NC XLV - Zara Yaqob

@CivilizedTiger:

thanks, i would post some screen shots but i havent really progressed too far before things start to fall apart so i want to try a few different things
 
At 1825BC:

Spoiler :

Here's my empire as of 1825BC:
Civ4ScreenShot0023.jpg

I'm currently working on hooking up the copper east of Gondar. At Aksum, I finished the Barracks in 1800BC and started an Archer, and will then pop out another Settler before I start working on some Axes. I'm thinking of an Axe Rush on Boudica, before I worry about backfilling my area.

Here's the land to my North:
Civ4ScreenShot0027.jpg

I'm debating where to set up my third city. I'm split between the Corn/Copper location to my West and the Cow/Banana location to the NE.

Here's the land to my East:
Civ4ScreenShot0028.jpg

To the SE is Boudica. I think Bismarck is to her South, but I haven't explored that way yet. I'm currently sending my scout down that way to see what I can find. NE of Boudica is Qin Shi Huang, to his East is Darius, and to Darius' SE is Roosevelt. That doesn't seem like a bad bunch of neighbors to me, but I haven't played against any of them on a map like this before. Looks like Pangaea.

The Tech Tree:
Civ4ScreenShot0025.jpg

Currently working on IW, to be able to clear all that jungle! After that, I'm not sure. Might do AH to see if I can find horses, and will definitely do that if I settle my third city near the cows.

So, that's my early report, comments?
 
Immortal/normal to 1AD

Spoiler :


I love creative. Very convenient for blocking purposes. By blocking off boudica you gain a lot of land to the north, but you have to be careful as she is a good warmongeress. Thankfully, Hindu spread to me very early, allowing an insta-pleased when I converted, so no wars from her. Expanded, using Alpha (which I begged off Boudica after partial researching it!) and aesthetics as trade bait. Tech will be slower with this amount of land, and I've forgetten to farm a GS... oops.... :p

Lands:

Civ4ScreenShot0337.jpg


7 cities (2 from barbs using axes) and another soon to be settled. Good land settled thus far, and a lot of it too.

Tech:

Civ4ScreenShot0338.jpg


Plan from here is to settle my lands and to tech off to a late-game military advantage, probably cavalry. Cottage spam for this, nice green land and fps to settle.

 
Prince/Epic to 1000BC:
Spoiler :

Here's the core of my little empire as of 1000BC:
Civ4ScreenShot0029.jpg

Finding horses in my BFC is sweet! The second horse just North of Gondar means my fourth city is going to be plopped down between the Corn and the Bananas over there. By that point, Gondar's Stele should be done, and its border popped out, blocking the region. I've refused Open Borders so far, to maintain my hinterland for expansion.

Here's the Northern part of my empire:
Civ4ScreenShot0030.jpg

I was going to build my third city to catch the Cow, Incense, and Rice north of Aksum when I finished researching IW and discovered the Iron source. Catching Iron, Gold, and Sugar with that city should pay off nicely in the long-run. As you can see from this shot, the city location between the Corn and Bananas north of Gondar gets both the Horse and a Cow. I suppose I shouldn't be settling one off the coast like that (and like the Iron/Gold city) but I think that spot is the best option. I'll have to deal with that Barb city one of these days, too.

Here's the area to my SE:
Civ4ScreenShot0031.jpg

Lots of Elephants! Crap location for a city, though, so I think I'm going to allow Boudica to expand that direction while I work on building up my core for the inevitable wars.

Here's the East:
Civ4ScreenShot0032.jpg

Boudica is covering most of my border, now. She's going to be a pain, but I decided that her capital was far enough away that an Axe rush wasn't ideal. Since I can close off so much good land, I'll leave her alone for the moment. I'm using Gondar for my initial unit pump, once I get a barracks done there.

Here's the tech tree:
Civ4ScreenShot0034.jpg

I just started working on Alphabet, so I can backfill some of my missing techs. I probably should have gone for the Oracle, but it's probably too late for that. With no Stone or Marble, if I'm going for any Wonders I'm going to have to chop/whip them out.

So, any recommendations?
 
just a comment for you guys, is it ok to space the cities out so far? and how did you explore so much land? my explorers keep getting picked off by barbs =/
 
drlake
Spoiler :

You want to settle higher yield tiles for workers and settlers. This is a huge amount of land to fill up and we have the perfect traits to handle the maintenance. You want that fish corn or cow corn then pump workers/settlers at pop2. The earlier you settle them the earlier you get your next city up/improved. Your copper/dyes city slowed you down a lot. Also you appear to not be valuing seafood as much as you should as we've got cheap lighthouses and libraries.

Wait for catapults then take out Boudica. May want to nab that coastal ivory for elephants since she'll have them.
 
Immortal/normal to liberalism

Spoiler :


A lot of nice cottage land being developed equals a lot of beaker potential. That beaker potential allows me to get lib:

Civ4ScreenShot0339.jpg


For nationalism. I was originally planning to grab democracy, but Darius and Bismark were beelining lib, so I took what I could. My beaker rate is really good now and democracy is first goal to grow the cottages, then off to communism for kremlin (I do have stone) This will lead to taking out as many AIs as I can with cavalry, then rapping it up with whatever junk I need. I feel like chain-capping this time around, a conquest win is what I'd like.

Lands:

Civ4ScreenShot0340.jpg


I'm #1 in pop and land so this should be easy. A lot of easily blockable land = an easy game usually.

Tech:

Civ4ScreenShot0341.jpg


There's no way Boudi will get rifles before I hit, and if I'm lucky neither will Rosy. My plan will be Boudic- Rosy - Darius and vassal Qin- Izzy- Bis. Chain-capping with cavalry is really fast, so I should get a pretty nice score.

 
@drlake
Spoiler :

Your situation looks good. I don't think 3 cities by 1000BCE is optimal, but it looks good.
I don't think you should rush Boudica, but I see you've come to a similar conclusion in your second post. The thing is, you have so much land, that a war isn't needed, since the goal of war is getting land, at least one of the greatest goals. Also, if you can have Boudica as friendly, perhaps she could be your friendly neighbourhood warmonger, fighting other AIs for you.

I don't think IW was a good call early on (I'm sorry for playing this same record, I know it's getting old, but... eh... :)) IW is a great tech, especially on this map, which has a lot of jungle, but economic techs seem a bit more important to me, currently. Of course, choosing between IW and other techs is not a straight choice, and it might come down to personal preference here and there.


@BigTime
Spoiler :

Very nice situation! I'm curious how you continue it, I'd really like to see a cavalry takes over the world round. :D

Just a question: how would you compare your expanding rate to other games? The decision which came hardest to me on this map was between expanding early and teching, building an economy, and then expanding in what was my land anyway. :) So... anyway, I'd like to see how others made the choice and how it went.


@calla
It is possible that they backfill the land at a later time, but that depends on each player's preferences. I for one don't like wasting any good land, so I'll build cities even if they're only going to have 4-5 grassland tiles to cottage, but... this also means I have a harder time planning my cities. It's easier to plan your cities for the best spots if you don't care about 4-5 wasted tiles. ;) It's one of those nice tips I've read in a topic somewhere, about city placement. Unfortunately, I haven't yet started to listen to that advice. ;)

Anyway, early on, you need cities to perform essential tasks, I guess, so the huge space is left for later, when your economy is strong enough that you can support filler cities.

As for exploring... don't beat yourself up too much about it, the most important part to exploring is knowing where to place your first cities. And it is possible that your early explorer gets killed. I've very often had my starting warrior killed by an animal pack before he had a chance to explore a complete circle around the capital, for instance. These things happen and you'll use more than your first unit as an explorer. (Although, don't overdo exploring either)
 
At 85AD, Prince/Epic:
Spoiler :

I think I expanded too slowly...

Here is the southern tier of my empire:
Civ4ScreenShot0037.jpg

I settled Addis Ababa out West since it seemed like a decent city site, I didn't have any coastal cities, and it helps control barbs. I was seeing tons of them, until I started fog busting. I'm a n00b at some things!

Here's the northern tier:
Civ4ScreenShot0038.jpg

I need to start filling this area in better, and soon! I am going to do two more cities in quick succession, so that there aren't any gaps between Lalibela and the southern cities. One will be over north of Gondar, where I planned on putting Addis Ababa originally. The other will be on the Jungle 1S of the Cow NE of Addis Ababa. After that, I'll see how the research/finances are holding up but I want to get at least 2-3 more to fill in the north before I open borders.

Here is my border regions, where Boudica has been expanding:
Civ4ScreenShot0040.jpg

Civ4ScreenShot0039.jpg


Aksum:
Civ4ScreenShot0041.jpg

Gondar:
Civ4ScreenShot0042.jpg

Lalibela:
Civ4ScreenShot0043.jpg


Foreign Relations:
Civ4ScreenShot0044.jpg

I converted to Hinduism, since that matched the religion of my closest neighbors. I like the idea of using Boudica as my warmonger ally while I build up in peace!

Tech Tree:
Civ4ScreenShot0045.jpg


I'll be finished with Currency in three turns, and should be able to trade it around a bit since no one has it atm. I'm not sure whether to go for Monarchy or Civil Service next, in all honesty. I also REALLY need Calendar, since I'm sitting on so damn many luxury resources that require plantation. If I get it, I can allow major growth in my cities. I should probably go Mon > Cal > CS, given my current situation.

Comments?
 
Immortal/normal to 1808 Diplomatic victory:

Spoiler :


Went to democracy for emancipation and US, and did a massive GA overhaul to US/Eman/FS/FR/and State Property later. Oh and state property unlocks this endgame wonder:

Civ4ScreenShot0342.jpg


Rush in some cavalry and hit Boudica with 1.1 of her power at start:

Civ4ScreenShot0343.jpg


Take 4 cities (including the Hindu shrine city which has about 31 gpt) and cap her:

Civ4ScreenShot0344.jpg


Oh yeah, that &($#& bribes in Izzy, and Izzy bribes in Bis. Well here's what happened to Izzy:

Civ4ScreenShot0345.jpg


Bis has rifles, airships, and arty so I buy out after taking a city:

Civ4ScreenShot0346.jpg


I then gift UN techs to Rosy so that me + Darius + my vassals will be enough for the win:

Civ4ScreenShot0347.jpg


He builds it in FOUR FREAKIN' TURNS!!! Stupid IND:

Civ4ScreenShot0348.jpg


And in five turns:

Civ4ScreenShot0349.jpg


An easy UN win, partially off vassals, but off Darius as well. FR+fair trade and other stuff is easily enough for him.

Power graph really shows the power of the kremlin:

Civ4ScreenShot0350.jpg


There's a reason it's my favorite wonder in the game.

K/D:

Civ4ScreenShot0351.jpg


Civ4ScreenShot0352.jpg


Civ4ScreenShot0354.jpg


Kremlin rushbuy and cottage spam on a map where you can block off 11 good cities = an easy win and a good score.



Thanks for the host CivTiger!
 
@ Civilized Tiger

Spoiler :


My expansion rate did not have to be fast as only 2 cities block off a lot of land. Nevertheless, once I got IW and captured those barb cities, I wanted to settle the delicious green land up north. My expansion rate was really good this game, and this is one of the better REX games I've played, even though I didn't "REX" really. Cavalry warfare is my favorite warfare as its fast, cost-effective, and just plain fun. Darius had MGs (!) when I hit Boudica, so i bypassed him and went on those bribed pansies.

 
ok at 1775 bc

Spoiler :
Civ4ScreenShot0007.jpg


chopped/whipped stonehenge and thats what my tech tree looks like. should i grab alphabet or something less time consuming?

i grabbed the copper spot east of the starting point. i think i'm going to try to emulate some of bigtime's city placements.

 
Played a bit more (can't remember specific year...:blush:)

Spoiler :
Well, Bismark finally got serious and sent a decent stack. With his tech lead he decimated my army, but luckily i had a turn between the decimation and the capture of my city, so I gifted him the city for peace. Now i just needed to resolve izzy and darius, but neither posed serious threats at the moment. The war with izzy stopped through the AP, and, while still at war with darius, all threats were removed through Qin's DoWing Darius (without my prodding..:D). I got a few trades with HR, one of which being Calendar :D I quickly started building on all my Calendar resources and my economic hole was gone.

Bismark and I had a bit of a cold war...we each stacked our troops in or right next to that city I gifted him (which I hoped to take back via culture...ah well). However he was at cautious and as long as I kept my stack about the same size as his I felt safe. My economy was thriving, I was finally settling all my land, and it looks like I might be able to win this, or at least last until the end of the game (i.e. not get conquered). Until Bismark AND Roosevelt DoWed me...are monarch AI always this bloodthirsty???

I'll be playing some more now so i'll get screens after that...
 
@Grashopa
Spoiler :
I wasn't seeing much in the way of fish/clams, so settling the coast wasn't urgent. As I fill in I'll be picking up some of those high value spots, but I realize I did expand too slowly for this map and civ. I think I can recover from it, though.

I did really want to settle Gondar where I did, to block off Boudica and grab the Copper. Would you seriously recommend I give up a strategic resource like that to her, when I can get it?


@CivilizedTiger
Spoiler :
I see what you mean about IW. It certainly hasn't been necessary so far. As I mentioned, I've been expanding too slowly, and am going to try to pop out two settlers quickly to start to catch up to where I should be. At least I have a few workers to do initial improvements on new cities and I have the troops to deal with barbarians while keeping my frontier defenses strong.

I've rejected Open Borders with everyone so far. Good idea? Seemed better strategically, to keep the neighbors out of my area.
 
1476 AD

Spoiler :
Not much really has happened, other than my desperately trying to regain an almost hopeless tech deficit...thank goodness for all those dyes. I also settled that western copper, a city way up north and that gold (that gold one was awkward to settle in my situation...I think I got a relatively good position). Wars and being declared right and left, AP steps in and makes peace for some wars...then wars are declared again. I've never seen so many DoWs...

The screens...

Overview (at an angle)

4427874433_b83dfc7b51_b.jpg


Techs (I'm slowly, oh so slowly catching up)

4428641708_51021ba895_o.jpg


Thanks to my good friends Boudi and Qin I don't think I'm going to have much concern for wars (that is, until bismark starts sailing over....) My army that i sent out to try to get in on the destroying of Darius got decimated when Izzy DoWed me (again)...all the fighting went on in Persia...

I'm not sure what victory to pursue. I WOULD go for culture being creative and all but my tech deficit means that, other than stonehenge, I've got zip wonders...space, well, I don't have much production in my lands...a lot of green, but not much for production. Domination and Conquest are pretty well out of the picture, leaving me with Diplomatic. With all the wars going on a diplomatic victory doesn't seem exactly feasible...

Any suggestions? Particularly concerning winning this game...
 
drlake
Spoiler :

Well as your second city site - yeah I definitely would not have went there. But also depends on what you saw which would have been different from me. I had AH before BW as well so that colored my opinion. Reason why I had AH before BW was I picked up the Great Lighthouse my game and then went to writing as fast as possible. Otherwise I'd have researched as you did.

Anyway I always want my second city to help with workers/settlers or be able to grow straight into riverside cottages. The faster you get out the strongest cities the better and the copper may have still been there for the 3rd city.
 
calla
Spoiler :

Alphabet is good - did you focus your EP on Boudica? That would have made alphabet even better since you could steal a tech. But without marble alphabet - currency - code of laws is what you want since we have lots of land.
 
Chimera
Spoiler :

Space is doable, you can put out workshops on all the green and grab state property. Don't build markets and grocers - build wealth instead. They shouldn't have much impact on the game as you aren't running a 10% slider or anything. And you aren't really behind you just need to -

TRADE THE DRAMA FOR GOLD! and the gunpowder! :) Theres so much gold in the AI hands and it should be yours. Once it is you have the beakers to catch up quickly.
 
having some trouble

Spoiler :
so i took out boudica and i waged a war against china. its going slow but i managed to capture 3 cities. i continued the war up until about 1850ish when china became germany's vassal.

after that, america dow'ed me as well so i had to scramble around until they would sign peace treaties.

at this point i don't think i can win since i'm pretty much dead last in techs. i switched to research in all my cities to try to catch up on some techs but ultimately i think its futile.

i've got a few saved games that i'll probably go back to, but i think my biggest problem on this map is that everybody is everybody's friend so all the civs are pushing techs peacefully. celts and chinese were the only ones i could wage wage and even they were ahead of me in science. i can post up some screenshots if you guys want to see but i'm not sure how useful they would be at this point
 
@Chimera
Spoiler :

Unfortunately I can't say what victory condition you can pursue, but I can tell you that culture victory is out of the question. It is one of the victory types you must take into consideration very early in the game, and the creative trait doesn't offer much of an advantage towards the culture victory. The creative trait is mostly useful for the early game, when you want to block off as much land as possible. The best trait, imo, for culture victory, is philosophical. If you pursue that victory condition, you want at least some of the cultural wonders and you want a lot of artist specialists and great artists.

Anyway, good luck!


@calla
Spoiler :

Which of the 1885s is that you've mentioned? :) If it's the BCE one, you shouldn't war that early. :p Nothing to say if it's the CE one.

Anyway, I can't tell much from your description, but... I think you need better economy. You can cottage so much greenland on this map that it isn't even funny. :) Of course, you can also choose a different course, but this one with cottages surely works. If you have one fully cottaged city, you can support a greater army and more cities, not to mention a better tech rate.

I would like to ask you to also post your tech path, as well, because the order in which you researched the techs is also a good thing to know.
 
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