Spoiler for Single-player PBEM - ROME

[General_W]

If you're Memphus, Viva_Chingon, Automated Teller, or Ronnie1...

PLEASE LEAVE NOW!

This area is TOP SECRET!

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For the rest of you that would like to lurk this game and help me not lose horribly... WELCOME!

All help is appreciated - I think I might be a bit out of my league in this game. My talents run more towards the diplomatic than actual "skill" - so any helpful (non spoiler) tips will be appreciated!

 

[General_W]

Hey all

So here's what my capital area looks like:

As you can see - lots of food!
No early happy resources, and not a lot of hammer opportunity. Great forests though.

I've explored a bit - here's from the most recent turn:

It's slow going - lots of forest and jungle.

As Rome, I plan to target Iron Working very quickly anyway... but with my start location, I just couldn't resist picking up Agriculture.
All that food should give me some good whipping opportunities if I get in trouble with an early war or something.

Bronze working is next.

From the demographics screen, I'm in the lead for food - but in last place for GNP and production. No surprise there since I'm working an all food tile. Hopefully I can grow quickly and make up some of that deficit.

Thoughts? Ideas? Suggestions?

 

[azzaman333]

You'll probably have metal in your fat cross, on one of the non-forested tiles.

 

[General_W]

I hope so!
I just hope it's not aluminum!

 

[dutchfire]

I think Agriculture - Bronze Working - Iron Working is the best research path, assuming you meet someone soon.

But be careful, everybody will be watching out for Rome's praetorians.

 

[General_W]

Thanks Dutchfire! Glad to have you lurking

I just saw your comment in the Off topic thread - I don't want to interrupt the other discussion going on there - but I don't want you to think I was ignoring you either!

Thanks for asking about Evangeline - I appreciate the concern!
She's doing pretty well, all things considered. Her heart function is still the same (1/3 of normal) - but she hasn't gotten any worse and we haven't had any more extended stays at the hospital - hooray! She's making progress in her therapy... it's slow, but we're just thrilled to see improvement.
She's getting cuter by the day also!
Proud pappa has to show a picture...

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Back to game mode - I agree 100% - BW then IW... I may need some fancy diplomacy to stay alive till I can get my Praetorians up and running.

Although... since I'll have Agriculture anyway, I kinda wonder about the possibility of getting Wheel (60) and Pottery (80) before I get Iron Working (200).

It would let me hook up resources and the granary would be awesome for whipping. Cottages would also speed the time to Iron Working a bit.
Too risky to delay Iron Working that long?

 

[dutchfire]

Good to hear everything is going well.
She's now almost 2, if my memory is serving me correctly, isn't she?

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I'd say that depends on if you have copper near you. If you have, you can safely skip iron working for a short while.

 

[General_W]

so - I got a bit of a surprise this turn!

Apparently Memphus left huts turned on!
That puts a bit more of a hustle need onto exploration.
I'm wondering if I should risk sending out my second Warrior (under construction) to explore my south.

And speaking of that... my culture expanded and:

It looks like there's land below me!
Yipes. I'm not sure if I like that or not.
Will be interesting to see what's down there.


Thoughts on what to do with Warrior #2?

 

[dutchfire]

you can send warrior two slightly south, but be sure not to move it too far away.
The south can easily be defended, with the forest hill choke point you have there.

 

[General_W]

Some good news!

I popped that hut, and guess what I found?

A scout! Woot

This will help me in the scramble for more huts.

I decide to send my warrior back towards home, I think I'll try to shave a little more black off the northern area of my capital, then return for Police duty.
That should free me up to send Warrior #2 south more aggressively.

@Dutchfire - you're right - that forest hill choke point will be awesome.
If I build a fort there, I'll even be able to shuttle ships through that area

I'm going to name Warrior #1 "Primus Fecunda" - I think that's roughly Latin for "First & Fertile"

I'm also thinking of the basic "Explorator" for my new scout... I'll give him an adjective when/if he does something worthwhile


Here's my Demo screen:

As you can see - it's not very good news.
Tied for first in Food, but dead last in GNP & MFG. Whoever is tying me in food must also be working a river food tile. I'm guessing that's that 17GNP person.
My soldiers score ought to jump next turn thanks to my new scout.

I'm hoping I can translate my food edge into other areas here soon. But I think it's just generally going to be tough going for Rome till I can get Bronze Working.

Thoughts?

 

[dutchfire]

I think Primus Fecundus makes more sense in Latin, but I'm no expert.

 

[General_W]

More than me I'm willing to wager!
I'll go with "Fecundus"

I'm going to need to name something after you - as my main contributor here Dutchfire You want a unit or city or something?

 

[dutchfire]

Primus Fecundusque would be better now that I think about it, as -que represents the &

I'm going to need to name something after you - as my main contributor here Dutchfire You want a unit or city or something?

A praetorian would be nice (Ignis Batavus)

 

[General_W]

@Dutchfire, I LOVE “Ignis Batavus” – my first Patorian will be named that!

My scout made my first contact with another civ!

It’s AutomatedTeller of China!

I sent off this note:

Hail AutomatedTeller of China!

Well met – all of Rome salutes you.
We have sighted your scout "Lewis & Clark" in the jungles and are thrilled to meet your people.

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Let me be transparent with you – I’ve got more skills at diplomacy than I do at Civ (I'm currently getting pounded in another BtS pbem game)… and some might even question the extent of my diplomacy skills

With Memphus lurking out there with his skirmishers, I’m very nervous that I won’t live long enough to see my first Praetorian be produced. I really need an ally badly.
I also confess I’m relieved to have met you before Memphus. Hopefully that means he’s not my closest neighbor.

Since we both have later coming UUs – I think we have a good opportunity to help each other ensure we both live long enough to get to play with them.

Any chance you’re interested in cooperating and maybe even developing a more alliance-type relationship as we see the game progress?

Looking forward to hearing back from you!

General_W, Rome.

Any thoughts on my movement plan or approach to Auto Teller?

 

[dutchfire]

I thought Memphus was Incan?

 

[General_W]

oops! you're right.
Here's the reply I got from Auto Teller

Hail and well met, General_W of Rome!! Veni, vici, diplomati, eh?

I am happy to talk alliance - I have no experience at pbem, myself

At worst, an agreement to not attack each other, and I'd be interested in a
territory agreement, tech sharing, even mutual support (my archers are
really good defenders, especially in cities on hills).

May I ask which direction you are in? I am south and trying to figure out
which direction is best to next scout in. I figure I won't go where you
are, and you and I can go different directions.

Oh - one thing: I dunno if your skirmisher remark refered to Mansa's
skirmisher's, but Memphus is Inca, thus has quecha. Which is frightening in
itself...

Still thinking about my response...

 

[Theoden]

I'd be wary of making too much of an alliance before you've met any more civs - for all you know there's is only 1/4 chance that China is the best civ to ally with (I know it isn't that simple, but you get the point).

 

[General_W]

yeah - I agree. Better start slow.
But I'm not eager for a war with China (protective) anyway.

I just looked it up, and Qin starts with Agriculture and Mining... so how'd AutoTeller get a scout? must be the same way I did - and he's finding huts also! At least he didn't get a tech or something. lol.

 

[Theoden]

If someone finds a tech in a hut, you should typically see their score rise at a point where it would not normally be expected to.

And you can check the demographics for solidercount to get an idea of whether someone else suddenly got another unit.

Although I don't know how much "schlapphüte"-analysis you're going to do, since it's just a relaxing game.

 

[General_W]

obviously not TOO much analysis on my part. Not my styel
But if you notice anything, please help me out!

Here's the letter I sent back to AutoTeller:

Hail Auto Teller,

Sorry for my delay in responding.

Your plan sounds good. Le'ts start with peace and some kind of territory agreement.
My empire (heh - my single city) lies to the East of Lewis and Clark.

Shall we make some kind of deal like - once we sight the others borders, we'll turn around? Or should we try to be even more specific than that?
Or just merely pledge to respect the others borders / stay at peace?

I'm open to hear any proposal you have!

Good call on the "quecha" - obviously I need a new minister of intelligence

Awaiting your reply,
General_W, Rome.