The revival of Golden Silence

[ThERat]

of course a healthy horse or archer army can take out muskets with some artillery support. However, my aim is to take out Portugal real quick before someone else declares war on me and before they get too strong.

I will change my strategy accordingly

 

[ThERat]

To start the next session on a positive note, Rome comes knocking on our door and we get relative cheap peace. I am more than happy to accept this.

Then Portugal wants to talk for a second time

This time, it is pretty easy for me to decide what to do. We have taken the south and western holdings of Portugal with a few cities left and a real treasure (Lisbon) waiting, I am ignoring them.


With plenty of horse support and 2 archer armies, I go for Guimaraes first. This shouldn't pose a problem with that many units.

The city falls easily, time for a short breather

Time to heal and then more slowly towards the capital. This time I am taking some catapults along to make sure we can mop them up.

In between this, I get bad news as Ottoman's (with all their money I assume), pulls in another foe. I can only wonder what it means to me if the Egyptians make it to my borders.

While slowly making my way to Lisbon, Theodora shows up with this demand

If she declares, my game will be as good as over I fear. With mere spears to defend a terribly wide open front, I would have a real hard time. On top of that, she has Zeus.

It takes me a while until I dare to press to tell her to shove it. The response

I can't believe my luck this time round. This moment could have really lost me the game. I am happy that soon I will get gunpowder and maybe muskets instead of lousy spears. With invention, I will also be able to produce LB's soon.


I finally arrive at the doorsteps of the Portuguese capital. With 2 healthy archer armies and about 7-8 horses, we should be able to do something here. I also get the horse army from the west just in case.

It takes me to take out 6 spears to get their capital. This was a tough nut to crack but the reward is great. Free barracks everywhere can be a life saver as well.

Just to show you what this city is capable of doing, even with only the city square working, it can churn out 9 uncorrupted beakers. the two tourist wonders are incredible. I am regretting my FP decision already, but it's too late. I ponder for a while whether I should just abandon my FP city and then get the FP in Lisbon, but decide it's too cheesy and reeks of cheating.

Just when I think I can lean back a little, acquire the techs needed for cavalry, moments later the Byzantines move in with very very suspicions actions. I am 100% sure they will sneak attack in the interturn. I am happy that I have barracks now everywhere and might need the money to upgrade spears. I might also try and consolidate my front.

 

[Aabraxan]

Good work securing Sun Tzu's!

 

[ThERat]

I was not wrong when I thought Byzantines would sneak attack, the will have to pay for that in the long run, I swear. I actually thought long about it and give up Haarlem and pull more units into Cori.

After the first round of attacks, that's what is left for me in Cori. I suffered some damage, but at least could hold the city and have an elite spear there now.

Good thing is that I will get gunpowder the next turn and hopefully have saltpeter. I will have to reduce my research for a while to upgrade spears to muskets for a whopping 120gold.

Meanwhile in the west. I get a nameless leader. This one will be turned into the pentagon for stronger armies..

To make matters much worse, Byzantines and Ottomans land this stack of units
There is no way I can defend my towns. One of my armies is busy taking out a Byz city there as well.

I have to come up with a strategy there now or I lose the game. I reckon all 3 towns are lost for now but since they are all above pop 1, they won't get razed. The AI would need their movement to take all 3 cities which gives me time to collect my defenders behind there. I decide to take out the ACav with a sacrificial horse, that would also absorb one fast attacker, hopefully. By the way, in the image you can also see the world map which I got in an earlier deal. Our landmass has a real 1 tile choke in the middle and that might be the reason I never saw any Egyptian unit. I can also locate the resources now.

An overview of my small empire after getting gunpowder. You can see that I have 2 sources of saltpeter . The missing iron in to the north but unreachable at the moment. Two archer armies now need to get diverted back west to help out. You can also see my reduced research to gather money for musket upgrades at the front cities. The front is so wide and I have no idea where Theodora will attack. This is a tough situation where I might fold anytime.

 

[ThERat]

My production is now going for muskets and LB's. Horses won't do anymore with Byzantines as the enemies and sipahi landings.

I simply need to hurry to get to cavalry that is at least guaranteed with the resources I own.

I finish the turn by taking the western Byzantine city. Not that it will help me a lot at the moment.

In the interturn, Ottoman take out the horse and take all 3 cities as expected. At least in the north I don't get nasty surprises for now.
However, Ottomans pull in more foes with their cash I guess.

This is what the situation looks like after the interturn, note that I put down an added city on a hill for better defense.

Every move now needs careful crafting and thinking as sipahis can simply rip my armies apart for sure. I can take Faro firstm that's what I do and the money I gain from this is much needed to upgrade my front city spears.

The enemy keeps on sending units and more landings arrive in the interturn at Lisbon. This is added pressure I don't really need right now. Fortunately none of the Ottoman units in the musket stack are sipahis or I would lose more cities.

Thus, the archer army take back Braga for some cash too

While I attack the last city, Rio, I get another leader, that will turn into a musket army for better defense (and since muskets have attack 2 as well, this would be just as strong as an archer army)

I conclude my turn by taking out the last city there for 306 gold. All the cash is used to upgrade my front cities as Byzantines continue to strike at the front.

I lean back and ponder over the close shave with defeat I just had. What a set of turns

 

[Spoonwood]

I really enjoy reading this TheRat, and nice pictures too. Thanks!

 

[ThERat]

At least one of the foes comes back to me to ask for peace. I am always happy about this and get s straight peace.

The war against Byzantines goes very slow, I am careful not to lose units as I have few. however, in the east, an opportunity arises and I raze Varna that sits on top of spices. This gives me the 3rd lux

Slowly, I am carving my way to Mil Tradition. I am sure with cavalry armies, I can crush Byzantines.

Unfortunately, Byzantines have cavalry already and start attacking the front cities. Fortunately the AI is really inept of fighting a war. They come with 1-2 cavalry and strike at my front towns. This gives me the chance to take the cavalry out either on defense or via counterstrike. With the help of my musket army, i manage to take out another Byzantines city. The army is great in covering units.

Well, peace with Egypt didn't last that long as Ottoman pull them in yet again
They can't reach me anyway, so I am not overly worried at the moment.

However, with this latest war, one could call this game almost AW at this point in time. Good thing, cavalry aren't that far away.

This is the situation 2 turns before getting cavalry.

You can spot a Byzantine rifle, yes I don't even have monotheism and they are in the industrial age already

 

[Spoonwood]

Where's the Great Library located?

 

[ThERat]

oh, I forgot to mention that, it's with the Ottomans, they of course got that as well...

 

[ThERat]

Ok, let's see where I am at the moment. At war with almost everyone, having narrowly escaped a near total meltdown. Now being randomly attacked by Byzantine cavalry and pillager muskets and rifles. Doesn't sound too bad

This set of turns starts well with Persia knocking on our doors. Unforntunately all we can afford (and want afford) as this moment is peace, no techs.

Well, at least now I am left with fighting Ottoman, Byzantine and Portugal (as Egypt can't send any troops).

There are a lot of Ottoman convoys sailing around and I try and shadow them. They apparently sail straight into our core, giving me the time to get cavalry first.

Luckily Ottomans really wait until I have a first cavalry, so we should be able to handle this landing. If they had landed a few turns earlier, I would have been in deep trouble.

So, I can take the stack out with a cavalry, some LB's and the archer army. In the meantime, Persia has been busy taking out Roman cities and I expected this already. Well, I rather they had attacked Ottomans, but at least one foe less here.

The most important event for me comes sooner than expected and we gain yet another lader taking out those landings in our core. Can you say Cavalry armies are overpowered? Well, I don't care and they will help me take on Byzatines

 

[ThERat]

Ok, Theodora, do you know what defeat smells like? if you don't you will know soon. I assemble the army and start to move north. Soon, the effects are felt.

The Hanging Gardens, that's a nice wonder to have for now. And this cities comes with ivory as well, my 4th lux. Plenty of happiness which enables me to set the luxury slider to 0%. After Mil Tradition, all the lower techs can be done in 4 turns.

Below a picture of my expanding empire in 760AD one turn before getting monotheism. There are only 3 Byzantine cities left one our side of the choke.

The next city to go is the one that claims the iron and with our cavalry support, this can be achieved with relative ease (though my army almost perishes in the attack )

This is the moment I had to wait for almost 5000 years, I can finally claim iron (now that it is almost useless). Well, it gives me cheap swiss mercs and I might be able to kick off my Golden Age. It wouldn't be a bad time to do so.

Things are getting better and better. Ottoman ask for peace and I gladly pay 12gpt so I can concentrate on Byzantines.

Oh, I almost forgot that Portugal is still present on our continent. well, no more, they are left with one overseas city. I actually like this as I hope to gain something from them in a peace deal.

I was not wrong as Portugal dials us up soon enough and I actually save 3 turns getting education. I also get PP just for the fun of it. I do not need chivalry as I don't need knights no more.

And the final laugh for me comes the very next turn, when my crusade against Byzantines causes this to happen.

Well, all the better as I can then take back any eventual flip, should one happen. Well, overall this is a very successful turnset that gives me the feeling, I can take out the whole of my continent.

The big question remains about research speed as both Persia and Ottoman are scientific and seem to run away with techs. (I can spot rail roaded tiles even in Byzantine land). The enemy might have infantry sooner than I would like. I am still researching my way up to astronomy and banking.

 

[Redman]

Very nice story ThERat. Not a real game of silence , but for sure a revival! Your revival. Wow, some close ones in this game, which could've end the game very soon.

One question: Egypt has never used boats to send troops?

 

[ThERat]

It's a game of silence on my part. What the AI does, is up to them

And yes, the Egyptians never sent any units over so far or only minor stuff. My cavalry is creating havoc for Byzantines, but they never wanted it any different, those sneak attackers.

There does another Byzantines city, I will try and keep them now as I am close to the choke and can afford flips.

I redline a rifle and the second merc attack gives us the GA. I will use the boost in productivity for infrastructure and 4 turn research.

Oh, another foe less. Splendid as all the flip risk from former Portugal is gone as well. There are only 4 enemies left now, Ottoman, Persia, Egypt and Byzantines.

The last Byzantines city on our side is gone. This one will be kept as well

While fighting some enemy attacks, I get a second cavalry army. This will simply hasten the Byzantine demise.

And with my musket army, I can finally close off the choke. The musket army is only filled with 3 of them as this will be a perfect starting army for the other continent as we will need to fend off many enemy units there. So, with 3 units, I can send the army across with mere galleons.

I continue with razing Byzantine cities

I do suffer some setback, though it only kills a LB that was in the city for quelling of resistance. Well, soon Byzantines will be out of this game I hope anyway.

 

[Spoonwood]

What's your Sid experience like TheRat? Have you beaten/played it much?

 

[ThERat]

My SID experience? Well, I did win a few SID games though you need several factors to be your favour.
I do however, not really enjoy that level as it is too much of slogging through endless amounts of enemy units. As you can see, I like AW games and demigod is a good challenge on that level. And at this level, you also get rewarded for good play. Even deity is too high most of the times as I tent to play on large maps. The AI simply grabs too much land for an AW game to be able to survive.

 

[ThERat]

First off, Persia asks for peace again, I agree this time as I want to secure my own continent before getting into a war with Persia

Of course I take back the flipped city and raze another Byzantine city on the other side of the choke. I won't keep any of those cities as I can't afford to quell resistance with such a risk of flips. I need to have cities that can take on a Egyptian assault.

Then Byzantines ask me for peace but have got nothing much to offer. I rather take them out and clear the last city on this continent. So, I decline the offer...

And take out the last city, they are left with an overseas city though. While taking out this city, I realize they are at war with Ottomans. Good luck in staying alive

Fighting the Egypts at the choke gives us another cavalry army and I am contemplating to fill the army with only 3 units to be able to ship them overseas.

The final message is very good news as another potential of flips has been removed. Who asked Theodora to take on Ottomans. Stupid idea really. You can see in the screenshot that I am now expanding beyond the choke, slowly and carefully, but i want to take out Egypt as fast as I can. I have been able to keep up the 4 turn research so far still being in the GA and at the same time, accumulate a lot of gold for the time after the Golden Age.

Now, with only Egypt, Persia and Ottoman remaining, what are the dangers to me? I could lose via space ship, but that is still a long time to go. Nobody is modern and nobody got the ToE yet. However, the danger of losing to a UN vote is real. And if I try to invade the other continent, while they have bombers, I will be shredded to pieces in no time.

I will have to keep up the pressure on Egypt and grab the whole continent as fast as possible.

 

[ignas]

Thanks! Very nice reading it is.

 

[ThERat]

With Byzantines eliminated from the game and the current peace with both overseas AI, with a Golden Age still running, I can concentrate to push my empire up the infrastructure level and take out Egypt at the same time.

The task will be easier if these kind of event keep happening More cavalry armies are always welcome

I finally enter the Industrial Age in 1010AD and am still able to pull a 4 turn steam research thanks to the GA. That's something I am not used to due to the big maps I usually play.

This is the view of the northern new acquired part of the empire. As you can see, I now founded Incense to give me a fifth lux. This will come very handy for continued 0% lux

I continue to take out Egypt cities, slowly but surely.

And another one. At this moment, I am one turn to medicine before heading for electricity and sci methods. I have started a pre-build for ToE, but am quite worried about the AI taking that wonder and moving even further ahead. By this time, I have also started to rail road my empire and getting a military railnet up.

Another look at my empire as there are only 7 Egypt cities left. Alexandria has Smiths, which would be of big help as well.

Just when things move fine, X-Man comes with this ridiculous demand and of course, we tell him off and are at war again. That guy is still in democracy, whereas Ottoman have cleverly changed to communism already. It a rare move as I usually see AI's ending up in fascism. I am sure communism serves their purpose better.

Still. I move forward to take more land and always make sure I have enough settlers to fill the land

The set of turns ends with bad news. First off, Ottomans simply declare war on me for no reason and at the same time, starts ToE I still have 3 turns to electricity and some turns to sci methods. I will try and speed up the pre-build by RR every square at Horsies, but it might not be enough

 

[Whomp]

lurker's comment: Great stuff TheRat. My fingers are crossed on ToE because if you get ToE it would be huge.

I've been trying to figure out a new variant to play and you've convinced me this is the variant.

 

[ThERat]

Nice to hear I can inspire new ideas.

I am also hoping for ToE, I am sure Ottomans won't be that slow either. I am quite worried they might be catapulted into the MA with it. UN loss is a serious possibility.

I will try and update later, am quite busy today as the new semester just started