GOTM104 - First Spoiler

[civ_steve]

GOTM 104 - First spoiler, Egypt, the Ancient Age

Reading Requirements:

1. Must be able to research a Middle Ages Technology.

Posting restrictions

1. Feel free to discuss distant contacts and trades, but be discreet about locations or directions of any AI.
2. No discussion of middle-ages (or later) including resource locations.
3. AS ALWAYS, do not post Spoiler information for ANY other 'X'OTM contest.

Let's get this spoiler going. So, where did you decide to found the capital and why? How do you like your starting landmass? Contacts - who and when and how did they go? Is the AI doing much of anything to slow you down? (Should there be a MA spoiler, or just combine it with the Final Spoiler?)

 

[Cyc]

I'm almost in the Industrial Age. I'm in 3rd place score-wise and having trouble staying awake. It's kind of depressing.

After reading Lanzelot's suggestion about moving the starting Settler closer to the Cattle (and then others agreeing with him) I reconsidered placing my city where the Settler stood. I figured if everyone else was going to relocate, I'd settle on the coast, as I'd have a couple of large turns advantage. I normally like my second city to be the Settler farm, so this worked out well. Having the Capital on the coast meant that not a drop of Commerce from the maritime ventures of the Egyptians would go to waste. A harbor was definitely in Thebes' future. All that Commerce would be good for Research. Then I thought, why stop there? As soon as I get my Setler factory placed, I'll build The Colossus. I very rarely ever build that Wonder, so that will be a change. I considered the Pyramids, but didn't want my GA so early. As it turned out, someone would have beaten my to the Pyramids anyway. Then I thought, why not try for a Cultural Victory.

I've always liked playing the Egyptians for their traits, but not for their UU. They're like the Babylonians in that regard. Anyway, I place Thebes on the coast and my first build is a Temple. The Worker builds road clock-wise around the lake to the Cattle. Climbs Mountain, finds Spices. Second build is a Settler. Find 2nd Spice upon expansion of the Captial. My first Tech, Bronze Working finished in 2900bc. I was in last place as far as Advancements, but that never bothers me (well, almost never). 2nd Tech will be Pottery. Start using the Worker to explore my Island from the Mountain tops, which again, I never do. Finish Settler, start Warrior, and found Memphis in 2750BC. Complete Warrior, start Colossus in 2630BC. Finish Pottery in 2270BC. Warrior Code next. Heliopolis founded in 199BC. In last place for largest nation. WC in 1675BC, The Wheel is next. Elephantine founded in 1600BC. Sent the next Settler up over the Mountains to check the vew, and low and behold, what was there. A fortified Barb - so that Settler died. The Barb died a little later attacking Memphis. Colossus completed in 1250BC. Alexandria founded in 1075BC. Mysticism in 975BC, Writing next. 5th place as far as wealthiest. Pi-Ramesses founded in 925BC.

After Thebes built the Colossus, I started on the Pyramids for the Culture, but was beat out on that, so switched to the Oracle, and was beat out on that also. So I lost 85 shields to a Granary. Wonder building went downhill from there. Giza founded 690BC. Took care of all villages and Barb Camps. Hierconpolis founded 330BC. El-Amarna founded 450BC. Hooked up Iron in 310BC. Abydos founded 70BC. Asyut founded 30BC. 6th place for most powerful. Met the Arabians landing one of their Spear/Settler combos in 290AD.

Had to cut out this part as I was speaking of the Middle Ages.

 

[Megalou]

Open, military strategy

So, where did you decide to found the capital and why?

Southeast of the lake. I don't think it mattered that the town wasn't on the coast. There wasn't going to be a shortage of towns that could build galleys, but rather a general shortage of shields and commerce (considering I rarely build acquaducts.)

How do you like your starting landmass?

There is little fresh water and unfortunately I built my first towns in such a way that fresh water could not be led east of the mountain range, which gave me all the more reason not to build acquaducts.

Contacts - who and when and how did they go?

For an archipelago game, it was very laboursome to find contacts. I used two warriors to observe the tiles across the water, but of course it was no use.



Self-research:
Pottery, Alphabet, Writing 1910 BC, Map Making 1450, Philosophy 1300, CoL 1075, Republic 650, Literature 570, Polytheism 390
3000 - 1st town on w spices.
2590 - Granary (first builds were 2 warriors & 1 settler)
2470 - Popped warrior.
1125 - Spotted first borders.
1100 - Met Arabia and Ottomans. Trade Bronze, Myst, WC, Wheel, IW, Math, HB, World map, 200 g.
1000 - QSC: 11 towns, 1 settler, 4 workers, 11 warriors, 3 galleys, 2 War Chariots, 2 granaries, 2 barracks, 2 temples, 2 contacts. Forbidden Palace 26 t, Great Lighthouse 28 t, lacking Republic (17), Currency, Construction, Polytheism, Monarchy, Literature.

925 - Sacrifizing 2 beakers for entertainment=3 turns on Great Lighthouse.
750 - Finally met Rome and Greece.
670 - War on Arabia. Allied Ottomans, tied to peace.
650 - Allied Rome against Greece, tied to peace. Republic.
570 - Met China and Mongols. Alliance against China, tied to peace.
550 - Popped barb.
510 - Construction available - but we are at war with Arabia. FP completed.
490 - Traded Construction from Ottomans.
470 - Met Persia. Otto signs for peace with Arabia - war happiness from Otto. Currency.
450 - War happiness from Rome. Great Lighthouse completed.
390 - Researched polytheism, entered Middle ages. 370 - Captured Fustat. Golden Age.

 

[Più Freddo]

Predator class, Conquest

For the three questions from civ_steve, my answers are identical to
those of Megalou, except for the Aqueducts. I also founded the second
town on the Spices. Research went first towards Map Making, then
Mathematics for possible trade, then The Republic and finally whatever
was left of the Ancient Age.

I went for a Warrior and Settler Combo Factory in Memphis at sizes 3
to 5. Capital builds were then Warrior, Granary, Worker, then
operational starting with a Settler. The initial Warrior went scouting
a bit, but returned to the capital as it reached a population of four
to act as Military Police. I tried to maximise research as much as
possible, but was still beaten by Megalou.

My Goody Hut Popping gave me 25 gold and a Warrior and quite a few
Barbarians.

I met other tribes in pairs and immediately made alliances coupled to
peace treaties. In 875 BC, a Galley was sunk by barbarians east of
Greece one turn before meeting what later turned out to be Persia.

In Alexandria, I started a pre-build for a Wonder or The Forbidden
Palace. I decided to go for The Great Lighthouse first, and built The
Forbidden Palace afterwards in the same city.

As I entered The Middle Ages in 290 BC, I already had two War Happies.

At times I was a bit uninspired and could not think of what to build
in all cities before having the basic technologies. Building TGLH and FP
in two different cities was apparently a better idea. Olé!

Expansion

3900 BC Found Thebes
2670 BC Found Memphis
2670 BC Connect Spices
2430 BC Found Heliopolis
2190 BC Found Elephantine
1950 BC Found Alexandria
1725 BC Found Pi-Ramesses
1550 BC Found Giza
1400 BC Found Byblos
1275 BC Found El-Amarna
1075 BC Connect Horses
1050 BC Found Hieraconpolis
_900 BC Found Abydos
_800 BC Found Asyut
_730 BC Found Avaris
_670 BC Found Lisht
_310 BC Found Buto​

Research

4000 BC Discover Masonry
3300 BC Discover Pottery
2430 BC Discover Alphabet
1830 BC Discover Writing
1425 BC Discover Map Making
1225 BC Discover Mathematics
1100 BC Discover Philosophy
1075 BC Learn Warrior Code
1075 BC Learn The Wheel
1075 BC Learn Iron Working
1075 BC Learn Ceremonial Burial
1075 BC Learn Bronze Working
1000 BC Learn Mysticism
1000 BC Learn Horseback Riding
_900 BC Discover Code of Laws
_610 BC Learn Currency
_510 BC Discover The Republic
_430 BC Discover Polytheism
_290 BC Discover Construction​

Game progress

2390 BC Pop Hut Nothing
1830 BC Pop Hut 25 gold
1200 BC Pop Hut Barbarians
1075 BC Meet Rome
1075 BC Meet Greece
1075 BC Embassy Rome
1075 BC Embassy Greece
1075 BC War Rome
1075 BC PT/A Greece v. Rome
1000 BC Meet Ottomans
1000 BC Meet Arabia
1000 BC Embassy Ottomans
1000 BC Embassy Arabia
1000 BC War Ottomans
1000 BC PT/A Arabia v. Ottomans
_900 BC Pop Hut Warrior
_750 BC Pop Hut Barbarians
_750 BC Build The Great Lighthouse
_710 BC Meet Persia
_710 BC Embassy Persia
_710 BC War Arabia War Happiness!
_710 BC PT/A Ottomans v. Arabia 20
_670 BC Pop Hut Barbarians
_670 BC PT/A Persia v. Arabia 20
_610 BC PT/A Greece v. Rome 20
_530 BC Meet Mongols
_530 BC Meet China
_530 BC Embassy Mongols
_530 BC Embassy China
_530 BC War Mongols
_530 BC PT/A China v. Mongols 20
_510 BC Establish Republic
_410 BC War Greece War Happiness!
_410 BC Pop Hut Nothing
_410 BC PT/A Rome v. Greece 20
_370 BC Build Forbidden Palace
_310 BC PT/A Ottomans v. Arabia 20
_290 BC Enter Middle Ages​

Quick Start Challenge Results

10 Towns
25 Citizens
_1 Settler
_1 Granary
_8 Workers
17 Warriors
_5 Galleys
_4 Contacts
_2 Embassies
Horses, Iron, Spices
2 1/2 tiers researched​

 

[Racinante]

4000 BC: move SE & S, found Thebes.
2430 BC: Hut -> Pottery

Other huts, barbarians and a map.

1000 BC QSC:
10 towns
20 population
162 gold
No contacts, [M], Alphabet, Pottery, [CB], Writing, Map Making, currently building CoL (8 turns)
Arabia has built the Oracle, Rome the Colossus
3 granaries built
In production: 6 settlers, 2 warriors, 1 granary, 1 harbor
Units: 1 settler, 2 galleys, 4 workers, 15 warriors (2 over support)


590 BC: Meet Arabia who have contact with Ottomans. I figure the Ottomans are close so I wait before purchasing contacts so I can play them against each other.
290 BC: Meet Ottomans. Trade for Contacts with remaining civs except 1, gather most of gold, Republic in 1
150 BC: Meet Persia
130 AD: Enter Middle Ages, bring Persia and Ottoman up (both get Mono) to trade Republic for Monotheism.