Random SG 01 - The Randomness Begins

[Optional]

Philosophy done, start research on The Wheel because a road will be profitable soon between Carthage and Utique (5 tiles).

Heheh, we're Carthage; our cities have always been connected with harbours! I don't think we'll make a single road in this game, unless perhaps Cape Town is asking for it.

Looks like good trading; I also would have sold our Truffles as soon as happiness allowed it.

I still have to look at the save, I saw the trade route question already coming up in my set, I was pondering the options as well.

It looks like it's POLUS or GURRA, whoever pushes the button quickest, to PLAY.

 

[EricTheGreat12]

It looks like it's POLUS or GURRA, whoever pushes the button quickest, to PLAY.

Dam this is going to be epic

 

[Teproc]

Right, Carthage, duh. We did need to get the Wheel to get the gold rolling though I'm pretty sure.

 

[Optional]

Now you mention it, I think you're right, but we've been getting the money all along, without The Wheel:

But I would expect to see a city connection icon attached to Utique's city banner then, and that one isn't there. Confusing. What's going on here? Did we get a notification about establishing a city connection when Utique was built?

 

[Gurra09]

I think we need The Wheel for the connection icon to show up but if we're already getting the money there is no need to rush for that particular purpose. I'll check in later today and read up on what Teproc has done, but unless Polus shows up too I guess I will be pushing the button.

 

[Sir Bugsy]

Here's the line up:

Bugs <= on deck
Optional
Polus <= Traveling. Skipped until return.
Teproc <= just played
Gurra <= UP

 

[Sir Bugsy]

Well done Teproc. Attila looks like he is going to be the 800 lb gorilla throwing his weight around. He took Addis Ababa in only a few turns so he has a significant military force. We need to start building more ranged units. It isn't a matter of if he will DOW, only when. Although Suleiman and Darius will probably suffer his wrath first.

I like the international trade route. We can use the extra science.

I learned another new thing about BNW - Dido's harbours. BTW, I am using the Kilimanjaro trick in my present gauntlet attempt. SGs are great for learning new things.

 

[Teproc]

I wouldn't worry about Attila. He might finish up Ethiopia but he won"t get much farther than that, Suleiman likely has a decent military. I guess he might attack Darius, but in that case we'll see it coming. And he tends to crumble in the Renaissance/Industrial anyway. If anything I'm glad Ethiopia's gone (or weakened), they're a cultural powerhouse and a nightmare to conquer.

@Optional : that's strange, I could've sworn you needed The Wheel to get city connections. It's a 2-turn tech and on the path to Construction anyway, so not too big a deal, but still.

 

[Gurra09]

I could have sworn I posted here yesterday but it seems like my reply wasn't sent.

Anyway, what I said was that I think the Cape Town trade route could a wise choice depending on how much influence we already have with them. If the +40 is enough to keep us at Friends status for some time (which gives us food in Carthage), I think that + the extra 1 gpt + the fact that we don't have to waste a turn transferring to Utique makes it a better route. If it's not enough I'm not so sure about which one I prefer.

 

[Teproc]

I believe we're at 5 from a pledge to protect, could be wrong though, and I'm definitely too lazy to check .

I'm pretty sure it's not enough to make us allies, or I would probably have done it.

 

[Gurra09]

Well that would put as at 45 influence with Cape Town if we were to trade with them, bringing us up to Friends but not Allies. Depending on how fast our influence decreases with them we will have some extra growth in our capital for 10-15 turns. Even if the route doesn't come with +4 science per turn, there is 1 extra gpt in the deal plus growth=science in the long run. And also we don't have to wait another turn until we can start bring in the money. I say we should go with Cape Town.

 

[Sir Bugsy]

OK then. Gurra, you're up and you get to go with Cape Town

 

[EricTheGreat12]

Hello ex-team mates

After finally finishing my exam week, I now have tons of spare time on my hands and I was wondering if I can come back into the fold

Ps: You guys seem to be on a good pace; will check the save

 

[Sir Bugsy]

Sure. We'll slot you in after Gurra

Bugs <= on deck
Optional
Polus <= Traveling. Skipped until return.
Teproc <= just played
Gurra <= UP
Eric <= on deck

Still looking for Gurra to give us a "got it"

 

[Gurra09]

I'm here! Downloaded the save but I'm off to bed now. Will play tomorrow.

 

[Gurra09]

Ok, here is my turn log.

T80: I sent the trade route to Cape Town for the reasons I mentioned earlier. This became an even more clear choice for me when I saw that they wanted us to connect Gold - which we will do pretty soon and then our influence will stay high for a longer time.

Attila wanted to trade Wine from us but he only had 2gpt and some horses to offer so I said no. He also made peace with Ethiopia and Darius reached the Medieval Era.

T81: Carthage expanded to a new Truffles tile in the southwest so I sent a worker that had finished our Wine plantation to first chop down a forest for Carthage and then move down to the Truffles. Research on The Wheel was finished and I started us on Bronze Working for Iron and Barracks.

T82: Carthage grew to size 8.

Catholicism was enhanced.

T83: Nothing happened.

T84: Bronze Working is done and we start researching Construction.

T85: Archer is trained in Utique and I start building a Barracks there since I figured it would be our unit production center what with Mt Kilimanjaro and all. Worker cut down a forest which chopped off a turn for the National College.

T86-87: Nothing happened.

Islam was enhanced and an unmet player reached the Medieval era.

T88: Utique expanded to the Gold tile. Construction is done and I upgraded the one Archer that was inside our borders to a Composite Bowman. Started research on Optics so we can Embark units.

T89: Nothing happened.

Cape Town tells us we are losing grasp on them.

T90: National College is done! Carthage starts training a Settler.

Here is what our lands look like right now:

Spoiler :

We have a source of Iron right outside Carthage which the city will expand to in one turn. Also, our Utique worker has finished the Sheep pasture and I would recommend improving the Gold next to improve happiness and Cape Town relations since they will no longer be our friends by next turn.

Iron didn't only pop up outside Carthage but also right next to our third city spot which makes it even better!

Spoiler :

 

[EricTheGreat12]

Good job Gurra

When I checked the save, I noticed that there was a lone scout in Carthrage.

Any reason why we're keeping him there?

 

[Gurra09]

We have nothing to Scout so he sits there as garrison to get the Oligarchy garrison bonus until there is something more useful for him to do.

 

[EricTheGreat12]

We have nothing to Scout so he sits there as garrison to get the Oligarchy garrison bonus until there is something more useful for him to do.

Then why keep two scouts ? We don't need the one in Carthrage as a garisson. Heck, if we do want an extra "security" in our capital, a archer would be way better; and we can get rid of the scout so we can save money. If we are going to scout the one that we have north of our second city is a good enough strategy; if we are going to war against Persia, he can check out their border so we can notice when the Persian army would be popping up.

Questions we should ask ourselves:

1-Do we continue to prepare war against Darius, or do we go towards a peacefull/friendly stance?
2-Do we start making alliances with city-states and civs for the long run?

 

[Optional]

When we've researched Optics - only 1 turn to go - we should send a scout east to explore the continent. In the meantime a garrisoned unit doesn't cost maintenance. If we need open borders for exploration I would get it. I expect the AI to have Civil Service by now.

We're only using 1 of our 2 trade routes, to establish another route would be good. A caravan to Utique would be good as it's hardly growing right now and certainly can't work the gold. Also an international trade route would be good.

Focusing on science and expansion is just as much a preparation for war with Darius as building troops, if we get 4 towns in we should be able to field a military that is as advanced and strong in numbers as his. I think that's why we are building a settler. Have we got a third worker yet?

I haven't looked at the save yet, so take my comments with a pinch of salt, I should be overlooking things, as that's what happens if you don't look at a save. Keep a close eye on trading options. If we can sell our horses, do it. If we can sell iron, do it. Need to be careful with luxes because of happiness and we're expanding.

Where's our quinquereme? Remain aware of Suleiman or Darius being capable of coming over water with an embarked settler; we need to block the water ways.

Sorry for being a bit short in my comments, I've been spending all my spare time beta testing AoW's Eternal Lords. I'm certainly not an ideal SG player right now.