I start by looking at the score histogram. The Zulus don't look like
a gorilla. Then I look at the power graph
We're actually strong compared to Mongols and Portugal? Too bad for them!
Avg with Incas, weak to Zulus. The whole world is a Republic. We've got 12 Bowmen,
6 pikes, 3 muskets, and 9 Ancient Cav. (Zeus expires with Metallurgy)
The Mongols lack Iron, and are down to 4 cities. They're toasty toast. Portugal has six cities
and lacks BOTH horses AND iron. They're toasty toast. Incans are down to four cities.
They're toast. Zulu have 17 cities. Er... *ALL* civs except us and the Zulus are toast!!
That's whether or not we do anything. There's one think I notice however...
The Zulus lack horses!? No offensive unit better than an MDI. The other visible horses
are with the Incans, who are not fighting the Zulu at present. Another issue. We have no
saltpeter, but we're importing it for the next 19 turns from the Zulu!
Tech? We're only down Chemistry.
Given that we lack our own saltpeter, I don't want to hit Zulu now. By end of turn I might
have more rax done and all cities started on Knights which would at least give that option
to the next leader.
[0] 50 - MM tiles at Kazan so its granary will complete just before it grows. Ditto Tu-Tu.
Olla considers swapping from granary to Knight, but instead MM's tile to complete granary
quicker. Babylon swaps to Knight to give us at least one to be 'feared'
IBT Lisbon of Portugal completes the Knight's templar! Thank goodness it's not the Zulu.
Can this save them?! Incas swap to Sistine. The Zulu SOD moves away from our cities.
[1] 70 - Tiwa worker-->aqueduct. Kazan granary-->rax. IBT lots of ZUlu movement.
[2] 90 - I think almost every one of our cities just expanded a border, nice.
That salt in Zulu land just outside Almarkh mocks us. T'would be nice indeed if *Zimbabwe*
itself could be razed!!! That would really sting for the Zulus, and would get us saltpeter
back. One turn one we could put ALL our fast units on a mountain next to Zimbabwe, and
raze it the next turn, re-gaining use of saltpeter. I would make that our objective if we
ever did go to war with Zulu. If we're going to hurt them, what better way than to raze
their capital! IBT Zimbabwe finishes Leo's! If we razed the city it would destroy both
the workshop and the Great wall too!!
Portuguese shift to Sistine.
[3] 110 - Babylon Knight-->Musket. Olla granary-->cth. IBT Lagos of Port falls to Zulu.
[4] 130 - I upgrade three pikes to Muskets while we have the salt. Should be enough for a while.
[6] 170 - Babylon Musket-->Longbow. Ta-Tu Granary to rax. Tiwanaku hits WLTKD.
[7] 190 - IBT It's painful to watch the Incas and Mongols slug it out while Zulus fight Portugal
unhindered. The Zulus capture another Portuguese city this turn.
[8] 210 - zzz
[9] 230 - More zzz.
[10] 250 - Education is due next turn. Portugal (like Incans and Mongols) are down to four cities.
Zulus have two dozen MDI and longbow heading for Guimares, it will fall next.
That's about it. We're due for infrastructure improvements to finish soon, with an option
for our next leader of Universities next all around, or knights/muskets. Lots of good
choices next for Tech at 10-15 turns each, and a possible Education-Chem trade with Zulu.
Matt_G <-- UP NOW
meldor <-- On Deck
Skyfish <-- In the hole
Maniac <-- Betwixt the warp core
Ridgelake <-- On the bench
Charis <-- On the mend
Maniac1-250AD Save
Good luck!
Charis
PS Ridgelake - didn't see your comments til after turn. Good idea for iron to Mongols,
now that the extra just got hooked up. Just don't take hard goods for it
It'll be an option in around 10 turns to go to war with ZUlu. I would still advocate a
turn-two razing of Zimbabwe for maximum punishment. If we do go to war, it would be to save
Portugal, and specifically, the Knights Templar. GOod luck, Matt_G.