more powerful in the ancients. Anyway, the penalty shouldn't impact too much the end result.

 

[civ_steve]

1.27f

Well, Warrior Code wasn't available for initial trade anyway. I founded Seoul where we started and sent the Worker to Road the 2 Wheats, and 1 space South to provide a road to the Luxuries. Then I Joined it to Seoul, finished a Settler and Pyongyang was founded on the Spice in 3300 BC. 10 turns later, Pyongyand had built my first Warrior for Scouting and a Worker, which Joined to Seoul, finished a Settler, and Wonsan was founded in the dry plains in 2630 BC. 27 turns to get up to 3 cities.

I was toying with doing this initially, but a Persian Warrior came by very early on and convinced me I'd need to do some Warring pretty early. Getting to 3 cities allows a no-cost 12 unit army, and that was my next goal. The Warrior was scouting out the Persian position and I had something of a plan at this point.

My first Tech was Pottery (even without building a Granary, I wanted to get to Map-Making pretty quick). This I traded to Persia for 20 Gold. (Now just Cautious and buys me a little time, perhaps). Next was Alphabet, learned in 2470 BC; traded to Persia for Warrior Code which he had recently learned. My granary pre-build became Archers. I could build 3 Archers every 10 turns, and pop-rush 2 more in the first round, and 3 more in the 2nd round. My first 5 Archers captured Susa in 2070 BC (founded near the Horses, not that I knew that at the time!), with 1 loss. My 10 Regular Archer army descended on Persepolis a few turns later ... and it wasn't quite enough. He had Iron-Working by this time, and 2 Immortals. He kicked off his GA, and the surviving Archers from the first Round of contact weren't going to cut it to finish the job. I retreat, heal, fend off Immortals, and sign peace in 1700 BC, gaining 2 of his Southern cities.

OK, 11 more Archers later, I reengage, and Persopolis finally falls in 1025 BC, right before the end of the QSC. A few turns later (800's BC), I palace Jump to Persepolis and can finally start developing an empire.

So a very slow start. I make Persopolis and Pusan (founded near 2 Cattle spaces North of Persopolis) Settler Factories and start filling in the spaces. Persia is down to 5 cities. Of course, Persepolis is on Iron! So I decide to stay in Despotism and pop-rush Swordsmen, Horsemen and Galleys. All Regular, since I haven't a Barracks to my name. I do another round with Persia (taking him to 3 cities), and start founding cities ... wherever I can reach safely. I've got all contacts by the end of the BC's, and have identified my series of targets as I build up my forces.

 

[Tone]

1.29 open

With a little bit of time on my hands I'm attempting a last minute entry.

I've enjoyed this game so far. The early challange of X-man sitting on an iron hill was fun. I managed to take Persepolis without losing to an immortal. I took peace gaining a few techs for my troubles. Then the Persians kindly built me the GLHouse so I took it from them and eventually took a couple of towns and some tech for the second PT. Our third war spilled over onto another island for the final confict and I finally killed them off in 350AD.

Contact with various civs has shown this to be a brutal map with many on their last legs. A different game to what I'm used to. I didn't enter the MA until 690AD and I'm the tech leader This is not going to challange anyone for a fast finish but I'll play it out anyway as it an interesting map

 

[Nixnutz]

This was, without a doubt, my worst showing ever...

Moved south to settle and built a warrior who was sent out to explore as a spearman was in the works.

Met a Persian warrior, traded for something and moved on. As my warrior was exploring southward, the Persians made a beeline for Seoul.

End of story at 3250BC.

Do I hear an ambulance???????????