Ramesses II., Deity, Pangea, Normal speed

[krikav]

When sal has quarried masonry, I wouldn't worry too much about the marble this early.
Could have been painfull if mansa would have taken it, and that would have lead to a heroic epic delay.

But I think I personally would have preferred to place the city that close to the wheat as well.

 

[Ororo]

Turn set 5 (2040 BC - 1560 BC)

Well, Sal (slightly) screwed my settling plans in the east during this set but I think we'll be fine.

First of all, we met Sitting Bull.

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Mansa's Skirmisher started exploring in the east so I took this opportunity to do some scouting as well (using the Skirmisher as my bodyguard ).

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Overflow from whipping the Worker was put into a Granary in Memphis since we hadn't researched Mysticism yet.

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Capital was about to pop its borders so I moved the new worker next to the Copper.

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Mysticism is done on T52 and we immediately switch to Obelisks in Memphis and Heliopolis.

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Next up is Writing for Libraries and as prerequisite for Aesthetics. (wonders, trade chip, path to Lit)

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Great Wall built in a far away land.

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Mansa researched Alphabet but we don't have a single tech on him as expected.

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Arrogant French comes with an arrogant demand. And we get diplo demerits for refusing.

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Here's Sal Settling party. I was a bit desperate when I saw this. But wait, you'll see how stupid the AI is at making settling decisions.

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I decided to whip the monument in Memphis since the chop had to go into a Settler in Capital.

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The overflow went into a worker.

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The settler in Capital was whipped as well. The overflow went into Granary.

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Open Borders with Sal.

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Out of all the possible city sites, Sal chose this one. Really game?

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So I decided to settle my two cities like this. I'm going to chop out a monument in Cow/Wheat to prevent Sal from getting those tiles. I'll probably continue with a Library to further culture-press him.

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Heliopolis started on my first Axe. We might as well use that Copper for something, right?

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Ragnar converted to Hinduism.

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Mansa is now pleased. Very nice. However, the one I'd like to get to Pleased asap is Ragnar!

Judaism was founded on T61. I'm pretty sure Mansa founded it.

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We found our 4th city, Elephantine. The city immediately started on a Monument and our worker will help with that.

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[Ororo]

(continued)

Thebes. It has been the major Settler/Worker pump for our empire. It's currently regrowing on a Granary, which I might chop out soon. I think I'll let it grow to size 6 and then 3-pop whip a Settler into Library.

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Memhpis. Quite clearly it's going to become a commerce city. It will regrow on a Granary once the Worker is done. I really need to grab that hill 1SW to get at least some production.

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Heliopolis. Should have an ok production once that Marble is hooked up as well. If I go for Parthenon, this might be a good place to build it (or at least partially build it for failgold).

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Elephantine. Currently rushing to get its Obelisk up and running.

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Resource trade screen:

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Tech trade screen:

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Diplo table:

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[vranasm]

I wouldn't choose Elephantine where you placed it.

I would opt either for the furs (1W) or for 1st ring grass cows (1NW of cows). prefer a bit the latter. You won't lose culture 1st ring battle like ever. 2nd ring it's completely other song.

 

[Grashopa]

I just played the start and its interesting. I think I'm going to follow Obs here. 2000 BC spoiler:

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SIP mining->BW->myst double worker start to chop out stonehenge in 2520 or so. Settled Obsolete's marble city and about to settle Ororo's copper/marble city. Mali's holy city took the marble and wheat and I saw immediately I was boxed in. Warrior didn't have a chance for XP so no HE.. Picking up ToA with chops after masonry for the marble.. I'll try my first ever culture win since Obs did it, I'm bored with military games and diplo is safe. Room for 6 cities tucked in here..

 

[obsolete]

Awwww shucks... I feel honored.

 

[Grashopa]

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ToA got me a settled GM then a GP theology bulb and a GP civil service bulb. Got to music a turn before Mali which allowed an early flip of the southern city getting me my 9th. Ended up getting another 2 GPs to bulb the muslim tech founding it for my 5th religion. Cheap temples from SPI and IND was helpful. With all those multipliers + towns w/ free speech things went quick. I did forget to grab liberalism for the longest time though :/

 

[Ororo]

I have played the next set but I probably won't have time to write down the report until Thursday/Friday (because of exams).

 

[Grashopa]

You can throw some hints out

 

[PeteJ]

I decided to give this a go.

1480BC:

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I researched mining>bw then went straight for the oracle. I got it a bit late in 1560bc and took COL. I settled the marble wheat city and I'm ready to settle the eastern marble next turn.

My empire:

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[obsolete]

Hmm, I don't know Pete. That obelisk in your Holy city seems like a waste of hammers. I guess that may have been your insurance policy in case the confu gambit didn't work?

I would have built the stonehenge early and not had to worry about that junk.

It also seems you are running far too many scientist at far too early a time.. leaving those improvements unused now. I know you want some tech jumps early but I think there is such a thing as perhaps too early? There is also a chance you get a priest instead of the scientist it seems you really want bad.

 

[Ororo]

I apologize for the delay. Had to learn a lot for my exams and it seems to have paid off

Turn set 6 (1560 BC - 700 BC)

Ok. We started off by directing our research towards Aesthetics.

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Mansa converted to Judaism and adopted OR.

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Elephantine received a chop and will finish its Obelisk in 2 turns.

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SB converted to Hinduism. Looks like Mansa is going to be the only heathen here. That's good and bad. Mostly bad though, since AIs will love each other now.

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OB with Sitting Bull. I doubt that it's going to help my trade routes but the diplo bonus is always nice.

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The first Axe is built on T64 Oh man, barbs were a total non-issue this game.

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Memphis got its first border pop.

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Capital received a chop and will finish its Granary in 1 turn.

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We found a source of Silver and some extra Fur in the northwestern tundra. I might settle it later if Mansa doesn't grab it.

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More chopping.

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Capital grew to size 6 and can now 3-pop whip a Settler.

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Soon, De Gaulle converted to Hinduism as well.

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Here comes the 3-pop whip... The overflow went into a Library.

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[/IMG]

Mansa is trolling me with his Culture.

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I starve Capital a little bit to finish Library a turn faster.

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The obelisk has paid off, we now have control of both Cows and Wheat.

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Alexandria is settled.

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We assign 2 Scientist specialists in Capital.

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Pyramids built in a distant land. Being boxed in and having no stone, I hadn't considered them at any point.

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I think I haven't shown who owns which Wonders so here you go:

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Mansa came asking with this. I think you'll criticize me for this decision but I accepted. I'm SPI and I can switch back in 5 turns. Plus I really want the Diplo boost with Mansa.

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We had a surplus Wheat so I decided to sell it to Mansa.

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Alexandria got its Monument chopped:

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One could argue that a SH could have been worth it, especially since we're IND. But I think in this situation those fast 3 cities were necessary to stay at least somewhat competitive.

Memphis grew to size 6 and it's going to 3-pop whip another Settler.

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[Ororo]

(continued)

Aesthetics is in. We choose Alpha next.

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Mansa finally gave us what we wanted. The ability to trade techs.

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However, I'm a bit disappointed to be honest. Apart from Mansa, there is no speed-techer. No interesting deals, I'm afraid.

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Heliopolis starts on a Statue of Zeus. The sole reason here is fail gold.

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Next up in tech is Polytheism. I want my Great Library and I want it now.

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Settler is 3-pop whipped with as much overflow as I could get. It went into a Library.

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The following trade was made with Mansa.

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The settler is heading North to settle a Filler city that will grab Fur.

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There is also an ok spot in the northwestern ice. Mansa might beat me to it though.

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Not sure where to go from here? Swords/Catas might work vs Sal if I have a source of Iron. I will need to bribe him on somebody/bribe someone against him though.

 

[RedKi-rr]

Very nice writeup!
I read with pleasure. Please continue)

 

[obsolete]

Ummm, I keep cringing my eyes screen-shot to screenshot here. I seems to me more of an example of HOW NOT TO PLAY Egypt. Things just look ugly, ugly, and more ugly as the turns progress.

That said, it will be INTERESTING now to see how you can pull this off. Not even one wonder yet at this stage with Rammy, just seems terrible to me. I also think that fail-gold stunt did you more harm that good as well, but lets see what happens...

 

[BurN]

Actually I played this game twice.. one solo and one from his previous save both ended rather well without wonder madness. You know there`s more then 1 strategy to play this game obs?

Must say I hated the micro between all the shared cottages from ororo.

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Both times wiped mansa & bull. Once with curs second time cavs. Didnt bother to play them out since everybody was pleased/friendly and itd be an easy victory with all the land. In my own game I managed to get get sals marble and mansa`s deer/silver though. City placement quite some difference with ororo.

Ontopic:
I would actually try to get that fish city before Mansa gets there. That city N of capital is already yours anyway, I doubt anyone is going to settle there. Something else to think about is how many turns for Helliopolis to pop borders once more? It might be handy to check.. quite possible the marble will come back to you.

 

[Ororo]

I admit that the cottage micro is pretty painful but those early Towns will definitely pay off, I promise!

You're absolutely right about the clam/copper/fur spot...

As for marble, it's going to be a huge PITA to get it back. Mansa currently has about 75% Culture on that tile and it's not drastically changing in my favor I'm afraid.

I'll probably play the next set on Wednesday coz I was in a FFH2 mood during this weekend.

 

[Ororo]

Played the next set until 1AD...things are looking pretty good imo. I'll post the report in the evening.

 

[Ororo]

Turn set 7 (700BC - 1AD)

Ok, we started the set by making this trade with SB.

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http://i797.photobucket.com/albums/yy256/tkeseli/Civ4ScreenShot0239-1.jpg[/IMG[/SPOILER]]

Unfortunately, he had to act like an idiot and came with this demand. I really hate stop-trading demads, especially the fact that they work differently for the human than they do for an AI.

[SPOILER][IMG]http://i797.photobucket.com/albums/yy256/tkeseli/Civ4ScreenShot0240-1.jpg

De Gaulle was researching Alpha so I decided to get at least something for it in exchange.

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We whipped the Library in Memphis. Good players tend to avoid whipping in Commerce cities but this city really doesn;t have ANY production and I it can regrow pretty fast...

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I took Burn's advice and settled Pi-Ramesses on this spot.

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Also whipped the Granary in Alexandria, the overflow will help us produce a Work Boat.

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Minor tech trade with De Gaulle. (At that point I still considered the option of going Construction for Catas).

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GS was born and was immediately used for an Academy in Capital.

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Elephantine ran out of useful things to build so it started on Parthenon. Quite a lot of AIs had Aesthetics at that point so it was more or less an investment into failgold.

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Settler was whipped in Capital. It can now regrow to its Cottages/other improved tiles.

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The Happiness was becoming less of an issue so I decided to switch out of Judaism. This got Sal back to Catious and I'm relatively safe once again.

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Sal was finally willing to trade Maths on T95. I immediately took the opportunity.

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Giza, our 7th city was settled. It will never be a good city. However it grabs 2 precious Fur resources which I seem to have a monopoly on.

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Let the fur trades begin:

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Literature is in. We can start building Great Library in our Capital. We choose to beeline Civil Service next.

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The failgold starts kicking in as well. First of all, from Statue of Zeus:

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More "happiness trades" with Sal:

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I made a slight detour to grab Calendar along the way. It was probably a misplay in a retrospect.

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Marble is finaly ours! And we get some really nice bonus to the hammers we put into Wonders.

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Once again, we get an stupid stop trading request. This time from Ragnar and he chose the worst possible person (well Sal is probably a bit worse since we have so many resource trades with him). I hate to refuse it, especially since Ragnar would probably trade me his horses at Pleased, but I couldn't antagonize the best tech trading partner in the game...

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Library was whipped in Alexandria.

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We get ourselves some nice failgold for the second time, this time from The Parthenon.

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De Gaulle likely failed on his attempt to build as well and got a nice pile of cash.

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More resource trades at the end of the set:

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In 1AD we finally built The Great Library.

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We finished the set by making this trade with SB, which put him to Pleased.

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[Ororo]

Overview of the empire:

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