HAM-01: The Hanseatic League

[hamtastic]

This idea is partially based off an offhand comment I saw Robokai make in another thread. The suggestion was that we should have an SG where we see how many great merchants we can get. I think that sounds ok, but to make it more interesting, I thought it would be interesting to make it semi-historical. So we are the Hanseatic League!

Our goals:

1. Make Money
2. Trade Things
3. Be Merchants

To that end, we will be victorious if:

1. By the end of the game, we have over 50k in gold in the bank
2. We have a net income from trading resources of >100 gold/turn
3. We have 8 or more merged Great Merchants.

We must do all this by 1800! A bit late for the Hanseatic League, but remember, we're really successful! So it's ok that we last a little (300 years) longer.

However, we're starting later: a Medieval start

Here are our settings: (Bismark chosen because he's the closest "real" leader to where the Hanseatic League was).



And here's the state of technology (for us and everyone else)



And the starting position. Note the two settlers!



Roster:

1. Hamtastic
2. Cosmichail
3. Sooooo
4. Greyfox
5. Baru
6. Pigswill

Alternate(s): Cabledawg
etc.

 

[Cosmichail]

Got to really like that start. Robo has some good ideas indeed. Would like to join as I love GP/commerce type games although enjoy a good warmongering too. Only two questions:

1. What size map. (I have limited computer resources ergo need to play on nothing larger than standard)
2. What civ warlords or vanilla. It doesn't matter to me but I would prefer warlords.
3. Wait a minute I said two questions. Well this is "if you will have me"
I am comfortable on Monarch and played numerous SG's and SGOTM.

EDIT: this post is my 1500th post COOL.....

 

[hamtastic]

Cosmichail, I'd be glad to have you. Here are the answers.

1. I was planning on a large map, so there could be more room for establishing strategic trade routes across land without everything being settled. To that end, I knocked out a couple of the other AIs - there are only 6 present. I'm happy to change this if it seems silly, but it sounded good to me. Also, I figured ending in 1800 would make it possible for me (and others) to play on a large map. My BIG pc problems come later than that.

2. I don't have Warlords, so that is not negotiable.

 

[hamtastic]

Oh. I currently have it on Monarch difficulty. Perhaps that's too difficult? I don't mind rerolling the start, so let me know...

 

[Cosmichail]

Having 6 sounds good and I have played on a large map and it only slows down in modern times when there are a lot of units and occupied land. So I'm fine with that Hamtastic. Vanilla is fine too just have to remember as I am playing less and less in Vanilla and more in Warlords.

I have played games with using GP's as super specialist and wow can that make the money/science go fast.

How many players were you looking to get? Have you also put this in the registration thread to attract players.

EDIT: Cross posted. Monarch is good as that is the difficulty I prefer to play on.

 

[Xtream_Rockstar]

ill join ive always wanted to do something like this

 

[hamtastic]

Xtream, I think I'm going to have to say no. From what I can tell, you're a bit unreliable for getting to turns on time and I'm also not a big fan of your reporting style. If you want to try more elaborate reporting, using more screenshots and a style that's more story-based, I'll consider it, but I'm still leaning towards no.

 

[sooooo]

Hi, I would like to join. I'm fine with monarch. Good to see you haven't chosen a philosophical leader . Would be too easy that way.

 

[hamtastic]

sooooo and cosmichail, I've added you to the roster...

 

[GreyFox]

Like to sign up for this one, if possible ... all my SGs are now warlords, like to switch back to Vanilla once in a while. Plus I have been habouring SG idea something along the line of making money myself, so instead of starting one, might as well join. More importantly, I haven't played with you and soooo, always love to play with new (and reputable) SG players.

No hard feelings if you say no, like you don't like my reporting style or you don't think I'm reliable in getting turns done in time

On that note, Xtream, I thought you broke your vanilla CD (at least you claimed so when you drop out of MM17), so you can't join anyway.

--

 

[Cosmichail]

Woooohoooo

Sooooo you are playing too. Excellent now I know we will win this one for sure. Should be interesting playing as the Bismarck and trying to accomplish this without the financial/philosophical trait.

EDIT: We cross posted Greyfox. And don't let him fool you Hamtastic Greyfox is a very reliable/creative player. He is also the master of negotiation from which I have learned much. He is perfect for this game and very glad to play with him and Sooooo on a team.

 

[Meatbuster]

I'm surprised I actually inspired someone to make an SG.

Alas I have 4 SG's and I don't want to have too many, so I'll lurk my brainchild...

And the roster looks interestingly stacked against the AI.

 

[Cosmichail]

Greyfox I missed that part about the broken CD. Good point. LOL

I was hoping you would join too Robo but I understand you have a lot on the go. With that start we should do good but you never know what's beyond that which can have an effect of course.

 

[hamtastic]

greyfox - I think I've read enough of your reports to know what I'm getting. So you're in. I'd like to go ahead and get started, but I'll take one or two more players.

A bit of discussion from folks: what to research first? What to build? I've never tried a medieval start before, so I don't really know what to do from a blank start. Could try to grab a religion (although we may be randomly assigned one, from what I understand about these things)

Also, I plan to play 10 turns tomorrow, starting by settling in place. Anyone have any good reasons I shouldn't do that?

 

[Cosmichail]

Settling on spot sounds good to me Hamtastic. Two clams and iron/marble and grass hill. We certainly want to check out those floodplains as there is gold there once we get some cottages built.

I think getting those clams hooked first would be good. Workboats would be a good starting build. As to research mmmmmm maybe CS since we have COL. I do think that's correct about religions being assigned to each civ.

CS would give us an immediate boost. What about the early wonders like the Parthenon/Stonehenge/Pyramids/Oracle/. What happens with those do we still get to build them or they are also assigned?

I notice there are archers/worker/explorer in the start. Is that also put there by the AI when starting later? I have often considered starting later on games as I find the beginning boring and a lot of hitting enter.

 

[Baru]

Well I'm sure I'm out of my league but if you will have me I'm in.
Feel free to say no. I might mess this up as I am not so good at the micro level, but I'm sure I could catch on quick enough....maybe.

 

[GreyFox]

Money, we want money.

I think it will prudent to get us a religion. There is only Christianity, Taoism and Islam left, I think. Theology and Philosophy being the immediately assessible ones, so most AI may snatch for that. Theology has the nice thing that if missed one can go on to try for Divine Rights.

EDIT: I am dumb ... totally forget that the game will distribute the early religions to Civs.

 

[Cosmichail]

You play fine Baru and don't worry, playing in a team you will find us going in the right direction and like you say I am sure you will catch on. I am still learning new tricks every time I play. You certainly signed up with a couple of players that have the experience. (Sooooo and Greyfox)

Sooooo when warring takes cities like lollipops and Greyfox really watches the detail and a great motivator.

Greyfox I too like trying playing with new players as it's kind of social for me too meeting new people. I especially like the idea of the international flavour to it.

Hamtastic looks like there are sufficient players and hope Baru meets your entry requirements. (LOL) But that aside am playing in another SG with Baru and he puts forth nice timely reports and of course loves beer. My weakness is Dutch Licorice and as we say in Dutch "dropjes". (born Canadian of Dutch descent)

Baru, (just curious and don't have to answer if you don't want to) but what part of the world are you from? I am Canadian and of course a big Vader fan. I just ask as my curiousity has been stimulated.

EDIT: I agree Greyfox religion is important for happy/money especially the shrine. Hopefully we will get one but if not we should consider it as a priorty.

 

[pigswill]

I wouldn't mind giving this a go if you wouldn't mind having me along.
Feel ok (ish) on monarch, my reports vary in length and detail, I've learned how to post pretty pictures, machine should be ok with a large map.
Never tried anything except ancient starts.

 

[sooooo]

Our two settlers we start with, given suitable sites, should be our (a) bureaucracy fuelled cottaged capital and (b) our great merchant farm. Make sure to found them in that order. We don't want to waste bureucracy on our merchant farm. With two settlers, don't be afraid to scout a bit to find the nicest two city sites. We have an explorer that can help with this. We can afford to spend a few turns at the start to get the best sites for our two most important cities.

I think this game will be all about the labor civics. With a medieval start, and being a bunch of money grabbers, we will want to be in serfdom early to build quick farms (for the merchant farm) and cottages (for the capital). So I vote first tech should be feudalism (enabling serfdom). After that, civil service for bureaucracy. Once our improvements are up in our two important cities, we can spend a while in slavery to whip out some buildings. By this time we should have another 1-2 cities built. When our merchant farm is suitably developed, and we have philosophy, we can switch to pacifism/caste system and really start the merchant production. Merchants add +1 food, so should be merged with the merchant farm in a positive feedback loop.

There are 4 religions to distribute so hopefully we will get one. If not, we will just have to adopt someone else's. Or possibly we will get taoism if the AIs don't go there first. Island script, so we shouldn't be troubled by war this game. What speed are we on?