PH04: One Happy Family

[Xerol]

The only thing he could convert to, Paganism, was redded out, iirc.

You can only ask an AI to convert to a religion/civic that you're currently using.

 

[karr1255]

Only a quick report because I didn't have alot of time:


T2 - Great Scientist born. He could lightbulb 1700+ of Scientific Method. I let him sit in Delhi for now.

T5 - Replacable Parts done now researching Steel. Hannibal will switch to organized religion for Liberalism. So I gather all caravels at our coast to spread the faith. Maybe he will switch to free religion afterwards oh well, the next player can decide what to do with him.

T7 - Mansa asks us to join the war. I decline since if we conquer one Mansa seems like the better target also because his culture is squeezing us in.

T9 - I just now notice we have 2 hindu missionaries sitting in Hannibals territory and another one loaded on a galleon. So I give him Liberalism and spread the good word around.

T10 - Genghis asks for war support and I agree. Send Units to the front.


I spent most of the turns building grenadiers. Steel comes in 2 and our Stack will be in Mali territory in 2. And the use for the GS can be discussed, he's still idling.

I hate to declare war on my last turn but we're in good shape. Good luck to the next player.

 

[Meatbuster]

Is it my turn now? Ok, let's see what I can do about the situation. Give me 8-10 hours to play and report.

At least, when we finally bump Genghis Khan to Friendly he will never backstab anymore.

 

[pholkhero]

All right. I think we should conquer MM and then Vassalize HC as a good near-future plan, as we also try to devote a lower production city to some missionaries to convert Hannibal. And that's right, Robo, you're up.

Roster:
Pholkhero >>
Karr1255 >> just played
Robo Kai >> UP NOW
Scowler >> on deck
Xerol >>

 

[karr1255]

Don't forget about that great scientist sitting around in Delhi. Academy in our 2nd best science city would be my vote.

 

[Meatbuster]

Do I have the right save? We're not at war with the Mali. You merely stopped trading I think. I will send the units against HC instead. Not declaring war yet though.

 

[Meatbuster]

The special centennial issue of The Indian Gazette features selected headlines from the past 50 years. Out now in newsstands everywhere Hinduism is available.


Mongolia-Mali war continues
Djenne battered but unlikely to fall

Mongolian troops roam freely across Mali, pillaging as they please. They were however, unsuccessful at the siege of Djenne which left its defenders weakened and its citizens starving, but it is still holding out well against the remaining enemy troops.

War preparations against Incans and Mali?
Taxes diverted to propaganda, military

Despite our pacifist ways, the government appears to be spending less money and manufacturing on our religion and infrastructure. Aggresive "diplomatic practices" have occurred in the past fifty years...

An anonymous source has spotted Indian troops near the Incan and Mali border, ready to come to the aid of our ally, Genghis against the Mali or the Incans.

Hannibal starts Hindu revolution!
Carthage embraces the wisdom of the Hindu gods

After Hannibal decides to revolt back to Theocracy, Gandhi's aggressive diplomatic practices continue, culminating in a religious breakthrough. Two missionaries have failed, but two succeed... more and more Carthagininans are following Hindu. Don't be left behind!

Gandhi has proposed sending four more missionary divisions to Carthage to complete the transformation.

Development plan for Bangalore continues
Two towns relocated, initial unrest calmed

Secret gov't build and R&R plans: exposed!
Rumors of higher military spending?

Gandhi also picked up Nationalism along the way. He wishes to draft the first Indian Constitution soon. Engineers propose a new building, a Mausoleum, to honor our great leaders who have passed.

*Delhi: Grenadier -> Grenadier -> Hindu Missionary -> Hindu Missionary -> Cannon -> Cannon
*Madras: Bank -> Hindu Missionary
*Bangalore: Observatory -> Bank -> Christian Monastery
*Kolhapur: Theater -> Granary -> Lighthouse
*Bombay: Grenadier -> Cannon -> Bank
*Madras: Hindu Missionary -> Observatory
*Calcutta: Cannon -> Grenadier


Get your copy of this limited edition special issue, now!

 

[Meatbuster]

Oh yeah, I traded Nationalism because it was the only single tech Hannibal would accept AND Rameses already built the Taj Mahal.

 

[Xerol]

You could've probably got quite a bit of gold out of those 'donations'. Generally asking someone to stop trading, or convert religion/civics isn't worth a _full_ tech, so they'll usually give you some gold on the side (and they clearly had the gold). I doubt we'd get much of a 'fair trades' bonus from these, and we'll probably end up maxing that out by other means anyway, and the extra money certainly couldn't hurt. Just something to keep in mind for later.

 

[Meatbuster]

Well I asked them what would make the deal work and that's what they provided. I guess I should've asked twice. Ok, I'll keep that in mind.

 

[Scowler]

Nice report, RK!

As I am supposed to be back on SG duty tomorrow I have captured the save.

 

[pholkhero]

Great report, Robo! indeed! Love the "50-year Review" idea. That's also great news re: Hannibal. If we can secure more votes on this continent, solidify Hannibal and start a late war with as many allies as we can vs. Ramey and Izzy we should be okay for Diplo, no?

Roster FYI since Scowler's got it ~
Pholkhero >>
Karr1255 >>
Robo Kai >> just played
Scowler >> UP NOW
Xerol >> on deck

 

[Xerol]

I'm going to have to skip again, unless I can get it working by tonight (I won't really have a chance to try to troubleshoot during the week). I've got SP vanilla working, and I can play games in both with the HOFMod, but unmodded I can't do a thing in warlords.

If I can't get it fixed by next weekend, you may have to find a permanent replacement for me.

 

[Scowler]

I played three turns, and then something happened that I thought was worth discussing before we continue. But first...

The story so far...
Indian troops were massing near the Great Wall of Inca, ready for an assault.
Meanwhile, Gandhi looked out upon the Great and Bountiful Indian Empire and saw that it was Good. The only sore spot was the current stagnation of Bombay. Gandhi roused himself to visit the city and preach an inspiring parable about the birds and the bees. The crowds applauded enthusiastically and obediantly trooped home for some recreational rumpy-pumpy.

Not long after, a Great Scientist rose to prominence in the nearby capital, a former pupil of the previous Chief Scientist (now getting somewhat senile and smelly and spending most of his days snoozing on a hillside to the south of Delhi). Confident that his life's work was at last in safe hands, the old lunatic staggered down to Bombay and promptly expired in the city centre, a victim of his own halitosis and body-lice. As a mark of respect an Academy in his name was founded on the spot (obviously the body was first taken somewhere far away to avoid polluting the city's water supply).

While these momentous events were occurring, rumour came from the north that an Incan Golden Age had begun. The Indian military commanders debated the implications of this: going to war against an opponent with the potential for enhanced military production might be folly; on the other hand, waiting might allow technological breakthroughs leading to the Incans fielding more advanced troops.

However, before they could reach a decision, something more dramatic occurred closer to home. The long-running war between the Mongols and the Malians had reached a climax: in a stunning move Genghis captured and razed the city of Djenne. A broken man, Mansa signed a peace treaty and agreed to become a vassal to the Mongols!

So this is where I halted the game. I'm not sure what the implications of this would be for a diplomatic victory: would Genghis/Mansa count as one state when deciding the opponent? For the time being Ramesses still has the largest population: 127 vs 106 for Genghis/Mansa combined.

The other point concerns the future war with HC. As can be seen in the above picture, the destruction of Djenne has left a wide strip of "no man's land" leading to Lahore. Even though HC is otherwise blocked in he can easily send troops through this gap if we are careless - and the power graph reveals that he has a LOT available. So, I think we should delay war for a while, to get troops into place inside this gap, and also some defenders in those cities that may be vulnerable. And then maybe start by attacking Cori-unpronounceable?

Any comments?

Here is the save for anybody who want to take a look.

 

[pholkhero]

Wow! I'm really surprised the fall of one city made MM go for Vassalage. That DOES put a crimp in things. However, i think that MM will vote however Genghis votes, so he's our #1 concern right now. Good call on the postponement for now with the war w/HC. That sounds like a good call. As I said, the last time i saw, HC still lacked gunpowder so, so the sooner the better ~

 

[Meatbuster]

Good, good! Now to bump Genghis Khan to Friendly. Time is right for a dogpile on HC. (+4 war bonus takes time so might as well do it soon).

After Hannibal's transformation is complete and we're rid of HC, it will be Hannibal vs Rameses...

I note that Mansa is dangerously "above" the population line. Once Mansa goes over 50% of Genghis' population, he'll be free.

Oh wait, what if we have Genghis vassalize HC? That way we don't take the diplomatic hit and he still votes for us.

 

[Scowler]

I'll play the rest of this tonight and will concentrate in getting more troops ready and our stacks into the cultural choke point N of the ruins of Djenne.

Constitution is due next turn. Carry on to Demo for Emancipation? And then beeline to Mass Media, picking up the free Scientist for Physics on the way? Or should I concentrate on getting that extra Scientist before anybody else does? The final university needed for Oxford is about 10 turns away, which we'll want in Delhi when SciMeth obsoletes the GL and monasteries. Alternatively, it should be possible to grab Rifling in just a few turns to help against HC's large force of mounted units (he still doesn't have Gunpowder, but I guess the GA will change that soon).

 

[pholkhero]

I like the Geghis vassalizes HC scenario except that if we're still at war with him, Genghis will be at war with us.

as far as the tech path is concerned, i would say keep heading for MM. If, indeed, no one else has Physics, i would grab that before Demo, but a Statue of Liberty may look nice in one of our harbors!

 

[Meatbuster]

"The democracy is expanding, to meet the needs of the expanding democracy."

Oh wait, that's bureaucracy.

Physics is on the way to Mass Media, so our free scientist is on the way.

 

[karr1255]

I like the Geghis vassalizes HC scenario except that if we're still at war with him, Genghis will be at war with us.

as far as the tech path is concerned, i would say keep heading for MM. If, indeed, no one else has Physics, i would grab that before Demo, but a Statue of Liberty may look nice in one of our harbors!

When one party vassalizes another, everyone is then at peace with the vassal.