(0) 330BC
Looking over the land, I formulate a number of goals for my turn.
Firstly, I'd like to see Ninevah razed and replaced with an Ottoman city next to the dyes.
Secondly, settle on the hill four tiles north-west of Sinop, to get as many of those silks within our border as possible, for trading opportunities (there is a Roman city covering one of the silks).
Thirdly, try to get a settler up to the ivory to the north-east of Antalya.
For wonders, try to get Sun Tzu, Leonardos and Sistine. If no wonders are available, go the army/heroic epic route.
Fourthly, try to get Monarchy and revolt.
And finally, try to get a galley to the other landmass.
Now let's see what we have out there.
Our defensive situation is not as bad as it looks, well at least until I started playing. There are a lot of Roman and Indian troops in our land, fighting on our side. These will go a long way to mop up Babylon's troops that stray into our territory, so I can leave our defenses a little thinner than I otherwise would. This not only releases troops for an attack on Ninevah, but allows production of additional settlers to populate our Northern lands.
Edrine is building a settler right now. There is also a scientist there, researching Monarchy. Since that is the only ancient age tech left to research, chances are that we'll pick it up from the Great Library. So the scientist is put back to work on a hill. Luxuries remain at 30%.
Istanbul switched from swordsman to spear. We need two defenders in our larger cities for military police. Istanbul is guarded by a single horseman.
IBT
No attacks, and whadayaknow... we get Monarchy and Fuedalism from the Great Library.
Dehli completes the Great Wall. There is a cascade to the Hanging Gardens and Sun Tzu's.
Another Babylonian settler appears, guarded by a spear AND a sword.
(1) 310BC
Move some workers around, and upgrade swords to medieval infantry, and spears to pikes where possible. Elite non-leader producing troops are not upgraded.
One babylon sword killed.
Pay India 500 gold to get them back in the war with Babylon. We need their troops to help our defence.
We have no gold/turn payments to anyone, so I begin the revolt to Monarchy. India and Rome should help to hold off Babylon. We draw 3 turns of anarchy.
I call up Ghandi, and pay him 250 gold + world map for wines and ivory, to help avoid starvation in our cities. Hire two taxmen and an entertainer to avoid riots.
A delicate balancing act ensues, trying to keep enough troops in Edrine.
IBT
Keep an eye on wandering Babylonian spear/settler pairs. A Babylonian sword moves next to Edrine.
(2) 290BC
Some more troop and worker shuffling. I get a pike into Edrine from Istanbul, temporarily leaving the latter empty until another pike arrives from Bursa.
IBT
Watch as babylonian swords attack Roman warriors instead of Edrine. An Indian horseman kills a spear/settler pair that I had earmarked for my next turn
(3) 270BC
Kill one sword on a mountain with a medieval infantry. Attack a spear/settler pair, losing an elite sword, but winning with a medieval infantry, who promotes to elite.
IBT
Few attacks, none affecting us. The first Babylonian medieval infantry are sighted.
(4) 250BC:
We're getting low on troops in Edrine, so I bring reinforcements from Adana. Guess I won't be attacking Ninevah this turn.
IBT
Babylon is more interested in attacking Romans than us, which is a good thing. India has also moved some cannon fodder within range of their swords and medievals, so we should be OK for another turn.
Konya riots, big deal. It's not connected to the road net, so it went miserable when it grew to size 2.
Anarchy ends, Monarchy selected.
Romans build Tarentum exactly where I had a city earmarked. We're boxed in now, so any new land gained will be at the expense of the Babylonians.
(5) 230BC
Post-monarchy adjustments. Now making 44 gold/turn.
IBT
A Babylonian galley is moving up our coastline.
(6) 210BC
I'm forced to move some horsemen to our northern lands due to the Babylonian galley.
IBT
India clears out the remaining Babylonian troops. It looks like they're heading for Ellipi.
Temple rushed at Sinop.
Catharge completes the Hanging gardens. No cascade, so I guess everyone else is already building Sun Tzu's.
(7) 190BC
Move horsemen into Antalya to guard against that Babylonian galley. I note also that we have contact with all but one other civ.
I sell Engineering to Montezuma, for Contact with the Arabs, and their world map.
I'm not sure what the attack order will be, our contact was sold to Iroquois, Catharge and Montezuma last turn, with the Arabs taking last place. None of them are ahead in tech, and the Arabs are woefully behind.
IBT:
No attacks. Indeed there are no babylonian troops in our territory.
(8) 170BC
(9) 150BC
Nada
IBT
Rome cancels the military alliance. It's expensive to renew (world map + around 27/turn), so I leave it up to the next leader to decide.
(10) 130BC
Nada
Notes:
In summary, we had a BIG problem with defence, which I spent most of my turns alleviating. The alliance with India was worthwhile, keeping the Babylonian troops out of our way, but at the same time, they may have the jump on us when it comes to clobbering Babylonian cities. They're definitely headed towards Ellipi in a big way, so chances are that there's a resource there we don't know about. I think we have maxed out available land for now, so our only option is to attack Babylonian cities. The next leader may want to renegotiate the military alliance with Rome.
There is a pikeman next to Uskadar, who is on GOTO to Sinop. There's a number of horsemen in Antalya, to defend against that galley, which still hasn't unloaded any troops. There's also a settler in Adana, which will be useful if any Bab cities get razed.
The save
I notice our army is now described as strong relative to Babylon's.
