GotM XXI - Thread of the Spoiler!

[anarchywrksbest]

OK folks apparently it is GOTM time again! So i will be the first one to post a report!

Let The Spoiling Commence!

I played the game for about 90 minutes and doing VERY well, I mean fantastically well considering I am crap at this game! And it my first OCC attempt!

A long time ago before I even had the internet I messed about with the map editor and created some oddly shaped maps like the one used in this GOTM. And I noticed that MOST of the time the Civs will be placed at intervals across the map and USUALLY towards the 'equator'

Taking this into account I used my first 'none' horse and headed in a certain compass point I then picked up a couple more horses and an archer from huts I thought Bloody Hell! I have quite a big army! So I reached the first civ's capital and took out its phalanx and byebye civ! Kept on moving to the next civ. 2 more cities which killed my Chariots

Then i used the north pole to reach the next island. Another two cities goodbye! I have killed off all the cities that i captured now

I jave captured the capital of the next Civ but my army is gone

All ths BEFORE the birth of whats his name
Keep on trying!

anarchywrksbest

 

[anarchywrksbest]

Just had a converstion with Lucky, so you can ignore everything i said about a OCC. Stupid rules

 

[Chofritz]

Rigth now I have 30 cities and I am soon (~20 turns) getting the SoL so I can switch to fundy, I had one early advanced tribe but that is all, I also had some problems with white who I had to wait for elephants to get of the map. Good is that I am still in the BC's...

More updates later...

 

[Narz]

Originally posted by NRK
All ths BEFORE the birth of whats his name

I took too long (by my standards) to finish this GOTM. I hated the terrain. To tell you the truth I hate the randomly generated maps the game produces. Just once I'd love to play a GOTM on a beautiful hand-crafter map rather than a stringy random one.

- Narz

 

[Smash]

well maybe next month your wish will come true.

Kinda looks like this was just abit too easy.Have to make that up next time

 

[anarchywrksbest]

Oh God! Narz my computer messed up earlier when i was trying to play our MP game! And so i reinstalled MGE....over the top of the folder I had my GOTM save file in! DAMMIT!!

 

[Narz]

damn, that sucks NRK... I feel for you. Do you have Norton Utilities, I know they have a program called UnErase. You're an amatuer hacker, right? maybe you could find a way to get it back (your GOTM files). Good luck!

Good to hear Smash (about the possibility of new maps), I look forward to next month!

- Narz

 

[anarchywrksbest]

Yes so amateur that my skills amount to figuring out URL's and guessing passwords!

Its gone! Forever and no way I will be allowed to replay! Even if i was i could never get all those free units again......

 

[ElephantU]

Originally posted by Smash
well maybe next month your wish will come true.

Kinda looks like this was just abit too easy.Have to make that up next time

How about one with medium sized, widely separated islands (lots of naval action)? Or how about a no-wonders challenge?

 

[Narz]

\

Or how about a no-wonders challenge?

No way! The wonders are half the fun. And besides this would bring too large an element of luck into the game. Say if the nearest Civ to the human player was the English and the furthest was the Mongols. In one player's game the English built the Pyramids and Hanging Gardens, in another's the Mongols did. The first player captured the nearby Egyptian city with the two wonders, gaining a huge advantage while player #2 would have to wait for Navigation and build up an army large enough to go far oversees to capture the same wonders...

I do like the idea of a map with alot of islands though. Also, the AI should be given some advantage such as maybe two cities to start instead of one, plus additional techs. I prefer playing a game where the AI has a head start on say King level then a Diety game where everything is even but all your citizens start randomly rioting after a certain # of cities.

Another idea would be forced Democracy (like the forced Fundy game : #18). I've noticed the last two GOTM's (#20 I never finished) I spent most of the game in Monarchy simply demanding tribute and if they declared war, making them pay for a peace treaty back. I had to talk to each AI, each turn to attempt to maximize my profits, this got pretty tedious after awhile. In this respect Civ I had a better negotiation system, though it was more limited it also offered less opportunity to manipulate the foolish AI and extract copious amounts of money while wasting copious amounts of time.

Just some thoughts.

- Narz

 

[Ace]

A game with a lot of islands would be a good change of pace. We have not had a real naval game in a long time.

But a forced Democracy game would be a major pain in the A**!
starting at democracy without mike's chappel and no warriors to suppress the peasants would not be much fun!! and it would sure slow down growth. IMHO

I don't know about the wonders, that might make for an interesting game, but Narz is probably right about the luck element.

 

[Smash]

I can't exactly say I'm struggling but I'm not cruisin as some have.Mainly cuz I lost my 2 hut chariots and 1 hut archer trying to take a Celtic city on a river.Found out the hard way it was defended by a single phalanx which must have been made into a vet after the first attack put it in the yellow cuz the other 2 attacks failed with barely a move to the phalanx's remaining life.
So I hunkered in and waited for Sun Tzu's and knights.Still have time for a BC finish but there are a few more capitol river cities that may be costly to take.

 

[Jayne]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who struggled with that city!!

 

[Old n Slow]

OK, I've finally started.

Thought that the early conquerors would rule again so I wanted to see how well I could compete in that vein -- not this time. I'm at 1 AD with 9 cities -- lost two to barbs already (one being the capital -- oh well I wanted to move the palace anyway).

Built HG, but my site for the SSC may have to adjust some other city limits which are too close -- hmmm will have to think that through as well.

At least I have a few units out to visit. Am demanding some tribut and getting it.

 

[GaryNemo]

Wandering thru the Wonders as usual. I've been bribing the AI to get Nones. One good copper caravan worth $172 so far. Recently destroyed Cardiff, on the River.

2050 BC, Hannibal proclaimed King of new Monarchy by oedo!

60 AD, Formed Republic, 20,20,60% , Bribe Zulu Eleph $112 None, 5 new WLTK and here we go!
750,000 in 11c, $19-3, Sci 65/8 21T, F11 Mfg=57 #1, FS=4.6

Islands would be fun.

 

[Boli]

OK, the game is going fine, destroyed two civs early on to give myself half the map to play with and began filling the space with cities, but how many deserts/mountains/tundra/glaciers are there in the map... I hate them most of the time I've spent so far has been converting them into grassland/plains.

I would have gone for the quick conquest but I missed the boat so I'll have to get the high score instead... that means nice firtile farmlands... not polar icecaps to work with.

 

[ElephantU]

Hmmm... no posts for 6 days?

I got started on GOTM21 last week. The first thing I did was generate three random 80x20 maps to see what this tends to look like. A "normal" map is 50x80, or 4000 squares, a "small" is 40x50, or 2000 squares. This one is only 1600 squares, and they are stretched out horizontally so that there is usually only a few wide side-by-side "continents". Bottleneck terrain seems to rule here. One interesting thing was that all the continents had some sort of access to each other from the North pole, so it looked like there may not even be a need to build a ship at all for early conquest. From that thought and what I had been reading about ICS I decided before beginning that I would try combining ICS with early conquest, after getting AI maps from Marco Polo. That plan lasted 10 turns...

Pre-Game Analysis:
King level: 3 content citizens/city
6 civs:
#1-White: Celts R E -
#2-?
#3-?
#4-Yellow: Aztec - P C
#5-Cyan: Persia - P -
#6-Orange: Carth (me)
#7-? (missing? Smash said only 6)
(These guys look pretty peaceful!)
Barbs: Raging Hordes (+25) (extra defense needed)
map: 80x20 (very wide but not tall)
Start position Wheat (food) & Gems (trade), 1 Hut
2 settlers - quick two cities
free techs: Bronze, Horse
CIV2PLAN: Alp/Cer/CoL/MON/Wri/Cur/TRA
or Alp/WRI/Cer/CoL/MON/Cur/TRA?
Get Monarchy as 4th or 5th, Trade 7th

 

[ElephantU]

4000BC- move settlers east & west
__East will get hut before CAP founded
__West will found CAP on water with 2+ specials
3950BC- HUT (73,11): Horse (NONE)
__Horse north, no 3rd special there (now know map pattern!)
__CARthage founded (68,12) 2F1T2Sh
__(2nd settler road Wheat, then found 2nd city)
__#2-Green: Zulu A - -
__#3-Blue: French A E C
__(Not so peaceful anymore!)
__(Carth is 6th: worst position or numerical?)
__(No 7th for KeyCiv!)
start Alphabet
3900BC- Horse & Settler west
3850BC- river to north - 2nd city site
3800BC- 3rd special is Whale! (HURRAH!) switch
__water is lake! (OH NO!)
__settler on Wheat to Road
3750BC- HUT (61,9): Barb horse! attack gets vet, yellow
__start Roading Wheat
3700BC- Horse limping SE to reveal 4th special
3650BC- road done, settler moving north
*ALPHABET; start Cer Bur
3600BC- settler to river, horse sees G-S
__first unit: Phalanx or Horse?
__seems like lots of plains & desert
__very small map, close together?
__choose Phalanx for defense vs Barbs, civs
3550BC- 5g,2b,9t
__Phalanx in CAR, moves south, Pheasant!
__rest Horse, settler explores river, finds double T
__QUESTION: OCC?
__Gems & Pheasant are Fish (Buffalo/Pheasant/Coal)
__Wheat is Whales (Wheat/Silk/Wine)
__got NONE Horse & NONE Settler (needs recall)
__mostly plains around CARthage
__WORTH A TRY (shorter game too...)
__build 2nd Horse, then Colossus

(warning - map picture!)
http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads2/gotm21-3500.jpg

 

[ElephantU]

(long one here)

OK, now toss all those ICS notes and go download the "Paulicy" paper again on doing OCC. I've got four specials, two "whale" based and two "fish" based. Early in the game I want more food for growth, so I'll keep the Wheat for now. I think I'd like to change the Pheasant to Buffalo to get an extra Trade and an extra Shield. That will really pay once I get the Colossus and Republic. Cutting down trees is not too hard, either. I'll keep the Gems for the trade - nothing else fish-based comes close to 4T except Gold, which I cannot transform to anyway.

3500BC- 6g,4b,9t
_Horse 3/4, rest again; bring settler back
3450BC- 7g,6b,9t
_settler back in city radius to irrigate
_Phalanx moving east
_rest Horse again
3400BC- 8g,8b,9t
_CARth size 2, started Pheasant
_switch to Gems for more Trade,only 1 Food,3Sh
_Horse green, moves west
3350BC- 10g,12b,5t @4b (18b)
3300BC- 12g,16b, 5t
_switch prod to Wheat (only need 2b,get extra Food)
*CER BURIAL; start Code Laws
3250BC- 14g,0b,12t (24b)
_Horse in CARth, start Colossus
_switch back to Gems 6t @4b, 1F, 3Sh
_HUT (59,15): 50g
3200BC- 66g,4b,6t
3150BC- 68g,8b,6t
_HUT (66,0): *CODE LAWS (YEHAW!) 7t (28b)
start Monarchy (7t) (should make by 2900...)
3100BC- 70g,12b,8t (32b)
_HUT (79,13): 100g
3050BC- 172g,16b,8t
_start irrig Wheat
3000BC- 174g,20b,8t
2950BC- 176g,24b,8t
2900BC- 178g,28b,8t
_nice 3-sq bottleneck to west
*MONARCHY; start Writing
REVOLT! T30%S70%L0
2850BC- 180g,0b,7t@6b=42
_irrigated plains to west!
_met Uncoop Celt settler on mtn (only one spoon!)
_exch Horse (wanted Monar) for *MAPS, Peace, Neut
_power Mighty (wow!)
2800BC- 182g,6b,9t@6b=54
_HUT (78,2): Horse (CARth) nobody near NE
_met Uncoop French Chariot in river to east
_exch Maps for *POTTERY, CodeLaws for *MASONRY, Neut
_get Peace, gift Bronze for Recept (wanted Monar)
_power Supreme, 14t (80b)
_gift Pott to Neut Celts for Recep
2750BC- 184g,12b,14t
_switch Gems to Pheasant for more Sh
_Celts Cordial, French Neut
_circling around Celts
Neut Persian Horse approaches (two spoons):
gift Maps to Recep, Peace
2700BC- 185g,15b,22t (64b)
_power Mighty, Celts Cord, French Neut, Pers Recep
2650BC- 186g,18b,22t
_Machiavelli LARGEST:
_1-Pers
_3-French
_4-Carth
_6-Celt
2600BC- 187g,21b,22t
2550BC- 188g,24b,22t
2500BC- 189g,27b,22t
2450BC- 191g,30b,22t
_CARth size 3, change cit on Wheat to Forest
2400BC- 192g,33b,27t (80b)
_power Supreme
_start chg Pheas to Buffalo
2350BC- 193g,36b,27t
_HUT (84,4): Barb Horse, attack kills, vet, yellow
_HUT (47,13): Archer (NONE)
_HUT (98,0): Horse (NONE)
2300BC- 194g,39b,27t
Enthus Celts ask alliance vs Persia- no
2250BC- 195g,42b,27t
French dem Currency
2200BC- 196g,45b,22t
_power Mighty
_exch Monar to Uncoop French for *WRITING, 21t
_Celts Enthus, Pers Cordial
Celts demand Archer return to CARth (good!)
start Currency
2150BC- 198g,49b,21t (81b)
_fortify Archer (NONE) in CARth
_Pheasant now Buffalo; begin irrigate
_avoiding French, following river SE
2100BC- 200g,53b,21t
2050BC- 202g,57b,21t
2000BC- 204g,61b,21t
1950BC- 206g,65b,21t
Enthus Persia: Myst for Horse? no
1900BC- 208g,69b,21t
_irrigate Buffalo done, heading for G-S
1850BC- 210g,73b,21t
_meet Recep Zulu Warrior in river east of Fr:
_(one paddle, two techs) make Peace, then
_gift Maps to Enthus, refuse map exchg
_gift CerBur to Worship, exchg maps
1800BC- 212g,77b,21t
_foodbox full, chg cit on Wheat to Gems
*CURRENCY; start Trade
1750BC- 215g,0b,13t@7=91
_CARth size 4, working 4 specials
_population 100,000
1700BC- 218g,7b,13t
French trap, send Horse back to CARth (good!)
1650BC- 221g,14b,13t
French demo Lit
1600BC- 224g,21b,13t
1550BC- 227g,28b,13t
French send another Horse back to CARth (sigh)
1500BC- 230g,35b,13t
_Settler done irrigate G-S
COLOSSUS in CARthage!
1450BC- 235g,45b,9t
_start Library
_Celt settler between CARth & Cardiff!
1400BC- 240g,55b,9t
_trying to box Celt settler in with Horses
French begin Pyramids!
1350BC- 245g,65b,9t
_power Strong #5 Cyan/Persia
_gift Horse to Enthus Persia for Worship, still 9t
_(Persia has Myst)
_RB Library 132g
Livy MOST POWERFUL
1-Persia
2-Carth
3-French
(4-Aztec) - not met yet
5-Celt
6-Zulu
Library in CARth
1300BC- 117g,80b,6t
_start Temple
*TRADE; start Lit
1250BC- 121g,0b,7t (99b)
_exch Trade to Uncoop French for *LITERACY, Neut
_exch Lit to Enthus Pers for *MYSTICISM, Worship
_exch maps, ask trib: 75g
_gift Lit to Enthus Celt to Worship
_exch maps, ask trib: 50g
_RB Temple 66g
Temple in CARth
start Republic
1200BC- 183g,15b,8t@15b (117b)
_power Mighty #6 (self)
1150BC- 186g,30b,8t
1100BC- 189g,45b,8t
1050BC- 192g,60b,8t
1000BC- 195g,75b,8t
_RB Mktplc for 104g
975BC- 95g,90b,9t (130b)
_start Caravans!
950BC- 101g,105b,8t@18b (130b)
_CARth size 5
_RB 3Sh
_power Strong;
_gift Pottery to Enthus Persia for Worship, nomore
_start bringing home non-NONE units
*REPUBLIC; start Constr
925BC- 99g,0b,8t (140b)
_power Mighty again
_gift Repub,Myst,Horse to Uncoop French to Worship
_ask tribute: 150g, Cord
_gift Rep to Enthus Pers to Worship, nomore
_exch Rep with Enthus Celts for *SEAFARING, no trib
_gift Rep, Myst to Recep Zulu to Worship, map, 100g
_PRB Caravan, adj prod for 10Sh to finish
Beads caravan
900BC- 298g,12b,9t (150b)
_Beads heading for Orleans
875BC- 302g,30b,9t
_PRB Caravan again
Salt caravan
850BC- 226g,42b,9t
_Salt heading for Persep or Teotihu
Celts ask alliance vs Persia-no
825BC- 230g,60b,9t
_PRB 3rd Caravan
Hides caravan
800BC- 154g,72b,10t (165b)
_Hides heading for Zimbabwe
_(hmmm - Hides didnt get())
_start Harbor (chg Aquaduct?)
_power Strong; gift Seafaring to Enthus Pers, nomore
French demo Constr
775BC- 158g,90b,9t (150b)
_exch Seafar for *CONSTRUCTION to Neut French
_change Harbor to Aquaduct
start Philosophy
750BC- 162g,108b,10t (176b)
French nearly complete Pyramids
725BC- 166g,126b,10t
_ask trib of Enthus Pers: 100g
_ask trib of Enthus Celts: 50g
_RB Aquaduct for 112g
Aquaduct in CARth
700BC- 206g,144b,11t (192b)
_start Harbor
675BC- 208g,162b,11t
_power Moderate #4 Aztec (rats!)
650BC- 210g,180b,11t
_hmmm- un() production now Cloth...
REVOLT!
625BC- REPUBLIC!210g,180b,11t
_20%T60%S20%L gets 3/5 cits happy
WLTCD in CARth!
*PHILOSOPHY; freebie *MATH; start Medicine
600BC- 211g,0b,12t (252b!)
575BC- 212g,21b,9t (216b)
_CARth size 6, unhappy, up Lux to 30%
_change Harbor to Colosseum
550BC- 214g,40b,11t
_CARth size 7, content
525BC- 218g,61b,9t
_CARth size 8, unhappy
_Beads to Orleans(5,Dye/Bead/Wine): 206g/b, +5T
_extra caravan trade makes 8th cit content
_barbs land near western bottleneck
_RB Colosseum for 108g
Colosseum in CARth
*MEDICINE; start Astronomy
500BC- 319g,0b,8t (228b)
_CARth size 9, content
_un() prod now Coal...
_hey - Celts, Zulu, French now Republics!
_(wasnt checking F3 enough...)
_killed Barb Archer near Cardiff, vet, yellow
_Persians have mucho Barb troubles
_power Mighty;
_Enthus Celts wont trade maps
_Enthus Pers trade maps
pop 500,000
475BC- 322g,30b,8t
_CARth size 10, content
_RB Harbor for 104g
Harbor in CARth
450BC- 220g,66b,7t
_CARth size 11,content
_start more Caravans
_no more demand for Hides; deliver to Paris?
_exchg Bronze to Recep Zulu for *WHEEL
_gift Philos, Trade to Worship, map
425BC- 225g,105b,10t
_CARth size 12,content
_Hides to Paris (5,Dye/Cop/Silk): 184g/b, +7T
_decrease Lux to 20%, 5H/6C/1U citizens, 8t
_PRB Caravan
Coal for Paris
WLTCD cancelled
400BC- 338g,340b,10t (480b)
_power Supreme?
_no un() anymore (should have kept?)
Uncoop Fr asked for Med, refused, gifted for Neut
375BC- 344g,390b,10t
_PRB caravan
Food caravan
*ASTRONOMY; start Engineering
350BC- 278g,0b,8t (378b)
_gift Constr to Celts, Philos to Persians
2 Archers + Ldr Barb land between CARth & E guard
325BC- 284g,50b,8t
_OOHNOO - Coal caravan automoved next to Barb Arch!
_moved 2nd Horse east out of CARth
_PRB caravan
Barb kills Coal caravan!
2nd Food caravan (didnt recover resource!)
300BC- 218g,100b,8t
_surrounding Barbs
275BC- 224g,150b,8t
_Archer killed eastern Barb Archer
_PRB caravan
Coal caravan! (WHEW!)
250BC- 158g,200b,8t
225BC- 164g,250b,7t
_PRB caravan
3rd Food caravan
200BC- 100g,300b,7t
175BC- 108g,350b,7t
_PRB caravan
4th Food caravan
*ENGINEERING; start Sanitation
150BC- 41g,0b,8t (396b)
_power Mighty
Barb Archer att vet Horse on hill, lost, Ldr disapp
125BC- 49g,55b,8t
_French chariot in NE! (was chasing Barbs)
_PRB Diplomat
Diplomat in CARth
100BC- 35g,110b,8t
_T60%S20%L20% for bribe gold
75BC- 80g,128b,22t
50BC- 125g,146b,22t
_PRB 2 rows
5th Food caravan
25BC- 120g,164b,22t
1AD- 165g,182b,22t
_PRB 3 rows
6th Food caravan
20AD- 135g,200b
Hostile French demand 50g, pay, gift Astron, Uncoop
_start Shakes, add 6 food caravans
_(Paris doesnt want Coal anymore...)
Shakespeare's Theatre in CARth, WLTCD!
40AD- 94g,190b,7t
_T20%S80%L0% loses Happy cits, 6t@72b (396b)
_sell Temple for 40g
_HUT (2,0): 50g
WLTCD cancelled
Celts trying to slip Explorer past west guard
60AD- 193g,265b,6t
*SANITATION; start University
80AD- 202g,0b,6t (414b)
_power Mighty; C-En,Z-Un,F-Un,P-En
_sell Colosseum for 100g
_chg prod to Sewers
French start Copernicus!!!
100AD- 315g,70b,6t
_RB Sewers for 174g
_chg T80%S0L20% for RB gold, WLTCD
Sewers in CARth
WLTCD again!
120AD- 204g,70b,414t
_start Caravans for Copernicus
WLTCD cancelled (moved cit fr lake to forest?)
140AD- 261g,70b,414t
_Coal to Paris (8,Dye/Cop/Silv): 202g/b, +7T
_PRB 3 rows
1st Food caravan
WLTCD again
180AD- 545g,272b,414t
_CARth size 13, up Lux to 30%
_start mining east hills
_PRB 3 rows
2nd food caravan
Celt explorer gets by western guard
200AD- 538g,272b,414t
_CARth size 14
_1,000,000 citizens!
220AD- 603g,272b,414t
_CARth size 15
_PRB 3 rows
_chg T30%S40%L30% 49b 9t
3rd food caravan
240AD- 570g,321b,9t
_CARth size 16
Toynbee LARGEST 1Fr 2Car 3Zulu 4Celt 5Pers
Celt explorer moving east along pole
Fr explorer moving west along pole
260AD- 599g,370b,9t
_CARth size 17
_PRB 3 rows
*UNIVERSITY; start Banking
4th food caravan
280AD- 571g,0b,8t (432b)
_CARth size 18
_power Mighty, Fr Hostile
_gift Fr San, Univ to Uncoop
300AD- 606g,55b,8t
_bribe Fr explorer 100g (use to accompany Dips)
_PRB 3 rows
meet Uncoop Zulus, gift San for Neut
5th food caravan
320AD- 481g,110b,8t
_CARth size 20, 4F surplus
_2,000,000 people!
_Fr Icy, want Eng NO
meet Icy Fr, want Eng, no
meet Uncoop Aztec:
gift San,Lit,Rep,??? to Worship,Peace,map
340AD- 519g,170b,8t
_CARth size 21,2F
_PRB 3 rows
6th food caravan
360AD- 491g,230b,7t
_CARth size 22, 0F
_make extra two cits Scientists
_adj T30%S70%L0 4t@112b
_switch to Copernicus,6 caravans
_mining hills finished, 20Sh
COPERNICUS! (Fr abandon)
WLTCD cancelled
*BANKING; start Theo Grav
380AD- 527g,0b,3t@224 (450b)
_Salt to Teotih (4,Dye/Salt/Wine): 300g/b noT
_Cloth freed in CARth! start caravan
_drop Sci to 60%
_French Hostile, give Eng to Icy
*TH GRAVITY; start Chemistry
400AD- 887g,0b,3t@176b (468b)
_PRB 3 rows
_exch Univ to Uncoop Zulu for *POLYTHEISM
_exch Seafar to Neut Zulu for *WARRIORCODE
_gift Pott, Mas to Enthus
_try gift Icy Fr, only want Th Grav (sigh)

 

[ElephantU]

So, Ive got Colossus, Shakes, and Copernicus, a lock on Newtons, a NONE settler and three weaker NONE military units (2 Horse, 1 Archer), decent relations with all civs except the French, and a BIG lead in tech already. My ace in the hole is this recurring open caravan resource, which is currently Cloth. I think I want to go for Newtons, perhaps MarcoPolo (to know what the AIs are working on...), perhaps King Richards, and probably Leos (if only to keep it out of French hands). I can see a war with French coming, so I'll need a Barracks and Iron if it is soon, otherwise wait till after Gunpowder to build the Barracks. My East and West guards are about 8-10 squares out from city center on bottlenecks, probably should build another Settler and start building some Forts out there.

One question: aside from freedom from bribery, is there any other advantage to Democracy over Republic in OCC?