[IMM] Some Random Game Writeup [No Huts, No Random Events, large fractal]

[Manco Capac]

Spoiler :

Argantonio of Tartessos (reminder: the leader I played in my first game that is not finished yet) was met. He knew Dido and I immediately exploited my favorite bug: whispers. Oh rly? Deiokes of Persia hates him. So he's not alone on his island!



That fresh STRONK army of axemen arrived next to Elam ready to eradicate the Elamites.




The odds were perfect.





I also timidly advanced towards the northern barb settlement. Interestingly, the archers seemed earnest to battle (a.k.a. suicidal tendencies).



Julius glanced over his personal oracle to be alerted he was no longer da best in GNP. What a shame. It was so short.



But military-wise, we will outdo Dido!



The next GPeople was about to arrive.



And it was a lame GProphet. Bummer...



I really wanted to win the Heroism tech race to ensure the Oracle of Delphi and the religion along, thus I started a GAge.



Elam hid some Ali Baba cavern: Gems! Gems everywhere.



And finally we met the devil. Already ANNOYED? Dammit, you got issues, little guy. I'm Julius Ceasar, the great. Even chinese people at the other side of the world kowtow in front of me. So you shall do.




Dynasticism in.



Oligarchy civic reduced my number of cities maintenance by 25%.



Heroism was soon mine. Only four turns. Pretty good tech rate.



Since Dido wasn't a target of interest except on my head collection, I target my espioonage on her gigolo.



Of course, I had to be sollicitated to such trifling matters. Get the f-ck out, Deïokes thing. Kowtow first, then beg.



Several techs aren't tradable for some reason. Since I accumulated a bunch of espionage on Dido, why not using it for stealing some cheap techs. Or at least have vision what's coming.



A small company of axemen was formed against the northen barbs. Again, the odds are perfect as long they remained archers (composite archers are different deal).




A sight was pleasing Julius: Finally he got over that lass, and even over that Gigolo. Sadly, some unknown people are leaping technologically.



And looks like that Dido did break up. Took her some time he was just battening at her expense.



Chaldea was annexed to the Roman empire. Letting barbarian cities spawn is surprisingly far better in TAM than settling ourselves with 200 hammers settlers.



Of course, Dido never learns and she sent another colony to her west. Need more salt.



Of course, that Gigolo must be taught a lesson to be a gigolo.

 

[Manco Capac]

RIP to Joker.ru.
18th October-23th October 2013
He did not survive the extreme callosity of S&Tips people.
If not the more awful callosity of RI modders​

As I said, if people want to survive and persevere in anti-conformist ideas, you shall stare the abyss, so the abyss stares back into you.

Wished I had been more useful, but lack of time and wasted over 10 GB of RI mod. Had to wait until next month 4th.

Gotta like I can say whatever I want here. Not like it will mind someone haha.

 

[Manco Capac]

Spoiler :

Sadly, in this nice partouze, Deiokes couldn't bear it anymore. What a quitter.



Well, looks like he still wants more.



And what nice discovery for the second stage of a TAM cultural game to see marble. "Just what I needed", some chubby plumber says.



Julius become an hero.




And the Elamites were chosen to be the founder of the Greek Gods first worshippers. And yes, Rome became even more rutilant.



Incense resource is awesome for both Oracles. Anyways, let's start the baby. Typically, I try to oracle Architecture tech, which allows one of the strongest wonder of the game.



But since Julius is first to Heroism, why not milk some more money with wonder frauds.



Yes, as expected, the two greatest cultural cities are roman belongings.




And using the diplo web bug, I discover that Dido is hated by someone else: the Scythian Parpatua. Thus it is very likely Deiokes, Argantonio and Parpatua are all in the same island. That bug seems abusive, but it allows Julius to tiptoe diplomatically. Especially against the omniscience of those leaders that can track trades with their worst enemies even before meeting the culprit.



Oh wow! Looks like we found the last actor behind the scene. Vercingetorix! Ok, it's an island of 4 players separated from ours by one, two or three tiles of water.



Well, that didn't take long. Nice to meet you Parpat...what some threat! You certainly lack some manners hairy boy.



And we got our first stealing succeeded! Archery...lol




Oh hello Dido....this is my tribute. You don't mind, right?



And we got a GG!



Ah, the scent of crummy blood drenched in salt. Julius was feeling pretty happy after his perverse actions.



Of course, betraying missy meant Argantonio willing to OBorders with the Great Julius.



Cumae was decided to be the Roman city equivalent to Sparta.



Mathematics were learnt. The strategy behind this beeline resides in getting the free GEngineer from the next tech (Geometry) and that tech line is pre-req to Architecture, which I'll oracle. That tech is costlier, thus better to leap forward and get the best wonder of the game: Hanging Gardens. Yeah, lol, you might ask yourself, Tachywaxon, how the hell Hanging Gardens that valuable. Let's see later.



And the dirty Gaul was met. Also ANNOYED. They sure don't like Romans, I ask myself why...



Miletos was about to finish the Oracle of Delphi. Oops, project suspended. The workers were infuriated, but got their beers and meat, thus quitted without complaining.



Julius knows how of to abuse of good things.



And a surprise visit was made by Deiokes!

 

[Manco Capac]

Ooops lol. I mistaken Deiokes for a Persian, he's Median. FYI, Medians were pre-Persians from Zagros mountains, but later crushed by Persian. Awww, ancient times, Best era for Civ4!

Anyways, who cares! Julius considers everyone Barbarians. No exception.

 

[Manco Capac]

Spoiler :

Here started the backdoor exploration of Carthage's nether regions.



And seems she's not glad of that. A stack was prepared to be sent.





Of course, Julius was ready to counterattack!



And finally, after all the waiting, a GEngineer spawned.



Sadly, the forced exploratory actions were short-lived. The spy was captured.



Neapolis was settled. One of the rare pure breed of roman city. It's purpose was the exploitation of furs (+1 happy) and marble.



The confrontation is imminent.



Roma learnt the secrets of Geometry and were first to settle the very basic laws. Another GEngineer.




Without doubt, the invincible army of axemen shred to nothingness the pathetic army of Carthage.



Immediately, on the spur of greed, Julius made peace in return to another tribute over the initial one of four slaves.



Finally, Julius was raising in grades. First economically, crop productions, land and population. Rome was shining being first class nation. One fifth of the world was roman.




Finally, the real Oracle of Delphi was project was started in Sardeis. Only six turn to go. And it had to be finished at the same time as Urbanization tech, so the Architecture slingshot could be made possible.



Marble quarry was ready to elevate some new projects (amongst them more construction frauds Julius likes to start).



Parpatua appeared out of nowhere and was fascinated to learn more of the great roman insights. Julius felt to romanize people, it shall be that he has to let his culture flow through the veins of those unrefined Barbarians. He agreed. Maybe a friendship could be built out of that.



Not yet, but close enough.



Without losing time, since the timing wasn't perfect, the Oracle was rushed.



And the Architecture slingshot was made.





Architecture has another side effect over the nice wonders for our cultural victory. As the small post regarding how to win culture in TAM, it enables one nice building being the garden. That building gives +1 happy/health but also enables one artist slot.



And a new era was reached. We entered the classical era.




Julius obviously fattened of 500 more sesterces.



Another spy was sent into Carthage.



Now, Currency path was chosen. Just like regular BTS, Currency is a strong tech. Bronze working was needed first though.

 

[Manco Capac]

Spoiler :

Suddenly, Parpatua became more greedy! Julius was most displeased by the turn of even, especially after the great generosity he demonstrated. But being so close to a first friendship, he swallowed his pride and may gain in the future in return to such obfuscating demand.



Vercingetorix took the arms and went after Deiokes.



Every time I see a GG born elsewhere, that warms the heart of Julius.



And an event of extreme surprise startled Julius in his foundations of being the first one. Parpatua constructed the Riches of Kroisos. Uh wait? He looked over his throne armchair and squinted his eyes at his chained pet, little Kroisos. Someone found the hidden treasures of this lamentable man before he could. That was not very pleasant.
Anyways, that meant Parpatua was the second strong man of the world besides Julius. The one that will poses problems soon. It was a wise decision to befriend him.
Also, it meant the beginnings where the AI catches up. On IMM TAM, that happens all the time. A great difference over regular BTS because IMM on TAM has the same handicaps as Warlords IMM, that is near deity diff.



Exploration was one of those techs that can't be traded. Though, it was stolen.




Currency methods were learnt.



Of course, Julius had to make out with his urges. He DoWed.



Without delay, the strongest wonder of the game was started. No fake construction project althought plenty of time for it. Hanging Gardens are what I call overpowered overpowered wonder. It basically combines both the BTS Shakespear's Theater (No Angry cap) and Christo Rendentor. For only base 400 hammers, which turns out 200 because Rome border pop allowed ot connect clay resource modifier.



Interestingly, in a concomittance of events, our lucky spy spotted an enemy spy.



And here started a real campaign against Dido starting at Leptis Magna.





Just after Currency, City-States tech was beelined for the SoZeus. It enables all the second civic bloc. That is mainly number of cities maintenance along several random features.



Now, it was decided to not deviate from the main goal of the game: beeline Drama and all the culture techs. It is critical to win culture. Rome must not fail just like Dido did. Epics was the first pre-req to get. Another untradable tech btw.



So important is the Hanging Gardens Julius dared to rush it at the expense of 4 pops.




The Temple of Artemis was started.



Utica was the next besieged city.



For some obscure reason, a catharginian javelineer suicided itself against the well-defended axemen. That wasn't very bright. It barely scratched the army.

à

The spy allowed to view what awaits in Utica. All fine.



Just to be sure, the army took a small detour just to avoid potential deadly retaliation and to attack from the forest next to Utica.



Finally, Parpatua became casual with Julius, allowing free trades.



Epics was learnt.



And here another prize of going along that tech path. Philosophy is like Liberalism in regular BTS. It gives a free tech, but here also gives a religion. Zoroastrism, which is basically the Persian official religion. It's another weird @$$ untradable tech, but experience told me if I get first to it, it literally block following techs for a millenia, givin rest in the wonder race.



Utica was still pretty weakly defended.



Our super enslaver took advantaged of its running talent to snatch some slaves.



Thanks to Hanging Gardens, it was eligible to swap civics that waited too long.



Utica siege started!

 

[Manco Capac]

Spoiler :

Utica was captued annd razed. The cultural pressure along the lack of defending units disallowed keeping it.



Rogue axemen roamed around Cumae and take them out seemed rather difficult.




Sadly for her, the rescue army arrived a tad too late.



Finally we had views from where Argantonio came from. It's a continent separated from ours by one coast tile.



Since the war could turned out to the worse, a peace deal was made.



Really feeling the risks of delaying critical wonders, a GEngineer was hired to rush the Status of Zeus. Not only a strong wonder, but gives GArtist GPP, which is extremely welcomed in TAM for culture, since we can only get 17 artist GPP acccording to the study I made earlier.




Since Sardeis was eligible at some point to receive the capital ownership, then Cumae, at the east of Rome, was chosen to be the receiver of the Agora, which is basically a second palace.



The fail gold reaped from the SoZ was definitely lower since it was urgent to be built before Parpatua could get his greasy hands on that.



Meanwhile, the lowly paid axemen pillaged the region for a better pittance.



Finally, Elamites were about to extract their Gems mine.



Our lucky spy continued its explorations.



Immediately, thanks to the Hanging Gardens, Julius chose the best civic being Bureaucracy. That lowers by -25% the number of cities maintenance.



The Temple of Artemis was built in Sardeis.




Finally, Sardeis was out of project. The Palace was started there. Empire civic in which we are gives +25% culture. Sadly, Rome got it all for a long time, but Sardeis definitely has a much higher base culture.



Grrrr....another GProphet.



Parpatua became a rising problem. He flew through techs like it was nothing. Medicine was recently learnt.



And a vision of horror was shown: Parpatua not only was the second most advanced, but the strongest military power. Those two combined almost always degenerate into making a run away once he starts wrecking into poorer nations.



At least, we got Philosophy before him.




The chosen free tech was thus Aristocracy for the MoM. That wonder is a boon in artist GPP. A free artist specialist along the wonder +2 GPP.




Finally, we directed all our efforts towards the most critical tech path for culture, that is Drama. A free GArtist in regular BTS is nothing more interesting for anything else than a GAge, but in TAM, it's a TREASURE. Culture or not.



The palace project was halted to give some place to the MoM.



The Temple of Artemis gave us a nice sack of denarii.



The pillage went well too. Getting Dido's cities aren't important. For culture, every coin and a tamer neighbour are best to ensure victory.



Finally, odds for a GArtist started to raise. Let crosses fingers to get many of them.

 

[Manco Capac]

Spoiler :

Deiokes asked to join in some phony war again. Julius irrespectuously refused.



But Julius was interested to join along the Gauls.




That pleased the gaulish brute so hard he immediately accepted Open Borders.




Of course, let not forget to hire a permanent artist.



Ouch ouch ouch! Parpatua is running away. What exactly happened? Parpatua isn't what I call a natural winner being a civ without Tool Working (thus no free workers on IMM).



Literature was learnt.



And here is the reason why Deiokes has no chance to be sided. The city was evidently razed for being badly located.






Vernacular colonizers pressed themselves to claim the deserted area.



Pisae was born.



And phew! Drama is ours and we're first. My first GArtist.




Since we got several calendar resources, it is deemed to be the next goal.



Agora was finally built in Cumae.



Sadly, we are progressively getting caught up by Parputua. Not necessarily him, but chances are great he's the second strongest nation.



Again, Mr. @sshole demanded some tribute. Julius complied.



Finally, we had Vercingetorix PLEASED. That meant our first tech trades.



Calendar in.



Code of Laws was the next goal for the Great Library.



Finally, the magnificent MoM was erected.




The palace project was started again.



Finally, after some many centuries, Dido decided to leave her ex alone.



We took the opportunity to get Furnace for Architecture and Calendar combined. We squeezed all we could have from Architecture.




To push our relationships further, Julius chose to convert to Greek Gods. Thanks to the Hanging Gardens, diplomacy was terribly eased.

 

[Manco Capac]

Spoiler :

Cartography was gotten out of Parpatua.




And some resource trades were concluded.



Finally, Julius had the complete view of the other continent. The striking factor was the immensity of Parpatua's lands.




Although worst enemy, commerce always takes over mentality differences.



It was a perfect case to dogpile everyone onto Deiokes.




The Palace was built in Sardeis. I was pretty surprised there was a screen for the Palace. There is none in BTS.




Three bad news.
1) Parpatua started a GAge.
2) Vercingetorix is a quitter.
3) Someone started stupid water poisoning. Julius suspected his neighbour.



Some trade.



Of course, in TAM, AI's have to be over-the-top agressive.



Hurray! 20% GArtist! Cross fingers.



Let's beg to avoid Parpatua plotting against us. Of course, he's a doucheb@g.



Code of Laws learnt.



Now, Julius is going all the way towards Commerce tech for its strong wonders and the free GMerchant.



Another construction fraud lol.



And the Aristotelean Theater was started in Sardeis. Another wonder that'll immensely help in generating GPeople but also adds more artist GPP.



Oh la la! Deiokes has suffered from the sword of Tartessians. It might be a mistake to dogpile after all. It destroys the fragile balance between the AI's.

 

[Manco Capac]

Spoiler :

Soonish we will know what will be the next GPeople.



Astronomy learnt.



Look at that. Could it be a naval invasion in process?



Ummm probably.



Julius demanded tribute, which she readily agreed. No volition to start a war I see.



Oh hell yes!




Our second GArtist! Now only two more to go to enable the next step of our cultural victory by assistance of espionage. As it was explained in the strategic post elsewhere, with a seed of 8000 culture in the two last legendary cities, the culture missions will start at 400, which is awesome especially with TAM restrictions in spies (4 at a time) and time limits (because the AI techs really fast at the end). That means a whole 40 missions to make two legendary cities.



The second possible slot for an artist (for the whole game until the last tech enabling Patronage) is now taken.



Um well. What a piece of $hit. He was allied with Argantonio to betray him a century later. Vercingetorix has no morals. So do I. My new friend.



Peace for more gold.



Some tech brokering for more money.



Seafaring tech was learnt.



Now we have 1/3 odd to get a GArtist. Yes, it is low, but that's how is TAM. With pure breed of artists GPP, that would take too long, not to mention all the previous wonders ignored that already gives our first legendary city. Sometimes, we have to make compromises.



When a TAM AI starts to give away 12 GPT at a time, that is sign it grows too large. If 20 GPT, it's a bloody red flag.



Now, Sardeis has reached the penultimate stage towards LC status. Reminder: 20,000 culture is needed in TAM. Seems low, but in fact, it's demanding IMM+.



Elam produced a trireme ready to explore the world.



Finally, Commerce was learnt. One for the GMerchant. Another point is the Colossus allowing +50% GAge, meaning the last stretch of the game, we'll have 24 turns of GAges instead of 16 turns.




Finally, we have reached the last great tech for culture. Next techs will be mostly superfluous. Only Road building might be a last goal for faster spies and the strong tile beefer: imperial road improvements.

 

[Manco Capac]

Spoiler :

Some more tech brokeing were initiated for continuously fund our research.



Interestingly, an island was spotted. A barbaric island. Rome has no interest in that island. Especially knowing it's lost in ocean and TAM, for some obscure reason, forgot to add oceanic trades. And making has only sense if done early to have some trade partner and abuses high level AI handicaps.




Fortunately, Deiokes managed to make peace with Argantonio.



Exploring an new island ruled by only barbarians over millenia isn't a good idea since over 8 ships attacked the sole trireme. Fortunately, those transport boats were of one strength whule the bireme has 6.






Argantonio got a GEngineer. Sadly for him, he has nothing to rush.



Moar gold.



And hell, let's start another round of fun!



C'mere! See, a nice juicy defenseless ram.



Good girl.



The Aristotelean Theater was built.



Finally, the last wonder.



And Rome managed circumnavigation.



Now, the situation is spiralling. Parpatua got the Genius of Archimedes, which means +10% science in every city. And he needed Siege Warfare to get that and probably got it for a while. HE IS running away.



Ooops, perhaps he rushed it. Don't know.



And we multiplied one ram into many of them. Nice one Dido. You're getting more intelligent over the centuries.



Let's capture the hill city before it gets too stronly defended.



Education was learnt. In fact, that is probably the very last wonder of the game along the GLH and the Colossus.



Now, Espionage tech is targeted for its free GSpy.



Parpatua is a cheap lowly life.



The strangely named city of Oea was captured.



Let's hope some third GArtist.



Another trade with our great backstabber.




At least, we can sell water maps to get more money.

 

[Lone Wolf]

I find it amusing that in TAM, an "espionage-assisted" culture victory still has a heavy emphasis on culture and Great Artists. Base BTS culture-espionage had been accused of breaking the flavour, but one in TAM doesn't do it... much.

 

[Manco Capac]

I find it amusing that in TAM, an "espionage-assisted" culture victory still has a heavy emphasis on culture and Great Artists. Base BTS culture-espionage had been accused of breaking the flavour, but one in TAM doesn't do it... much.

In fact, espionage leading to culture is broken. In TAM, I'm limited to 4 spies at a time because it was decided for X reason to be a national unit. That means max 2 missions per turn (4 missions one turn, moving the spies from capital next turn ==> 4/2=2) and if the missions succeed of course. At a pace of two missions per turn (accounting you gave the future LCities to an agreeing AI and those are at most 3 tiles away from the capital) and starting with a seed of 5, it takes millenia to reach a LC. Quite ironically, TAM modders, unbeknownst to them, they made espionage not as powerful as the regular game just by limiting the number of spewed spies. It is still powerful though, but the reasons lie more to the fact the tech tree was redesigned unfavorably against GPeople generation. If I was there when the mod was beta, I would have made that point with great insistance. If I failed my Dido culture, it's basically because I started from no culture seed. With 8000 culture seed, it takes far less time to reach a LC.

Now, for a regular BTS game, since you can generate an infinity of spies, you can focus your empire production into creating more spies. Thus, you could theoritically spend your entire turn espionage budget thanks to that. Thus the limiting factor in BTS is the espionage points generation. In TAM, it's the spy production rate. And ironically, the early game in TAM has better assets in buildings to have lots of espionage points compared to BTS. Like the Hunting Lodge, Tavern giving each +2 . That helps a lot to make espionage a path to victory. In fact, I have thought to make a game via a certain leader that has +4 through his UB of the tavern. I'm sure that'll work if just stealing techs.

Thanks for the support. You almost seem to be the sole real reader of my $hit. Thanks to give minorities a chance. If people gave me a chance, they would see it's not as $hitty as they may think (ah pre-conception, I love ya ). What I think fascinating playing strategically a mod is to reinvent the thing. I can't comprehend those who are already genius in stock BTS, but still persists into that and HAVE fun. Stock BTS was so minutely studied I'm asking myself if there is strategy anymore or just a instruction manual. The only downside of playing a mod is the chances to meet broken additions. Yes, modders generally don't have the sense of balance. They often think about theur fantasies first, then the balance.
TAM isn't completely balanced, but I find it pretty hard starting IMM+. For some victories that is. I know one particular factor was the complete dismiss of mounted units for conquer fast everything. Mounted units having -50% against units walled in cities sure made mounted units not as attractive as it is in BTS. And that makes the game harder when conquering.

 

[vogonpoet]

Hi Tachywaxon,
I don't like to butt in, or indeed post at all normally, but I wanted to say, I am very much enjoying reading this thread, and would totally download and try to work out how to play this mod, if I just had a bit more time for games right now.

I am a terrible lurker. Hell, took me at least 3 years to even sign up to the forums. I read all the S&T threads, back in the old days, all of Mad Scientists threads and Obsoletes stuff, these days at least half the team threads in every SGOTM, I read Seraiel's write ups, actually, I read almost everything, and this thread is one of my favourite active threads right now. So thanks for the write-up.

/I don't normally contribute, because I am rubbish at CIV - I struggle to beat Monarch after massively lurking this forum for years, but anyway, hi.

<cheers>vp

 

[Manco Capac]

Thanks. I suspect there are readers, but mostly lurkers I often jokingly call bots. Otherwise, I wouldn't understand how I can rise my views consistently.

Thanks for the support again. I'm not gonna give up anyways. People with me or not. I deeply love TAM right now and want to share what wasn't shared about that mod when it was at its peak, which was extremely prolific during its days, but never got a proper rendition. FFH series got some, RFC too. Thamis' mod (that is TAM) is one of the founder mods and it is sad it it went to be forgotten like that. Of course, it partially has to do with the desertion of their main modders, but I still think it's sad.

Anyways, won't give up just because no one shows care. Some do if they don't receive enough attention because they didn't believe in this from the very beginning. Sadly, I feel attention seekers in that. I believe in TAM, love it (and is in harmony with the lack of time I have) and shares about it.

The thing that ticks me off is I may have projects to play a game where people could steer me (talk strategy instead of just typical soliloquy), but looking after a month and two weeks, that didn't look to be a bright future for the project. Yeah, the first game didn't go well and that disappointed plastiq (which was the first talking strategy), but he hasn't seen where I was. I was definitely rusty and TAM games cannot be salvaged as easily as a BTS game. Especially IMM+. Just playing losing games is not fun. I have couple of them, but I'm not going to play just to lose all the time. No, the games I will lay here won't have a certainty as fate. It may be losses or wins.

 

[Manco Capac]

Another point that fascinates with TAM is the both standard having strong positions and maybe all the wonders (thus the candies that motivates any player), but still losing the game. In BTS, such thing almost always to winning the game, but in TAM, because of the sluggish warfare (no more super mounted units), the game can be won by some AI before you can win dom or conquest.

 

[Manco Capac]

Spoiler :

Illyrian Citadel is one wonder that gives strong defensive assets.



Priesthood was learnt.



Let's convert Parpatua to our religion.



Soon, he'll be total friend to Rome, thus neutralizing a potential later threat to our cultural victory.



Another GG has spawned.



Interestingly, there was an island down there all along.



Now, it's Vercingetorix to crush the gigolo.



Since the Colossus is sped up with copper, we acquired some from the Tartessians.



Monotheism acquired.




Espionage nous voilà.



And the greatst mistake was initiated by Deiokes. HE HAS DOWED the BADASS PARPATUA. I give him 20 turns.



The other side effect of copper is upgrading our axemen's weapons. Now, we have +10% more thanks to copper.



Oh well, let's sceal the friendship with Parpatua. Deiokes, you went for it!



Well, what's wrong with those AI's? They make peace when I DoW. Lol.



Julius couldn't believe his eyes. Barely razed a city that Dido spewed another colony ready to refound the city. And those settlers are like 200 hammers.



Here's the island that was south to the roman empire. A nice one, but nothing outstanding. For domination geared game, that'll do a bit, but for culture, it's irrelevant.



Holy cows. The unstoppable machine has started. Deiokes already lost his first city to Parpatua. Must win, must win fast. Once a IMM+ gets too much lands, their tech speed increases exponentially.



The next event, I couldn't believe it! The greatest chance has fallen upon the Romans: another GArtist. That means only one more and I can start my unstoppable machine from my side too.



Since I couldn't bribe Parpatua off Deiokes (because most of my techs are, you know, untradable), I bribed Vercingetorix to gobble himself part of Deiokes' lands. That way, that'll slow Parpatua a bit.



Some resources trade.



The Great Library was built.




Republic was learnt. Two more and a free GSpy for fueling my late GAges.



Construction frauds are best in TAM. More than in BTS.



At last, the final wonder to be built for Sardeis.



For the moment, Julius made peace with miss Dido.



Yeah, the unstoppable machine has started. Goddammit.

 

[Manco Capac]

Spoiler :

In fact, the unstoppable fact was Deiokes was a lost cause. After losing three cities, he will succumb and his empire crumbled into the hands of his three neighbours. Let's hope Parpatua won't get the lion's share. He already has too much. Suffices he gets too much and DoWs another one and he'll rampage his complete continent.



Interestingly, Parpatua got two GPeople at the same time. It's theoritically possible....in BTS...in the hands of the human player, but I don't buy it in TAM. And I see he's first to Alchemy, which means a free GScientist.




Oh Vercingetorix! I wanted that GArtist.



Again, since Dido isn't a major player, I trade some cheap techs for gold.



Of course, Julius has to DoW thereafter lol.



Oh noes! Parpatua got the lion's share: Ecbatana (the Median capital) fell.



Sadly, the hairy @sshole changed back to another religion. Had to reconvert him.



Finally, I was at +12 with him. Of course, once Deiokes dead, the share wars will drop by one point, but still, so near to get to FRIENDLY.



And here it is! The proof that even on IMM, with several tech trades, we get beaten by the AI. Parpatua is the most advanced nation. Unbelievable!



Here's the new landscape of the remaining Median empire.



With Empire tech (which normally gives Empire civic, but much much much later than the Sphinx), Rome entered the last era, that is the Imperial Age.




Not as flamboyant as Parpatua, Julius made his own campaign in hopes to finally crush Dido, but not kill her. She's the target for our espionage testings.



And sadly, she got Iron Working. Armoured Javelineers are 4 strength javelineers that are efficient against medium units (like the Axemen) and now can kill (compared to the ancient counterpart).




Another median city fell to Parpatua.



I could at least take advantage of one of the rarest TAM resource, that is the Lapis Lazuli.



Let makes Carthage falls.





Peace was made temporarily, so to better prepare the next waves.




And the next war should come fast as this city is a burden because of the distance, unproductivity and potential revolts.



Finally, Parpatua was FRIENDLY. Making friends in TAM is immensely precious.



I could trade monopoly techs.

 

[Manco Capac]

Spoiler :

And here it is: the last wonder to be built in Sardeis.



Now that Julius has secured all the necessary wonders to boost Sardeis to cultural immortality, we start working on several National Wonders that boost even more the cultural output.



And the inevitable is now attained: the extreme dogpiling combined to the extreme power of the Scythians (Parpatua) led to the destruction of the median empire.



Vercingetorix had some more stuff willing to trade. We gladly reap both Construction and Iron Working.






Neapolis was settled on iron, so we immediately had access to the metal for better weapons.




In 680 BC, our next GPeople is a GScientist. Not disappointed nor happy. At least that'll help to fuel the GAge(s) since that's a rare GPeople.



In 670 BC, the counter has started and Parpatua was expected to trigger it. Hamadan Outpost is the first stage of the Silk Route (which is equivalent to a Space Colony Race). Basically, we have, IIRC, 7 outposts to build successively (thus the limiting factor is the incapacity of the AI and us to build all the them at the same time) and then wait 10 turns to reach China to export and import stuff.
Another point is Vercingetorix is a package full of testosterone because even making peace, he's DoWing again.



The National Epic is the last NW that boosts culture. Also, I still have one third odd to get a GArtist. Sadly, at the max speed for spewing GPeople, it's the best we can. The National Wonders I am building are helping a little (each +1 artist GPP), but without Patronage, generating a specific GPeople continuously is hard.



Finally, Elam can rush the GLH.




And Espionage was learnt. Free GSpy.




Hey boy, there sure are lots of actions in the other continent.



Looking at the power situation, we certainly were as powerful as Dido, thus a new war shall start at some point.



Finally, the very last beeline: Road building: Not only giving access to the superb improvement of the Imperial Road that boosts several existing improvements by one hammer and 2 commerces. Also, that enables unit movements of three tiles, essential for a fast placement of spies in one turn after the espionage mission.



Parpatua sure is demanding in resources.



Of course, Vercingetorix had to bring Julius in his temper tantrum wars.



Here is thre newest soldier thanks to Iron Working: the legionary.



Cavalry is in.



The Colossus is built.




Here's the new army. Fresh and with new weapons.



Now, since we are missing only one last GArtist, thus let the final stages start. That is 24 turns. The Colossus allows the waited 50% GAge length.



Here's the National Epic.



Of course, Julius had to abuse of his favorite construction fraud.



Some trade for gold.

 

[Manco Capac]

Spoiler :

Lol, what did you expect. I trade then DoW.



Julius swaps to every single civic giving boosts of 25% of GPP.





Julius started to the city that replaced Oea. Dido must have learnt her lesson, but she didn't.



Siege Warfare in.



Seriously, fail gold is awesome.



Tipasa was captured.



And razed of COURSE!



Now, Leptis Parva was the next target.



Seeing Dido desesperately trying to augment her garrison in threatened cities, Julius intercepted them.





Oh well, that wasn't a bright idea. Armoured Javelineers took care of them.





Something was off: Parpatua got another GG. Did the frenzy to conquer the world struck him?!



Thanks to Siege Warfare tech, Julius took his personal wealth to upgrade those stolen rams into Onagers (UU of Rome). Not fabulous but has 25% chance of withdrawal.




And Dido approached her army against us.



Now, the situation was degenerating: Parpatua was struck by hubris. He thinks the world was ready to be knee in front of him.



Sadly, we couldn't afford to help him to become ruler of the world.



Isn't that beautiful?



Now, Leptis Parva will soon fall.



Only one loss was made. For once, the city was kept.



JOKE! What did you expect? Julius is a monster.



More Onagers as this is the final war against Dido.



Of course, Vercingetorix found this moment opportune to ask for gift. We complied as that was such a irrelevant tech. Interestingly, AI's can make demands on PLEASED, which don't happen over CAUTIOUS on BTS.



Bridge building is another powerful as it unlocks the levees, which are exactly just like those in BTS. Another reason road building beeline is strong. Julius delayed that to ensure the GSpy just in time for the GAges.