My Spanish opening and dot mapping and maybe a walk through..

[Silu]

Block Alex with 3 first cities being something like 3/4W of Black, 1S of Black and 2S2W of Red. If you can do this without getting a Phalanx spear up your backside it should be smooth sailing. Also if you want to aim the first expansion war to Conquistadors with a tech advantage then especially you have to rush to the Horsie spot.

I'd also settle on the tip of the NE peninsula at some point - kinda sucks before Moai but still has Fish to be somewhat useful before that.

 

[kossin]

Rushing seems hard as they're both pretty far. You can maybe choke them though if they lack some metals. We can only see horses in Alex's BFC so spears if you go after him. You're going to have to settle far quick as that jungle is a no-no this early. I'll look at the save to see what I would dotmap as I don't like the fact that black-dot needs a monument+border pop before it can start being productive.

Edit:
Checked the southern candidates (with the settler), Ragnar hasn't settled there. Pity about Alex's city, resettling it 1E would be a Cottage-Haven! I think you should go south for the horses first before Alex gets it.

 

[Silu]

Yeah I didn't mean rushing as in capturing cities... rather rushing as in get a settler there ASAP

 

[Gumbolt]

I like your bold plan to grab the horse. Perhaps go for a HA/ Catapult war. Would be better to let vikings and greeks fight.

There is a risk that the greeks would attack early. Dont forget that UU will eat up chariots and it will be tough to hook up capital with the far south city for many turns. I did think about choking the greeks but I held back from this approach.

So tech path going forward. Perhaps masonry or even try for the oracle. The Marble city would allow a quick build.

So many choices. If war is needed HA and catapults. Maybe beeline HBR.

Choices choices.

In terms of cities number 3 would act as a final blocking point after the horse city. I would like to build a hoard of Spanish UU. So a beeline for this should be considered.

 

[Negator_UK]

If you rush-attack over that distance I suspect you'll just make more room for the other AI to fill while you recover. Definitely a builders start.

 

[Silu]

I meant that if you manage to block him to the Horse-Wheat line you have space for 7-9 cities which means that you don't need to expand through war until a very good opportunity. Usually this very good opportunity means Cavalry or Rifle/Cannon, but since you're Spain and Conquistadors absolutely demolish pre-Gunpowder units (and still works well enough against muskets) I'd probably try to head there.

With those you can probably destroy both Alex and Ragnar especially if they start to war amongst themselves or you. Even if they target you it benefits you alot since defensive war is much easier and less taxing on the tech rate than conquest and warring nerfs the AI tech rate a lot.

 

[kossin]

Regarding war among themselves: they are both Peaceweight 0 and get +2 Warmonger respect so I don't see it at all unless bribed.

 

[Loki Strikes]

When I said play off one another I meant bribe. Alex is a decent techer, but Ragnar despite financial isn't, bribe them against each other, HA/cat war would work, but its not too efficient, with a decent block (kossin's proposed block looks good) you do have 7-9 cities, more than enough to wait for renaissance war. I would personally crank espy against Alex and wait for cavalry or cuirassers (lib- MT), all the while bribing them against each other.

 

[Gumbolt]

Regarding war among themselves: they are both Peaceweight 0 and get +2 Warmonger respect so I don't see it at all unless bribed.

Yep i cant see these 2 attacking each other. Unless i get really lucky.

Lets build the horse city and get out a third settler asap.

 

[Loki Strikes]

You don't need luck Gumbolt, they are both REALLY, REALLY easy to bribe, use aesthetics or alpha, they are not only good as trade bait

 

[Gumbolt]

Problems going forward.

3 cities and could easily build a 4th. Need pottery or writing but science is only 6 beakers a turn. if i start to build SH I may get gold back from not completing this. Second city was delayed by a lurking barb archer. AckkK.

I could just rex out the 4th city. Both Alex and Ragnor have 3 cities.

I have 2 warriors fog busting using the 2 square rule. Need a third near the marble. Its on its way.

Any thoughts?

 

[Silu]

Finish pottery with deficit research at 100%, then stabilize using cottages while finishing off the block and heading towards writing. Forget SH, make more workers and whip monuments in the blocker cities instead.

 

[kossin]

Like Silu said, scrap SH, finish pottery at 100%, I might slip in sailing before Writing.

Make a settler (whip) into a worker By that time copper should be hooked up so make a few axes/more workers/settlers. Start roading for added commerce.

I don't like your black dot (even if it's on a hill for added protection), it can't work the wheat before a border pop and risks being settled close to, moreover it pretty much prevents a filling city post-calendar. I would still go for the site #3 I proposed (3 west)if you can get it. It's just a bit more far but maintenance won't be that bad for a while.

 

[euripides]

I think your dotmap leaves a bit too much land unused. Maybe an city on the eastern sugar should be considered (but not too early!). First priority is copper obviously (depending on situation you could settle grey one north. the pig will give you an fast monument whipped in. then one city will go to the River delta SW (later also). Maybe you want to rework red a bit. Or not but try for the horse with City 3 (1N or 1NW of horses). this will net you nine cities total before crossing the S and SW river for real. black maybe one south then. and one city for the fish N of Capital, it will pay definitely, Maybe moai is possible there.

mhh.. missed your post by afew minutes gumbolt, but you built horse city, good!

 

[Gumbolt]

Next city will go to block off Greeks near the Corn river site. Site 4?

Up science to 100% and tech out pottery. Will whip a settler and build a worker.

Lets get to it.

 

[Gumbolt]

The 4th city is up and pottery has been teched. Sailing is 14-17 turns away.

4 workers and a 5th being built. 2nd and 3rd city are growing to size 4-5 quickly.

The spawn busters have stopped all barb spawning within the blocking area.

The roaming warrior is woodsmen 2 should a worker grab be required.

Should I be whipping axemen for the front line? No sign of any religion yet but ragnors third city is near my wheat city.

Going forward. I would like to get up a library city for a GS. Lots of food rich cities it seems a waste not to. We can back fill last 3-5 cities in our own time. The plan is going well so far.

Pictures below in spoiler to help page load time.

Spoiler :

 

[Gumbolt]

Ironically SH went in 1825.

 

[Gumbolt]

I think your dotmap leaves a bit too much land unused. Maybe an city on the eastern sugar should be considered (but not too early!). First priority is copper obviously (depending on situation you could settle grey one north. the pig will give you an fast monument whipped in. then one city will go to the River delta SW (later also). Maybe you want to rework red a bit. Or not but try for the horse with City 3 (1N or 1NW of horses). this will net you nine cities total before crossing the S and SW river for real. black maybe one south then. and one city for the fish N of Capital, it will pay definitely, Maybe moai is possible there.

mhh.. missed your post by afew minutes gumbolt, but you built horse city, good!

I move fast. lol. The dot map will adapt to new plan and to make room for the blocking cities. Marble city next while i pad out my borders with a few axes and hook up cities by road. Trade routes needed.

Lets hope my horses move faster.

 

[kossin]

I would postpone the Madrid/Barcelona cottages a few turns to hook up roads ASAP for commerce.

Switch Coroboda to a monument>granary, you don't need more warriors right now. Besides you have an axe coming in.

Seville I'd whip, working coast without a lighthouse isn't great - even though it will hurt commerce. Overflow can go in a granary (1 turn build - thanks Expansive). You're probably going to whip a lot since happy cap will be low until Monarchy/Religion/Calendar.

Not sure this is optimal but if you want, you can micro Madrid to work Clams/River Grassland+plains Mine/Pig. Same number of turns to build the worker, more commerce, but less overflow.

 

[Gumbolt]

All good advice. I was working on the roads. Capital should be hooked up to 2-3 cities in a few turns. I did wonder about that cottage.

I will play on a few more turns as not much is going to happen unless someone DOW!!