SGOTM 11 - Shaka, not stirred

[Abegweit]

Bad luck but it happens. Where did the vet come from then?

Edit: I'm sure you know this, but I'll say it anyway --- kill the AC now.

 

[I. Larkin]

Attacking a city is not more difficult than a hill town and the benefit to this one is far greater. Despite your bad luck, you have plenty of troops left over so taking Thebes was certainly possible. True, we could not reach it at once; it would have taken a couple more turns. So?
Egypt has many swords and 3 AC. They make our SoD much weaker IBT.
Motivation to take Heli was to have faster unload point and leave Cleo without Iron. Next Iam going to pillage second.

 

[Abegweit]

Egypt has two ACs. The third is due in about 3-4 turns. And, as they are rated weak to us, I doubt they have many swords either. Two cities were bulding wonders forever. Most of the others are small. Besides, swords are just expensive spears. Don't let them attack you.

Pillaging the other iron is a good idea.

All I ask is that you tell the team what your intentions are. Nothing more. Whether the decision is right or wrong is another question. The important point is that we make it together.

 

[I. Larkin]

1) Egypt has two ACs. The third is due in about 3-4 turns. And, as they are rated weak to us, I doubt they have many swords either.
2) Two cities were bulding wonders forever. Most of the others are small. Besides, swords are just expensive spears. Don't let them attack you.

3) Pillaging the other iron is a good idea.

4) All I ask is that you tell the team what your intentions are. Nothing more. Whether the decision is right or wrong is another question. The important point is that we make it together.

1) I killed one (it costs 2 horses). Thats why I hecitate about second.
2) 2 Swords cost 3 Horses.
3) I know.
4) It is a good idea. However, Paul Markh and you have said very little about their plans and did not stoped IBTS even to discuss "make peace or not," "declare war or not." Or in your team are special rules for newcomers?
I in a contrast at previuos turnset debate "obviuos" thing for about 1 week.
So what you want to know?

 

[Abegweit]

1) I killed one (it costs 2 horses). Thats why I hecitate about second.
2) 2 Swords cost 3 Horses.
3) I know.
4) It is a good idea. However, Paul Markh and you have said very little about their plans and did not stoped IBTS even to discuss "make peace or not," "declare war or not." Or in your team are special rules for newcomers?
I in a contrast at previuos turnset debate "obviuos" thing for about 1 week.
So what you want to know?

1. Well, I'm not sure exactly what the circumstances of this were. It's true that ACs are tough, roughly equivalent to knights (which is why I wanted them for ourselves) but it will be even worse if you let it heal and attack. Get BomberEscort's Combat calc and Offa's Combat Simulator (found in his sig). They are invaluable tools. There is also this combat calc Neither calc is quite right. BE's doesn't consider barbs and refuses to admit the possiblity of both fast attackers and defenders. The other one doesn't consider fast units at all and thinks you get a bonus when barbs attack. Neither considers the possibility of a first strike. Still, they are useful even so. You appear to have about a 50% chance of winning if you attack with the vet horse. The elite would surely finish it off. Taking out a knight for a 50% chance of losing a horse is certainly a good deal.

2. Again, depending on the circumstances, this is very unlucky. Check the calc to see. Were they fortified in the hill town? Were they vets? Assuming fortified in the hill town but not a vet, you should win outright more than a third of the time and retreat half of the rest.

3. Since it was your idea, I'm sure you agree

4. Well, I said I was going to set up for an attack on Germany. You agreed and aded a few points which I agreed to. When I changed my mind and went after Egypt instead, I stopped, asked for opinions and waited overnight.
Got two yeays and no nays. I'm not sure what else needed to be said. Setting up for a war is pretty straightforward. I agree about the peace declaration. I wasn't too happy about that either.

I assume that the plan is to pillage and try to regroup, taking the other iron town in the process. Next get together enough soldiers to take on Thebes. Probably about 15 horses. Right? Pillaging the iron will prevent pikes, which is good. Other pillaging raids deeper into bloc territory would also be good. Perhaps Z should go to 1-turn Impis for at least a little while after GA starts. No new towns except the one 4 nw of Pink Dot.

Is it a plan?

 

[I. Larkin]

1. Well, I'm not sure exactly what the circumstances of this were. It's true that ACs are tough, roughly equivalent to knights (which is why I wanted them for ourselves) but it will be even worse if you let it heal and attack. Get BomberEscort's Combat calc and Offa's Combat Simulator (found in his sig). They are invaluable tools. There is also this combat calc Neither calc is quite right. BE's doesn't consider barbs and refuses to admit the possiblity of both fast attackers and defenders. The other one doesn't consider fast units at all and thinks you get a bonus when barbs attack. Neither considers the possibility of a first strike. Still, they are useful even so. You appear to have about a 50% chance of winning if you attack with the vet horse. The elite would surely finish it off. Taking out a knight for a 50% chance of losing a horse is certainly a good deal.

2. Again, depending on the circumstances, this is very unlucky. Check the calc to see. Were they fortified in the hill town? Were they vets? Assuming fortified in the hill town but not a vet, you should win outright more than a third of the time and retreat half of the rest.

3. Since it was your idea, I'm sure you agree

4. Well, I said I was going to set up for an attack on Germany. You agreed and aded a few points which I agreed to. When I changed my mind and went after Egypt instead, I stopped, asked for opinions and waited overnight.
Got two yeays and no nays. I'm not sure what else needed to be said. Setting up for a war is pretty straightforward. I agree about the peace declaration. I wasn't too happy about that either.

5. I assume that the plan is to pillage and try to regroup, taking the other iron town in the process. Next get together enough soldiers to take on Thebes. Probably about 15 horses. Right? Pillaging the iron will prevent pikes, which is good. Other pillaging raids deeper into bloc territory would also be good. Perhaps Z should go to 1-turn Impis for at least a little while after GA starts. No new towns except the one 4 nw of Pink Dot.

Is it a plan?

1. 410 from Vikings is a big money. We could do this deal but only make "virtual war. " It also open opportunity to start MA war at another continent. I thought we decided to do it in paralel.
1. 2. I know how to calculate probabilities. In probability theory (and for real combat and buisiness) not only mean value but also mean square diviation is important. Actually my experience shows, that output in Civ combat depend on Civ disorder for example as well as flip "probability". Software will not help here.
I will not play tonight, but write turnlog about how it have happend.
3. Probably we need more Impys?
4. I agree, that what you did and plan itself is the best at that situation. If you could put small detail that we will not take Heli before Thebes, it might help. In short term Pink dot helps, but after it will eat Babedies tiles. It was settler to settle Grey (3 NW) but you take it out. Francly speaking it is not that harmfull for game itself in comparison with "psychological damage" to next player. I will settle on Grey and irrigate G/L for it.
5. It is obvious. Less obvious:
a) I am going to rise lux 30% and send everything "to front". Warriors may be upgrated in Heli. Most probably we will have Feo at that time. "In long ran" we have good chanses to remouve Egipt entirely within this war. India at war with everybody already and most probably China and others also.
b) I am going to make embassy in China to be sure. Depending on their "treaties" it may give a prediction of Indian's success.
c) Next, what I want to do, but want to discuss first. I wrote in brief, but nobody notice. Look at trade: China have Feo, but have no Eng and Republic. They disagree to sell Feo and I do not want to go to negative gpt.
However, we may
c1) get Rep for Eng from Vikings and try to sell to China both for Feo.
c2) If they disagree again make a virtual money deal and declare to Japan.
c3) If they agree for small gpt which is acceptble?
It is posiiple to find out how mach costs Eng and Rep for China?
How it depend on Eng trade to Vikings?
d) I think "technical Cities at desert at north may help for faster unload, and for future war with Germany.

 

[Abegweit]

1. 410 from Vikings is a big money. We could do this deal but only make "virtual war. "

Don't know what you mean here. They have 36g and no gpt.

It also open opportunity to start MA war at another continent. I thought we decided to do it in paralel.

I don't think we did, but it clearly is a good (obvious?) idea.

Actually my experience shows, that output in Civ combat depend on Civ disorder for example as well as flip "probability".

Both assertions are wrong. Combat strictly depends on strength, fortification and terrain.

3. Probably we need more Impys?

A couple or three.

4. I agree, that what you did and plan itself is the best at that situation. If you could put small detail that we will not take Heli before Thebes, it might help.

YES. I should have. Sorry. I thought the plan was evident. Given that both you and Paul had different ideas, I clearly was wrong. Someone should have made a clear proposal. We all are at fault for that.

In short term Pink dot helps, but after it will eat Babedies tiles.

Which city gets the tiles makes little difference. The point is that they need to be exploited and one of three cannot be used by either of the other cities. Would you have preferred a temple and a sacrifice of one of the tiles.

It was settler to settle Grey (3 NW) but you take it out. Francly speaking it is not that harmfull for game itself in comparison with "psychological damage" to next player. I will settle on Grey and irrigate G/L for it.

Three NE of PinkDot you mean? Three NW is better. Four NW is better still. None of the tiles that Umtata brought to us would have come from any of these locations.

5. It is obvious. Less obvious:
a) I am going to rise lux 30% and send everything "to front". Warriors may be upgrated in Heli. Most probably we will have Feo at that time. "In long ran" we have good chanses to remouve Egipt entirely within this war. India at war with everybody already and most probably China and others also.

Makes sense.

b) I am going to make embassy in China to be sure. Depending on their "treaties" it may give a prediction of Indian's success.
c) Next, what I want to do, but want to discuss first. I wrote in brief, but nobody notice. Look at trade: China have Feo, but have no Eng and Republic. They disagree to sell Feo and I do not want to go to negative gpt.
However, we may
c1) get Rep for Eng from Vikings and try to sell to China both for Feo.
c2) If they disagree again make a virtual money deal and declare to Japan.
c3) If they agree for small gpt which is acceptble?
It is posiiple to find out how mach costs Eng and Rep for China?
How it depend on Eng trade to Vikings?

You seem to have a pretty good instinct for trading. You did well on both your first turn and this one. Go for it.

d) I think "technical Cities at desert at north may help for faster unload, and for future war with Germany.

One in a key location, perhaps. As it is, we need to seriously damage Cleo and her bunch.

 

[Paul#42]

3. Probably we need more Impys?

definitely, although they were disappointing up to now...

a) I am going to rise lux 30% and send everything "to front". Warriors may be upgrated in Heli.

Yes, that's what I would also suggest.

I wrote in brief, but nobody notice. Look at trade: China have Feo, but have no Eng and Republic. They disagree to sell Feo and I do not want to go to negative gpt.

I saw it but without current save and C3C I was in no position to analyse that complicated situation. I will do now and post my analysis in a few minutes.

d) I think "technical Cities at desert at north may help for faster unload, and for future war with Germany.

One town should be sufficient for that purpose. Where would you like to place it / them?

Don't know what you mean here. They have 36g and no gpt.

They had 409g at the beginning of your turnset in 550BC.

YES. I should have. Sorry. I thought the plan was evident. Given that both you and Paul had different ideas, I clearly was wrong. Someone should have made a clear proposal. We all are at fault for that.

When I posted my comments on that situation, I had no 350BC save and had just a short look at your screeny which made me think TGL was built in that town. I did not even realize that our units were booted to neutral territory. Now I see that our movement-2-forces could reach Thebes very well in the second turn of attack, if we don't get booted even a backstab was possible. However, if we had captured Thebes first the palace might have been moved to Heliopolis which would be tough to conquer, then...

 

[Paul#42]

However, we may
c1) get Rep for Eng from Vikings and try to sell to China both for Feo.
c2) If they disagree again make a virtual money deal and declare to Japan.
c3) If they agree for small gpt which is acceptble?
It is posiiple to find out how mach costs Eng and Rep for China?
How it depend on Eng trade to Vikings?

To my surprise, there might indeed be little risk to declare war on the China / Korea / Japan combo.The Japanese town blocks all land units and Japan is far away, their units will take lots of time to travel. However we should first ally Korea against Russia to make sure those two blocks go to war again.
Tough to calculate how many galleys will visit us from the east .

In any case, that would be the daredevil variant. But maybe it works without virtual-gpt-deal and war. It would be nice to keep some AI friendly...

So my vote: Although I do not like spreading Engineering, I agree on those trades you suggested, get Republic from Vikings and try to get Feud from China for Republic and Engineering. Add gpt if necessary. If it is more than 5gpt than ignite another war after getting all their cash and allying Korea against Russia.
I can't calculate what China will be willing to take for Feud. There are too many dependences, all three techs known by Korea - does a civ from Cleo's bunch know one of those? Anyway, tough (impossible?) to calc, let's try it.

 

[Paul#42]

Some organisational stuff:

We need to talk more. About what happened, what's going to happen and what we want to do. This game obviously offers many more complex situations than the last one. We need to discuss every turnset in advance, regarding all points diplomacy, research, infrastructure, military.

We need to do that in a structured way to make sure, no opinion or advice gets lost. For example, after Abegweit's turnset we should have discussed in detail, where how many units should turn in Egypt, which aims are the most important, how much resistance we will be facing. Which supply lines we want to use. Where to settle beach heads. We should use screenshots for that.

We need to discuss trades and diplomacy, whenever there occurs a new situation "on the market".

Some decisions might be clearcut, but as we have seen, some develop to more complex when you look closer at them...
Let's play and discuss concentrated, we want to have fun!

The Egypt campaign
When Abegweit started his turnset, Egypt had Feud but was broke. They might have trouble to rush a pike, but by the time we get there, they might have one or even two. It should be regular. Do we fight it with horses?
How many horses are needed to take a reg pike and 2-3 spears in a capital at say 80% confidence?

Trade and Diplomacy
As stated above, I'm in favor to make the Republic-Feudalism deal as Ivan suggested.
That might lead to a war with the Japan, Korea, Chinese, Russia - block.
Anyway we should sign in Russia against Cleo's block to distract their forces. There is no chokepoint, units of all Cleo's allies will find their way to our front.
Our two galleys in England / America should be placed in a way that each of them can trigger an alliance of at least two civs. No need to scout, bringing them home takes too long.

Production
units! No market, no ducts. Just horses, Impis, galleys.

Research
Will we go for Chivalry or Invention or turn research off and let the AI do it? Imo we should collect money and not even waste a single beaker on min-sci runs. It does not pay off by lowering any prices and we don't pay anyway

Expansion
After settling the town 3NE of Z we are done imo. We will settle some strategic towns but two more settlers should be enough for some time.
Where or when to move palace or FP is not interesting right now. We won't do it before we get a leader. And even then we will have to discuss if we'd rather form a AC army (if we finally get Thebes).

 

[Abegweit]

Furthering on Paul's comments above. If I haven't said, something, it means I agree.

Yep. We made some mistakes by not discussing things enough. It's time move on. The important thing is to make sure this doesn't happen again. No more recriminations or finger-pointing, guys? The situation is as it is.

On to the show.


Egypt and research

At the end of my turns, Cleo was only up Literature on us. Cathy had Lit, Eng and Feud. Otto had eng and lit. I doubt we will have to worry about pikes at all since the iron will be cut soon.

Agreed that we should not research at all. Min-scis never work in C3C anyway but pointy-stick does. And the GPT tricks work well too.


Taking Thebes

According to Offa's combat Simulator, 12 horses have a 90% chance of taking out 4 spears/swords/ACs and 15 can take that plus an archer at the same odds. I don't think we'll see more.

New cities

What is the point of a city 3NE of Zimbabwe? There is nothing there. The only useful locations I can see are 4NE of Umtata, to claim the goats, and 4NW of the same city, to claim the three plains tiles. I would settle both. Beyond that, if we train settlers, I'd rather build cities in Egypt, either as science farms or a core.

A jump-off city to Germany has no point ATM. It will be quite a while before we can open up a second front. Even when we do, we need to land a big bunch of troops first. When we finally reach the point whre we are ship-chaining to Leipzig, it will be useful but that's a long time from now.

A jump-off city to Egypt is marginal unless Ironville is moved south-west to the coast. So, no city to Germany. Moving Ironville is worth considering. It saves something more than a turn in transit.


Armies

It will take at least 25 turns to assemble an AC army. Ten turns to get Thebes and 15 more to get three ACs. MDIs are better anyway since they have a 6 attack and ACs only have 4 (depending on whether a vet or an elite is leading the charge).


War and Diplomacy

I too favour the trade. I also agree that the world should be in flames and that the Jap city protects us from the other bloc. Question: should we light a fire on the other continent? I think so.

Incidently, we have almost circumnavigated the other continent and there is no sign of the Arabs.

It will take three galleys to completely stop AI crossings. This is a fairly high priority.


Minor details

Take out the AC. This is your chance while it is weak.
Re-arrange Zimbabwe for 2-turn horses.

 

[I. Larkin]

0 350 BC Hire taxmen in all Cities but Z. We have 70 gpt. Russia do not want to trade Feo. Ottos want more for Eng. then Rus. They both agree to give all their money (but 8) + Eng+ Lit for our 70 gpt. Did trade. Start Feo with 1 Sci. Declare war to Egipt and strike Heli. First H retreat, second died. Third redlined, kill spear. Forth H ->4/5 and Heli ours. Nothing, 3 resistors. Ottos, Russian and Arabs (nice to meet you) declare to us. Call Gandi and ask for Alliance. Vs Arabs it is cheapest Lit +5 gpt for Aliance + 23 Gold. (I desided to save Mon for more important trade). MMNage Z+B to have harbor 1 turn. Z does not matter. Rush Ar and switch back to horse in Ng and Mp. Set Cities back to normal work. Reload Horses to wounded Galley. (Just in case and be closer).
IBT Archer come out of Heir. Sword come near Heli. B: H->G.
1 330 BC Kill Archer, ->4/5, Horse die vs reg sw, 1/3, second die vs sw 2/4 (!!). Third killed sword… It was bad move indeed. Bring all to Heli. Rush A ->Horse in Z
IBT 1 res in Heli. 3 H buildt. Otto uload W/S pair, Egy W/S come out of Hei. AC kill horse near Heli. Second AC come to Heli + Sw+ Ar.
2 310 BC Heir destroyed w/c pairs killed. Load Impy + wounded Horce to Galley. 3 horses died vs AC. 4th killed AC. (Can’t imagine my frustration…)
IBT Resistance ends. 2 swords and AC come at Heli. New Eg Sp/S paiar on desert…. Ru, Otto and Egy declare to India. U s-> Horse.
3 290 BC China still Anoying. Most probably at peace. V have Rep. Kill sword, but decided to stay vs AC. May be Elite Impy help? Kill S/S pair. Rush barracks in Heli. Bring Impy and ¼ Horse to Heli.
IBT AC kill Elite Impy in Heli ->(3/4). What a Monster!! Sword did not attack, went around. AC come back and stay with Archer. Ng riot.
4 270 BC Bring 3/5 Horse to Heli. Kill sword near Heli. Don’t know what to do with AC. If it again take 4 horses we will loose Heli. Fingers cross… Horse killed AC! (1/4) Elite horse killed Archer.Embassy in China. Picture below. They in peace with all. Trade Eng for Rep and 36 g from Vik, trade Feo +33g from China for Rep+Eng. Alliance to expensive. Set Inv for min. Set Lux 30% and send all to Egypt.
IBT Sword in forest.
5 250 BC Kill sword, promote. 4/5. Covered by Impy. Load Impy+ 3 Horse for 2 galleys.
IBT Otto horse near Thebes Eg E/ Galley hide in Memphis.
6 230 BC Killed O/H nerar Thebes. Send all to forest. Impy fortified. Unload “pillage team” to Iron. (Picture). Pickman in Thebes.
IBT AC kill v/H and r/l ret to Thebes. Otto H come to Heli. Isa riot. (Pretend I did it “on purposes” to please RNG. China found Tesing at desert sheep.
7 210 BC Why pillage? Memphis is ours. Horse die spear/2/3, Horse killed spear, E/Horse killed MidInf? (was in Galley) and got GL. (Picture.) I stop here.
IBT
8 190 BC
IBT
9 170 BC
IBT
10 150 BC

 

[Paul#42]

... and got GL. (Picture.) I stop here.

It occurs to me you almost try to hide some great news...

We should have known that some new player must be the one to break the curse


Now we have something to discuss (as if we do not have anything else to talk about...)

Will you add those announced pictures?
EDIT2: Thanks!

EDIT: Please attach the save again for the most detailed information.
First thought: If we have 2-3 warriors / MDI around I would suggest to build a MI army to get Thebes for sure and quickly.

 

[I. Larkin]

1) It occurs to me you almost try to hide some great news...

2) We should have known that some new player must be the one to break the curse


3)Now we have something to discuss (as if we do not have anything else to talk about...)

4) EDIT: Please attach the save again for the most detailed information.
5) First thought: If we have 2-3 warriors / MDI around I would suggest to build a MI army to get Thebes for sure and quickly.

1) Intrigue is imortant...
2)I tried my best...
3)Sure, let start now and continue tomorrow. I will mobilized all my will not to play today.
4) Is save ok?
5) Will write my ideas next.

 

[I. Larkin]

Great Leader: Basicaly we have 4 options
1) ”Natural” Build an Army (Me strongly disagree).
2) “Safe and reasonable” Take it home and Build FP “in a good safe place”. Disagree, but can consider.
3) “Optimistic” Build FP in Memphis. Agree, but I think big flip risk may remove it soon.
4) “Super Optimistic” Build Palace in Memphis. I think it will the best possible move (That agrees with our plans to move core), But I have to estimate corruption first.
Gravy for 3) Since flip risk of Memphis astronomically high 9-18%, I think we must pillage Iron near it. But that mean, that avarage lifetime is 3-6 turns. So FP is not very good idea...
Gravy for 4): Although Heli have flip risk 3-6% it is still a lot. It is 12- 20 turns of life approximately. If we make Palace in Memphis I recommend pillage Iron near Heli, sell Barracks and gift to India. It will reduce corruption in Zimbabwe and trig war over the all “alpha” continent.

 

[I. Larkin]

1) Both assertions are wrong. Combat strictly depends on strength, fortification and terrain.


2) YES. I should have. Sorry. I thought the plan was evident. Given that both you and Paul had different ideas, I clearly was wrong. Someone should have made a clear proposal. We all are at fault for that.

3) Which city gets the tiles makes little difference. The point is that they need to be exploited and one of three cannot be used by either of the other cities. Would you have preferred a temple and a sacrifice of one of the tiles.

4) Three NE of PinkDot you mean? Three NW is better. Four NW is better still. None of the tiles that Umtata brought to us would have come from any of these locations.
Makes sense.

5) You seem to have a pretty good instinct for trading. You did well on both your first turn and this one. Go for it.
6) One in a key location, perhaps. As it is, we need to seriously damage Cleo and her bunch.

1)The point is that any "event" shift sead of RNG. I tested it many times.
It may be very useful to create a RNG table, but I'm too lasy for this research
2) You know Murphy's law...
3) I prefer Temple, it is cheaper, then settler. I'm affraid, that we will need it soon anyway.
4) I mean Grey dot (3,0). Hills + Gls I settle it, but forgot when.
5) And you for military strategy. I relocate fast, but point of strike is a special art...
6) I think better to do it "without" City.The only worry, that China or Germany say, will settle at this desert.

 

[Abegweit]

Yet again, you jumped the gun Ivan. Why is so difficult to wait until we are ready? Among several other things, I suggested moving Memphis. This is especially true since it is a serious flip risk. On that note, don't leave any troops in Helio.

On city management issues, Zimbabwe is not making 2-turn horses as we agreed. Ibabanago is building a regular warrior ??? There is also another reg warrior on the way to Egypt. Is there a reason for this? Ulundi is massively wasting shields which should go to Z. Isa is rioting and should have a taxman. There is a scientist in Ngome. Fire him. Intombe is working 3 coast tiles. Switch one to a plains. Switch Helio to a harbour. We badly need a city on the hill 2sw of Helio. Build it out of Mpondo.

As for the leader, build an MDI army. There is no second choice. I see three vet warriors are on their way to the front.

I prefer Temple, it is cheaper, then settler. I'm affraid, that we will need it soon anyway.

We don't need temples. We need Egyptian luxes. Which city should get it anyway? Intombe or Umfolozi. Neither would bring in all the tiles.

I think better to do it "without" City.The only worry, that China or Germany say, will settle at this desert.

If they do, make 'em pay. On that note, I assume the two galleys being built are intended to prevent crossings, together with one from the Egypt ferry run?

 

[Paul#42]

Great Leader: Basicaly we have 4 options
1) ”Natural” Build an Army (Me strongly disagree).
2) “Safe and reasonable” Take it home and Build FP “in a good safe place”. Disagree, but can consider.
3) “Optimistic” Build FP in Memphis. Agree, but I think big flip risk may remove it soon.
4) “Super Optimistic” Build Palace in Memphis. I think it will the best possible move (That agrees with our plans to move core), But I have to estimate corruption first.

1) Given our difficult military situation in Egypt I would favor an army. It would give us a heavy advantage there and definitely change the fate to our favor.
4) Is moving the palace now not exploiting the distance rank corruption or is this only applied in Ptw?

I'm not sure if you (used to Ptw) are used to the heavily increased power of armies in C3C
With Osman's and Cleo's cheap units coming in and us being militaristic we might get tha chance for further leaders in future when we have more options to use them to build palaces...
Yet I would not count it in...

If I'm found too pessimistic about our war in Egypt and we decide to build a palace, I would favor to build FP in Ulundi to prepare a palace jump to somewhere else later.

 

[Abegweit]

1) Given our difficult military situation in Egypt I would favor an army. It would give us a heavy advantage there and definitely change the fate to our favor.

Army is clearly the best choice. It will make it far easier to take Thebes, especially as she has Pikes (and appears to have iron). An MDI army can take out two pikes in one turn with ease.

4) Is moving the palace now not exploiting the distance rank corruption or is this only applied in Ptw?

There is no distance corruption bug in C3C.

If I'm found too pessimistic about our war in Egypt and we decide to build a palace, I would favor to build FP in Ulundi to prepare a palace jump to somewhere else later.

At the risk of repeating myself for the umpteenth time, this is the one option which is clearly wrong. In any case, all thoughts of a second core are premature. We only have two cities in Egypt and both are high flip risks.

 

[Paul#42]

I favor building a MDI-army as soon as those warriors have crossed the water and are upgraded to MDIs.
Let the MGl from an army immediately so we can continue fishing (Maybe luck strikes again during your turnset, Ivan? )

Keep those former Egypt towns empty, put units on the iron sources so they get no pike on the flip. When you capture them back, raze and replace the first. Do not raze the second town before army is built or new settler is there.

Abegweit is right about the MM stuff. We need to do that thoroughly, it is much too early to play slumpy. If you have trouble to do so, ask, we can give lots of hints how to MM an empire by using advisors and tools.

Of course, the last action before ending the turn is to check unhappiness by the F1-advisor.

And Ivan, please consult the war academy on the power of armies in C3C. It seems you underestimate them badly.