GOTM73 - First Spoiler

[civ_steve]

GOTM 73 - first spoiler, the Ancient Age

Reading Requirements:

1. Must be able to research a Middle Ages Technology.
2. Contact with all remaining civs on your starting continent.

Posting restrictions

1. Please be discreet with off-continent contacts
2. No discussion of middle-ages (or later).
3. AS ALWAYS, do not post Spoiler information for ANY other 'X'OTM contest.

Egypt has a very early and fast UU; did this play any part in your plans for your empire? How about early city placement, including the capital? Have you had any problem reaching off-continent civs? And, speaking generically, how has any off-continent contacts affected your game?

 

[Quintillus]

Settled 1 SE of the Wheat in 3950. Irrigated it and early expansion was very fast; 2nd city on hills at mouth of other river in 3050 BC. Third city 1 W of the cattle in 2550 BC. Kept expanding but knew as soon as I saw Greece that I wanted to finish them off fast so my War Chariots could have easier conquest (was thrilled to find the Horses). Got very lucky and my very first Elite victory gave me a leader, whom I used to hurry an army. Even with an army the conquest of Greece was slow due to the Hoplites, and in the end I settled for leaving them with one city entirely surrounded by jungles and thus unaccessable to War Chariots. I then proceeded to start conquering Rome. Carthage was stronger and more advanced, but the last thing I wanted was Rome to get Legions (they currently lack iron). I led my continent in technology the whole time, and used two subsequent leaders to rush the Great Lighthouse and Heroic Epic (in Sparta, none the less). Just after discovering Monarchy, and before discovering Construction, I met France via a French galley, and traded for contacts, map, and then Monarchy + gold for Construction, entering the Middle Ages in 10 BC. At this point my finished conquest of my continent with War Chariots appears nearly inevitable, except for two cities my chariots cannot reach. I think I'll wait on Chivalry, maybe skip it altogether, so I can build War Chariots awhile longer.

Playing Open Class, +50% War Chariot cost with them as a UU was too high a cost. No point in playing Egypt without a War Chariot rush.

 

[megistatos]

I founded Thebes one tile north of the start location. Research set to Pottery at maximum. The Worker set to improving the land to get a four turn settler factory going asap, first mining where he stood, then irrigating wheat, mining a bg and irrigating a flood plain etc(with a couple of roads too). Initial builds were two warriors(to explore), then a prebuild for a granary, which finished in 2900BC. Next came a third warrior to escort the first settler(built in 2470). I made a few mistakes MMing Thebes but after building a worker in 2390, the 4 turn factory was ready to go. In total I founded 6 cities at ring 3 between 2350 and 1575, all of which produced barracks then War Chariots throughout the AA(and a couple of workers in high food areas). Horses were connected in 1830, yielding the first WC in 1500.

The second ring was at distance 7. I built only 4 cities at this distance, between 1425 and 1050, including Byblos 7 SW of Thebes which went straight for a wonder prebuild(to become either a Forbidden Palace or the Great Lighthouse). I imagine that other players will have a similar first ring to me. 6 cities was the most that would fit. The only difficult decision, having put Memphis between the game and the dye, was whether to put Heliopolis next to the river or to have another bg in its initial raduis- I choose the latter for greater early production. On the other hand I won't be surprised if many people have choosen differently for their second ring. RCP 7 was too wide to fit in another coastla city SE of Thebes, and as I decided not to build any temples, I wasted 8 tiles in this area alone. However a proper rcp 7 meant Byblos's corruption was relatively low.

In 1000BC I declared war on Greece, with an army of 14 War Chariots at the ready. On this turn I captured Delphi triggering my GA(and presumably the Greek's too, as I lost one WC to a hoplite).

Quick Start Stats
Firaxis score: 164
13 cities, 35 pop
1 settler, 4 workers, 4 warriors, 13 War Chariots
1 granary, 6 barracks
68 gold
Technologies: Pottery(3400), Wheel(2750), Alphabet(2150),Writing(1675), Bronze Working and Warrior Code(both from a trade with Greece in 1575), Code of Laws(?), Philosophy(1300). Also I am 5 turns away from Republic.
Three contacts and an embassy in Greece.
This lot netted 3434 QSC points.