My attempt at emperor

[playshogi]

After winning 4 games on Monarch, 1 each space (Inca), diplomatic(Russia-Catherine), culture (Arabia) and domination (Inca), I decided to move up to Emperor. The settings are default, random civ, continents, cold, high sea level.

Phase 1 -- The Roman war
Of course, I randomly draw the Inca. I build a quechua and research Polytheism to grab an early religion. Soon, however, I meet Caesar, Victoria, Genghis Khan and Montezuma on my continent and I stop building worker and switch to barracks. I map out Rome and see that it has stone, sheep, empty
pasture (horses, that I can't see), marble and wheat! Luckily, Rome is not on a hill and I capture it and a free worker easily. Antium falls in 1960BC and the first phase of the game is over. I allowed Cuzco to grow to size 5 creating an unhappy face, so I made Hinduism the state religion to erase that. Monty is not Buddhist so chances are Buddhism is on the other continent and I have a
choice of converting or conquering my continent. Thoughtfully, Julius had hooked up the stone and marble, though no Inca could yet imagine the secrets of quarries for centuries.

Phase 2 -- The English war

I decided to attack Victoria right away and succeeded in capturing London in 750BC. Maintaining so many quechuas in foreign lands forced my research rate all the way to 0%. I hated building more units, but there was nothing else to build, so I finished Stonehenge in Cuzco and still built obelisks elsewhere. Parthenon is due in Rome in 12 turns and I found out that Germany had built the Oracle already. Capturing London gave a cash infusion to finish Writing in 3 turns so I can start on libraries then priesthood for temples. I'm going to try to get Vicky's last 2 cities and then convert Monty and Genghis to hinduism. Germany and Persia are my pponents presumably on the other continent.

Victoria was eliminated in 525BC and I found the borders of Genghis. I trade clams for sheep with Monty and open borders with both. Monty has converted to Hinduism. Vicky already has dyes hooked up and soon I can hook up gold, gems and maybe ivory so my happiness problems will abate, soon. Monty has Jaguar so its time to hook up copper and start building axemen. I built Parthenon in Rome and Germany has Great Lighthouse. My science rate is very low and I still need Meditation, Priesthood, and Code of Laws. I donate sheep to Genghis hoping for +1 in relations.

I have captured 5 cities for a total of 7.

Phase 3 -- A peaceful interlude

After the wars, a peaceful period which lasted until 50AD allowed building of libraries, granaries temples, and the shrine. Science was around 30% most of the period. After building the shrine, specialists switch to science so I can build an academy. Monty builds pyramids. Christianity and Confucianism are founded in distant lands, not in my backyard. GK demands corn and I concede it. I've already gifted sheep. Hinduism has spread to GK. I'm building axemen because I don't trust my neighbors, and to save cash I'm disbanding some quechua as the axemen get built.

Phase 4 -- The Aztec War

On 50AD Monty cancelled 2 trade deals and open borders and despite positive relations declared war. It looks like it won't do much good to convert my opponents. I can see a stack of 6 jaguar and 5 axeman a few squares from Tiwanaku. I manage to fortify the city with 6 axemen and Monty only sends half his stack which dies at the city gates. As of 200AD I'm holding my own. It would be nice to capture the pyramids. Code of laws is due in a few turns then I need masonry to build city walls. My borders are not very compact and the former English cities are under cultural pressure.. If GK declares, I doubt I can hold my northernmost city, but he doesn't have keshiks, yet.

Edit: picture at 200AD
http://forums.civfanatics.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=115953&d=1139754457

to be continued....

 

[playshogi]

Aztec war -- continued.

The war lasts until 560AD, during that time I capture Teotihuacan while smiting 12 jags and 10 axes losing just 5 axes. The worst debacle of the period was sending 5 quechuas to attack a barb city defended by 2 archers. Normally, that's enough, but they were defending behind walls and my quechuas were all lost. This drove war weariness through the roof, so GK took this opportunity to declare war despite being "pleased" with me. I make peace with Montezuma.

Phase 5 -- The Mongolian war

GK's initial assault was easily rebuffed with 2 keshiks losing at York and 2 chariots, arriving by sea, at lightly defended Nottingham were beaten back. I was chopping for courthouse with 1 turn to go and I was able to switch to axeman, so the city got 3 defenders and was safe. GK attacked relentlessly with a collection of catapaults, keshiks, war elephants and chariots. I captured Beshbalik and pressed on to Ning-hsia surrounding that city with 7 axes. It's defended by just 2 archers and a spearman. I think I can wipe GK out, when just then GK lands 6 units (3 elephants, 2 keshiks and a catapult) at still lightly defended Nottingham. There is no way to save the city, it doesn't have walls only 2 axes and a quechua, no money to upgrade the quechua to spearman. Luckily, GK is willing to agree to peace, but not after my 7 axes attack and take Ning-hsia. Peace is negotiated immediately 1020AD, with GK willing to pay 210g + Monarchy and Horseback Riding.

Frederick's caravels arrive in 960 and we agree to open borders. He lacks monotheism, but I don't trade it. He has no state religion, so that must mean that Cyrus has all the religions. Frederick is ahead of me by at least 6 techs: Literature, Civil Service, Calendar, Philosophy, Metal Casting and Compass. I have 31% area and 31% population. I might be able to win by domination just by capturing my continent, so I think, I'll research for cavalry.

I decide to dump the expensive caste system, and revolt to slavery and organized religion, in anticipation of a few turns of peace.

A look at the empire in 1020AD:
http://forums.civfanatics.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=116060&stc=1&d=1139809021

Phase 6 -- Peace & War

During the peaceful period, I built some missionaries and converted most of the cities as well as building Hanging Gardens in Rome. Also, in Rome went Heroic Epic and in Cuzco I built National Epic. I also count the squares on my continent and if I capture the whole thing including the icy parts, I'll be about 2% shy of a domination victory.

Peace lasts until 1260AD when Monty, who is pleased with me, cancels all agreements and charges across the border with 15 units to attack Teotihuacan. I've got 2 cats there, so I attack his stack and amazingly both survive, to do it again the next turn. I've got cash on hand to upgrade a few units to maceman. This is thanks to a tip of Zombie69, who suggested alternating 0% science until you raise enough cash to get the next tech at 100% science. It is apparently more efficient, earning more beakers and cash than any other % arrangement. Belatedly, I build walls in all the cities that don't have them. I also revolt to bureaucracy and theocracy so my new units have 2 promotions to start with. Most of Monty's units suicide against the city gates and die; I lose only 1 maceman. The iron is pillaged, so no more knights until I can repair it. After whethering the assault, I march north with 1 knight 4 macemen and 6 cats, to attempt to take a lightly defended city of Tlatelolco. At this time, in 1420AD, GK breaks all agreements and declares war. I see 1 swordsman headed my way. Thanks, to hinduism, I can see only a few longbows in each city. It should be no problem to handle both AIs. Nationalism is due in 2 turns and I'll try to build Taj Mahal in Rome, then trade it to Frederick for some older techs I missed.

to be continued....