2019-02-28 (c) Copyright Brett Paufler # # # China: Do or Die # # # One Time Through: Do or Die # # # Map Seed Settings Qin Shi Huang of China Five Teams (so, four opponents) Map: Tetonics Size: Small Era: Ancient Speed: Marathon Landmass: 30% Water Aridity: Normal No Technology Brokering Permanent Alliances No Tribal Villages No Random Events All Victories # # # Rules 1) I can reroll the seed as many times as I want 2) No restarts or mulligans for any reason... except accidentally hitting the end turn button. I do that way too often, especially in the early game when it really hurts, when what I intend to do is found a city. # # # Ideas So, not so much rules, as ideas. 1) I want to have way fewer cities this game... like nine. So, if I double spaced last game, I'm thinking about triple spacing this game. 2) I want to use the Unique Unit, that is why I am playing China. 3) I am playing with Permanent Alliances, I want one. I can't think of any other ideas. For the most, this is a filler game (or maybe to be played concurrently) with Rhye and Fall (in which I am playing Maya). But I don't know the rules, don't feel like reading the rules, and want to play. So, here I am. # # # Generalized Strategy for Qin Shi Huang of China Industrious Qin is a Wonder Builder. Good thing I looked. I was specifically thinking about ignoring a lot of the wonders this game. Also, Forges should be prioritized. Protective Can build Walls and Castles easier. I don't want Walls... or don't think I do. And Castles are meaningful for only a very limited time (pre Economics) giving a +25% Espionage Bonus. And that's of limited value to me. On the plus side (due to the Protective trait, so we are still on that), all Archery and Gunpowder Units get free City Garrison I and Drill I Promotions, which means prioritizing both is a no-brainer... if perhaps, a non-optimum strategy. But truthfully, I don't know. I can see researching Archery early and producing those exclusively until I get to Machinery and my Cho-Ko-Nu: my mid game unit of choice. Though, I may need a few Pikes in there to defend against Cavalry. Starting Techs Agriculture Mining OK. So, I'm not going for an early religion... maybe take one over, but not found. Other than that (and since Animal Husbandry won't take me too far out of my way), I'll be looking for a Land Locked start, founding my Port City later. The Seed is not looking rich enough to me. Yes, I should work out some sort of penalty for rerolls. But then, maybe the game should be giving even starts and not make rerolls so enticing. The Pavilion: China's Unique Building Gives +25% Culture. I may, actually, be going for a Cultural Victory this game. So, that could come in handy. But it's not an early priority to build, so it will not dictate my research direction. On the other hand, since it's hard to beat a Monk Economy and both The Parthenon and The Sistine Chapel are close by on the Tech Tree, I may get it early. Also, with all the defensive bonuses, maybe I'll decide to play turtle and hit that End Turn button early and often on my way to a Cultural Win. Outside of remembering to build Forges (Important Buildings, which will come early on my way to Metal Casting for the dreaded Cho-Ko-Nus), I think infrastructure should be whatever works best: Temples if I nail the Monk Economy Barracks for War Granary for The Whip, which I'd like to avoid And the usual favourites. # # # And that's a wrap on the Pre Game Strategy. Let's roll the start, because the Seed is not good enough as it stands. Oh, and I have dice to keep track of the rolls. More importantly, the Seed will count as 1 and I'll add from there. # # # Stop here, if you don't want to know the results of the Map Regeneration Rolls. # # # R01: 1 sheep, not even close R02: 1 sheep, 1 corn, inland lake is not appealing, and I don't even count the 2 silk, hill would be nice on defence, but I do not want to be defending R03: not worthy of a comment R04: (have I already lost track), this is the first seaside start, it's so-so with a bunch of hills, but I've already decided I want my capitol to be inland, this could be a nice second city location... or third or fourth R05: two dry corn, with hills... and forest galore, tempting, maybe with another resource, well probably definitely with another resource, a cow would be nice, as would it be if the corn were wet (by the river), presumably, giving me a commerce boost R06: a single sheep, tons of hills, not enough food to work them R07: 2 sheep is worlds better than the two corn, but without knowing what is north, I am unsure I will have enough food to work the hills. I'm going to have to pass. R08: seaside, wheat with a crab, it looks like I'll be getting a hilly start, which is good, but I need the food to work those hills or they will do me no good whatsoever R09: not even close R10: marble, cow, sheep, which is enough at this point, but no hills, I am still going to pass, but sit and rest a spell, reading a chapter (or short section, actually) in a book prior to returning and rolling again T11: seashore, pass T12: a seashore, but I might keep it, 2 fish, corn, and pigs on a hill, it has four usable resources, lots of food, and 5 forested hills, a hill in the city tile would be nice, but one can't have everything, that's 4 five food tiles, and a crab worth 4 food that I didn't see before, I can't see passing this up # # # Stop here if you don't want any game results. # # # 2019-02-29 4000BC T0 I took the twelfth roll with three seafood resources, settling in place, and calling my capitol Drift Wood. I'm going to Research Hunting, as that will give me the most options: Animal Husbandry or Archery... or switching to Fishing. I don't, really, know what I am going to do next. # # # I forgot I was on Marathon Speed. Um, I have no conception of time, all of a sudden. # # # Aztec and Ottoman both came from the South-East. # # # 2019-02-28 2695AD T87 I have met all of my opponents, now: Aztec Ottoman Spanish Byzantine The Spanish and Aztecs lead (in theory, anyway). But have different religions. Um, Yippie! {As it turns out, Monty crushed Isabella early on. And it is likely (totally likely) due to their conflicting religions.} # # # 2019-02-28 590BC T291 I decided to Turtle Up, maybe a hundred turns back. Well, about the same time I started building The Great Wall, which was completed in 1410BC. The map feels spread out with little pressure... the most pressure coming from the Barbarians, which were storming my gates. I fought them off. Those upgraded Archers are nice. But I'm not going to attack anyone for ages, so Turtle Up. Montezuma has twice the power of everybody else. And I am at the low end of the pack. But Isabella is straggling. And Montezuma hates her. So, I think that is the first war. I founded Confucianism a few turns ago. But I am going to hold off on Converting... maybe for a long while. In the meantime, I have built three of the four Wonders completed {in the World}. No one else is Industrious, so no one else is likely to prioritize Wonders, so I should clean up. I, already, lost Stonehenge. And in fact, Stonehenge was completed before I even started thinking about Wonders. And even though I don't have Stone or Marble yet, things are looking good Wonder wise. Perhaps, most interesting is my decision not to Whip this game. I mean, it is not hard and fast. But I have not Whipped, yet. And I just revolted into Caste System. And now that I think about it, I will be getting a Great Spy (most likely) in eight turns. And I should have used him for a Golden Age to save me the three turns of Anarchy {that I just lost converting to Caste System}. Oh, well. Machinery is about sixty turns out, which means I should be able to start building Cho-Ko-Nus around 1AD. I wonder if I will. Well, I will build some, because I need to keep Monty off my back. So, I guess what I mean is will I build enough to launch a war... and then, having built them, will I launch a war. Things are looking very promising. # # # 2019-03-01 250BC T325 Montezuma demanded tribute of a Crab, which is a small price to pay for ten turns of peace... at which time, I can cancel the deal. Also, not having to give him a free Technology is a good reason not to research Alphabet. My power is half Justinian's and even less than that when compared to Monty. And still {despite the danger}, I build infrastructure. I will build more Archers after I build a Barracks in Clam Bluff. I need another troop city or two. To take over the two Barbarian Cities to the south, if nothing else. I have three of five completed Wonders with two more in construction. # # # 2019-03-01 40AD T354 So, my Cho-Ko-Nu require Iron. Who would have thought it. I should look at those requirements more closely. Anyway, I did not get easy Iron this game. The one Iron within reach (the other one is twenty tiles outside my territory towards Montezuma) lies next to a Barbarian City that I will not be powerful enough to take over until I get my Cho-Ko-Nu's. So, I will be founding a City where I would not have otherwise settled in order to claim the Iron. Fortunately, I have three Workers nearby. So, another twenty turns and Iron will be hooked up. Montezuma has triple my power. But he is attacked Isabella, who is the weakling on this map with a little more than half my power. I have (just now) decided to start trading with Montezuma. I'll get that Open Borders Bonus... in time. And I got Marble from him, which will help in my upcoming construction of The Parthenon, which I just might be racing him for. Both the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires like the Aztecs. And I do not think Isabella (Spain) is long for this world. So, no harm in becoming friends. Open Borders with the Ottoman Empire, as well. Time for a break. When I come back and the Iron is hooked up (perhaps twenty odd turns away), it will be time to crank out some Cho-Ko-Nu's and take over those two Barbarian Cities to the South... all while building Wonders in Drift Wood, the capitol. # # # 2019-03-02 645AD T429 I have traded GNP for Power. And as long as I am not attacked pretty darn soon, that will give me the game. Montezuma destroyed Isabella a few turns back, taking over her cities. I'm going to guess that a big part of Montezuma's strategy is to take over cities rather than found them. It gives him a strung-out empire... but the cities he gets turn out to be pretty good that way, as they tend to be first {capitols}, second {which is often my second strongest city}, and third cities. Isabella's Cities were not that great. I have destroyed three Barbarian Cities, taking over two. With one more Barbarian City to Raze in a few turns, as it is not where I want it. A Barbarians settled in that far away Iron Deposit. I've lost two Cho-Ko-Nuts, so far (attacking Barbs}. So, the far away Iron would not have done for my primary Iron source {as I would not have had the fire-power to kill the settled Barbarians, even if the twenty-tile distance weren't disastrous}. Meanwhile, the City I did settle for Iron is highly mediocre. Oh, this is fun. Suleiman Settled in my territory between two cities. And a few turns back that City joined my Empire. Thanks Silly Man! The Cho-Ko-Nuts will allow me to concentrate on Peaceful Techs until Gunpowder. I may not be able to wage a war in a few hundred turns. But they are good enough defenders. Besides, the map is pretty empty still. Golden Horse is where Confucianism was founded, so if I ever get a Great Prophet that will be my Shrine City... also, my Corporation City. I already built the Maori Statues there. So, Wall Street is the only other National Wonder it will get. I will be running Confucianism soon enough as my State Religion. And that will give me a whole slew of negative Diplomatic Modifiers. But I don't think it will matter. I don't think anyone is poised to attack, no matter what the Power Graph says. I have around 60% the Power as Monty and 80% of Justiana. Give it a few more turns (well, maybe not a few more turns) and my power will be equal to Justiana. Of course, Monty will be looking for a new enemy soon. Monty vs The World (his Diplomatic Rating): China: +3 Byzantine: +6 Ottoman: +1 So, Suleiman is the odds on target. He's, also, low on the power graph (but truthfully, only slightly lower than I am), so he's the likely next target. I should go explore his lands, so I am ready to strike. # # # 2019-03-02 750AD T450 Marathon is not that much slower than regular. There is more End of Turns, of course. But since I am not Whipping or Drafting, there is little need to nurse my Cities. And so, turns can go by very quickly. This is the game save from which I captured my {first} Power vs GNP images. # # # 2018-03-02 885AD T477 I started my first Golden Age immediately upon Researching Civil Service, converting to: Confucianism As State Religion Bureaucracy For the 50% in Capitol Organized Religion For 25% bonus when building Buildings, which Counts for Wonders, as well My Diplomatic situation after the Religion hit is: +1 Aztec +1 Byzantine +2 Ottoman The Byzantine might be plotting against me. I should get a few more Cho-Ko-Nuts on line... and pull in my defenders. Going into Combat Mode. # # # 2019-03-02 940AD T488 This is where I shall stop on the day. I can feel that urgency, that desire to take my turns quickly, so I achieve a race condition goal more quickly {which is counter productive, as I am moving in Real Time, while the race occurs in Game Time}. There are two races going on: 1) More troops so I don't get attacked. 2) The Northern Island is ripe for Settlement. Though, those Barbarian Cities may well be defended by Longbows at this point, which makes them a lot less enticing. My Cho-Ko-Nuts have lost a time or two against regular Archers. They don't stand a chance against Longbowmen, who are twice as strong. My Research is double and triple my foes. And since they have greater power, they have more upkeep. So, it's even better than that. Still, I need more Cho-Ko-Nuts. I'd like to get those Power Graphs even in the next hundred turns. I was doing pretty well there for a while. Lots of Barbarian Cities on this map. Once they convert to Longbows, I wonder if anyone else will be able to knock them out. Ah, it would appear that prior to establishing a State Religion, every Religion in a City provides one Culture per Turn. Good to know. For every Cho-Ko-Nut I send to fortify Copper Ewe, I should (shall) send another towards the Northern Lands. That's one serious island. I have abandoned Optics, as I think I can reach enough land without it... and don't even know if it will be required on this map. # # # 2019-03-02 1000AD T500 I'm a third of the way through {turn wise, the game ended on T625}. No one has attacked. And the stress that someone is going to attack is dissipating. Oh, and as you may have noticed, I did not quit {on the day} when I said I would. But here I shall. # # # 2019-03-02 1000AD T500 As I start the next day, I am acutely aware that the Barbarian lands are very important in this game. The island to the north, for one. But then, the two Barbarian Cities to the south, of which Monty got one and I the other. And also, the second Iron City was settled by Barbarians. It's a nice City. The Barbarians have been settling the good stuff. Anyhow, the Northern Island and the Peninsula leading to it will be my settlement sites for the near future. I just decided to not trade Suleiman for Feudalism on the fear that would push the number of players who had Feudalism high enough that the Barbarians would get Longbows, which would be very bad for me. # # # 2019-03-03 1050AD T510 Montezuma has declared war. And it will go bad for me. # # # 2019-03-03 1085AD T517 Montezume took over Kassite, my second Iron City, which I had originally had taken from the Barbarians. But then, a few turns later, I took it back over. And will have it garrisoned with five Cho-Ko-Nuts next turn. So, I think it is pretty safe. Montezuma, also, moved a stack of eight or so units up into my heartland, but they were no match for my Cho-Ko-Nuts on the offence {as they inflict Collateral Damage when attacking}. I ripped the stack apart, killing four units and weakening the rest, with no casualties on my part. The Byzantines seem intent on declaring war shortly {'We have enough on our hands right now'}. At least, I have Suleiman on my side. I bribed him two Techs for his Declaration of War on Monty... and he gave me 640 odd in Gold. Sometime in all this, I took over Illinois on the Northern Island, which might well be the best City Site on the island. {This was a piss-poor map, resource wise. I'll not be using Normal Aridity next time. I want it wetter.} I presume Monty will accept peace soon enough, but maybe not. At some point (this war or the next, as I assume any chance of forming a Permanent Alliance is now completely out of the picture), I will send a stack of ten Cho-Ko-Nuts to take over Tenochtitlan. Oh, there's a Barbarian City down south, which was tempting. But with it's one Cow and being so far off the beaten track, I don't think I will bother. Finally, Copper Ewe is the likely focus of Justinian's forthcoming attack, which I can smell on the horizon. So, it's time to fortify that city. I've got Clam Bluff cranking out a Cho-Ko-Nut (at +5 Experience after next turn), once every three turns, which means in thirty turns, I'll have twice the fighting force as I do now. It's now or never for Justinian. The clock is running out for him to launch an offensive. I'm lucky the Aztec offensive was so ineffectual. But then, Monty split his stack... perhaps, three ways. Hey! This is good news. Even though I did enough fighting with Monty to get a Great General, I only have 22 War Weariness with him, as so much of the fighting took place on my own soil. # # # 2019-03-03 1155AD T531 The war with Montezuma is now over. I did not permanently lose any cities. Though, Monty did captured two cities that I soon recaptured. It was annoying... a little. But I progressed in time {Tech and Wonder wise}. So in time, Montezuma is going to get destroyed, because he simply is not keeping up with the times Technology Wise. I will Settle a smaller island south of the peninsula, as it has Two Fish. When two fish becomes a Mid-Range City, you know the map is resource poor. # # # 2019-03-03 1215AD T543 Suleiman requested that I declare war on Montezuma... and I had to think about it. I was, originally, thinking I would attack Suleiman next. But then, I figured the +1 Diplomatic Bonus with the Ottoman Empire could not hurt. Old Monty did give me 60 gold for peace last time around. And I'm much better prepared, as I am, literally, in the home stretch of matching his power. Well, maybe not home stretch, but the worrisome phase, I do believe, is over. So, I agreed. And as I was looking around the Trade Screen a bit later, I noticed he was offering to become my Vassal, which he did for free. And now, Suleiman has adopted Confucianism as his State Religion. I might just be able to swing a Permanent Alliance with him... or not. I wonder if Vassals can make Permanent Alliances. Very interesting {in-game turn of events} for just wanting to roll a turn or two. I think I did the single one. Oh, that reminds me, as I have been wanting to mention this: it is easier for me to work a turn {into my oh, so busy schedule} during this game, because the turns are so much quicker. I seldom cycle through the cities, as I'm not running Slavery or Nationalism for the Draft. Which means, there really is not that much to the turns. If I advance move most of my units, giving them long distance movement instructions, I maybe have five units to move during any given turn, which is doable in a very short period of time. # # # 2019-03-03 124AD T549 The Apostolic Palace helped me out this time. I don't think Justinian has very many Confucian Citizens (not enough to Convert at my request), but enough so that he's a member. And I forced peace. Montezuma is fighting the good fight... not very well. I am loosing troops. But not as many as he. I will weather this storm just fine. And be all the better for another Wonder or two and Technological Advance on the other side. But as much fun as I am having, I must call it a night. # # # 2019-03-04 1356AD T573 I have declared war on Montezuma. Long term, I will be taking over a few of his cities... maybe, all of them. Killing him and eating all of this cities, I believe, would give me the game. But that is a ways off... or not. The Power Graph says he's ahead of me in the Military Game, but I doubt it. I mean, he may have more raw power. But he will send some units over into my lands. And I will pick them off. And it is for the Great General Points as much as anything else, that I Declared War at this juncture. I need another six points to get my next Great General, which upon Settling in Clam Bluff will give my Knights (perhaps, my new unit of choice) +9 Experience out of the gate, which I think I will use to get Flanking II, yielding a 30% (if I figure this correctly) chance to withdraw from battle rather than dying. It's almost like getting a 30% Production Boost (actually more, due to the reuse of this feature by surviving units) on each Knight. # # # T582: I accepted Peace by accident. I am not taking Peace for free. I was checking to see how much Montezuma would offer... without any intention of accepting. So, a reload. # # # 2019-03-04 1382AD T586 It is time to go into Full On Military Mode. The Aztecs do not stand a chance. The first City was a cakewalk. I do not see any reinforcements in sight. And no counter-attack has been launched. My homelands are safe. We are fighting this war on Aztec soil. It may take another 50, 100, 200 Turns, as navigating the map takes time. But I declare this game won. It's just a matter of clarifying that to the AI... especially since the Power Graph still shows Montezuma in the lead. # # # I feel that the game is over, I am planning the next one. Augustus Caesar of Rome I shall play with the intent of winning well before Corporations. # # # 2019-03-05 1412AD T595 Monty has a nice stack coming to retake Tenochtitlan. And my troops are disorganized and not looking so numerous. So, let's see what kind of damage he can do. Hopefully, none. In fact, I have my fingers crossed that he will Capitulate after the destruction of this stack. # # # 2019-03-05 1418AD T604 My troops got lucky and I only lost one Cho-Ko-Nu. I probably should have lost two or three. So, the difference {between expectation and reality} is not that decisive. But it does mean things could have gone horribly wrong. I have four stacks going now: One recovering in Tenochtitlan. Two laying siege to Aztec Cities One laying in wait for the upcoming war the Justinian Montezuma's power is falling fast. He's close to half my level on the Power Graph. So, really, any turn now. # # # 2019-03-05 1426AD T608 Should I declare war on the Byzantines now? Or wait until Montezuma Capitulates? I guess I must wait. # # # 2019-03-05 1428AD T609 And wait I did for one solid turn. Montezuma has Capitulated. And now, it's time to finish Justinian off. War! Oh, and a final Golden Age to end the game in style. # # # 2019-03-06 1436AD T613 I'm just racing towards the finish line, now. Justinian stands absolutely no chance (less than no chance) of avoiding defeat. He is out gunned, out teched, and I have two War Allies versus his none. I must admit, though, he did take a city away from Suleiman, so I'll give him that. The Score (if won this turn) stands at 77,000 or so. And it's dropping turn by turn. City captures will give me a few more points. And the game always seems to award more than the estimate. But I am hoping for a 70K+ Win. There's not much thought to my moves, now. It is serious late game. Production is all troops... except for the newly captured cities, which are on Culture Duty to expand my lands. # # # 2019-03-08 1436AD T613 Let's End This! # # # 2019-03-08 1450AD T620 Justinian is holding out longer than I would have guessed. It's because he's the last to surrender and that makes game. But come on, it's over. Still, I have to rest my troops, so not as fast as I'd like. # # # 2019-03-17 1458AD T624 Justinian just surrendered, so it's victory on the roll. Score: 3,346 Normalized: 89,736 Knowing Justinian would Capitulate, I went all out and captured two more cities, which I would have taken my time to capture, otherwise, including Constantinople, which helped push my score up a few more points. 1460AD Conquest Victory Score: 3,392 Final Score 90,347 Which is a huge score for me, but has a lot to do with my map choices. # # # I don't know how much I have said about my next game, but I am looking forward to a similar game, playing as Augustus Caesar of Rome. Also, I want to get a better handle on my write-ups. I'm happy with the in-game notes. But after a game is over, I feel like there is a lot of work left prior to posting it all. And I don't want to feel that way. So, time to change what I am doing in some way... perhaps writing much more as I am going along. # # # 2019-03-17 The game says twenty hours of game time, which took me roughly 2.5 weeks in the real world. # # # (c) Copyright Brett Paufler 2019-03-17