The Average Joes

[colony]

I'd suggest attacking now as well, with the Axes being quite well promoted already taking Carthage shouldn't be too much of a problem, and the other cities will be much easier. I wouldn't mind keeping Carthage as well as Utica and razing the rest, its got a lot of food, 4 hills and a lot of grassland, so should make an alright commerce city. With all those forests it should be possible to chop out 1 or 2 workers quickly and begin cottaging everything in sight.

As for Alphabet, with the slower AI tech speed in BtS we might end up not being able to get anything except Polytheism and Archery or something like that, although I downloaded the save and had a play with the worked tiles and got a good increase in the amount of beakers produced, so it might be worth switching to, but not until we've got enough units that losing a lot of production won't be too harmful.

 

[Simple Simon]

played 5 turns. Still can't cancel open borders. Did you trade with Hanni at the end of your turns?

 

[colony]

Well you can declare war without can cancelling OB first, but you do lose the movement points of any units within then enemy borders when they get moved out.

 

[Simple Simon]

Well you can declare war without can cancelling OB first, but you do lose the movement points of any units within then enemy borders when they get moved out.

Hm, are we using the same patch? Cause I have a non-breakable OB, which means that there is a 10-turn peace connected to it

 

[colony]

I'm using 3.13 with Bhruic's patch and the BUG mod. Just to check I loaded the game it allowed me to declare straight away (Alt + click on name), I've never had problems with OB deals before either.

 

[Simple Simon]

I'm using 3.13 with Bhruic's patch and the BUG mod. Just to check I loaded the game it allowed me to declare straight away (Alt + click on name), I've never had problems with OB deals before either.

Same here, minus the BUG. I did not try Alt-Name, but I did try to advisor and the direct contact. No go. I'll give the Alt key a shot.

 

[Simple Simon]

Hm, for some weird reason I can indeed declare war using [Alt]. Or, rather, for some weird reason I can't do it any OTHER way.

I replayed from scratch, and declared right away. The iron is mined, but not roaded, and the nicely placed Axe/Chariot combo will make sure this stays that way! Thank you, 50_dollar_bag! The Axe razes the iron town and the chariot plunders the mine for some badly needed 8 Gold. Over the next two turns it also captures three workers

I encounter one Axe in Carthage, but win the first two attacks at less than 30% odds. In all, only one Axe is lost.

Our finances are in tatters, I cut research to zero and decide to stop producing troops once the old orders run out. We have enough troops to kill Hanni by now and need libraries to keep our research afloat.

No losses at Utica - Hanni completes a workboat while I move the troops across the river to improve our combat odds

I chop forests around Carthage on hills that will later see mines (once the town is out of resistance) or windmills. I am afraid we are really running into money troubles, even if our conquests allow a high science rate again. CoL is a MUST now, I am afraid. Therefore, I set research to Priest, which takes three turns @ 100%.

re rules: is a Forbidden Palace considered 'special'?
If so, well..............then we are royally screwed.

Hadru has three archers defending; the first one kills a Raider Sword. Our odds were over 75%, but who am I to complain? If I had been lucky this battle would be over now, as the second Sword kills a defender at 94% and the Axe I have ready would have a 75% chance, but since all the other troops are down south this will take a while now. I can't manage to blame myself, though, since both other towns fell much easier than the odds were.

Hanni now has another city hidden somewhere. I Kill Hadru, as it only offers wine to us, which we do not need so desperately. This shows city borders further north.

 

[50_dollar_bag]

Sounds good Simon, Don't forget the save again , unless you still have some turns to play.

And Forbidden Palace, under the rules, is forbidden.

Just curious, Simon how do you normally declare war? Do you cancel open borders and then move in? You know you can also go into the diplo screen, select "let's discuss something else' then choose 'your head would on a pole'.
But Colony's way is easier.

 

[Simple Simon]

And Forbidden Palace, under the rules, is forbidden.

ouch! We's gonna be broke, man!

Just curious, Simon how do you normally declare war? Do you cancel open borders and then move in? You know you can also go into the diplo screen, select "let's discuss something else' then choose 'your head would on a pole'.

Either way - but both were not available!

 

[Simple Simon]

Sorry - my PC bluescreened on me repeatedly yesterday.

Here's the rest of my turns, which turned out to be the rest for Hannibal, too

I attacked his last town with a sole Axe (all other troops were healing), and as usual he managed to whip an archer just before that, so it took an extra turn. Luckily, the Axe promoted and was then healthy enough to attack again. We needed the end of hostilities desperately mad: faces), and for some reason our capital still shows one because of war. Weird.

I left several units un-moved, including our Great General - we will not build troops in the near future, so we can leave him where he is. I have a spearman (healer) on go-to to a place where he sees the few fogged tiles in our lands - we don't want barbs to make an uprising there. Aside from that:

here's a pic of our lands (large, and badly photoshopped):

http://forums.civfanatics.com/uploads/129469/ourlands250BC.jpg

I am mining the gems, cottaging river tiles and mining hills where useful. I set all towns that are near the happiness cap to bring in as much commerce as possible, while those with to spare are set to growth. Once we run out of good things to build (or in between), a few workers are a good idea to get rid of the jungle. CoL is 4 turns away, but we can't sustain the current research rate. On a balanced budget it will take ~9 turns, if we run our money to 0 in the process it will take ~5 turns. Give the good food situation in most cities I'd say we whip courts ASAP.


I stopped after 15 turns as the end of Carthage provided such a nice break anyways. have fun!

EDIT: I am an idiot - I should have prioritized a road connection to Carthage. Please, next player, fix that!

 

[colony]

Nice job, I was expecting it to take a bit longer to wipe out Hannibal. Seems fairly straightforward now, finish off CoL ASAP, grow the cities to size 6 and whip Courthouses as soon the cost's down to 3 pop whilst building some workers in Nidaros. I'm not sure about whether or not to get Monarchy before Maths and Currency or after, though I'm inclined to get it first just because it's cheaper than Currency.

 

[50_dollar_bag]

Have we got a level 4 unit yet. Oh actually forget it we can't build the Heroic Epic anyway
And Military instructors aren't allowed either

 

[colony]

Played my turns now, the economic situation looks a lot better than before, and we also have HR now so a few more Chariots/Axes could be useful for keeping people happy. I was going to head for Currency after Monarchy but Maths hasn't been finished yet, after that the main decision is probably whether to go for Optics ourselves or wait for the other continent(s) to find us, which could take a while.

I did whip a lot of cities, but it does mean that most cities have courthouses now, without too much unhappiness, I generally tried to arrange tiles for max commerce, but it wasn't always possible. Nidaros will become unhappy next turn, but the temple will be done in 2 so it's only 1 unhappy for 1 turn. The land hasn't changed at all, so no screenshots this time, but at some point we'll have to fill up the rest of the continent, so another dotmap might be useful after the next round.

Autolog because not much interesting happened and I'm being a bit slow this morning:

Spoiler :

Turn 106/500 (225 BC)
Carthage grows: 5

Turn 107/500 (200 BC)

Turn 108/500 (175 BC)
Nidaros finishes: Trading Post
Haithabu grows: 6
Carthage grows: 6

Turn 109/500 (150 BC)
Nidaros begins: Worker (4 turns)

Turn 110/500 (125 BC)
Nidaros finishes: Worker
Carthage grows: 7
Utica grows: 5

Turn 111/500 (100 BC)
Nidaros begins: Worker (3 turns)
Tech learned: Code of Laws
Haithabu finishes: Library
Carthage finishes: Library

Turn 112/500 (75 BC)
Research begun: Monarchy (9 Turns)
Haithabu begins: Courthouse (12 turns)
Carthage begins: Courthouse (20 turns)
Uppsala finishes: Library
Carthage grows: 8
Utica's borders expand

Turn 113/500 (50 BC)
Uppsala begins: Courthouse (20 turns)
The whip was applied in Carthage
Nidaros finishes: Worker
Uppsala grows: 6
Carthage grows: 5
Carthage finishes: Courthouse

Turn 114/500 (25 BC)
Nidaros begins: Worker (3 turns)
Carthage begins: Hindu Missionary (10 turns)

Turn 115/500 (0 AD)
The whip was applied in Haithabu
Nidaros finishes: Worker
Haithabu finishes: Courthouse
Carthage finishes: Hindu Missionary
Utica grows: 6

Turn 116/500 (25 AD)
Nidaros begins: Granary (6 turns)
Carthage begins: Hindu Temple (14 turns)
Haithabu begins: Granary (60 turns)
The whip was applied in Uppsala
The whip was applied in Utica
Uppsala finishes: Courthouse
Haithabu grows: 4
Carthage grows: 6
Utica finishes: Library

Turn 117/500 (50 AD)
Uppsala begins: Granary (10 turns)
Utica begins: Courthouse (60 turns)

Turn 118/500 (75 AD)
Hinduism has spread: Nidaros
Nidaros grows: 7
Birka finishes: Library

Turn 119/500 (100 AD)
Birka begins: Courthouse (20 turns)
Haithabu grows: 5
Utica grows: 4

Turn 120/500 (125 AD)
Tech learned: Monarchy
Nidaros finishes: Granary

Turn 121/500 (150 AD)
Research begun: Mathematics (6 Turns)
Nidaros begins: Hindu Temple (7 turns)

Civics Change: Joe Bloggs(Vikings) from 'Despotism' to 'Hereditary Rule'

Turn 122/500 (175 AD)
Uppsala grows: 4
Haithabu finishes: Granary

Turn 123/500 (200 AD)
Haithabu begins: Barracks (7 turns)
Whip anger has decreased in Carthage
Nidaros grows: 8
Haithabu's borders expand
Birka grows: 3
Carthage grows: 7

Turn 124/500 (225 AD)
Haithabu grows: 6
Haithabu finishes: Barracks
Birka's borders expand
Carthage finishes: Hindu Temple

Turn 125/500 (250 AD)
Haithabu begins: Chariot (8 turns)
Carthage begins: Barracks (4 turns)

Roster
50_dollar_bag (up)
Simple Simon (on deck)
Colony (played)
Open
Open

 

[50_dollar_bag]

Pretty normal isolated build up the empire slowly turns.

Balanced the whip and MPs to keep cities happy or in check.

We're doing pretty good in the demographics.

Founded 2 more cities, 1 tile north of where Hannibal's iron city was and one tile east of his floodplains city to get fresh water and all the FPs but loses the coast but we'd have wasted floodplains otherwise.

Started towards Optics, we're halfway through Metal casting ATM.

You're up Simon.

 

[Simple Simon]

and I've got it - if I do NOT post the finished save within the next 12 hours, please SKIP me!

 

[Simple Simon]

Done - nothing much. Lotsa whipping, lotsa cottaging, lotsa roading. Our wheat had not been connected to the trade network, which gaves us an unnecessary green face.

WATCH OUT - several wonders are under construction to gain money!

A settler is also being built for the jungle site, for which cottaging has been started. Please DO keep in mind that we may want to spread irrigation in some places and leave room for farms.

I managed cities to stop growth at happiness cap! Please do check them from time to time and adjust growth!

 

[colony]

Got it, should have it played in a few hours.

 

[colony]

Done, managed to meet 3 more civs, Willem, Frederick and Charlemagne and to also see another (Monty unfortunately). I only made 2 trades, Willem's world map for 55 gold and Compass for Alphabet, Archery and 10 gold, not the best trade I'll admit, but he and Willem are getting quite friendly (Willem's at +8 with Frederick and Frederick's at +12 with Willem) so he'd probably have it within a few turns anyway. Willem's also the AP resident as well as being quite advanced so is likely to be the main problem in reaching Liberalism first and maybe later too.

We can trade for all the techs that those 2 will trade with Optics and Paper, but giving away that much of an advantage for a few 1-2 turn techs, some techs that aren't very useful to us yet, with none giving good immediate benefits isn't worth it IMO, at least not until we have enough of a lead to guarantee Liberalism and hopefully being able to get a good tech from it (Astronomy maybe? The trade routes would be really useful).

I've left a Settler and a missionary in Bjorgvin, probably best used to get the Fish/Win or the Gold/Wheat/Stone. The barb city's gone now as well. I did get a bit distracted and forgot to hook up the Wine there too, resulting in some unhappinness that I didn't pay as much attention too as I should have done:

Spoiler :

Tech trade screen:

Spoiler :

I couldn't inclue a world map as we don't have Calendar yet, so without loading the save the minimap will have to do for now.

 

[50_dollar_bag]

Nice work on getting contacts.
I think we can safely avoid getting Aesthetics for the entire game, from memory it only unlocks 3 wonders and literature, all of which we don't need.
I'll play tonight.

 

[colony]

It is needed to get Music, which is needed for Mil. Trad., which would be useful for Cavs/Cuirassiers, but they won't be relevant for a while yet.