Predator, Vanilla. Goal is the globe (what else, Pinky?)
Worker NW spots the cow; settler NW, then Sogut is founded in 3950BC; the cow is roaded and irrigated, then the BG is roaded and mined; the initial build sequence is warrior -> warrior -> settler -> warrior -> worker; after another settler a granary is built, then the city will produce all the settlers for expansion, until much later.
Research is set on Pottery at max; soon explorers meet Carthage (3450BC) and Greece (3250) - tough! Pottery is completed and traded for Warrior Code; research is virtually stopped at this point. Being weaker, we buy techs for gpt to discourage the AS from attacking too early. Alphabet is bought from Carthage, then around 2400BC we meet the Chinese and trade for the remaining contacts. Writing, Iron Working and Wheel are learned, and min run on Literature is started. The iron source is left unconnected.
Cities are built at RCP 3.5 from Sogut. Iznik (3200BC) and Uskudar (2630BC) are founded; 2 more workers are produced; Uskudar starts tossing workers every 5 turns until a workforce of 6 is reached; Iznik builds barracks, then is set to train warriors; a pair of them are sent to prevent barb camps (horse barbs at deity are no fun), the others are kept for a later mass-upgrade;
What follows is a rush to fill the gaps and claim resources before the AS do it first; Izmit (1870BC) is founded on the horse fields east, beating a carthaginian settler; Aydin (1725BC) claims furs; Antalya (1550BC) closes the gap SE. In 1425BC a frantic trade round ends up with the complete knowledge of the continent, with a negligible final cost. In the same turn Bursa is founded, too late for an inner ring city, but strategic considerations came first. The last QSC city, Edrine, is founded in 1275BC;
In the same period, Mysticism is bought for gpt and embassies are put everywhere. In 1200BC Literature is researched. Someone else got it first, but a trade for Philosophy (and nothing else) is carved out anyway. In 1150BC, iron is finally connected and warriors are being upgraded. Those beasts are a damn lot, but the excess money due to zero research is enough to have them all ready 2 turns later;
Time to wage war. The obvious target is Carthage, but they have a lot of money and are likely to buy allies, unless we find a way to separate them from their treasure. It's time to lose our trade rep, and in the most spectacular way. Mathematics and Map Making are bought from Greece for wines and gpt. A loan is asked to Carthage, then war is declared immediately. Research on Poly is ramped up at max.
1050BC: 1st Punic war.
A force of 17 swords, 2 spears and 1 settler, divided in 2 stacks, is sent to 2 different targets, that are both hit successfully in 1000BC. Utica is destroyed, with a settler ready to claim the empty land, and Hippo is captured.
We hit the 1000BC mark with 8 native towns and a ninth one just captured from Carthage.
As planned, Istanbul (975BC) is founded as a replacement for Utica. Both the stacks converge to Carthage with a coordinated advancement that got them to rejoin just outside the enemy capital. In 925BC, Carthage is captured. Oracle and Great Wall are seized.
Casualties were significant and we are forced to sign peace. We extort: the village of Sabratha, Map Making, Horse Riding, a WM and a few money. Luxury 3 (incense) is hooked next turn. In 800BC we complete Poly (monopoly!) and trade it for Construction and a lot of cash. Research is set to Monarchy at max possible, then war erupts again.
750BC: 2nd Punic war.
In 775BC we declare again vs. Carthage. We take over the cities of Leptis Magna (750BC) and Leptis Minor (710BC), then peace is signed again. No techs are gained, but those losers toss in all their money, badly needed. Max research hurts! With Carthage playing OCC in Theveste, in the middle of the jungle, it's time to seek for another target... but the AS decides for us. In 690BC Babylon demands iron, we send them packing and they declare. Well, i could have gifted them the resource, then disconnect one iron, then mass-build some warriors for a later upgrade... too late to rethink. China is signed in vs. Babylon for a backwards tech, a luxury and some gpt.
At this point, the only available target is Greece. Two stacks of swords are amassed again, this time on the western front.
610BC: 1st Hellenic war.
Troops move to Sparta and Athens - but those pukes had readied a nasty surprise: in the interturn, Sparta (built on a hill) grows to size 7
Hoplite defending at 6, and you
see it. Many swords are lost, but Sparta falls anyway in 590BC. In 570BC it's Athens turn. Size 6 on grass, but with a bigger defense force. Both cities are destroyed, even at size 1 they would require 6 units each to be safe. In their places, the cities of New Athens (570BC) and Konya (530BC) are founded. The 4th luxury (silks) is also secured. Once again, casualties are too high to prosecute the war and peace is signed as soon as possible, in 510BC.
With peace dealings we extort Currency and enter into the Middle Ages. The free tech is Monotheism, as for Greece and Babylon. Despite many elite wins, not a single leader has emerged so far.
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We're 1 turn away from researching Monarchy. Republic is widely known and it can be bought for Monotheism, but i'll probably revolt to Monarchy and prosecute this strategy of short wars, extorsions, and brief peace periods in which i'll be probably fighting someone else. All the AS are in Republic now and i intent to plague them with war weariness as much as i can.
Here's a shot in 510BC, at the dawn of the Medievals: