LK169, Italy, CCM 2.5, AWM

[Elephantium]

I've got it.

Pre-turn look:

Rome can grow in 1 while still completing the Royal Stables this turn.
Veii needs more happy faces -- consider changing WE to Theater
Antium builds Admin Center in 1 -- MM for growth (also needs more happy faces)
Cumae will grow in 2, allowing School of Divinity to complete in 3.
I want Sheepish Pig Iron to grow faster, but it's not worth delaying the Siege Workshop.
Pompeii looks good.

We know 6 civs. I only see 6 enemy units (plus 2 boats). We're pretty secure for now.

We have 5 Legionaries, 2 Praetorians, 13 Archers, and 7 Enslavers. No fast units yet, but that will soon change.

We have 2 Settlers near the blue dot. I'm inclined to settle that and the Horses site, leaving yellow for later.

Oh! I just noticed -- science and lux sliders were both at 0. I set the lux slider to 30%. That lets me put entertainers to work in two cities.

My plan right now is really just to keep wiping out enemy units and build up our cities. We want Horsemen before we attack the neighbors, right?

Any other thoughts before I get started?

 

[Jersey Joe]

Cumae will grow in 2, allowing School of Divinity to complete in 3.

The mine that is being built there will also allow it to finish the School in 3. The workers building the mine were being used to build irrigation in 1 turn.

Antium builds Admin Center in 1 -- MM for growth (also needs more happy faces)

After the Admin Center, consider building a few Legionary there to send and defend Blue dot and Horses. I am not sure if the Admin Center will provide the extra shield needed to build Legionaries in 1 turn. If need be, I would slow growth by 1 turn to build 1 turn Legionaries.

I would rush both a Christian Community and Walls (I don't know why we don't rush these builds in general) in Blue Dot and Horses. Horses should be defended with as many troops as are defending Sheepish Pig Iron.

Marketplaces are a good build right now because we are not researching and getting bonus commerce from the Golden Age. Eventually all our cities should have an Academy and a Marketplace.

 

[LKendter]

I would rush both a Christian Community and Walls (I don't know why we don't rush these builds in general) in Blue Dot and Horses.

We are usually so broke, that we can't afford to. Normally this time of the game we are dumping every penny possible into deficit research.

 

[Jersey Joe]

Congrats. IIRC the GL also gives free settlers.

What a weird AW game.

I would not have been able to build the Great Library if you hadn't built the Oracle and got Monarchy and Construction.

The buildup of cash while the Great Library is active is tricky. Are buildings now more valuable, cash to upgrade units, or cash for deficit research when it expires.

I favor saving until the Great Library is no longer useful so we can start deficit research if it is necessary.

However, I think during our Golden Age we should do some rushing but not spend more than 100 gold on any one rush. Also we should do that sparingly. For example, rush a Christian Community and Walls, that gets a border pop faster and lets the new city take better advantage of the extra shields to build a Forge or something else.

As for upgrading units, I can see Horsemen -> Knights, but I would not upgrade Spearmen or Archers, they should be used as MP's so no need to upgrade them. New units can be built to send to the front.

 

[Elephantium]

Pre-turn continued:

CA II says multiple civs know Seafaring and The Republic.

IBT:

Enemy troops move, but there's no action.
We learn The Republic and decline to revolt.
We learn Seafaring.
We learn Dark Ages.

Rome starts a War Elephant.
Antium: Admin Center > Aqueduct

575 AD:

Settler reveals an Enslaver S of Pompeii -- he would have captured Workers on the next turn!
Our Enslaver kills him and promotes to elite.
Legionary kills US Native Spearman

IBT:

We learn Feudalism.
Veii: War Elephant > Market

600 AD:

Enslaver kills US Native Archer
War Elephant rides down Mesoamerican Archer

Pisae founded on the blue dot

IBT: Some troops move, but it's quiet.

Rome: War Elephant > Palace Guard
Antium: Aqueduct > Praetorian

Cumae: SoD > Praetorian
Arabs are building Circus Maximus

625 AD:

Enslavers kill 2 Chinese Archers
War Elephant kills US Native Archer

IBT: The Americans found Seattle between us. Tempting...

Rome: Palace Guard > Market
Veii produces a Legionary
Antium: Praetorian > Praetorian
Cumae: Praetorian > Market

Persia completes Worldreligion Islam

650 AD:

Praetorian narrowly kills Enkidu Warrior
Legionary kills US Native Archer

IBT: We see another Chinese unit come in along the coast.

Veii: Market > Praetorian
Antium: Praetorian > Market

Israel completes Jewish Worldreligion
Japan completes Worldreligion Buddhism

675 AD:

Ravenna founded to bring us Horses!

IBT:

Maghreb come out of the fog in the forest W of Cumae.

We learn Bodkin Arrows.
Rome: Market > Roman Cataphract
Pompeii: Forge > Slavery
Pisae: Christian Community > Walls

700 AD:

Enslaver kills US Native Archer

I rush walls in Ravenna

IBT: A few more enemy soldiers trickle into view

Rome: Roman Cataphracts
Ravenna: Walls > Christian Community

725 AD:

War Elephant kills Enkidu Warrior

IBT:

We learn Chivalry. Great Library is obsolete (and sadly, we didn't even get 1 Settler from it ). I set research for Alchemy.

Veii: War Elephants
Antium: Market > Italian Knight
Cumae: Market > Academy

750 AD:

Sliders set to 2.7.1, -29gpt
Rome switches to Royal Tournament
Veii switches to Religious Center
MM in other cities gets us "up" to -28gpt.

IBT: We see a bunch of enemy troops move, especially Maghreb advancing along the coast near Cumae (looks like they want Rome, lol!)

775 AD:

Aw, now Mounted Archery is available. Too bad we didn't net it from the GLib.

Enslaver kills US Native Archer
War Elephant tramples US Chariot
Praetorian dies to US Native Spearman, no damage
I accidentally hit spacebar and skipped a Worker turn
Enslaver dies against the Spearman. Ugh, I was hoping to clear the tile next to Pompeii

IBT: China wants to talk

Maghreb units advance on Cumae after all!

Veii: Religious Center > Colosseum
Antium: Italian Knight > Theater

SPI: SW > Admin Center
Pisae: Walls > Forge

800 AD:

Near Cumae:
Archer dies to War Elephant
Enslaver retreats from Chinese Archer
Enslaver narrowly captures Chinese Archer
Roman Cataphract dies to War Elephant
Italian Knight kills War Elephant, promotes
Legionary kills wounded War Elephant
Enslaver captures Nubian Horseman
Enslaver captures wounded Chinese Archer

Near Seattle:
Enslaver captures US Native Archer

Near Pompeii:
Praetorian kills US Native Spearman

IBT: 4 Japanese Chariots show up near Ravenna
Arabs want to talk
War Elephant retreats from the Spears at Cumae

Rome: Royal Tournament > Italian Knight
School of Divinity gives us our first Holy Man
Cumae: Academy > Admin Center
Pompeii: Slavery > Academy
Ravenna: Christian Community > Forge

825 AD:

Defensio Cumae:
Roman Archer duels with Maghreb Eastern Archer and wins!
Enslaver kills a second Eastern Archer
War Elephant tramples Eastern Archer
Legionary kills Eastern Archer
War Elephant kills Punic War Elephant
The walls are clear...for now.

IBT: Enemy Chariots bypass Ravenna
More Maghreb barbarians threaten Cumae

Rome: Italian Knights (Medieval Infantry produced, too)
Antium: Theater > Italian Knight
Palace expansion

850 AD, T135:

Hey @LKendter, remember how you were saying that we haven't taken a single AI city yet? This is for you

Seattle is size 2, and I conveniently have an attack stack there!
Roman Archer dies attacking a Native Spearman
Roman Archer dies
Roman Archer kills Native Spearman
elite Roman Archer kills Native Spearman
elite Legionary narrowly kills Native Archer

Near Ravenna:
Roman Archer kills Asiatic Chariot
Roman Archer kills Asiatic Chariot, promotes
Roman Archer kills Asiatic Chariot
Italian Knight jousts with Asiatic Chariot, wins, and promotes

Cumae:
Missionary kills Eastern Archer, promotes
Italian Knight narrowly kills Punic War Elephant


Handoff notes:

The Worker stack near Pisae is roading his way back to Cumae. More roads on the outskirts there will help with defense.
I have a lot of Workers at Veii. Some of them could start roading to Seattle and then to the Coffee.
The Seattle stack will need reinforcements, but don't neglect Cumae/Pisae/Ravenna. The Maghreb showed up with a pretty hefty force late in my turnset, and Japan's 4 Chariots kept the forces by Ravenna pretty busy. Maybe 1/3 or 1/4 of our new units should head for Pisae?
We'll get another Settler pretty soon, too, so we'll need some forces to secure the area near the Wines.

 

[LKendter]

Mega ouch on the loss of the enslaver. Sounds like a desperation move with no good attackers nearby.

I can't believe the Great Library expired that fast.

Thank you America for building Seattle. It is in a decent spot. We can push the settlers toward China.

 

[LKendter]

ROSTER:
LKendter (up)
Greebley (on deck)
Jersey Joe
Elephantium

 

[Jersey Joe]

Until we learn The Renaissance, we will continue to receive "free" Legionary and Praetorian troops.
I looked at who was building Wonders and I think we might have a shot at building the Circus Maximus.
It is being built in cities which are not the AIs' Capitals so it will probably take awhile. It is like when we get the annoying suggestion to build an Airport in a size 2 city, except the AI accepts it.

 

[Greebley]

I am back and can join the normal rotation again.

 

[LKendter]

Late set teaser:

 

[Jersey Joe]

This is really not our typical Always War game

 

[LKendter]

850 AD (0)
(IT) Our GA ends.


875 AD (1)
I begin to build roads toward the wine spot.
I send workers to connect Seattle to our road network.
An elite enslaver attacks an American archer. I gain my first worker of the set. (1-0)
(IT) Seattle declares that resistance is futile.
An American chariot attacks Seattle and retreats.


900 AD (2)
An elite archer attacks the Chariot. (2-0)
First Roman Archer arrives. Seattle gets a rushed Colosseum.


925 AD (3)
Our knight attacks a Maghreb elephant. (3-0)
(IT) An Incan chariot attack Sheepish Iron Pig, and retreats.

 

[LKendter]

950 AD (4)
An elite enslaver attacks an Incan archer. (4-0)
Mega Enslaver arrives. Seattle gets a rushed religious center.
An elite enslaver attacks an Incan archer. They simply kill the unit. (5-0)
An elite archer attacks a Chinese spear. (5-1)
Another elite archer attacks that unit. (6-1)
A knight attacks a Maghreb elephant. (7-1)
(IT) Mongolia completes their UW.


975 AD (5)
Elite archer attacks an American archer. (8-1)
Elite archer attacks an American brave. (9-1)
Roman Archer Leaderfest arrives. New York gets a rushed marketplace.
Elite warrior attacks Chinese archer that landed near Rome. (10-1)
Roman Warrior in Leader Shock arrives.

 

[LKendter]

1000 AD (6)
Pisae gets a rushed colosseum. This is from last turns leader. I wanted a rush in a low shield city.
Hispalis is founded to claim wines.
Elephant finds a Maghreb elephant. (11-1)
Knight attacks Maghreb elephant. (11-2)
That is bad, as I wanted to clear that stray unit behind our lines.
Elite* warrior attacks Chinese archer that landed near Rome.
(IT) American chariot dies attacking a praetorian. (12-2)
The injured Maghreb elephant kills our knight. (12-3)


1025 AD (7)
Praetorian attacks injured Maghreb elephant. I promote it. (12-4)
Elite missionary attacks injured Maghreb elephant. (13-4)
Legionary attacks Incan archer. It promote to elite. (14-4)
Praetorian attacks Chinese archer. (15-4)
Legionary attacks Chinese sword. (16-4)

I just found a block of roads. There aren't any visible borders yet, but I hope I have found China.

Elite enslaver attacks Incan chariot. They simply kill it. (17-4)

 

[LKendter]

1050 AD (8)
The assault on New York begins.
Elephant attacks 2 spears. (19-4)
I gain $0 and 4 workers.

Elite* enslaver attacks enslaver. I simply kill it. (20-4)
Elite legionary attacks American brave. (21-4)
Knight of the Realm attacks American archer. (22-4)
Elite enslaver attacks American archer. It simply kills it. (23-4)
Elite elephant attacks Chinese spear. (24-4)

I've found borders that I think are Chinese.

 

[LKendter]

1075 AD (9)
Elite* enslaver attacks American archer. They simply kill it. (25-4)
(IT) I kill a Chinese sword. (26-4)
I lost a knight to an Incan unit. (26-5)
Two Incan units attack and retreat.
I lost a knight to a Maghreb unit. (26-6)
I kill a Maghreb knight. (27-6)
The exploration was expensive losing 2 knights, but we know have an idea where China is. In addition, we have locations for the next cities.


1100 AD (10)
Elephant attacks 2 Incan elephants. (29-6)
Knight attacks an Incan catapult. (30-6)

 

[LKendter]

1125 AD (11)
The assault on Washington begins.
Praetorian attacks spear. (30-7)
Knight attacks spear. (31-7)
MDI attacks spear. (31-8)
Knight attacks spear. (32-8)
Praetorian attacks spear. (32-9)
Injured elephant attacks spear. (33-9)
I gain $0 and 1 worker.

Knight attacks Incan chariot. It promotes to elite. (34-9)
Our first catapult attacks Incan spear. (35-9)
(IT) With the capture of Washington, our silly people want to build School of Navigators. I have zero interest in a small wonder to produce naval units. The last thing we need is more contacts.
Maghreb and Japan are building Hanseatic League.
The Aztecs complete Circus Maximus. I just finished alchemy in time. I switch from the Circus Maximus pre-build to Philosopher's Stone.
Turkey completes Dome of the Rock.

 

[LKendter]

1150 AD (12)
Our knight stumbles on to an enslaver. (36-9)
Knight of the Realm attacks American catapult. (37-9)
Viroconium is founded. It comes with lots of forest for production. We may need to chop some, as it is that forest choked.
(IT) Philosopher's Stone is completed. I pick gunpowder (saltpeter in borders?) and theology (longest research time).
I hate to kill our free unit buildings, but windmills and bridge building are too important. In addition, I have 2 techs I want to avoid. The choices are pretty limited.
Japan completes their UW.


1175 AD (13)
Enslaver attacks Incan archer. (38-9)

 

[LKendter]

This is the American front. I've put some serious hurt on them.
New York with the 2 coffee on hill tiles is a nice production city. In addition, it can eventually build supply convoys for coffee and gold.
Washington is just okay, with mostly plains. It will be challenged to get the hills and mountains used until railroads.

 

[LKendter]

These are the two new cities. Wines come online in 14 turns.
Viroconium gains grassland with peat and deer on forest after the border expansion.