Elephantium
Trampling the AI
I'll need a swap.
LK175, South Africa, AWE
- Thread starter LKendter
- Start date
Ok, I got it.
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2001
- Messages
- 20,249
One thing I forgot to mention in my report. I'm intentionally keeping the majority of our troops just outside the Turkish cities. A flip will be bad enough. Losing a good chunk of troops in a flip would be fatal. There is a reason most of the troops in the city are junk swords.
Last edited:
Elephantium
Trampling the AI
Any progress?
Sorry guys - playing now...
Early Teaser:
Edit: Guess we get the alternate Desert fort as well. We don't have the 20 towns for another Army.
This is barracks on the front line so I am hoping we don't get a flip.
Edit: Guess we get the alternate Desert fort as well. We don't have the 20 towns for another Army.
This is barracks on the front line so I am hoping we don't get a flip.
Last edited:
Preturn: Looks fine
IBT: Elephant Pillaged so no attacks.
1580 AD: Start out poorly with 2 losses vs an Elephant (for 2nd we lost an Elite Enslaver vs 1 hp unit). Gain 2 leaders and 2 Workers with one more loss.
IBT: Lost 3 units on defense. Berber Elephants are especially an issue.
1590 AD: Find Izmit (at white arrow). We capture with two losses. Army finds size 18 Istanbul.
We are at 16 cities with Izmit and are building 1 so need to capture 3 more for another Army.
IBT: Our last unit captured Izmit so a fast unit is able to capture it back for Indochina.
Some sword losses.
1600 AD: Captured Izmit again. Move units for a later assault on Istanbul. They are under the Army. Not sure if we have enough but can't afford to add more.
IBT: Some losses. Missed a landing but the forces are almost dead.
1610 AD: Settle Luderitz near gold.
Attack on Istanbull goes well and we capture the city losing 2 or 3. There is ocean or large lake North of Istanbul so we might have 2 fronts.
Marauders seems very cheap. We are running zero science with 18 scientists due in 3 turns.
IBT: Two Random Indochina Elephants attack and we win one. Otherwise it is oddly quiet.
1620 AD: Decide to proceed on the eastern front as more land is west of us than east. There are units that may be able to attack a town next turn under the Army.
Likely Berber and Indochina are in that direction but they might be the only ones.
Notes:
Stopping after 5 so I don't keep the game any longer.
We have 18 towns so need two more.
We are getting enough gold that it might be worth rushing important things. We can't spend it on tech yet - they are all too cheap, but eventually we will.
I would continue to proceed East though I suggest take out Turkish cities - there are at least 2 on the west front. If we can keep Endrine from flipping we get to keep the Barracks from the desert fort so killing Turkey is worthwhile.
Towns are running a mix of scientists and taxmen. 6 scientists in Endrine get me to 2 turns left on our tech - the rest of the starving towns run taxmen and science is 0% (30 Lux for now). There are also 6 other scientists in our main towns for 12 total.
East:
West:
I am building a new road northward that avoids some water. Still requires 6 squares (around 3 turns).
IBT: Elephant Pillaged so no attacks.
1580 AD: Start out poorly with 2 losses vs an Elephant (for 2nd we lost an Elite Enslaver vs 1 hp unit). Gain 2 leaders and 2 Workers with one more loss.
IBT: Lost 3 units on defense. Berber Elephants are especially an issue.
1590 AD: Find Izmit (at white arrow). We capture with two losses. Army finds size 18 Istanbul.
We are at 16 cities with Izmit and are building 1 so need to capture 3 more for another Army.
IBT: Our last unit captured Izmit so a fast unit is able to capture it back for Indochina.
Some sword losses.
1600 AD: Captured Izmit again. Move units for a later assault on Istanbul. They are under the Army. Not sure if we have enough but can't afford to add more.
IBT: Some losses. Missed a landing but the forces are almost dead.
1610 AD: Settle Luderitz near gold.
Attack on Istanbull goes well and we capture the city losing 2 or 3. There is ocean or large lake North of Istanbul so we might have 2 fronts.
Marauders seems very cheap. We are running zero science with 18 scientists due in 3 turns.
IBT: Two Random Indochina Elephants attack and we win one. Otherwise it is oddly quiet.
1620 AD: Decide to proceed on the eastern front as more land is west of us than east. There are units that may be able to attack a town next turn under the Army.
Likely Berber and Indochina are in that direction but they might be the only ones.
Notes:
Stopping after 5 so I don't keep the game any longer.
We have 18 towns so need two more.
We are getting enough gold that it might be worth rushing important things. We can't spend it on tech yet - they are all too cheap, but eventually we will.
I would continue to proceed East though I suggest take out Turkish cities - there are at least 2 on the west front. If we can keep Endrine from flipping we get to keep the Barracks from the desert fort so killing Turkey is worthwhile.
Towns are running a mix of scientists and taxmen. 6 scientists in Endrine get me to 2 turns left on our tech - the rest of the starving towns run taxmen and science is 0% (30 Lux for now). There are also 6 other scientists in our main towns for 12 total.
East:
West:
I am building a new road northward that avoids some water. Still requires 6 squares (around 3 turns).
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2001
- Messages
- 20,249
I want to start prepping for the next clan. I want to keep the backfill going in the above picture. The purple dot does have a bit of overload with yellow that was built. However, it claims a lot more bonus grasslands. After that, we can work toward the whale city. From there we have the big block around Siri Sand to plan out. With a lot of forest, there are more high production cities to be built.
Glad to see another cheap tech due to starving Turks. We need to catch up, and the more 4 turn techs the better.
Two more Turkish cities is great progress. You didn't mention how much cash, but I notice and approximate $3000 gain between teaser and final turn picture. Those borders now need to expand to give us more playroom. I wouldn't advance again until we have better borders around those cities.
We now have 18 cities, and Carthage is closest with 12. We are starting to get the large core we need.
Turkey is down to 5 cities has $12086 to pillage.
After the road to shortly the river, I would like that road to connect to Leipzig. That will get those northern city units to the front faster.
Could we have a narrow front above Turkey? If so, we have an easy plan to control that choke point. Follow up with finding Carthage to end that issue. Wrap up with killing the backwards Indochina. Depending on the land in that area we may meet more civs.
Keep starving those Turkish cities. They are paying for a good chunk of our science. In addition, we really need to reduce the flip risk.
Chivalry is a while away. However, we want to plan to build Royal Tournament. The AI civs never seem to build this wonder. Free Knights of the Realm and counts as barracks is very useful.
ROSTER:
LKendter
Elephantium (up)
Greebley (swapped)
Jersey Joe (on deck)
The location with a deer and a lot of forest is also a good spot for a settler.
There is the possibility that an AI city will pop up in that back land - I might have gotten a glimpse of a settler drop off. If so, I suggest letting city get to size 2 or expansion and capture.
Edit: Last city gave about 1.6k gold
There is the possibility that an AI city will pop up in that back land - I might have gotten a glimpse of a settler drop off. If so, I suggest letting city get to size 2 or expansion and capture.
Edit: Last city gave about 1.6k gold
Based on the dot map in the above post #151, I like the Red and Turquoise dots. Turquoise loses 2 bonus grass lands and a sea tile but gains 3 hills. Also, yellow needs to work all the sea tiles in its fat cross if it is going to work all the hills and mountains.
There are a few spots between Turkey and Leipzig that would make productive city sites.
Also, many of our large core cities are working unroaded titles costing us commerce and research. Plus some cities could use a mine or 2 to reduce their build times.
There are a few spots between Turkey and Leipzig that would make productive city sites.
Also, many of our large core cities are working unroaded titles costing us commerce and research. Plus some cities could use a mine or 2 to reduce their build times.
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2001
- Messages
- 20,249
We can shift to Turquoise, the other coastal spot
Elephantium
Trampling the AI
I've got it.
Elephantium
Trampling the AI
Pre-turn: MM a bit. Not a ton to change.
IBT:
War elephant retreats from Izmit
Enemy ship sinks vs. privateer near Konya
Tons of bombardments...
1630 AD:
Army kills Berber Numidian Merc...revealing the Turkish city of Hanoi? I call shenanigans!
Battle of Hanoi:
3 Cataphracts retreat
rCataphract narrowly kills Ottoman Pikeman
rCataphract dies
Army kills Ottoman Pikeman
Army kills a second Ottoman Pikeman, promoting one of its internal Cataphracts in the process!
eCataphract kills wounded Ottoman Pikeman. City is ours! 1929 gold.
IBT:
Marauding Tactics > Dark Ages
1640 AD:
Enslaver captures Turkish Crossbowman by Edrine
Siege-Bow kills Indian Medieval Infantry near Istanbul
Adjust sliders. Dark Ages due in 4 @ 40%, -52gpt.
I rush a couple of buildings and prep to build an Early Barracks in Iznik - no flip % there.
IBT:
War Elephant crushes one of our Cataphracts near Iznit
1650 AD:
Cataphract kills Punic WarElephant near Hanoi, promotes
Cataphract kills Indian Medieval Infantry
African Swordsman kills Camel Rider, promotes
Sci slider to 30%, Dark Ages still due in 3
IBT:
Enemy priest kills our wounded Cataphract near Hanoi
1660 AD:
Cataphract kills enemy catapult
IBT:
War Elephant dies to our Cataphract, promotes E of Iznik
At Hanoi -
Crossbowman dies against our Swordsman
Priest of some sort kills our Numidian Merc
1670 AD:
Cataphract kills Berber Numidian
Cataphract kills Berber Treb
Battle of Vientiane:
3 Cataphracts retreat
Cataphract kills War Elephant
Cataphract dies
eCataphract dies
Cataphract retreats
African Swordsman kills Golden Spearman
African Swordsman kills Golden Spearman - city is ours!
Battle of Uskudar:
Cataphract retreats
Tuoreg kills Ottoman Pikeman
Cataphract kills Ottoman Pikeman
Chariot kills Asian Crossbowman. City is ours, 186 gold.
Cataphract kills Burmese Crossbowman
IBT:
War Elephant retreats
Chariot dies attacking us
War Elephant kills Numidian
Carthage wants to talk. When we say no, their Treb kills our Numidian.
Vientiane riots as the resistance ends.
1680 AD:
Enslaver dies
Enslaver kills Burmese Crossbowman
Chariot kills Burmese Crossbowman
Enslaver kills Burmese Crossbowman
Army kills Asian Crossbowman
Cataphract kills Burmese Crossbowman, promotes
African Swordsman kills Firelancer
Cataphract kills Treb
Enslaver kills redlined War Elephant, promotes
Cataphract dies vs. War Elephant. No damage, promotes him!
African Swordsman kills Berber Numidian
IBT:
War Elephant kills our Numidian in Vientiane
Hanoi riots due to the war. Sadly, they still have 3 resisters.
1690 AD:
Army kills 2 Burmese Crossbowman
Bursa:
eCataphract dies
Cataphract dies
eCataphract dies
City holds...
Chariot kills stray War Elephant
IBT:
War Elephant comes across the borders and *takes Izmit*! We lose 143 gold.
Istanbul riots due to the war.
1700 AD:
Battle of Phnom Penh:
Siege-Bow kills Golden Spearman
African Swordsman dies
African Swordsman dies
African Swordsman kills Golden Spearman
eCataphract dies to wounded War Elephant
eCataphract kills wounded War Elephant. We get 5 gold.
Battle of Izmit:
Cataphract narrowly kills Golden Spearman
NO ONE ELSE IS IN RANGE
Cataphract kills stray War Elephant, promotes
Battle of Bangkok:
Cataphract dies
Cataphract kills Golden Spearman, promotes
Cataphract retreats
Cataphract dies
Cataphract kills Camel
Cataphract dies
Cataphract kills War Elephant
Cataphract dies
Chariot kills Golden Spearman
Cataphract kills Golden Spearman
Missionary kills War Elephant. 9 gold.
IBT:
Priest of some sort kills our Swordsman near Phnom Penh
1710 AD:
3rd Battle of Izmit:
Tuoreg kills War Elephant
African Cataphract kills Golden Spearman. 6 gold.
African Cataphract kills stray Golden Spearman
Second Battle of Bursa:
African Swordsman dies
Army narrowly kills Ottoman Pikeman
African Swordsman dies
Tuoreg retreats
Cataphract dies
Cataphract kills Ottoman Pikeman
Cataphract kills Crossbowman
Cataphract kills redlined Ottoman Pikeman. 671 gold.
IBT:
Archer (crossbow?) kills our swordsman near Aydin (W of Bursa)
Holy man of some sort dies at Phnom Penh against our Cataphract
Feudalism > Chivalry
Bura riots.
Resistance in Izmit ends. Again.
Beijing completes Holy City.
1720 AD, T195:
Lots of troop movement but no action.
Handoff Notes:
I'm building several Castles. The Early Barracks came in really handy in a few places; I'm expecting Castles to help, too.
I built a road from Leipzig towards the great North Road. It'll connect that area to speed reinforcements to the front.
Right now, we have two, maybe three fronts.
Front 1: Turkey. Aydin. There's a 2-tile choke there. I think we can take Aydin next turn. We'll need to keep Numidians and Pikes flowing; there are a LOT of shore bombardments!
Front 2: Indochina. We've taken 3 of their cities from them (4 if you count retaking Izmit). Angkor is the next target to consolidate the front, but our forces will take a couple of turns to get into position.
Front 2b (or 3?) is the split around Angkor -- Phnom Penh is isolated to the north, Bangkok/Vientiane to the south. Both areas have been fairly quiet, but there has been the occasional enemy patrol.
Oh, the AI has been doing shore bombardments at Berlin and Walvis Bay, no biggie.
Research was delightful during my set, but brace yourselves: costs are going to skyrocket. Dark Ages and Feudalism cost 945 according to CivAssist; Chivalry will be 1695, and Age of Discovery techs will start at 2400. 4-turn research will soon be quite a struggle.
Here's the motherland:
IBT:
War elephant retreats from Izmit
Enemy ship sinks vs. privateer near Konya
Tons of bombardments...
1630 AD:
Army kills Berber Numidian Merc...revealing the Turkish city of Hanoi? I call shenanigans!
Battle of Hanoi:
3 Cataphracts retreat
rCataphract narrowly kills Ottoman Pikeman
rCataphract dies
Army kills Ottoman Pikeman
Army kills a second Ottoman Pikeman, promoting one of its internal Cataphracts in the process!
eCataphract kills wounded Ottoman Pikeman. City is ours! 1929 gold.
IBT:
Marauding Tactics > Dark Ages
1640 AD:
Enslaver captures Turkish Crossbowman by Edrine
Siege-Bow kills Indian Medieval Infantry near Istanbul
Adjust sliders. Dark Ages due in 4 @ 40%, -52gpt.
I rush a couple of buildings and prep to build an Early Barracks in Iznik - no flip % there.
IBT:
War Elephant crushes one of our Cataphracts near Iznit
1650 AD:
Cataphract kills Punic WarElephant near Hanoi, promotes
Cataphract kills Indian Medieval Infantry
African Swordsman kills Camel Rider, promotes
Sci slider to 30%, Dark Ages still due in 3
IBT:
Enemy priest kills our wounded Cataphract near Hanoi
1660 AD:
Cataphract kills enemy catapult
IBT:
War Elephant dies to our Cataphract, promotes E of Iznik
At Hanoi -
Crossbowman dies against our Swordsman
Priest of some sort kills our Numidian Merc
1670 AD:
Cataphract kills Berber Numidian
Cataphract kills Berber Treb
Battle of Vientiane:
3 Cataphracts retreat
Cataphract kills War Elephant
Cataphract dies
eCataphract dies
Cataphract retreats
African Swordsman kills Golden Spearman
African Swordsman kills Golden Spearman - city is ours!
Battle of Uskudar:
Cataphract retreats
Tuoreg kills Ottoman Pikeman
Cataphract kills Ottoman Pikeman
Chariot kills Asian Crossbowman. City is ours, 186 gold.
Cataphract kills Burmese Crossbowman
IBT:
War Elephant retreats
Chariot dies attacking us
War Elephant kills Numidian
Carthage wants to talk. When we say no, their Treb kills our Numidian.
Vientiane riots as the resistance ends.
1680 AD:
Enslaver dies
Enslaver kills Burmese Crossbowman
Chariot kills Burmese Crossbowman
Enslaver kills Burmese Crossbowman
Army kills Asian Crossbowman
Cataphract kills Burmese Crossbowman, promotes
African Swordsman kills Firelancer
Cataphract kills Treb
Enslaver kills redlined War Elephant, promotes
Cataphract dies vs. War Elephant. No damage, promotes him!
African Swordsman kills Berber Numidian
IBT:
War Elephant kills our Numidian in Vientiane
Hanoi riots due to the war. Sadly, they still have 3 resisters.
1690 AD:
Army kills 2 Burmese Crossbowman
Bursa:
eCataphract dies
Cataphract dies
eCataphract dies
City holds...
Chariot kills stray War Elephant
IBT:
War Elephant comes across the borders and *takes Izmit*! We lose 143 gold.
Istanbul riots due to the war.
1700 AD:
Battle of Phnom Penh:
Siege-Bow kills Golden Spearman
African Swordsman dies
African Swordsman dies
African Swordsman kills Golden Spearman
eCataphract dies to wounded War Elephant
eCataphract kills wounded War Elephant. We get 5 gold.
Battle of Izmit:
Cataphract narrowly kills Golden Spearman
NO ONE ELSE IS IN RANGE
Cataphract kills stray War Elephant, promotes
Battle of Bangkok:
Cataphract dies
Cataphract kills Golden Spearman, promotes
Cataphract retreats
Cataphract dies
Cataphract kills Camel
Cataphract dies
Cataphract kills War Elephant
Cataphract dies
Chariot kills Golden Spearman
Cataphract kills Golden Spearman
Missionary kills War Elephant. 9 gold.
IBT:
Priest of some sort kills our Swordsman near Phnom Penh
1710 AD:
3rd Battle of Izmit:
Tuoreg kills War Elephant
African Cataphract kills Golden Spearman. 6 gold.
African Cataphract kills stray Golden Spearman
Second Battle of Bursa:
African Swordsman dies
Army narrowly kills Ottoman Pikeman
African Swordsman dies
Tuoreg retreats
Cataphract dies
Cataphract kills Ottoman Pikeman
Cataphract kills Crossbowman
Cataphract kills redlined Ottoman Pikeman. 671 gold.
IBT:
Archer (crossbow?) kills our swordsman near Aydin (W of Bursa)
Holy man of some sort dies at Phnom Penh against our Cataphract
Feudalism > Chivalry
Bura riots.
Resistance in Izmit ends. Again.
Beijing completes Holy City.
1720 AD, T195:
Lots of troop movement but no action.
Handoff Notes:
I'm building several Castles. The Early Barracks came in really handy in a few places; I'm expecting Castles to help, too.
I built a road from Leipzig towards the great North Road. It'll connect that area to speed reinforcements to the front.
Right now, we have two, maybe three fronts.
Front 1: Turkey. Aydin. There's a 2-tile choke there. I think we can take Aydin next turn. We'll need to keep Numidians and Pikes flowing; there are a LOT of shore bombardments!
Front 2: Indochina. We've taken 3 of their cities from them (4 if you count retaking Izmit). Angkor is the next target to consolidate the front, but our forces will take a couple of turns to get into position.
Front 2b (or 3?) is the split around Angkor -- Phnom Penh is isolated to the north, Bangkok/Vientiane to the south. Both areas have been fairly quiet, but there has been the occasional enemy patrol.
Oh, the AI has been doing shore bombardments at Berlin and Walvis Bay, no biggie.
Research was delightful during my set, but brace yourselves: costs are going to skyrocket. Dark Ages and Feudalism cost 945 according to CivAssist; Chivalry will be 1695, and Age of Discovery techs will start at 2400. 4-turn research will soon be quite a struggle.
Here's the motherland:
- Joined
- Aug 15, 2001
- Messages
- 20,249
We have a choke point at Aydin. Please don't go past it. The game is getting messy with too many fronts to manage. This is the perfect spot to stop. The borders north of Aydin are a different color. I see no reason to go past it.
That greyish color by Phnom Penh could be Carthage. We've already contacted them, so no reason not to inch forward.
I don't like the motherland picture. The only grassland we can irrigate by Luderitz still needs to be done. I see NO work to prep for the next clan for turquoise dot. The next clan should arrive during Joe's turn.
Turkey still has two cities. We know where one of them is. We don't know where the other is. Until it is found, the following stays in place:
Keep starving those Turkish cities. They are paying for a good chunk of our science. In addition, we really need to reduce the flip risk.
One big mystery is the Aztecs. We made contact a while ago, but I've still not seen any troops. Could they be on an isolated island?
Chivalry is about to arrive. We want to decide where to build Royal Tournament. The AI civs never seem to build this wonder. Free Knights of the Realm and counts as barracks is very useful.
What is our best shield city without barracks?
ROSTER:
LKendter (on deck)
Elephantium
Greebley (swapped)
Jersey Joe (up)
That greyish color by Phnom Penh could be Carthage. We've already contacted them, so no reason not to inch forward.
I don't like the motherland picture. The only grassland we can irrigate by Luderitz still needs to be done. I see NO work to prep for the next clan for turquoise dot. The next clan should arrive during Joe's turn.
Turkey still has two cities. We know where one of them is. We don't know where the other is. Until it is found, the following stays in place:
Keep starving those Turkish cities. They are paying for a good chunk of our science. In addition, we really need to reduce the flip risk.
One big mystery is the Aztecs. We made contact a while ago, but I've still not seen any troops. Could they be on an isolated island?
Chivalry is about to arrive. We want to decide where to build Royal Tournament. The AI civs never seem to build this wonder. Free Knights of the Realm and counts as barracks is very useful.
What is our best shield city without barracks?
ROSTER:
LKendter (on deck)
Elephantium
Greebley (swapped)
Jersey Joe (up)
Agree at stopping at the 2 square choke. Only 2 civs can attack us there no matter how many civs we meet (if that is the only way through which looks true). If we can keep close enough to the AI in tech, this game may be winnable after all.
I have seen in the past if a choke is cut off using armies and another unit is landed elsewhere, the AI will tend to chase the landed unit which can pull big stacks away from the choke. Land in more than one spot and the AI can be made to move their units back and forth endlessly (requires unsunk boat). I have seen the Armies getting attacked if in a city or they are the only thing the AI can reach - this is dependent on the defense vs offense however which is different in CCM so not quite sure how it will play out.
I have seen in the past if a choke is cut off using armies and another unit is landed elsewhere, the AI will tend to chase the landed unit which can pull big stacks away from the choke. Land in more than one spot and the AI can be made to move their units back and forth endlessly (requires unsunk boat). I have seen the Armies getting attacked if in a city or they are the only thing the AI can reach - this is dependent on the defense vs offense however which is different in CCM so not quite sure how it will play out.
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