The Loom of the Land

[Xyqtt]

fbelintani? Shall we skip fro? Will wait till tommorow so he can explain when he's at school/work. There he will probably respond

 

[fro]

Sorry, yes skip me. I won't be able to play anything before Thursday, writing up a big piece of work and got exams this week too. Apologies for the delay.

 

[Xyqtt]

No problem fro. I will play tommorow.

 

[fro]

I'd be keen on war: its rare that I actually get to finish a domination game. I've no idea how we've managed to maintain such a tech lead with no cottages or specialists?!

 

[mice]

That sounds like a majority for war, so Xyqtt, be careful to lose Sangkore. It will do us no good and we can use the gold to upgrade to grens.(and dont forget to change tech from Liberalism to gunpowder).

People say war is easier and quicker, but i find it quite hard and space easier. So a challenge for me, and hopefully a bit of fun. Next victim? Auggy of Raggy.

My suggestion,give Ragnar paper to attack Augustus, wait 5-6 turns and then stomp on Augustus.

BTW Ragnar and Augustus both dont have horses. No knights. They will burn their elephants on eachother's pikes if we let them. Then we can pillage the ivory and win.

 

[FeedBack]

Ok. Warring. This should be a piece of cake if we manage to get Steel from Liberalism. If not, we can still get Nationalism and draft grenadiers. The only problem is the "virtual" 8 strength Trebs doing the job that a 12 strength cannon would do better.
Ragnar is the most obvious next target. He's on our vicinity. The only problem may be a multi-front defense. So, paying him to attack Caesar and then him sounds a pretty good idea to me! I only don't like giving away paper just yet! Wait for someone to get it.
Hey, Xyqtt, give me some good material for , ok?

 

[Xyqtt]

Got a boring turnset. Not much happend. Just building some infras structure and troops. Every soldier is gathered at medina. There are some troops on there way which I found useless in the other cites. Like 2 axeman sitting in Damascus.

THe next one should take a look at our defending troops. Like we have in boston 1 warrior?

You should have about 20 troops in medina.

Some english settler has just found his way above our core cities

We still didn't got basra. But I assume someone will on the next turn. Salsdin has 1 much defeated longbowman and we have a bit damaged maceman and a much damaged cat which both have an upgrade to spend

chemistry will be in in 8 turns. And no one got paper yet if I saw it correctly.

 

[mice]

I only don't like giving away paper just yet! Wait for someone to get it.

Yea, I meant when it is safe to trade it. Maybe it will be a bit risky if Ragnar has two scientists or something like that, but I doubt that he does.

Augustus is bound to have a lot of elephants. Better to get them fighting isn't it?

With Kublai and Ragnar pleased and same religion, I wouldn't declare on Ragnar just yet. Augustus is weak, but it's your call Fb.

I haven't played this variant to war, only space. I wonder if war might be harder because we have to pay maintenance more. Maybe we should build gold in most of our new cities, after a court, until we see what the tech situation is like. I'm one for keeping not razing because the AI just resettles them.


FB I just noticed that we have a gauranteed Great Merchant in Barcelona in 14 turns. But also a GP in Mecca in 15 turns. We want the Merchant obviously because Mecca's could be anything. Be careful that a specialist doesn't sneak into Mecca because it would bring the GP before Barcelona.

 

[FeedBack]

I just checked the game. A few notes:

• All AIs have Philosophy. No good.
• Augustus has Paper. Lesser good.
• Kublai won't go to war with Augusuts. Still no good.
• Ragnar won't go to war with Augustus for Paper. Worst of all!

So, this is my got it for tomorrow. I think I'm gonna build some defenses just in case. The AI's have a few techs we don't have, specially on the bottom of the tree. Now the challenge is beginning!!

Mice, I'll try to leave you up with some good stuff for . Stay tuned.

Update: just got my wife's authorization. I'm gonna play now!

 

[FeedBack]

Turns played!

Turn 190/460 (1300 AD) [21-May-2007 20:50:43]
Nothing too much to do on the IHT. Things are cool... I just don't like all that grassland workshops... We need some farms to support them, you know...

IBT:
Islam founded in a distant land

Turn 191/460 (1310 AD) [21-May-2007 20:54:47]
Maceman promoted: City Raider I
Catapult promoted: Drill I

The catapult attacked the injured LB, withdrew, but did no damage at all. So I held the CR mace.

Turn 192/460 (1320 AD) [21-May-2007 20:59:41]

Turn 193/460 (1330 AD) [21-May-2007 21:05:49]

Turn 194/460 (1340 AD) [21-May-2007 21:07:22]

Turn 195/460 (1350 AD) [21-May-2007 21:10:13]
It takes too much time for a treb and an axe to come? Yes, it does.

While attacking in Arabian territory at Basra, Trebuchet loses to: Arabian Longbowman (2.76/6) (Prob Victory: 19.4%)
While attacking in Arabian territory at Basra, Maceman defeats (4.96/8): Arabian Longbowman (Prob Victory: 93.9%)
Captured Basra (Saladin)

Arabian Empire has been eliminated
Razed Basra
Basra lost

Finally!!!!

IBT:
Attitude Change: Ragnar(Vikings) towards loomy(America), from 'Cautious' to 'Pleased'
Good news too!

Turn 196/460 (1360 AD) [21-May-2007 21:17:08]
Tech learned: Chemistry
Another good news:

Turn 197/460 (1370 AD) [21-May-2007 21:20:22]
Research begun: Liberalism (1 Turns)
I traded Paper to Ragnar (who was the only one that didn't have it) for Optics.
Tech learned: Optics
Tech learned: Liberalism

Turn 198/460 (1380 AD) [21-May-2007 21:23:56]
Tech learned: Steel

I thought on coming here to ask, but as everyone else was talking about making Ragnar and Augustus talk, I did it:

Ragnar(Vikings) declares war on Augustus Caesar(Rome)
Tech learned: Music

And it:

Tech learned: Guilds
Tech learned: Theology

Hope it wasn't too much , but I liked the idea of that workshops as mines. Now I thank for all that grasslands workshops!

IBT:
Attitude Change: Churchill(England) towards loomy(America), from 'Pleased' to 'Cautious'
Attitude Change: Churchill(England) towards Augustus Caesar(Rome), from 'Pleased' to 'Cautious'
Attitude Change: Augustus Caesar(Rome) towards Ragnar(Vikings), from 'Annoyed' to 'Furious'
Attitude Change: Kublai Khan(Mongolia) towards Augustus Caesar(Rome), from 'Cautious' to 'Pleased'
Attitude Change: Ragnar(Vikings) towards Augustus Caesar(Rome), from 'Annoyed' to 'Furious'

Oh yeah! Disliking!!!

Turn 199/460 (1390 AD) [21-May-2007 21:34:09]
Washington begins: Cannon (3 turns)

Turn 200/460 (1400 AD) [21-May-2007 21:38:52]

=========================================
Summary:

Eventful turns, but not that much. Having not to MM the cities due to specialists and cottages is cool. Now, my friend mice, build a few cannons and upgrade a few trebs (we have almost 1000 gold in the bank) and choose your foe!

The save is attached. Have fun!

 

[mice]

Yes, we got Steel from Liberalism with no cottage, no specialist . Amazing !

I cant do that when I play with no variant. Wow.

Got it . Will build some cannons and give Rag and Aug a few turns to burn up their elephants.

Kublai pleased with Augustus is a strange one.

Nice turns Fb, we are rolling now. Good trades by the way. Guilds is a good one for us.

Just realized we are in a pickle with Iron works and Oxford. We cant put any more Nat wonders in Mecca, so Washington is a candidate for both. Madrid makes the most beakers, but we would never build Oxford in time (50 turns or so)

Might put off building either just yet till we beat down Auggy. However it will be good to have IW done before the big back stab. Thoughts?

 

[mice]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here we go, in a spoiler just to make the page open quicker.

Spoiler :

Turn 200
Tech learned: Horseback Riding, for cav later maybe
Decide to put Iron works in Washington. Cant go in Mecca, This means no oxford in Washington. no worries. we should make cannons now, not Oxford, and Oxford will have to go in Boston, which only make a few less beakers than Washington.

Research begun: Drama (1 Turns) for the slider and WW ., and when we can build theatres for a globe draft centre. (prob. Madrid)
Tech learned: Drama
Washington grows to 15


Turn 202
Research begun: Nationalism (5 Turns)
Workshops and farms built.

Turn 203

Grenadiers and cannons, mainly cannons

Turn 204

Grenadiers and cannons, mainly cannons
Turn 205

Grenadiers and cannons, mainly cannons

Turn 206

Tech learned: Nationalism

Pytheas ,Great Merchant born in Barcelona. Good.

Turn 207

Ragnar asks the question. I take the plunge. Good decision, because he has cavalry.
loomy declares war on Augustus Caesar
Research begun: Military Tradition (10 Turns) Unsure about this but I went for it so ..

I have sent a worker up into Mongolia to have a look see. Finally we see where he is. A mace is watching the battle of Nidaros. It seems evenly balanced. Auggy is taking it to Ragnar, not visa versa, and I dont see any cavalry from Ragnar.

I have a bunch of units hanging back incase they make peace and we have to deal with the Roman attack stack.

Now for some reason my auto log just stopped.

Here is a re-cap. I move the attack stack into Roman land to take out Antium, not the near little city,Cumae, because Antium will hurt him. Meet some opposition. Those preats still take out some of our units. A lot of shenanigans around these hills on the way to Antium. Ragnar does declare peace and the Roman stack is transported right next to Medina. I'm glad I left units there.

The (roman) attack across the river after I have collateralled them with a cannon. They fail and then it's just a case of cleaning this stack up.

Meanwhile the attack on Antium goes well and we lose no units in the attack but lose a few in the land around to attacks on our stack. Augy got horses somehow and is fielding Knights. We take the city. C2 cannons and C3 grens. now need to heal. We have the medic 3 chariot there. A stack of cannons that were congregating from new builds in Medina can now unleash on Cumae. I take this and call it a day at 15 turns. Phew. The attack stack is ready to go hammer Rome.

Iron works are in in Washington. Oxford is nowhere. Whipping Madrid like crazy, caravels to defend the seafood, and a market. Definitely the spot for Globe. I whipped away War weariness to build theatres in a few cities .They can go staight back to grens/cannons. Milt trad in soon. Tech is slowing a bit. We may have to build gold a lot now.

We will have to wait for peace to get the merchant over to London again.

Civic, I didn't go to Nationhood Free religion, because I didn't want 2 turns lost on the way to IW but we can change during this breather. The beakers from Free religion will help.

Mice - just played

Fro - UP

Xyqtt - on deck

Fbelintani

Have fun Fro .

 

[FeedBack]

I was thinking about the double civics switch. I couldn't elaborate on this yesterday as my wife somehow got pissed...

When I tried, it was only 1 turn of Anarchy to go to both Free Speech and Religion. Free Religion is a must. Nationhood is another one, but be aware that our draftees will be rookies with no promo if we go that way. In the event we get a GG, make sure he gets merged as a instructor in Madrid, if that's gonna be our main draft city (and I think it should). The only problem on drafting from Madrid is that the troops are gonna take ages to get to the field. We should need Rails sooner than we think.

So, the Caesar is better in power than we thought... Nice... Some challenge here. But I think we have more than enough troops to get them.

Fro said something about being able to play only Thursday. So, if he doesn't say anything otherwise, I think Xyqtt could play if he is on a Civ abstaining crisis!

 

[Xyqtt]

OK. Got it. Will maybe play tonight otherwise tommorow.

 

[Xyqtt]

what happend:
Ragnar got GE and rushed Taj mahal
Churchill got GP and built church of nativity
Augustus is no more

And we got lots of troops hanging around now. I sure can think someone can find a suitable target to pick on

Before I forget the attack on Rome coted us 2 pilaging knights To reckless with them. But they pillaged some towns for us. So not to bad. I Hope

Set research towrds Corporations for the extra trade route. Our economy is quit unstable and we need some more infrastructure to keep an decent tech rate

I just gifted kubla a resource he might prove an nice ally if we take on ragnar or churchill.

We got an great general standing and doing nothing in boston. Just left it up for the enxt player to decide ifhe goes to madrid or de something completly differnt.

Changed civics to : Police state, nationhood and free religion. Hope it is good

Good luck mice

* forgot the save but no oen noticed it *

 

[FeedBack]

Wow! You wiped Rome out in TEN TURNS?
Nice things!

So, that means... No, it can't be... I'm up AGAIN????
One day round??? You guys are insane!

By no means I can play. Nor today, nor tomorrow. So, if you feel like it, Mice, go ahead and grab it.

I couldn't see the save, of course, but the natural choice now should be crushing Ragnar. Buuuuut, he is allied with Kublai. Neither of them are easy, so I'd just declare on Churchill if no one minds, and bring the AI's with us. With pillage money, we should be allright until the game ends.
Revolting to Police State means we have the Pyramids... Nice!

What I think that can be done: If needed, switch to Universal Suffrage and shut off research. Buy a round or 2 of cannons and declare. Set research to Steam Power and later to Railroad for the draftees from Madrid, even if they are grenadiers, to arrive faster. Settle the GG there and everyone. The only flaw is against cavalries. As long as our opponent doesn't have them, we don't need Rifling.

I think it's true, but someone else can confirm: Redcoats are not Rifles, so Grens take no advantage against them.

Good luck!

 

[mice]

Congrats Xyqtt. nice warring. We had to crush that island again !
Very decisive ten turns.

Corporations for the trade route. I didnt think about that. Good one. On the way to inf. too.

Re civics, yes drafting might be wrong for us just now. Grenadiers don't draft. Only Muskets. Fb you're right about the AI having cavalry. We will be vulnerable.

Maybe we need to cool down , build a bit of infra and tech to infantry?

I would like to hold off the turnset for Fro because he's missing out a bit , and we can make some good decisions in this time.

Madrid too far away is a problem, unless we have a couple of transports there and ship the draftees over to hit Churchill or Kublai. This can be a tactic for later.

Also about drafting, it's a toss up between building farms or workshops. I'm not sure which way to go because the workshops are delivering well at the moment.Draft will send our happiness through the floor, and we don't have a lot of commerce to spend on Culture slider.

For now, Ragnar, or Churchill? Xyqtt has built some bonuses with Kublai which is good.

Edit; Looking at the save, Kublai will attack Ragnar for steel and 300 gold, or steel and liberalism,Milt trad.

If we go for Churchill, we will be very vulnerable to Ragnar, who has dropped to cautious.
Better to mass our troops for an attack on Ragnar, bribe Kublai, and then whipe out the Vikings. Then the next target would be Churchill, leaving kublai altogether. Hopefully he will respect our power rating.

We are in Nationhood which is good for the happiness from all our barracks if nothing else.

Oxford needs to go in Boston. It is our best option. The farms there can become workshops to get this done.

Any thoughts on this plan to attack Raggy next? BTW He doesnt have horse. Hopefully we can keep it that way.

 

[Lucky1972]

lurker´s comment

Ok. Warring. This should be a piece of cake if we manage to get Steel from Liberalism. If not, we can still get Nationalism and draft grenadiers. (...)

Can you draft grenadiers? I only remember drafting muskets, rifles or infantry, but I might be wrong.

Edit: crossposted with mice, question answered, thanks.

 

[fro]

Wow this game is progressing amazingly. How on earth did you manage to take out Rome in those 10 turns?!

I'd be able to play tomorrow if you're willing to wait

 

[fro]

But if so, lets have a definite plan. I feel a bit out of touch!