Predator class
Conquest target
I found the starting location quite inviting and founded Rome in
place. I was rewarded by the possibility of a 6 x 10 combo six-turn
settler factory. I started by researching Pottery and then on towards
The Republic. I built one Warrior before the Granary. The Granary was
finished in 3000 BC at the perfect population of 4.6 for the factory,
but the first three cycles were 4, 6 and 8 turns, respectively,
featuring an early Settler. From the third cycle onwards, 3 x 10
shields were available for unit builds, the first being used for a
Barracks and a Warrior. The two regular Warriors from before the
Barracks served as military police in the capital and were later
disbanded.
4000 BC Found Rome
2670 BC Found Veii
2470 BC Found Antium
2150 BC Found Cumae
1910 BC Found Neapolis
1675 BC Found Pompeii
1650 BC Connect Silks
1525 BC Found Pisae
1350 BC Found Ravenna
1150 BC Found Hispalis
1150 BC Connect Ivory
1075 BC Found Viroconium
1025 BC Connect Horses
_975 BC Found Lutetia
_900 BC Found Byzantium
This part of the game was about fast expansion and self-research. I
met the Celts pretty early in 3250 BC and realised we were fairly
disconnected from the rest. I had more space for expansion than I had
Settlers and, prefering to expand to the north on the Grasslands, used
a Slave-built Colony to connect Ivory in the southwest.
City placement was RCP4 around the capital and then also RCP4 around
the designated Forbidden Palace city of Antium to the north-west by
the Cattle. I counted on having to hang on to Rome for quite some time
given the distances. All the RCP4 cities would be on rank 1.
I sent Archers towards the Barbarians in the north thinking this was
the connection to the other side and earned a few elite promotions. As
I saw that it was a dead end, I started training elite troops more
systematically, but eventually all the mountain camps were gone.
4000 BC Discover Alphabet
3450 BC Discover Pottery
3250 BC Learn Warrior Code
3250 BC Learn Ceremonial Burial
2390 BC Discover Writing
2350 BC Learn Mysticism
2350 BC Learn Bronze Working
1910 BC Discover Philosophy
Lacking contacts I had to rely on my own research, which went quite
well. I sent Warriors south and then south-east and eventually met
(they traded contacts and met me) the lot, which was rather advanced
at the time.
3250 BC Meet Celts
1425 BC Meet Greece
1425 BC Meet Babylon
1225 BC Meet Ottomans
1225 BC Meet Mongols
1225 BC Meet Korea
1225 BC Meet China
1225 BC Meet Aztecs
1225 BC Meet Arabia
This led to a new set of traded technologies and I could buy three
World Maps giving me a fairly complete picture. I continued research
towards The Republic.
1425 BC Learn The Wheel
1425 BC Learn Masonry
1375 BC Learn Map Making
1225 BC Learn Iron Working
1225 BC Learn Horseback Riding
1000 BC Discover The Republic
1000 BC Learn Polytheism
1000 BC Learn Literature
At this stage I had amassed some wealth from trading and started
establishing embassies in preparation for phony wars once in
Republic. I had kept the Goody Hut on the Iron Mountain until research
was completed and got Literature from it. This technology was already
known to some AI's. I got two turns of Anarchy.
1050 BC Embassy Ottomans
1050 BC Embassy Greece
1050 BC Embassy Celts
1050 BC Embassy Babylon
1050 BC Embassy Aztecs
1050 BC Embassy Arabia
1025 BC Embassy Mongols
1000 BC Pop Hut Technology
1000 BC Establish Anarchy
1000 BC Embassy Korea
1000 BC Embassy China
_950 BC Establish Republic
_900 BC War Mongols
_900 BC War Arabia
_900 BC PT/A Ottomans v. Arabia
_900 BC PT/A China v. Mongols
The Quick Start Challenge statistics were the following:
10 Cities
25 Citizens
_2 Settlers
11 Workers
15 Warriors
_5 Archers
_2 Galleys
_4 Barracks
_2 Granaries
_9 Contacts
I was missing monarcy, mathematics, construction and currency and had
connected Horses, Ivory and Silks.
Now, at this time I still hadn't connected Iron, mainly because the
land to the north wasn't too attractive and Worker turns were dear. I
also produced Warriors for upgrade, realizing I wouldn't be able to
afford setting 9 Workers aside for re-connection until later. The next
phase was the run-up to the War.
850 BC Build Forbidden Palace in Antium
750 BC Found Brundisium
630 BC Found Syracuse
630 BC Connect Gems
590 BC Connect Iron
550 BC Found Palmyra
470 BC Found Jerusalem
Once I had connected Iron and upgraded my Warriors I noted that I paid
only two gold per shield. Isn't it normally three?
I turned off research after The Republic and relied on trading,
reaching the Middle Ages in 470 BC. The AI entered before me on this
turn triggering massive uprisings, one landing on the mountainous
peninsula. I could start training elites again! I was able to trade
for Engineering (for cash) and prolonged my two peace/alliance
treaties.
690 BC Learn Mathematics
470 BC Learn Currency
470 BC Learn Construction
470 BC Learn Engineering
470 BC Learn Monarchy
470 BC PT/A Ottomans v. Arabia
470 BC PT/A China v. Mongols
470 BC Enter Middle Ages
All was set for the conquest of the world.