T1-4: Temple of Doom

[frankcor]

I'm up tonight in another SG so I'll pick this up on Wednesday evening and play it then. I'm open to any and all discussion prior to then. Going for economics and Free Market makes a lot of sense. But then, so would infantry.

 

[Swiss Pauli]

I'm up tonight in another SG so I'll pick this up on Wednesday evening and play it then. I'm open to any and all discussion prior to then. Going for economics and Free Market makes a lot of sense. But then, so would infantry.

Economics will complete in 2 turns, but Infantry is a looong way away, unless we can get a sustained peace.

 

[frankcor]

Peace is tempting but do we stand a chance if we're not out breaking somebody's head? We do have to win by conquest.

It won't take much to convince me otherwise, but I'll plan on trying to raze (or capture) more Chinese cities. Feel free to open the save before this evening and let me know if you have an opinion on continuing war vs peace.

 

[Jet]

I wouldn't mind trying to capture Cherbourg within 5 or 10 turns (time to heal and build a few more units). True, it's risky, and I doubt we could hold it without immediate peace.

No, humans can't become vassals.

Buddhism is a great idea. We might get thrown a few bones, and it's not like we're courting anyone else's friendship, nor do we have any chance against HC.

 

[frankcor]

I've got the save and I'm playing now -- yeah, took some leave time to come home and play. Sheesh, will I ever grow up?

 

[frankcor]

After watching pholkhero's reports, I decided it was time to install ruff_hi's Cobbled Mod. It looks stable and works well. I had missed playing without an autologger but have gotten accustomed to writing manual logs. I'll try blending the two together. Let me know if you think it works or not.

I took a look at our cities for opportunities to improve or modify things but didn't find many:

Tlatelolco was starving so I traded 6 (modified) hammers for 2 food to make it stagnant. It had two happiness to spare at the time.

At Saxon, I swapped away from a pillaged plains corn field (2F1H) to a riverside desert mined hill (4H1C). I promised myself to remember to come back after the corn field is repaired which was unlikely to be any time soon based on the military action happening up north.

At Xochicalco, I swapped a uniproved grassland to a recently cottaged one, picking up an additional commerce.

Inherited Turn 418/660 (1806 AD) [20-Dec-2006 15:33:57]
Teotihuacan grows: 13
Teotihuacan finishes: Rifleman
Texcoco finishes: Rifleman
Calixtlahuaca grows: 6


IBT: An English artillery was pillaging to the west of Saxon while a Chinese Cavalry was doing the same to the east of Saxon.
And at Poitiers:
While defending in Aztec territory at Poitiers, Rifleman defeats (8.96/14): Chinese Artillery (Prob Victory: 78.1%)


Turn 419/660 (1808 AD) [20-Dec-2006 16:15:18]
Teotihuacan begins: Rifleman (8 turns)
Texcoco begins: Rifleman (8 turns)
1st Rifleman of Texcoco (Rifleman) promoted: Combat II
1st Rifleman of Texcoco (Rifleman) promoted: Combat III
Rifleman promoted: Combat II
Rifleman promoted: Combat III
1st Rifleman of Teotihuacan (Rifleman) promoted: Combat II
1st Rifleman of Teotihuacan (Rifleman) promoted: Formation
Tech learned: Economics

I moved units north towards Saxon and Potiers with the intent of facing the threat there and perhaps launching an offensive further north to Cherbourg. We had a large force at Potiers but they needed some time to heal and might need to counterattack or repell Chinese invaders in upcoming turns.

Temple of Doom finishes: Rifleman
Tlatelolco finishes: Rifleman
Tlaxcala grows: 9

IBT:
While defending in Aztec territory at Poitiers, Rifleman defeats (3.92/14): Chinese Artillery (Prob Victory: 69.4%)
While defending in Aztec territory at Tenochtitlan, Rifleman defeats (14.00/14): Chinese Catapult (Prob Victory: 100.0%)
While defending in Aztec territory at Poitiers, Grenadier defeats (4.92/12): Chinese Cavalry (Prob Victory: 77.3%)
While defending in Aztec territory at Tenochtitlan, Rifleman loses to: Chinese Cavalry (3.75/15) (Prob Victory: 95.0%)

Turn 420/660 (1810 AD) [20-Dec-2006 16:36:01] We discovered Economics ...

We started on Nationalism. I figured it was needed for Military Tradition, Democracy and Assembly Line: three things we need like yesterday.

I answered no, thinking I would look at all civics before deciding what to do. Unfortunately I forgot to do that until I was pulling my screenshots together for this report. Stupid bone-headed play on my part. Next player can revolt to Free Market.

Research begun: Nationalism (2019 Turns)
Temple of Doom begins: Rifleman (3 turns)
Tlatelolco begins: Trebuchet (2 turns)
Tlatelolco begins: Rifleman (3 turns)

We killed 2 healthy Cavalry east of Saxon, losing a Rifleman. We killed 3 wounded Chinese Cavalry and a Rifleman outside of Tenochitlan:
While attacking in Aztec territory at Saxon, 1st Rifleman of Teotihuacan (Rifleman) defeats (14.00/14): Chinese Cavalry (Prob Victory: 89.3%)
Rifleman promoted: Combat II
Rifleman promoted: Formation
While attacking in Aztec territory near Cherbourg, Rifleman loses to: Chinese Cavalry (0.60/15) (Prob Victory: 91.4%)
While attacking in Aztec territory at Saxon, Rifleman defeats (14.00/14): Chinese Cavalry (Prob Victory: 100.0%)
While attacking in Aztec territory at Tenochtitlan, Catapult defeats (5.00/5): Chinese Cavalry (Prob Victory: 100.0%)
While attacking in Aztec territory at Tenochtitlan, Grenadier defeats (2.40/12): Chinese Rifleman (Prob Victory: 93.9%)
While attacking in Aztec territory at Tenochtitlan, Rifleman defeats (14.00/14): Chinese Cavalry (Prob Victory: 100.0%)
While attacking in Aztec territory at Tenochtitlan, Rifleman defeats (14.00/14): Chinese Cavalry (Prob Victory: 100.0%)

Marseilles grows: 6
Poitiers's borders expand

IBT:
Confucianism has spread: Newcastle (Incan Empire)
Attitude Change: Huayna Capac(Inca) towards Victoria(England), from 'Friendly' to 'Pleased'
Attitude Change: Napoleon(France) towards Victoria(England), from 'Cautious' to 'Pleased'

Turn 421/660 (1811 AD) [20-Dec-2006 16:50:24] A Chinese Artillery has started pillaging around Marsielles. We started a couple Riflemen off to go down there and stop that nonsense.

Rifleman promoted: Combat IV
While attacking in Aztec territory at Poitiers, Rifleman defeats (3.50/14): Chinese Cavalry (Prob Victory: 95.4%)

Turn 422/660 (1812 AD) [20-Dec-2006 16:56:05]
1st Rifleman of Tlatelolco (Rifleman) promoted: Combat II
1st Rifleman of Tlatelolco (Rifleman) promoted: Combat III
1st Rifleman of Tlatelolco (Rifleman) promoted: Combat IV
While attacking in Aztec territory near Tlatelolco, 1st Rifleman of Tlatelolco (Rifleman) loses to: English Artillery (7.74/18) (Prob Victory: 37.2%)
While attacking in Aztec territory at Saxon, Rifleman defeats (14.00/14): English Artillery (Prob Victory: 99.6%)

Temple of Doom finishes: Rifleman
Tlatelolco finishes: Rifleman
Saxon finishes: Market
Chartres finishes: Rifleman
Tlaxcala's borders expand
Xochicalco grows: 6
Lyons finishes: Catapult
Marseilles's borders expand

Turn 423/660 (1813 AD) [20-Dec-2006 17:04:14]
Temple of Doom begins: Rifleman (4 turns)
Tlatelolco begins: Rifleman (3 turns)
Saxon begins: Trebuchet (6 turns)
Chartres begins: Trebuchet (11 turns)
Lyons begins: Catapult (5 turns)

I had begun assembling an invasion force to move on Cherbourg:

More counterattacks against pillagers:
While attacking in Aztec territory at Marseilles, 1st Rifleman of Texcoco (Rifleman) defeats (5.60/14): Chinese Artillery (Prob Victory: 32.6%)
Rifleman promoted: Pinch
Rifleman promoted: Combat I
While attacking in Aztec territory at Tenochtitlan, Rifleman defeats (6.02/14): Chinese Cavalry (Prob Victory: 66.9%)

Tlaxcala grows: 10
Xochicalco's borders expand
Lyons grows: 9

IBT:
Attitude Change: Napoleon(France) towards Ramesses II(Egypt), from 'Cautious' to 'Pleased'

Turn 424/660 (1814 AD) [20-Dec-2006 17:13:47]
Tlatelolco finishes: Rifleman
Texcoco grows: 12

Turn 425/660 (1815 AD) [20-Dec-2006 18:42:15]
Tlatelolco begins: Rifleman (3 turns)

While attacking in Aztec territory at Tenochtitlan, Rifleman loses to: Chinese Artillery (1.80/18) (Prob Victory: 28.3%)
While attacking in Aztec territory at Tenochtitlan, Rifleman defeats (10.22/14): Chinese Artillery (Prob Victory: 100.0%)
1st Rifleman of Chartres (Rifleman) promoted: Combat II
1st Rifleman of Chartres (Rifleman) promoted: Formation
While attacking in Aztec territory near Marseilles, 1st Rifleman of Chartres (Rifleman) defeats (11.76/14): Chinese Cavalry (Prob Victory: 89.3%)

Our stack crossed the border into China on the way to Cherbourg.

Temple of Doom grows: 18
Temple of Doom finishes: Rifleman
Chartres's borders expand
Tlaxcala finishes: Grenadier
Calixtlahuaca finishes: Forge

IBT: Look what England sent to the party:

While defending in Chinese territory near Amiens, Rifleman defeats (0.56/14): Chinese Cannon (Prob Victory: 90.3%)
While defending in Chinese territory near Amiens, Rifleman loses to: Chinese Artillery (14.76/18) (Prob Victory: 28.5%)
Buddhism has spread: Xochicalco
Attitude Change: Mao Zedong(China) towards Victoria(England), from 'Cautious' to 'Pleased'

Turn 426/660 (1816 AD) [20-Dec-2006 18:48:38]
Temple of Doom begins: Rifleman (4 turns)
Tlaxcala begins: Rifleman (17 turns)
Calixtlahuaca begins: Rifleman (15 turns)
1st Grenadier of Tlaxcala (Grenadier) promoted: Pinch
1st Grenadier of Tlaxcala (Grenadier) promoted: City Garrison I
Teotihuacan finishes: Rifleman
Tlatelolco finishes: Rifleman
Texcoco finishes: Rifleman

Our stack advancing on Cherbourg got hit IBT, now faces this:

We tucked our tail between our legs and fled ... er ... made a strategic withdrawal. Mao wants Saxon in exchange for peace. I refused and prepared to take a beating.

IBT: We got hit again.
While defending in Chinese territory near Amiens, 2nd Rifleman of Temple of Doom (Rifleman) loses to: Chinese Artillery (8.28/18) (Prob Victory: 46.6%)

Turn 427/660 (1817 AD) [20-Dec-2006 18:56:43]
Teotihuacan begins: Rifleman (8 turns)
Tlatelolco begins: Rifleman (3 turns)
Texcoco begins: Rifleman (8 turns)

In the east:
While attacking in Aztec territory at Marseilles, 1st Rifleman of Texcoco (Rifleman) loses to: Chinese Cavalry (1.20/15) (Prob Victory: 87.8%)
While attacking in Aztec territory at Marseilles, Spearman defeats (4.00/4): Chinese Cavalry (Prob Victory: 100.0%)

At the Chinese border south of Cherbourg, I decided to stand and fight rather than let a horde of pillagers cross into our empire.
Catapult promoted: Drill I
Catapult promoted: Drill II
While attacking in Chinese territory near Amiens, Catapult loses to: Chinese Cavalry (11.70/15) (Prob Victory: 0.0%)
Catapult promoted: Drill I
Catapult promoted: Drill II
While attacking in Chinese territory near Amiens, Catapult loses to: Chinese Cavalry (8.85/15) (Prob Victory: 0.0%)
1st Catapult of Lyons (Catapult) promoted: Combat I
1st Catapult of Lyons (Catapult) promoted: Drill I
While attacking in Chinese territory near Amiens, 1st Catapult of Lyons (Catapult) loses to: Chinese Cavalry (11.25/15) (Prob Victory: 0.2%)
2nd Rifleman of Tlatelolco (Rifleman) promoted: Combat II
2nd Rifleman of Tlatelolco (Rifleman) promoted: Pinch
2nd Rifleman of Tlatelolco (Rifleman) promoted: Formation
While attacking in Aztec territory near Poitiers, 2nd Rifleman of Tlatelolco (Rifleman) defeats (8.96/14): Chinese Grenadier (Prob Victory: 91.9%)
1st Rifleman of Temple of Doom (Rifleman) promoted: Combat II
1st Rifleman of Temple of Doom (Rifleman) promoted: Formation
While attacking in Aztec territory near Poitiers, Rifleman defeats (1.96/14): Chinese Cavalry (Prob Victory: 57.8%)
While attacking in Aztec territory near Poitiers, 1st Rifleman of Temple of Doom (Rifleman) defeats (3.64/14): Chinese Grenadier (Prob Victory: 90.3%)
While attacking in Aztec territory near Poitiers, 1st Rifleman of Teotihuacan (Rifleman) defeats (3.92/14): Chinese Grenadier (Prob Victory: 55.2%)

After that, the best odds I could get was 46% so I dug in and started healing, with the help of a newly arrived medic Rifleman. The Chinese were left with 2 Cavalry, an Artillery and a Musketman, mostly beat up badly. They ended up retreating.
3rd Rifleman of Tlatelolco (Rifleman) promoted: Medic I
3rd Rifleman of Tlatelolco (Rifleman) promoted: Combat II
Lyons finishes: Catapult

Turn 428/660 (1818 AD) [20-Dec-2006 19:09:29]
Lyons begins: Catapult (5 turns)
Spearman promoted: Combat III
1st Rifleman of Teotihuacan (Rifleman) promoted: Pinch
2nd Rifleman of Teotihuacan (Rifleman) promoted: Pinch
2nd Rifleman of Teotihuacan (Rifleman) promoted: Combat II

Turn 429/660 (1819 AD) [20-Dec-2006 19:14:25]
Temple of Doom finishes: Rifleman
Tlatelolco finishes: Rifleman
Saxon finishes: Trebuchet
Tenochtitlan finishes: Rifleman

IBT:
While defending in Aztec territory at Tenochtitlan, 2nd Rifleman of Teotihuacan (Rifleman) loses to: English Marine (6.72/24) (Prob Victory: 26.6%)

Turn 430/660 (1820 AD) [20-Dec-2006 19:17:29]
Temple of Doom begins: Rifleman (4 turns)
Tlatelolco begins: Rifleman (3 turns)
Saxon begins: Catapult (4 turns)
Tenochtitlan begins: Rifleman (24 turns)

I counterattacked again:
1st Rifleman of Tenochtitlan (Rifleman) promoted: Combat II
1st Rifleman of Tenochtitlan (Rifleman) promoted: Formation
While attacking in Aztec territory at Tenochtitlan, 1st Rifleman of Tenochtitlan (Rifleman) defeats (7.28/14): Chinese Cavalry (Prob Victory: 91.4%)
While attacking in Aztec territory near Tenochtitlan, Rifleman defeats (14.00/14): English Marine (Prob Victory: 97.2%)
While attacking in Aztec territory at Tenochtitlan, Rifleman defeats (0.70/14): Chinese Cavalry (Prob Victory: 67.8%)

Our invasion stack has been reinforced and is almost done healing. It'll have a few siege weapons in another turn or two and we can take another run at Cherbourg but it feel futile now. I think I've changed my mind. I no longer think this game is winnable.

Here's The Save: Temple_of_Doom_AD-1820.CivWarlordsSave. If there's a way to win this game, it's time for us to discover it.

 

[mutax2003]

You guys can go toward communism and biology, switch to state property, and spams workshop on all the farms tiles, it will give you a big boost in terms of production.

As an example, check out this game:

http://grater.coconia.net/rbepic4/part1.html

 

[dawn]

Excellent gaming guys! Loving the reporting.

@frankcor - where did you put the new ruffmod.ini file to get it to work? It functions for me, but I can't make any changes to it.

 

[Jet]

That's 24 for SP, Bede's up.

Votes on continuing the game welcome (but optional). I vote to stop, but no big deal playing on, it's fun in a perverse way.

 

[Bede]

Play it tomorrow. It is fun in a perverse way.

 

[Swiss Pauli]

Saw the save, but completely forgot I was up! Have fun, Bede.

I think we should play on with the objective of avoiding the wooden spoon (last in score), by the time Capac launches.

 

[frankcor]

I think we should play on with the objective of avoiding the wooden spoon (last in score), by the time Capac launches.

Sounds like a good goal to me.

 

[frankcor]

@mutax2003: thanks for the pointer! It was an enjoyable read. I would consider the path if I didn't think communisim would take 3000 turns.

@dawn: I put the ini in My Documents/My Games/Warlords folder. Blind luck, I guess. The documentation was a little ambiguous.

I'm tickled that you're enjoying the game. I sure am, even though we seem to be the kickee and not the kicker in this one.

 

[Jet]

Sounds like a good goal to me.

Thirded. .

 

[angeleyes]

Let Nap be the one under our thumb. Appease everybody else.

 

[Bede]

It was a battle for the core and a battle for Cherbourg and Carib, one I won and the other, well, I lost.

Mao first pulled my chain by showing up in force at Little-T and then Saxon

Then he did an end around through Capac's land and headed straight at the Temple

while I was setting up to capture Cherbourg

Calix was doomed

after many battles on the grassland. Rifles don't stand a chance against artillery tubes.

Cherburg and Carib were relatively easy pickings

but couldn't be held as the forces that burned Calix turned back into Incaland and rode the Reading around the horn to recapture the towns.

Mao has been making the occasional harassing attack in the east by running through France, but nothing untoward or that can't be dealt with.

Victoria has a tank!

which didn't survive an encounter with an Ambush promoted rifle.

Mao has not shown any armor but is proving to be a cannier opponent than Napoleon. He had me chasing my tail as he kept peeking his artillery at Saxon, then getting back on the train and heading south to the core, or north to Carib and Cherburg.

We are back to square one on any advance into China. The siege was all used up fighting off Mao at Calix and Cherburg and it is doubtful the surviving rifles will make it home.

Combat 4 rifles are just plain deadly against SAM infantry, though. The capture of Carib and Cherburg went like silk with no losses, picking off the Chinese cavalry at Calix, Little T and Saxon got costly.

Mao really wants Saxon, yet is reluctant to attack it directly with all his 105 tubes. He has a couple of SAM wreaking havoc on the fields there but that is the extent of his activity. There must be oil there.

I put up the Globe Theater at Temple of Doom so we can use it as whipping post for rifles, er, I meant to say fast replacement depot.

I traded some gems to Inca for a copy of Gone with the Wind, then Mao dynamited a mine at Little T, though he ignored the mine at Calix, guess he didn't want to get Inca hacked off at the loss of his bling...

It's not getting any easier but it is fun getting the sass kicked out of me once in a while.

 

[angeleyes]

Fine report. Pity you didn't raze the two chinese city's. My plan is to give up Saxon for peace with Mao, otherwise we'll come nowhere. Then build army and throw everything on Nap. Any objections?

 

[Jet]

Might as well get creative, as far as I'm concerned!

 

[angeleyes]

1835 AD I have played five turns, and made five screenshots for you:

1839 AD

IB

1840 AD (Marseilles destroyed, Lyons one turn from destruction, remaining troops have evacuated the city)

looking for a masochist

 

[Bede]

Shaka's no Santa and those aren't tiny little reindeer!

Er, Merry Christmas?