(c) Copyright Brett Paufler 2021-07-31 # # # Let's see if I can get excited about a game and lose my mind for awhile. # # # I'll need to figure out: Map Sparse Islands Leader Spiritual Philosophical Strategy Astronomy to Dominate Difficulty Monarch Bonuses Likely none Limitations I do not know I would like Diplomacy to Lead the way These are all preliminary. # # # And that's that session of scrolling through Endlessly Regenerated Maps. # # # Who knows what all the settings are? I think Four Opponents, Large Map, with Lots of Ocean. Oh, and it is super lush. I put Bonuses Resources on every tile in my Fat Cross: Loads of Wheat Two Fish Four Gold And all the Base Requirements: Stone Marble Copper Iron Oh, I forgot to give myself any Great People. I was going to Rush Build The Early Religions to aid in my competitive advantage. # # # Large 80% Water 2 Great Prophets Dedicated to Landing First Two Religions Though, a play for Buddhism, Bulb, Bulb is allowed {i.e. Researach Buddhism, then use the Great Prophets for Polytheism and Monotheism} 2 Workers {I neglected to insure these were Fast Workers, I'd just thought they would be, but they are not} Ah, I was going to do a Mine and a Farm {as starting improvements, so I'd hit the ground running}. But I forgot. Immortal Difficulty. Five Rivals. My biggest concern is having too much land, causing my computer to crash. I will try to work in some sort of Role Playing. {I did not. And I should, likely, assume I never will.} It is a Garden of Eden Start. If I am isolated, I should dominate. But then, Immortal? # # # I am restarting at T10, as I can do better: Mines over Farms Stone over Marble Wonders # # # I'm on Normal Speed. I have no idea where I stand. {Yeah, I'm planning on a Dual City Garden of Eden Start, next. And I will likely revert to Marathon Game Speed. I like it better. Troop movements seem more in line with reality.} # # # 2021-07-31 375BC T100 So, I feel like I am leading the pack. I swept The Religions Complete! So, that's good. And I lead in Wonders only having lost four, so far. On the other hand, I only own a single city. So, who knows how long that can last. # # # If I replay, I will try Settling all The Great People outside of the first one, which is likely needed to nab Hinduism. - - - Perhaps, I should restart? I'm thinking that I will. I haven't met anyone else, so the real secrets of the map remain hidden. # # # GAME OVER! 045-01-02-T112 - Gold Rush - Settle Great People - BC-0075 # # # # # # GAME-02 # # # # # # 2021-07-31 045-02-01-T100 - Gold Rush - Settled Specialists - BC-0375 I am just cruising along. I will end here on the night. I am a little further back in Wonders than the previous game. But it still feels quite solid. And I do have a slew of Settled Specialist... and a similar amount of technologies researched. So, I am positive. # # # GAME OVER! 2021-08-01 600AD T140 Mansu beat me to Liberalism. And that by itself is not enough. But I will be restarting The Game. Errors: Lost Liberalism Settle Home Continent Lost Great Lighthouse # # # # # # GAME-03 # # # # # # 2021-08-01 375BC T100 I have most of The Wonders, am Building Shrines, and am starting The REX. I'd say it's a solid start. # # # GAME OVER! 2021-08-01 500AD T135 Mansu is going to run away with it. I t think I need to settle my Cities faster. And that means, I need to get those final religions faster. I wonder if I could get Civil Service from The Oracle? It is tempting to settle that second Great Prophet. But I shall stay true to form. # # # # # # GAME-04 # # # # # # GAME OVER! 2021-08-01 045-04-01-T74 - Gold Rush - REX TOO EARLY - BC-1040 By giving up the secondary early wonders, I was able to pop Civil Service with The Oracle. However, I REX'd too early and pushed Islam out of The Capital, which is not a good thing. # # # # # # GAME-05 # # # # # # GAME OVER! 2021-08-01 045-05-02-T145 - Gold Rush - Suddenly Lost - AD-0700 I do not know what I want out of my REX. But one thing I do know is that I don't need a lot of spread-out targets for my enemies to pick and choose between. I can likely do without The Great Lighthouse. But then, getting it is, also, a defensive play, as it is pretty powerful. # # # # # # GAME-06 # # # # # # Bombay, in the last map, shall be my sole second city on the mainland. While the island to the east has a similar food rich spot. So, a few select cities. # # # Several restarts micro-managing the early game, erased, sight unseen. # # # 2021-08-01 1200BC T70 I need a Settler. I am sure I have the early lead. How can I not? How can I expand upon that lead? Astronomy or Education? I will only be settling a few choice spots. # # # GAME OVER! 2021-08-02 045-06-02-T127 - Gold Rush - Losing Vision - AD-0300 I can't say I have a Post Contact Vision. I am flailing and unprepared. Also, I probably don't need all those wonders. After all, what else can {I} give {up to open new opportunities and strategies}? # # # # # # GAME-07 # # # # # # 2021-08-02 045-07-01-T50 - Gold Rush - Settled Start - BC-2000 I settled my two Great Prophets and still got The Three Early Religions. I've, also, am the only one who has built any wonders. I guess I have decided to forgo The Pyramids and Chicken. That's 10 Turns, right there. I am going to go Wonder Crazy. But I am not going to capture them all. In other news, I am up to date on my Temples and Monastaries. And I'd guess my Population is as high as it has ever been at T50. Drats! I did not revolt into Bureaucracy until just now, losing 20 Turns of +50%. Drats! Drats! Drats! Sorry. 20 Turns is too long. GAME OVER! # # # # # # GAME-08 # # # # # # 2021-08-02 045-08-01-T75 - Gold Rush - Start REX - BC-1000 And this marks the end of the initial Wonder Rush. I need to expand my empire, now. I'm trying to stack my small builds, so the larger ones are completed in fewer turns. {One can only Build (or Research) one item at a time. But there is overflow. Long-term it may make no difference. But short-term, I definitely prefer finishing a build in a single turn.} # # # 2021-08-02 045-08-02-T100 - Gold Rush - Mid REX - BC-0375 It feels solid. There is a bit of a lag between Optics and Caravels. But I feel that Settling the continent is more important. It's a bit of a City Spam. # # # 2021-08-02 045-08-03-T150 - Gold Rush - Waiting For War - AD-0800 The Rex is over. I was lucky in that the large landmasses (other than home continents {so, we are talking about the islands}) lay fairly close to my homelands. Oh, others could have contested my colonies. But they did not. The outlying islands are pitifully protected. But I've got a fair bit of land and quite the stack of catapults. So hopefully, that will scare folks off for another fifty odd turns. That's likely how long I will need. Mansu has Scientific Method on me. And that will give him the Post Science Great People. I am not challenging him, as I think I am better off delaying Science for as long as possible. I've got The Monk Economy going strong. I've got tons of units. But I don't know if it is enough. Half my builds are going into new units. Other than Science, I am the clear Tech Leader. Even Mansu cut corners in getting to science so fast. # # # 2021-08-02 045-08-04-T174 - Gold Rush - Zulu Prep - AD-1140 I'm going to attack Shaka. But that will have to wait until the morning. Cannons and Machine Guns against Longbows. # # # 2021-08-03 GAME OVER! 045-08-04-T174 - Gold Rush - Zulu Prep - AD-1140 I do not like all these little Cities. They represent an Attack Surface. Though, I derive half my Research from their inputs. Still, it is only half. I believe I could take Shaka. But I don't want to... not now. I will restart and limit my Cities, spinning off an early Colony or two. Let's see how it goes, shall we? # # # # # # GAME-09 # # # # # # 2021-08-03 045-09-01-T52 - Gold Rush - Oracle - BC-1920 Splitting off a Colony on my Home Continent did not work. So, I rolled it all back prior to building any settlers. I still only want the two cities. So, I don't have a clear vision. Sure, I can colonize the islands. But what about this massive continent? I would have much rather spun off a colony. Well, at least, I am kicking it on the wonders. # # # GAME OVER! 045-09-01-T52 - Gold Rush - Oracle - BC-1920 Here's the question: Am I better off with the one city, collecting all the religions are spinning off the second city as early as possible? I am going to go with ASAP. I mean, I would have never scouted the location. But there are a lot of things about these replays that are tight fitting and non-organic. # # # # # # GAME-10 # # # # # # 2021-08-03 045-10-01-T50 - Gold Rush - Full o Wonders - BC-2000 Well, this seems like the best start, yet: T21: Pyramids and Organized Religion T45: Bureaucracy T59?: Maori Shores (sic) should have: Moari Statues Lighthouse I'm feeling good. It's a Wonder & Religion Sweep. Now, it's time for a walk and to see what other novel strategies I can come up with. # # # Oh, I probably should note that there are at least ten (if not twenty) false starts, sight unseen. {At this point, I'd be going for the perfect start. So, I can retry, retry, and retry again until I get it right.} # # # Let's focus on Scientists, shall we? # # # 2021-08-03 045-10-02-T120 - Gold Rush - Age of Sail - AD-0125 My Caravels are away! They will soon be joined by a foray of Settlers. I doubt there is any way to only have a single colony {for the three islands}. So, I expect to have two... more's the pity. I think I am going to try and plop a few choice cities amongst the colonies. So, I'll settle the scrap and spin off a colony, before I settle the land I want to keep. I will assume I can come back later (at any time) and gift more cities to the colony. # # # 2021-08-03 ROLL BACK! 045-10-03-T139 - Gold Rush - Colony Bad Idea - AD-0580 - ROLL BACK >>TO<< 045-10-02-T120 - Gold Rush - Age of Sail - AD-0125 I'm rolling it back. Colonization was a bad idea from head to toe. I can barely get it {the settlements in place}. And I most definitely will not be able to hold onto. I'm really just making easy targets for the opposition. So, let's see what the opposition does with an open field, instead. Maybe, I should take a screenshot or two for a write-up. I would settle. What would the computer do? {The computer settles eventually. But it really makes a big difference from game to game. In some, the islands went unsettled for far too long... almost as if the game was baiting me.} In a previous game, Orange settled a cheap-o island just to harass me... or not? Will he make a grab for the center? # # # 2021-08-03 045-10-04-T150 - Gold Rush - War Prep - AD-0800 There's not much to do but build units. Sure, I've got a few infill buildings in Maori. But the capitol is up to date. I'm the weakest in power on the board, which is not surprising given my two cities. No one is settling The Inner Islands. I am pulling my ships home and bracing for an invasion. I doubt Mansu will be aggressive. But if he is, in theory, he hates Shaka... or should. And Carthage might just attack Mansu, which if he does and asks, I will join. But I don't think I am going anywhere... not a where for the next 25-50 Turns. I need the invasionary fleet and a whole heck of a lot more units. Let's see who asks for Peace Money and who attacks who. A war is definitely brewing. Oh, this is a bit premature, as only Hannibal has Astronomy. But Mansu is Teching like mad, at a faster rate than I am. So, he's only a handful of turns away: 2-3 Turns for Astronomy is my guess. I wonder what a stack of Machine Gunners would do to Mali's economy? And if Hammy or Mansu does not attack or are otherwise occupied, who do I want to attack? I will need OIL!!! !!!OIL!!! {I never had the troops to spare wherein I sent over a stack of Machine Gunners (against Knighs or whatever). But this might just happen in the next game: The Two City Challenge.} # # # 2021-08-04 I've decided a National Park in Gold Rush is about the best move I can make. I'll get +10 Specialists out of it, once the population ramps up. So, I'm going for it ASAP, pushing Machine Gunners back and living with Rifles in the interim. # # # GAME OVER! 2021-08-04 045-10-04-T150 - Gold Rush - War Prep - AD-0800 I would like to Out Tech Mansu. Pyramids: Monarchy Oracle: Bureaucracy Capitol: Globe Theater & National Park Once Gold Rush, which is going to get a new name this time, gets Globe Theater, I can switch it all over to Representation... or should be able to quickly thereafter. I will be Spamming Cities, which means I will need to forgo many of The Wonders. # # # # # # GAME-11 # # # # # # 2021-08-04 045-11-01-T49 - Gold Rush - Full On REX - BC-2040 Fine! I know the map. And as such, have no need to explore or go down blind alleys. But then, isn't that what a replay is all about? I am running Representation and feel like I am crushing it. But we'll see. REX fails due to maintenance. And I haven't come up against that wall yet. All Religions. All Wonders. But that is a backwards looking statement not a forward looking one. Maybe, I will never switch into Monarchy. Representation seems to be holding it's own. # # # T70: All Religions. All Wonders. Five Cities. Going Strong. - - - I have this vague hope of an awesome empire with a solid dozen cities, each boasting all of the religions... with a full compliment of shrines, to boot. # # # 2021--08-04 045-11-02-T100 - Gold Rush - Infrastructure - BC-0375 I do not feel as strong this game... or at this point in this game. On the other hand, I'm only a few turns away from getting Globe Theater in Capitol (formerly, Gold Rush) and that will change things, as fairly soon (say by T150), I will be running 15 Specialists, which is nice. Sure. It's on account of the cooked map. But look at it this way. It took me 11 Games to try building The Globe Theater. So, maybe, I need all the help I can get. After Globe, it's onto Economics and Liberalism, prior to putting a plan in place for Biology and The National Park, which will give me another 15 Specialists. Yowza. I'm settling the board. I may be over settling. But I guess I will be pushing back Corporation for as long as I dare. Sushi will be worth something this game. Along with everything else (settling the scattered islands), I think I have access to The Eastern Islands... or parts of them. So, that's a few more cities. Cities: 9 Research: 420B/T I'm as weak as can be. But I've got some time. And sooner or later, a bunch of those cities are going to crank out units... tons of them. Heck. I've already got a garrison unit in every city. Um, I need to send a unit up to garrison that island I am settling next turn. # # # 2021-08-04 50AD T117 It feels like I am killing it this game. Sure, once again, a cooked start. Let us not forget that. But I feel like this play-through is even better... the best yet. Let's hope I don't blow it. # # # 2021-08-05 045-11-03-T125 - Gold Rush - Civilization Ho - AD-0250 I have only made contact with Shaka and do not intend to reach out to the others, as I gain too much from The Colossus to want to obsolete it any sooner than I need to. Also, I've been able to settle all the islands (or soon will) by using my Galleys and Border Pops to cross the ocean. I'm closing in on The Statue of Liberty; after which, I will be back-filling The Military Techs. I do not have an army, do not feel like building an army, nor do I have any desire to fight a war... yet. My power is 3/4 of Shaka's, the lone foreign civilization. So, I'm not feeling overly vulnerable. And then, last game, Astronomy was not prioritized by my opponents. I guess I am planning on ramping up the military builds last minute; but prior to that, I can't see wasting the hammers. Library now provides bonuses while I build up a military; whereas, if I build the military first, I lose out on a few dozen turns of Beaker Bonuses. Also, once I start building a military, I am likely to be in an arms race and may never get the chance to build much infrastructure ever again. Finally (and this is a minor concern), I don't have all that much gold, so why build early and waste the gold upgrading when I can use hammers at a later date, instead? Yeah, the plan really is to delay Astronomy, Corporation, and Scientific Method as long as reasonably possible. # # # 2021-08-05 425AD T132 Mansu made contact earlier than I expected. Ironically, he already has both Optics and Astronomy. So, he has not been that aggressive in his explorations. But he is as advanced as ever. Sure, I have him on a few techs. But it is not one-sided. And I have yet to discover his Tech Rate. Shaka is as backwards as ever. And I discovered another island to settle. There is a second to the north, for which I am building a deuce of settlers. - - - I made the mistake of settling my Great Merchant from Economics. So, I am running a bunch of Merchants to replace him for Sid's Sushi. Once I am forced to continue down The Tech Tree, I will research Corporations for Mining, Inc. prior to beelining Biology for National Park and Medicine for Sid's Sushi. I don't know what Religious Civic I should run. But Pacifism is looking better and better all the time. I like those Great People. # # # T148: I reloaded as I settled a Great Engineer {by mistake} rather than Founding Mining, Inc. And since I had been saving that Great Engineer all game for such a purpose, that simply isn't going to happen. Also, if I do not get Sid's, I will Roll-Back. I will trade hard to put myself in the running, go all out. But if Mansu has a Great Merchant in the wings, Sid's Sushi is his. # # # 2021-08-05 045-11-04-T150 - Gold Rush - Corp Calam - AD-0800 - ROLL BACK Corporation Catastrophe! I will have to think long and hard about whether I wish to Roll Back, Abandon The Map, or Start Over. Mansu is obliterating me in The Tech War. Well, I'm technically ahead, but he is gaining and will soon overpass. This may not have made a difference if I was able to secure Mining and Sushi organically. But trading is too expensive. Coal: Phant Island Oil: Easterly (at 5,000) & Phant Island Phant Island is clearly more valuable strategically, while Easterly has the better city sites. Workers: 11 - Need 20-25 I came nowhere close to filling out the religions. I'd say I'm about 2/7 of the way there. Not very impressive. Once again, I feel Wonders are about the only place I can give. Sure, I could build fewer units or do the unit build more cohesively, but I always flail at that. What if I juiced the map a bit more. Of course, if I do that, I will just end up building the wonders. But then, I like building the wonders. Maori Statues should go in West Point. Yeah, the real trick is the step beyond The Monk Economy. {What do I do next?} The Monk Economy may not be worth the hammers in light of how long it lasts. No monk economy and I need no monasteries... or derive little benefit from them. I may be willing to fight a war in order to gain access to oil... or I could go back to the colonization route. # # # What are the prudent Wonders? Pyramids The Great Lighthouse The Great Library Maybe, a simple rule would be Build No Wonders Without Benefit. So, like, The Statue of Zeus comes rapidly to mind... or Chicken... even Stonehenge and The Great Wall. It may only be a few turns. But it is both hammers and turns. And all those missionaries have to come from somewhere. If I build {the city of} Maori ASAP... and then, STOP! I can land a bunch of Shrines in a Second City, use two National Wonders in Gold Rush to get a Pop 50 City and use Maori and Wall Street in a Major Shrine City. It could work. If I do (and I am thinking that I will), I should attend to where I settle my specialists. No more settling in place. Now, that will be a hard habit to break. {And instead, settle them in The Second City.} - - - I'm going to have way fewer cities. I will Artist Bomb Gemstone to get to Easter Island. And one of the Northern Islands will get The Hermitage. For when the final religion lands, have as many Settlers, Workers, and Missionaries in place as possible. Music gives The Artist, which means I would hope to have 7 Cities in place when Drama lands a few turns earlier in order to build The Globe Theater. # # # # # # GAME OVER!!! # # # # # # GAME-12 # # # # # # Let's see how it goes. Fewer Early Wonders. Nail That Second City, which will get The Shrines, Oxford, and Wall Street. So, it gets all the Settled Great People, as well. # # # 2021-08-05 045-12-01-T20 - Gold Rush - Organized Pyramids - BC-3200 It took me four or five times (and maybe more) to get it right; but I finally got Pyramids in 20 Turns, again. I'm running Representation and building all the Temples I can get my hands on. But I am also going to just let that city grow without a care in the world about unhappiness on the presumption that I will make it up with more experts later {having pre-grown the city, sooner}. But that won't work. Maybe for a few turns {I can pre-grow the city}. But I will not be getting The Globe Theater for a long-long while. There are simply too many cites to found. I will be lucky if I get The Globe Theater by Turn 75 with T100 being much more likely. # # # 2021-08-05 045-12-02-T50 - Gold Rush - Code of Bureaucracy - BC-2000 I did not pay enough attention and am now carrying -2F {Food} from -1H {Happiness}: i.e. it's either lose the food invested in the population or lose two food a turn {until I gain a Happiness Bonus} and I chose losing the food. Though, I might need to rethink that. # # # 875BC T80 I got the cities settled. To Wonder or Not To Wonder? Maybe, I will see what Gold Rush can capture and leave it at that. # # # I lost two Missionaries trying to spread a second religion in a POP 1 City. # # # ROLL BACK! 2021-08-06 45-12-03-T91 - Gold Rush - Missionary Fail - BC-0600 - ROLL BACK >>>to<<< 045-12-02-T50 - Gold Rush - Code of Bureaucracy - BC-2000 As I recall, I'd done about as well as I'd ever done by T50. But when I founded the cities, all those Shrines converted some of the cities prior to my landing any missionaries. I should have not founded those shrines. {Truthfully, until another Civilization adopts a religion, the cost of a shrine is greater than the return in gold. In the future, I doubt I will ever be tempted to found all the shrines prior to their being economically viable.} Buddhist Shrine ONLY More Workers (had 12, need 20) Useless Wonders LAST THING I'd keep on playing... well, no I wouldn't, shan't. I don't want all those religious shrines so early. # # # GAME OVER! # # # # # # GAME-13 # # # # # # Thirteenth's The Charm! # # # Nope! Nope! Sorry. I'll just reload. # # # # # # CANCEL GAME OVER! Reloading To: And then, I lost all energy. I will be doing nothing at the moment. # # # CANCEL RELOAD! GAME OVER! # # # # # # GAME-13 # # # # # # CANCEL GAME OVER! RELOAD! 45-12-03-T91 - Gold Rush - Missionary Fail - BC-0600 - ROLL BACK >>>to<<< 045-12-02-T50 - Gold Rush - Code of Bureaucracy - BC-2000 # # # So, I am doing the reload. There is no sense redoing the first 20 Turns, as I've done about as good as I can do. I'm already on my fourth or so reload of the reload trying to micro-manage things correctly. Build: Settler Worker Missionary Temples Lighthouse Great Lighthouse Greatness: Maori Statues Lighthouse # # # 2021-08-06 045-12-04-T48 - Gold Rush - Caste o Bureaucracy - BC-2080 This is about as fast as I've ever got Bureaucracy. So, I'll save here, as well. I do not like it when my Missionaries fail to spread religion. In fact, I don't like randomization in most anything but Enemy Actions and Combat. The next milestone is Founding ALL Religions, a task which I estimated will take 25 Turns. # # # ROLL BACK! 045-12-04-T48 - Gold Rush - Caste o Bureaucracy - BC-2080 - ROLL BACK >>>to<<< 045-12-01-T20 - Gold Rush - Organized Pyramids - BC-3200 I messed up and built Maori in Greatness whereas I want it to be on the Western Peninsula. # # # 2021--08-06 045-12-05-T48 - Gold Rush - Code of Bureaucracy - BC-2080 This is a slow portion of the game, with quick turn sets. Nothing happens. But the turns go quickly. Caste System Bureaucracy That's what's changed. That'w what the last 28 Turns have been about. The next milestone is clearing the religions... all in Greatness. At the end of which time, I want all my Settlers in place, along with the first three missionaries, and a slew of workers. Oh, also: Hanging Gardens The Colossus The other wonders can wait until after the settlers are in place. # # # 2021-08-06 045-12-06-T75 - Gold Rush - Buddhist Nation - BC-0975 I've settled all my cities, spreading Buddhism to each one as I went. Currently, they are all working on Theatres for The Globe Theater in Gold Rush. And since every city has at least one or two chops available, The Globe Theater should be completed by T90, at the latest. Actually, Workshop Island has no chops available, so it will take the longest. I would like to stay at 100% Research. And I am running at a deficit. But I am hoping Currency and a Marketplace will take care of that. # # # 2021-08-05 045-12-07-T90 - Gold Rush - Globe Theater - BC-0625 Globe Theater is done. I question whether I have any grand schemes in mind for the next turn set. OK. Fine. I need to settle those other islands. # # # 2021-08-06 045-12-08-T100 - Gold Rush - Island Expansion - BC-0375 I've got three islands to settle, meaning I have at least six more cities to bring online. It would be nice if they were in place by T125. I did not get The Great Artist from Music. So, I prioritized that wrong. And I am not doing much by way of spreading religion. So, that's likely a no go. I will build The Shrines if I am able. Sure enough, my enemies will help me out. Frequent hard saves are causing me to slow down and think if nothing else. REX is Job #1! # # # 2021-08-06 045-12-09-T121 - Gold Rush - War Prep - AD-0150 I make contact with Shaka as I circle the globe, while Mansu and Hanni both came my way with their caravels. I need to build an army. Let us see how disciplined I can be. It pretty much has to be army, army, and more army. I'll be happy when I get Rifles. Well, what do you know? Rifles are only 12 Turns away. I might revolt in Theocracy after I build The Statue of Liberty. Mali will have Astronomy shortly, but is ages behind me in almost everything else. So, I stand a chance. War Prep: Me Mansu Shaka {I guess the above is a listing of who is prepping for war, who has a fist next to their name, mine being implied.} Shaka makes absolutely no difference, as he's not going to have Astronomy until after I do. And I am not prioritizing it at all. In fact, I've got it near the bottom of the stack. Since I am running Merchantillism, I should think about opening borders with everyone, hoping that gives me some Diplomatic Bonuses. Who will Mansu attack? Eh, it would have helped if I had sent a Missionary his way. But I did not. Finally, I just Opened Borders with Mansu on the hope that will improve relations. He doesn't like Hannibal. So, I've got my fingers crossed there. All the same, low power is a sure way to be attacked. And I've laid claim to all the Island States. If things get iffy, I can always release them as Colonies. But that is not the plan. # # # 640AD T142? ?: I'm not sure about the turn number. And I'm not turning the game back on to find out. Mansu is Teching faster than I would like. And it is bringing me down. I can feel concern about the game going into the toilet. Of course, I am also putting workers into autopilot. So, who knows? But, yeah. I think Mansu doing so well is the deciding factor. I think I might go for The Religious Victory. I believe it requires a converted city in every civilization; and then, winning the vote {which is doable if most of my competitors only have a single city converted to Buddhism}. I messed up and did not save a Great Engineer. Tsk. Tsk. Considering I am at the edge of Corporations and Mining, Inc., I may come to feel that pain. # # # 2021-98-07 045-12-10-T147 - Gold Rush - Pre Trades Etc - AD-0740 I have three Caravels out, sending Missionaries to Joao, Orange, and Shaka, which might be all I need to win the game via a Religious Victory. In the meantime, I shall pause and consider whether I wish to trade with Mansu. Astronomy: Loses Colossus Gains Observatory (+25% Science) Gains International Trade Corporation: Loses Great Lighthouse Trade Routes Gain Wall Street Gain Mining, Inc. Can adopt Free Market and get a Trade Route back Scientific Method: Lose Monastery Lose The Great Library Lose a bunch of stuff Opens Tech Tree Back Up I think my options are limited. If I make the trade, I am a shoe in for Sushi, as Mansu does not appear to be travelling down that route. And either way, if not now, in a few turns all those disadvantages are happening anyhow. I am not ending the game that quickly... and even if I do, I do not wish to count soley on a Religious Victory. I don't really know the rules for that. # # # 2021-08-07 840AD T152 Mansu attacked and was repulsed. But before a peace was established, Hanny declared, which I am sure was at Mansu's bidding. Hanny does not have Rifles; whereas, I have Machine Guns. So, he does not stand much of a chance. Still, that first assault may prove annoying. I guess it matters how many he lands with. Mansu did not come with much. Also, I did the trades. So, I'm just a few turns from Sushi. I still do not have a Great Engineer. Pity, as I settled five of them, but neglected to keep the one in reserve. I will be annoyed if Mansu gets Mining, Inc. # # # 2021-08-07 1090AD T169 I will attack Shaka (or launch my fleet, anyway) around T175. It will not be that large of a stack. But as he's currently fielding Longbows, I don't feel that worried. Also, he's at war with Carthage. So, he can't possibly be at full strength. Yep, Shaka lost a stack against Hanny. Though, as always, offensive action will leave me vulnerable to a counter-attack by Mansu. So, I'll be sending over a wave; and then, preparing for their counter-attack Shaka appears to be Keeper of The Uranium. While Mansu only has Offshore Oil, requiring Plastics. So, his military is going to get outdated pretty soon, here. Actually, Mansu settled oil on Easter Island. But he's going to lose the Cultural War there soon enough... or I can Surprise Attack and raze the city, as he's got a mere two Calvary defending the place. Sure, it sounds good. But no defensive bonuses and only two of them. So, a half dozen units will wipe them clean. A dozen odd turns back when I was at War with Mansu and Hannibal, the Apostolic Palace saved me and allowed me to vote a truce, which Hannibal Honoured. I was already at peace with Mansu, who gave me a couple of gold coins and a promise to behave. Shaka has tons of fish, which I will be acquiring one way or another. Lack of Oil & Uranium will be Mansu's downfall. There is no way he will be able to hold an overseas colony (or his offshore oil) if I target either or both. He won't defend with his stack; and since the game will be riding on it, that will be what it takes. I still do not have Mining. Oh, well. - - - I should equip The Shaka Attack Stack with both Buddhist Missionaries and Sushi Executive. In Second Wave (at least): Sushi Executives Buddhist Missionaries Prepare for Counter Attack. Right now, my Destroyers RULE THE SEA! # # # 2021-08-08 1090AD T169 Land Oil: Shaka: 1 Portugal: 2 (Backwards) Carthage: 2 Sea Oil: Shaka: 1 Mansu: 2 Uranium: Shaka: 3 Mansu: 1 No Oil or Uranium: Orange I am unimpressed by The Worst Enemy Mechanic. It seems like the computer gets it wrong. Shouldn't one's current war opponent be one's worst enemy? One can only develop resources in their own country. Mansu has no land Oil, so he has to wait until plastics. At which time, I could (might be able to) land a stack, neutralizing Oil. Certainly, his Sea Oil is Neutralized by Destroyers. - - - In a nutshell, I don't have faith in my ability to go up against Mansu or Hannibal directly. Though, that has a way of changing if I just go into Full-On War Mode. # # # 2021-08-08 045-12-11-T173 - Gold Rush - Pre Shaka War - AD-1130 The real question, here, is whether I attack Shaka or pursue some other strategy. Shaka is backward and has been gifted with loads of important resources. Wait. Hold on. Mansu has Uranium. So, he has access to the sea units, not the land units. Meaning, he will get oil platforms eventually... and be able to hold them. Joao would be the other target, as he's neglected his Military Techs. But I think my mind is made up. - - - If I were to go back and adopt a different strategy, what would it be? Certainly, I failed at Spreading Religions. I can land all of them in a few cities, but not in all (or even most) of my cities. I've got Buddhism everywhere and everything else in only two cities. The presence of The Shrines all in one city has not made a difference. 16 Workers has been enough. Nobody has Destroyers but me, not even Mansu. So, destroying Mansu's navy will be like shooting fish in the water, should he decide to attack. He will get one try, at best. - - - The Forbidden Palace reduces Distance Maintenance. Colonial Maintenance (what I will pay for multiple conquered cities in Zulu Land) is never more than twice Distance Maintenance {or so I am told; a fact which was consistent with findings in later games.} State Property eliminates Distance Maintenance; so, it eliminates Colonial Maintenance, as well. Assert CM <= 2 * DM Zulu Land is going to be expensive. - - - I will have to Declare on Mansu and sit on his Uranium. # # # 2021-08-08 1090AD T175 It might just be Reload, Roll Back (the same thing by a different name), or Restart. I can take Shaka. But Shaka is not the threat. Mansu is killing it on The Technology Front. He will overtake me, which I can live with... if I can neutralize Uranium and Oil, which I can do if I leverage my Destroyers and take-out Timbuktu. # # # 2021-08-08 045-12-12-T175 - Gold Rush - Mansu Matures - AD-1150 What do I want out of this map? If I am to be a Warlord, I may have waited too long. Knocking out a few Capitols would have worked wonders towards keeping the rest of the world in the dark ages. War against the incumbents. Spin off Vassals from any conquered cities. I could have a Rolling Stack of Doom like I used in that Four Way Game. I believe I had an Isolated Garden of Eden Start and Hammy had sole use of the continent we would have otherwise shared and I raided a few coastal cities. I will have to Roll Back or Restart. I like running Representation. And that civic is worth 200B/T from the +3B/T for each Specialist. Though, earlier I cannot run so many specialists and Monarch solves much of the problem. So, I may be better off running Monarchy until I can build The Globe Theater, which will be around T125 or so, if I limit the number of cities, which I am thinking about doing. Less Cities Later Globe Theater Less Maintenance Less Population (for votes) Less Production (fewer military) Though on military, I will need fewer defensive units with fewer cities. And at the point I am quitting {here and now, in this game}, a Sea Net would work better as Destroyers versus Frigates is exactly the type of Odds I like. I can keep Mansu down until flight. But really, just by razing Timbuktu (the easiest way to keep Mansu down), I will achieve all goals. When could I do that? Fewer Cities will make The Monk Economy less viable. But then, Fewer Cites makes ALL Economies less viable. - - - I can't see any reason not to get The Early Religions. But if I forgo Confucianism, I can Research Monarchy, bypassing the need for Pyramids, which I may just get from a captured capitol. In fact, raiding Wonders might be a good idea. It's a different game, however. Meaning, is it a game I wish to play? I don't doubt that I can take Shaka with Cannons. But I didn't bother. Why? If I don't settle fast, I don't need as many workers. Hmmm. - - - If I Research Monarchy, I also have to Research Feudalism to get to Civil Service. And Civil Service is way more important. So, Pyramids allow for a shorter Civil Service path. I can, however, neglect The Religions. I only need the one. Well, I do need Organized Religion. So, I do need more than one {as Confucianism is on the path to popping Civil Service from The Oracle}. The Great Lighthouse is a denial (to my enemies) wonder. It helps. But I question its centrality if one takes away the denial aspect. Like, I don't see how it matters much who gets Chicken. But Lighthouse is a definite improvement. And though my improvement is slight, Mansu's would be pretty good, and I cannot afford to give Mansu such a boost. # # # # # # GAME OVER! # # # # # # GAME-13 # # # # # # Code of Laws -> Civil Service I will run Confucianism as my State Religion, if that's what it comes down to. Researching: {??} # # # 2021-09-08 054-13-01-T20 - Gold Rush - Pyramids - BC-3200 I lose too many Turns Researching Feudalism. Wow! I just did the math (i.e. compared research times) and Feudalism delays Bureaucracy by 18 Turns. And since Beakers and Production go up by +50%, that's almost (sort of, to some degree, but maybe not entirely) like losing 9 Turns. Both Caste System & Bureaucracy land at the same time (on the same turn if I time it right), I will revolt into both together... in like 21 Turns, which is enough time to: Found Greatness Build The Great Lighthouse Build a Worker or Two Build The Hanging Gardens Of course, it is not. I'm building a Library first, as that's a nice bonus; and then, will be building The Great Lighthouse so it is not lost {to a competing Civ}. And even that is a lie, as the first build is a Settler for Greatness, the must have. I want Greatness to house both Oxford and Wall Street, so it should also be my Shrine City, of which there may only be one. {I take this last to mean that I will only be building shrines in the one city.} Apostolic Palace may well be a denial wonder. I will have to think about that. Part of the goal is to land {an army} early and slow the progress of my enemies' advancement. Fewer Wonders Fewer Religions Fewer Cities More Troops More Wars Syncronized Builds would be nice so as to take advantage of Spiritual and frequent Revolutions: All Buildings All Units # # # 2021-08-08 045-13-02-T38 - Gold Rush - Code of Bureaucracy - BC-2480 At T38, that's my best time for Caste System and Civil Service. The next city is Gemstone. And that will likely be it for this continent... unless my thinking changes. Gemstone will give me Easter Island and Workshop Island will open the way north. Planned Cities: Gold Rush Greatness (did I even rename this) Gemstone Workshop Isle Phant Island Easter Island Oil Shoals That gives me a single city on each island, but enough cities to get Globe Theater. At Globe Theater, I revolt to Representation. But that does not mean I am emphasising that path. Both Phant Island and Easter Island require a Culture Pop; and beyond that, Oil Shoals requires another pop. So, there will be some delay. I may well wish to run Pacifism. - - - Greatness: Galley Settler: Gemstone Settler Workshop Island Settle North Support: Workers Warriors Missionaries Existing Workers to Gemstone, as Greatness' can wait a few turns longer. - - - Gemstone: First Settler Both Workers Build: Galley Settler Settler Workers Religion: !!!IGNORE!!! Culture from Artists Organized Religion from Paya Wonder - - - ^^^SEE ABOVE^^^ # # # 2021-08-08 045-13-03-T45 - Gold Rush - The Great Lighthouse - BC-2200 I may just save after every milestone. Now, what a milestone is exactly is a whole different matter. Greaterness: Setter for Gemstone Galley Settler for Workshop Isle # # # 2021-08-09 045-13-04-T58 - Gold Rush - The Colossus - BC-1680 This was a rather non-eventful sprint. I built The Colossus. The Economy is tanking. Sure, I'm still at 100%. But if I did not have a Gold Reserve (please, call it a Hoard), I would have to switch my Scientists to Merchants. Next Up: Settlement Slew of Wonders # # # T60: I will be going for Guilds next. T61: There is no reason to settle Midlands, at this time. Both Gemstone and Workshop Isle open up new territories. Midland, does not. And at the moment, my Economy is not doing so well. I fear the maintenance hit. # # # I'm reloading from The Colossus, sight unseen. I have not been as focused as I would like. # # # 2021-08-09 045-13-05-T78 - Gold Rush - Guilds - BC-0925 My plan (assuming I have a plan) is not as clear cut at this stage. The real question is whether to go for Education or Chemistry? Education: Greater Research Oxford University Chemistry: Workshop +1H On The Path to War # # # 2021-08-09 045-13-06-T83 - Gold Rush - Optics - Losing Faith - BC-0800 I am barely maintaining Linear Growth; much less, the Exponential Growth that I desire. I am thinking about settling Sacrificial Cities closer in. Sacrificial City: Cedes Tiles to Major City Builds Pre-Requisite Buildings: Library Bank University Builds Units: Workers Settlers Military Essentially, my economy is dying. I'm spending 39G/T on Unit Maintenance. Yep. I'm going to try that. # # # # # # GAME OVER! # # # # # # GAME-14 # # # # # # I probably don't need to save so often as I'm not reloading all that terribly often; and for the most, prefer starting from scratch. # # # I don't think there is much point in settling those additional cities until after I land The Great Lighthouse. So: Pyramids Lighthouse Settlers & Workers # # # T20: Representation & Organized Religion T38: I am saving The Great Engineer for Mining, Inc. # # # 2021-08-09 045-14-01-T56 - Gold Rush - Wonderful Start - BC-1760 Gold Rush is well on its way to being Wonderful and/or Wonder Crazy. All the Gold Dust Cities (three of them) have built the required Fishing Boats (well, all but one) and are on Worker/Settler Duty. I will build the support buildings in them later. Cities: Greatness Workshop Isle It looks like I will be doing a more-or-less normal Research Path, clearing The Religions, capturing Wonders, and heading towards Cannons. I need at least Phant Isle or Easter Island for Oil. But that is far into the future. After Corporations when I lose the advantages of The Great Lighthouse, I may well leave many of these early Cities undefended. If they are captured, I will lose little. And will not care if they are razed. In fact, I may raze rather than recapturing. They truly will be support cities: Oxford: Library University Wall Street: Bank Globe Theater: Theater Though, how many cities will be true scrap is hard to say. Those on the line can be left undefended or minimally defended. # # # 2021-08-09 045-14-02-T100 - Gold Rush - SUPER REX - BC-0375 I've got 9 Cities on The Mainland. And Workshop Island is about ready to pop. I'll have close to 20 Cites in my Homeland when all is said and done. I am abusing The Great Lighthouse. And I am about to launch into The Monk Economy, which means spreading The Religion and backing it with Temples and Monasteries. I have my single starting Warrior and no other troops. I will try to Pop Constitution with Liberalism. And if I fail, I am sure I will reload. Speaking of Specialists (as Constitution unlocks The Statue of Liberty, which grants specialists), I forgot to Revolt into Merchantillism back when I discovered Banking. But that was only two turns ago. So, it's no great loss. I feel like I must be leading the pack. Of course, having no contact, I have no real way of knowing, except as it has played out. T100: 613B/T Is that good on this map? How does that compare to other games that I've played on this map. Gold Rush: Theater Globe Theater Bank I think that will solve my money problems... at least, for a bit. I mean, I do have a few more cities to settle. - - - I'm worried about not having enough troops. Also, I did not do the REX as efficiently as I think I could have. # # # 2021-08-09 75AD T118 Not a single Military Unit more. I used Liberalism for Constitution and will have The Statue of Liberty in 5 Turns. So, things are looking pretty good. Of course, I have no Power. None. Nada. Zip. Still, some of these Cities are throw-away. So, if they are captured in a sneak attack, it will not matter that much. Spamming Missionaries. Settling Phant Island, then Easterly. Rifling in 9 Turns. So, I guess, I'll start on my defences then. I got a Golden Age from The Taj Mahal. I will use a Great Artist to extend that when done. - - - Specialists in Gold Rush could be reset. I need to switch to Military. TROOPS! TROOPS! TROOPS! # # # 2021-08-10 045-14-04-T125 - Gold Rush - Zero Power Rifles - AD-0250 I have rifles. Research is OK. But Mansu's will be better... if not now, soon enough. The Mainland is settled. Easterly has two Settlers on the way. While the last northern island (whatever it is called) has yet to be discovered. A lone Caravel is a quarter of the way around the globe. The top half of the city list should be working on Rifles soon enough, only three at the moment. But that should increase. I will delay Corporation, Astronomy, and Scientific Method as long as possible, researching them in reverse order (Scientific Method first), as needed. I am sure I will be running State Property prior to researching corporation. I have maybe 50 Turns before Mansu overtakes me. I need to make the most of it. It's a short 25-50 Turns to WAR!!! Stacks of Machine Gunners might be effective. I really don't know. So, let us think awhile. I am pleased with The REX! # # # T143: I need a Sea Net and to control Mansu's Uranium. I can isolate him if I can get about 10 Destroyers in position and place a stack of Machine Gunners on his Uranium. # # # 2021-08-10 045-14-05-T151 - Gold Rush - Rush to Sea Net - AD-0820 It's a race to Sea Net! By landing a HUGE Stack on Mali, I can control Mansu's Uranium. And he only has Off Shore Oil, so if I can prevent him from getting Destroyers, I can control that. Eh, let's start over {the description of what is, that is}. Without Oil or Uranium, Mansu cannot challenge me on the sea. He will be the Tech leader, so I don't have to worry about anyone else. And by the time he can import oil, My Destroyers will Rule The Sea. So, No Oil & No Uranium means Mansu is isolated. And soon enough, I will be able to replace my Machine Gunners with Tanks and such. Of course, he gets air. Hmmm. Maybe, I should just let Mansu run wild. He will take out my stack at Flight. Though, that is miles away. With Artillery, I can level Timbuktu. So, 10 Turns of {production, presumably, towards} Sea Net, switch to an Offensive Stack, and land ASAP, taking out Timbuktu and whatever else I can. It's that or attacking someone else. Clearly, I am over-relying on The Great Lighthouse. Thus, it's not really a Sea Net. I need to break Mansu. Interesting, Mansu has no Wonders. Destroyers & Artillery. Ah, but Flying Units require Oil. So, an Oil Isolation Strategy will still work. # # # 2021-08-10 045-14-06-T169 - Gold Rush - Pre Attack Mansu - AD-1090 I probably asked for too much (Horseback Riding or all the gold they had), but everyone rejected my Demands or Requests for Tribute. I guess I don't get any Peace Treaties. Mansu is going down. He Techs too fast. I simply cannot allow him to run away with it. So, I am landing right after this save, which takes place in the middle of a Turn. Except for Mansu, I have dominance. Simply put, I can afford a World War targeted against myself. Well, maybe not. But a few more turns of Destroyers and I can. In Production: 5 Artillery 5 Destroyers I mean, if someone lands with a stack, that will be bad. But they have to land. Having Espionage on everyone is fun. Well, I have more points. And soon, I will have the totals required. Mansu was the only competition. # # # 2021-08-11 I saved the attack for today, a stack of Rifles, Machine Gunners, and Howitzers ready to land. I will either take Timbuktu or level it. - - - Of course, I say that. But currently, I am not motivated to play. Am I bored or worried? I believe I have doubts, as I have failed in this regards before {that Bismark Game coming rapidly to mind}. A large enough enemy stack will decimate mine. But I do believe I am bringing enough troops... to hold the Uranium (or level Timbuktu), if nothing else. I think the greater issue is where do I go from here? Maybe, I'll write {i.e. work on something else}. # # # 2021-08-11 1130AD T173 Mansu never bothered to upgrade his troops, so taking Timbuktu was a cake-walk. At the end, he smashed a stack of Catapults (with no follow up units in sight) against Machine Gunners, losing every Catapult. Shaka is on the move. If he starts sailing my way, I'm going to proactively start taking out his fleet, blocking the way, too boot, if I can. X \ X - S X / Making him go around. And if I can bring enough ships to bear, which is unlikely: X X X X S X X X X But I don't think I have that many ships in the vicinity. Still, I might be able to ground him. It will take a whole heck of a lot of 8STR Frigates to sink a single 30STR Destroyer. It's the type of Duck Shoot I like. Yeah, it looks like I will be fighting a Two Front War. But it's 30v8. So, I will be clobbering Shaka. - - - Since I can detect enemies but not all {shipping}, my Sea Net will be easier to run once I am at war; meaning, I have little incentive to ever declare peace. I will have to see what needs doing to NEUTRALIZE OIL! This could be interesting: i.e. Fun, somewhere in the game I have not gone before. All of which makes me wonder what a game without Coal, Oil, or Uranium would look like. Heck, I might as well delete Aluminum while I am at it. And if I am in World Builder that long, I will not be able to help myself, but to tweak other items. As such, I should plan on a Garden of Eden / Cooked Map, if I go such a route. # # # 2021-08-11 1200AD T180 I am going to gut Mali. Hopefully, I take Tadmere, prior to Capitulation as it holds Versailles. I doubt I will make peace with Shaka, like, ever. I've decimated his fleet. Or if decimation means 1-in-10. I obliterated his fleet. He's got a few ships (and likely makes more) but he's sunk. Ha! Ha! Carthage is coming online. Man, those bonuses must get to be pretty good {for my AI Adversaries on Immortal, Deity, or whatever I was playing at}. Let's say I get Tadmekka in 20 Turns. Then, it's Shaka. One way or another, I will be needing another stack. Sure, I want The Wonders. Eh, I am going to build The Wonders. Joao is the most backward, after Shaka. So, if he keeps it up, he will be the target after Shaka. With the oceans mine, for the moment I can be proactive in my plans. Though, I will have to make plans to isolate both Shaka and Joao from Oil & Uranium. I just don't think I have to, quite yet. # # # It's a Turkey Shoot, just like I like. Though, I can't fight the world forever. So, I need progress. # # # 2021-08-12 045-14-07-T185 - Gold Rush - No Peace Mansu - AD-1260 I want to gut Mansu a bit more prior to accepting Capitulation. So, I am going to bribe Hannibal to make peace and extend the war. {On this map, there was little reason to bribe Hannibal to either go to war against Mansu or make peace with Mansu. It was just a waste of a few technologies, gifting him the ability to catch up.} I believe if both Hannibal and myself are at war with Mansu and he Capitulates to one or the other, the other will automatically switch to peace, which is fine. But I'd rather force Hannibal to Declare War on me rather than take the spoils so easily. # # # 2021-08-12 045-14-08-T192 - Gold Rush - Mansu Capitulates - AD-1320 Mansu has Capitulated and gave me Tadmekka as part of my winnings. Nice Guy. Hannibal has a fleet on the move. And I do not know where it is headed. It is not so large. And I will obliterate it if I get nervous, as I would rather fight at sea than next to one of my cities. In truth, I think his objective is Mansu's City of Kana, which if he turns around is what he was after. And that's about the extent I feel like thinking about the game, at the moment. I need to take stock of Oil & Uranium and see what that means strategically. Hannibal is coming along. But is still wayward enough that I can take him. # # # In theory, Carthage has Two Land Oil and no Uranium. - - - Nope. My previous counts were in error. Carthage has at least: 1 Uranium 3 Oil It's enough that I would have to force Hannibal to Capitulate... or not. Of course, he's pre-rifles and pre-cannon. I mean, that can rapidly change. But right now, he is ripe; and may well be my next target. - - - I may well be best served by a sneak attack against Hannibal's three island cities. I don't know what I called that Northernmost Island. I can see taking that over prior to moving on to Carthage. # # # 2021-08-12 045-14-09-T200 - Gold Rush - Pre Shaka Landing - AD-1400 I expect to take Shaka out rather easily. He's fielding Longbows and such. From there, if I do not wish to take an implied victory, I will have to move on, as no one is voting my way in the UN. Not surprising after I dissed {i.e. insulted} them all and asked for tribute. Though, after taking out Shaka, I should have close to a majority just on my own... likely enough votes to block a win by another. # # # 2021-08-12 That might be it for me. It's starting to be a bit tedious. - - - The decent into Total War is what I find uninteresting. It is time to win; and thus, time to conquer: all troops, all the time. I'll pass. I don't think I will lose, as I am The Clear Dominant Power, The Clear Power Leader. They dare not attack. And as such, I can pick and choose where and when {to attack} with little concern or fear of reprisal. Sure, I might have to accept Shaka's Capitulation sooner than I might like. But we are talking about being forced to take a vassal; thereby, freeing my troops to focus upon the next entrant in It's Time To Vassal The World. # # # Once again, if I wanted to graph this (and I'm not sure that I do), I don't know what sort of graphics I would like. What story do I want told? # # # # # # 2021-08-21 (c) Copyright Brett Paufler