First of all, thanks KCD for this fun game. The Easter eggs added enough of a twist to make the game a welcomed change of pace. However, Im not a fan of huts since luck of the draw may give one player a juicy tech while another gets a horde of angry barbs
makes comparing games/strategies a bit harder.
Goal:
Space Cow I realize that by going for both awards at the same time, I wasnt able to optimize either one very well. For example, rather than running a bunch of Representation-enhanced scientists, I opted to work coastal squares to keep my cities growing. As a result, I only spawned 8 GPs (plus the free Music GA, Physics GS and Fission GE), which is far from optimal in a true Space game. However, these are the last two awards I need to complete the Warlords eptathlete and I would love to get them both at the same time to wrap it up sooner.
I settled 1N on the plains hill for the extra production and the quicker worker. My initial tech path was Fishing -> BW.
I wasnt sure exactly when to build a workboat and when to finish the worker, but I finally settled on warrior -> WB -> worker. I was afraid that if I finished a worker first (my typical opening), he would run out of things to do other than build roads. The timing of this seemed to work out well as I was able to time the completion of the warrior with the completion of Fishing so that I could start on the workboat right away. Plus, I had an early second warrior to go out and start collecting Easter eggs (and huts)!!
Every time I saw a hut, I would tremble with excitement to see what I would get (Im not used to playing with huts
). I wasnt terribly lucky but I cant complain at all. I got Masonry (T13), map (T26), experience (T28) and barbs (T??).
After BW, I couldnt decide between Hunting -> AH or Agriculture -> AH. I typically go for Agriculture, but in this case, I went for Hunting because I hadnt found any Agriculture resources yet and had seen two Deer resources up north. Plus, Hunting is a cheaper tech and I wanted to get something juicy from the Oracle. Based on past experience on this level, I felt that an Oracle date of 900 BC should be quite safe.
After my first workboat, my build queue went worker -> workboat #2 -> settler (T35). This is quite a late first city, but I wanted to get my capital humming with Fish, Clams and Sheep. So, city #2 may have been late but I was hoping that cities #3, #4 and #5 would be faster.
With so many good coastal locations, the Great Lighthouse seemed like a no brainer. I felt that I could safely put it off until 500 BC and still have a good chance of getting it, but I decided not to take any risks with it since I felt that it was a make-or-break wonder on this map and would allow nearly unlimited REX.
City #2 was settled by the two marble tiles with Fish and Clams in the BFC as well as a shared Clam with the capital. This city would have plenty of production and lots of food. My build queue there went lighthouse (whipped into GLH) -> granary (whipped into GLH) -> galley (whipped into GLH) -> Great Lighthouse in 1080 BC (T73).
After my first settler, my capital build queue was workboat (for exploring) -> warrior -> worker #2 -> workboat (part exploring and then fish nets for city #2 once the capitals borders expanded) -> settler #3 (T55). City #3 was settled up north with the closest deer in the inner ring and several forests that could be chopped into the Oracle.
After AH, my tech path went Masonry (hut) -> Sailing -> Pottery -> Writing -> Math -> Mysticism -> Polytheism (more expensive than Mediation but it opens up Literature) -> Priesthood -> CoL -> CS (from Oracle in city #3 on T81 850 BC). Oracle in 850 BC is quite late. Im not sure if I got lucky here or not. Ill be interested to see if anyone else loses the Oracle prior to this date
Confucianism, Bureaucracy, Oracle and GLH by 850 BC. Its now time to REX like mad in order to fill up our starting continent plus any nearby islands that are reachable by galley.
By 1 AD, I have 9 cities (31 pops) plus 3 more settlers already completed. Confucianism has been spread to 8 of my 9 cities. I finished the Great Library in the capital in 425 BC. Im getting 143
sustainable at 60% and 229
and -59
at 100% with 252 gold in the bank. I know all ancient techs plus HBR, Alphabet, Literature, Music, IW, Monarchy, Construction, Currency, CoL, CS, Paper and 25% of Education. Ive circumnavigated (700 BC) and met all 7 AI. I have one GS (525 BC academy) and the GArt from Music. Ive built 9 granaries, 5 libraries plus one under construction and 3 lighthouses.
I recently found the Easter egg island to the east. Ive connected ivory and Ive got 5 barracks under construction. My plan is to take out Navajo on said island with cats and elephants. Well see how that goes
maybe not so well based on kenwyn's comment above.
I see that Jastrow is going for space as well. Surprise, surprise!
I wonder if I can get into his slip stream and slingshot past him on the way to Alpha Centauri... more than likely his slip steam will be more like a gentle warm breeze before I put the first hammer into Apollo!
