TJ01: Famous Five

[Northern Pike]

830 (0): I begin shuffling our forces in Spain and Germany around, in hopes of luring those nations into founding more cities while still keeping them contained.

We're building thirty-shield horsemen in three cites producing twenty shields per turn or a bit more. I assume we're building these units largely for later disbanding, so this seems inefficient, and I switch to MDI builds.

The Spanish found Pamplona four tiles from Salamanca.


840 (1): We discover Music Theory and begin research on Navigation.


850 (2): I wish we could build Magellan in Fourth Horseman and Copernicus in Three Cows, since riverless FH will get the least research benefit from Copernicus of all our cities. But with the place prebuild only worth 250 shields--one of our real problems in this variant, as it turns out--there's no logical way to do this without waiting some time for Bach, which seems out of the question. So I don't attempt any tricky juggling, and just have Caractacus rush Bach in First Attempt.

I get three elite horsemen moving towards Germany, since we don't have enough elites over there to make a resumption of that war worthwhile.


860 (3): The Russians and the English make peace.


870 (4): The Germans found Bremen five squares from Munich.

The Persians and the English make peace.


880-890 (5-6): Zzzz....


900 (7): We complete Copernicus in Fourth Horseman.


910 (8): The Spanish found Vitoria three tiles from Salamanca.


920 (9): Fourth Horseman completes our first caravel.


930 (10): The AI civs didn't discover any techs new to us this turn--not even Chivalry.

 

[Northern Pike]

THE FUTURE:


We're just about to discover Navigation, at which point Three Cows will have to switch to Magellan immediately, or it will complete the place prebuild. The palace prebuild should then move to Second Minute--perhaps for a bank, but possibly, with deficit research and some MM for reduced shield production, for Smith.

Given that we're hoping the AI civs will discover Invention for us, Banking seems to be the only reasonable tech choice after Navigation.

We can honourably return to war with the Spanish and the Germans next turn, and since we've lured them into founding another three cities (combined), we'll have some targets.

Seven surplus MDI are in or converging on Fourth Horseman. We can either disband them to speed up caravel construction (two MDI disbands plus its native production will let FH complete a caravel in one turn) or hoard them until they can be used to help with bank builds.

 

[Northern Pike]

The save:

930 AD, end of turn

 

[Northern Pike]

The Spanish quarantine:

 

[a space oddity]

Nicely done again, NP.
The world at peace should see to some more science being done by others too.

 

[TedJackson]

Steady work NP

I look around and realise that I'm the only person in the room. So I must be up


Ted

 

[TedJackson]

Pre-flight checks... OK

Pre-turn
Sell Literature to Carthage for WM, 100gp + 8gpt (broke, with Navigation coming up I wanted all their income)
Hawk WM for 12gp
No opportunities for fomenting unrest overseas unfortunately. I aim to take Salamanca from Spain in the upcoming war to wipe out their culture base.
There is an unexplored coastal area North of Grenoble which I'll try and investigate.

press button
Discover Navigation - Banking
FA MDI - MDI
SM MDI - MDI
FH Caravel - Caravel

1 - 940AD
TC switches to Magellan's (7 turns)
Research 90% (5 turns @ -89gpt, 499gp in the Bank)
Sell Incense & Gems to France for Furs + 9gpt (flat broke, I added Gems to get the last of her gpt)
Check Diplo, declare on Spain
Move units into attack position
Sell Incense & Horses to Persia for Dyes + WM (might allow him to generate enough wealth for us to trade something else)

IBT
Germany founds Stuttgart
FW MDI - MDI

2 - 950AD
Vet Horse kills reg Spear (Pamplona) and the city falls - I raze it
Our forces march on Salamanca
Our Navy explores the Oceans
Sell Incense to Carthage for 12gp + 5gpt
Hawk WM

IBT
FA MDI - MDI
FH Caravel - Caravel

3 - 960AD
Vet Horse kills reg Archer & we capture 2 slaves
Hawk WM

IBT
FW MDI - MDI
France starts Leonardo's (Invention)

4 - 970AD
France has monopoly on Invention and no-one else has enough gold to trade it on
Research 80% (still 2 turns @ -51gpt, 320gp in the Bank)
Buy Invention from France for Theology + Contact with Carthage (they throw in WM + 27gp)
Sell Contact with Russia to Carthage for WM + 20gp + 6gpt (broke)
SM switches to Leonardo's
FH switches to Palace
Hawk WM

IBT
FA MDI - MDI

5 - 980AD
Vet Horse retreats without landing a blow on reg Spear (Salamanca)
Vet Horse kills reg Spear and Salamanca falls - I raze it (didn't expect a garrison of only 1)
Hawk WM

IBT
Discover Banking - Economics
FW MDI - Bank

6 - 990AD
FA switches to Bank
Disband 5 MDI for 50 shields in FW (50sh in the box) need 1 more MDI
Disband 3 MDI for 30 shields in FA (51 sh in box) need 1 more MDI
Research 80% (6 turns @ -37gpt, 318gp in the Bank)

IBT
TC Magellan's - Bank
The people love me - add an annexe

7 - 1000AD
Disband MDI in FA (Bank in 3 turns)
MM FW for Bank in 3
Hawk WM

8 - 1010AD
Disband 3 MDI in TC
Hawk WM

IBT
Russia starts Leonardo's

9 - 1020AD
Build 2nd Silks Colony (SW of the 1st)
Start Fortress on 2nd Silks
Disband MDI in TC
Hawk WM

IBT
Finally, Spain sends out a lone Archer
FA Bank - MDI
FW Bank - MDI

10 - 1030AD
Disband MDI in TC
Elite Horse kills reg Spear

Notes
Economics due in 2 @ -25gpt, 284gp in the Bank
Second Minute is running at -6fpt in order to get as many shields into Leonardo's ASAP. Switching from a mined mountain to an irrigated Floodplain gets back to zero growth.
Spain has only sent out 2 units and had such poor defense that I overran Pamplona & Salamanca without intending to. We might as well make peace with Spain and allow Germany to build up a little more before declaring again.
I traded the Carthagian contact when France discovered Invention as they started Leonardo's immediately and I needed to switch Second Minute ASAP.
I've drained the AI coffers and research capability by selling the WM and Luxuries. I've created a 2nd Silks Colony and Harvest Moon is a few steps away from creating a 2nd Gems Colony. I thought this was a reasonable way to slow them down as I couldn't get a war going on the other continent.
I thought it too early to start another Palace pre-build as our Palace cost is so low (only 5 cities ). Fourth Horseman is on a pre-build for Smith's which should become available in 2 turns.
Looking at the tech choices I can't really see any alternative to Printing Press, Democracy then Free Artistry to get Shakespeare's at which point we might be able to swap out Smith's in Fourth Horseman and even up the CPT a bit more, moving Smith's to Fifth Wheel.

Culture Summary

The save is > here <

The Sparrow flits across the open meadow. Alighting on the hedge he looks around, lifts his tail and recycles nature's bounty. Mad-bax, crouching behind the hedge in the hope of not being noticed, receives the benefit. You're up!


Ted

 

[a space oddity]

It's good Invention entered the scene. Maybe it's wise to hit on France somewhere in the near future though, to spark a little action in that part of the world.
How close do you think the race for Leo's is?

 

[TedJackson]

I thought that it might be best to wait until we get Cav before venturing across the oceans to pay Joanie a visit.

I'm not too worried about Leonardo's. We only started 1 turn behind, we're at max pop (all productive) and running a food deficit. If France can beat that she deserves it


Ted

 

[mad-bax]

Okey dokey. I see it, but I'm at work so I can't get it ATM. Looks like a late night tonight.

 

[mad-bax]

First of all here is the >>save<<

1030AD: Pre-turn.
All OK as I would expect... nay demand!

IBT:
Russia wants contact with Germany. I decline and she has the temerity to declare war.
Can't seem to get an MA against her either. Can't work out why.

1040AD:
Sign peace with Isabella.
Adjust slider for Economics.

IBT:
First MI - Explorer
Fifth MI - Explorer
Discover Economics, research Press in 5 turns

1050AD:
All quiet

IBT:
First Explorer - Longbow
Three cows bank - caravel
fifth - explorer - longbow

1060AD:
All Quiet

IBT:
Nothing happened

1070AD:
Start moving elites from Spain to Germany.

IBT:
First Longbow - Longbow
3 cows Caravel - palace
5th longbow - longbow

1080AD:
Boats find some more (uninhabited) land.

1090AD:
Turn down science for printing press

IBT:
Learn PP research Democracy
1st longbow - longbow
fifth longbow - longbow

1100AD:
3 cows adjusted to get palace a bit later

1110AD:
No change

IBT:
First Longbow - Longbow
Fifth Longbow - Longbow

1120AD
No news

IBT:
Carthage starts Leos

1130AD:
Nothin' to see around here.
I spent 184g investigating Paris. They are currently in anarchy, revolting to republic, so I couldn't read off how many turns 'till Leos completes. They are 3 shields over half way and once out of Anarchy can produce 20 shields per turn. We are 75% complete making 23 uncorrupted shields per turn. Happy days.

All our elites are outside Germany.

I have started to road between Spain and Germany.

Can we found a city close to Germany, gift it to Spain on the same turn so we can raze Vitoria?

BTW: All the Longbows were just for disbanding purposes. They are the most shield efficient build I think.

 

[TedJackson]

Roses are Red, Violets are Blue,
Well played mad-bax, now it's over to you...

Space You're up!


Ted

 

[a space oddity]

Got it.

I fear that I won't play tonight though. I'm very tired and I don't want to make mistakes and mess this one up.

 

[a space oddity]

goals: Totally off topic: six to be precise! Lala lalala lalala... [dance]
Try to research Free Artistry ASAP.

pre-turn:
Gracious France has Gunpowder, so does Russia. Our WM can get us a lot of money. I'll wait a bit to get some more out of them.
Russia wants to talk but no straight peace yet.
I'll need to watch the pre-build for Shake's, I'll have to slow it down a bit if nescessary. Hmm, Germany seems like a juicy bit, no deals currently running, but no real use for a leader yet either.

IT:
First Longbow -> Med Inf
Fifth Longbow -> Med Inf

Both are equally expensive bur med inf defend better. Not sure this is right though, each new unit costs us gold, not sure what I'm saving the shields for, we need money more for the imminent upgrades. I can buy Gunpowder from France for Education, 43g and 17gpt. Russia will give Gunpowder, peace, 29g and 17gpt. I'm gonna make the deals, a Wonderless period's ahead and we'll soon have Cavs to deal with any upstarts.

1140AD - turn 1:
Trade Russia Education for Peace, Gunpowder, 29g and 17gpt. (all they have, she goes polite)
Trade France Education for WM, 43g and 17gpt. (all they have)
Trade Carthage Education for WM, 16g and 7gpt. (all they have)
Trade Carthage Education for WM and Spices.
There are 6 sources of Saltpeter on our island, of which 2 within our borders.
France doesn't have Salt otheir land, Russia 2, but not connected yet.
All the extra income allows us to move the slider to (0.10.0) for Demo in 3 @ -54gpt. (418g in the Bank)
Workers move in the direction of the Salt.
Boats are fog-busting.

IT:
Carthage extorts contact with the Germans. I want their 7gpt so I give in.
We lose our supply of Dyes, Persia doen't want Horses and Incense for it anymore, ok, suit yourselves.

1150AD - turn 2:
Move the slider back a notch for Demo in 2, at -26 gpt.
More fog-busting, more going to Salt sources.
Check on diplo, all ok.

IT:
Zzzz

1160AD - turn 3:
Can't move the slider back any further, demo now due in 1.
More fog-busting, more going to Salt sources.
Sell WM to France for WM and 24g. Germany WM+6g, Carthage WM+20g+2gpt!, Russia and England are broke.

IT:
Lost our supply of Furs, tone our deal woth France down to Incense and Gems for Furs and 8gpt.
Demo comes in, start Free Artistry.
Our Ivory deal with Carthage ends, make it a straight Ivory for Silks deal.

1170AD - turn 4:
Move slider to (2.8.0) for FA in 6 at +6gpt, Palace in Three due in 7.

IT:
Zzzz

1180AD - turn 5:
Upgrade Galley to Caravel.

IT:
Zzzz

1190AD - turn 6:
Salt connected, switch 1st and 5th to Muskets.
Move slider back for a healthier +23gpt and still FA in 4.
France suddenly has a lot of money, probably researched something we already knew, and sold it to Russia.
England is lagging. The German and Spain contact has changed hands too.
4th can go off the starving diet and will still get Smith's in 5.

IT:
2nd completes Leo's -> Musket.
Isabella sends a settler out.

1200AD - turn 7:
Diplo check OK, sell WM around.

IT:
Zzz

1210AD - turn 8:
More fog-busting.
FA due in 2 turns.

IT:
Spanian pair sneak through the deliberate hole.
1st Musket -> Musket
5th Musket -> Musket

1220AD - turn 9:
More fog-busting and map-selling.

IT:
FA comes in, start Chemistry.
2nd Musket -> Bank.

1230AD - turn 10:
I'm switching 4th to Shake's (@massive loss of shields: 180) and 3 Cows to Smith's, it's turn to go on starvation diet, should be ready in 14 turns. This should resolve our problems wth 4th.
Some longbows are on their way to give up their lives for construction of a Bank.

Our source of Salt:

------>the save

 

[TedJackson]

Steady going Space

The light rests briefly on an empty chair, then swings to reveal Yndy. You're up!


Ted

 

[Yndy]

Was Karasu skipped or something? I saw the game this morning but I thought it was his empty chair. Anyway I got it.

 

[a space oddity]

Karasu is on holiday until Dec 9th. It was his empty chair alright. (Keep it up Ted, I the switch over statements.)

 

[TedJackson]

Just trying to improve my creative writing

And, no I don't have them prepared in advance


Ted

 

[Yndy]

Pre-turn.

All 60 of our citizens are happy. I've never seen that before. 8-|

Culture 20k current targets:
1st Attempt - 2099AD (turn 589)
2nd Minute - 2166AD (turn 656) <- problem here
3 Cows - 2154AD (turn 644) <- problem here
4th Horseman - 2135AD (turn 625) <- problem here but Shakespeare due in 1
5th Wheel - 2095AD (turn 585)

Change tech rate to 100%. Going for Newton's on full power. Sell France Astronomy for 96 gpt, 30g and World Map. I'd like to attack Carthage but we can't do that during my turn due to ongoing trades.

Send troops to Second Minute to disband and hurry bank. What's the catch with the explorers? Is there anything preventing us to attack Germany? Kill two spears and raze Stuttgart.

1240AD (1) Shakespeare's built in Fourth Horseman -> Bank. Disband troops there. Also disband troops in Second Minute. Kill some German troops but no leader yet.

1250AD (2) First and Fourth build Muskets and change to Catapult (I disbanded most of the defending troops last turn); SEcond Minute changes to Palace due in 13 (on starvation as well) -> 13 turns to Newton is a little ambitious but we can slow it down later.

Kill 2 German units with elites.

1255AD (3) Catapults built, building last two of those. Elite Gallic retreats to Reg Spear. Elite Horse dies to now Vet Spear. Vet horse retreats, Elite* Horse dies to the now Elite spear. Another Elite Horse kills him finally. Munich is razed.

1260AD (4) Catapults built change to Explorers (I now understand perfectly their role ) Cannot drop research towards Chemistry with even 10%. It's due in 1 turn.

1265AD (5) England makes unreasonable demands and I reject. Fourth Horseman builds Bank. Change to Caravel. Keep building
explorers in the other cities. I don't know why but we missed a turn on the palace pre-build in Second Minute. Anyay take the city out of the diet for a while. Physics is now due in 6 at 100%.

Kill German Archer. We can make peace but I'd rather wait and see if they have any more units.

1270AD (6) Sell Music Theory around for 30gold. Change Explorers to Muskets as shileds from 1 Musket are three times the shields from an explorer at same upkeep.

1275AD (7) Nothing much. Buy Chivalry from Carthage for Astronomy. Sending troops for upgrades. Change builds to Knights.

1280AD (8) Make peace with Germans.

1285AD (9) Move troops. Make upgrades.

1290AD (10) Upgrade more troops. Remove all GoTo orders. Russia just got Printing Press. Decrease tech to 40%, Physics still due in 1. I decrease the shield output of Second Minute but it still might be too much. I left two Caravels active.

They were originally fortified and my plan was to attack the other continent. But should we go after Russia or Carthage? That's up to you guys.

Fourth 20K now due in 2079AD, Second and Three still lagging but about to build wonders. I'd still recommend max research after Theory of Gravity towards Industrialization and The Suffrage. Save is here

 

[TedJackson]

Good going Yndy

With a bang and a puff of smoke the roster demon appears and, leering horribly, chooses Northern Pike as his next victim. You're up!


Ted