[BTS] Unrestricted Deity (De Gaulle of Persia)

[Snowbird]

It has been a while since I seriously played Civ4, so it probably won't end gloriously. At very least I can recall basics (scouting and early barb protection are likely cause some problems).
Settings are no huts, no events, unrestricted leaders, fractal, normal speed.

It is not the best combination as leader and civ do not give each other anything too specific, but should do.

Start:

Spoiler :

I think moving scout NW as there are lots of unforested tiles and I likely move settler to plain hill 1E. Alternatively could move SE to check 1SE1E of the scout.
Alternatively could move settler to grab second corn and not worry about AH, scout would not reveal much in such case

scout move:

Spoiler :

I don't think it changes my mind about settling... I am inclined to go for PH (earlier worker, earlier warrior, hopefully finding some horses and some neighbours).

 

[Tobiyogi]

It IS a strong combination! In my randomly rolled "unrestricted" games, I usually end up with Mao from Russia or Ashoka from Germany

 

[Snowbird]

I would say it is strong components... Strong combo, IMHO, is something like organzide leader with sumeria (Zara for example)...

So I went for plainhills, teching AH>Wheel, I was seriously worried about barbs from tundra regions although I ended fighting one wolf and one archer....

Spoiler :

Lots of AI units running around.

I met Alex of Portugal on like turn 5 rather quickly followed with Boudica of Spain, not so quickly by Pacal of Dutch and Surry of Holy Rome.
Given espionage balance there should be someone else (Boudica and Pacal show less than 4 espionage points on known civs). Probably behind Spain/Dutch.

There is possible barb city for taking (if he survives after until after war). It also nicely aided with fogbusting effort.

Spoiler :

I squeezed one immortal before BW and send to investigate roads between Alex cities (looks like he has no love for monuments/mysticism)
Situation on T48:

Spoiler :

Figured that at worst I take Oporto (and a barb city). Luckily (with some help of barbarian activity) I managed to pillage iron mine. Worker east of Opporto and ex-settler (who was in Oporto) roaded towards Persepolis.
I also switched from Pottery to mysticism as Opporto has really good tiles in second ring

I did my best to disconnecting Guimarres by road pillaging and finally took it by loosing 4 immortals. Lisbon is also on hill and culturally advanced (also formation spear hangs around it).... Since I do not have active attack force I called peace.
Alex speaks of his mighty archers, so in my understanding he cannot build more metal units at the moment (formation spear was alive and escorting settler last time I saw it).

There is some possibility to smash into Boudica (border visible on very NE of known lands). She talks of mighty chariots, has just 4 cities and I traded her spare gems... she also opened borders for scouting...
Alex... Evora does not seem to have any food (went around that city just before signing peace), Lisbon very heavily forested and on hill.

Some pics for illustration...

Spoiler :

Spoiler :

Overall, looks like easy map (close horse surely helps). So, I most likely will finish without heavy write-up.

P.S. Wonders seem to go very slowly, I think Oracle is still not built. (Surry built stonehenge and someone unknown TGW).

 

[Tobiyogi]

Yeah, that's true, it's not really synergetic, but only little of the "normal" Leader/Civ-combinations have good synergies. There is always something wrong. I would rather play Hammurabi of Sumeria and Gilgamesh of Babylon for instance. In an unrestricted game, the chance for good synergy is higher, I would reckon.

 

[Tobiyogi]

Here is a WB file for those who want to play along. I also will, using the Bat Mod.

 

[Snowbird]

T67... I got some gems... Will get once Madrid comes out of revolt.

Spoiler :

Spoiler :

Apparently I was so busy beating crap of AI, that Alex settled iron which was in my initial big cross. At very least he did not settle on the iron.
I think mega plan is to evacuate immortals southwards and pay Alex a second visit (Lagos is a nice city and I need gold to finish Alpha). I think Alpha is correct tech choice (most of The Ai's are poor techers, allows to build research).

Alternatively, I guess Aesthetics into marble wonders is cute, but I am not far from being negative at zero slider (need to find worker force to improve gold in Opporto).
Guimarres is working on library and hopefully will produce GScientist at reasonable time.

I seriously wish the game was on epic/marathon instead of normal speed. AI's having like whole belt of cities without (visible) resources is mega annoying (Cordoba, Toledo, Evora).

P.S. Boudica has a stack of 2 chariots and 3 archers which mills around disconected city of Toledo.

Also met Tokugawa of Khmer who lives in deep north.

 

[Snowbird]

T81

Spoiler :

Attacked Alex again... Took Lagos, Braga (passable cities with riverside/shared food) and Lisbon. Signed peace for IW. It's a pity I could not beat HBR out of him.
I do0n't have real trades (Alex and Boudica hates me, Toku just does not trade and the other two have Alpha). Going for Aesthetics would have been better.

I guess proper thing would be to build some swords keep Cordoba for blocking and burn rest of Portugal and Spain (maybe gift the most northern city to Tokugawa). For diplo going with Surry has to be right option (he has like 9 cities and I have not seen his borders yet).

With all the gems, gold this is getting somewhat stupid so I probably won't bother to continue. Although I would say it was somewhat fun.