PW-01: Holy word

[pholkhero]

well, really, we have two cities that can operate right now. Heliopolis (thanks for posting a pic of it Pawelo ~ twas the only one i wanted to get) will be busy whipping WBs and other things for the near-term.

Thebes is the only one with missionary capacity @ the moment. And, though i don't think we're in any danger in the next turnset from Stalin ~ he sure don't like us and has a larger army than us, so we'll need military pretty soon.

We could have Thebes spam missionaries for a turnset or two (maybe producing 6 or more), and have Memphis go with a settler>unit>settler>unit>unit>unit for the same time. It's a shame neither the wine city nor the ivory one are big production cities, but once it grows up a bit, the ivory one, with it's plains hill and plains forests, might make a nice missionary center.

Red dot, as Zargon says, might be the best next city to settle simply for its prod capacity. All the others seem to be made for commerce (or GPF @ the purple site).

re: mao ~ he asked, during my set, for Meditation and I denied just so that he couldn't produce missionaries. However, i don't think he'll hold off on it too long.

Also, after CS, then what?? I would say the upper part of the tree, focusing on culture and economic, as we don't need Monarchy anytime soon w/all the temples we can build.

If we could have Memphis push out 3 settlers, for red, blue and green dots (i would settle red first for added production) and garrisons for them, then swap it over to some of those wonders we want. Oh, and I started the pyramids for rep figuring we'd be running many priests specialists in the near-future.

 

[pawelo]

Checklist:

-military
-missionaries
-a settler?

I assume we're going to switch to representation. Nice dotmap pawelo, but I'd move green dot 1E. River access for some overlap with Thebes is a good trade IMO.

Hope you're stille there stuge

I put a potential got it on this one for in five hours (48 limit expired).

I agree on Pholkhero's global remarks, I think we should focus culture to get Music as soon as possible. Also, claim all the religious wonders in the meantime. Agreed also on red for Wboat pump then blue and green.

 

[stuge]

I don't have time for a report right now, but the save is HERE. I'll check back in this evening and write the turns up.

 

[pawelo]

I don't have time for a report right now, but the save is HERE. I'll check back in this evening and write the turns up.

OK!
No problem
Awaiting your sum-up then

 

[stuge]

Or, the good and the bad.

Good:

-Buddhism spread to Novgorod and Stalin converted.
-Shaka converted.
-Mao converted back to the true faith without any prompting from us.
-Thebes now has six religions, thanks to a very determined christian missionary.
-We have OB with everyone.
-Iron popped up near Memphis. That city is getting utterly ridiculous. It can build any currently available wonder in ten turns or less.

Bad:

-Gilgamesh converted to Judaism and JC to Hinduism.
-A buddhist missionary failed at Memphis.
-No new cities.
-A couple of moves.

Lots of good things there. The iron was the result of trading math to Gilgamesh for IW. An additional bonus was +1 to relations for fair trades. The random spread of Buddhism was especially fortunate. Our economy is looking sweet with the revolt to representation and bureaucracy.

I researched sailing-> monarchy-> currency. Sailing and currency to boost trade routes since we can now reach everyone. Monarchy was a stupid move. I thought I'd clear it out of the way since it's a prerequisite for DR. Six turns later, when it was finished, messages of switches to HR began popping up and I felt a little like an idiot.

The development of Sumeria and Rome is unfortunate. One missionary is already en route there with a war chariot escort and another one just finished in Thebes.

The fact that we have no new cities is partly due to me building aqueducts in Thebes and Memphis. This was before I remembered the plethora of healthy seafood around the isthmus. Oh well, you'll thank me in the future. In the meantime I'll be happy to be known as "The wise and mighty ruler, who erects stony things that distinctly resemble monuments of some sort."

 

[pawelo]

Got it for later today or tomorrow moring

Thanks stuge for aque - I always tend to do it very very very late... Anyway, we are up for expansion turnset.

Btw, why do you escort your missionary with a chariot ? Remember, no barbs

I will (hopefully) get back remaining AI to buddhism before it's too late.

 

[pawelo]

Things are starting to slip outta control ...

Stay tuned to see what I mean.

T106:
(IT) Currency - Alphabet
I decided to go for Aesthetics, Lit, Music for this turn set, for the Great Artist and interesting wonders.
Iron is connected.
Chariot@Memphis - Settler

107
B. Missionary@Thebes - Settler
Ulundi is now buddhist.

108


109
(IT) Alphabet - Aesthetics
Settler@Memphis - Axeman
Settler heads for the red spot.

110
Settler@Thebes - Worker
I have noticed we were heavily lacking workers, so my efforts went this way. Also, we have to road and progressively settle (or fortify) the isthmus, otherwise the missionaries will put centuries to get to the other 'continent'.
Axe@Memphis - Axe
I find this unpleasant surprise :



Yep, China over-rexed into OUR part of the continent. They missed the wine spot, but are close enough.
Workboat in Heliopolis.

Elephantine is founded:



111
Workboat@Heliopolis - Galley ( at least the Missionaries will need twice less time to get to the other side )
Axe@Memphis - Axe

112
Worker@Thebes - Worker
Axe@Memphis - Worker

113
(IT) Aesthetics - Litterature
Judaism spreads in Athens (it really gets outta control... ) and this f***ng isthmus is full of trees making our missionary trip a pain in the... Thanks Imphotep
I start the border war with Mao on the same turn settling the wine spot:



114
Worker@Thebes - Paya
Worker@Memphis - Settler - I decide to close Mao's expansion at all costs ( research mainly )
Alex converts to juda...

115
Great calm preceeding the hurricane

116
(IT) Litterature - Music
Having (at last) arrived at the end of the isthmus, I notice Alex has already claimed the access to it settling Pharsalos. I also meet this nice friend - hunter of the weakest :



I just can't understand this guy - he is next to two heathen jewish AIs, and he finds nothing better than starting his Isthmus adventure with this nice stack.

117
Settler@Memphis - Settler (yep, one more)
Whip Galley in Heliopolis.

118
Alex asks for Aesthetics. As I don't want to get negative modifiers, I agree.
Mao asks for Polytheism as trade for Archery and 30 gold. I don't want to p*** him off too, so I agree.
I refuse Meditation to JC for Archery - I won't let him spread hindu.
Galley@Heliopolis - Workboat

119
Workboat@Heliopolis - Barracks - as Shaka seems on his way, no need to gamble on security
Great Prophet born in Thebes - Team decision requested
Settler@Memphis - Worker

120
Here we are, with the state of the world as follows:



As you may notice, shaka is coming. In Turn 131, he will be next to Heliopolis, assuming he DoWs us ) - which I think he'll do. If not, we can let him go for Mao and Stalin. Some security wouldn't hurt - I propose to switch to Theo and get 3-4 correct defenders in Heliopolis just in case.

Two more spots are shown - settler is already there or will be on the next turn. I think they must be settled to stop Mao incursion in our territory. Besides, both are great spots. The most western one has gold, wheat and cows, so it's not a wasted settler.

The purple spot is my suggestion to definitely lock our lands before the next expansion wave. Also, we should settle another isthmus city. I would go for the city near the end of the isthmus - this way we can road it in security and claim all the future sushis to us.

I drew the yellow border of our empire - it will be effective after winning the culture war with Mao (that's why I set Alexandria to build library first). Purple will lock it effectivily.

We should start Parthenon and Great Library once we set up a defensive/dissuasive force for Shaka.

Decision on the prophet - bulb the next tech (I don't know which one is it) or settle ? Definitely not a shrine, at least not yet.

Great artist coming next - culture bomb in Alexandria or golden Age ?

Decision on Paya coming in a few turns - Pacifism ?

Debate, debate...

Rosty:

pawelo - just played
r_rolo1 - UP
Zargon - on deck
TriviAl
Pholkhero
stuge

 

[r_rolo1]

Good, war....

Before we jump into conclusions, are we sure that he's coming after us, and not of Stalin or Mao ( how is his diplo with them? Are we the worst enemy? )?
Can we bribe someone against Shaka, before he lands in our lands?

The prophet will bulb DR, isn't it?..... Then settle ...

Oh, and by the way, got it ... Just wait until I finish LHC VI ( it is almost done )

 

[pholkhero]

If he is coming after us, we'll be sunk ~ i don't know how much more military was built since my set (reading, it looks like another axeman ) we need the military force in any case, imo. Let's focus on that a bit, and maybe start a wonder and those settlers.

that western city, though, looks pretty far away. Does the gold make it worthwhile? I think maintenance will cost us a fair bit for a time until it gets up and running ~ is it worth it right now to settle there, or closer to home?? I honestly don't know, so . . .

Settling that GP, though, might be help out in that regard, too.

 

[·Imhotep·]

Imhotep

 

[r_rolo1]

I finally checked the save ( finished my report of LHC BtS VI.... and am completely burnout ( won't play this today, sorry ) ) and Shaka definitely wants business with someone ( "We're with hands full... " ), but we are the guy that he has better relations... If it wasn't Shaka I would say that we're safe, but this maniac likes to attack humans .... And no one is willing to attack Shaka ( Alex is, but wants more than we can pay ATM... maybe in a few turns things get better ... ). Ideas?

 

[Zargon]

Well, Mao certainly expanded faster than I expected him to. That said, the wine city is in fine shape. The city will start up fine holding just the first ring, which has four of the grassland floodplain 5/0/1 tiles. That will let it whip a bunch of culture buildings to overpower Mao's culture easily.

When music comes in, we should get an artist - we can use that to bulb DR. I'd settle the prophet.

I think in regards to Shaka, we have to operate under the assumption that he will attack us. Here's my suggestion. Heliopolis was made to whip. Have that city start building an axeman, and then whip it for 2 pop when it hits size 4, and overflow that into an archer. The 2 pop whip will pay for both. Then resume the barracks. The city ought to grow back to size 4 fast enough to do it again before Shaka arrives, just make sure no more than 4 hammers are put into the axeman, or else you can't do the 2 pop whip.

In addition, we can pull 3 axemen and a war chariot without pulling the garrison from our top two cities. The others won't be affected for the moment by the unhappiness from a lack of garrison.

5 axemen, a war chariot, and 2 archers ought to be plenty to take out that attack force. But what if Shaka walks through Heliopolis before declaring and attacks our capital? Would he do that? We could defend against such an outcome by pulling OB, but do we want to do that?

With that defense force going, I'd have the capital start pumping out more military, and have the crazy production city start pumping out wonders one right after another. I'd skip the worker, and build parthenon > hanging gardens > library > great library > temple of artemis > angkor wat. But really, the order isn't as important as that it just starts building them, and rely on the capital to build other stuff we need.

Incidentally, neither the copper nor the iron was visible when the marblestonepigscorncopperiron city went down, and yet we hit the 1 tile that grabs them both. Go us.

 

[r_rolo1]

Already played my turns, but can't post report now.... As a treat, lets says that we got some XP ....

P.S Played 15 turns, because Shaka declared in turn 10 and I didn't wanted to hand a hot potatoe to next player. Save is below for anyone that want to see it....

 

[pholkhero]

aren't we supposed to play 15? whoops

 

[r_rolo1]

I thinked that we were in the normal "15 turns first round, 10 from then" format.... aren't we?

EDIT: It looks that we are still in 15... pawelo played 15 turns in previous turnset. So forget what I said

 

[pholkhero]

that's good to know ~ i thought i was breaching etiquette by playing too many!

 

[Zargon]

I'll play tonight. Time for some wonderspam.

 

[TriviAl]

I hope the shaka war goes OK!

In terms of great people, I wouldn't rule out a Golden Age at some point. Find I often come out ahead in GPP terms for the first G.Age - the +100% GPP generation usually exceeds the cost of 1 GP... Aside from the economic and construction benefits. It might be a good use for the GP from music?

IMO, it would best be used when we have some vital infra to build or are inolved in wonder races.

 

[pawelo]

I don't know why, but I somehow couldn't believe he was going after someone else.
Psycho, isn't he ?

Awaiting the complete report

Btw, we should have played 10 as from the second turn, but who cares 15 is fine for me to continue - and you get to feel the game better.

 

[r_rolo1]

Turn 0 – Followed Zargon’s advice ( good one ) and changed Heliopolis queue and moved unneeded garrisons to Heliopolis. Our wondercity ( looks that I was more right about the placing than any of us would imagine ) started Parthenon + Hanging ( 9 turns )
Started chopping next to heliopolis to prevent defensive bonuses to attacking stack

Turn 1 – Settled settler 3 + 4 in designed places:

Spoiler :

Turn 3 – Interesting turn:

Spoiler :

Capitol started TGL ( 5 turns ). Will polute GPP with scientists, but will help research .... Started researching Drama ( for the globe in one of the sushi cities )

Turn 4 – Got the HG... Parthenon in 5 turns.

Spoiler :

Shaka is bringing more troops... he really means business

Turn 5 – Whipped axe in heliopolis and Library in the wine city. Will whip some spears ( Shaka is bringing some HA )

Spoiler :

Turn 7 - Got drama, started paper

Spoiler :

Turn 8 – Got TGL in capitol, started settler for pawelo frontier city ( Mao is marching for somewhere near it with a settler team

Spoiler :

Turn 9 – We got parthenon, JC got ToA.

Spoiler :

Shaka stack is on border....Alea jacta est

Turn 10 – As predicted by our truth-sayers:

Spoiler :

We lost our scouting warrior to a shaka unit....

Turn 11 – Started SoZ in capitol ( we need to make shaka pay for his arrogance )

Turn 12 – Only lost a axe to shaka stack.... cleaned the offender axe with a chariot. Shaka was nice of giving us a total of 12 XP

Turn 13 – Finished A wat , started Sistine.

Spoiler :

Shaka’s HA reinforcement is retreating ....

Whipped theatre in Alexandria and settled pawelo border city:

Spoiler :

Talked with Alex about changing religion:

Spoiler :

One less to go

Turn 15 – Got Paper, started DR ....Also got a prophet..... Maybe we should bulb DR with the Artist that is stored and maybe settling the prophet.....

Got the SoZ in capitol ....

Spoiler :

Decided to stop here. Already played too many turns, but i don’t like to hand wars like this....

Thoughts

We should build some more units, but I think that Shaka will not bug us much more. But we should take care of Mao: the guy is ReXing and we are in his way. We need to settle more cities in the west before he sneaks out a settler to our backs.
We need to convert our wondercity to Budhism, for building the AP fast and furiously. And we should continue the good work of spreading the faith: I neglected it a little due to the war preps, but we still have some civs that are not in Budha's path... more missionaries would be sound.
I let a settler in capitol's queue, for the isthmus sushi.....we should block it ASAP

Roster

pawelo
r_rolo1 - just played, and killed a lot of Impis
Zargon - Up to clean out the mess and to found Islam
TriviAl - On deck to get a load of wonders
Pholkhero
stuge

Good luck!

P.S Save some posts above