Play With Me 2: Iroquois, Part 7. A gilded cage
Welcome to part 7 of my zero-culture ICS game. By now, the no-social-policies-policy is rearing its ugly head. In a normal ICS game, this playset would see me a lot better off because I would have Meritocracy and/or Freedom. But Freedom is for hippies and Meritocracy is for evil wall street managers, so who cares?
I will probably try to finish this game a bit more quickly than I was going to because of the many changes in the announced patch. If you can't read something on the image, try clicking it to see the full-size version. Now, on to the action!
Turn 130
I finish two settlers. I decide on the indicated positions. Vienna will disturb my lattice a bit but nevermind. The positions I chose will allow me fast movement through between Vienna and Berlin, which is quite useful strategically.
Turn 131
I am still occasionally surprised by just how stupid the combat AI behaves. This turn, two units suicided into one of my Mohawks-gone-Longswordsmen and the AI gave me my pick of archer or crossbowman to simply walk over. Just here for the facepalm potential, really, and because it's so sad. The strategic AI isn't doing much better: I still can't get peace from either Siam or Songhai.
Turn 134 - Oh noes!
A barbarian warrior does something dangerous for once: Pillaging my only spices. Since I'm pushing against the very unhappy limit, this forces me to buy a Colosseum in the city I founded last.
I also capture both of these Siamese cities (capturing 2 workers, nice!) and produce another Great General, who will trigger a Golden Age when I build the Forbidden Palace.
Turn 135
Ok, so I mean business, right? You didn't kind of get that from losing all your armies against me? Sorry, my bad I guess.
Quite a busy turn. I raze both of Askia's cities and alter my settlement plan to settle a bit more aggressively against Siam and cut them off from settling in what I perceive as my territory. I like these spots, they will hopefully allow me to hem in Ram a bit (keep in mind Nakhom Chung will be razed next turn). This will also allow me to get Silver, which I can then sell to someone.
Turn 136
Some tactics: I still have the second-largest army after Alexander, so the only one who is likely to attack me now that I have peace with my sworn enemies is he. He can only really attack Rome, which has an incredibly awesome tactical situation. I will move my horses there, and upgrade them to Knights once I research Chivalry. Due to Rome's excellent position, they should be able to hold it easily against anything Alex could throw at me.
Turn 138
Again, Ram will plant a city between two of mine. I really wonder why they programmed an AI that totally freaks out when you settle anywhere near them but at the same time doesn't expect you to come after them if they do.
I found Buffalo and immediately buy a Colosseum. I have enough money due to the peace deals and nothing I could spend it on usefully, except Cols. I personally like building settler and buying Colosseums because all the Maritime-driven food surplus allows speedy settler production even if you work two scientist slots. Furthermore, buying a Colosseum will mean you get the library in that city up and running a lot earlier.
Turn 140
Cuba follows suit. I also clean up a barb encampment that's been harassing me north of Rome.
Turn 142
I clean up another encampment which was targeted by two city states. Civil Service is finished.
Turn 144
I am building a couple more settlers now, after some cities finished their Colosseums. I have a decent happiness surplus at the moment but it will soon drop again. I spend 1000 on an alliance with Singapore who have pearls nearby (they are improved, but I didn't know that when gifting them). I will soon sign mutual Open Borders with Alexander to scout him out a bit.
Turn 147
Ram declared war on Askia. Isn't he a little warmonger? If I wouldn't be getting a lot of gold per turn from him, I would join the fray on Askia's side but the status quo is more profitable for me.
I sign research agreements with Alexander and Harun al-Rashid. I hope to hell Alex won't attack me before it's finished.
Turn 148
What this image doesn't show is the five additional Hoplites, three CC and Longswordsman further to the east. No kidding!
Turn 149
Another one of those busy turns. I finish Chivalry, then proceed with my plan to bulb Banking. Then my second GG is burned for a Golden Age. I'm beginning to fancy the Longhouse, it grants a quite decent production boost that works for wonders, too.
Turn 150
Pliny says: Alexander really likes pointy sticks (don't ask me where, though)! As if I hadn't known without him. I'm wondering whether I should feed Ram to the wolves. I will definitely do so once I declare on him but probably not before. I don't think he stands a snowflake's chance in hell against Alex. In fact, I'm not so sure about my own ability to withstand an overwhelm once Alex gets Rifling. Mayhap I should try to get it myself.
Turn 155
Well, I kind of saw it coming. Not that I mind, I'm in a great position to drain Alexander of his forces. Even CC can't cross a river without stopping and I have two knights with Shock 3 in Rome.
My empire changed a bit in the last couple of turns, eh? Golden Ages can do that for you. I also annexed Vienna during this GA.
Askia seems to have gone quite insane and declares war on me at the end of the turn. Well maybe me settling 3 cities on his doorstep contributed. But who cares about that weakling, anyways? It's soon time for my city state tithe, too (500 for each of two of my three allies)
Turn 160
Gah! I can steal Gao here. Unfortunately, this puts me at very unhappy for three turns because I don't have enough money to buy the two Militaristic CS as allies for their luxuries.
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That's all, folks! I hope you enjoyed reading. As I wrote in the beginning, this game is weaker than a normal ICS game but I'm still managing to keep on equal footing with a powerhouse (aka run-away) Greece. Need any more proof for ICS power? Stay tuned.
Part 8