LK170, China, CCM, True Communists

[Jersey Joe]

I forgot to mention, we got a settler my last turn (1050 AD). Here is 1 spot I suggested many turns ago:

I’m not sure how many Russian cities are left to get. Your teaser gave the impression just some strays that are difficult to reach.

There are 4 towns right now and the new Russian capital may have gotten a Settler this turn. Here are 2 screenshots showing the 4 towns.:
The 3 Russian towns have Red borders

The Russian Town is in upper left.

 

[Jersey Joe]

France is paying us 80+ gpt for the next 11 turns. Will we take a reputation hit if we cancel their debt to us right now? Then declare war on France? I do not know if the Maghreb have a MPP with France.

Elephantium, please get that next block of wonders.

I think getting the second wonder will be the bigger challenge. Beijing can build either wonder in 3 turns and that should be quick enough to beat the Maghreb. Germany is more iffy because Berlin may be able to build a wonder in 3 turns (if it is still in its golden age). Earth Horse Ranch needs 4 turns to build a Wonder so with out the prebuild it might lose out. The ideal situation would be we ar ethe ones to learn the tech, second would be for the Maghreb to build the tech while still at war with Germany. In any event I figure we should keep about 35000 gold availible to make sure we can buy the tech if they learn it before we do.

 

[Elephantium]

I've got it, but I won't have much time to play until next year. I'll want to do some planning for Wonder builds, too.

I'll be looking to start the next war ASAP unless we want to give Germany most of the set to get their forces to meet the Maghreb.

 

[Jersey Joe]

Important: I just noticed that I left Novosibirsk defended by a Balloon You can get 1 or 2 WWI Infantry from Moscow.
Also, before you declare war on Germany, plant a Spy in Germany, at worst we get caught and they declare war. Germany is a Democracy so If they declare war it hurts their war weariness. Also, the spy gives us a chance to steal tech from Germany if they learn Scientific Method before the Maghreb.

I 'll be looking to start the next war ASAP unless we want to give Germany most of the set to get their forces to meet the Maghreb.

The problem with waiting for the German and Maghreb forces to meet, is that they are already skirmishing in out territory (former Russian). The Germans have a many small groups of Infantry (Musket to WWI) in our territory. We have 50+ Cavalry and 5 Artillery bivouacked around Moscow. Most of our spare Infantry is standing on our railways to keep them open to our use and prevent the AI from being on the tracks. We have more spare troops in our towns near Moscow, some are there to stop the resistance, others are in those towns because I wanted to make the unattractive targets, or was to lazy to move them to bivouac area.

With the right roads/rails you could launch an attack from west of Namp'o and capture both Hyangsaw and Cheju on the same turn. The necessary roading crews can be found around the towns just north east of Namp'o. There is a Steamroller north of Cheju which you could capture with an Enslaver.

 

[Civinator]

Important: I just noticed that I left Novosibirsk defended by a Balloon

CFC seems to recommend a defense by three balloons.
Happy New Year to all readers and writers in the succession games!

 

[LKendter]

Personally, I'm in no rush for war with Germany. I'd be happy to give them time to get there forces less embedded throughout our territory.
I'm guessing they were still mess at the end of Joe's turn.

 

[Jersey Joe]

Happy New Year to all readers and writers in the succession games!

Ditto that. Frohes neues Jahr, Civinator.

 

[Elephantium]

Pre-turn notes:

I move an infantry to defend Novosibirsk.
There's an uncovered Enslaver near Moscow, too. He gets a Cav covering him.
Persepolis, site of the Capitol, is struggling to grow. I MM it, Gordium, and Sidon to compensate.

Plan:
Plant spy in Germany
Settle Red Circle near Beijing
Declare war about halfway through the set?
Keep developing our cities. I'm going to rush and short-rush more Steamrollers in places where more growth isn't helping much (most of Mongolia is in this category).

Looking around...we could attack Italy or Germany right now.
Attacking Italy gets us to two of the Russian remnant cities, but it makes an *awful* border with Germany.

The best civs to attack in terms of having compact borders would be South America (4), France (11), Maghreb (10), or Germany (0).

I'm going to look again on T4 when the gpt deal with South America runs out.

Arms Race and X-Ray Machine cost 600, 3T in Beijing or 4T in Earth Horse Ranch. Battlefield Medicine is a good prebuild in either location.

Looking at the cities, I'm thinking:
T3, Earth Horse Ranch starts Battlefield Medicine, prebuild for Arms Race
T5, Beijing starts Commercial Dock, prebuild for X-Ray Machine

Pausing for any comments.

 

[LKendter]

Don't forget that Germany and Maghreb have most of the games cash. I love collecting AI cash at this point in the came.

As for war timing with Germany, the question is are there troops mostly out of our territory. Even turn of the Maghreb / Germany war should be thinning out there troops.

 

[Jersey Joe]

T3, Earth Horse Ranch starts Battlefield Medicine, prebuild for Arms Race
T5, Beijing starts Commercial Dock, prebuild for X-Ray Machine

This would be ideal and we should get both wonders if we get Scientific Method T5 or later. However, if we get Scientific Method on T4, I would go with Arms Race in Beijing and X-Ray Machine in Earth Horse Ranch to gives us our best chance of getting Arms Race ( there is a chance that some AI city could build a wonder in 3 turns).

Plant spy in Germany

Planting a spy might cause Germany to declare war, so I would try to plant it on the turn I want to declare war.

 

[Jersey Joe]

As for war timing with Germany, the question is are there troops mostly out of our territory.

I doubt they will be out of our territory any time soon. Germany and Maghreb are fighting in our territory. Germany just started to have WWI Infantry entered our territory.

 

[Elephantium]

This would be ideal and we should get both wonders if we get Scientific Method T5 or later. However, if we get Scientific Method on T4, I would go with Arms Race in Beijing and X-Ray Machine in Earth Horse Ranch to gives us our best chance of getting Arms Race ( there is a chance that some AI city could build a wonder in 3 turns).

Planting a spy might cause Germany to declare war, so I would try to plant it on the turn I want to declare war.

Oh, this is all predicated on learning SM on T7. Do you think I should start prebuilds right away in case an AI learns it?

 

[Jersey Joe]

Oh, this is all predicated on learning SM on T7. Do you think I should start prebuilds right away in case an AI learns it?

I would stick with your plan.

I do not know when the Ai will learn Scientific Method or if they are even studying it. They could be studying Motorization or Marine Engineering in which case your original should work perfectly.
I am just trying to anticipate scenarios where the Ai learns Scientific Method before us.

One thing I just thought of, when we learn Arms Race and take Electricity as a tech Steam Engines go obsolete. This does not affect Beijing since it will learn its tech first but if Beijing learns Arms Race it will affect Earth Horse Ranch (ERH). Losing a Steam Engine will cost ERH 10 shields per turn. Therefore, when you begin the prebuild with ERH hire a Cop and Engineer to replace the 2 Scientists this will give you the extra shields you need to still complete the build in 4 turns.

I hope the Maghreb / Germany war continues at least another 7 turns. I think we can beat the Maghreb to both wonders, it is Berlin that might have a chance to beat us out of 1 wonder.

 

[Elephantium]

Midset teaser:

Confucius say: Scientific GA? Or rush Theory of Relativity next turn?

 

[Jersey Joe]

Good job getting Scientific Method in a timely manner.

I vote for a Scientific Golden Age. That should allow us to get Radio, and Tanks.

That would leave us with just having to capture enough cities to Dominate.

 

[LKendter]

Don't forget the telegraph wonder for corruption reduction in all cities. Telegraph (something) for the name. IIRC radio opens it up.

Tanks will be the last big tech to get. Then we need to kill the tech leaders of Germany and Maghreb to slow the pace down.

Once we have the wonders, sell Scientific Method for cash please. Keep those city rushes going.

 

[Elephantium]

Pre-turn:

Defend Novosibirsk

Plan:
Plant spy in Germany
Settle Red Circle near Beijing

Looking around...we could attack Italy or Germany right now.
Attacking Italy gets us to two of the Russian remnant cities, but
it makes an *awful* border with Germany.

The best civs to attack in terms of having compact borders would be South America (4), France (11), Maghreb (10), or Germany (0).

I'm going to look again on T4.

Arms Race and X-Ray Machine cost 600, 3T in Beijing or 4T in Earth Horse Ranch. Battlefield Medicine is a good prebuild in either location.

Looking at the cities, I'm thinking:
T3, Earth Horse Ranch starts Battlefield Medicine, prebuild for Arms Race
T5, Beijing starts Commercial Dock, prebuild for X-Ray Machine

Persepolis, site of the Capitol, is struggling to grow. I MM it, Gordium, and Sidon to compensate.

IBT:

Japan wants MPP + ROP. Nah.
We watch a few German-Maghreb skirmishes. Not a lot of action, considering.
Poland wants MPP + ROP. I tell 'em to talk to Japan!
Nubia joins in the quest for MPP + ROP. No, and don't ask again.
Aztecs complain. Wait, we have troops in their territory? Oops.
Germany completes National Monument
...They also get caught sabotaging production in Persepolis

T1, 1060 AD:

Commerce Raiders capture a German S 90 Class and a Ship of the Line.

Enslaver kills a stray German Crossbow
Lawyer kills Landsknecht
Enslaver captures Crossbow
Enslaver captures Crossbow
Partisan recruits Landsknecht
Enslaver captures Crossbow
Enslaver captures Crossbow

Partisan dies to Bedouin Raider

IBT:

German ship of the line sinks vs. our Commerce Raider.
Maghreb complain about our explorer. Sorry, mate.

Egypt wants us to PAY for MPP+ROP!

HANGING GARDENS PRODUCES A SETTLER!!!

T2, 1070 AD:

I build Anyang on the coast and send the second Settler to Jersey Joe's red circle site. Anyang won't need any Worker turns for a while which is a plus.

Strange, South America has a Worker working near Almalik. Shrug, I won't sneer at the free improvement.

IBT:

Germany steps on another of our rails, sigh
Britain and Maghreb sign MPP
Britain complains about our Adventurer exploring. We apologize.
Brazil declares war on Canada

T3, 1080 AD:

Cav kills Russian Musketeer near Orenburg

I build Shantung on JJ's red circle.

I sink one German Ships of the line and capture another.
Lawyer kills redlined Arabian Line Infantry
Enslaver kills German Artillery WW1

IBT:

South Africa declares war on Arabia
South America wants us to pay 44 gpt for MPP+ROP. Get lost.
We lost furs

T4, 1090 AD:

Germany now has Marine Engineering.
I buy Furs from Turkey for Spices, Dyes, Gold, and Camels.

IBT:

Israel wants MPP + ROP. They get the same answer as everybody else.
Austria-Hungary jumps on the bandwagon, wanting us to pay 31gpt for MPP+ROP. Tell us another one, buddy!

Our military plans have been stolen.

T5, 1100 AD:

Commerce Raider captures a German S 90 class near Trantor.
Commerce Raider captures a Pirate Ship

Enslaver captures redlined Bedouin Raider

IBT:

Spain wants MPP + ROP. No...no...

British Lawyer tries to talk our Adventurer into a new career. His arguments fall on deaf ears.

Scientific Method comes in.

WE GET A SCIENTIFIC GREAT LEADER!!!!

I switch Beijing to X-Ray Machine and Earth Horse Ranch to Arms Race. Looks like Electricity would take 14 turns to research with our current economy.

Rostov riots. Odd, I had prevented a riot pre-IBT. Oh, Hanging Gardens gave happy faces, and that's obsolete.

We learn Electricity and Atomic Theory. Next up, Motorization.

Krasnoyarsk deposed us.

The Maghreb also just learned Scientific Method (or maybe they stole it from us?). They've started work on X-Ray Machine.

T6, 1110 AD:

At Novgorod, we lose a Lawyer to an opposing Lawyer. A second one wins the case.

Retaking Krasnoyarsk:
Asian Cavalry dies in slow motion to Russian Rifleman
Asian Cavalry kills Russian Rifleman
Asian Cavalry dies
Asian Cavalry runs down the last Russian Rifleman and retakes the city. 53 gold.

SGL sparks a scientific GA. Unfortunately, Motorization is still going to take 10 turns to research.

IBT:

Germany complains about our troops. TBH I'm not sure why. Maybe a culture expansion? We promise to move our troops.
Arabia, like many rivals, wants MPP + ROP. Not a chance.

Indo-China and France sign peace.

X-Ray Machine comes in. Beijing will build Theory of Relativity in 3 more turns.

T7, 1120 AD:

Lawyer converts German Pikeman who's blocking one of our rails.
Enslaver kills Dutch Crossbow

Trading:
USA gives us 147gpt and 120 gold for Industrialization
Scandinavia gives us 50gpt and 350 gold for Exploration
Turkey gives us 151gpt and 180 gold for Napoleonic Age
Lowlands gives us 121gpt and 80 gold for Exploration
Greece gives us 182gpt and 790 gold for Explosives
Indo-China gives us 175gpt and 180 gold for Napoleonic Age
Maghreb gives us 31610 gold for Electricity
Austria-Hungary gives us 14391 gold for Electricity
Germany gives us 13255 gold for Electricity

We fail a Safe steal attempt on Germany, but we don't get caught.

IBT:

Germany is caught sabotaging production in Beijing. Theory of Relativity is delayed 1 turn.

T8, 1130 AD:

OK, it's time. I dial up Germany and issue the boot order. They choose destruction.

Poland gives us 12gpt for Coffee.

4 Heavy Arty take out two German Inf WW1 with one retreat
Lawyer takes out Arty
Horse arty kills Prussian Rifleman

Clearing the Delhi-Bombay area
We lose 17 Asian Cavs (14 retreats) taking out 28 German Infantry WW1s and 2 Prussian Riflemen

Defending Novgorod:
3 Asian Cavs retreat but kill 7 German Infantry. A Chinese Infantry kills off the last unit.

Camel Corps kills wounded Prussian Rifleman near Kazan'
Camel Corps kills Prussian Musket Infantry
Enslaver captures Crossbow
Camel Corps kill two Prussian Line Infantry and another Prussian Musket Infantry

We lose another Asian Cav killing a stray Prussian Rifleman
Horse Arties wins duel with German Heavy Arty and Prussian Horse Arty

Hyangsan:
Enslaver captures Steamroller
Camel Corps kills Prussian Line Infantry
Egypt declares war on us due to MPP, costing us 59gpt for 3 turns.
Camel Corps kills Landsknecht. That's it? 4687 gold.

Battle of Cheju:
Two Camel Corps retreat
Camel Corps kills Landsknecht
Asian Cavalry kills wounded Landsknecht
Asian Cavalry kills wounded Landsknecht. 7282 gold.

Enslaver captures 4 Workers

Asian Cavalry kills Prussian Dragoon
I build the tactical town of Trials, leading to

Battle of Nuremburg:
Asian Cavalry dies, promotes the Prussian Line Infantry
Asian Cavalry kills the newly promoted Prussian Line Infantry
Asian Cavalry kills Landsknecht
Asian Cavalry kills Landsknecht. 7422 gold.

IBT:

Indo-China wants us to pay 59gpt for MPP + ROP. Look, I know you're feeling poor in the Napoleonic Age, but that's just absurd!

Lowlands and Germany sign MPP. I guess we're going to have another foe soon. We just signed a 121gpt deal with them, too

Now the US wants us to pay 20gpt for MPP+ROP. Guys, c'mon, get the memo!

German Ship of the Line sinks our ship -- not sure whether it was a Heavy Frigate or Ship of the Line. It reveals...Elvis?

I FORGOT IT WAS ELVIS DAY!

Yep, right on schedule, the Dutch declare war on us.

Production in Beijing is sabotaged again.

T9, 1140 AD:

Battle of Frankfurt:
Asian Cavalry tramples Prussian Rifleman
Asian Cavalry narrowly kills Landsknecht
Cav retreats
Cav kills Landsknecht. 6996 gold.

Commerce Raider bombards German Ship of the Line. It surrenders.

At Nuremburg, Cav kills German Infantry WW1

Battle of Cologne:
Cav retreats
Camel Corps kills Prussian Rifleman with ... a fried banana sandwich!
Camel Corps retreats
Camel Corps retreats
Camel Corps kills Prussian Rifleman
Asian Cav kills Prussian Rifleman. 7155 gold, and we capture a Zeppelin!

Enslaver kills arty

Battle of Leipzig:
Cav kills German Inf
Cav kills German Inf
Enslaver captures German Arty WW1. 7334 and we now have Brandenburg Gate!

Battle of Munich:
Cav dies
Cav kills Prussian Rifleman
Cav retreats
Cav dies
Cav kills Prussian Rifleman
Cav gets chased off by an Adventurer (retreats)
Cav rides down the Adventurer
Cav kills Prussian Rifleman
Cav retreats
Cav dies
Cav dies
Cav kills (now 1/5) Prussian Rifleman. 7538 gold.

Battle of Berlin:
Top defender is an Apprentice? OK...
There's a defensive bombardment, then Cav retreats
Cav kills Apprentice
Cav kills German HMG
Cav dies
Cav dies
Cav dies
Moltke is showing
Cav kills German HMG and Moltke both. 7773 gold.

That was too easy for the capital, but hey, I'll take it.

IBT:

Not much action. Germany bombs us a few times with Zeppelins, but there are no attacks.

T10, 1150 AD:

Heavy Arty kills German Infantry

Battle of Hamburg:
Three cavs retreat
The fourth dies
#5 stays alive! The first Prussian Rifleman falls.
Another retreat
Cav kills Rifleman and promotes
Cav kills Prussian Rifleman
Cav retreats
Camel Corps kills Rifleman

The city holds
I thought 10 attackers would be overkill after the quick battles on T9


Handoff notes:
I did a lot of city development. All of our cities are rail-connected now, and we're starting to see some of the marginal cities get up to speed.

The German war has gone really well, we just need to keep pushing. Beware of undercommitting forces like I did at Hamburg

I didn't rush much in this last turn, so please take a look at what you'd like to rush. We are short on combat settlers, so it's definitely worth building a few more.

Once Germany falls (I give it 3-4 turns), we'll be in a good position to immediately attack another foe. Maybe Maghreb? They have lots of cash.

The Dutch haven't shown up yet, but I'm not worried. We have a huge military, so we'll crush them easily.

 

[LKendter]

I really like seeing that we have enough workers / steamrollers to improve our cities. We will really start crushing the map when those former Mongolia cities are in all troops mode.

I love how much cash we have. Time to keep rushing needed stuff.

If Maghreb still has loads of cash, then I want to hit them next.


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

 

[Jersey Joe]

Good to see the lazy Enslavers and Lawyers doing some work
Nice round of trading after you got X-Ray Machine.
The Dutch most likely payed us more in the few turns before they declared war than we will get from capturing their towns.

Don't forget we still have a few Russian towns to capture.

Japan wants MPP + ROP. Nah.
We watch a few German-Maghreb skirmishes. Not a lot of action, considering.
Poland wants MPP + ROP. I tell 'em to talk to Japan!

Did Poland talk talk to Japan?

 

[Greebley]

Nice progress. I got it. - NM see below