RB7 - Winter Wonderland

[Jaffa Tamarin]

The monkeys have been informed that the game is waiting. They are busy discovering themselves in their new Hermitage, and will get back to you all probably tomorrow.

 

[Clovis]

Yeah, I think I can understand why Sullla would hate that.

Shame on you, Sirian!

 

[Jaffa Tamarin]

0) 1830AD - The monkeys, having reached enlightenment in the Apache Hermitage, are fired with enthusiams to liberate our peoples from all possible yokes of opression. We adopt Universal Suffrage + Free Speech + Emancipation + Free Market + Free Religion.

Research increases from 735/turn to 784/turn.
Income increases from zilch/turn to 26/turn.

IT: Kumbi: Factory -> Coal Plant (queue)
Walata: Coal Plant -> Aqueduct
Gao: Factory -> Coal Plant (queue)
Agades: Bank -> Factory (queue)

Tadmekka loves the monkeys!

1) 1832AD - time passes.

IT: Djenne: Factory -> Coal Plant (queue)
Niani: Factory -> Coal Plant (queue)

Kumbi loves the monkeys!

2) 1834AD - time passes.

IT: Timbuktu: Courthouse -> Machine Gun
Kumbi: Coal Plant -> The Statue of Liberty (the monkeys were appalled to discover that this beloved symbol of freedom had not yet been constructed!)
Walata: Aqueduct -> University

3) 1836AD - time passes.

IT: Kublai Khan wants to give us Military Tradition and 50 gold for Biology. The monkeys have no idea what the state of the world is technology-wise, and can't seem to break out of the trade screen to go look, but have no interest in the Mongol's savage and brutal "Traditions", so we respectfully decline.

Tadmekka: Factory -> Coal Plant (queue)
Apache: Factory -> Coal Plant (queue)

4) 1838AD - the monkeys order a harbor in Apace before the coal plant, to avoid health problems whent the coal plant goes into operation.

IT: Timbuktu: Machine Gun -> Drydock

5) 1840AD - the monkeys change back to organized religion, but are disappointed to see it only saves one turn on the Statue of Liberty build. Temporary starvation of the citizens brings this down by one more turn.

IT: Gao: Coal Plant -> Machine Gun
Wadan: Aqueduct -> Observatory

6) 1842AD - time passes.

IT: Research: Medicine -> Physics
Walata: University -> Hospital
Niani: Coal Plant -> Aqueduct
Apache: Harbor -> Coal Plant (queue)

7) 1844AD - time passes.

IT: Timbuktu: Drydock -> Hospital
Tekedda: Factory -> Coal Plant (queue)

8) 1846AD - time passes.

IT: Gao: Machine Gun -> Drydock
Tadmekka: Coal Plant -> Barracks
Djenne: Coal Plant -> Jewish Monastery (queue)

9) 1848AD - the monkeys cancel the monastry in Djenne, and plan a hospital instead. The people are sick and starving, they need medicine!

IT: Kublai Khan wants us to go to war with Germany, again. We agree, the Germans have been persecuting innocent simians for long enough! Griselda likes war, right?

Walata: Hospital -> Drydock
Niani: Aqueduct -> Hospital

England has built the Statue of Liberty! Well, drat.

10) 1850AD - our galleons taunt the German caravels, hoping to incite attack.

 

[Griselda]

War! I'll try not to panic and deplete any savings we have this time.

I should be able to play tonight.

 

[Griselda]

(0) 1850 AD - Wake up the ironclad to pester the Germans.


BT - Qin wants to give us military tradition and 1270 gold for steel. Now, I realize that military tradition is pretty much worthless to us, but the lump sum of gold is nice, we could stand to be closer to Qin, and we've had steel for a really long time- we had it the last time I played. So, I accept.

Rome then comes demanding steel, and I refuse. He was bluffing.

TImbuktu hospital - ironclad. Kumbi's statue is melted down for 751 gold, and it starts a hospital. Gao drydock - hospital. Tadmekka rax - market.

(1) 1852 AD - Fred sails two caravels next to my ironclad. I sink one with the 'clad, and one with a frigate. I then take a risk and sink a caravel with a galleon, because I have another nearby that can at least make sure the caravel dies if my luck is bad.

BT - Qin now wants open borders. Sure, friend! Physics comes in, go for electricity. Kumbi hospital - infantry. Apache coal plant - aqueduct.

(2) 1854 AD - We have three sources of uranium. I start mining the one near Walata. Peter's got artillery. That's making me nervous that he would beat us to rocketry. Still, I think we need refrigeration ASAP, and maybe we could trade for artillery this way? Of course, if more than one civ has artillery before we get refrigeration, that's not good news, either. Decide to go to 100% science - 892 beakers/turn. That's a 116 deficit, but we now have 2150 gold (we had around 100 two turns ago).

BT - The Germans do attack a galleon with a caravel, and lose! Timbuktu ironclad - ironclad. Walata drydock - ironclad

(3) 1856 - Once again, the Germans have two caravels by our frigate-ironclad combo. I sink both. All the tiles in the area have gone haywire because of the boring Germans sailing over them. As if our laborers were every in any danger!

BT - Peter asks for biology for free. Sorry, but no. Tekedda coal plant - hospital. Apache aqueduct - grocer. The Germans make peace with the mongols. We finally get our prophet in Awdag.

(4) 1858 AD

BT - Gao builds a hospital, starts an infantry. Walata hospital - Oxford (it's commerce isn't great, but it's all water growth now). Niani hospital - courthouse. Tadmekka market - hospital. Awlil factory - coal plant.

(5) 1860 AD

Djenne hospital - infantry. Kumbi hospital - red cross.

(6) 1862 AD - Build the Mahabodhi for 39 more gold per turn.

(7) 1864 AD - Germany is offering their world map, 20 gold, and 6gpt for peace. Sounds good to me. They immediately go to cautious.

BT - Germany offers silk for uranium. We decline.

Electricity - refrigeration. Niani courthouse - university.

Qin declares war on Fred.

(8) 1866 AD -

BT - Caesar declares war on us. Good thing I sent some of those 'clads west.

(9) 1868 AD - I get Khan to sign on to war with Caesar for biology. Trade gold for deer to Qin.

OK, the Romans have a cav and two catapults at Apache. Not too terribly threatening, especially with our choke point location, but I do wish we had more cannons (I hadn't built any myself because I was waiting for the artillery tech). More scary is their two galleons and four frigates loaded with cats and some cavs, north of Apache. I'm not sure where they're headed yet.

BT - Kumbi Red Cross - cannon. Walata Oxford - cannon. Tekedda hospital - aqueduct. Apache hospital - walls. Rush walls for 99 gold.

(10) 1870 AD - Rome unloads everything by Apache. I can get two more infantry there this turn via galley- they're loaded in the galley which is in port there. To the north, they have 3 cavs, a rifle, and 5 caatapults. To the SW they have two cats. The cavs pillaged the cows.

Instead of attacking the cats and leaving units exposed to the cav, I upgrade three obsolete units at Apache. I guess this means I spent our bankroll two rounds in a row! I turn science down to 90%, which provides positive cash flow.

Good luck.

 

[Drasca]

Pressure? What pressure? It's not like I expect you to read my mind. Right?

To be honest, I put pressure on Liquidated to follow certain moves and certain Drasca logic--usually in the order of "Get the most movement out of these troops! and whip them into action!"

 

[Sirian]

So our bankroll vanishes again, eh?

At least our city isn't vanishing.

Dwip is up. I hope he can pacify Rome, because if Caesar ticks me off...

- Sirian

 

[Dwip]

Note to self: Saying, at 5:30am after just waking up, "I'll go post my got it post in a couple" apparently fails to work for some unknown reason. Don't do this anymore.

Got it now, though. Might be later rather than sooner.

 

[Dwip]

[0] 1870 AD -

In AD 1870, war was beginning...

RB7: What happen?
Infantry: Caesar set up us the catapult.
RB7: You have got to be kidding me. And why are we talking like fools, anyway?
Infantry: It's in the script, sir. Dwip's doing another one of those All Your Base things he does from time to time.
RB7: Oh, I see. Carry on, then.
Infantry: We get...message? I don't even get to say "Main telegraph turn on" or anything?
RB7: The Romans don't even have physics, let alone electricity.
Infantry: So we can pretty much laugh at all this "All your base are belong to us, you are on the way to destruction" business here?
RB7: Pretty much. I think Apache's going to get pillaged a lot, though.
Obi-Wan Farmobi: I have a bad feeling about this.

Set research to Artillery, though I thought REALLY hard about Flight, because I'd love to set up Caesar the bomber, as it were, but.

Also drop us into Theocracy and Nationhood. Don't draft at Apache, but think about it hard.

IBT - After monumental amounts of suicide catapults, our MG takes out two Roman cav, and Caesar decides that pillaging is the better part of valor.

[1] 1872 AD - Gao Infantry->Infantry, Tadmekka Hospital->'duct, Apache Walls->Barracks.

Various ships are moved, and various units promoted.

IBT - Caesar suicide catapults us a lot, then doesn't bother to attack with his cav...

[2] 1874 AD - Timbuktu Infantry->Infantry, Djenne Infantry->Infantry, Kumbi Cannon->Cannon, Walata Cannon->Infantry, Niani University->Infantry, Apache Barracks->Bank.

Realize suddenly that somehow our galley that I upgraded to a frigate had two infantry on board when I sailed it out of the harbor. Reload from autosave. Unload infantry. Load different infantry on a galleon in Gao harbor. Move all infantry. For great justice.

[3] 1876 AD - Kumbi Cannon->Pentagon, Tekedda ...something->Grocer.

Allow me to assure you that in that epic struggle between Frigate and Galley, and in a dramatic turnaround from Civ 3, Frigates do in fact win over Galleys.

IBT - On the other hand, we DO lose that epic struggle between two Frigates.

[4] 1878 AD - Gao Infantry->Infantry, Tadmekka 'duct->Infantry, Awlil Coal Plant->Hospital.

We pull Dante, who if we wanted could start a GA. I'm not convinced of its usefulness just yet, so I don't.

Caesar's pillagers are mopped up at Apache. Because I can, I kill his very last catapult with a cannon, for 1 xp and the promotion.

I have no idea what to do about Caesar's pike in front of Apache. I mean, a pike. Our 9 infantry and MG must be cowering in terror.

IBT - Khan comes asking for Medicine. Uh...yeah buddy, sure thing.

[5] 1880 AD - Timbuktu Infantry->Infantry, Walata Infantry->Infantry.

In that epochal struggle vs the Monitor and the Santa Maria, well.

[6] 1882 AD - Arty comes in, start on Refrigeration, since everyone in our whole place is starving because of coal plants and drydocks.

Niani Infantry->Infantry.

Cumae, we're coming for you.

IBT - Ineffectually attacked by Caesar's cav.

[7] 1884 AD - Djenne Infantry->Infantry, Gao Infantry->Infantry, Tekedda Grocer->University.

Apparently Caesar landed a bunch of guys at Cumae, so maybe we'll not be assaulting RSN. However, if he falls for my trap...

IBT - Caesar makes a way more determined effort to kick us out of his territory than I expected. We almost lose, but then we don't.

[8] 1886 AD - Timbuktu Infantry->Infantry, Walata Infantry->Infantry.

We begin withdrawing from Cumae. There will come the time, but that time is not now.

[9] 1888 AD - Refrigeration shows up, we enter Modern, and begin working on Rocketry.

Tadmekka Infantry->Supermarket, Wadan Observatory->Temple.

Troop movement.

[10] 1890 AD - Walata Infantry->Infantry, Apache Bank->Market.

Leaving the vast majority of moves for Sirian to deal with. We're right next to mounting a major attack on Cumae with something like 2 arty, 2 cannons, and whatever ludicrous number of infantry I just showed up with. 7, 9, something like that.

Pentagon is due in 6, at which point I would've had Kumbi building Broadway, which it can do, well, twice as fast as everyone else.

Dante and a Great Merchant are still chilling in Timbuktu.

 

[Sirian]

1890AD: It's not when the first part is done that counts. It's when the last part is done.
I switch research to Combustion.

Draft three units of Infantry. Swap Legal Civic to Vassalage.

I move most of the unmoved troops at Apache across the border in to attack position.

IBT: Two Roman units advance. That Hamlet is pillaged, dooming that to become a Dry Farm.

1892AD: Attack Cumae.

Capture Cumae.

Reinforce Cumae.

Mop up pillagers. Connect Spice Plantation with Railroad. (NEED... HEALTH...)
Load Rifleman from Gao, and Machine Gun and Cannon from Apache, on to Galleon.

Wake our two leaders in TImbuktu and launch our Golden Age.

 

[Sirian]

1894AD: OK, this is a pretty decent sized offensive force.
Must credit the team with a worthy assist on setting this up.
I'll own half of Rome before this round ends.

Land three troops on NORTH island. Three more loaded up to follow.
Ironclad in the area bombards defenses.
Units at Cumae are healing, or moving in to the city.

Land three troops on SOUTH island. (Not going to need any more!)


1896AD: 'Clad in the south continues to chip away.

Attack Setia. Pinch Infantry slaughters Rifle. Drafted Infantry, no promos, mops up.

Capture Setia. Promote drafted Infantry to City Garrison II.

Land three more troops on NORTH island.
Land three troops into forest at Neapolis on Roman mainland.


1898AD: Blank city defenses at Arpinum.

Capture Arpinum.

Bombard Neapolis.


1900AD: Bombard Neapolis. Second shipload of troops arrives.
Attack amphibiously with one Infantry. (Ooh. Close call!)

Decide to land the other two infantry and wait for next turn to complete assault.

Advance Machine Gunner, one Infantry and both siege units across NORTH island.

 

[Sirian]

1902AD: Discover Combustion, start Radio. Destroyers are in production.

Bombard Arretium. Slay the city's best defender with my best attacker.

Two defenders remain.


Pile in to Neapolis, to consolidate, recuperate, etc.

IBT: Lone Roman Candle shoots off at Neapolis:

No significant damage.


1904AD: Attack Arretium.

Capture Arretium.

We now own NORTH island.

Pillage Fish at (the city of) Rome.


1906AD: Unload one Transport worth of Infantry at Antium.

Bombard Antium by sea with Frigate-Ironclad-DESTROYER.


1908AD: Realize that I've landed on the wrong side of one-tile river. Move 4-stack inland at Antium.

Unload second 4-stack (2x Inf, Art, Can) at Antium on hills north of town (correct side of river).

Frigate-Ironclad-Destroyer bombard city defenses to zero.

Our Golden Age has ended.


1910AD: Attack Antium.

Capture Antium.

Six Roman cities captured. Six remain.
I love when a plan comes together.

 

[Sirian]

1910AD: "OK, Caesar, here are my terms. Sign there."

"Welcome back to the Zionist Brotherhood. Yahweh will be pleased."

The UIM (United Islands of Mali) welcomes provinces of New Rome, North Island, and South Island to our Union.

I understand that we're scheduled for some MONKEY BUSINESS here shortly.

Cumae is going to starve one pop point, can't be helped. OK after that.

Setia has one forced Artist specialist to pop its border next turn.
May want to cancel him after that.

Kumbi is set to build a Big Iron Tower(TM) when Radio comes in.
(Have to broadcast all those lost episodes of "Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp"!)

Civics may need to be shifted to peacetime priorities. Up to the Simian Guru.

I know he's going to be in Orangutan Elysium Fields when the BANANAS are harvested!

Also, once Kremlin finishes, we should be willing to rush key infrastructure in our newly acquired holdings!


- Sirian

 

[Gaspar~]

+10 points for Lancelot Link reference

 

[Jaffa Tamarin]

The Hanging Gardens have fallen into disrepair. Weeds have claimed the cracked and fading brickwork, statues lie fallen across the untended paths.

A smartly-dressed aide carrying a ten-foot pole follows the sound of drunken snoring to a sheltered alcove.

*poke

*snore*

*poke-poke*

"Go away, we're sleeping."

"Sirs, you must awake. It is time."

"Go away." "We're not interested." "Let someone else do it."

The aide reaches into a pocket and pulls out a curved yellow fruit, recently imported at great expense from the new Roman colonies. There is a sudden commotion at the other end of the ten-foot pole.

"What's that?" "Is that a banana?" "Where did you get it?"

The aide shrugs, tosses the banana to the monkeys. "The Roman expedition was quite successful. The palace kitchens are stocked with many new delicacies. But, since you're not interested, you may stay here and sleep."

"No, wait!" "As we were saying, if the country needs us, our duty is clear." "What other delicacies?"

The aide smirks, "Your usual rooms will be waiting." He turns to leave, pauses, turns back, "And, sirs .. may I suggest .. a bath?"

((Should have time to play today.))

 

[Sirian]

 

[Jaffa Tamarin]

Back at the palace, the monkeys set up their headquarters adjacent to .. no, make that in, the royal kitchens.

"Bring us bananas," they commanded. Bananas were brought.

"Build something .. there." Stuff was built.

"Give the people freedom of religion and speech." And it was so.

"That nice man Frederick wants to trade his silk for our ivory, see that it is done." It was done.

"Kremlin is finished? Oh good .."

"What do you mean, it was finished in England?"

"Well, tell us we at least managed to build Broadway."

"We did? Good. We are bored, take us to the musicals. And start building that Eiffel Tower thing."

"Here are some boxes. Fill them with bananas and deliver them to .. *scribbles* .. this address."

"Don't ask questions, just do it."

The monkeys were last seen sneaking out of the palace late one night. Residents of the old part of the city report strange noises and activity in the abandoned Hanging Gardens. These reports are dismissed by palace officials as being hallucinations caused by excessive consumption of over-ripe bananas.

Computers will be invented next turn. Several cities are on research, and should probably switch to laboratories when available.

 

[Sirian]

*nudge*nudge*

Griselda?

You're up on the weekend!


- Sirian

 

[Griselda]

I never realized that the "up on the weekends" statement was going to become my signature quote from CIV.

I hardly recognize Mali these days. I'm not sure if that's because we've captured half of Rome, or because there's banana peels all over the place.

BT - Our peace treaty with Rome cancels, and he converts to Islam. Wonder of wonders, Elizabeth dials us up and wants to trade wheat for gold. Where have you been for the last 400 years, Liz?

Computers comes in, start genetics.

Cumae library - university. Antium granary - library.

Amir Khusro (great artist) is born in TImbuktu !

Peter adopts Police State.

(1) 1926 AD - Start laboratories. Swap Anitum to harbor, since artist will head there.

BT - Peter wants to trade maps. Walata submarine - lab. Niani observatory - lab. Awdag observatory - bank. Apache something- lab. Wadan market - grocer. Walata loves the presidents.

(2) 1927 AD

BT - Kumbi completes the Eiffel Tower, starts lab. Agades hospital - courthouse.

(3) 1928 AD - Culture bomb in Antium. I didn't expect it to do much with such an established border, but at least Antium is more established now.

FWIW both China and Russia have infantry.

BT - Caesar marches a rifle up to the edge of Antium. Shouts of "Fetchez la banane" can be heard from the troops.

(4) 1929 AD

BT - Qin asks us to adopt police state. We tell him that we're not interested in hiring detectives to solve the Great Banana Case, but he stil declines our offer of banana bread. Setia forge - library. Neapolis library - university.

(5) 1930 AD - 100 turns left!

BT - Liz wants Fascism for free. Nope. Banana bread, liz? After all, it's thanks to your wheat that we can bake it! Kumbi finishes the first lab and gets right to work on some research. Walata does the same. Awdag bank - market.

Rome gets a great scientist.

(6) 1931 AD Both Peter and Khan have industrialization for trade, but only need radio and refrigeration, and I don't want to help them any at the moment. Khan has oil he would trade us.

(7) 1932 AD

BT - Tadmekka and Tekedda complete labs. Antium harbor - library.

Qin starts a golden age (he got a scientist last round).

(8) 1933 AD

BT - Genetics in. Start rocketry. Let's Rock and Roll.

(9) 1934 AD

BT - No, really. Let's Rock and Roll in TImbuktu. The labratory construction crew puts on some rock music from the GIant JUkebox we just built. Awdag market - harbor. Apache market - supermarket.

Caesar adopts organized religion and bureaucracy.

(10) 1935 AD - Have fun.

 

[Sirian]

I never realized that the "up on the weekends" statement was going to become my signature quote from CIV.

Yes, well... People did not anticipate the "sheep thing" either, but I latch on to what I latch on to. How else would numerous people understand what means?

Be very careful about your first game with me. Something I find to be humorous in there (even if I'm the only one who does!) is going to be immortalized. At least you aren't in Sulla's shoes. He's going to be hearing about "scouting" and "the Pyramids gripe" for the next decade or two.

That's how culture works. The first and oldest things stick, and then humanity is stuck with them more or less forever. (We're already getting "thousand year" doubling on the pungent weed and DotMaps(TM). "Computer years" go by a little faster these days.)


- Sirian