I'll stop it here as I realize I really should read a thread before making comments.
No no, don't stop! Nobody can expect that this whole thread must be read before adding comments to it. Your input was still very interesting and valuable.

Hope you don't get too confused by all the ideas flying about, Todelotti![]()
Hm, I'm afraid I must disappoint your hope a bit...

OK, as far as I understood there is 1) the path via Cuirassiers, 2) the path via Steel. And because we go for Space victory the path via Steel is more attractive because it leads faster to the more advanced techs that we need for the space race. On the other hand Cuirs might help to get enough cities quicker to boost the economy for the space race. Hmmmm, difficult...
To summarize the game situation:
- I still have 2 turns in Golden Age
- I have finished Education this turn and also got the second GS this turn
- I CAN bulb Liberalism to around 80% with that GS NOW (@kevtrev: It's a misunderstanding that I would bulb Lib to 100%, my earlier replies were probably too confusing, sorry)
- No AI has Paper, so they can't have Education
- Gilgamesh most likely has Feudalism (because he doesn't want it from me nor any prerequisite tech like Monarchy, etc.)
- I have explored all his cities now with my scout and he doesn't have any longbow yet. But because he (probably) has Feudalism I guess he can quickly whip/upgrade/produce some if he needs to.
- I can declare war against Giggles NOW and I have still movement points of my main stack that is already close to Giggles border. The stack would reach a small stack of 3 of Giggles' combat units + a worker. So, we might be able to finish off that stack this turn. From there it is 2 turns to Gilgamesh's east city. That might also go well without longbows. But then I have a way of 4 turns (or don't roads add +1 to the movement in enemy territory? Then it's even 8 turns...) to the next Sumerian city. So, he has time to bring some longbows then.
- For me the critical tech seems to be Machinery atm. No matter if we want to go Steel or Cuirs I need Machinery->Guilds->Gunpowder. It's also required for Printing Press, Engineering, Optics.
- Mansa is researching Machinery now BUT: If he has finished it (in 6 or 7 turns) what do I trade for it? Mansa only needs Paper from me and Paper has around 150 beakers less than Machinery. So, it's unlikely that he will accept the trade. I would conclude: I MUST research Machinery myself, otherwise I am stuck with research (especially if I don't finish Liberalism to 100%).
Generally I would like to follow Panngaea's Steel path because it seems to make much sense for the space race and it's just different to what I'm used to play (Cuir), so very interesting. We are also getting Knights on that path which might help for the war before I have cannons (as long as BurgerKing doesn't cancel the Horse deal).
So my proposal is:
- I declare war NOW.
- Then I bribe Zara to declare war against Gilgamesh. (I can't bribe BurgerKing nor anyone else.)
- Then I attack.
- I bulb Liberalism NOW to 80% and maybe put another turn into it to stop 1 turn before completion.
- Then I research Machinery.
If we see that the war becomes really difficult we could (after Gunpowder for example) still consider going Cuirs first.
OK?

