GOTM85 - First Spoiler

[civ_steve]

GOTM 85 - first spoiler, 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.

This month you have a little more land to work with at the start, but you do start alone. How have you settled your starting landmass? When did you start making other contacts? Any AI causing you problems? And what are your plans entering the Middle Ages?

 

[Megalou]

Scout moved SW and saw the bonus grassland. So the settler followed along to found a 4-turn settler factory called London. I started researching writing at max, which was a bit of a joke: with maximum research I only saved two or three turns compared to minimum research - and one of those turns was probably wasted because I didn't choose what to reasearch before founding London and pressing Enter!

The Great Lighthouse was finished around 100 BC, triggering a golden age a few turns after we became a republic. Horses were readily available and the plan is a mass upgrade from horsemen to knights, despite the large cost for upkeep. The golden age at the very end of the ancient age will help see us through.

Re how I settled the starting landmass, it follows from the fact that I chose to go Republic that I built a lot of towns on the starting landmass. But I also settled off-shore pretty early to grab luxury commodities.

Oh and I will finish the FP during the golden age. It's ridiculously close to London (about RCP 7 or 8 to the southeast) and there isn't be much room for a ring around it, but I'm counting on a rather quick victory and few leaders.

No, the AI has not given us any trouble. We, on the other hand, are about to mess with them in a most outrageous fashion.

 

[tao]

Scout went to mountain, spotted bg, and next turn London was founded. My research went straight to republic; no beaker spent on any other AA tech. All the other techs came in by trade and 3 from goody huts, which I popped overseas.

Republic was learned 630bc with 1 turn left on The Great Lighthouse build. After 4 turns of anarchy, the Lighthouse finished in 530bc, triggering my Golden Age. Now the Middle Ages start and the Brits will kick a lot of asses. And get luxuries to make the citizens happy.

Contacts were made in 2 batches: 1350bc - 1225bc with Spain, Arabia, France, and 925bc - 730bc with Korea, Japan, Ottomans, Scandinavia. Nobody knew map making; thus we had a very good trading value with our knowledge.

PS: No FP started; hopefully it will come from a Leader.

 

[greatbeyond]

Open Class

I took the alternative of settling in place and Settler spammed the home continent after building just one Warrior. Only much later did I have a Barb camp appear at the very southern end of England and it only produced two Warriors. I filled up my continent ASAP and then worried about a military. I would have been a sitting duck for any AI that got to MM before me, though none did.

Research was Writing, MM, Lit, Masonry, Math, Construction. I had a prebuild going for the GL and completed it about the time I finished Construction. I sold techs for Alliances and money and didn't turn research back on until fairly late in the game. I stockpiled money and then once I got Republic, it was used to cash rush.

I met most of the AIs early with a wandering Galley and was going to settle the SW of Spain's area but she got to it before I did. Then it was settle the very poor Island directly East. War commenced with Arabia, as they didn't have any Iron. It was slow going but not much of a problem. I took four of their cities and then took peace to consolidate a little. The very poor production of England meant cash rushing was the only way to get any significant number of units quickly.

I'm thinking Domination for the win. I considered culture but reasoned that would take longer. My finish date won't be any record, but it should be reasonable.