SGOTM 22 - Fifth Element

[zbgayumn]

Hey, pigswill, do you mind if I take over for the next 4 days?

I'll have time this week, but then I'm away from home for two weeks. I'm taking my computer, so I won't be out of it, but finding time to play will be considerably harder.

If you were going to play tonight, go ahead. I'll start back up on Monday, if that's all right with you.

 

[zbgayumn]

Didn't play tonight, since I didn't hear back.

I WILL PLAY in 20 hours if I don't hear anything before then.

 

[pigswill]

Sorry, played a few more turns but too demoralised to post.

here goes.

425. Brennus bombards Equus. Rome forge > Colossus.

450. More bombarding, Brennus suicides wellie. Zara completes Colossus.

475 zzz

500 zzz

520 Brennus attacks, loses ten units, we lose 2. Hannibal declares on us.

540. I lose 3 prats killing NC, 2 chariots and 2 cats.

Don´t have much enthusiasm for this game. Naff RNG, we keep losing wonder races. I really can´t see us winning this in the foreseeable future.

Latest save:http://gotm.civfanatics.net/download.php?file=Fifth_Element_SG022_AD0540_01.CivBeyondSwordSave

 

[zbgayumn]

No, it's going to turn into a slog. I may run out of enthusiasm too in the end. For now, though, I want to make some progress while I can.

 

[zbgayumn]

Well, I forged ahead, but it is a complete stalemate with Brennus. I fracking hate Elephants when they're not mine.

I did capture and raze a Carthaginian city. Eventually I took a peace deal with Hannibal. Brennus is willing to talk, but won't take a peace deal unless we cede Equus.

I'm kind of stumped. I haven't played Agg AI much. Will Brennus ever get tired of war?

edit: Is civfanatics.net down? I can't upload the game right now.

2nd edit: Game is uploaded

 

[zbgayumn]

Just in case I succeed in taking this city:

Spoiler :

Here's Rome at Size 14 with 11 units and way more than 5 buildings.

Spoiler :

Game Save

 

[zbgayumn]

Post-capture save has been posted.


Brennus still isn't impressed. We now have enough espionage on him to see that our power ratio is 0.56. That's pretty awful. However, the only option for a peace deal is to give back the freshly captured Verlamion. What to do? What to do?

By the way, Lib went in 1090. Something is really screwed up about this game. On Monarch, Lib doesn't go that early even with normal tech trading.

We've definitely passed any chance of being competitive. I'm just wondering if we can get a victory in this game?

 

[Noble Zarkon]

Man, Lib in 1090!!! This is crazy, hopefully we can slog through to a win but it's going to be tough.

 

[pigswill]

We still have exactly 0 Wonders in Rome. Maybe engineering next.

 

[zbgayumn]

I had 51% for a GE, but I got the GS instead. Boo.

Engineering has been out there a while. It's probably another losing race to go for Hagia Sophia.

I'm going to be really busy tonight, so I think I'm done for the week. If either of you wants to take over for a bit, go right ahead.

 

[pigswill]

Its not a matter of building Wonders, its more a matter of survival. Pikes v wellies, trebs and prats v cities.

 

[Noble Zarkon]

I might be able to take a turn tomorrow and Saturday, will confirm tonight.

 

[BSPollux]

We've definitely passed any chance of being competitive. I'm just wondering if we can get a victory in this game?

This game turned out to be harder then I wanted it to be. Just try to win, that's enough

 

[Noble Zarkon]

I might be able to take a turn tomorrow and Saturday, will confirm tonight.

Can't do anything today but might be able to play a few turns tomorrow.

 

[Noble Zarkon]

This is my official "got it", will play some time on Saturday, won't be able to play on Sunday though but might have some time next week.

 

[Noble Zarkon]

Turn 175

Promoted Praetorian in Verlamion to Maceman
Stole Worker with Horse Archer

Turn 176

Promoted Maceman to Combat 1 and killed Spearman, but not before he sabotaged a Mine :-(
Horse archer killed and stolen Worker lost :-(

Turn 177

Verlamion survives assault - all attackers dead or fled.

Turn 178

Brennus moves a stack of 10 (2 WE, 2 Trebs, 2 Macemen, 2 Crossbowman and 1 Pike) towards Verlamion. which is defenced by a stack of 14 (4 Macemen [1 a GG], 2 Praets [who can be upgraded to Macemen for 95g each], 3 Horse Archers, 3 War Chariots [1 a GG], 1 Crossbowman and 1 Spearman). Problem is many of our defenders are injured and most of them are taacking units.

Have paused now - do we try on hold on to Verlamion or give it away for peace? I'm not sure our current units are going to be enough to win many wars - we need Cuirs or perhaps Cannons. We've got a couple of large opponents including one (Hannibal) who is annoyed at us. It's a tough spot!

I can play a few turns in the morning once we've made some decisions.

Save here.

Spoiler Session Turn Log :

Turn 176, 1160 AD: The enemy has been spotted near Verlamion!
Turn 176, 1160 AD: The enemy has been spotted near Equus!
Turn 176, 1160 AD: Rome has become unhappy.
Turn 176, 1160 AD: Julius Caesar's Maceman 22 (Rome) (8.80) vs Brennus's Pikeman (5.71)
Turn 176, 1160 AD: Combat Odds: 90.9%
Turn 176, 1160 AD: (Extra Combat: -10%)
Turn 176, 1160 AD: (Extra Combat: +20%)
Turn 176, 1160 AD: (Plot Defense: +25%)
Turn 176, 1160 AD: (Combat: -50%)
Turn 176, 1160 AD: Brennus's Pikeman is hit for 24 (76/100HP)
Turn 176, 1160 AD: Julius Caesar's Maceman 22 (Rome) is hit for 16 (84/100HP)
Turn 176, 1160 AD: Julius Caesar's Maceman 22 (Rome) is hit for 16 (68/100HP)
Turn 176, 1160 AD: Brennus's Pikeman is hit for 24 (52/100HP)
Turn 176, 1160 AD: Brennus's Pikeman is hit for 24 (28/100HP)
Turn 176, 1160 AD: Julius Caesar's Maceman 22 (Rome) is hit for 16 (52/100HP)
Turn 176, 1160 AD: Julius Caesar's Maceman 22 (Rome) is hit for 16 (36/100HP)
Turn 176, 1160 AD: Julius Caesar's Maceman 22 (Rome) is hit for 16 (20/100HP)
Turn 176, 1160 AD: Brennus's Pikeman is hit for 24 (4/100HP)
Turn 176, 1160 AD: Brennus's Pikeman is hit for 24 (0/100HP)
Turn 176, 1160 AD: Julius Caesar's Maceman 22 (Rome) has defeated Brennus's Pikeman!
Turn 176, 1160 AD: Your Maceman 22 (Rome) has destroyed a Pikeman!
Turn 176, 1160 AD: Julius Caesar's Horse Archer 3 (Ferraria) (6.60) vs Brennus's Crossbowman (2.62)
Turn 176, 1160 AD: Combat Odds: 99.7%
Turn 176, 1160 AD: (Extra Combat: -10%)
Turn 176, 1160 AD: (Plot Defense: +25%)
Turn 176, 1160 AD: (Hills Defense: +50%)
Turn 176, 1160 AD: Brennus's Crossbowman is hit for 20 (5/100HP)
Turn 176, 1160 AD: Julius Caesar's Horse Archer 3 (Ferraria) is hit for 19 (81/100HP)
Turn 176, 1160 AD: Brennus's Crossbowman is hit for 20 (0/100HP)
Turn 176, 1160 AD: Julius Caesar's Horse Archer 3 (Ferraria) has defeated Brennus's Crossbowman!
Turn 176, 1160 AD: Your Horse Archer 3 (Ferraria) has destroyed a Crossbowman!
Turn 176, 1160 AD: Ferraria will grow to size 8 on the next turn.
Turn 176, 1160 AD: Brennus's Maceman (5.28) vs Julius Caesar's Praetorian 17 (Porcellus) (5.10)
Turn 176, 1160 AD: Combat Odds: 52.0%
Turn 176, 1160 AD: (Extra Combat: -20%)
Turn 176, 1160 AD: (Extra Combat: +20%)
Turn 176, 1160 AD: (Combat: -50%)
Turn 176, 1160 AD: Julius Caesar's Praetorian 17 (Porcellus) is hit for 22 (61/100HP)
Turn 176, 1160 AD: Brennus's Maceman is hit for 17 (38/100HP)
Turn 176, 1160 AD: Brennus's Maceman is hit for 17 (21/100HP)
Turn 176, 1160 AD: Brennus's Maceman is hit for 17 (4/100HP)
Turn 176, 1160 AD: Julius Caesar's Praetorian 17 (Porcellus) is hit for 22 (39/100HP)
Turn 176, 1160 AD: Julius Caesar's Praetorian 17 (Porcellus) is hit for 22 (17/100HP)
Turn 176, 1160 AD: Julius Caesar's Praetorian 17 (Porcellus) is hit for 22 (0/100HP)
Turn 176, 1160 AD: Brennus's Maceman has defeated Julius Caesar's Praetorian 17 (Porcellus)!
Turn 176, 1160 AD: While defending, your Praetorian 17 (Porcellus) was destroyed by a Celtic Maceman!

Turn 177, 1170 AD: The enemy has been spotted near Verlamion!
Turn 177, 1170 AD: Porcellus will become unhappy on the next turn.
Turn 177, 1170 AD: Porcellus can hurry Maceman for 1⇴ with 22ℤ overflow and +1⇤ for 10 turns.
Turn 177, 1170 AD: Ferraria has grown to size 8.
Turn 177, 1170 AD: Darius I won't trade Copper
Turn 177, 1170 AD: Saladin will trade Stone
Turn 177, 1170 AD: Saladin won't trade Gold
Turn 177, 1170 AD: Julius Caesar's Praetorian 10 (Equus) (6.42) vs Brennus's Maceman (0.54)
Turn 177, 1170 AD: Combat Odds: 100.0%
Turn 177, 1170 AD: (Extra Combat: -10%)
Turn 177, 1170 AD: (Extra Combat: +20%)
Turn 177, 1170 AD: (Combat: +50%)
Turn 177, 1170 AD: Brennus's Maceman is hit for 20 (0/100HP)
Turn 177, 1170 AD: Julius Caesar's Praetorian 10 (Equus) has defeated Brennus's Maceman!
Turn 177, 1170 AD: Your Praetorian 10 (Equus) has destroyed a Maceman!
Turn 177, 1170 AD: Porcellus will grow to size 10 on the next turn.
Turn 177, 1170 AD: Equus celebrates "We Love the Monarch Day"!!!

Turn 178, 1180 AD: The enemy has been spotted near Ferraria!
Turn 178, 1180 AD: The enemy has been spotted near Porcellus!
Turn 178, 1180 AD: Porcellus has grown to size 10.
Turn 178, 1180 AD: Porcellus has become unhappy.
Turn 178, 1180 AD: Porcellus can hurry Maceman for 1⇴ with 30ℤ overflow and +1⇤ for 10 turns.
Turn 178, 1180 AD: Hannibal has 10 gold per turn available for trade.

Spoiler Buffy Log :

Logging by BUFFY 3.19.003 (BtS 3.19)
------------------------------------------------
Turn 175/500 (1150 AD) [19-Dec-2015 16:42:49]
While attacking in the wild at Verlamion, Horse Archer 2 (Porcellus) (6.00/6) defeats Celtic Worker (Prob Victory: 0.0%)
50% Research: 84 per turn
0% Espionage: 8 per turn
50% Gold: 5 per turn, 133 in the bank

After End Turn:
Porcellus finishes: Catapult

Other Player Actions:
A Mine was destroyed near Equus
A Mine near Equus was destroyed by Celtic Crossbowman
While defending in the wild at Verlamion, Praetorian 23 (Equus) loses to Celtic War Elephant (8.00/8) (Prob Victory: 34.5%)
While defending in the wild at Verlamion, Praetorian 21 (Ferraria) loses to Celtic Maceman (6.88/8) (Prob Victory: 1.0%)
While defending in Celtic territory near Verlamion, Horse Archer 2 (Porcellus) loses to Celtic Maceman (0.80/8) (Prob Victory: 26.2%)
Civics Change: Darius I(Persia) from 'Vassalage' to 'Bureaucracy'

Turn 176/500 (1160 AD) [19-Dec-2015 16:44:39]
Porcellus begins: Maceman (7 turns)
Maceman 22 (Rome) promoted: Combat I
While attacking, Maceman 22 (Rome) decimates Celtic Pikeman (Prob Victory: 90.9%)
While attacking in Roman territory at Equus, Maceman 22 (Rome) (1.60/8) defeats Celtic Pikeman (Prob Victory: 90.9%)
While attacking, Horse Archer 3 (Ferraria) decimates Celtic Crossbowman (Prob Victory: 99.7%)
While attacking in Roman territory at Equus, Horse Archer 3 (Ferraria) (4.86/6) defeats Celtic Crossbowman (Prob Victory: 99.7%)
Praetorian 10 (Equus) promoted: Combat I
50% Research: 85 per turn
0% Espionage: 8 per turn
50% Gold: 12 per turn, 138 in the bank

After End Turn:
Ferraria grows to size 8

Other Player Actions:
While defending in the wild at Verlamion, Praetorian 17 (Porcellus) loses to Celtic Maceman (0.32/8) (Prob Victory: 48.0%)

Turn 177/500 (1170 AD) [19-Dec-2015 16:53:12]
While attacking, Praetorian 10 (Equus) decimates Celtic Maceman (Prob Victory: 100.0%)
While attacking in Roman territory at Verlamion, Praetorian 10 (Equus) (5.84/8) defeats Celtic Maceman (Prob Victory: 100.0%)
Porcellus begins: Crossbowman (6 turns)
Maceman 22 (Rome) promoted: Combat II
50% Research: 85 per turn
0% Espionage: 8 per turn
50% Gold: 13 per turn, 150 in the bank

After End Turn:
Porcellus grows to size 10

 

[zbgayumn]

I was afraid it would come to this. I really hate to give up that city considering how long it took me to get it. On the other hand, I know that the stacks of units coming from Brennus are absolutely endless.
Is there a chance Brennus will refocus on someone else if we get the peace deal? I think we're only -2 with him once the war ends.

The other question is whether we could make more headway against Carthage or Arabia? We need fifth and sixth cities badly.

I'm actually thinking Space might be easier to complete before the deadline. Killing the insane number of units out there will result in turns that are an hour long each. Space will take more turns, but many of those will just require hitting enter.

 

[Noble Zarkon]

Brennus has a hidden -1 with us as well so no guarantee of a lasting peace. One option is to adopt Hinduism which he founded. That's only in one city though whereas Buddhism is in all of them except one (with a missionary on the way). If we adopt Buddhism we might be able to bribe Saladin into the war, especially once we get paper and can bulb Education with our GS.

I think we need to try and hang on for a couple of turns - use the 3 promotions available for our units on defensive promotions and see if we can hold Verlamion until we have something to offer for peace or for war allies (or both lol).

I'm actually thinking Space might be easier to complete before the deadline. Killing the insane number of units out there will result in turns that are an hour long each. Space will take more turns, but many of those will just require hitting enter.

I was wondering about Space as well, we definitely need at least 6 cities for that! Possibly one city in the South with Fish / Stone, not great but it's something

I can play tonight and should have some time each day for the next few days. If anyone has a long stretch they can play by all means take it over.

 

[zbgayumn]

We can't bribe with techs.
It's super frustrating when all the normal options are canceled, isn't it?

I agree going forward, hold on to Verlamion unless it's obvious that we're going to lose it.

 

[Noble Zarkon]

Ah - went and reread the early posts but haven't updated that bit! Wow yes it's so different. Ok will play the next turn or two later today and see what transpires.