Suleiman's Harem

[InvisibleStalke]

You can get points from Cathy and maybe by betraying Boudica, but I suspect its going to be hard to get 500 without taking out all of France. All of France should be enough, but its going to require a monster army. Once you get through the bottleneck its going to be hard to defend cities. Police State might be extremely useful for war weariness.

Are nukes in play? You have spread fission around a lot, but if you can use nukes on France you can mop them up a lot quicker.

Don't raze cities if you can avoid it - you need the points. Take cathy out to for some points.

Build some spies for emergency sabotage operations against Cyrus. Put all of your espionage points onto him.

Have you fueled a golden age yet with a GP? May be a good job for your great prophet or next great person. Put everything into your military at this point.

 

[Flouzemaker]

If Cathy or Hatty were to get eliminated, that would allow Surya to release some of his cities as a colony, right? Would that be a good or bad thing? (I'm not a Civ IV player in the strictest sense of the term. )

I'm extremely curious about that.

Would Surya creating a colony (then probably vassalizing it) help or hinder his score?
Because I can easily finish off Cathy. What I wonder is: If I destroy Cathy, does that help Surya more than myself?


Really, I don't want to betray Boudica. Not because she has been an angel so far, but because the opportunity would be too good for Suryavarman, the military leader (now that De Gaulle's been taken down a notch).
He could either betray Boudica as well, and solidify his points victory, or Betray myself, creating a dogpile I couldn't recover from.
My army isn't that big... it's just more intelligently used. Only Edirne and Istanbul are good unit producers. Other cities may take well over 5 turns to generate an Artillery.

The other reason I don't want to send my forces Boudica's way, is that it ensures Cyrus is free to build his Space Ship in peace. If I keep hammering De Gaulle, then maybe, just maybe, I can hinder Cyrus as well if need be. So, I think he'd have to send an incomplete space ship and try to luck out and win.
Although if he's far enough ahead in tech, it might even bee too late for that as well. The only good thing is, I believe he only has two "good production" cities: Persepolis and Pasagardae.

I've been spreading Fission around, but I don't want to waste production building the Manhattan Project myself. That's a large amount of shields that could be building Bombers and Tanks instead. If the AI builds the MP, I'll have nukes without wasting shields myself. If the AI doesn't build it, well, at least I know I won't get nuked.

 

[Nelgirith]

You should go for killing Cathy AND Hatty, that's doable in less than 60 turns.

Also you should have a town mass-creating spies to stop Cyrus from making his spaceship. At this point, it doesn't matter if it angers him and DOWs you.

Once Hatty and Cathy are down, just take as many french towns as possible. Imo, it's still possible to beat Surya and Cyrus with a time victory.

 

[Flouzemaker]

Well, the game is over.

I suppose I'll get the chance to tell you all about it sometime sunday night.

I can tell you one Spoiler: No need to even worry about Cyrus. I checked more closely:
- He indeed has only two decent producing cities
- He doesn't have Aluminum.
- He wouldn't be able to complete a working Space Ship before 2050 AD.
- And he wasted a whole lot of time and Shields building The Internet. Why the Tech leader would build that, I don't know...

 

[Arlborn]

- And he wasted a whole lot of time and Shields building The Internet. Why the Tech leader would build that, I don't know...

Oh the AI!

 

[obliterate]

Hurry up and update!!!





Please.

 

[feldmarshall]

yeah please... update! update!

 

[RockTheCazbah87]

Well, the game is over.

I suppose I'll get the chance to tell you all about it sometime sunday night.

I can tell you one Spoiler: No need to even worry about Cyrus. I checked more closely:
- He indeed has only two decent producing cities
- He doesn't have Aluminum.
- He wouldn't be able to complete a working Space Ship before 2050 AD.
- And he wasted a whole lot of time and Shields building The Internet. Why the Tech leader would build that, I don't know...

Dude, hurry up and update! I wanna see the comeback of all comebacks!

 

[dazman92]

This is it...the final battle!

(epic music plays)

 

[Catharsis]

Risin' up, back on the street
Did my time, took my chances
Went the distance, now I'm back on my feet
Just a man and his will to survive

So many times, it happens too fast
You change your passion for glory
Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past
You must fight just to keep them alive

It's the eye of the tiger, it's the cream of the fight
Risin' up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night
And he's watchin' us all in the eye of the tiger

Face to face, out in the heat
Hangin' tough, stayin' hungry
They stack the odds 'til we take to the street
For we kill with the skill to survive

It's the eye of the tiger, it's the cream of the fight
Risin' up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night
And he's watchin' us all in the eye of the tiger

Risin' up, straight to the top
Have the guts, got the glory
Went the distance, now I'm not gonna stop
Just a man and his will to survive

It's the eye of the tiger, it's the cream of the fight
Risin' up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night
And he's watchin' us all in the eye of the tiger

The eye of the tiger
The eye of the tiger
The eye of the tiger...

 

[Nictel]

This is great!

My 2 cents: Wipe De Gaulle off the map, if only because he backstabbed me in my last game.

 

[obliterate]

Common it's been two days.

 

[Flouzemaker]

You guys somehow expect me to win this one, lol!


Where were we?



Jan. 2021:

Dang it. I'd like to declare war on France ASAP, but I can't send troops to Thebes or Namp'o!

Catherine gave us Flight. If we had airports, we could drop troops in!

Right. I need airports, and I need them now. But I don't have any money to speed things up!

My sources tell me Isabella is loaded...

Really?

Suleiman quickly dials the VP...

¿Hola?

Hi, Isabella, Holiest Holy Queen of Holiness most Holific, and Holician!

You started off well, until you started making up words. What do you want?

How much would you give me for Mass Media, dear?

Mass Media? Ooh! I want Mass Media. There's the word "Mass" in there! I can't ignore anything with a religious connotation, no matter how remote! How about 1120 gold?

Helz yeah! Sold, babe, sold!! Thanks!

Yess! Roxolana!

Suly-honey?

Hurry Airports in Thebes and Namp'o right now, and have Istanbul and Edirne build their own. We'll add more airports in other cities as we go along.

Sure! Oh, and just so you know, there's some kind of Russian Revolt in Rostov.

That did not contain the word "airport," so I'll just ignore it.

 

[Flouzemaker]

July 2021:

Hm... I'd like more money. You never have enough money, it seems...

Suleiman dials again

¿Hola?

What would you give me for Gold and Cow?

Err... Hit Musicals and 9 gold per turn?

Sold! Thanks!

Suleiman dials another number...

You've reached Persia, Cyrus speaking.

Hey, trade-whore! What would you give me for Gold, Clam, and Dyes?

I'd say Hit Movies, Hit Singles, and 9 gold per turn.

Sold, dude. Ciao!


Suleiman dials a last number.

Boubica! What would you give me for some Wine?

Why? Want to lower my defenses in a pitiful attempt to have your way with me?

That, or I just want some of your money. You can pick which.

OK. I'll give ya 14 gold per turn.

Sold! Thanks for the view, and the money! Somehow, I feel like a gigolo, now. See you 'round, Boudica!



Jan. 2022:

The VP rings...

Suleiman, my favorite buddy! Declare war on the French and help me destroy them!

Ack! Surya, my fugly friend! You don't know just how much I want to do that. But I have to barely defended cities right on the French front. Now that I've got a few airports, I'm refilling the defenses, but it'll take a while before I'm ready to kick De Gaulle's wrinkly [BLEEP]!

That's a major disappointment, Suleiman. Just when I thought you had suddenly relocated the whereabouts of your [BLEEP]s among the rolls, folds, and flaps of fat camouflaging your [BLEEP].

I'll let that comment slide, Suryavarman. You did take the time to add a wink, hinting that you might have been joking there, after all. But mark my words, dude. France is going down, and it's going down hard! But it's only going down when I'm ready, not when YOU're ready.

Farewell, Suryavarman!

 

[Flouzemaker]

July 2022:

We're sending lots of troops to Thebes and Namp'o via our airports, right?

Affirmative. A few every turn.

Good. Now, I... hold on the phone is ringing...

Yeah?

I'm smarter than you are.

Good for you. I'm sure your mom is proud.

So, that means you'll stop trading with Isabella, right?

Wrong. Isabella is a groovy source of funds for me, just like you.

But I'll be unhappy if you refuse.

But you're such a trade-whore that you'll keep trading with me anyways. So, farewell!



July 2023:

I've been reading the civfanatics boards, Suly-honey.

Uh-oh...

Someone suggested we use our next Great prophet to start a Golden Age. Since our next Great Prophet is now our new Great Prophet, why don't we?

Sure, why not! The boosts sure can't possibly hurt!

The Ottoman Golden Age begins!


Jul 2025:

Cyrus has founded Jewellers Inc.

Don't care.

Edirne achieved Legendary Culture.

So long as Ankara and Istanbul aren't close to doing the same, I still don't care.

And you've completed the Life Support:

 

[Flouzemaker]

Groovy! We're now tied with Cyrus in the Space Race!



Jan. 2026:

Dang it. Thebes is too culturally pressured for my tastes! Spend 900 gold to build a Buddhist Stupa over there!

Consider it spent and done!


Jan. 2028:

We're still air-shipping a few troops to Thebes every turn, right?

Affirmative...

Don't feel safe enough quite yet, though...

Suleiman dials...

Hello?

Boubica, babe... would you feel safer in this mean, nasty world of ours if we shared a Defense Pact?

Yes. Yes I would.

You're an angel! Thanks!



Jan. 2031:

Well, there you have it. Suryavarman and Isabella have made peace with the French Triumvirate.

As they say, [BLEEP] happens... Feels strange to have the world at peace, all of a sudden, though. Oh, and Roxolana!

Yes Suly-honey?

Spend 900 gold to hurry the Confucian Academy in Namp'o, please.

Certainly.

 

[Flouzemaker]

Jan 2033:

I just realized why I had bigger budget problems than before!

You did?

Yeah. All those [BLEEP]s are spreading their darned Corporations all over my land! Revolt to State Property!

Right away! That will greatly improve our finances, because our cities near the French border are rather costly.

Even better!


Jan. 2035:

Suleiman!!

What?

Have open borders with me, I feel, like, ~sigh~, constricted.

OK.

So you agree? That's hot.

Whatever you say. See you later!



Jan 2037 AD:

Bonjour, Ottoman scum! I require you to stop all that irresponsible trading with Spain.

No.

You dare refuse?

What are you gonna do, Declare War on me? Come on, do it! Just do it! Just like you momma used to say: Do it!

Keep going, and I very well might do that!

And I'll be waiting, [BLEEP]!

 

[Flouzemaker]

Alright. That's all nice and groovy, but I needs me some extra points, here. My score's too low. Roxolana!

Yes, honey?

Grab the Settler sleeping in Edirne, and have him found Konya, west of Istanbul, on that plains-hill west of the Corn farm.

Right away.

Then, build another Settler and found some other city I'll instantly forget about south of Edirne, on that useless coastal hill with the Crabs nearby.

OK.

And then, let me forget I ever founded those. I even forgot to take screen-shots of them, that's how important they are.

Readers will see them as white dots on the little map at the bottom right corner of some future screen shots. As it turns out, it's the most appealing view of those cities.

I guess that's true enough.



Jan. 2038:

Suleiman dials

Hello? Oh. Suleiman! I notice you're getting closer and closer in the score race. That's unfortunate, my friend.

It's not that unfortunate, my friend.

What do you want, my friend?

I'd like to know how much you'd give me for some of my extra Gold, my friend.

I'd be prepared to give you 28 gold per turn, my friend.

I'd be prepared to accept those terms, my friend.

Then it is agreed, my friend.

I'll see you later. Farewell, my friend.


...

Man. That conversation contained a suspiciously high number of "my friends..."

 

[Flouzemaker]

Jan. 2039 AD:

Suleiman! Stop trading with Isabella!

No, farewell, Cathy!

Suleiman, give me Iron this instant, or suffer the consequences!

Sure don't care about Iron anymore. Now go away.

YAY! Another Great Prophet was born in Bursa. Combined with our sleeping Great Engineer, we can have ourselves another Golden Age!

Awesome! Do that!

Manny-bunny... can we talk?

OK. What's on your mind, Sarila?

You HAVE to cancel your Defense Pact with Boudica.

Now, you're just being silly. Why?

Churchill is weak. Terribly weak.

So?

My female intuition tells me someone quite powerful will attempt to take advantage of that. Thus, forcing you to go to War. A War you'd be hard-pressed to win.

Nonsense! Beste! We could win a war against anyone, right?

Affirmative. Although...

Although what?

My feminine intuition tells me that If we were at war with De Gaulle, He'd take Thebes very easily.

You're joking, right? I have a gazillion troops in Thebes!

My feminine intuition tells me that De Gaulle would take all of the troops from Paris to Chengdu and attack with them, taking Thebes, besieging a hopeless Namp'o, and quickly heading for Wonsan while we'd lose more than half of our forces on the first turn. My female intuition also tells me that the battle for Thebes would last roughly half an hour because of the preposterously large amount of units involved.

 

[Flouzemaker]

What's up with all the female intuition stuff, huh? Is that another way of saying you already played the few turns, then reloaded in disgust?

Maybe...

Hey! If we've done it once, we can do it twice, can't we?

Touché.

Hello?

Forget the Defense Pact, Boudica, I'm canceling it.

Declaring war on someone, huh?

No. I'm just canceling it.

Why?

No reason.

Is there something I should know? Is it something I did?

Look, Boudica, it's not you, it's me, OK? It's me.

But...

Farewell!


July 2039:

There you have it! De Gaulle (and his girls) declared war on Churchill and Boudica, and France has conquered London, wherever that is.

I'm still not convinced we made the right call.

You would have lost Thebes, dear Sultan.

I know... Normally, I wouldn't mind. But I've spent so much in upgrading it's culture... I couldn't part with it.