VQ07 - Snakes on Pangea!!

[Cosmichail]

Updated Roster

Bobrath <-- just played --> More culture on the way we are buddhist now
GreyFox <-- just played--> accomplished in setting up war
CosmicHail <-- just played --> Got my wish we are war with two civs
Armstrong <-- UP --> His favorite past time mowing down civs
Eektor <-- on deck--> Armstrong will probably finish before he gets to war
Maquis <-- --> Good to have you back to play

 

[armstrong]

Phew!

Just posted to my other SG's, this is a got it. I'm going to take a peek at the save and post some comments/questions before playing, which won't be until tomorrow night.

 

[bobrath]

Me thick on the snakes but if I understand it correctly we can only take Guangzhou but not Xian. There is a city beside Xian so that could be a new snake nest pas?

If Rostov is snake’s head then couldn’t Xian be an extension of that snake which ends at Moscow. If Shanghai is snakes head it ends at Beijing??

Just to state it as clearly as I can:
We can capture any city we wish.
If we *found* a new city, it must be adjacent to a snake head and it becomes the new head.

Ghandi wants to trade Compass for CS refuse. Revolt to bureaucracy. (why does every hate Ghandi)

Its not that I hate him, but keeping him bottled up is nearly as good as taking him out.

I gift some sugar to Toku to get it from annoyed. (in hindsight it was a bad decision and we should cancel it.) He is the founder of Buddhism and the only Buddhist so I am not sure about staying with Buddhism either. It’s good now with most cities Buddhist but I would prefer either hatty’s but she won’t be able to get missionaries to us since Toku is blocking her. Do I smell the need to take him out soon too even before Ghandi since I find he really isn't teching that quickly right now but could move along once he gets CS which he does not have.

Odd that Freedy founded Christianity and then switched to it away from buddhism. That certainly dropped the desirability of buddhism in my eyes. Even worse (imo) is that Tok is our brother in the faith but he's not doing squat about the attack on us. I assume he has redded out any attack (or cutting trading) with Nappy?

EDIT: Also I don't know but should have looked but did we revolt to HR at any point. Maquis says he didn't and I didn't so I hope Greyfox did otherwise we should revolt to that next. Silly me I didn't even look and could have put bureaucracy/HR together in one revolt.

I did (even before Greyfox had a chance to disparage me for not doing it!)

 

[Cosmichail]

Thanks Bobrath,

I know you probably think I am "duh" on the snakes but I have that left brain/right brain crap and get confused by it. But that statement does make it clear and will inprint it on my forehead.

As to Ghandi I like the little bugger because he grows like a weed, never has any defences and makes a nice addition to your empire. He only annoys me when he starts getting ahead tech wise then it's time for the army.

As to buddhism I felt I should convert as per suggestions but then I contacted Freddy and looked around and Toku is the only one and went DOH. Mao is though too but big deal he will be wiped out soon silly Mao.

Phew I glad you did because I hate overlooking things like that, no sense having extra anarchy for nothing.

 

[bobrath]

No worries, I got headaches trying to figure this variant out initially too.

Not sure what the best religion is right now. I'd think we stay buddhist, if only to keep Tok from piling on. IF we do switch out, I'd like to go with Confused - keep Hatty happy with us, she's the gorilla in the room.

 

[eektor]

Hmm, the religion thing sure changed a lot when I last played. Almost everyone was buddhist back then.

I think we definitely should change religion. I think Hatty would be a good ally to have and possible Freddy. I would try to pick two between them and Nappy who have the best relationship with each other and then try to strenghten our relationship with those two. I think we can wait to change our religion when we start the war with Toku and try to get the two people we are trying to strengthen our relationship to declare war as well.

 

[armstrong]

After looking at the save I noticed a few things we could do...

1. Gandhi has 800 gold for trade... we want that. Since we've already broken our Philosophy & Paper monopolies, let's trade 'em around Optics & Music and Gandhi's gold.

2. With our current army, we can take Mao's last 3 cities. All are very good in the short term.

3. We can use the artist to culture bomb Guang when we take it, and maybe flip Kagoshima (which is also a good city) or we could use it to found Islam. I don't think founding a religion is a big deal because we'll have Gandhi's cities soon.

4. With Gandhi's money, we can research Education -> Liberalism -> Nationalism (free) -> Gunpowder -> Military Tradition and take over Gandhi's lands with Cavalry. That'd give us enough land for a space victory, but we could also take some lands & Buddhist shrine from Toku, too, and go for domination. With Hatty confused, a diplo victory might be possible too if we got the others (Nappy & Toku) on our side.

 

[bobrath]

4. With Gandhi's money, we can research Education -> Liberalism -> Nationalism (free) -> Gunpowder -> Military Tradition and take over Gandhi's lands with Cavalry.

You mean Cossaks right?

 

[armstrong]

You mean Cossaks right?

I forgot we're Russian. Heh, why didn't we beeline for MT?

 

[Cosmichail]

I like getting to liberalism too and then off course MT for the dreaded cossacks my favorite. I hope I wasn't hasty in trading but getting theology seemed real good for XP and AI usually goes for Nationalism I find. I did start on Education with Liberalism in mind. Being at war with two civs (although a couple of weaklings) the XP will help lots but will limit any spread to us if Hatty's trying. I do like going with the confused but we don't have any yet just one is Taoist. That Toku guys really gets my goat letting Nappy in his lands to attack us. That's treason in my books and he needs a good lesson in protocol.

 

[GreyFox]

WHy bother with religions unless we are making use of it?

I say kill everyone. KILL. The snakes gobble up everything in sight. Its our nature. There would be no survivors.

--

 

[armstrong]

Okay, things are looking good. Here's my "manual-log":

Pre Turn

No one's built the Colossus yet. Let's build it. St. Pete has a forge, so it's gets the call. Work the plains hill mine. We can chop the forest on the hill for it - we won't need the +1 health, so no need to keep that forest around.

We're building lots of military units, but I don't think we need to. We'll get Cossacks soon enough, we just need enough to scare Nappy away and finish off Mao. I switch Moscow around to more commerce for faster Liberalism.

Novgorod is building a forge, but it doesn't really need one except to help with later whips. I switch to a market.

Grr. Rostov can't work a town due to stupid Mao's warrior. I destroy him. I'm debating upgrading the CR3 sword here to a macer.

Rostov unhires engineer and works the newly liberated suburb.

Make some trades while I ponder the massively promoted swordsman's fate... also, I rename him: GreyFox.

He needs 4 xp to get to 17/17. I'll keep him as a sword for now and try to get that against Mao.

Trade Philosophy+Paper to Gandhi for 800 gold (!), Music (needed for Cossacks), and his map.

Research to 100%, Liberalism in 17 turns if we can raze a city of Mao's.

I send the Artist along with the macer-cat stack to Guangzhou. If we bomb it, we get a good city with 2 dye plantations right away and might flip Toku's city, which is also a good city.

Actually, GreyFox isn't going to hit 17 before Mao is over, so I do upgrade him, and rename him Eektor.

Shanghai was working a plains farm instead of a wine tile...

We have a state religion but are still running Paganism? I'll revolt to OR for help building Taj when Lib comes in, and to build the Colossus. Switch Rostov to a Buddhist Mish.

Trade extra wine to Fred for 4 gpt, hoping he'll soften up a bit and trade Optics to us for Paper/Philodoughsy.

Send a Macer ahead of the cats to scout Guangzhou.

Mao has a spear on forest hill by Beijing - even a macer only has 79% odds, I'll let him move first.

Finally... press enter.

Turn 1: 1210 AD

ARGH! I see what you mean about Toku. Nappy has an axe & cat in Toku's lands we can't attack...

Eektor stands pat to protect the cottages.

A worker is ordered north to chop lumber for a big statue. Another goes to build mines in Beijing.

Our fearless lead Macer... umm... Maquis... I mean, Marquis Maquis le Medic, scouts Guangzhou. Three lonely archers.

Another Macer... Bobrath... perfectly kills Mao's raiding spearman.

There we go, Fred will trade Optics now. Trade Philo for it and all his gold (ten.)

Turn 2: 1220 AD

Mao a catapult in Guang. Maquis & Bobrath move in for the kill while the kittens wait to bombard defenses down. An anonymous Macer (Cosmichail) moves towards the next city.

I don't understand this "chain farm" sign.

Turn 3: 1230 AD

Moscow finishes Mace -> Market

Shanghai finishes Forge -> Market

Bobrath kills Mao's archer guarding his precious sugar, just to watch him die...

Cats bombard Guang.

An anonymous Macer (now known as Cosmichail) kills an archer in the city.

Beijing has too much food and is unhappy already. I it's mace. 60 hammers for 1 pop, I like those numbers It queues up... barracks to build HE.

Thespis moves into position...

Turn 4: 1240 AD

Gandhi offers us Open Borders... why not? We need as many trade routes as we can get with the GL.

He also has 4 gpt to sell. I give him our horses for it temporalily. We absolutely must cancel this once we get Military Tradition, but, for now, we want him building all the horse units he can so our cossacks can slaughter 'em.

Ack, misclick! I accidentally gave him Horses. Fortunately, I had just saved.

Okay, that's better.

An unnamed Macer is renamed "Armstrong."

Two cats bombard Guangzhou. Another promotes to CR1 and attacks the city... and loses... but withdraws Once more into the breach, mon chat! He wins at 67%. The Maces clean up - with Armstrong delivering the final blow. Bobrath kills a stray Mao archer as well, despite being hurt and fighting in the jungle, and gains a second stripe.

Mao is sending out a cat+sword stack (this guy has a lot of units for 3 cities!) but we have two maces ready for it. Make that 3. We sure have a lot of macers... might as well hit a gandhi city after this


Turn 5: 1250 AD

GreyFox dies to a swordsman at 88% odds... wait, I sent the wrong mace in, GreyFox actually avenges the death of an unnamed mace!

Thespis creates an insidious tune... something about barbies... that takes the north bay by storm.

Argh, there's a French catapult in the middle of our territory! Where'd he come from!

And two more swords, two. Jeez, nappy has a lot of troops to send... not really, but this steady stream of pillagers is annoying. At least he doesn't have OB with Fred, so he can't send his navy.

We lose a spear to protect our missionary and workers.

TUrn 6: 1260 AD

Beijing finishes Barracks -> Heroic Epic.

Mao upgrades his chariots to HA's. Blech.

Tokugawa declares on Fred!! That's wonderful - the top civs (outside of us & hatty) at war, and it means toku can't be bribed against us.

Shanghai spear kills Mao's HA.

Turn 7: 1270 AD

Tokugawa demands we stop trading with Fred - no dice, Toku. Maybe if you gave us some trade routes...

Greyfox clubs a pillaging HA.

Maquis & Armstrong storm Shanghai, capturing it.

Eektor kills a Nappy sword.

Turn 8: 1280 AD

Education comes in, start on Liberalism - due in 6 turns @ 100% research, which we have the money for thanks to Gandhi.

Fred asks us to declare on Toku. Sorry bro, two wars is enough.

Rostov finishes X-Bow -> University.

Poprush Colossus.

Gandhi founds Islam in Bombay. Sweet, another shrine for us It's the Jewish holy city, too.

Hatty will declare on Toku for Education... hmm... I very tempted... but I'll let the group decide.

Our attack force heals a turn, while an unnamed macer ("Cobra Commander") brings two cats to the next Chinese city.

Turn 9: 1290 AD

Colossus is completed. Woo! We're water snakes.

http://www.fcps.edu/StratfordLandingES/Ecology/mpages/northern_water_snake.htm

Turn 10: 1300 AD

Tokugawa demands Literature. We already have -6 from refusing his demands (what a freakin' jerk, that's 3 demands he's made in 4 turns!) so no way.

Fred demands we switch to Christianity. Sorry bud. How many times do I have to say "no" this turnset?

Cobra Commander takes Xian. It, like Beijing, is a great production city with 2 banana plants and lots of hills. It's 1 from the coast, but that won't matter. I suggest we put IW in this city. Between it and Beijing we shouldn't need to build anything but infrastructure in our other cities.

Our Empire:

Should we pull the trigger?

 

[Cosmichail]

I'll revolt to OR for help building Taj when Lib comes in, and to build the Colossus. Switch Rostov to a Buddhist Mish.

I mentioned at the end of my turn I didn't revolt to theocracy as I wasn't sure if we wanted to do that or OR and that's why it was that way. Good job again as usual and being on Prince maybe we could risk letting Hatty getting Education for War.

Updated Roster

Bobrath <-- --> More culture on the way we are buddhist now
GreyFox <-- --> accomplished in setting up war
CosmicHail <-- just played --> Got my wish we are war with two civs
Armstrong <-- just played --> His favorite past time mowing down civs
Eektor <-- UP--> Still some warring to do
Maquis <--on deck --> Good to have you back to play

 

[GreyFox]

Having fun, eh, armstrong?

Actually, GreyFox isn't going to hit 17 before Mao is over, so I do upgrade him, and rename him Eektor.

...

GreyFox dies to a swordsman at 88% odds... wait, I sent the wrong mace in, GreyFox actually avenges the death of an unnamed mace!

hmmm ... I thought there is no more "Greyfox"???

I don't understand this "chain farm" sign.

The sign should be deleted ... I initially thought that we could chain farm from the wheat, but I was mistaken.

Pull the trigger, I say ... keep toku occupied while we concentrate on gobbling up the remaining Chinese city. Hmmm ... but Hatty is still the score leader.

After eliminating Mao, we should swiftly take out the two closest Japanese cities. Beijing should build the Forbidden Palace as well.

Gandhi is where our next nest shall be.

--

 

[Cosmichail]

Corrected Roster

Bobrath <-- on deck --> More culture on the way we are buddhist now
GreyFox <-- --> accomplished in setting up war
CosmicHail <-- just played --> Got my wish we are war with two civs
Armstrong <-- just played --> His favorite past time mowing down civs
Eektor <-- OOP until July 29--> Missing the snakey business
Maquis <--UP --> Lots of warring in the Snakey gobble away

Again I overlooked Eektor is OOP unitil July 29th so here is the right roster.....

 

[Cosmichail]

Well we haven't heard much from Maquis. Should we consider a skip if we don't hear from him by tonight. If he is a skip that would make Bobrath up.

 

[bobrath]

Maquis is on the clock

 

[Maquis]

Sorry guys, didn't see/realize I was up (I missed that eektor was still OOP!)

I'll be playing this tonight.

 

[Cosmichail]

My mistake too Maquis I didn't notice Eektor's OOP. I jumped the gun on the skip as after I posted I noticed you in another thread so sorry about that. It had been quiet in the thread so I wondered if your cable was ok. Mine drops out once in a blue moon, (always when I need it the most which is always).

 

[Maquis]

I'd say a pretty sucessful turnset...

First off, I decide not to trade Education to Hatty right away, I just want to be 100% sure we get liberalism first.

Turn 4: Why, yes... we are first!

As planned, I choose Nationalism as the free tech.

I then choose MT as the next tech, due in 10 turns @60% research.

Start Taj Mahal in Beijing. Should be done in 20 turns (More on this later)

Now, Hatty won't take only Education to declare on Japan... she wants Nationalism also... I think that's a BIT much... so no go.

Turn 5: Our stacks have arrived at Ainu. Cats commence bombardment.

[Turn 6: [/b] Attack on Ainu commences. We lose one suicide cat, and the second suicide cat actually wins! Time to send in the elite troops.

Maquis the Medic gets a tates of blood, killing an archer.

GreyFox obliterates a catapult.

Armstrong deals a final blow to the last (redlined) Archer...

The city is kept... the fishes to the south are nice.


Ok...


Wait for it....

The snake has eaten its first prey.


The rest of the turnset I focused on a little infrastructure. Wiping out Mao helped the unhappiness that was creeping up. Cities are looking better.


Here's my thought on techs... MT is due in 6 turns, and we can research gunpowder next, in 7 turns. (at current research rate) So in ~13 turns, we can start building Cossaks.

We should be able to time the completion of Taj Majal. Use the GA for building our Cossak army to take down Gahndi, Tokagowa, or whomever else we like.


Here's the save: