Not unexpectedly, a closer look at the map shows our problems are map related, not weed related
It's a rough start!
---
Charishaka the Mighty Zulu wrenched power in the year 1750BC.
He was known to all as "Great Elephant" and he was known far
and wide as a military man. A ruthless one. A burn-their-village
kind of guy. Yet hardly anyone knew the real Charishaka. He was
actually a calm, peace loving guy. He had a real appreciation for
all things cultural. In fact, he thought the Zulu culture FAR
superior to any culture in the land. He vowed, a most sacred
vow, that he would depose the leader of one of the nation of
"swallows", and their, *in their very city*, build a Mecca of
Zulu culture and esteem. The only questions were where, and when?!
The tradition of his fathers and other generals taught to fight
wars of limited objectives - have an exit strategy. But Charishaka
would have none of this. He lived by one motto - Never, ever, leave
an enemy behind. (Historical note- I believe this WAS a key principle
Shaka lived by, but ironically, he left behind one very important
enemy, his half-brother, who would one day slay the great elephant!
Plus, this fits in the the rules of the SG, we'll only get ONE crack
at an offensive war, and so it should be one where we end up swallowing
the nation whole, not stopping for peace.)
He brought forth his advisors to explain the situation. The terrain
was hideous, they cried, and it has taken the wisest and most skillful
of our leaders to even get us as far as we have gotten today. Worse,
barbarians plagued the countryside and threatened our very safety.
This could not stand.
In power we reign supreme on our continent. Zimbabwe is considered
the greatest city on the planet. There is one that challenges its
claim to supremacy. Paris. "Pah-REE" these young whelps would say.
This sad city is trying to actually produce a great wonder, called
the Pyramids. It's the only nation even trying! However they only
started five seasons ago, so I don't relish waiting until it's done.
Still, that means their most productive city, 25% of their whole
nation's productivity, is tied up!
Charishaka looks at the lame excuses for boys posing as spearmen, and
makes several modifications to their tactics. First he replaces the long,
thin, weak throwing spear with a much tougher, shorter, wider, thrusting
spear for close combat. Second he trains ALL warriors to run like horses,
knowing that speed matters. Third, he teaches these men to use formations
and terrain to their advantage. These new breed of spearmen would be known
to the world as "Impi." They would become a distinctive trait of the Zulu.
Our military is considered "weak" compared to ALL nations, says our
military advisor. Charishaka almost feints, knowing the leanings of
those who came before. It's the jungle, sir, the jungle. All in all then,
we're in absolutely no shape to wage a major war, one we plan to last until
France is wiped off the map. We do want to settle the horse and/or iron north
of Hlobane (although capture from France would do just as well). If we won't
be able to fight two civs then, we'll want to focus settlers in the SOUTH,
away from France, to claim land peacefully there, and plan to capture several
cities in the North.
[0] -1750: Ah, that archer from Bapedi will be a vet! That's much better
than a reg archer. Still... Hlobane with two wheat is swapped to granary,
while Ulundi with several hills, is swapped from granary to rax. Intombe to rax.
Isandhlwana is swapped from warrior to rax. The warrior there moves to cover
the settler, who is heading for south of barb camp. Why all the rax? I want
VET warriors, even for MP, so that when our peaceful expansion is over, we can
upgrade them en masse to warriors and start mauling. Besides, as we're mil, they're
cheap. I move lux down from 10% to 0%, it's just not needed right now.
With this strat, and with a build-up needed before hitting France, holding off
the iron hookup was the right choice by previous leaders. In fact, let's crank
12-15 vet warriors or so before hooking one up.
(IBT) Sonofagun, a barb horse shows up west of Isand, just a a barb warr comes
up from the east next to our warr-settler pair. If our warr attacks, the city
is toast to the horse. So be it! (??!)
[1] -1725: We press forward to the camp, killing two barb warriors.
(IBT) Yes, Isand is sacked, for 11g.
[2] -1700: Ulundi's rax is done, and it starts an Impi.
Two workers are on the horse and need to make a road. It would take 3 turns for one,
looking like a wasted turn. Let's try "ctrl-R".
[3] -1675: France moves a settler pair next to the iron on the coast and will get it.
Before they settle our scout reaches the iron, and settles in for a nap. It's a nice
view from the hill (an honorable man will move him when a worker asks of course)
As predicted, the cntrl-R redeems our turn. Mountain camp dispersed.
[4] -1650: Indians start Oracle. An English settler-warr pair is heading towards us,
If he actually steps into our land, he might be in for a surprise?!
Where to send OUR new settler? To white dot for incense. Mpondo is founded,
which means "City founded beneath the slain barbarians who dared oppose Charishaka!"
(or so tells the Great Elephant's historian!)
Bapedi tried to mm for an early archer, but corruption prevailed. With one
shield short, I hate to see the waste, and swap to granary. Bapedi is potentially
a great city, but surrouned by jungle. It will need many workers.
(IBT) We get the FP msg, ah yes, it's a small world, after all.
[5] -1625: Egypt and France have Code of Laws. I hold off, waiting for a brokerage,
as the other two civs are broke.
(IBT) Egypt starts the Pyramids. I hope Paris beats them!
[6] -1600: Quiet turn of movement. (IBT) That English settler pair turned around and
settled Canterbury on the lake in the jungle. Our incense city will be halfway between
it and Isand.
[7] -1575: At Hlobane we start some longer-term worker projects. Two start hacking
down a jungle that leads to the lake, and the other to a forest which when chopped
will allow water to be brought over to irrigate the second wheat.
[8] -1550: Our first Impi completes at Ulundi. Next up, a Chariot, with a better
upgrade path than an archer. Besides, "SPEED!" says Charishaka. In fact, have we
forgotten the dread power of horse-impi pairs?! (No, horses just got hooked up)
[9] -1525: A turn spent contemplating when we will see a city captured...
[10] -1500: Zimbabwe's culture expands, as our glorious Impi enters the city to protect
it. Ngome is settled to claim the incense. It's escort warrior diverted and took
out a barb camp, and should be sent to protect this new city. The spot is 100%
jungle infested, and starts a granary. It's a no-rush city, but will need a slew
of workers. If things get hot, swap to a rax.
SE of Zimbabwe is an extra warrior heading to the city to provide escort for the
settler due out very shortly. Imtombe is a candidate for our first temple, btw,
to expand and claim those ivory.
Save file 1500BC RBP8
Good luck,
Charishaka, the Great Elephant
If you want, you can switch out of this game; we did have another player who wanted in.
![[pimp]](/images/smilies/pimp.gif "Pimp [pimp]")
Get him out of there!
Zimbabwe switch to settler 
Charis, we should be OK. You love Chess, don't you ? (;-)
I am sure... 
