Monty's Revenge (c) 2018-03-28 Copyright Brett Paufler # # # Monarch Montezuma 7 AI Opponents 8 Total Map: Hub Size: Large Climate: Tropical Sealevel: High Era: Ancient Speed: Normal Areas Per Player: 1 Per Player Land Shape: Solid Neutral Territory: Natural Isthmus Width: 3 Plots Wide World Wrap: Flat Resources: Balanced Raging Barbarians Aggressive AI No Technology Trading No Tribal Villages (Goody Huts) No Random Events All Victories Workers, Missionaries, & Executives Always Start Automated # # # I know the game settings, so one of my Human Player advantages will be that I prioritize the Great Wall. I would like to go for the Religions (and in a later game, I might do just that), but at this difficulty level there is a high percentage chance that an AI would discover any religion I went for first. And I am not about a low percentage win, but play that is solid. Having created the starting map, I will sit on this... until spring break is over, as I have other things to do in the interim (or at least, this is not what I want consuming my mind during Spring Break). # # # 2018-04-03 Starting Game Play I may already be floundering... or maybe I have not yet hit my stride. I have built the Triumvirate of Wonders: The Great Wall, Stonehenge, and Pyramids, in that order. No religions, though I might have been able to capture one or two. And at 400BC, I am now doing a slow REX towards the center of the board, ignoring the barbarians, which surround me. Ha! I am bored with the game. I wonder why I quit playing before, you know, as in, years before. But truthfully, I think it is more my current mood. I have other things on my mind. And so, losing myself in the game is not an option. We shall see. Also, I am very tired. So, tell me, how is that for game play commentary? # # # And this is where I ended my first try on the map. 1) REX'ing toward the center did not matter, as my economy could not keep up. 2) I actually probably could have gotten a religion, so maybe I will go for that. # # # So, yes. I am restarting. I read in a forum discussion (so it is odd how much other people's opinion matter to me) that they thought reloading a map was cheating. Well, in some sense it is. On the other hand, other folks chimed in that it was OK to play however you wanted to. And personally, I think it is a great way to improve one's play. And truthfully, I do not believe there is much advantage for replaying this exact same map, as I already know where everyone else starts. But they start upwards of twenty or thirty (or maybe more) turns away. It is a far distance to travel for a rush. And without Goodie Huts, there is no real advantage of advanced knowledge of the board... especially after I REX'd toward the center to no avail. It is too far for one such as I to REX meaningfully towards. These are all things I would learn on any random map of this type. So, no need to reroll the specific map. Besides, I might check a box differently (in the map options) when creating the map. On the other hand, I think I have enough time (perhaps, based on the mix of opponents) to discover a religion, which I think I shall try. Oddly, I was thinking of stacking the deck so I would be assured of discovering a religion. And so, maybe we can call the current map so stacked. Oh, also, the Aztec City Names mean nothing to me, so I will be renaming the cities I create them. I mention this, as I had previously thought of using the default names for the auto-logger's benefit, as it uses the default name upon city creation. # # # So, third game here. I can get Hinduism and Monotheism consistently, so I am doing that. In the previous game, I tried for Stonehenge first and lost the Great Wall. The Great Wall is way more important, so I am prioritizing that. At 2280BC, I think it is time to settle a few cities. But I should keep in mind that I only get about five or so at this difficulty (and tech) level. # # # I probably (probably) will not restart (maybe I should go back in time). I got Pyramids. But I researched... no, I didn't. So, I'm in Jungle and I can't chop. Eh, maybe it's just that time of the game, the golden era when all decisions seem to matter. I am researching the basic religious techs so I can build Temples and Monastery. Well, I took another look at the tech tree. I just haven't researched that much. Anyhow, with three religions, I am going to focus on the religious buildings. # # # 100AD This is where and when I would put a bit about Fog Busting in the next post, so I took some pictures. # # # 500AD I got the Oracle... that came as a surprise. I would have expected it to be discovered by now. I was originally planning on going for Code of Laws (for the Sacrificial Altars), but someone else already got Confucianism, so I opted for Theology and Christianity. I have three religions now. I might go for more. I need Great Prophets. I think I'm going to stop whipping in the capital (Calm Center), and Specialize for the creation of Great Prophets, instead. And I am going for another Religion, but it might be my doom. I need more cities and a stack of jaguar warriors. I should get on that. # # # 800AD So, note to self: 1) Jaguar Warriors 2) Time to start expanding Carthage will be coming after you soon enough. Also, I have Gemstone (my second city) building some Wonder that I can't even name. So, maybe that's the city to switch to Settler / Jaguar production. # # # I decided to switch out of the Temple of Artemis on the idea that I was wasting resources and I would get Fail Gold. But when someone else completed it the next turn (and it wasn't the current item in production, I did not get Fail Gold), so I reloaded. I don't feel the need to stick to a game when I make a mistake failing to understand the mechanics. Also, if I don't make the next Religion, I might reload on that, as well. So, got Taoism. Onto Islam. That will give me a clean sweep of every religion but Buddhism, which means I should look at a Cultural Victory. # # # 1200AD By some measures, it is very late in the game not to have a war or two going. And on the other hand, I have not built out my peninsula yet. There is plenty or room to expand. Carthage hates me. So, a religious war seems likely. I am sending a warrior down the peninsula, so I have some kind of warning for when he decides to send a stack my way. And I am planning on dedicating the cities I found down the peninsula to the art of war. Meaning, I'll be building (in order) Sacrificial Altars, Granaries, Barracks, and a stream of Jaguar Warriors. I'm also putting a fair bit of thought into my next city location, as Islam is likely to be founded there. And I nailed it, Mecca did found Islam. Now, it's time to back fill some of the basic techs I've overlooked for the last thousand years. And since I have five of the world's religions, I should try and capitalize on that. For now, I am running six or so priests in my capitol, so as to get a few Great Prophets. So far, I have gotten one, along with three spies, and a scientist. # # # 1420AD Ethiopia founded a city at the end of my peninsula, which was soon after crushed by barbarians. So, I'm in full on REX mode... well, sort of full on. Lots of sticks in the fire. For an isolated start, the Hub Map worked quite fine. I believe we are all just getting out of our shells, as I haven't met half the AI's yet. When I do, I need to spam one of my religions. Though it is true, I would rather have Great Prophets. Those three Great Spies are allowing me to kick everyone else's ass in the Espionage game. Thus, I think I will research Alphabet next and build a few spies... well, I will research Alphabet after Construction (for Catapults) and Currency. # # # Well, one problem with automated Workers is that they go around in circles, overriding old improvements, before tackling virgin territory. And what has it been, a hundred turns, and still my iron isn't connected. So, are they trying to be incompetent. I made it so they have to leave old improvements, at least, for a while. I mean, no wonder I feel like I need more workers, the old ones aren't doing much of anything: changing a mine (and a perfectly good mine at that) into a cottage. OK. Wow! Just, Wow! A mine was turned into a cottage. And now it is being turned back into a mine. As they say, this is Bull Shit. It is a good game, but how many circles have my workers ran around in? I am seriously thinking about reloading. Though, automated Missionaries are working for me. # # # 2018-04-05 Started Fourth Walk Through 200BC (or so) Calm Center is a Mega City Three Wonders Great Wall Pyramids Oracle Four Religions Hinduism Monotheism Christianity (via Oracle) Confucianism Running Three Priests Time to start the REX. Backfill the tech tree. Plan to land the last two religions in the same city. # # # The truth is, with all of these restarts, I am probably pushing the game in a more and more improbable direction (as in, the strategy is highly fitted to this map, these AI's). But it is what it is. I think I need to work towards Iron Working next, so I can pump out Jaguar Warriors during my REX. The Wheel -> Pottery -> Iron Working # # # 820AD Got Taoism in my third city. I am running 100% research with three cities, so that's pretty awesome. Going for Divine Right and Islam, after which, I'll do my REX. The Survey said I was the third most advanced civilization, which is... um, much better than I expected, to tell the truth. Building the Capitol (Calm Center) up as high as I can, running five Priests, but not getting the prophets I would like. Have settled two Great Engineers, which will allow me to concentrate on food over hammers. # # # 2018-04-07 1420AD Pre Bureaucracy in Capitol 83.65 - Science 30.30 - Espionage 30.30 - Gold 32 hammers Post Revolution 95.20 - Science 30.00 - Espionage 33.30 - Gold 48 hammers In truth, not as much as I would have expected. So, not as valuable for a Specialist Economy. If I had cottages, instead, I would expect this to have gone up by a greater percentage. With two settled Great Spies, I have a commanding Espionage lead. I should probably try to do something with that. Thus, I need to dedicate a city to pumping out spies before long. And attach a Spy or two to my stack, you know, when I get a stack. Struggling to get enough Jaguar Warriors together (say nine) to defeat a Barbarian City, even though I've been producing Jaguar Warriors in one of my Cities (Second Pig) fairly exclusively for a while now. So, an exclusive city each for: 1) Jaguar Warriors 2) Missionaries (maybe two cities for this) 3) Spies 4) Settler/Workers Probably in that order. I have three or four cities coming on line soon, so production specialization on those, with my Capitol and one other (perhaps should make that two others) being Wonder Specialist Cities. # # # Well, I definitely did not get my money's worth out of my Jaguar Warriors. With Machinery, it's on to Crossbows and Heavy Footmen (or as I think of them, Maces). Carthage is the point leader and he's been settling my peninsula, so war with him PDQ... or once I get something resembling a stack going. Of course, I probably would not have to. My cultural win situation is not that bad. Still, I like a good war. So, war it is... or stealing his techs. After all, I could care less if he hates me. # # # 1615AD Hannibal is likely bringing the war to me, as mounted units are working their way towards me. Either way, in a few turns we will be at war. I want to upgrade my Tiremes to Caravels, first though. Anyway, building Pikes. I have a feeling the next few hundred years are not going to be kind to the Carthaginian Empire. # # # 1655AD I declared war on Carthage, which was fine... not inspired, but fine. Unfortunately, Ethiopia came to Carthage's rescue with a stack of doom. And so much for me. So, what would I do differently? Well, if I'm going to go Wonder Crazy, an Industrious Leader like Ramesses might work better. On the other hand, the central city with it's priest specialization worked pretty well. Maybe I should try to repeat that in other cities. Anyway, end of game. Ideas, not set in stone: 1) Only have one city until 1000AD or so? 2) Explore earlier in hopes that the One True Religion (that which Isabelle has) spreads to me. 3) Expand toward the center more. Not a lot of ideas there. 4) Postpone Civil Service, so as to build more Jaguar Warriors. I really like the idea of the Free Promotions. The Second City only had one Wonder in it. So, Calm Center was doing all the heavy lifting. Heck, if a Barbarian City is founded up by the gems, I might be able to Culture Flip it without a war... or just ignore it until I am done settling the peninsula. Anyway, the final decision is to have a single Mega City until the AD's, loaded with Religions and Wonders. # # # 2018-04-08 Starting fifth game. 400AD I did not get a clean sweep of the Religions. Someone got Confucianism before I did, which might be just as well, as last game everyone else was Buddhism. I expect a greater fan out this game, as to which religions the AI's follow. I am sending my first settler down to the end of the peninsula to slice off my fair share. And from there, infill madness. So, I'm settled at the end of the peninsula. Thus, after a few hours, I'm sort of to where I was. Well, a hundred turns or so off. Certainly, all that whipping micro-management I've lost. Anyway, the second settle, who will be sent towards the center (going to try and get me some gold this time) is in production. And then, well, I'll either grab more or start to infill. It's probably a mistake to build the Angkor Wat, the +1 hammer per priest just isn't that much. Still, I am currently running a bunch of priests. Eh, who am I kidding. A stack of Jaguars will likely serve me better. # # # 1410AD 2018-04-09 A ways back, I made the mistake of settling my 'Center Claim' city at the end of Carthage's peninsula, thus insuring I would be his number one enemy. Thus, my capitol is pumping out Jaguars. And in a few (dozen) turns, another city will do nothing but Horse Archers. And once I get Iron on line, a third (don't know which, yet) will be dedicated to Pikes. I'm going to have a lot of single serving cities. Not getting the Partheon hurt. I essentially traded 250g for what could have been seven Jaguars. Oh, well. Religions and Wonders are always a coin toss. If I play this sort of map again. I think it will be as Egypt... or some Wonder Builder of the like. # # # 1410AD I defy resolution for Open Borders. I am a Villian. That's it! I quit! I'm taking my ball and going home! # # # Game - 07 Sort of getting ridiculous at this point. 2018-04-09 175BC A solid start: Four Religions Great Wall Pyramids Oracle Temple of Artemis Researching: Wheel -> Pottery -> Iron Working Then going to Settle a city or two towards the middle of the board... you know, right next to the stone, that stuff I could have used for the last 4000 years. Eh, Luckily these first turns go fast. A hundred turns into the game, more or less. # # # 540AD I'm sending a stack to claim my end of the peninsula and perhaps some of the center, consisting of: Settler Worker Four Different Missionaries Four Jaguar Warriors (some as stragglers) It should be enough to hold it, close it off, and launch a culture bomb, as that is this city's purpose. I really can't tell you if it is a good strategy (or I am over fitting for the map), but having a single city for a long time, is working out well. Eh, it's probably the isolated start. Otherwise, I'd need to protect my territory more. I founded Spear Head prior to discovering Taoism, so I reloaded with the intent of stacking all the religions back in the capitol. Maybe cheesy. But it is what it is. I made the decision moments later. The stack is in holding pattern. It still might get Divine Right and Islam. We'll see. 1410AD Well, now. There's a bit of high drama. Spear Head (my city at the end of the peninsula) was placed rather aggressively, so it didn't actually cut off my territory; as in, it did not prevent others from entering my peninsula. It was a bad move (city placement) on my part. And Carthage was all set to send a Setter my way. Did, actually. But I pulled all my Jaguars out of Spear Head, lining the trail. And Carthage got the message. Thankfully, the borders popped a few turns later. I still need to cut off the sea route. But I'd likely have to restart again, if my land grab blockade did not work. And with drama like that, I fell into that 'Just one more turn trap.' It's sort of amazing how cocky I was when I started this map six games ago. It's close. If Carthage (or anyone) attacks. I'm done for. I switched religions, so Carthage would like me better. It helped a little. He asked for open borders. But I can't afford that until my cities are settled. Time to REX... and crank out units. And all sorts of stuff. Replay Center = Wild Card Spear Head = Culture Pigsty = Horse Archers Pig Iron Flats -> ships whenever it gets online And that's all the cities I have. I need another city for Pikes, at the very least. Well, Pikes, Cats, and ??? Carthage just dropped a Culture Bomb to counteract Spear Head (my culture city at the end of the peninsula). It made an impact. Well, that was fun. I'm cranking out the culture. Hannibal culture bombs to sneak in a Settler. I switch civics, so I can run an Artist in my second blocking city. And finally, Hannibal puts tail between legs and leaves... once again. Hannibal just won't quit. Now he's forcing me to sign Open Borders through the Apostolic Palace. Eh, it is what it is. Time to spam Settlers and build the rest of my cities before everyone else invades my land. # # # Taking a day off. When I return: 1) Watch for incoming Settlers 2) Build out land 3) Assemble a stack to be proud of Actually, that culture war is quite satisfying. We'll see how long it takes a Settler to make it's way into my territory. I would have thought Hannibal would have already been on it. Win the vote. Move on in. I may have the time I need to build out. Also, where he dropped the culture bomb, I'm not recovered, but definitely recovering. I've got a ton of Temples and Monasteries in that city. The Forbidden Palace to come. # # # ^ ^ ^ # # # 1655AD It seems unlikely. But if I am able, I will try to build the Sistine Chapel for the Culture Bonus. Probably should have gone in that direction a bit. I've been wandering down the Tech Tree for a while. The age of the Jaguar Warriors is coming to an end. Civil Service is on the short list to research. Right now, I'm feeling fairly safe. Not that I feel like I am going to win or get a good score. But I don't feel like anyone is going to be invading me anytime soon. Another hundred years or so (call it twenty or so turns, maybe a bit more), and it would be a mistake for anyone to invade. In a hundred turns, it would be suicide. Taking pictures of the cultural war situation. I'm happy with my dedicated cities. And with all that religion in the capitol, money is looking pretty cheap. # # # BUILD SISTINE CHAPEL # # # 1695AD Adopt Bureaucracy pre post Research: 109 136 Espionage: 18 18 Gold: 85 93 Hammers: 42 59 Not Bad I managed to get the Sistine Chapel. That was a real nail biter. I mean, I'm getting creamed points wise. And I'm still several (maybe a hundred) turns away from parity and being able to go on the offensive. But it is a fun interesting game. # # # 1765AD Mansu (in second place) is losing a war to Greece (in second to last). The barbarian city in my midst, fell to Ethiopia, which hurts. # # # 1812AD And then, there is the sad realization that you simply will not win. I mean, if the game were to last forever (and there were time, cultural, or spaceship victories), I likely could turn it around. But as it is, there is little hope. At some point Hannibal or Mansu Mansu will start building a spaceship, and that's that. Next time through: TOTAL WAR! It's worked before. It may well be the only thing that will work. 1) Two Religions 2) Undecided as to Wonders, but not heavy 3) Standard Teching 4) Build up the War Machine. # # # 2018-04-11 Hmm, going to go for a walk, lest I repeat all the previous games. I went for Buddhism this time. And Code of Laws is on the short list. So, maybe that is a lot of repeating. We'll see. # # # 25AD Three Wonders in the Capital The Great Wall Pyramds The Oracle Two Religions Buddhism Code of Laws Three Cities Building Jaguar Warriors and Expanding my Kingdom I should probably send a stack down towards the middle of the board soon enough. Maybe six Jaguars, three settlers, and three missionaries. I wasn't trying for it. I want The Spiral Minaret to power my religious machine. But someone beat me to Christianity by four turns. Which basically means, if I hadn't researched Archery & Horseback riding, I would have gotten it. 1230AD Hey! I'm not in last place. I got the Sistine Chapel. And have some chance of founding Islam. As well as building the Spiral Minaret. And if so, things are looking good. I dropped down to 0% research on the slider for a bit, but I'm back up to 50%. I'm waiting to see if Spear Head can get Islam. After that, I'm dropping three more cites on the Spear Shaft (the peninsula). And then, it's back filling before war. Third place, not too bad. Solid middle of the pack. Need to build five plus settlers (maybe closer to ten), when I resume play. That zeroing down of the research slider, accompanied by a few Wonder/Religion races, and the cultural pop at Spear Head, made for an exciting bit of play. I probably played two hours longer than I had anticipated, you know, after I should have quit. # # # I thought about extending my hold on the center by another city, as no one is there yet. But I decided I would be better holding back. I don't need to become everyone's worst enemy just yet. As I write, Islam and Schewdagon Paya are two turns away. I'm not whipping the Paya, as the next wonder is more important. And there is nothing I can do to rush Islam that I'm not already doing... or that I'm willing to do. Actually, when I say there is nothing... my mind immediately counters that. Of course, I could make it a higher priority. But at this point, it is icing on the cake. Not critical. Got the Paya. Correction, Islam is four turns out. Got Islam. And am now going for Taoism. Which means, I am delaying the settling of the next three for ten more turns to double up on the Religions in Spear Head. # # # 1360AD Hannibal has settle the tip of his peninsula. Oh, and I haven't met Isabella, yet. But I'd lay money she's the one who founded Christianity. Hannibal is getting impatient for me to open borders. Good thing we share a religion. And now, since my economy is in the tank. I've done all sorts of fancy footwork to found Philosophy in three turns. Thus, hopefully allowing me to rearrange things once I settle those cities. Oh, I was wrong about Isabella. But she still hates me. 1430AD Well, Greece just declared war. And I am not as well prepared as I would like. If I go down, next time I limited myself to just the one or two religions. I reloaded once to see if Open Borders would make a difference. It will not. So, log is all messed up at that point. And/or I cheated. Maybe I'll survive. Nope, not a chance. Ethiopia joined the pile up. I'm doomed. So, another go at it. Maybe I should fight the Barbarian Hordes this time? I still want a religion, though. Oh, well. Anything finer than that for another day. It was really going pretty good... just, you know, no military... or not enough... not enough for a two AI war. # # # 2018-04-11 The tenth go at it. Buddhism No Early Wonders Let's see what happens. Sorry, this is just the ninth go at it. Well, it will be the tenth, next. Just Buddhism, will work. But The Great Wall breaks even real fast with Raging Barbarians, so I might as well go for it. So, looks like back to two Religions, I was going to say. But upon checking it, I can go Buddhism, Masonry... and then play a nice clean game. My territory was silly with Barbarians. I mean, if everyone else was having the same problems, then no worries. But I do not believe they were. Mansu Mansu managed to send a Skirmisher my way. And that's where I will leave it for another day. # # # The plan is: Buddhism Great Wall Pyramids Oracle Confucianism Which means, research is: Meditation Masonry Agriculture Mining Bronze Working Priesthood Writing Oracle -> Code of Laws Iron Working Backfill as needed Build order is: Barracks Warrior Worker Great Wall Worker (whipped for three) Worker Pyramids Oracle 1720BC: see my first barbarian sighting, but I've got The Walls. 850BC: two religions, three wonders, time to expand to as many cities, so I am ready for war at 1000AD. When I resume, need to connect Rice & Pigs as fast as possible for Health. I guess that means I need to research Animal Husbandry. I forgot about that. Also, I broke my research pattern and have researched The Wheel and Pottery. I might do a bit of Cottage Spamming this time around. Scout going north to see if it is too late to settle gems. # # # 200AD: Expanding towards center, skipping every other city site, so I get there faster, but am not too overly extended. 1240AD: going for three Wonders, Fail Gold is acceptable, as good as the Wonder. The wars are starting. I don't have a big enough stack, always pushing it back in the priority. 1360AD: as long as no one declares war, things look good. Got to build that stack, three cities on that, with three Wonders still in production. I will not voluntarily be at war until Steel or so. 1490AD: I have 13 defensive units, at Spear Head, which isn't enough, but twice what I have amassed in previous games. I am concentrating on Military Techs, so I can turn my Spears into Pikes, prior to researching Divine Right. If I can build the Spiral Minaret, which the AI doesn't seem to prioritorize, my cash flow situation should be golden. As it is, I'm at 80% on the slider, which means I should found another city or two in the Hinterlands. Hannibal is Jewish, so if Judaism spread to my lands, I might just convert. It's tense, in that I know a war would likely end the game... once again. # # # 1580AD: Hannibal declares war! Maybe I will survive. I have a stack. He has better units. Carthage came and swept me a away. It is clear that I cannot hold the center. Thus, I will not try. Next game, I will not expand as much (or at all) and try to stay isolated. The goal is to have nine cities on my peninsula. Tech as many of the Religions as I can. Build Cathedrals in three of my cities. Hence, why I need nine. And go for a cultural win. Maybe it will work. Even if it does not, it is clear what I have been trying has not been working. So, time to switch it up. Cultural Victory Backed by Religions And Mega Wonders Six Cities Pumping Units # # # 2018-04-14 Attempt Eleven -> 11 Going for Cultural Win I obviously cannot hold the center, so I shall not try. It will be a full on Religion and Wonder Quest. I know the map, so I am camping my scout in my second city location, lest the AI spawn a Barbarian City there. I cannot afford to wait the hundreds of years, before I can take over a Barbarian City. Two Religions Great Wall Pumping out Workers, three Then Pyramids and Oracle, to enable both Code of Laws and Theocracy. It is interesting how the Barbarians stream by following the same route. There is a city to the Southwest, I am sure. It is a secondary location. Anyway, the Barbarians are spawning. And if not already a city, it will be so soon. And as long as they are able, the spawned Barbarians will take the same route past my city. One wonders where they are headed. Got the Pyramids, so immediate Revolt into Representation for the Happiness... and eventually, the +3 beakers, per specialist. I anticipate running a lot of specialists, at some point... probably switch to Caste System and run a bunch of Artists. I did not get Confucianism. I don't like losing these races. Though, I got Christianity. I mean, three is enough. And there are two more to go. Perhaps, I lost the race because I used the whip? 725BC is the magical year. I'm going to go back in time and try again. I'm going to retry this eleventh attempt. Don't ask me why I am not calling it the twelfth. Anyhow, micro managing, trying for the full Monty on Religions. # # # Eh, I guess I'm going to call it 12, to keep the logfiles clean. # # # 2018-04-14 Twelfth Century And now, we're onto the Thirteenth, because at this point, what is one more. 1410AD and not much to report. I didn't stay as far back up the peninsula as I had originally intended. But rather, placed my Seventh City, slightly beyond my last Cultural City. We'll see if that is my undoing. It probably will not make any difference. Hannibal is a different religion, but we have open borders and I am trading him gems, so maybe he'll not attack. So far, I have only met Carthage and Ethiopia. I have both the Sistine Chapel and the Spiral Minaret. And am back filling on techs at the moment. I have no idea what techs I need next... outside of the military ones, so I can defend myself. As always, things look very promising... if only, no one attacks me. And Hannibal did, with a stack five times the size of my non-existant stack. Game over. Not looking good. Once again, from the top. One religion. Do we need anything else? # # # 2018-04-14 Game 14 Cultural One Religion: Buddhism No Great Wall: Troops Instead 175BC It is much harder to tell how I am doing. I am maxed out on soldiers. Lots of Archers and Jaguars. And as soon as my economy is on the rise, it will be time to expand. The slider is at 50%, which is where I want to keep it. My cities are going to have everything I can build in them, as I can't afford to build more military. 1410AD I'm still alive. Without Wonders, it's not as obviously winning... if that makes any sense. I have no... um, sparkle in my empire. But a lot of troops. I'm in Monarchy, so each city is being garrisoned by two or three units. And that's just going to grow. I really have no choice. Also, Mansu Mansu is expanding up my peninsula, so I haven't even met Hannibal yet. Maybe just as well. We'll see who attacks instead. But if I can get my troops stacked high enough, all they will be doing is giving me a free general. Because I have been struggling so much getting my economy to stay up in the 20-30%, much less 50% or higher, I feel like I'm backwards tech wise. Currency gave me a huge boost. Maybe I should see if Mansu wants to trade maps. That could really help me. It's silly to say I have any cultural cities, yet. I haven't had time to concentrate on that. Of course, it's not even 1500AD, yet. But I was a lot further along, well, in the non-military stuff, last game. By 1200AD, I had Islam and the Spiral Minaret. I have nothing like that this game. Since I only have the one religion, I'm cash poor. And building all those troops to fight off the Barbarians has cost me. Oh, did I not mention, none of the early wonders. Oh, I probably got Stonehenge, but I never care about that. The Great Wall, Oracle, The Pyramids, all went to others. Yeah, I would not go this route again. If this falls flat, I'm back to: Hinduism & Judaism Great Wall, Pyramids, Oracle And from there, I can see concentrating on a military. But since I have until 1500AD or so, I should probably hang back and do my military builds all at once at the end. The long term upkeep of my military is insane. # # # 1655AD I'm still alive. Not a great game. Not a bad game. My only real chance is to go for a Cultural Victory. I've known this from the start. I got distracted a few dozen turns back, thinking maybe I had a chance for Islam; and then, the Spiral Minaret. But it's too far out of reach. Hopefully, I can get the Sistine Chapel. I don't know if I need much else Tech Wise after that even if I don't get it. Drama and Feudalism... nope, sorry. Don't need that last, as I already have caste system. I mean, it will be a long slog, because I have a feeling folks will want to declare war on me towards the end. But with any luck, I'll get a few Great Artists and zoom past the finish line. Sistine Chapel would really help me. Of course, I may only be in the game, because I went for Engineering and Pikes. Anyway, pulling in my wings... dedicating myself to survival on my one lone peninsula. No one has declared war... though, I did manage to survive a war with Mansu Mansu, but only because Carthage and Ethiopia were both already at war and ran interference for me. # # # 1904AD It's really just a matter if I get lucky and no one declares war on me. I have a huge stack of units. More on a square than I've ever had before. Fifty Seven in total. But they are all outdated. Hannibal has Infantry. Yep, he has Infantry. And my best unit is a Heavy Footman... or Maceman. So, if anyone declares war, it will be game over. In the meantime, I'm focusing on culture... perhaps too much. Who knows how much I could have caught up if I tried to maintain tech parity. But then, I would not even get the Cultural Victory. China just declared war on Isabella, which will keep her off my back. I'm sure she was thinking of declaring war. Maybe Hannibal will jump on the bandwagon. Well, someone is next. I hope it is not me. Three cities at +11,000 culture. 143 turns to victory at current pace. Um, I don't think that is fast enough. Optimising for the win. Slider at 70%. Only running Artists in my legendary cities. Let's hope no one attacks. # # # 1912AD Hannibal has jet fighters flying over my Macemen. Good thing we are not at war. 96 Turns to victory, everything staying the same. # # # 1939AD I'm looking at a pre 2000AD victory, if Hannibal doesn't win or declare war too many turns before that. 1964AD Ethiopia launched a spaceship with only one Engine, so that means it lands 15 turns later with 100% chance, on 1979. 1973AD Reloaded to Vote No on Emancipation Resolution. I have enough happiness in the Cultural Cities to ignore. And I lost, but came in a close second or third. Close enough for me. I'm going to call it a tie... or tie, enough. # # # And that's that. (c) 2018 Brett Paufler