The3 - Great Alexandria

[Methos]

Pre-Turn: Looks good

Sorry, after looking around I just started playing and didn’t take any notes until the end of my 2nd turn.

110 BC: Meet Sumeria. They are up Monarchy and down Philosophy, Code of Laws, Literature, Map Making, and Construction. We now know everyone. Adjust Memphis so it has no growth but a full settler, should kill itself soon.
IT: Memphis abandoned. El-Amarna Galley>Courthouse. Abydos Worker>Worker.

90 BC:
IT: Alexandria Great Lighthouse>Library (rush it). Heliopolis Library>Swordsman. Hittites and Carthage are building the Great Wall. Hittites finish the Temple of Artemis. Sumeria switches and finishes the Statue of Zeus.

70 BC:
IT: Alexandria Library>Coliseum. Rome is building the Great Wall. Greeks switch and finish the Great Wall.

50 BC: That was close. One of our cats stepped on the Escape button. I’m a big worker buff so I can’t pass this up.
Babylon: We get 24 gold and a worker; we give Literature.
Persia: We get 95 gold and a worker; we give Literature.
IT: Edfu Worker>Harbor

30 BC: Alexandria rushes Coliseum. Abydos switches to Temple. Elephantine switches to Forbidden Palace. Build an embassy with both Babylon and Sumeria. Sumeria is 4 turns from completing Hanging Gardens.
IT: Alexandria Coliseum>Harbor. Heliopolis Swordsman>Swordsman. Giza Galley>Temple. Asyut Worker>Library. Mendes Worker>Worker.

10 BC: Disband Warrior in Sumerian territory. It doesn’t fit with the variant to continue traipsing through Sumeria. Avaris switches to Harbor.
IT: Pi-Ramesses Swordsman>Swordsman.

10 AD: Zzzz
IT: Palace upgrade. Ok, whoever was the last one to upgrade the palace failed to use the Egyptian style.

30 AD: Zzzz
IT: We get Monarchy from the GL. Alexandria Harbor>Swordsman. Heliopolis Sword>Sword. Tanis Worker>Worker. Sumerians complete the Hanging Gardens.

50 AD: According to CAII Carthage now has Currency, meaning we’ll get it next IT.
IT: We get Currency from the GL, and start research on Monotheism (4/4/2). Palace improves.

70 AD: Zzzz
IT: Alexandria Swordsman>Marketplace. Forgot to switch.

90 AD: Set slider at 3/5/2.
IT: Heliopolis Sword>Marketplace. Pi-Ramesses Sword>Library. Lisht Library>Marketplace.

110 AD: Giza switches to Library. Buhen founded, begins harbor.
IT: Greece declares on Rome

130 AD: Uh, missed it?

150 AD: Zzzz
IT: Pithom Temple>Library. Babylon has entered MA and has Feudalism.

170 AD: Zzzz
IT: Alexandria Marketplace>Courthouse (pre-build for Cathedral). Buto Temple>Library. Mendes Warrior>Worker.

190 AD: This founded, begins worker. Set slider at 4/4/2
IT: Greece tries to get us to sign an alliance versus the Romans. Babylon and the Hittites is building Sun Tzu’s.

210 AD: Set slider at 5/3/2.
Monotheism>Theology (3/5/2). We get Feudalism from the GL.

230 AD: Alexandria switches to Cathedral and rushes it.
IT: Alexandria Cathedral>Sun Tzu’s (pre-build for Sistine). Tanis Worker>Worker.

250 AD: Zzzz

-Heliopolis, Elephantine, and El-Amarna are all maxed at size 12 and are balanced very carefully happiness wise. What I mean is moving citizens around can/will adjust commerce which can affect happiness enough to cause a riot. Any movement of citizens in these cities needs us to pay close attention to happiness.
-I went food crazy to get max population quicker. Now we can start adjusting tiles (swapping food for mine) to max shields.
-We have two settlers (one in Mendes and one in Bubastis) as Rome beat me to the land. Currently Rome and Greece are at war so I’m hoping to send those settlers in to take any lost land.
-Alexandria is currently building Sun Tzu’s which is a pre-build for Sistine. Sun Tzu’s is only 2 cpt @ 600 shields where Sistine is 6 cpt @ 600 shields.
-I changed some of Alexandria’s tiles to get it at +1 food and 25 spt.
-I’ve been building some temples typically only in corrupt cities or large cities. I have some libraries started to increase science.
-Elephantine is currently working on the Forbidden Palace. When it is done I suggest building a marketplace so we don’t have to worry so much about happiness.
-I did not settle any of the open land on the southern tip of our landmass. According to CAII our cities would be at 90% corruption.
-After Theology I suggest going for Education. Yes it’ll end the effects of the GL but the culture from universities and their effects are worth more IMO. I’d suggest Theology>Education>Astronomy (Cop’s)>Banking>Printing Press>Democracy>Free Spirit (Shake’s).

Current victory date is 2078 AD!

Here's the save.

Here's what Alexandria looks like currently:

 

[compmage]

Current victory date is 2078 AD!

Is this including the 1000 year cultural bonus?

Nice turns, looks like we only just got the GLH.

Can you post a territory screenie so I can ponder things a little while I'm at work?

I got it.

I'll play tonight and with my wife being under the weather she'll probably go to sleep early so I should be able to finish my turns.

Roster
Methos - just played
compmage - playing
theos - on deck
barbslinger - lets us know when you want a turn

theos, I assume there are still slots open for others to join if they want?

 

[theos]

All looks good so far.

After Theology I suggest going for Education. Yes it’ll end the effects of the GL but the culture from universities and their effects are worth more IMO. I’d suggest Theology>Education>Astronomy (Cop’s)>Banking>Printing Press>Democracy>Free Spirit (Shake’s).

We only need Education on the turn we finish Sistine's. If there's time I'd research Printing Press before Education to maximise our chances of getting Chivalry or Engineering from the Library. And if we're comfortably ahead tech-wise, I'd like to get Music Theory before Democracy to get Bach's. As long as we don't waste time on the bottom end of the tech tree, we'll hopefully be able to get all of Sistine's, Copernicus's, Bach's and Shakespeare's.

Is this including the 1000 year cultural bonus?

Assuming he's used CAII, then it takes the eventual doubling into account.

theos, I assume there are still slots open for others to join if they want?

For sure, though we'd cut down the turns/player once we're up to 4 players.

 

[Methos]

Is this including the 1000 year cultural bonus?

Assuming he's used CAII, then it takes the eventual doubling into account.

Yes, I do use CAII (rather addicted to the utility actually. CAII does calculate the doubling effect into the estimated victory date. So 2078 is currently correct.

For sure, though we'd cut down the turns/player once we're up to 4 players.

Out of curiosity I checked the time from when I picked up the save to when I last saved it and my turnset took me 4 hours and 20 minutes. Averaging out at 13 minutes per turn. Good thing this is a peaceful game!

 

[Methos]

Here's a few screenies to wet your appetite.

 

[compmage]

Preturn:
All seems fine, though we still don't have as many workers as I would like and we have Swordsman and warriors defending.
Lets just hope no-one takes a disliking to us.

IT:
Abydos completes Temple -> Worker

260 AD: (1)
Working mostly

IT:
Persian Archer moves upto our border at El-Ashumein
Heliopolis completes Marketplace -> Pikeman
El-Ashmunein completes Temple -> Walls

270 AD: (2)
Move some units closer to Persia incase they are planing anything

IT:
Archer moves away
Pi-Ramasses completes Library -> Marketplace
Hieraconpolis completes Library -> Worker
Kahun completes Library -> Barracks
Greeks start Sun Tzu's

280 AD: (3)
Nothing much

IT:
El-Amarna completes Courthouse -> Barracks
Lisht completes Marketplace -> Aqueduct
Bubastis completes Warrior -> Worker
Sumerians start Sun Tzu's

290 AD: (4)
Nothing much

IT:
Heliopolis completes Pikeman -> Pikeman
Abydos completes Worker -> Marketplace
Romans start Sun Tzu's

300 AD: (5)
Pikeman to Elephantine

IT:
Barb Galley attacks our Curragh, we lost 1hp
Theology comes in, start on Printing Press (7 turns)
Hieraconpolis completes Worker -> Courthouse

310 AD: (6)
Change Alexandria to Sistine, due in 18

IT:
Giza completes Library -> Aqueduct
Asyut completes Library -> Marketplace
Mendes completes Worker -> Worker
El-Ashumein completes Walls -> Library
This completes Worker -> Temple

320 AD: (7)
Nothing much

IT:
Rome and Greece sign peace
Heliopolis completes Pikeman -> Horseman
Byblos completes Library -> Marketplace

330 AD: (8)
Nothing much

IT:
Nothing

340 AD: (9)
Start moving more MP to the borders where I can, expecially around Mendes it is too far away to re-inforce quickly if we get attacked.

IT:
Heliopolis completes Horseman -> Pikeman
Kahun completes Barracks -> MDI
Tanis completes Worker - Catapult

350 AD: (10)
Continue moving units

IT:
Elephantine completes FP -> Marketplace
Persia moves Archer to borders by Buhen
Sumeria move 2 AC's to borders by Mendes, lets hope they aren't planing anything, defence is still very weak

360 AD: (11)
Some units (2 Swordsman and a Horseman) arive in Mendes

IT:
Sumeria bring up a Swordsman
Sumeria declare on us and attack at Mendes
Swordsman retreats 1st AC, loosing 1hp then dies against 2nd AC without doing any damage
Printing Press completed, start on Chivalry (5 turns)
El-Amarna completes Barracks -> MDI
Avaris completes Harbor -> Archer
Palace expands

370 AD: (12)
Move some workers onto Galley that I have near Mendes, retreat some more from border
Horseman attacks AC at Mendes, wins loosing 1hp
Move some more spare units towards Mendes

IT:
Sumerian 1hp AC moves away, Swordsman moves onto Mountain
Heliopolis completes Pikeman -> Pikeman

380 AD: (13)
Change Mendes from Worker to Walls
Attack regular Sumeria Swordsman on mountain with Vet Swordsman, win but redlined
See a Sumerian Archer approaching
Horseman kills redlined AC an moves to cover redlined Swordsman on mountain
Units continue towards Mendes

IT:
Sumerian Archer moves to hill S of mountain with Horseman and Swordsman
Lisht completes Aqueduct -> Barracks
Bubastis completes Worker -> Walls

390 AD: (14)
Move Swordsman and Horseman into Mendes
Spearman onto mountain
Units closer to Mendes

IT:
Archer moves next to Mendes
Another AC and Swordsman approach
Pi-Ramesses completes Marketplace -> Horseman
Kahun completes MDI -> MDI

400 AD: (15)
Vet Horseman 3hp attacks Reg Archer, wins and promotes to elite, retreats back into Mendes
Spearman fortifies on mountain
Research down to 40%, Chivalry still in 2 gpt @ 38

IT:
AC attacks vet Swordman and retreats, no hit loss to Swordsman, no promotion
GL gives us Engineering
Heliopolis completes Pikeman -> Pikeman

410 AD: (16)
Elite Horseman attacks redlined AC, wins but down to 2 hp, no leader
Upgrade a Spearman

IT:
Chivalry completed, start on Education (8 turns - Sistine in 7)
Carthaginians start Sun Tzu's

420 AD: (17)
Add scientist in This to prevent riots
Change research to 50%, Education in 6 @ 4 gpt
Some unit moves

IT:
Sumerian Archer and Swordsman move next to Mendes
Lisht completes Barracks -> Knight
Buto completes Library -> Aqueduct

430 AD: (18)
Sumerians still won't talk
Elite Horseman (4hp) attacks Swordsman, wins but is redlined, no leader
Vet Swordsman attacks Vet Archer, flawless win, no promotion
No more Sumerian units visable

IT:
Roman Spearman moves up to border by Mendes
Heliopolis completes Pikeman -> Pikeman

440 AD: (19)
Some unit moves and healing

IT:
Elephantine completes Marketplace -> Library
El-Amarna completes MDI -> Marketplace
Kahun completes MDI -> Marketplace
Babylonians start Knights Templar

450 AD: (20)
Nothing much

War so far:
Looses: 1 Swordsman
Kills: 4 AC, 2 Swordsman and 2 Archers

I have left most of the units near the front unmoved.
CAII says that Sumeria are willing to talk (as of this last turn), but I have left it up to the next player to negotiate peace. I also haven't MM in the last few turns.
We really need some better defence along our borders, if I hadn't already been moving units towards Mendes we would have lost at least 2 cities and the two settlers that where there (which I seem to have forgotten to move away from the front, luckily it didn't cost us).
I would like to complete most of the Marketplaces but the other builds are up for grabs.

The save.

Our world:

 

[Methos]

@Compmage: The link to the save isn't working.

Edit: Found it in the uploads, here's the save.

 

[compmage]

@Compmage: The link to the save isn't working.

Thanks, silly spelling mistake on my part. I have fixed the link in my post as well.

Roster
compmane - just played
theos - up
Methos - on deck
barbslinger - ???

 

[theos]

Got it.

Well done on the defence vs Sumerians. I definitely hope to have a bigger military in case we get attacked again. I'll certainly build more military units than my last turn (i.e. > 0)

Just a thought - we're going to research Democracy soon on our way to Shakespeare's. Is it worth switching to a Democracy? The benefits for our smallish nation seem marginal but with the minimum anarchy it might still be worth it.

 

[compmage]

Just a thought - we're going to research Democracy soon on our way to Shakespeare's. Is it worth switching to a Democracy? The benefits for our smallish nation seem marginal but with the minimum anarchy it might still be worth it.

The only thing I don't like about Demo is the high WW, but since we are playing peaceful and wars are unlikely to last very long I don't have any objections, though I don't know if the benefits are worth even the minimal anarchy.

 

[theos]

Reign of Theos IV

450 AD (0) - We shouldn't expect much war, and probably very little need for extra settlers. The two settlers we have are dispatched, one to fill a needed gap in the desert between our 'Roman' holdings and the main portion of Alexandrian lands, the other is heading north to be another coastal town near This. There are still gaps in our core lands and so two more Settlers are ordered up. Various MM changes mostly to speed up production. Also Walls builds on our frontier changed to Temples and rushed for the cultural boundaries. Taxes set to 5.3.2 for Education in 5 turns (at +67 gpt) since this is the earliest we'll be able to rush our University. (We certainly can't buy a full price university.) Finally Sumeria offers us 14 gold for peace, and we graciously agree.

460 AD (1) - Found Oryx in the desert between our main lands and the 'Roman' lands.

470 AD (2)
IT - Our first Knight is trained in Pi-Ramesses.

480 AD (3)
IT - Alexandria builds the Sistine Chapel. It starts on Sun Tzu's as a University pre-build. Heliopolis trains our second Knight and it can train a new one every 4 turns now so it will be primarily responsible for building our military defences. Many people switch to Knights Templar.

490 AD (4)
IT - We learn Education expiring our Great Library. We start researching Astronomy for the Observatory. Culture expansions on our border from the Temple rushes.

500 AD (5) - University rushed for 700g (of our 820g) in Alexandria. Taxes set to 3.6.1 (with Markets all over luxes can be at 10%).
IT - Alexandria builds its University and starts Sun Tzu's as a prebuild. Palace upgrade.

510 AD (6)

520 AD (7) - Found Athribis in 'Roman' lands north of This. Found Sebennytus on the hills between Alexandria and El-Amarna.

530 AD (8) - The Hittites now have Invention. My plan is to not trade for anything on the bottom half until we've got all the wonders we want.

540 AD (9)

550 AD (10) - Persia trades us a Worker for 89g.
IT - We learn Astronomy, start Banking thinking we'll come back for Music Theory if we can reasonably obtain Bach's.

560 AD (11) - Alexandria switches over to Copernicus' Observatory due in 11 turns. Taxes to 4.5.1 with Banking due in 6. With the Knights we've built and more on their way, I feel we're adequately covered in case of attack, so I start scrapping our obseletes starting with regular Warriors getting closer to our unit support (59 over 41).

570 AD (12) - Found Busiris in desert near Persia. Culture to be rushed there to compete with Arbela.

580 AD (13)
590 AD (14)
600 AD (15)

610 AD (16) - Trade routes have suddenly become available with all but our neighbours Rome, but no reasonable trades available (Hittites want 30gpt for Spices, as much as it costs to lower our lux slider to 0, so I pass).
IT - We learn Banking. Start on Music Theory (due in 5 at 4.5.1) since Copernicus is done soon.

620 AD (17)
630 AD (18)

640 AD (19) The Persians finally enter the Middle Ages.

650 AD (20) A Sumerian Medieval Infantry has entered our territory. We welcome him in, but he must be watched.

Music Theory due next turn. Copernicus's due in 2, then onto Bach's. We have a strong military compared to everybody and so don't feel the need yet for more military. Border cities are building Aqueducts or culture for the boundaries. Everywhere else is building the Libraries & Marketplaces -> Universities -> Banks with Harbours and Aqueducts as needed. Most cities are on their Universities.

Alexandria has 2727 culture at 46cpt.

 

[theos]

The current lands of the Alexandrian Republic, now tight up against the borders of Rome and Persia...

The save for Methos (hint: use copy link location to avoid file name typos): The3 at 650 AD

 

[compmage]

We have a strong military compared to everybody...

Now this is something I like to hear. With most of the military on our borders and maybe a few fast units in Heliopolis to deal with landings we should be fine.

Alexandria has 2727 culture at 46cpt.

When are the 20K and 100K victories due?

Rome seems to have very little culture, we might flip some of their cities near the borders (especially Lutetia, Brundisium and Viroconium). The same can be said of Persia.

Sumeria shouldn't be much of a problem unless they bring a SoD or a lot of fast units. Their units seem to arive in a trickle since they have to move threw, at least, Roman lands to get to us and with Knights their AC aren't nearly as effective.

 

[Methos]

Got it.

Will follow your [Theos] research path as you mentioned in reply to my suggest. Yours makes more sense. I also agree with not trading for any of the lower techs until we have most of the upper wonders. Don't want their cascade to take any of them.

Will play tonight.

 

[barbslinger]

I would build primarily defense and when workers are free'd up get them on border fortifications and then seal them off in the desert.

I will be away from this Friday night until Monday night on a houseboat trip with friends but when I get back I'll jump in.

 

[Methos]

Just a thought - we're going to research Democracy soon on our way to Shakespeare's. Is it worth switching to a Democracy?

In truth I don’t have much experience with Democracy. I’m not really sure of it’s benefits. As Compmage said the high WW won’t be a problem for us.

 

[Methos]

I’m halfway through my turnset but have several questions. First off let me give you a small summary.

Rome declared on us and was willing to negotiate on turn 10. I signed peace. Sumeria has seven ancient cavalry in view heading for our borders so am expecting another war. Here are my questions:

-Are we allowed to invade the enemy? With Rome I never sent forces into their territory unless it was to pick of a wounded straggler. I never went in more than one tile.
-If we can enter their territory can we capture or raze their cities?
-During negotiations can we haggle? I wasn’t for sure on this one so I took straight peace with Rome and didn’t take any of their cash.

-Another that doesn’t pertain to war: Just learned Free Artistry and was thinking of switching Alexandria to Shake’s and finishing it before JS Bach’s. Shakes cost 450 shields and is 8 cpt where as JS Bach’s is 600 shields and gives 6 cpt. We’ll gain two additional culture and get the additional culture 6 turns earlier. I believe we should make the switch. One thing though, the most spt we can get prior to RR is 29pt.

Have to go to work now so I'll finish tomorrow. I'm expecting war with Sumeria btw. 7 AC and 1 MI make it hard to say otherwise.

 

[compmage]

-Are we allowed to invade the enemy? With Rome I never sent forces into their territory unless it was to pick of a wounded straggler. I never went in more than one tile.

I asked this before, here is what theos said:

Once war has started, the gloves are off. We can nuke away if we want. But keeping an invasion force around in the hopes of being declared on doesn't seem like a good strategy. I think keeping a solid defensive force around should be sufficient whilst we focus on improvements - hence a builder game.

-If we can enter their territory can we capture or raze their cities?

I would think so, yes.

-During negotiations can we haggle? I wasn’t for sure on this one so I took straight peace with Rome and didn’t take any of their cash.

Also asked before:

During war, we must check every turn to see if the AI is willing to talk. If they are, it means that a peace must be negotiated (I believe it's always possible if the AI's willing to talk) but we can negotiate for the best deal we can.

Get the best deal you can when we make peace.

-Another that doesn’t pertain to war: Just learned Free Artistry and was thinking of switching Alexandria to Shake’s and finishing it before JS Bach’s. Shakes cost 450 shields and is 8 cpt where as JS Bach’s is 600 shields and gives 6 cpt. We’ll gain two additional culture and get the additional culture 6 turns earlier. I believe we should make the switch. One thing though, the most spt we can get prior to RR is 29pt.

I would go for Shakes. The extra growth (you can go over size 12 with it IIRC) would mean extra shields as well, meaning we get Bach's sooner afterwards.

Have to go to work now so I'll finish tomorrow. I'm expecting war with Sumeria btw. 7 AC and 1 MI make it hard to say otherwise.

How many defences units do we have in that area?

 

[Methos]

You know, I thought I recalled the discussion on war. I went back over his first post and didn't see anything so figured I was thinking about a different SG.

I would go for Shakes. The extra growth (you can go over size 12 with it IIRC) would mean extra shields as well, meaning we get Bach's sooner afterwards.

Sorry, I was unclear. Currently we are getting 25 spt and with Shakes the most we'll get prior to RR is 29 spt. So it would only shave off 4 turns.

How many defences units do we have in that area?

BTW, my defensive units are offensive, just so you understand. I believe currently we have around 9 or 10 knights (at least one of them elite), maybe three swordsman, an elite horse, and a pike or two.

My defensive strategy is to have several fast movers (in our case knights) fortified in a city. Than when the AI moves adjacent to the city I attack them and move back into the city for protection. Besides, the AI considers offensive units higher than they do defensive units.

 

[barbslinger]

I would absolutely go for Shakes. Alexandria is supposed to be the greatest city in the world right? The culture is fantastic too. Alexandria should get EVERY culture building from here on out.

On war, kick thies arse. then it will help the other AI. Watch your back with Persia though. When, and if Persia DOW's knock them out to 1-2 towns to help with the science later when moving to a new age.