GOTM 85 Spoiler

[Peaster]

Japanese, King, 1 settler, normal flat map (seemed small to me), restarts off.

4000BC: Kyoto (1), will go for size 1 settler.
by 2700BC: Osaka (2) and Edo (3)
2450BC: Satsuma (4)
2250BC: Monarchy
2050BC: Nara (6)
1250BC: Trade, 12 cities.
1050BC: Marco's, maps, a few techs
925BC: Phil+Mono
800BC: French sneak; warrior defeats elephant (from a hut)
750BC: Van pays 160g. I set up a small Hides business with Washington, which paid approx 200g every 2 turns for the rest of the game. Of course, each van cost roughly 120g, so the profits weren't great, and I didn't need the beakers.
600BC: Paris falls; revenge for 800BC.
575BC: Pyramids (Useless? but I hadn't decided on Green vs Gold yet)
425BC: HG, French build a new capital at Lyons (rare in EC) but it only lasts two turns.
350BC: Sioux build Col. Not a big calamity, but this probably convinced me not to try for "big trade" and a high score.
325BC: LH
275BC: France falls. English do a dumb sneak on my shores and lose.
150BC: English and Sioux capitals fall (sneak vs Sioux).
100BC: Moscow too, but then I need a cease fire and a map update to find the hidden city of Minsk.
75BC: Sioux fall.
50BC: England falls.

And the game was over soon. I played this one fairly fast, and didn't record my stats, but I did make saves and can find more info if needed. At the end, I had 49 cities, monarchy, pop 2.5m, 18 crusaders, 16 boats, 6 losses, tiny score.

This was a fairly normal enjoyable EC game. Not a lot of huts, not a lot of good or bad luck. The last few turns were quite interesting, but I guess I shouldn't reveal the EC date.

 

[Ali Ardavan]

I started playing tonight. I know, I know, the game is due this weekend. It had to be quick, so I decided to do something I have wanted to do for quite some time: A lean Early landing with only 4 major cities.

I built the capital at the starting point after map analysis revealed no better spots near by. After exploration of my island and not finding good spots for major cities (no rivers, and only one 4 specail site which is on forest with 2 specials hidden under grass), I figured I build my other major cities in nearby islands. I kept expanding into my island and pushing towards Marco and Colossus.

I played till -775 in one sitting. That is when Marco came along. I got all rival maps except Russians and I am amused. All 4 are next door! This makes expansion difficult and conquest easy. So I have decided to switch over to conquest. Ought to be a quick one, though certainly no where near as quick as Peaster's.

 

[Ali Ardavan]

1 Japanes settler. Starting techs: Bronze Working, Horseback riding. 50x80 flat map. 6 civs. Restarts off. King level. Barbarians: Restless tribes (-0).

Strategy thoughts:

I am going to try a new landing strategy. I am going to build 4 major cities and a bunch of minor cities mainly for producing caravans and supporting Engineers.

The starting location is 2 special and nothing better close by.

Date Notes

-4000 Kyoto founded. Warrior started. T4L0S6
-3950 -> Alphabet. Russians are in. That is bad news: there is a key civ hole.
-3800 Warrior ready. Settler started.
-3750 Alphabet -> Code of Laws.
-3400 50g from hut.
-3350 Code of Laws -> Ceremonial Burial.
-3050 Empty hut. Osaka founded.
-2800 Ceremonial Burial -> Monarchy.
-2350 Edo founded.
-2250 Monarchy -> Currency. Monarchy established. T3L0S7.

Status at -2000
Population: 0.05M; Cities: 3; Trade routes: 0D0F; Government: Monarchy
Gold: 88; Cost per turn: 0; Total advances: 6; Production: 8MT; 0 polluted tiles
Wonders:
Units: 1 Warrior, 1 Phalanx, 1 Horsemen
Russian: No contact
French: No contact
American: No contact
English: No contact
Sioux: No contact

-1750 Currency -> Mapmaking. Satsuma founded.
-1550 Kagoshima founded.
-1450 Mapmaking -> Trade.
-1150 Trade -> Writing.

Status at -1000
Population: 0.09M; Cities: 5; Trade routes: 0D0F; Government: Monarchy
Gold: 85; Cost per turn: 0; Total advances: 9; Production: 17MT; 0 polluted tiles
Wonders:
Units: 4 Settlers, 1 Warrior, 1 Phalanx, 1 Horsemen
Russian: No contact
French: No contact
American: No contact
English: No contact
Sioux: No contact

-0950 Nara founded.
-0900 Writing -> Literacy.
-0850 Nagoya founded.
-0775 Marco Polo built. My power is already Supreme.
Writing, Trade -> Sioux (3) -> Math, maps
Math, Mapmaking -> Russian (1) -> Mysticism, cutoff
Writing, Trade , Monarchy, Math -> English (5) -> Seafaring, maps
Trade , Monarchy, Mysticism -> American (2) -> maps
Writing, Trade , Monarchy, Mapmaking -> French (4) -> maps
These rivals are all next door. There is no room near by for expansion. Changing strategy to conquest.
-0750 Seafaring, Monarchy -> Russian (1) -> maps.
-0725 Colossus built. Literacy -> Philosophy. All ignore my feeble threats for tribute.
-0575 First barracks built.
-0550 Philosophy -> Astronomy -> Polytheism. Philosophy -> Sioux -> Polytheism.
-0525 -> Wheel.
-0450 Monarchy, Seafaring -> Sioux -> Wheel.
-0425 -> Monotheism.
-0400 Nagasaki founded. Beads from Kyoto to English York for 184.
-0375 Monotheism -> Medicine. Literacy -> English (5) -> Iron Working.
-0350 French demand 50g and declare war when I refuse.
-0325 Wool to Little Bighorn for 120.
-0275 First offshore city founded: Yokohama.
-0250 Medicine -> University. All but Monotheism -> Sioux. T7L0S3.
-0225 Salt from Kyoto to New York for 160.
-0200 Shimonoseki founded. English demand 100g and declare war when I refuse.
-0175 My horseman kills English catapult.
-0150 Hides to Washington for 64.
-0100 English settler killed.
-0025 Crusader kills warrior defending French Tours. Next crusader razes the city for 11g and Construction.
+0001 English Horseman lands near Kyoto defended by a vet Phalanx. Crusader kills French horseman.

Status at +0001
Population: 0.73M; Cities: 11; Trade routes: 0D4F; Government: Monarchy
Gold: 26; Cost per turn: 3; Total advances: 22; Production: 45MT; 0 polluted tiles
Wonders: Colossus, Marco
Units: 5 Settlers, 1 Warrior, 6 Phalanx, 1 Legion, 1 Horsemen, 2 Crusaders, 3 Trireme, 1 Diplomat, 2 Carvans
Russian: 4 cities, 10 techs;
French: 6 cities, 13 techs; War with me;
American: 4 cities, 12 techs;
English: 4 cities, 19 techs; War with me;
Sioux: 4 cities, 23 techs;

 

[URUWASHI]

Interesting that I have the same idea as ALI.
I builded Several super Cities, and used small cities just to provide caravans and Settlers.
I build most of my Mega cities on 4 Special locations and at the end of the game I had several cities exceeding population 19 or more- Cedar Creek 31- , London -22, York -22, Manila -35, Wellington -29, Toyama -21, Orleans -19. Most of those cities built most infrastrucure and farmland, and they only produced Caravans and Freight , the pay out between them was very good.Building Airports in each one was also a good choice.
I finished with 89 Cities- All top 5 cities accounted for 65% of the Wonders- ( Manila 4-Toyama 5, Cedar Creek 3, Orleans 3 and Kyoto 3 ).
I will post my log later on.

 

[Ali Ardavan]

+0020 French Chariot kills my Crusader. English horseman dies in attack on Kyoto. Michelanglo built. French chariot killed.
+0040 French kill another crusader.
+0060 Barbarian Legion lands near Yokohama. Horseman killed in attack on it.
+0080 French build Pyramids. Barbarian legion killed in attack on my city. University -> Republic. University -> Sioux -> Pottery.
+0120 Hanging Gardens built.
+0140 Sapporo, Hakodate, and Ise founded.
+0200 Accepted English offer of peace. Domestic wine for 80.
+0240 English catapult kill my Legion. Toyama founded.
+0240 None settler from hut. Daryakenar founded.
+0260 English horseman killed in attack on Kyoto.
+0320 English kill a settler. English unit killed.
+0340 English explorer killed. 4 Vet Crusaders attack Paris. First 3 kill 3 defenders. Next one captures Paris for 74g, Masonry. Paris City walls are still standing!
+0360 French archer kills my 3 wounded Crusaders. French Lyons bought for 260. Got 43g, Warrior Code, and 2 units. French Trireme bought for 104.
+0400 French kill my horseman and move their capital to Rheims. English build Great Library. Wheel, Philosophy -> English -> Republic, Banking, peace. French warrior killed.
+0420 -> Engineering.
+0440 French legion killed. Republic -> Americans.
+0460 French kill 2 of my units. Engineering -> Invention. Silk, Hides to Washington for 192, 80. French Charters bought for 252. Got 42g and 3 units. Crusader killed in attack on French city.
+0480 Domestic Salt for 60.
+0500 4 Barbarian horsemen from hut.

Status at +0500
Population: 1.95M; Cities: 19; Trade routes: 4D6F; Government: Monarchy
Gold: 371; Cost per turn: 8; Total advances: 29; Production: 96MT; 0 polluted tiles
Wonders: Colossus, Marco, Michaelangelo, Hanging Gardens
Units: 6 Settlers, 1 Warrior, 15 Phalanx, 1 Archer, 1 Horsemen, 10 Crusaders, 7 Trireme, 2 Diplomat, 6 Carvans
Russian: 3 cities, 12 techs;
French: 3 cities, 16 techs; War with me; Pyramids
American: 4 cities, 15 techs;
English: 4 cities, 23 techs; War with Sioux; Great Library
Sioux: 4 cities, 26 techs; War with English


+0520 French horseman killed in attack on Paris. Barbarians kill my Archer. Domestic deliveries for 74+72. Broke peace and attacked London with 4 crusaders. 3 killed defenders. London captured for 40g. Single defender of Hastings killed and the city captured for Great Library+72g.
+0540 English chariot kills my crusader and razes London. English chariot killed. Barbarian horseman killed. Fukushima founded in France.
+0560 English Chariot kills my crusader. Invention -> Democracy. Invention -> Sioux -> Navigation. English chariot killed.
+0580 Sioux build Copernicus. Suo founded in France.
+0600 Three crusaders attack Orleans. One gets killed. 2 French defenders killed and the city captured for 41g and barracks. English Legion killed.
+0620 Domestic deliveries for 36. Barbarian horse killed. English Chariot killed. 2 English defenders killed to capture Nottingham for 100g.
+0640 French archer killed in attack on my Phalanx. Sioux Stony Lake subverted for 2x78. Got 19g and a Phalanx.
+0660 French kill a Phalanx. Sioux declare war rather than remove troops. 2 Sioux units killed. Domestic deliveries for 22+30. York captured after its single defender fell for 103g.
+0680 King Richard built in Kyoto. French Phalanx killed and French Marseilles captured for 52g and barracks. None settler from hut. English Canterbury razed. English civilization destroyed.
+0700 Domestic deliveries for 10. Canal founded.
+0720 Philosophy -> American -> maps.
+0740 2 French defenders of Rheims killed. Hides to Washington for 64.
+0760 Sioux capture defenseless Sapporo . Lost a caravan, an empty Trireme, and 17g. 2 Sioux elephants killed. Sapporo taken back for 37g. Domestic Silk for 117. French Phalanx killed. Rheims captured for Pyramids and 92g. French civilization destroyed.
+0780 Democracy -> Gunpowder. 2 Sioux defenders killed and Little Big Horn captured for Copernicus and 46g.
+0800 Sioux elephant killed. Echizen founded.
+0820 2 Sioux defenders killed and Cedar Creek captured for 74g.
+0840 Izumi founded. London refounded.
+0860 None settler from hut. 5 barbarian horsemen from hut.
+0880 Barbarians kill my crusader. Great Wall built. Echigo founded.
+0900 Barbarian horseman bought for 41g.
+0920 Domestic deliveries for 30.
+0940 Magellan built. Russians declare war over my demand for tribute. 2 defenders killed and Kiev captured for 45g and Harbor.
+0960 Americans build Lighthouse. My horseman survives attacking Russian Chariot. Kozuke founded. 2 Sioux units killed and Three Forks captured for 61g. 2 Russian defenders killed and Moscow captured for 46g and Harbor. St. Petersburg bought for 204g. Got 60g, barracks , and a unit. Russian catapult killed.
+0980 Sado, Naples, and Issus founded. Unprovoked attack on our peaceful neighbor America by Japanese war mongers. Washington's single defender killed and the city captured for Lighthouse and 75g.
+1000 Domestic deliveries for 52+81. Russian Smolensk razed.

Status at +1000
Population: 4.69M; Cities: 43; Trade routes: 35D1F; Government: Monarchy
Gold: 137; Cost per turn: 15; Total advances: 32; Production: 210MT; 0 polluted tiles
Wonders: All ancients except Oracle, Marco, Michaelangelo, Copernicus, King Richard, Magellan
Units: 15 Settlers (2 None), 4 Warriors, 37 Phalanx, 2 Horsemen (1 None), 15 Crusaders, 6 Trireme, 2 Caravel, 3 Diplomats, 9 Caravans
Russian: 2 cities, 13 techs; War with me
French: Destroyed by me
American: 4 cities, 19 techs; War with me
English: Destroyed by me
Sioux: 1 cities, 28 techs; War with me

+1010 Gunpowder -> Chemistry. Cunaxa founded. 3 American units killed. Hides to Atlanta for 16.
+1020 2 Barbarian legions killed in attack on my units. Russians kill a crusader. Cremona and Cannae founded. Atlanta razed for 11g. 1 American units killed. Boston captured for 34g and Marketplace. 2 Units lost. Minsk bought for 315g. Got 145g, barracks, and 4 units. Accepted cease fire with Russians in hope of tribute but did not get any. Cease fire with Sioux only got me 25g. Undemanded Copper to New York for 24g. Only Library sold to raise cash. New York bought for 366g. Got 56g, marketplace, phalanx , and settler.
+1030 Capua founded. 1 American unit killed Chariot killed in attack on last Russian city. Sioux Phalanx killed and Slim Buttes captured for 83g and Harbor. Sioux civilization destroyed. T7L3S0.
+1040 Shakespeare built. Hides to Philadelphia for 24. Last defender of Philadelphia killed and the city bought for 114g. Got 60g, settler, and marketplace. American civilization destroyed. None settler from hut. Domestic deliveries for 54+0+16. Turin, Genoa, and Crete founded. Revolution started. T4L6S0.
+1050 Leonardo's built. Democracy established. T0L10S0. Verona , Salamis, Lisbon founded. Domestic delivery for 30. Russian Odessa razed. Russian civilization destroyed.