Role Play Challenge: Bismark the Master Builder

[madscientist]

Bismark the Master Builder: Part VI

I know I am rolling these updates along, but the game is really moving to a ritical phase. AT the point of this save we have declared war and peace with Sitting Bull, start teching Industrialization for Panzers, and setting our fleet for a final declaration of war on Sitting Bull. AT that point Justinian is definitely in our sights.

But to start, We finished teching Steam Working to find coal. Good thing we went after the Babylonians ealry as the only two sources are in former Babylonian territory.

We establish another defensive pact with Ragnar. Once Ragnar declared peace he switched to FR so I have to be extra carefull keeping him happy to avoid a surprize attack.


In a rather surprize moove, Justinian and Qin both attack sitting Bull.

Anticipating Qin asking for our help I move a bulk of our former Babylonia army to the western shore for an amphibious invasion of Sitting Bull (We have been building galleons in that area for such an event.

I should also mention the tech path after Steam working

Assembly line/Pascism/Biology/Medicine/Railroad/Combustion/Flight/Industriailization

W ehave a tremendous edge in production with teh fast and early assembly plants. We also have to be building alot of health building but doing rather well. THIS is where the EXPANSIVE trait comes in real handy as we can build those coal plants without worrying about starving our cities!!!!

We get another, very powerful wonder

Also an interesting item is the AP vote, as Ragnar is in FR

Talk about running the show!!!!


Also a picture of Berlin now

WOW!!! If you open the save you will note several cities running 5 engineers!!! And who said the German UB is week. Add the Industrial Park and each city can run 7 engineers, the entire game!!! Oh byt the way, Berlin popped another Great artist

We get our second wonder of this save

Once we get Industrialization we will target all the remaining wonder techs, radio and MM.

Our minor invasion fleet for Sitting Bull

And finally the request from Qin

Sure, we'ld be happy to join the dogpile!!!

The captured Confiscian Holy City

We capture the obsolete Great Lighthouse

And the Native American Lands we have

At the point of smoking the peacepipe.

I need to send another fleet, what I brought did very well but not enough to take enough city to avoid any culturla pressures. Also I did not realize but Sitting Bull also founded Taoism and looks like her build teh shrine. More work to do.

The final picture of Sitting Bulls conquered lands

Again, not much more just alot of building production infrastructure and shooting the Bull.

I have a fleet of cannons and infabtry on the way to finish what I need to do with Bull. Once Industrialization is teched it is time to roll out the Panzers. Oh, I setteld 2 more GGs, one in Archaon (17 XP panzers now) and Balylonia (11 XP). Munich has the HE and soon red Cross, and Berlin can always manufacture troops real fast, but I see Berlin going back to mega wonder building.

So once we get radio, what order do we build the wonders? I'm thinking the Christo (between police state and representation), Eifel tower, Rock. All in Berlin!!

Enough for now. I will not be playing again until Monday night.

 

[iamnleth]

Great game so far. I enjoyed Obsolete's method, but I believe expanding further as you have done is a much better choice. I'm itching to try a wonder economy.

WOW!!! If you open the save you will note several cities running 5 engineers!!! And who said the German UB is week. Add the Industrial Park and each city can run 7 engineers, the entire game!!!

Mix Frederick's philosophical trait into the mix, and you're in engineer heaven! Imagine how this could affect the wonder economy: Using GEs to hurry along wonders or settle them for massive production potential.

 

[madscientist]

Great game so far. I enjoyed Obsolete's method, but I believe expanding further as you have done is a much better choice. I'm itching to try a wonder economy.



Mix Frederick's philosophical trait into the mix, and you're in engineer heaven! Imagine how this could affect the wonder economy: Using GEs to hurry along wonders or settle them for massive production potential.

Thanks for following the game!!!!

Both Germans are great late game leaders and are quite different.

Bismark is ideal for the wonder economy and a high focus on production because of the industrious and expansive traits. He is less popular of the 2 but the trait combo is pretty stronge.

Fred is amazing once you get assembly line (50% production for assembly planst!!) and teh Phil trait with the engineers as you point out. Add the ORG trait which gets stronger as the game goes on..... AMAZING.

 

[DrPepper836]

From the looks of it, your doing a great game. I would finish of Babylon, just for fun, and then move on to Sitting Bull. I'd leave your allies out of it because they would be easy fights and you don't want anyone else getting wonders. You might also want to start watching out for domination, because it's coming. Not hear yet, but it's coming. I found that a good way to stop domination is to make about 10 relatively non important cities a colony. Say, if you have a wonder, make the city a colony, does it still count? Anyway, I'd like to play the save, but I modded my game to make it a bit more realistic, and forgot to make it a separate mod so that I don't think I can. Oh well...

 

[madscientist]

From the looks of it, your doing a great game. I would finish of Babylon, just for fun, and then move on to Sitting Bull. I'd leave your allies out of it because they would be easy fights and you don't want anyone else getting wonders. You might also want to start watching out for domination, because it's coming. Not hear yet, but it's coming. I found that a good way to stop domination is to make about 10 relatively non important cities a colony. Say, if you have a wonder, make the city a colony, does it still count? Anyway, I'd like to play the save, but I modded my game to make it a bit more realistic, and forgot to make it a separate mod so that I don't think I can. Oh well...

Unfortunately the Chancellor will not allow colonies or vassals in teh game.

I have been watching the domination screen. Once we attack Justinian there will definitely be an issue althogh I plan to gift cities to Ragnar or Qin if need be.

 

[IPEX-731BA5DD06]

Looks like I'm STILL paying for my whipping, but I'm moving on through

Spoiler :

The wonder building has gone out the window, Looks like I'll just have to Militarly take the wonders to satisfy Bismarks obsession.

I beelined Constitution, and built the SoL, I"m running a specialist Economy in my game, and as such have many farms.

After this I beeline Rifling, still paranoid about being attacked, also picked up Military tradition for Calvary.

I WAS THE ONLY ONE TO DO SO, AND STILL ARE.

I attacked the HRE once I'd drafted out some rifles, and built some calvary, have fairly much destroyed them, taken Prague, Acheon, the NE Coast.

On the Coal front, I picked up steam power, no coal. Now I didnt' take much notice, but I POPPED COAL , near my Frankfurt. WOO HOOO.

I've just teched INFANTRY, and the other AI'S dont' even have rifling, or assembly line, except for HRE, who is teching rifling, but 39 turns, and falling farther behind as they lose cities to me.

Ragnar, was friendly, is now pleased, as I refused to gift Steel to him. Still hasn't researched it as yet, and neither has anyother AI.

I have a HUGE Military tech lead, but Hammurai, is going the Cultural tech's, has built Broadway, and moving on MM I'd say.

My plan, as its evolved, is to take one more city from HRE. Linking my lands with Babalyon, then declare on them with Infantry, and take the wonders from them. Once I've achieved this, I'll pick off remaining wonders and built the last myself.

Ragnar has Declared on HRE, but as I'm in peace for 10 turns, in exchange for a city by Babalyon, I'll redeclare.

As I've said Previously, Jewdaism was Majority religion, and Bazantine was Buddist, I've been at war *fake* with them for 300 yr's.

Interesting in the divergance of game, but I've messed up the wonder building. Current research will be Railroads, then flight I think, to get rid of the annoying Airships, then Maybe a run at MM and try build a few wonders.

The game goes on.

 

[obsolete]

In part 6 there is a shot of your capital. The growth is at stagant and you are using a fresh-water lake as a worked tile. This is a bad choice.

You should either work one of the better tiles which gives you more food + a hammer & gold, or just run another specialist for the time being.

 

[madscientist]

In part 6 there is a shot of your capital. The growth is at stagant and you are using a fresh-water lake as a worked tile. This is a bad choice.

You should either work one of the better tiles which gives you more food + a hammer & gold, or just run another specialist for the time being.

Thanks

Good point, but I kept it that way.

I already have +3 on the unhealthiness side and wanted to keep the pop as it was until I got some health building in it. I also could not use all of the production (although I could have run more engineers), in the next round as you will see I am punching out 1 Panzer per turn and all buildings and current wonders were built.

Perhaps I am wrong but I see no reason to force the capital into more unhealth if I don't need the production.

I'll be posting the next Part

 

[madscientist]

Bismark The Master Builder: Part VII

Herr Chancellor is very pleased that we acquired the confuscian Holy city and the Great Lighthouse. He brings his generals in and discusses expanding the borders, acquiring more of the Native American lands. "Good, good" he mutters, "A Very simple plan, but make sure we get that Toaist holy city". The chancellor is hardly paying attention his generals, as his eye moves along the map, to Byzantine lands, where the real world treasures are housed. After the meeting he pulls aside his most valued general, "Forget that fool Sitting Bull, I have another more pressing matter". The stay up late hours discussing the latest scientific inventions and a path, "Yes, we have allies, it will work and there will be enough lands for the German people". They laugh and toast each other, but first the pesty native Americans, then....


OK, here is a real big update and lot's going on here. I see an end coning down the pipe after this part, but I am getting ahead of myself.

Last we left we were teching Industrialization

First we put the Byzantiniansd behind the eightball again

Let him trade with the guy he's at war with. Gotta love that AP!

And the grand German tech

Break out the Panzers!!!! Archeon is producing 17 XP tanks, CR III and combat I. we immediately start on radio, no way I'm losing those wonders now.

We bring the extra tropps like discussed last Part, knock some heads, take what we want

And sue for peace

Qin and Justinian are still at war with him, fine by me.

Forgive the general's drawing but this is basically the plan.

Raze some border Byzantine cities, take the center one, and move onto the core one. The southern penninsula I can leave for the vultures.

We pop a valuable late wonder

Then we mas sour troops to attack Justinian

We switch to police state and star hostilities.

Techs just before

So Justinian has artillery and anti-tanks.

We pay a visit on him

And here is the first battle site

Already razed one city, going to raze the eastern city then try to head up the penninsula. Unforunately, Ragnar had just opened up borders with Justinina so I had to wiat 10 turns before asking him to close them.. He also refuses to go to war against Justinian, he s=declares in Sitting Bull a few turns later. Everyone want a piece of the Bull.

We pop another radio wonder

We had to retreat and regroups a bit, getting reinforcements and some rest.

Pretty soon we get notification, notice something missing

Sitting Bull is no more!!!! With Hammarabi a dead snake, Justinians days numbered, and me buddies with the vikings and Chinese things are looking good.

In fact, we call up Ragnar and Qin

What's going on with Qin. I ahve palyed enough games not to trust him 100%, so let him slap arround Hammarabi and avoind to temptation to help his old buddy Justinian.


We pop another wonder

To Be continued

 

[madscientist]

Bismark the Master Builder: Part VII continued

We assault one of the WONDER cities

Took advantage of espionage against Justinian, sending all cities into revolt just be attack

The captured city

And captured COnstantinople, note the Minig corp HQ was built there!!!!!

Sometime in this battle Qin asked for our help, so we declared on Hammarabi.

Once the northen core Byzantine cities were captured we sued for peace.

And bolted out of police state curtosy of the Christo Redentor.

We built the 3-Gorges Dam, removing unhealthiness from the coal plants.

Cityi screen of Berlin

Our diplomatic screen. Hmmm, Ragnar is only pleased now. What happened to out Viking cousins.

Victory conditions, as you can see domination is not a real concern, espcially with Ragnar still chewing up Justinian.

Demographics

Looking to finish this game in the next round, or the one after.

Wonders we need:
Hollywood
Space Elevator
UN

Projects are optional. Qin founded Sid's Sushi, let him have it. We Germans are meat and potato folk.

SO what are the victory conditions

1) Domination: Means we have to go after Qin or Ragnar. I don't think so
2) Culture: Well Berlin is above 200,000 but otherwise I don't think so.
3) Space: Sure we can do that. Berlin should get on the Apollo mission in a few turns.
4) UN? Well I will build that wonder AFTER the elevator, then we will see. I will likely go against Ragnar. I am sure Qin votes for me, and it may be enough for the victory.

Enough for now

 

[obsolete]

Thanks

Good point, but I kept it that way.

I already have +3 on the unhealthiness side and wanted to keep the pop as it was until I got some health building in it. I also could not use all of the production (although I could have run more engineers), in the next round as you will see I am punching out 1 Panzer per turn and all buildings and current wonders were built.

Perhaps I am wrong but I see no reason to force the capital into more unhealth if I don't need the production.

I'll be posting the next Part

I am confused by your worries about health. Are you to tell me that you are afraid if you don't work that lake tile, that you will somehow lose health?

Even if you don't need any more production, that poor lake tile is the absolute worst decision. All it does is feed +2f (which only keeps you stagant) and 2 lousy commerce.

If you run a Merchant instead, you get even more gold, AND 3 sci beakers, not to mention 3 GPs for the pool and other benefits.

Run the merchant, and then when you finally end up on the lower spectrum of the food bin, just assign the merchant to that +4 food tile. You'll end up swinging the other way back to where you were.

The difference, is you were getting science and GP pts that you would not have had while doing what you are now.

I just can not see any reason for working that lake.

 

[obsolete]

Some further thoughts on the priority of your radio wonders. The order you built them in was I think one of worst combinations you could have chosen.

When having the choice of 3 wonders, always work from the most important to the least when everything else is equal. Here, the RnR is very strong. It is a very strong reasource for happy management, and who ever has this wonder not only gains it, but controls that resource for all other players! You also are the only one who can trade that luxoury too.

The Cristo Redentor also is VERY important to you. This is because you are NOT spiritual. This is a tremendous boost to you, and very important. More so than other leaders. Yet I don't understand why you decided to go for Eiffel first.

Eiffel Tower barely even counts as a wonder. This is because it really doesn't do anything. It just gives a free tower in each city, but the point is, even if you fail to get the ET, you can easily build towers in your city anyhow. Missing that wonder doesn't permanently deprive you of anything. But missing the other two wonders is terrible.

Do not risk losing one of the important ones because you went for a junker and an AI beat you to one or both of the others. I can not stress that enough.

I USUALLY go for RnR first, then CR, and the ET comes last. The only time CR should be first is if you are very ahead of the AIs, but lacking OR & SP civic and not Spiritual, then an arguement could be made for CR first, THEN swap to builder civics, AND THEN DO R&R.

 

[madscientist]

Working the lake kept my population from increasing until I got some more health buildings. If I ran a specialist, the city would be starving, if I worked a farm teh pop would be growing. I was looking for population stagnation untl I got more health.

Regarding the wonders, I had lot's of happiness but planned to revolt to police state so I wanted to avoind the anarchy. Eifel tower was a mistkae as I did not have MM yet, should have dome RR before the Tower.

Thanks for the imput !!!!

 

[fjordan]

Well that's one of the advantages of the ET: you still get the towers without MM.
Another thing, since you are in SP, why not build water mills for +2 hammers and +2 commerce for 1 food? May cost you an engineer but more hammers and less health needed.

 

[IPEX-731BA5DD06]

well, my shadow game is over......

Spoiler :

completely differnent world I ended up with compared to you.

Sitting bull still had long bow's but had achieved Calvary, but the time I took the Hindu holy city off him. EVENTHOUGH he founded Hinduism, he choose to become a Buddist, along with Justinian.

Now Justinian, was a MAJOR pain in the but, I think I was at war with him continiously from 600 ad till mid 1950's with a 10 turn break in the 1920-50's, as he had only 1 island left.

Most of the war was a shadow war, as I had to fight through Hammurabi, to reach Justinian. After I'd taken what I wanted from Hammurabi, I made peace and became Friendly with him??? Must have been religion modifier and civic's

NEVER never went to war with Ragnar, was alternatively friendly or pleased,the pleased came about due to a random event, on crashed airplane, that RAGNAR, wouldn't allow access to. Never could get back to friendly after that.

Started my war with Justinian similar to how you have, kept going till kicked off continent, made peace for 1 of 2 remaining island cities, then killed Justinian. Qin was backward 2 for most of game, I think Justinian bribed him into declaring on me, as it wasn't much of an attack, easily held off.

The deciding moment of my game, was my teching Flight, those Planes certainly came in a time of great need, and saved my bacon many times. That and adopting Jewdaism, were the 2 factors, Oh capturing the Appolotic palace from HRE, who I eliminated, also help greatly.

Never in danger of going over domination limit.

Decided game goals were achieved with the building of the UN. I view the Space Elevator as a project, same as Internet.

As all other opponents are now teching s...l...o....w....l...y... I've turned off research, 40% culture, and switched to heritary rule to please Ragnar, and I'm still out teching the other....so GAME O.V.E.R.

Fun to play, I build most wonders, the one I didn't are;

Hindu, buddist, Islam holy cities. Chitizen Itza, 1 TRUN....1 TURN... ARRRGGGHH, Broadway, the Kermlin, the Great Light House, are all I missed.

As you can see, founded 4 religions, and Ragnar was kept busy either attacking Qin, or Sitting bull, Justinian, or dog piling onto the HRE at the death.

Key points;

Converting to Jewdaism, keeping friendly with HRE, who I feel, were about to Declare on me...when I panic whipped, Cost me dearly, in terms of Berlins production. Staying at war with Justinian for so long in shadow, hot war. Declaring war once Rifling and Calvary achieved (still can't believe I was only one with for SOOOOO LONG, Infantry by time they got rifles.) Decimating Hammarabi, who was a potential wonder rival for the Happyness wonders (he got braodway) Staying at war with Justiinian for so long, and controlling the appolotic palace, thanks to Ragnar...then Hammurabi later??

Qin and Sitting bull,were also rans, who never got out of middle ages for sitting bull, or rifles for Qin.

Cities settled similarly, but different names, with a lot of early war, that I just fake warred. That and being buddies with Ragnar, Saved me, and allowed my eventual expansion.

Missed 4 wonders that had to be captured, 3 holy cities captured, AND NO CORPORATION FOUNDED.

Lengthly write up, don't know if you'd care to read...

 

[madscientist]

IPEX, yes I read the entire write up and looks very good> Congrats on the win. Feel free to post outside of spoilers now.

I also won the game, Diplomatic win just before 1900. Qin voted for me, Ragnar voted for himself, and Justinian and Hammarabi we in hissy fits with there pitiful population. Got all the wonders under my control including all 7 holy cities. Qin had 2 corps founded in Bejing but since we were in SP, I regarded them as insignificant.

We did build the Space elvator, The chancellors view is that if it gets the 50% bonus from the industrious trait, it's a wonder!!! No projects excpet Apollo. Had alot of SS parts in production and could have easily won that way but would have taken alot longer.

I will do a final write up tomight with improtant screenshots.

Overall a great game, Berlin was a monster (over 260,000 culture!!!!).

This game shows the power of wonderspamming/GP settling. OBSOLETES strat works very well although obviously I have no reservations about expanding the empire, in fact I was pretty dammed agressive about it (Cutting off the AI in teh jungle, taking Chuck/Hammarabi/Justinian down).

All in All alot of fun, and glad to get that diplomatic win that eluded me in teh Washington RPC.

Like I said I'll post a writeup tonight.

I'll take a break for a while but I think I got ideas for at elast 2 more RPC's

A religious economy with Saladin. He's get's very little respect as a leader but I think he is a complete monster for a religious economy which fuels either a space race win or culture.

THe other I am working the bugs out and not even sure which leader although one does come to mind. More light hearted, similar to the Washington game. THe Mad Scientist (yes, my namesake, how could I have waited do long), looking to run a strictly science game for a space win, but with an evil twist to rule the world (No George Bush is not a leader in the game) with some rather insane rules. Only one I can think of as appropriate, MONTEZUMA, the complete nut case AI!!!! If anyone has suggestions on rules for such a game, please let me know. I would be running it as an SE.

 

[madscientist]

Well that's one of the advantages of the ET: you still get the towers without MM.
Another thing, since you are in SP, why not build water mills for +2 hammers and +2 commerce for 1 food? May cost you an engineer but more hammers and less health needed.

I am not 100% certain of this. Yes you get the broadcast towers, but not sure you get the extra happiness or 50% culture until you actually tech MM.

You are absolutely correct about the watermills and SP. However, the game was long (marathon speed) and required ALOT of micromanagement so I never got arround to it. I would have had to replace the cottages (towns) rather than farms as I could not found a corp (aside from being in SP) and had no desire to take Qins. Still it would have been worth it.

 

[DrPepper836]

Nice job madscientist. You actually won. I backed up my modded files and made a mod of the normal game, so I can try to shadow the next one.

 

[madscientist]

Bismark The Master Builder: PArt VIII

After long years and numerous wars where many courageous German soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice, The chancellor, not the KAISAR looks across the mighty and prosperous German Empire. " This is good, there whall be celebration in the streets, great praise and honor to Viking cousins and nobel Chinese". As he invites Qin and Ragnar (when not off bashing Byzantine heads) to a feast, he raises his tankard and toasts "To lasting peace a friendship for the rest of time".

All applaud the Kaisar, and marvel at the wonder of mighty Berlin, gem of the modern world.

The last round went relatively uneventful. Sorry you warmongers out there, no major wars or even bad diplomacy. We teched along, built out wonders and voted ourselves (with Qin's help) to a UN diplomatic win!!

First we build the last of teh entertainment wonders

And pass movies to our friends.

And to remove any doubt from Ragnar about backstabbing

Big move as Ragnar will be our UN competition and we need Qin's vote.

Speaking of the UN

And the initial vote tells us alot.

Right now there are enough votes ebtween me and Qin to win the game. But there is still one wonder yet, and the Chancellor is not about to wimp out at this point.

Ah! Now onto the UN vote

Drum roll please

The man of the hour

Status of our empire

And our ranking

Pretty decent ranking, with a pre 1900 win!!!

A final snapshot of Berlin, which ended up with over 260000 culture points.

And a final shot at our military capital

which wa spumping our bombers with 4 starting promotions at the end.

And finally the financial advisor which I usually forget to post

Well that was certainly alot of fun.

Some comments observations about the game.

1) Wonderspamming and GP settling. Very powerful technique. Lot's of GPs, culture, gold, science you name it. Even did pretty decent as far as espionage. Definitely a powerful use of the Industrious trait and I usually will play this type of game with an industriuos leader. Also do not forget that these wonders give a certain benefit, which only helps us.

2) Settling cities. For those who have not read Snaaty's thread regarding winning BTS at higher levels, it's a good read. Very agressive early settling, this is where I think OBSOLETES games are weaker (no offense, please). Getting that second settler off to the horses in the middle of a jungle and building a long road to it was one turning point. Getting the Bronze and marble cities next before Iron workign set things up nicely, and the settled Prophets helped maintain costs until I got Currency/CoL.

3) Hitting the Protective Holy Roman and peace with Ragnar was another big step. He is not easy to take out, especially with the UU, but once he starting going down I pretty much thought the game was done.

4) Hammarabi and Justinian (and Sitting Bull) went down fairly easily.

5) Tech lead was maintained post-liberalism, vital to get the wonders we wanted and maintain a miliotary edge.

6) Qin's friendship was the most surpirzing but much appreciated. Rarely do I maintain his help throughout the game, he must be showing a new side.

7) Collecting the missed wonders: This was not that difficult although I am VERY happy industrious Qin did not get any.

Thanks to all who followed and posted during the game. Like I said in the previous post I have some ideas for the next RPC's for myself.

 

[madscientist]

Nice job madscientist. You actually won. I backed up my modded files and made a mod of the normal game, so I can try to shadow the next one.

Thank you very much. I would be glad to see the next game shadowed. I am not one for modding as I am a little older and not as computer savy (I get annoyed at the teenagers I have if they go to new internet sites on my computer!).

Just remember the

Spoiler :

Spoilers!!!