Round Objectives:
I wanted to expand the empire if at all possible, however to me this Round was about developing our capacity to self-research.
The targets were to;
- Get the free technology available from being the first tribe to Liberalism.
- Get the naval movement bonus by being the first tribe to circumnavigate the globe.
- Access Chemistry.
- Build the Oxford University.
Opening
I switched out of Education and into Engineering for the Pikemen as Cyrus was using Horse Archers, and I wanted the road movement bonus. I converted to Hinduism (our most widespread religion) despite the diplomatic penalty (Mansa Musa was soon to switch to Christianity), and adopted Vassalage.
As per usual, all cities were reworked to emphasise
.
Round Overview
The initial Great Scientist unsurprisingly built an Academy in Tenochitlan (1050AD), although later I would pop two more; an Academy in Corny Gems, as well as a light bulb towards a key technology.
The fight with Cyrus ran out of puff sooner than hoped or expected, with several battles lost that contrasted with the odds that indicated should have been won; for instance I lost a City Raider III Maceman against a Persian Swordsman at 96.5%. I took three cities, and if he was not in trouble before, Cyrus has now been crippled to a point of non-competitiveness.
At the conclusion of the Persian-Aztec War, I switched out of Vassalage / Theocracy, and into more constructive civics; Bureaucracy / Organised Religion as Universities became an option.
I secured the circumnavigation bonus in 1150AD after meeting the two tribes on the other continent, and pulled off the Liberalism freebie in 1190AD and opted for Astronomy.
I traded more freely than I would normally do, and traded with two tribes that I normally avoid, however neither Mali nor India were presenting themselves anywhere near as threatening as America. In two sessions of exchange I would trade; Astronomy, Gunpowder, Engineering and Liberalism to pick up maps, cash, Nationalism, Guilds, Banking, and Constitution.
The technology path for this Round was;
Engineering > Education > Liberalism + Astronomy > Guilds + Nationalism > Printing Press > Gunpowder > Chemistry > Banking + Constitution > Scientific Method (next turn)
With a fairly liberal application of the whip while in Organised Religion, I was able to construct the six Universities and Oxford University by 1390AD (Cabert to discuss
). I have opted for the 'Mercantilism and Representation' combination for the time being.
On our continent; Roosevelt has Rifles, Mansa has Knights, and Rome and Persia have Longbows. We have access to Grenadiers, although I have not undertaken any cash upgrades from Maces at this point.
In Summary
I am pleased that I was able to achieve all of the pre-round objectives I set myself, and indeed exceeded my technology target. Equally, I am disappointed that more headway into Persia was not made, although this should be easy enough later on with much more modern units.
I hope that I’ve not submitted the trash game, however if so, I think that it’s clear that we can no longer compete with Roosevelt without undertaking some bold moves.