GOTM119 - First Spoiler

[civ_steve]

GOTM 119 - First spoiler, Babylon, 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.

Any problems with the starting location? Or did you move before establishing your capital? Archipelago map, but you are not alone - how were your relationships with your neighbor? How did contacts and early trading go? Did you strategize any interesting technology trades as you entered the Middle Ages?

 

[del62]

Bit of a slow start and my near neighbours made it diddicult, made a few mistakes including wrong choice of first tech, also I had not realised it takes 10 turns to chop a forest thus stunting early growth, slowly made it to middle ages. Contacts were mainly via map making, which is different to what I am used to in C3c. Eventually wiped out my neighbours.

I established my capital in place, I dont think much could have been gained by moving it.

I built the great library which got me to the middle ages.

I never got civassist working for this , which means I cant spot tech trades immediately.

 

[Raliuven]

I felt that this was a rough starting position for Emperor. The Greek were a murderous neighbor, not because they were great on the attack but because it took so dang long to clear them out of my lands.

As soon as I realize how close they are I made a slave gambit in 2700BC. I cripple my research and fall behind for a while, but I finally decided it was a good move because the AI rare had slaves for sale for the entire game.

Spoiler :

2900 BC – Babylon: Warrior=Granary
I see that Greece has two workers for sale – probably threatened by barbs. I gamble here and give Greece pottery, CB, 10gp & 4gpt for both workers. Hopefully this will cripple them for the remainder of the game.

Greece declares on me two times before I finally turn on them. First DOW is in 1400BC and I felt I was going to suffer a severe because I was not ready at all, I had warriors and no bowmen. To make matters worse, I start their GA in 1350BC when a warrior dies to a hoplite that I was attacking to prevent pillaging.

Then the first miracle occurred which balanced out the frustration I woudl feel with my failed attacks for the rest of the game. Nearly every attack against my forted warriors fails. Give peace in 1150BC because a hoplite sneaks up on one of my undefended settlers.

Greece then gives me a gift by building the GLH (they also had the colossus). Don't meet the Iroquois until 670BC but that connects me with the Aztecs, which I keep away from Greece for quite some time.

610BC starts the next Babylonian-Greek war. This time I am ready and I start to take them down, starting my GA even though I'm still in despotism.

In the middle of the war (470BC) Greece sells my contact to the Mongols and Persians, which was just dumb. But my stacks have been devastated by hoplites and I give Alex peace and start trading - give everyone contact to help spur growth. But Alex gave up three cities and is now in decline.

Republic in 350BC. Ashur seems to riot every other turn. Not sure why I keep forgetting about that one city.

Finally get out of AA in 70BC.

Full Log

Spoiler :

GOTM 119
Babylonians – Scientific/Religious
Emperor

4000 BC – Move worker SE to BG and see second game. Sounds good to me! Found in place. Start warrior for nearby GH. Set for Pottery due in 20t.
3950 BC – Start mine on BG.
3800 BC – Babylon: Warrior=>Warrior. Warrior #1 moves to GH.
3750 BC – Warrior #1 scouts around GH to await Warrior #2 to protect city if barbs are popped.
3650 BC – Warrior #1 to GH. Receive 3 barbs, just as planned. Worker Roads.
IBT – Wariror #1 defeats attacking barb warrior. Other barbs fort.
3600 BC – Babylon: Warrior=>Warrior. Warrior #2 forts in city for now.
IBT – barbs move towards Babylon. Warrior #1 shadows them.
3500 BC – barbs fort and stay put. Worker road=>move to BG to the NW. Keep Warrior #1 between barbs and worker.
IBT – barbs move off.
3450 BC – Babylon: Warrior=>Barracks (for granary). Worker mines BG.
3400 BC – Warrior #1 kills a barb. #1 & #3 advance on remaining barb.
3300 BC – Meet Greek Hoplite. They have Alpha, we have CB but no trade possible at this time.
3250 BC – Warrior #1 dies to barb. Warrior #3 kills barb, goes vet.
3150 BC – Learn Pottery. Greeks still won’t trade. Start Alpha due in 28t. Swap barracks to granary due in 6 turns.
2900 BC – Babylon: Warrior=Granary
I see that Greece has two workers for sale – probably threatened by barbs. I gamble here and give Greece pottery, CB, 10gp & 4gpt for both workers. Hopefully this will cripple them for the remainder of the game.
Move new slaves to forest + game to start chopping.
2470 BC – 1st settler, move NE towards furs.
2310 BC – 1st city, Ur settled on furs.
1830 BC – GH#2=3 barbs. Of course.
1400 BC – Greeks declare war. Hmm. Their warrior flawlessly dies attacking warrior garrison in Nineveh.
1350 BC – lose a warrior to a hoplite, then kill the hoplite with a spear.
1300 BC – Greek archer dies to warrior on IBT.
1250 BC – Greek lose 2 archers to defending warriors on the IBT. 4/4 warrior vs 3/3 warrior – win, -2hp.
1225 BC – learn WC & start bowmen. Greek lose another archer to defending warriors on the IBT. Ouch. Greece is willing to accept peace now. Hmm. Maybe. 4/4 warrior vs 3/3 archer – win, -2hp.
1150 BC – Greek hoplite appears next to my undefended settler. I finally decided to give them a break and give Greece peace if they pay me 80gp.
1000 BC – Give Greece Phil for TW & 15gp.
900 BC – the Greek complete the GLH. That’s good news!
750 BC – Give the Greek Lit for Masonry, WM & 15gp
670 BC – Meet the Iroquois. Give them Phil for contact with the Aztecs & 25gp. Aztecs give me Myst & 19gp for Phil. Pick up HBR & 40g from the Iroquois for Lit. Go to Greece and give them HBR for IW, WM & all 46gp. I have just about all of the money and I am current on techs, down MM to Greece.
630 BC – I give Greece the boot twice and it will not eject them from my lands. That’s bull.
610 BC – Ashur riots. I just keep missing this darn city. Give the boot one more time and its war! Advance 3 bowmen on Knossos. 4/4 Bowman vs 3/3 hoplite covering a settler – lose -1hp. 4/4 bowman vs 2/3 hoplite – flawless loss, promote vet. 4/4 bowman vs 3/4 hoplite – win, -3hp. Capture 2 slaves. Start GA.
Attack on Corinth – 4/4 Bowman vs 3/3 hoplite – win, -2hp. 4/4 bowman vs 3/3 hoplite – flawless win. 4/4 bowman vs 3/3 archer – win, -3hp. Destroy city. 4/4 bow man vs 3/3 archer – flawless win. 4/4 warrior vs 3/3 archer – flawless loss. 4/4 warrior vs 3/3 archer – lose, -1hp, archer promotes 3/4. 3/3 warrior vs 3/4 archer – lose, -1hp, promote elite.
590 BC – Learn CoL, start republic due in 13t @ 100% -8gpt. Give Aztecs Lit for 35gp & 3gpt.
IBT – 3/3 archer dies to 3/3 bowman.
570 BC – Trade Iroquois CoL for MM, WM & 59gp. Give Monty CoL for WM, 9gp & 1gpt.
550 BC – Attack vs intruding Greek archers 4/4 bowman vs 3/3 archer – flawless win. 4/4 bowman vs 3/3 archer – win, -2hp.
530 BC – 4/4 bowman vs 3/5 archer – flawless win. More units to kill but start general advance against Sparta. 3/3 bowman vs 3/3 warrior – flawless win. 4/4 Bowman vs 3/3 archer – lose, -2hp. 4/4 bowman vs 3/3 archer – lose, -2hp, promote vet. 4/4 bowman vs 2/4 archer – flawless win. 4/4 bowman vs 1/3 archer – flawless win. All Greek units are now dead.
Battle for Knossos – 3/3 bowman vs 3/3 hoplite – flawless loss.
IBT – 3/3 archer vs 2/3 bowman – flawless win.
510 BC – Connect iron, swap builds to swords for advance into Greece. Advance 7 bowmen against Sparta.
490 BC – Battle for Sparta – 4/4 bowman vs 3/3 hoplite – win, -3hp. 4/4 bowman vs 3/3 hoplite – lose, -2hp, promote vet. 4/4 bowman vs 2/4 hoplite – lose, -1hp. 4/4 bowman vs 1/4 hoplite – win, -3hp. Capture city, 1 settler and 3 workers (5 slaves).
470 BC – Suddenly I know Persia and the Mongols. Very nice. Greece must have met them. Fools. Persia receives poly for Phil & MM. Also have them throw in their WM for lit.
Decide to let Greece out of the war for Argos, Delphi, WM, worker & 200gp.
450 BC – Make the following trades: Greek meet the Iroquois for the WM, 28gp & 4gpt. Mongols get the same for WM & 27gp. Aztecs get to meet the Mongols for WM & 48gp. I now have all the gold: 625gp.
410 BC – Persia has Monarchy. Start prebuild for HG.
370 BC – Learn Republic. Trade Republic to Persia for Monarchy. Give Greece Monarchy for WM, 36gp & 3gpt. Go to Anarchy.
350 BC – Babylon is a republic.
270 BC – Learn Math – trade to Persia for WM & 54gp. Mongols for WM & 62gp. Aztecs for WM & 30gp. Greece WM & 10gp. Current gold is 999gp. Start Currency due in 4t @ 60%, -15gpt.
190 BC – GA ends. Ashur riots again. Hate that city. Greece invades me. Again.
170 BC – Tell Greek archer to get out again and this time he does. Afraid of something? Learn currency, start Construction @ 80% due in 5t @ -63gpt. Core cities swap to markets.
150 BC – Give Persia currency for WM & 59gp. Mongols receive Monarchy for WM & 43gp.
90 BC – Meet Japan & Korea – give Japan them CoL & Math for WM & 36gp. The Aztecs receive Currency for WM & 89gp.