SGOTM 06 - Chokonuts

[Ozbenno]

Played 10. Machinery convieniently coming in on the 10th turn.



I selected Optics but no beakers invested. Maybe after Optics we could start Civil Service (or even Engineering) and hope for a GS to pop Astronomy before it completes. We will need maces and trebuchets if we're going for intercontinental warfare.

I employed a scientist in London to stagnate (due in 9 turns currently 78% priest) and started building a forge to get an extra happy face. Remember when it finishes to sack the scientist and start growing again. When the GP pops, we should go crazy on employing scientists.

I captured a barb city and founded Hastings near the ruins of Timbucktu.





Carib has Forbidden Palace queued and workers ready to start the chop. I didn't start any new settlers but we can afford them and should start the process of settling our island.

We have three non-confused cities, I have one missionary only.

I discovered another island of our east coast, there is a hut there so can consider a galley to pop it (you can actually pop Astronomy from a hut). Its not inconcievable that we could get domination if we settle all the islands and all our continent but probably not likely. I must admit that a few teams (ie the Russians and a couple others) seem to have finished before 1000AD (haven't noticed their submission dates changing) so wonder if they have done this.

I suppose the big question of the moment are tech path and whether to go settler crazy.

 

[Ozbenno]

A few more points I forgot to mention.

I have an elephant outside a barb city, waiting for it to grow to size 2.

There is a source of silver in the icy south if we need more happiness.

Our land is currently at 20.98%. I must admit it really doesn't look like there is twice this area free.

 

[cubbiesin08]

Nothing like kicking out 30 turns in 24 hours...

We could also grab Monarchy quick to hook up the wine and give us the option to use Hereditary Rule.

 

[McArine]

I'll play tomorrow, for now I'm going for Optics first, then Monarchy, then Engineering.
I'll try to get the silver hooked up, and another couple of settlers ready.
Other than that, I plan on following Ozbennos suggestions.

 

[Ozbenno]

The fur might be easier than the silver to hook up (both can potentially give 2 happy). Remember to get a caravel out as soon as Optics is finished.

 

[McArine]

I got Optics and Hereditary rule in. Started Engineering.
Forbidden palace nears completion.
Grabbed the Barb city.

Attached the save, because I had trouble uploading to the SGOTM server.
Got it up now.

Turnlog:

Spoiler :

Preturn: Zzz

Turn 1: Athens Forge -> Missionary,

Turn 2: Zzz

Turn 3: London Forge -> Aqueduct, Athens Missionary -> Temple, Kumbi Saleh Library -> Market.

Turn 4: Carib Library -> Forbidden Palace.

Turn 5: York Missionary -> Missionary. We captured Khoisan -> Library.

Turn 6: Switched Hastings to Library.

Turn 7: Optics is in. Next, Monarchy. Athens Temple -> Caravel. Carthage Forge -> Caravel.

Turn 8: Zzz

Turn 9: Zzz

Turn 10: Monarchy is in. next, Engineering. London Aqueduct -> Missionary. Corinth Forge -> Settler.

 

[Ozbenno]

Would Civil Service be better than Engineering at this stage (we will need it before we can launch any invasion) or do we want to try and get Astronomy from a GS? Did we pop a GP?

We should have a caravel going from each coast to find the AI.

 

[ngraner42]

We have a great person in 5 with a 75% chance of a GP and a 25% chance of a GS. We could run a scientist and get that down to 3 turns.

We need Engineering for Trebuchet and CS for Macemen. I assume we want to attack with those units. Philosophy has a higher precedence for GS than Astronomy. One approach we could take is switch to Philosophy, then CS. If CS is about to come in before we get a GP, switch to Engineering until the GS pops. Once we get the GS, finish Astronomy and then finish Engineering. Build Galleons and conquer the world. If the first GP is a scientist use it to beaker Philosophy and speed up the process.

 

[ngraner42]

I am still leery of sending out Caravel. The fact that we were first to Confucianism, the Colossus was just built, they have not found us, and it is Prince level all indicate that they are not teching quickly. We may be better off giving them every chance to go to war against each other. There is also the possibility that there are two continents out there which could mean no AI tech trading.

 

[Ozbenno]

If we don't send out the caravels, we won't know where the AI is, so we won't be able to have decent attack plans. We only need three techs before we can start the invasions. Astronomy, Engineering and Civil Service. Once the last of these techs is in we should be looking at launching. We can't do that unless we know the lay of the land. We need to know where to start sending the troops and ships to rally. We also won't know what victory condition to commit to. We will be just delaying our inevitable victory!!

In terms of current research, Engineering might be the best choice, then Astronomy then Civil Service. We should be building masses of trebuchets once Engineering finishes, masses of galleons once Astronomy finishes and turning of research to upgrade all our troops to maces once Civil Service finishes.

I'd be tempted by employing the scientist in London as well. Whatever the second city to produce a Great Person is, it should be having 2 scientists employed from now and throw in a merchant or priest close to popping.

 

[ngraner42]

I am fine with Oz's approach.

 

[McArine]

So right now, we still want to fill our island with cities.
Continuing to build infrastructure to support research and gold.
Getting the cities ready to build mass amounts of military.
And following Oz's tech recommendations.

I believe this is the roster:
cubbiesin08
ngraner42
Ozbenno
McArine
Terminator3k - up
Mighty Dwaarf - on deck

 

[ngraner42]

Oz, congratulations on elite Quatromaster status. I always thought that the late starts cheapened the award. At some point I would like to start logging games toward the designation.

 

[Mighty Dwaarf]

Athens will be the next city to pop after London, it currently needs 207 GP points for this which is 39 turns at 6gppt or 23 turns at 9gppt. If we go Eng (11 turns) and then Philo (9 turns), we need to get Philo to bulb Astro. We can then start Astro and use GS bulb to help along, then finally research CS. I would normally prefer CS first for Bureaucracy bonus, but if we get CS before we bulb Astro then it will bulb Paper, Edu and PP before Astro.
As regards meeting others, if we are careful we could at least find the other AI borders, as long as we dont get in their visual range they will not know we are there. We may not get the chance to see exactly who we are to be up ahead but we will at least know roughly where and what colour they are.
I think we should pop the hut on the islands to the East, do we build a explorer for this (unless we already have a scout??). If we do pop CS though it will ruin our hope of bulbing Astro?? So is it worth it??
Other than that I think we should pull back our fogbusters in hope of barb cities popping up, this would save us the need to build settlers to settle them. I think we should look to settle the two cities previously mentioned near London. We should also look to get FP finished asap.

 

[Ozbenno]

Oz, congratulations on elite Quatromaster status. I always thought that the late starts cheapened the award. At some point I would like to start logging games toward the designation.

Thanks. They are changing the criteria at the moment, so I might not be for long

 

[Mighty Dwaarf]

Guys I have accidently played out of turn, I remembered taking the last turn after McArine and as he was last to take turns I assumed it was myself up again. I had some unexpected spare time so played out ten, I submitted the game and came back to Forum where I noticed the roster and realised my error . I have Pm'd Termi hoping he hasn't played any turns. I not sure if I should post a report yet?? So I'll hold off for the moment.

 

[McArine]

Guys I have accidently played out of turn, I remembered taking the last turn after McArine and as he was last to take turns I assumed it was myself up again.

Well you did play after me last round, because Terminator and I switched places.

I think you should just post the report, and then Terminator can play. No harm done.

 

[Ozbenno]

Terminator didn't post a got it so assume you're all right.

 

[Mighty Dwaarf]

Well then,

Whipped FP in Carib immediately, thus improving cash situation also changed Athens to 2 Sci and 1 Eng. Also moved a few troops back into borders, hoping a barb city would spring up to take advantage of or at least gain a few more exp points for troops.

Caravels were built, but didnt need them to find our nearest opponent!!



Looks like either Indians or Vikings?? Either way I assume they do not yet have Optics. I have explored up their coast, which stretches quite a long way North to South, keeping out of sight. I have drawn a line to show their possible sight range with Optics we need to stay our side of line for now. Our Caravel to the East has found more uninhabited islands.

Our Great Prophet was born and shrine completed further boosting cash London is currently on Wealth so we are now +ve at 60% sci. On last turn both Islam and Libralism where found in distant land (maybe connected??) so somebody out there is following a science route.

We finished Eng on last turn, we are only 20 turns from self researching Astro. We maybe better doing that next then CS which at current rate will be just 27 turns.

Other News
I have built one and started another Galley which can be upgraded to Galleons once Astro is in. Angor Wat and Notre Damme were built in foreign lands. A Settler was completed and moved to this spot ready to settle -



The spot near London would mean the new cities borders would be visible to Indian/Vikings if they have Optics. So thought this was next best spot. Another Settler has been started.

 

[ngraner42]

It looks like we have been generating GP points too slowly for beakering Astronomy. I would suggest going ahead an grabbing CS and then Astronomy, since CS is in 7. We can use the 27 turns to pull an invasion force together and then as MD suggested upgrade to Galleons for the attack.

Instead of building long term buildings like a Library in Khoisan, I think we should switch focus to producing Military units and Settlers. We should be well above 40%+ of the land with just Settlers. Add in the land for our neighbor to the west and we may have enough. Let's hope he is isolated and backward in tech.

I noticed that we have not switched to Hereditary Rule. There is no current unhappiness so we are fine, but I just wanted to mention it as a reminder.