Space 5 - Old hands can be newbs too, getting back in the game

[leif erikson]

I'm only talking about taking Athens and then peace. A couple of reasons:

• Hate to move our Army south to take on Nappy and leave the considerable forces of Alex in our rear, with City-State alliances, to backstab us
• Athens has 3 Gold, iirc, and these can be used to trade for more happiness resources. Athens, as a mature city, must be producing most of his units, so removing that should leave our rear fairly safe and we get the Great Wall in the deal.
• It was said that we aren't ready to attack Nappy yet, but should be in about 10 turns. In the interim, take Athens and free up units to go south for Nappy. Otherwise we keep a relatively large force tied up in case we are attacked.
• Could also score some points with Cathy?

 

[Methos]

lurker's comment: Interesting game. Glad to see your still around, Space!

 

[ainwood]

@Leif - works for me. Not like its going to do much harm (unless nappy attacks us from behind).

 

[AlanH]

I think that's a reasonable plan, leif.

We do need to position a few defenders in the south. Venice has broken the alliance with Russia, so they could be taken up by Greece (good at city state alliances?) Then we could have Venice as an enemy, and France as a potential enemy, both on our southern doorstep.

When we do take on France, the French towns on our western borders both have luxuries, and are likely to be lightly defended. I seem to recall we can see into one of them, and there appears to be no garrison there.

 

[leif erikson]

OK, will try to get to this soon.

 

[Karasu]

Hi folks,

it appears that I have been spotted in cyberspace by ainwood's sleuthing skills -and for some unfathomable reason I still remember my civfanatics password. And it worked!

You have no idea how it felt when the site told me my last visit was on 28th August 2006...

Anyway. I couldn't resist it obviously, so I thought I'd drop by and say hallo.
Hallo
How's everyone doing? It's a pleasure to see you all here

I haven't played any Civ since... er... 2006 in fact, so strictly speaking I shouldn't be here! But who knows, I might even get a copy of civ5 and plunge back in. Pointless to ask if it's worth it, is it?

Cheers
L

 

[mad-bax]

Oh my word! I can't believe it.

Karasu, your re-appearance has absolutely made my day. Welcome back friend.

... By the way, you're up! (after Leif )

Really good to see you back.

 

[ainwood]

Glad you made it!

 

[Karasu]

... By the way, you're up! (after Leif )

Cheers mates
Hey, ok, ehm... ok, hold on -got to buy the darned thing!

 

[a space oddity]

Extremely well done ainwood!

And of course: bentornato, welcome back Karasu! It's really good to see you made it back here too.

 

[AlanH]

Well I never! Where have you been hiding for the last seven years?

 

[leif erikson]

Hi Karasu, welcome back.

Have played 5-turns and am out of time for this morning, so decided to post.

A couple of decision to make. We can choose a Social Policy and would like to open Commerce for the boost in Gold in MB. We also just finished Banking and can build a Bank in MB in 6-turns. We need Gold for research deals and to upgrade units.

Decided not to attack Athens as Alex has too many units around the city, making it a costly venture. I had hoped he would go for Cathy, but he never moved out against her. Seems like the best thing to do is prepare to receive his attack and then counter him when the time comes.

Ready to move units south for attack on Nappy.

Nappy built another city, very near Ted's Keep.

Save uploaded below.

The log thus for:

Spoiler :

Turn 170 – 1100 AD
Decide to let the Greek and Russian armies fight a bit before deciding when to attack Greece. We need more Archery type units, fear for Leif Springs as it has no defending unit.

IBT
Monaco and France no longer allies, that’s good.
Alex trounces Cathy near Athens and Cathy’s units flee. Hope Alex’s unit pursue.

Turn 171 – 1110 AD
Move Archer from Alan’s Apple towards Leif Springs and another from Ainwood’s Tor towards Alan’s Apple.

IBT
Alex makes peace with Venice.
We discover Chivalry and start on Banking.
Ted’s Keep completes Treb => XBow.
Space Station completes Longsword => Treb.

Turn 172 – 1120 AD
Upgrade a Cat to a Treb for 100 Gold.
Upgrade an Archer to a XBow for 170 Gold.
Alex does not seem to be chasing Cathy, he is remaining around Athens, not good.

IBT
Barb Trireme spars with one of Cathy’s Archers.
Alex’s units begin to move towards Russian territory.
French Horsemen move north between our cities (AT and LS).

Turn 173 – 1130 AD
A French Army appears to be moving towards Ted’s Keep (2 Archers, a Horseman, a Settler and a Worker).
XBow in Leif Springs attacks a Barb Trireme and sinks it.

IBT
What the heck! One of our Workers sails out of MB headed west? Cancel his mission.
A Russian Trireme moves north near LS.
Alex’s units head north?
French Horsemen head north, his army near Ted’s Keep founds a city, Avignon, 2 east and 2 SE from Ted’s Keep.
We complete Porcelain Tower => XBow.
Good thing PT completed, our research agreement with Cathy completes and we are now 1-turn from Banking. Our deal with Cathy must be renewed (Pearls for Silk).

Turn 174 – 1140 AD
On the Cathy Deal, we just got our Pearls back.
Just noticed we have a Great Scientist sitting around idle.
Upgrade Archer in Alan’s Apple for 170 Gold.
Decide there are too many units around Athens to attack. It will affect our ability to attack Nappy. Start moving units south to prepare for the nappy attack.

IBT
France and Russia, and Japan and Persia, sign research agreements.
We are the most literate civ, followed by Oda, Ramkhamaeng, Nappy, Darius, Cathy, Harun and Alex.
We discover Banking => Printing Press.

Turn 175 – 1150 AD
We have to choose a Social Policy.
Decide to save, post and finish later.

 

[mad-bax]

You got the scientist when the porcelain tower completed. So PP sets up the congress in vanilla right? I can't look at the save at the moment but am itching to.

Fantastic timing for PT. Beautifully managed Leif.

 

[leif erikson]

Sorry MB, no congress in vanilla.

You are starting to get your versions confused.

 

[AlanH]

Trade Unions in the Commerce tree looks like it would generate gold, mainly from the 30% reduction in road maintenance cost. The tile improvement maintenance is currently 30 gpt, so if that's all roads, we would gain 10 gpt?

We are only at +1 happy face currently, though that will go up by 4 when we connect spices, so Meritocracy is another option to improve happiness.

Rationalism also looks helpful, given that we are trying for a science victory.

 

[leif erikson]

Sorry for the delay, finally was able to get this moving again. And quite exciting it was as Nappy decided to declare on us.

He has a lot of units and we have killed a lot of them as well. Thankfully, he attacked everywhere and we had enough units around to fend him off thus far. Our silly Military Adviser says the war is not going well, but we seem to be holding our own. The only problem on the horizon is that Alex is stirring to the north, his units are lined up on our northern border near Alan's Apple.
The situation in the north.

Spoiler :

The situation in the south.

Spoiler :

Our Caravel is also in the sea to he east of Nappy and if you sail it close to the coast, you can catch a glimpse inside a couple of his cities, including his capital. Screen shot in the spoilers below.


The Turn Log:

Spoiler :

Turn 175 – 1150 AD
Reload game and move on.
As we do not yet have a lot of Gold to spend on Research Agreements and we do not have that many roads, decide to choose Meritocracy for some additional happiness, until we can get some more resources to trade. Select it and happiness jumps to +9 from +1.

IBT
Darius comes calling and asks us to join him in a war with Oda, sorry, not today old friend.

Turn 176 – 1160 AD
Removed the production focus for MB and start growing the city again, we need the pop to expand research.
Just ran the Caravel up to the French coast and found a Musketeer in Tours.

Spoiler :

Spend 100 Gold to upgrade a Sword to a Longsword.
Advance a Longsword to recon Orleans.

IBT
Nappy declares war on us.
He moves a force towards Ainwood’s Tor.

Turn 177 – 1170 AD
Now let’s see if we can hold Nappy back.
Situation in the north:

Spoiler :

Situation in the South:

Spoiler :

Start from the north to the south.
Leif Spring attacks a French Treb, takes out 9/10 hp.
XBow in LS attacks the same Treb and kills it.
Ainwood’s Tor attacks a Sword unit and takes 4 hp’s.
Move the XBow from Alan’s Apple south and attack the same Sword, we kill him.
Withdraw a Worker to safety.
Move a Sword unit to challenge a Treb.
Longsword unit attacks a French Archer and kills him with the loss of 1 hp.
Set up Treb and attack a French Pikeman for 4 hp.
French have some Horsemen around Avignon, move the Spear out of SS and upgrade him to Pike enroute for 75 Gold.
Withdraw Treb into SS and pull back Longsword from exposed position.
Set up a defense around SS.
Now let’s hope Greece doesn’t join in.

IBT
French Horseman attacks Cat near SS.
Lots of Horses move up between Ted’s Keep and SS.
He is attacking all along the line of cities. Lots of uits.

Turn 178 – 1180 AD
Leif Springs attacks a French Sword, does 4 damage.
The XBow in LS attacks and kills the Sword.
Near Alan’s Apple a Sword approaches, attack him with Alan Apple’s defense bombardment and inflict 4 damage. Pike attacks him and kills him, losing 3 damage.
Ainwood’s Tor attacks a French Treb for 4 damage. We follow up with a Sword and kill the Treb with 1 damage taken by us.
A Longsword attacks a Archer unit and kills it, losing 1 hp.
A Sword attacks an Archer units and kills it, and the Great General that was with it, for the loss of 1 hp.
Ted’s Keep attacks a French Horse for 4 damage and a Pike follows up, killing and losing 2 hp.
Move the Spear from M-B out and upgrade him enroute for 75 Gold.
Near SS, city attacks a Horse and kills him.
LS attacks a French Horse and inflicts 9 damage while taking 3.
Move Great General into SS.
Work Boat completes in Fanatica and start a XBow.
Try to gain some Gold through trade, but it isn’t happening.

IBT
XBow completes in M-B.
French Army moves all over the place.

Turn 179 – 1190 AD
A target rich environment.
Alan’s Apple attacks a French Horse for 3 damage.
Move Worker into Leif Springs, too many Horsemen around.
LS attacks French Horseman and kills him, losing 3 HP.
Move XBow from Ainwood’s Tor back to Alan’s Apple, just in case.
Near Ted’s Keep, a Pike attacks a Chariot Archer and kills him, losing 2 HP.
Ted’s Keep attacks a Treb and does 1 damage?
LS attacks Horseman and does 7 damage while losing 3 hp’s.
Pike follows up and kills the Horse, losing 2 hp’s.
Near SS, Space Station attacks a LS and does 2 damage. Treb follows up and does 2 more damage.
Sword near Ted’s Keep head back north to support any problems up there.
LS and Sword set to heal.
Start M-B building another XBow.

IBT
We lose a Pike to two Trebs.
We lose a LS near SS to a French Musketeer unit.
Ted’s Keep produces a XBow.

Turn 180 – 1200 AD
Aiwood’s Tor bombards a French Horse doing 2 damage. Follow-up with a LS that kills the Horse while losing 3 hp’s.
Ted’s Keep fires at a wounded French Horse and kills him.
XBow fires at a French Horse and does 3 damage. XBow in Ted’s Keep follows-up and does 6 more damage to the Horse. Think about attacking with the Pike but that would allow Avignon to attack it next turn, along with the Treb.
Set up a Treb near Ted’s Keep and attack a Treb for 4 damage.
Start a Knight in Ted’s Keep.
Near SS, attack a Musketeer with a Cat and do 4 damage. Follow-up with a bombardment by Space Station and kill the Musketeer.
The Treb in Space Station attacks a French LS and does 5 damage to him.
Decide to upgrade the Sword near Alan’s Apple to a LS because it looks like the Greeks are lining up for an attack.
Move a Worker into Ainwood’s Tor for protection.
Set Pike and LS near Alan’s Apple to heal.
Set LS north of SS to heal.
I love out Military Adviser who says our war with France is not going well, we must have killed a good part of his army while only losing two units?
There is a Caravel to the east of Nappy’s lands that can be moved to recon his cities for an overview if you wish.
Sure am glad I didn’t attack Greece, not sure we could have held Nappy. But watch Greece, they are lined up on our border. Nappy will not negotiate for peace, must still have quite a few units.

 

[mad-bax]

This is a great set!

Can we just build some Xbows and trebs and take out Paris? Puhlease?

I wish I could look at the save.

 

[AlanH]

Well done, Leif!

Magnificent kill ratio. Between this war and the first one, we must have killed an awful lot of Frenchmen in this game. Kill ratios are so much better when you are focused on defence.. I guess the biggest single difference between defence and attack is the extra fire power of the cities.

We're researching Printing Press currently, on the way to Economics->eventually Scientific Theory. However, maybe with all this aggression around us, we need to get to Gunpowder next for Muskets?

We are currently at +11 happy faces. Maybe we could take over one or more of our puppets to increase military production?

 

[Karasu]

Hi folks... no, I wasn't planning to disappear for another 6 years or so. Spent the last week trying to buy Civ5. I did, but haven't installed yet.

Anyway, is there another quiet thread somewhere where we can catch up without my derailing this SG? I sort of lost my bearings in the forum...

 

[AlanH]

You should still have access to the GOTM Staff forum.