Rise of the Machines

[vovan]

Nice turns. It's not good news that JC and Bismarck made peace, though. But with cannons rolling in, I am thinking of turning all research off altogether for the duration of my turns and concentrating on upgrading our troops. How does that sound?

Vovan

 

[ruff_hi]

Great write-up, researching effects of transition to next unit, and great turn-set. Too bad about meeting the borg. (did you just doctor that image or is there a borg civilization mod?) The machines will rule all!

Thanks. I doctored the image but I was really glad that I found a borg queen picture that was just the right size. I'll have to check if there are any Borg civs planned. I wonder what the characterists, UU and preferred civics should be?

 

[IceLion]

Nice turns. It's not good news that JC and Bismarck made peace, though. But with cannons rolling in, I am thinking of turning all research off altogether for the duration of my turns and concentrating on upgrading our troops. How does that sound?

Vovan

I was thinking this very thing myself, Vovan. Cannons are going to give us a horrible advantage, couple that with the fact the we also have gunpowder and can whip musketmen at will. I think this game is not longer until victory. Germany is tiny, 5 cities at most I believe. Mansa has been pretty cut up by JC, who has been taking a beating from three sides. I really don't see JC having much more in the way of military. Cannons cost more, but do considerably more damage than Cats. If we upgrade all of our current Cats, we can divide and conquer.

Get Banking next and build some Banks in our back-end cities, we can probably bring research down now, I really don't see the AI getting many units that can stand up to what we are going to have to offer in the next few turnsets.

I really liked doing this kind of variant and am going to try and think up something that is a bit tougher to accomplish, possibly adding barbs or something.

-IceLion

 

[vovan]

[0] 1350AD - Well, since Bismarck signed a treaty with JC (and won't be able to declare war again for another few turns), let's see if we can get Alexander into any of the wars. I give him Drama and Guilds in exchange for Compass, 220 gold (good for some upgrades), and his promise to declare both on JC and Mansa.

I also send the GM towards German territory. Getting some money from a trade mission would go a long way towards keeping our troops up-to-date.

Next, I turn the city governors back on in all cities. Guys, don't forget, we are machines, we don't manage cities ourselves, but let the governors do all the work.

I also crank research up to 100% for a turn so we get Steel next turn.

I also take a city or two off wealth production and on to more useful things.

I also whip a few courthouses, so we can address our sore financial situation at least a little bit.

Also, why in the world are we building a colosseum in A4? The place has 18 - 9 . So... Why the colosseum? Any way, I rush it there, so the city can get on to more useful things.

Next up, these catapults next to Rome... I move them back to R2, so they can be upgraded to cannons. Similarly, the catapults next to Awlil make for the homeland, so they can be upgraded.

[1] 1355AD - Between turns, our catapults in Mali territory are attacked. We lose three. Also, the human St. Augustine says we are the most 'cultured' civilization in the world. Quite ironic this, if you ask me!

Mansa comes offering peace for 340 gold and 4 gpt. Sure. Works for me. More gold for us to upgrade our cats and help us concentrate on Rome.

As Steel is discovered, we enter the industrial era. We start research of Banking.

Madras: Grocer -> Cannon
A4: Colosseum -> Cannon
J4: Courthouse -> Market
J6: Courthouse -> Settler
R1: Granary -> Theatre
Delhi: Wealth -> Cannon
Bombay: Wealth -> Market
Calcutta: Wealth -> Market

I turn research down to 0%. We are making 141 GPT. That's pretty pathetic.

Some of our catapults from the Mali territory get bumped out and end up at the gates of a little Roman village of Arretium. They immediately start bombarding the village's defenses.

Our attack stack on Rome is now in our own territory. The experienced units will be upgraded next turn and sent back out to Rome.

[2] 1360AD - Roman elephants attack R2 and kill the defending Musket! Meh, I don't like my first little bit of military this turn.

Mansa comes in with an offer of optics and 120 gold in exchange for guilds. Eh, sure what the heck. If you don't get guilds from us, you'll probably get them from Alex. It's not like Knights will help you much now that we have cannons. And an extra 120 gold in our situation can be quite helpful. Mansa goes up to Cautious from Annoyed.

Four catapults at R2 are upgraded to cannons before we run out of money. The escorting Knight we had there, too, retaliates for the IBT attack and kills off the Roman elephant, and hides in R2 (as do the rest of the troops).

The defenses of Arretium are reduced to zero.

[3] 1365AD - Between turns, a Roman SoD appears close to R2. It consists of 1 Elephant, 1 Horse Archer, 1 Crossbow, 2 Catapults.

Harkuf, the Great Merchant, conducts a trade mission in Berlin for 2000 gold. More money for cannon upgrades!

At the loss of a catapult, we burn the Roman city of Arretium.

 

[vovan]

The four cannons from R2, escorted by the Knight and the Elephant, start their march for Rome. In R2, the remaining 7 catapults are upgraded to cannons.

[4] 1370AD - Between turns, the entire aforementioned Roman SoD charges R2... The score - Romans 0, Machines 5.

R1: Theatre -> Courthouse

Since JC threw two cats at R2 between turns, the cannon in there are a bit shaken up. They are given some time to heal.

[5] 1375AD - The entire cannon garrison of R2 is now healed and starts its march on Rome. Don't worry though, more catapults have arrived to the city and been upgraded to cannon, so the thing is not entirely defenseless.

J1: Library -> Market
J3: Courthouse -> Market

[6] 1380AD - Between turns, a bunch of defenders of the city of Rome attacked our first advancing stack and lost 1 Horse Archer, 1 Mace, 2 Crossbows. We did not lose a single unit.

Delhi: Cannon -> Cannon
A5: Forge -> Market

We kill off a Roman pike and cat, which are the only units left over outside of Rome from their IBT counterattack. Also, the defenses of Rome are reduced to 24%.

[7] 1385AD -
A1: Cannon -> Market
A2: Cannon -> Market
J6: Settler -> Library

So this turn, the settler was born in J6. He was sent East to shadow the movements of the Greek Galley, and, if need be, to deny them the settling site in the middle of our empire.

The defenses of Rome are reduced to 0%.

[8] 1390AD - A Roman elephant is spotted near R2. The Greek settler galley has turned back and apparently doesn't want to settle any more.

At the loss of two cannons, we capture Rome. (Ahem, R-Prime.)

Troops start marching towards more perspective Roman city sites.

[9] 1395AD - Mansa has made peace with Caesar. OK, well, at least he is still fighting with Alex! As long as everyone is occupied. This reminds me. I contact Bismarck to see if he would like to fight with someone. (Incidentally, he has circumnavigated the globe this turn.) Mansa and Alex are redded out. I select JC. Bismarck won't accept any trades for it, but when I hit 'can you spare this for a good friend', he says 'sure' and declares on JC! Man, I will feel really bad when we have to conquer him.

A3: Library -> Market

To the north of Rome, we discover the Roman city of Niani. It is the holy city of Confucianism. It is also protected only by one Horse archer!

[10] 1400AD - Mansa wants open borders. ... That'd be a no.

Delhi: Cannon -> Cannon

At the no losses to the machines, the city of Niani is captured and burnt to the ground. We don't need no silly religion business!

 

[vovan]

After-Turn Thoughts:

1. I have taken three of JC's cities this turn, and he has four more. Cumae, Arpinium, Munich, and the new capital. There are cannons at the gates of Cumae:

And here's the situation with the Roman Empire:

There's also a bunch of troops in R-Prime. A few of them are healing, but a few are ready to go. There are also some catapults just sleeping there. You can either wait and upgrade them, or just send them out to the field as is. After all, we were fighting with catapults only against what JC currently has for a while, and so they can do whatever mop-up job the cannons leave behind.

2. On the technology front, I've had research set to zero throughout my turns. You'll notice that despite that, some civs still don't have any tech on us.

Also, nobody but Bismarck has Gunpowder. B is the general tech leader among the AIs, so I would say we should take him out as soon as we are done with JC. I think we don't want to have someone running around with such things as grenadiers. Sure, an overwhelming number of cannons will still crush them, but why take the risk. Plus, he has circumnavigated the globe. Who knows... We let him get Astronomy, he might slip off to another landmass, and we definitely don't want that, having to rush ships and all!

3. We lead in every single demographics category. Not too bad.

EDIT: Oh, one more thing. (Well, a few, actually)

4. Just as I thought the Greek settlers were leaving, they made landfall near the ruins of one of the old Japanese cities.

They'll probably settle there somewhere. And this reminds me, don't forget there is a settler sleeping at the site of the ruins of the last Japanese city. So if there is need to settle something somewhere at some point, he is at your disposal.

5. On the topic of research, if you feel we already have enough cannons, don't forget to turn it back up. Though the highest it will go is 40%, higher and we start losing money.

6. And this sad financial state reminds me - we sould probably build a forbidden palace somewhere in the Roman or Aztec provinces.

 

[vovan]

Roster:
Vovan - Just Played
Hamtastic - UP
IceLion - On Deck
ruff_hi

 

[IceLion]

Great idea getting Alex to attack Mansa as well, so far this game he's been the only one not at war, it would be good to get him to chew up some of his troops. Looks like the Romans will soon fall to the glorious Machine armies.

 

[vovan]

Yes, indeed, I expect they will be gone and the German campaign will be in full swing by the time the save makes it back around to me.

 

[hamtastic]

IBT: I adjust the governors some, get them more suited for production.

I whip Calcutta's market because of low hammers there.

1405: Calcutta: market > cannon

A4: Cannon > cannon

I move our troops around, prepare for attacks on various Roman properties.

1410: more troop movement, healing, upgrading in preparation for battle

1415: J2: library > forge
The troops, they are a-movin'

1420: I launch an attack on Cumae and capture it (with no casualties, I believe - maybe there was one?). It leaves an odd cultural pattern around it.



We pillage 159 gold from the pathetic humans and install a new governator in their city. I whip productions in Bangalore, A4, and R2 because of their high food compared to shield output.

1425: Delhi: Cannon > cannon
Bangalore: Hagia Sophia!! > forge
A4: cannon > market
R2: couthouse > barracks

I summon our machines for more attacks

1430: I spot another Roman city, it will soon be ours



1435: Madras: cannon > caravel (whipped)
J4: market > barracks
R-prime: ready for building, I start and whip a theatre.

We spot Munich and prepare for attack.



I had decided to get a caravel going because I was curious about the other half of the world.



We machines must know if there are any "barbarian" humans to dominate as well, after all.

1440: Madras: caravel > cannon
A1: market > grocer
A2: market > cannon
J3: market > Cannon
R-prime: theatre> barracks

Oddly, J3 celbrates "we love the monarch day." Perhaps these humans are more intelligent than we had given them credit for. After all, they know enough to thank their machine overlords, which is only fitting.

Unfortunately, Alex decides to make peace with Mansa and Julius. We will remember this Alex, and will soon crush you! I send our human "workers" to scout Alex's territory for us. They begin work on this task.

This is the year of crushing defeat for the Romans. I take Arpinum (now R6) and Munich (now R7) with no casualties to our massively advanced machine troops. Our superior operating systems will destroy all humans. (Bender: Kill all humans).

1445: J1: market > cannon
J3 celebrates Monarch day

I move our cannons and spy on Alex

1450: mansa asks us to cancel deals with the Greek. No, you fool! We're not done spying on him yet, so we need the opern borders!

Delhi: cannon>theatre
A3: market >forge
J6: library > barracks

I will summarize further the plans of the mighty machines in a future installment of this informational directive.

 

[hamtastic]

Hey, what the crap? Why are my screenshots all tiny now? This is lame-ola. Any hints if anyone's paying attention?






The machines are rising! There is only one Roman city left to crush, and our troops approach it now.



However, I worry that the Romans will escape with the old settler on a galley ruse. We have few naval vessels, though, so we may not be able to stop them for now.



Finally, I have begun to prepare for an attack on the Germans.



My logic circuits indicate it may be wise to wait until after we have severely damaged the Greeks before we attack the Germans, though. The Greeks are more advanced and have many more cities and troops than the Germans, so we may wish to begin our attack on them first. Or we could simply declare war on all remaining human empires (although we might want to build up troops more before that).

 

[IceLion]

That is wierd... I have no clue buddy.

 

[IceLion]

Need the save, Hammerman.

 

[vovan]

And was about to ask how you made the nifty little thumbnail things so you can click 'em and get a bigger version.

BTW... How's about that save?

 

[hamtastic]

Take it easy The save is up now. (Sorry, just was spending some time trying to fix those screenshots)

 

[IceLion]

This has to be a quick post, the wife left with me with my baby daughter for the afternoon...

IT- not much happening, except the assured destruction of the vile Romans.

Immediately JC takes R6 back, a Horse Archer beats our wounded Cannon. We will grind his bones to dust in memory of our fallan comrade. I divide the stack of cannons sitting on the hill between R6 and Neapolis and send half of them to retake R6, killing a long bowman along the way.

I turn research all the way off and start upgrading Cats, all Cats in R-Prime are upgraded. 90% of my turns were done with research off, so this will likely have to be MM'd to on the next turnset. We are at a point in my opinion where we can automate some of our workers. I have the option to leave existing improvements in place and we still have a lot of workers that are on manual control.

Neapolis falls at the loss of one Cannon, R6 is recaptured with no loses, and Rome is no more...

For the first time in centuries, the Machine empire knows peace.

A Great Engineer is born in Delhi, I send him to R Square in case anyone can think of a use for him in our new territories. The glorious Machine empire now has 10 million souls to command!

J3 celebrats we love the Monarch day and Mansa comes demanding Gunpowder, dont worry, you'll learn the secrets of gunpowder soon enough.

I have started to build up our troops around the German borders. IMHO we should take Germany out next for 3 reasons: First, it will give us entire control of our 2/3 of the island. Second, they are dead last and have lost tons of troops fighting in our wars. Third, we do not want to give old Bismarck the chance to get his hands on those Panzers.

Just my .02...

And the save...

 

[IceLion]

Had to point this out...

 

[vovan]

Well, we could probably take out Bismarck pretty fast. Although if we attack him, be careful with R2, R1, and A5. These are all poorly protected, and if Bismarck counter-attacks there, we might go through more trouble than Germany is worth to keep those.

And speaking of R1 and R2... Look at Herakleia there. Guess which city Alex c-bombed. Make sure to build some culture buildings in those two cities, lest they lose more territory.

Vovan

 

[ruff_hi]

This has to be a quick post, the wife left with me with my baby daughter for the afternoon...

IT- not much happening, except the assured destruction of the vile Romans.

I was reading this and thought you were saying that not much happened with your daughter ... oops

 

[IceLion]

Just so we're not lost...

Roster:
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