*Spoiler3* Gotm20-Spain-Submit or complete Industrial

[Darkness]

@Ronals: Best wishes to your nephew. I hope he gets well soon...

After my Spanish nation entered the Industrial ages following the capture of Delhi and its Great Library (which gave me 15 MA techs ) we finished off the last 2 Indian cities in the next few turns.
After that I got overconfident and I declared war to the massive powerhouse of the game, the Zulu. I bribed the French and the Japanese to join me. I managed to take some distant Zulu cities and 2 of Shaka's core cities, but my cavalries were going down quickly (I lost 25 in the first turn of the war ). I lost the two core cities the next turn, but I managed to keep the other cities and had to fight a defensive war from that point, trying not to get eliminated so I could make peace in 20 turns without destroying my reputation...
Well, that worked (I only lost Aldea de Ribannah, just north of Paris) and I immediately switched to democracy and started to ruch to the techtree... America was destroyed at some point by the Iroquois, making them the second biggest nation (territory and population) after me. The Zulu were third, but very close behind the Iroquois. They were followed by France (tech-leader), Japan and the Aztecs...
France helped me greatly during this and I got Theory of evolution (2nd leader, this one from the war with the Zulu) but the French got the Hoover dam. By then I already had a good prebuild for the UN and I entered the Modern age in 1295 AD when I traded motorized transportation and some cash for Flight to the French, who also entered the modern age at that time....
I immediately started researching fission (for the UN) in 10 turns and my pre-build would be finished in 12 turns...
Victory was close, but not yet certain....

 

[denyd]

Wow, the last day of the month and I'm finally able to post to this thread. Just a brief recap, then on to the Med Melee:

The good stuff: Conquered remainder of English empire and acquired Pyramids in London in 700 AD and changed governments to Democracy. First in tech to steam power, replaceable parts and scientific method, build Forbidden Palace (940), Universal Suffrage (1030), TOE (1160), Hoover Dam (1290), Battlefield Medicine (1290) and Wall Street (1290). At 1290 treasury is 20258g + 840gpt. Peace in entire world from 700ad to 1295ad. 1st in land, population & GNP (plus a couple of others).

The bad stuff: Beaten by 4 turns to Smith's by Zulu, for most of the game, I'm weak military vs the Zulu, my southern neighbor.

The war stuff: In 1295ad, 3 big stacks of Zulu troops enter territory, I challenge to leave and he declares was (from polite to war in 1 turn!!). I had been building a future Celt invasion force and thanks to rails, I'm able to relocate 50+ artillery, 35 cavalry and 30+ guerrillas to the south. I also spend a chunk of my bank on MA with all the other civs. I rush civil defense in 6 towns. The artillery quickly redline the fast attack troop and the guerillas & cavalry eliminate them. On the next turn the same combo remove the foot soldiers. I'm still weak vs Zulu so I play a defensive game. I've only got about 12 turns until UN and have got 6 gracious allies in this war with 18 more turns of alliance. After about 4 more turns of kill the invaders, I have an average military vs Zulu and the artillery shells the Bursa defenders to redline and the population from 15 to 5. The cavalry make quick work of the remains. It's 1320AD and the Americans take an eastern Zulu city, finally an alliance unit helps out!!! I've research Motorized Transport and reached the modern age. For the final results (and a pretty easy to guess ending) see spoiler #4.

Also a best of thoughts to Ronald & nephew Martin

 

[LKendter]

v1.21f

640 AD - Taking out France really paid, as they gave us our coal source. Now the problem is to end resistance in Paris to get it in our borders. Thanks to the GA we had a ton of cash and also got Nationalism early.

860 AD - The rule of the AI will declare war when I am trying to bring factories on-line continues. War begins with India. I immediately ally with the Ottomans vs. India. This is a great scenario as the 2 tech leaders can start beating each other up.
I also convince the Celts and the English to join the dog pile. The extra dyes in former France really pay off.
America and Japan decide to join the dog pile. The Ottomans drag the Aztecs in.

The really great news from this is I can maintain a phony war and concentrate on being the first to factories, while the rest of my continent fights. I did kill a few India troops, so I did my job already.

We get to buy replaceable parts this turn and find our first bad piece of news - we have no rubber.

960 AD - I was a bit nervous because of a possible suffrage to ToE cascade, but I still get it. We do the standard AT and Electronic grab and start a 40-turn gambit on Radio. Hoover Dam is due in just 10 turns.

1170 AD to 1280 AD - The domination wars begin, and the first target is the Ottoman. I sign the Celts, Indians and English into the alliance. We gain the Pyramids, Sun Tzu, Bach's Cathedral, a permanent source of rubber, control of the main ivory area, plenty of spare iron / coal / oil, a nice amount of additional workers, and a good chunk of the home continent.

1305 AD to 1330 AD - After a short break to recover from the last war, another war begins. The new target is the remnants of India. They were well decimated from there war with the Ottomans.
During the beginning of my third war, I **finally** get my 1st leader. It is followed my next leader the very same turn! The RnG can be totally whacked at times.
During this war we gain a few more cities, Universal Suffrage, and Magellan's Voyage.

1340 AD - How many games do you have $10,000 in excess cash sitting around to rush tanks the turn you buy motorized transportation? This game has had the most obscene cash flow that I have ever seen at deity.


This game once again proved how valuable excess resources are. I got scientific method from Japan for iron and coal. I did it again for steel having to throw in some token cash. I gave the Americans Oil, Horses, Dyes and Ivory and got a major discount on Combustion.

1345 AD - The Celts get bent out of shape over us attempting to place a spy, and the next war begins. Of course, with 33 tanks already I am not worried at all.
I don't even care that my phony war with England over a spy attempt will become a real war when I reach the English borders. The Celts die in 1395 AD. The English quickly follow at 1400 AD. We mostly gain territory to bring us closer to domination. However, we get Leo's that may get one last use. The capture of Smith's is very much appreciated.

At this point it is looks tight to make the deadline. I am forced to employ the idiot automated workers to save time to avoid missing the deadline. I know they suck as cleaning pollution faster enough.

 

[hotrod0823]

I can at least share my game until this point although I did not complete it.

Was playing predator but really only saw the effects early on with the barbs at the era change. That and the dawnting task of conquest.

I was well on my way taking France, England, and the Celts with a pit stop in America. By 1300 AD I had infantry and was hitting the Zulu when Japan (The tech leader all game) declare war and forced me out of democracy. I was still able to keep a strong positive cash flow and pulled the Iroquois into the Japanese War. They had completed the destruction of the Americans and the Aztecs earlier so the 2 fought it out. Neither had iron however.

Meanwhile I was slowly making progress against the Zulu. Grabbed a few cities and was building cavalry like crazy but not fast enough. Soon Shaka had infantry and my cavs were slowed considerably, the difference of my cavs vs. the Celt rifles vs. the Zulu infantry was amazing. But I pressed on claiming a half dozen once zulu cities and had my sites on taking him out to focus on the Japanese. Then real life stepped in and I went on vacation and had 3 real intense SG's going on all at the same time. That brings me to tonight.

I picked the game up in 1340 AD a monarchy pulling 5 cavs per turn and making zero headway vs. the Zulu. The Japanese were a non threat but slowed my turns down so I employe autoworkers, and governors and changed my focus from a conquest victory with all the glory of a predator to a weak I want a diety victory no matter how weak diplo win.

I finally start building libraries (yes libraries) and then universities. I had a leader in the wings for the UN and I thought only I could get Shaka to me I had the game won. Well I made peace and realized that Japan had pulled away in tech when I saw a marine arrive and I was still behind espionage, steel and who knows what else. Well I wanted a win so I played it out or so I thought.

I had 5 or 6 turn on MA with the Iroquios vs. Japan. Once it was up I cancelled it and made peace with Japan for a mere 75 of my 6600 gold.

Went back to democracy and once my 40 turn research on Radio was completed I made a few transactions with Japan. He gets furs and iron I get Espionage and gold. Why they don't have iron I never really understood.

Then I get a bit over zealous but it was 9:00 on the 30th so here goes. I steal Steel and Mass Production the same turn for 3100 each. First time I ever tried that and I was holding my breath. Okay only 2 more techs and I am home free. I now have universities so I have 11 turns and just enough gold to get flight. Meanwhile I am selling/gifting like crazy to the zulu.

I get flight 1 turn after Japan and I am down to my last 2000 gold and I research fission at max 13 more turns.

I watch the gold drop and hold my breath. In between I sign a MPP and ROP with the Zulu and keep pumping him with tech. He attacks Japan ( I love it - He has sealed the deal and will vote for me ) I fight the good fight with Japan taking a few cities for good measure all the while watching the clock and my gold fall.

In 1520 I get fission and rush the UN. I am ready for my victory dance. We hold the vote in 1525AD at 12:00 or so EST and wouldn't you know it Shaka Upstains . I didn't have the heart to sit around for another 11 turns. A poor showing but a fun game just needed more time .

Hotrod