MP10 - AWDG Continents, Ottoman

[MeteorPunch]

Settings
Barbarians: None
Climate: Normal
Landform: Continets
Map Size: Standard
Ocean: 70%
Temperature: Temperate
World Age: 4 Billion
Rivals: 7 Random

Details
...maybe not so interesting. This game takes the next step up in AW difficulty. I can't see myself wanting to attempt this on any higher difficulty, so this will probably be the last hard game I start before Civ 4.

I've never got to use the Sipahi in a game, and with the Hussar's performance in the last game, I really want to try them out.

Roster need AWM or better experience
- MeteorPunch
- ThERat
- soul_warrior
- Beorn-eL-Feared
- Leha
- Khan_Asparuh

 

[ThERat]

need AWM or better experience

do I qualify or maybe you want less experienced AW players?

 

[MeteorPunch]

ThERat, absolutely. I was not totally sure 5 will sign up, so if 1 or 2 less experienced want to play, they can. You'll just have to make up the difference.

But really I don't see how this could be too much harder than AWE Pangaea, so I guess we'll find out.

 

[soul_warrior]

if your willing to let a fool join up ill be honoured.
i promise to lose atleast the first 5 armies we have to redlined warriors on planes

 

[Khan_Asparuh]

Well if the presence of ThERat allows to compensate for some less experienced (I did stop on AWM, never tried AWE, but played in SGOTM7, an AWD, we lost diplo), I might join... If you don't mind waiting for my PC delivery, that I don't see on the 15, but if I'm in the end of the roster this can go well...

Can I...?

 

[Beorn-eL-Feared]

I'd be a fool not to ask a sign-up here. For the record, I've tried a few AWE continents on my own and even with no food bonus I kicked ass 3 times out of 3 - to my very greatest surprise. Must be the newly acquired experience kicking in.

I'm pretty much dead in the water right now, but by the time this kicks in, I'll be fully ready to go. Oh, and I've never played ottomans , so that'll be fun

And that's 5 signed up

 

[Beorn-eL-Feared]

Worker to cow is a no-brainer. Move settler to hill if something shows, settle in place if not?

 

[Leha]

Well, first I gladly announce my reserve military service is cancelled.

Second, my favourite SG series, is there still some space for me left?

 

[ThERat]

Well, first I gladly announce my reserve military service is cancelled.

last time I met some of your fellow countrymen on a plane to Oz and they said they go for a long vacation to escape just that

second I think you MUST be part of this game

 

[Khan_Asparuh]

I was not totally sure 5 will sign up

MP, the 5 sign-ups lasted for less than an hour... But actually I think that with the variant a team of 6 is even better. Your call, chief.

I agree, moving on the hill might be good. Worker's move is a no-brainer. I'd say irrigate before road.

We want TGLib? I guess so...

 

[ThERat]

from my AW experience on that level (maybe not an expert though), there are a few things that are crucial on AWDG level

1. GL is a must
2. monarchy and science farms are crucial
3. there are 2 threats from the AI: UN victory and bombers
In order to prevent from being bombed to oblivion, a pillager army needs to be sent overeas sooner or later

 

[Khan_Asparuh]

I would say that the UN victory and the bombers are to be feared after we survive the first menace of conquest defeat. After about 100 turns I think we can consider this.

Let's pray the RNG gods for early leader(s).

 

[MeteorPunch]

What a great team.

Leha - congrats on getting time off duty. I didn't expect you to be able to play.
SW - we are not going for a repeat of SGOTM7.

I've played the first 20, so here goes:

- We have barracks and 2 vet spears.
- Warrior Code is due on the next turn. Switch the build in Istanbul to archer.
- I'd like to build 2 more archers, then settle the Red or Yellow dot. Yellow dot is in a better position, but Red dot will someday have access to 2 wheats. I don't know which is preferred.
- At any rate, I think this city should build a wall first, then granary, with wood chops when available.
- Blue dot is the likely Great Library site.

Techs - what do we go for next?
Pottery - my choice. can be researched fast, and will allow our 2nd city to build granary and start rapid expansion. Istanbul builds military while 2nd city builds workers/settlers.
Alphabet - 2nd fastest to research. Allows Math for Catapults and eventually the Great Library.
Iron Working - Longest to research, and unless it is right next to us, will take awhile to "hook up." But still very important, just not next.

I don't really care too much for horsemen.

We can make an initial trade, btw.

Additional thoughts - All my games in AW I've played with a military civ. Without cheap barracks, we can have more cities devoted to catapults.

Everything is debateable, so speak up. I would go with ThERat's advice though.

Roster
- MeteorPunch - played
- ThERat - up
- soul_warrior - on deck
- Beorn-eL-Feared
- Leha
- Khan_Asparuh

 

[Leha]

A city on the hill near northern wheat would be very productive, grow fast and good for defence in case we have northern neigbour. It won't grow past size 6 of course, but for starters will do.

Not sure about research. Pottery-->IW--Alphabet?

OK, just checked save, I really think first city must be built on yonder hill, coz we are in the deep south and our friend AI will most likely come from the north.

 

[MeteorPunch]

Leha, why didn't I see that? It has forests for chops too. That location looks just as good as red dot for 2nd city.

 

[ThERat]

got it, play tonight. So, where do you want city #2?

 

[Own]

lurker's comment: Wow! Spaces filled up quickly. I had interest in thinking about it, but I'm at the SG limit.

Why is the blue dot not one space NE? That makes AW spacing, allowing unit shuffling. I see no added advantages.

 

[MeteorPunch]

City 2 should be Red or Yellow dot. I was thinking about this again vs. the hill city Leha mentioned, and these would have rivers for commerce. So the choice is for defensive hill vs. commerce. My vote is for comerce as that gets us catapults and swords faster.

Own, I thought you might want to join. Next time then. To answer your question, I think CxxxC is better for the core in AW games at perhaps emperor or demigod difficulty and above, and outside of the core, traditional CxxC spacing. The main point is having 12 tiles for core cities to work. Maybe someone will look into all the advantages and disadvantages of this someday. Also, I rather have CxxC on a river than CxxxC missing the river by one tile. A free 100-shield aquaduct early on is too important.

 

[Khan_Asparuh]

Well I think that's going well. Re spacing, it mainly depends if we have an early AI to fight (probably, continents). So if we manage to stay unknown for a while this will give us a certain advantage later.

If I understand Own right, the tile he offers for the third city is on river.

Do we know who the AI is? (F10 allowed?)

 

[ThERat]

save

settled a second town
got pottery on the last IT, so we have not invested any beakers into the new tech yet
I suggest to go for alphabet and eventually GL

good news, since we have furs nearby, but according to LK 2 lux means more AI around, let's see whether he is right

I suggest to settle south of worker for GL town, then get to incense and furs