Immortal University 28: Isabella

[beestar]

Finally making the move to Immortal & thought I'd play through some old IUs.

Immortal/Normal. Diplo victory in 1865AD or so

Spoiler :

.. though actually it was only because my four vassals preferred me over HC Mao was about to be vassalized in 2 turns for the Domination victory anyway.

I thought the land was really crappy. I could expand southeast a bit before being blocked by Vicky, I couldn't expand SW because of Hammy, and I barely made it to the tundra in the NW before being hemmed in - Hammy actually claimed the coastal tundra spot ahead of me. I didn't even find good land for a GP Farm - never built National Epic!

With such crappy land I thought military was impossible until I had a tech advantage, so I bided my time and launched the drafted-Rifles war that everyone seems to love so much. I probably should have built Globe Theatre for this, but didn't feel I had enough food in any city to make it a draft centre. Anyway, now I see why Nationalism is cool - embroiled the other AIs in a war and then struck Hammy, then attacked tech monster Darius and his ally Victoria (with a little help from Mao), then DOWed Saladin, and then Mao was next. Those AI cities were rich with yummy Wonders.

Liberalism went to Darius in 900AD which I thought was fast - I was chasing Darius badly all game, and relied on Artillery and Rifles to beat his Infantry - but holy cow, 500AD in one of the other games!

Screenshots later - too much Civ today ...

 

[Sleepless]

I had the same thought, started the Stalin one then realised I had already played it as soon as I opened the save.

Knew I hadn't played this one though - 975BC

Spoiler :

Very quick summary. I settled Madrid one South and Barcelona between the corn/horse. As I have read now a lot of people did the lets rush Hammy which I duly did.

Took his capital and the flood plains site and will probably make peace and do a bit of rexing. With 2 capitals and land to settle this game is probably as good as won but there are some strong AI who might have something to say about that.

 

[Sleepless]

My first loss in one of the IU series.

Spoiler :

That'll teach me to be greedy. I only had 1 city with the Ap religion in. I know I should have spread it around a bit more but more important things to build at the time. I thought with my few votes it wouldn't make any difference and I could have the +2 you voted for us.

Well we live and learn.

I will go back and not vote for Darius but have to chalk it up as a loss.

 

[Sidney Magal]

You voted Darius the winner?

 

[Nares]

You have given us Spain on a lake.

I was playing a game the other day where this one AI was hogging the early religions. Wouldn't you know, it's Spain on a lake.

Now I'm reading this thread, and I notice that Spain on a lake is no longer the powerhouse it once was.

 

[DMOC]

It's pretty powerful in the AI, if it chooses to work the lake tile.

Even better is Huayna with his financial oasises or whatever the plural is.

 

[TheMeInTeam]

Every vote counts!

Yeah Pacal/Capac with an oasis or riverside calendar (or wine) commerce tile can win out on religion over anybody. However, it is usually izzy that holds the advantage.

 

[LincolnOfRome]

Thanks for the game. I am moving up to immortal and this seems like good practice for me.

I settled one south on the river, and then expanded to three cities. I built the oracle and selected metal casting as my free tech. I ran some scientist and engineer specialists. I had a great engineer pop around 800 BC and saved him (the pyramids were built by HC about 1200 BC). I had another lucky great engineer pop around 200 BC. I used one great engineer to bulb machinery and another great engineer to bulb most of engineering. I ran Buddhism (founded by HC and followed by Hammy). I switched to Hinduism to make friends with Saladin and Cyrus before I backstabbed Hammy and HC.

I built an army or CRIII trebs and crossbow and was able to capitulate both Hammy and HC. I kept Babylon and all its wonders (including MoM and the Great Lib). I built my GP farm there. I quickly conquered HC as well. I took the Pyramids and switched to Republic. I then gave HC his capital back. I conquered China with the same army. Cyrus was running away in tech. His infantry still managed to fall to my conquistadors, maces, crossbows, and trebs around 1500, and he capitulated. Even though I was behind in tech, the numbers of my forces overwhelmed him. I managed to fall a few votes short of an AP victory somehow. Meanwhile, Saladin and his English vassals are all that remain. Saladin has a whole lot of territory, but is fairly backward.

I probably won't complete this as the game is already in the bag. Or, maybe I will. I very seldom have a game end before the 19th century and this could end much sooner.

Liberalism date? I still don't have it at 1500. Still my engineering date of 80 AD (early for Izzy) helped me lauch my attack campaign.