Situation Assessment: We have 2 cities. Our capitol, Mecca, is maxed on population. It will need more happiness and more health to grow. Happiness will be no big deal, but we will need to hook up more resources for the health. The other city, Medina, is in good shape and can easily grow from its current size 2 to size 5.
Our city production is also in good shape. Mecca is training a worker due in 3 turns. With this terrain, I think we could use a lot more workers. Medina is one turn from completing an Obelisk. This will allow the border to expand and pick up the stone.
We are at 100% research. We have 33 gold in the treasury and are draining it at -2gpt. The drain is civic upkeep paying for organized religion. Financially we are fine. We may have a concern after we found another city or two.
Our army of 4 warriors is, well, non-existent. For the moment we are alone. Once the barbarians get a whiff of us, though, we will need some defense.
Thus far everything looks to be in good shape and manageable. However, a look at the technology advisor shows some potential holes in our knowledge. We are currently researching Iron Working, which is due in 5 turns. We do not know Fishing or Sailing, both of which will be needed for our coastal cities (Medina would sure benefit from a Lighthouse). We are also going to need Hunting and Archery for our defense forces. Although, if we have iron and can build Axemen, this will not be such a priority. Money may soon be an issue, so Currency and Code of Laws will be a benefit there. And then there is Civil Service which will allow irrigation in this very brown world.
This leads me to the question of wonders. I've decided to build the Oracle in Mecca. It will take us 18 turns to research CoL versus 9 turns to build the Oracle. During those same 9 turns we can complete IW and pick up fishing, as well. I think we need the tech at the moment. Unfortunately, this is one of those decisions that may come back to bite us mid- or late-game. In addition, the Oracle will generate Prophet points which we can use to build a shrine. We are going to need the cash, soon. It would be nice if we also had Stonehenge, but I fear it may be a little late for that one.
Objectives: I think we need to complete the current production. After that, the priority will be research. Just as important will be population growth in our two cities. I don't think Mecca will be feasible during this turnset; Medina is another story.
Turn 0 - 1200BC: Looks good - press Enter.
Turn 1 - 1160BC: Medina completes Obelisk, starts on Granary.
Turn 2 - 1120BC:
Turn 3 - 1080BC: Mecca trains another worker. Begins work on the Oracle. It is due in 9 turns, while still generating 1fpt.
Turn 4 - 1040BC:
Turn 5 - 1000BC: I just noticed that city maintenance has ticked up by 1gpt. It probably happened when Medina added a population point. We are now drawing -3gpt on the treasury.
Turn 6 - 975BC Iron Working is complete. I notice that CoL is down to 16 turns. Both Hunting and Fishing are 2 turns. I opt for Fishing. We have a source of iron that is 1 tile out of Mecca's borders. City 3 that MP identified should pick it up. Should this be our next city?
Check out the iron in relation to the copper.
IBT: A barbarian warrior decends down from the icy wasteland. Could there be a city up there? Fortunately, someone had left a sentry on duty up here.
Turn 7 - 950BC:
IBT: More barbarians. This time from the NE.
Turn 8 - 925BC: We now know how to fish. I would really like to go with Mathematics next. An Aquaduct in Mecca would be nice, plus it is a requirement for Currency. But it looks like the barbs may be getting restless. I'm thinking the next person may have a barbarian uprising on their hands. I opt for Hunting, instead.
IBT: Stonehenge has been built in a far away land.
Turn 9 - 900BC:
Turn 10 - 875BC: An odd ending point!?!? We learn hunting. I queue up Archery.
Our empire, as it stands today:
Archery is queued up, with no beakers invested, and can be done in 3 turns. Mecca is 2 turns from completing the Oracle. Medina can complete its Granary in 3 turns.
There are 2 barb Warriors bearing down on Mecca. Mecca has only a single Warrior defender. Our workers around Medina are out in the open with another barb on the prowl.
I suspect that I probably should have been building defense rather than wonders. The next person may have to build another Warrior before we get Archers. Unfortunately, I failed to notice 10 turns ago that we did not have a barracks.
Financially, I have drained our treasury. We have 5 gold and are spending it at a rate of -3gpt.
Also, it is not too late to change our minds about wonders in Mecca. Just remove it from the queue and the hammers will get converted to gold when it is built somewhere else.
Good Luck!
P.S. Note that the save is 1.09 format.
Merry Christmas!
]
)
