The weed was strong. Pungent so to speak. Tis a double-edged sword, for
the same weed that leads to power, money, respect, desire, also can lead
to decisions that *seem* at first glance to be wise, yet are opium induced.
Such were several recent decisions. A new leader was sought, one who had
tasted and known first hand the power and effect of the weed, but who had
sought to not subject himself to its control any more (or at least, as
little as he possibly could!

)
In this way did Padshah Charopia come to power. His task was to fix and settle
the core cities in his land, to explore nearby lands for luxuries, and to
start marketplaces for trade.
1500 BC (0) - We kick the Settler habit. Switch to Granary in Agra and start
Colossus in Madras, hoping to get SOME wonder from it.
England has a worker available, which we trade for knowledge. More folks to
work the weed!
1475 BC (1) - Settler does an about face and heads south, with a warrior in
front of him, HOPING to find some luxury or something of interest in the
darkness.
1425 BC (3) - Just south in darkness we now see a barbarian and iron.
1400 BC (4) - French join the pyramid race. Add to the south list horses and
some luxury mid-fog, can't make it out yet. We need horses for our UU,
the Pachyderm! (Bangalore when it expands will get some too)
1375 BC (5) - An Opium cache, right next to London! (MOST unfortunate for them!!)
(Ex London works for an FP site

)
Ah, we now see what's in the mountains -- Shrooms!! 1 food, 2 gold resource!
Looking around, the world has the identical tech set.
1325 BC (7) - Ah! We see the south is the end of a penninsula, with the iron,
horses and shrooms right near the bottom.
1300 BC (8) - We disperse that bar camp in the south.
Ya know, it's just ugly down there. Foodless. The horses and shrooms
make a coastal spot a worthwhile grab. Iron would be on outskirts,
accessible via colony or (much) later culture expansion. Or... it can be
denied with a modified 'spice gambit'

That leaves the question then of
what to do with Hyderabad and Kolhapur. The former looks much better one south,
on the coast. Do we need Kolhapur at all? There seems a gaping hole without
it - better see if there's a whale in that coastal land...
1275 BC (9) - Currency arrives, next we start Literature. (Need culture and
border expansion BADLY) We see shrooms up near Rome.
The others must have been on map making. Being traders, we recoup the
expenses of researching Currency, gaining world maps, 120 gold, map making,
and Philosophy.
What does the map show? OMG, we MUST have Pompeii one day, surrounded by
four adjacent Pungent weeds!! Marseilles has one. Babylon has one Opium,
Canterbury has shrooms. Egypt has several opium. Too bad not more concentrated.
Ah! Interesting! No whale or fish off our SE coast, but... a tiny island,
just perfect for, er... chemical 'research' with Opium that is best NOT
carried out under the prying eyes of our neighbors. We'll need a coastal
city over there, boat and settler to claim this little rock.
Basically we seem to be on a medium-large continent, but with six of us
packed in there with insufficient room. One more 'ring' at best for everyone,
and that's it.
1225 BC (Yes, Charopia going over, to make sure 'resettling' of cities is
carried out, and will get back to a round year) -
Meldor is correct

Get to size two, produce at least ONE shield toward
a settler, whip it and put all workers as entertainers. Next turn you get
the choice of Delay production, zoom, or abandon the city. We do the latter.
Kanya Kumari is settled as our Southern Shroom village.
1175 BC (13) - Hyderabad is refounded.
1150 BC (14) - English start building the Great Library in Nottingham. Last
seen as size one, it has hills, forests and mines. We can compete, but would
need to start soon if we do.
They have Lit obviously, so cheaper for us to top off than finish. 35 gold.
We start Code of Laws heading to Republic, but... we'll let others rush there
first this time, and we kick back from 80% sci to 10% or a scientist.
1100 BC (16) - Egyptians start Great Lib also.
1025 BC (19) - Lahore starts the 'double whip' of a Library. Get one or more
shields, switch to Barracks, whip (1 citizen), then without leaving city
screen switch to Library. Go one turn to get one or more new shields, then
whip again. Use this in cities with size 3 and lame production.
In the same way, Jaipur gets a half-whip.
1000 BC (20) - England wants to cancel free RoP (fine with me). They have
Construction, and we can buy whenever you like - I would wait until we
have other things built and/or need of aqueduct first, and hope price drops.
Lahore completes the library (the second whip).
Kohlapur refounded on the coast. Mission complete, thanks for your patience.
- Get a settler ASAP to Chemist Island please!

(just off coast of Kohlapur)
- Once horse at Kanya Kumari is connected, can build our UU, the Pachyderm.
the two key points there: all move is as road (so 3 spaces), and...
it can *CARRY* a foot unit. (Careful if it fights, it's 1.1.1 and would set off
our Golden Age)
- Several top cities are on marketplaces - if you think library should come
first, swap order.
- Madras Colossus is more "wonder placeholder". It would work, but there might
be another we want instead.
- Calcutta has been knockin out spears for every city. Unlike other games,
THIS one isn't leaving gaping defensive holes, and we'll be ready for any
eventuality.
- The Southern cities will need harbor and library, and should be fine after
that. Until then, low food.
- I'll try to take less-then-normal #turns next time...
Roster
Sirian
Smegged
Charis
Jaffa <<< UP
Meldor <<< ON DECK
Jester
Good luck!
Charis