(c) Copyright Brett Paufler 2019-03-24 # # # # # # MILK RUN # # # # # # This game is a proof of concept. Do I know how to wage effective battle using the Roman War Machine. The rules are simple: 1) Standard Game 2) Standard Options Except: no Random Events Except: Permanent Alliances Allowed 3) Monarch Level 4) My choice of any of the first 25 maps, while regenerating the seed. I've been playing at Noble, so Monarch is a step up in difficulty. A few of my recent games have been at the Monarch level. {But who really knows what I meant by this, as one has to go back quite a few months to reach a Monarch game.} Thus, I am confident in my ability {to win playing a War Mongering strategy}, perhaps to the point of arrogance, since one of the things I wish to do (so it's not a rule) is milk my dying opponents for all they are worth in Tribute and such. Second, at the moment, I have no wish to play a crappy start, so I will be hitting map regeneration 24 times, yielding 25 possible map choices from which to choose my start. Oh, but here's the question: Do I wish to include Random Events? Truthfully, I view them as a bit of an annoyance. Yeah, we will be playing without. So, I should change that in the rule listing above. It was a remembrance of more than one Volcano, which did the trick. A +/- 1 to Diplo modifiers is unimportant. But loosing a city tile in a major city is frustrating. A frustration I do not have to live with, so I shall not. It's odd how Events were one of the things I thought about modding first {not that I have yet to get around to modding a single thing}. But I cannot seem to find the will to bother. I suppose if I were ever of the mind, I could {go through the relevant XML and} eliminate the really awful Events. But I shall not be doing that today. # # # # # # The Seed Wherein, I go through the rolls and tell my thoughts about the possibility of playing each map. But prior to that, I shall sit a spell, perhaps giving some thought to what an ideal start would look like: Five Cows surrounded by Forested Hills among a few Rivers coming rapidly to mind. Anyhow, if wishing to avoid spoilers, this would be the place to stop reading. # # # # # # In order to avoid Random Events (and maybe, always), I need to pick a Map Script, so: Map: Continents Size: Standard Climate: Tropical Sea Level: Medium Era: Ancient Speed: Marathon World Wrap: Cylindrical Resources: Standard Aggressive AI Permanent Alliances No Random Events All Victories Monarch Number of Opponents: 6 # # # # # # Map Regenerations # # # # # # 01 (The Seed): three seafood, playable, nothing special. 02: Wheat, Corn, Pig, on the water. I must assume I will roll better. 03: Four seafood, Silk, but not enough Hills. I will assume I can do better. 04: Cow, Rice, plus scrap. Skip. 05: Cow. A single Cow. Nope. 06: Stone, Pig is not enough. 07 (Marble Cow): Cow, Cow, Fish, Marble, with a few Hills. It is the best so far. Hence, the name {as I save a copy of the named rolls, but not the others}. Only three Hills and four Forested Plains is not exactly what I want. Still, the best so far. 08 (Golden Calf): two Cow, Gold, plenty of Hills, but seaside with no fish. Um, I'm naming (and keeping), but I doubt this is the one. Still, I can see moving on from here, which is the wrong idea for a capitol two levels higher than normal. 09: Inland with three Resources, but I'm going to say not rich enough. 10: Seaside, no Fish, no thanks. 11: Silk, nope. 12: Seaside Gold, nothing else. 13: Three Fish, three Hills, with Pigs. Probably not this one. Half saving {i.e. saving in a shorter name format, not labelling as completely}. 14: Pig, Sheep, but even the computer does not like it {as my Settler is advised to Settle elsewhere, I presume}. 15: Two Clam, Cow, Corn, I think I can do better. 16 (Golden Cow): Two Cows, Gold, in an inland setting makes it better than the previous Golden Calf. 17: Cow, Corn, no. 18: Rice, Corn, no. 19: Marble, Corn, no. 20: Two Sugar, Two Clam, Rice. It has some appeal. The Marble Cow is likely better. 21: One Cow, not a chance. 22: Floodplains, I'm just going to steer clear. I'd rather have resources. 23: One Sheep, nope. 24: One Sheep, nope. 25: One Sheep, nope. I am going with one of my un-named saves (Regeneration #9, I believe). It's inland (so, no sea tiles, which in the long term are not as valuable), enough food I can work all the tiles, a few Hills (actually, much less than I thought, there are four, but two are occupied by food), and a decent enough Second City Site within sight. I will make it work... or die trying. # # # 2019-03-25 1070BC T243 Well, this game is not going like the last. I am not playing the same. And I can't say that I am playing better. I have three of the four World Wonders. But then, that means I am building Wonders. I discovered Iron this turn, which is the reason for the write-up. But the only Iron I have in sight is down south next to a Barbarian City. I am moving four Axes and a Settler into position. I believe the Axes will be enough to destroy the Barbarians. I am in trouble if they are not. And the Settler is in case I wish to move the City over a few squares. We will see. After the Barbarian City, I figure I want a stack of 10 Praetorians prior to attacking Pericles. My Research is down to 60% at three Cities, so it's not like I need a bunch more. For the most, from here on out, I intend to Research the top of the Research Tree. But I'm very backward. I feel like I am fighting an uphill battle, which is likely from the slower Research speed of the higher difficulty setting. Hopefully, this Barbarian War works out for the best. # # # 2019-03-25 1010BC T249 I have more Axes than I knew. I took the Barbarian City in a clean sweep, even though it had three Archers defending. The location is simply awesome, maybe even stronger than my capitol. Well, it's seaside, so that's a weakness. But otherwise, it has Iron, Clam, Fish and Rice. So, it's got plenty of food. I will Declare War on Pericles when I need to Settle my next City and when I have more troops. I'd like to have 5-10 Praetorians online, which I believe will be more than enough for the war effort. # # # 800BC: I am jumping the gun. I am going to Declare War and capture two Workers. There has been Peace for too long. # # # 780BC: My work here is done. Pericles was willing to make peace, so I accepted. And the war puts me two workers to the good. Maybe, I should keep track. But, no. That would be tedious, as most of the benefit, I believe, will be in Great General Points. {In the end, I believe I got three Technologies, maybe 300 gold, a slew of Workers, and three Great Generals out of Pericles.} # # # And I'm pretty sure I need a War, just to maintain my economy. # # # 2019-03-25 90BC T341 I do not know if I've been playing well. Actually, I took a dive down into the 20% Research Rate and am only at 40% at the moment. So, things could be better economically. Yeah, I'm probably losing big time in the economic game. I have two Great Generals, settled in Rome, courtesy of Pericles. I'll likely get another before this is over. He is Researching Mathematics. I don't exactly know why, considering it may well be his last Technology. When I get Alphabet in seven Turns, I'll have to think about Building Research in Rome. But I doubt I will. I should, maybe, care about how many Praetorians I am losing. But I'm thinking one of the things I need to do is transfer ability from now into the future. And Great Generals do that well. I'm, getting +4 Experience in Rome {from Settled Great Generals}. That's pretty good. And although it may not be a powerhouse city, this map may not have that many powerhouse cities. I needed Bronze Working to Chop the Forests. But I may have been better off getting Pottery prior to Iron Working. The Rush is not that important, as I cannot hold onto the Cities anyway. And it is the Cottages {at the moment} that are lifting me out of a bad economic situation. # # # 2019-03-25 40AD T354 The Survey said I had the most Cultured Civilization a while back. And 6 Turns ago, Pericles gave me Meditation for 10 Turns of Peace. Which means in 4 Turns, I will be declaring War, yet again. Research is at 40%. In 26 Turns (plus a little), I will get Currency. And that should be the beginning of the end for my financial problems. I wonder how everyone else is doing Tech Wise. I feel like I am lagging. But I have no comparison. Any-the-way, time for a few days off and see the world. # # # 2019-03-29 40AD T354 Confucianism has already been founded. I was thinking about Researching that instead of Currency. Christianity is, also, compelling. But I believe I will be better off getting a later religion, still... or perhaps, not one at all. In the end, I have decided to Research Aesthetics, so I have a Wonder or two to build. There is lots I want to research. I am thinking, Metal Casting for The Colossus may be my next bet, as Optics is a priority. # # # Yeah, in the end, that early Sword Rush without keeping any of the captured Cities did me no good. It was wasted Hammers. # # # 150AD: And now, I find myself Building Research. # # # 280AD: I have a feeling the end game is going to be a slug-fest. # # # 2-19-03-29 410AD T391 I was beat-out {in the race} to The Parthenon by some other Civilization. I am going for Literature for The Great Library. Yeah, I need to start working on the Optics branch soon. OK. I shall consider Metal Casting hard coded as the next Technology to research. I destroyed another Greek City... and earned myself a third Great General. So far, I would say not Researching Pottery earlier for Cottages was one of my biggest mistakes... and then, maybe this worthless war. Well, I have earned several hundred in Gold from Razed Cities. And in suing for Peace, Pericles has given me three Technologies. So, it has not been completely worthless. Eh, it is hard to say. Since I have the Pyramids, each Great General gives me +3 Research, so after I settle the third one, upwards of 12% of my Research will come from Settled Great Generals (computed with the slider at 100%, so actually more). I would earn more from building research, but that experience will come in handy late game. # # # 510AD: The Great Library is under construction, while I am Researching Metal Casting. Also, War with Pericles! # # # 615AD: I did not get The Great Library by two turns, which means I got 932 gold. # # # 2019-03-29 895AD T479 I am destroying Pericles. Thus, I should not be afraid of the higher levels from a combat perspective. The AI still does not know how to fight. Sure, Pericles was out-gunned. But he was out-gunned more due to my being a Human than anything else. Please note, this is on Aggressive AI, as well. Optics is 23 Turns out. After which, I will be Researching Drama... Nope. Scratch that. I will be Researching Code of Laws as a pre-requisite for Philosophy, as I'd like to get a Religion. Yeah, I'll be going for a Monk Economy, if I can, while my Caravels circle the globe. The long war with Pericles was sort of pointless. I certainly didn't need to rush into it. But if I can drag it out a bit more, I may well land a fourth Great General from the engagement. Besides, I can't afford to Settle any more Cities. And it's not like the AI Settled where I would. Based on there being two Religions outstanding... and my still landing a Wonder here and there (I got The Colossus a few turns back), I don't believe I am too far behind. I mean, I don't believe I am ahead. But I, also, do not believe I am lagging by that much. I have a Great Prophet waiting around doing nothing should I found a Religion and a Great Engineer for Mining, Inc. At some point, I will focus on getting a Great Merchant for Sid's Sushi. Anyway, I'd like Pericles to be out of the game by the time anyone else makes contact. I am confident about eeking out a win... well, fairly confident. I doubt it will be a high points score. I should have concentrated on infrastructure earlier (Cottages) and fought any wars as a secondary concern. # # # 2019-03-30 945AD T489 The Greek Civilization has been destroyed. Time to get my house in order. # # # 2019-03-30 1364AD T577 After Optics, I built three Caravels and Circled the Globe, proving the World is Round and earning a +1 Movement Bonus for my Ships. Unfortunately, there are no Islands. And my Spies revealed massive stacks of troops. {Tokugawa had a stack of 45 Units}. So, I will not be going on the offensive anytime soon. Thus, I switched course and nabbed the last Religion (more or less by the skin of my teeth). I settled my Great Prophet (or will in a turn or two). And I am saving a Great Merchant and Great Engineer for the relevant Corporations (Sushi and Mining). There is not that much of an advantage {from either} on this map. Certainly, my island is resource poor... not a single happiness Resource. Eh, I lie. I have Beavers. I will be shooting for the Monk Economy. But it could be close or completely out of the question. Tokugawa already has Paper. Anyway, I will be Turtling Up for a Bit. Well, continuing my isolated start and making no move for Astronomy, opting instead for the Monk Economy. I have decided to befriend both Ethiopia and the Celts. And I am sure I will have opportunity enough for War before long with the rest, especially Isabella, as she keeps making unreasonable demands. # # # 2019-03-30 1460AD T625 I am throwing in the towel and conceding the game to Tokugawa. Good Game, Tokugawa! Tokugawa is the points leader (2543 vs my 1,475). He has me on Power, Points, and pretty much everything. I mean, in one way we are equal, he pacified his continent and I mine. But his had four Civilizations (to be fair, he is still working on the Celts, but the writing is on the wall) and had twice (to triple) the landmass. So, while I was playing with Pericles, he was conquering the world... or at least, a larger portion of it. My mind has moved on to the next game. Game Over! Tokugawa Wins! # # # (c) Copyright Brett Paufler 2019-03-30