(c) 2019-09-07 Brett Paufler # # # The One True One # # # 2019-09-07 I remain unable to Modify either BAT 4.1 or the BAT AI, so I am using Vanilla BTS. # # # Assets/XML/Buildings CIV4BuildingInfos I have modified CIV4BuildingInfos.xml so that the Religious Buildings {for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam} get Free Priest Specialists and Additional Priest Slots Temple +1/+1 Monastery +2/+2 Cathedral +3/+3 Shrine +5/+5 Thus, a City with all of the above Buildings would have 11 Free Priest Specialists and Slots for an additional 11 More {for each of the Big Three Religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam}. # # # In addition, no Buildings (outside of the Palace and Great Palace) are destroyed upon Capture. bNeverCapture: 1 {Note: This did not work. Instead, every last building was destroyed on Capture. So, I guess the value should have been 0.} # # # I would have made it so Monasteries never Obsolete, but I could not figure out how to do this. # # # 2019-09-08 I will be playing as a Very Modified Holy Roman Empire. Beyond the Sword\CustomAssets\xml\civilizations CIV4CivilizationInfos.xml Holy Roman Starting Techs Mysticism Mining Both are so Judaism is more likely to be Researched first No Unique Buildings I have enough benefits No Unique Units Ditto # # # 2019-09-08 Right next to the Civilizations XML is the Leader XML Beyond the Sword\CustomAssets\xml\civilizations CIV4LeaderHeadInfos.XML Traits Spiritual No Anarchy Philosophical +100 Great Person Industrious +50% Wonder I expect to be silly with Great Priests. # # # 2019-09-08 Beyond the Sword\CustomAssets\xml\gameinfo CIV4HandicapInfo.xml I am going to be playing on a slightly modified Deity Level, so that is the only Difficulty Level I need modify. No Free Starting Techs for the AI The intent is to make the late game harder. And since I have no intention of rushing anyone, the early help is off balancing for what I wish to achieve. No AI Starting Workers, Explorers, Defenders, or Barbarian Defenders. Zero on the Multiplier, as well. iAIStartingUnitMultiplier: 0 iAIStartingDefenseUnits: 0 iAIStartingWorkerUnits: 0 iAIStartingExploreUnits: 0 iBarbarianDefenders: 0 My Research will be much harder, but I am assuming I will get The Great Pyramids. And as such, this will be offset. iResearchPercent: 150 Usually on Diety, it's 130 It's sort of pointless to Regenerate Maps forever, when I can hardcode better starts. iStartingLocPercent: 10 I, also, don't like the AI's hating everyone, so I'll make everyone friendlier. Of course, I may regret this. And moments later, I decided to keep the default, as my information tells me the AI gives the same modifier to everyone. So, the question is more general. Do you want a Peaceful Game or Global War> iAttitudeChange: -1 # # # 2019-09-08 I am preselecting my Opponents, mainly so I don't get stuck playing against Sitting Bull or one of the other Weenie Civs. Gandhi Bismark Hannibal Joao De Gaulle Zara Custom Continents Standard Size Temperate Medium Sea Level Ancient Era Marathon Speed 4 Continents Cylindrical Wrap Standard Resources Options No Barbarians Aggressive AI No Tech Brokering Permanent Alliances No Tribal Villages No Random Events Victories Time Conquest Domination This means I am Disabling Space Race Cultural Diplomatic To own the Earth is to own the Universe. And my people do not care much about what non-believers have to say. # # # 2019-09-08 Rolling the Seed. The Seed is playable enough, but not ideal. I will search further. On the eighth reroll (so, ninth map), I found a start that is good enough. I don't know if it's ideal... and I certainly liked the one with the Floodplains. But it is hard to argue with Gold. Two Crab Gold Wheat Marble I'd much rather have Stone than Marble. But one cannot have everything. Yeah, in further review, I would much rather have Stone. Eh, I am going to roll again. It turns out Stone is very important for the game I have conceived. The Better Marble Save has Two Crab Two Marble Fur Wheat And is likely better than the previous. But at this point (22 rolls in), I want Stone. I got Stone after 28 Rolls. I might as well hold out for a better start. Two Spice Stone Wine So many rerolls, I'm taking a break. But it makes no sense to decide on such a Stone Heavy Strategy (to be discussed later) without starting with Stone. My second Stone came around at Roll 52. It's nice enough, but I think I will roll until I get one more; and then, take my pick of the Stone Rolls. Stone Wet Corn (not that I made note of this on any of the previous) Three Flood Plains Four (or more) Hills in the Fat Cross Settling in Place gives me a Two Hammer City (which I would have to confirm) Still, I'll take a look at the next Stone Roll. But this one rocks over the previous and will likely be hard to beat. Wow! Gems are even rarer than Stone. On Roll 119, I am still looking for my third Stone. But I just got my first Gems... or at least, the first Gems that I remember. On the 121st Roll (and you may want to double check those roll numbers, as I'm not that good at counting), I got my third Stone: Stone Two Clam Corn I believe the Second Stone is much better. I'm going to reload and confirm I get the 2H City if I Settle in Place. # # # 2019-08-08 I will be playing the Second Stone Roll. I made a quick test and the City is 2/2/1, which is nice. It's the icing on the cake. I wish to play a game deep into the End Game... at least fight using Artillery, Robots, and all the Rest. And I want to have some good battles. In support of this, we have: Standard Land Deity Level To give myself a chance (and because I like winning), I gave myself all of those Religious Building Bonuses and the Triumvirate of Traits. And then, to keep it fun and make it challenging, I have a few Self Imposed Rules. I must found: Judaism Christianity Islam I cannot found any other Religion. I must run Judaism as my State Religion until I discover Christianity. At which point, that will be my State Religion until the End of the Game. I cannot Settle or Take Over (though, I can raze) a New City until ALL of my Old Cities have both a Temple and Monastery of my current Faith. Christianity is The One True Religion. No Declaring War on others of the Faith No Razing any City with any of the Three Religions in it. If my Opponents (of the Faith) will Pay for Peace, I must accept. Since we are benevolent, we do not enslave our Brothers and Sisters of the Faith. Nor do we recognize other Religions as equal. No Slavery No Free Religion It's OK if we have other Religions present, we can even spread them if we desire. Missionaries are important, but I don't know how important. Let us say that if I feel Friendly towards another AI, I must spread my Religion to them. But other than that, I do not know. I like the idea of always having a Missionary in Production. But... I have time to think on this last. I believe that is the bulk of The Rules. # # # 2019-09-08 The Rules: 1: Judaism -> Christianity 2: Found only Judaism, Christianity, Islam 3: The Four Religious Wonders 4: Pyramids is not a Must Have, but is likely a Must Have to Win (for the +3B per Priest) 5: No Voluntary Wars with Others of the Faith... Christianity as the State Religion. I will make Peace if it doesn't cost me anything. 6: No Razing Cities of the Faith 7: No Slavery 8: No Free Religion 9: Only Priest Specialists... but if after a given Corporation is available and I do not have the appropriate Great Person, I can switch to another type of Specialist as long as I don't get one and the Corporation is still available to found. Also, I can build The Great Library, so exceptions of that sort are OK, as well. Victory: All Civilizations Running Christianity as the State Religion Every City having some Christian Presence # # # 2019-09-08 Given the Free Priests in all those Religious Buildings, I think it is clear why The Pyramids for early Representation is so important. And given that The Pyramids (along with the other Religious Wonders) are a must, Starting Stone is worth well over 1000 Hammers. # # # # # # 2019-09-26 4000BC T0 Let's do this! The intent is to play to T50 and stop for the day... maybe T100, if things really roll. Actually, I guess I should say the plan is not to play for the rest of the night. But if I do 100 Turns in 15 Minutes, I am going to keep going. # # # T11: It remains conceivable that I have the continent to myself, which would be ideal. Early death is the big fear... the only fear. # # # 2019-09-26 3670 T22 Joao has made contact. I wonder if I should look up his stats, check the XML, or play it by ear. Either way, I am not stopping to check. I want Peace. I shall play that way. Joao came from the North West, so I shall assume he originates from that direction: West to South West, actually. Yeah, there is no way Joao could have snuck past without making contact. He's from the West. # # # T29: It would suck if there were another Civilization on this Continent. It would put me in the middle. # # # T41: Buddhism Founded in a Distant Land. I could have nabbed it this game... if not for Rules. # # # T51: I am last place in power. Joao is third. # # # 2845BC (so, T79 or so): Hinduism has been Founded in a Distant Land. I'm 21 Turns away from Polytheism. And believe I look good for Monotheism, which I do not know what I will do if I do not get... probably quit. # # # T101: Joao has the third largest Civilization. I am in sixth. # # # T128: Stonehenge has been built in a Far Away Land. No loss. No foul. I was never going to get. Also, it's only me and Joao. # # # 2019-09-26 2150BC T135 I landed the Pyramids and will quit when I land Monotheism, which I am pretty confident about. I'll go for The Great Wall, next. The only other {meaningful Build choice} is a Settler, but my need (with my Home Grown Rules) for a Settler is a good ways off. Also, The Pyramids may just give me the Engineer I need for a late game Corporation, which is a long time to let a Great Person sit. But it is what it is. # # # T151: I am the third most Cultured Civilization (that will change). And Joao is the fourth. # # # 2019-09-26 1980BC T152 I have landed Judaism. And if Joao does not attack, I would say the game is in the bag. I had been thinking about building a Missionary. But as Joao and I do not have Open Borders, it would be a waste of Hammers. I am building The Temple of Artemis. But it is more of a place holder. I can grow on it. And in 25 Turns, I'll switch to a Temple or The Oracle. Joao is Researching Sailing and seems to be cruising along. Though, I don't think he has Settled a Second City, yet. No. He either has a Second City or the game cheats, as a Work Boat has been making the rounds and his Capitol does not lay on the coast. Finally, it will be unfortunate if my building The Great Wall waters down my Great Engineer Points and I get a Great Spy, instead. {I got Three Great Spies in a later game on this map. Without Barbarians, The Great Wall is not worth it. The net advantage is one or two extra Great Generals, which isn't that much.} Oh, and I am playing a few more turns. # # # T179: I got a Great Engineer! Yippie! # # # 1590BC: Joao gets Judaism and Converts. I don't know whether to be happy or not. Hopefully, we will have peace. Oh, right. Either way, I cannot be the instigator... well, not until I Convert to Christianity, that is. But that seems like a loophole. So, no. I cannot declare on him. But I'll likely loose any goodwill once I switch to Christianity. # # # T201: Joao is the most powerful... and I am the least. That does not bode well. I, also, just looked at the XML. But I cannot tell when he will plot. It doesn't matter. Soon enough, we will not have the same Religion. # # # 1430BC: I completed The Oracle and chose Monarchy as my Free Technology, the better to get Divine Right with. # # # 1320BC: I got a second Great Engineer. I'm not sure what to do with him. I decided to Settle him. # # # T247: I construct The Temple of Solomon. Things are looking good. # # # T251: I am the third most Cultured. Joao is the fourth. # # # T301: Joao is the third largest Civilization. I am the smallest. # # # 340BC: Confucianism has been Founded in a Distant Land. Whereas, I will land Divine Right in a few Turns. # # # 2019-09-26 540BC T296 I reloaded to this point, so I could roll back Settling my Second City until after Divine Right landed. I feel bad about that. But it would be even more annoying to force myself to go forward after the mistake. Also, fellow humans will not care. But for you Robots out there. I have played too long and my mind is going into a sleep-trance. I can't formulate good strategy. It's not an excuse... and perhaps, not even an explanation. Suffice to say, I do not want to start a new map just to enact the plan. And the roll-back is of limited strategic value. So, that's what I am doing. # # # 2019-09-26 500BC T300 I will quit on the night. I wonder how different the game would be if I allowed myself unlimited reloads. I think I might do that for some games in the future. Along with not Settling the Second City, I will be utilizing my Workers better. And I already have the Christian Missionary at the Second City Site. So, my play is better. On the other hand, I am building all the Axes I had in my queue, as that only seems fair. Aesthetics is only a few turns out. When it lands, I will start to build the Parthenon, I turned off Diplomatic Victories for this game. And as such, I cannot build The Apostolic Palace. It's only a +4 Hammer hit per City. But I didn't think about that side effect. Oh, right. Before the main roll-back, I did a minor one, as I thought not being able to build The Apostolic Palace might have something to do with the Religion I was running, so reverted to Judaism. But that was not the case, so I reloaded, keeping Christianity... and the Diplomatic hit with Joao. Speaking of Joao, I have Open Borders. So, things are not as bad as they could be. He's got 12 Units on the Border. I have 8 Units in Holy Roller (the Capitol). So far, he's not making a move. And as I don't have Cottages, any War will not be as hurtful as it otherwise might be. Finally, I'm changing the location of my Second City. I will try for the Marble up north. Well, maybe I won't. It would save all sorts of time building several key wonders... over 2000 Hammers in savings, at a glance. But it would perhaps be my only other City. Is Marble worth that much? It turns out, the answer is yes. Let us guestimate that I will save upwards of 50 Turns in Holy Roller, which means an Army worth of Turns. It Joao take the City, it hardly matters... as long as I get my 30 Turns of Marble out of it. # # # 2019-09-27 350BC T315 I Founded Islam in Holy Roller, so immediately Settled the Marble... with a Missionary in tow. Holy Roller is Building an Islamic Temple and Monastery. At which point, the Marble should be online. And it will be Wonder Madness for awhile. Researching Feudalism for Longbows. Then, I am continuing on the Wonder Techs. # # # 340BC: Confucianism has been Founded in a Distant Land. # # # 30BC: All three Shrines are in place in Holy Roller (Jewish, Christian, Islamic). My third City if Thirty Odd Turns off. At which time, I'll want to already have a Settler and Missionary. In the meantime, I am Building Longbows and Wonders. Joao will have Alphabet shortly. And the first thing he is going to do is ask for Tribute, which I will give him, as I cannot afford a War right now. # # # 10AD: I am the Wealthiest Civilization in the world, which is not surprising. Joao is in second place. # # # 70AD: Joao Declares War. I have 7 Longbow on a City Hill and 5 Axes against 30 Odd Units. If I lose, I will likely start over. Well, if I lose, it is game over, I will have lost my Capitol. # # # 110AD: Not a single casualty. Joao just suicided his entire stack against my Longbows and got slaughtered. # # # 2019-09-27 360AD T386 That is enough for the morning. Once Joao lost his first stack, he never stood a chance. Secondary attacks with smaller stacks are just earning me experience. I have two Settled Great Generals and 27/135 towards the next one. I think the odd numbers are from having The Great Wall. But who knows? During the War, Joao sometimes camps his Troops one square inward and away from my Capitol. I'm sure it's a scaring technique/tactic, but it does nothing for him. Sooner or later, I will need to go on the offensive. One thing I must say, at the higher levels, the AI has far more troops to play with. And I like this offset: the AI having more troops, but me still having my standard Tech Lead advantage. So, this sort of thing (tweaked rules ala Free Priest Specialists) could be the thing to do moving forward. # # # 505AD: Joao is third in power and is having a hard time making any headway on the last place contender... me. # # # 2019-09-27 750AD T450 That was a rather long playing spree. Joao is getting more advanced and bringing better troops to the fight. But I still have him outgunned. His principal error is in fighting too soon. He does not accumulate troops. But rather, bashes what he has as soon as the Defences are down to 0% in the City. It is quite hopeless. I've lost 5 Units. I've killed 124. It's a bloodbath. I should keep in mind that should I ever go on the Offensive, War Weariness will kill me... utterly and completely. I just Revolted out of Organized Religion into Pacifism. I should not have. I will change back in 5 Turns... or whenever I remember. I will Settle a few more Cities. But I question how important they are. Well, at some point, they will concentrate on Troops. So, I should keep that in mind and only Build Temples, Monasteries, and Barracks and things of that ilk. Contact {from Optics} will occur around T500. And things will get more interesting... as there is no doubt more of my adversaries will attack. I am changing my Research Path: Compass -> Optics (to explore the world) -> Nationalism (for a Golden Age) -> Education (as I am hoping I can make a Post Eduction Technology Sweep, we shall see) The change at this moment is going for Optics. 481 Great Person Points a Turn!!!!! # # # 755AD: Joao is the third largest. I remain in last place. # # # 760AD: Two Great Generals born this Turn with no local fighting. There's a major War going on. I hope no one Capitulates. # # # 765AD: Joao is building Pikes, which is idiotic, as I don't have Horses... neither does he. # # # T475: Hannibal makes contact. Our Caravels pass in the night. # # # 955AD: The War with Portugal is finally over. He gave me a City. It sort of breaks my No New Cities Without Religious Infrastructure Rule. But I didn't think about it. And I'm going to let is slide. No more, though, until both of the New Cities have Infrastructure. # # # 1000AD T500 Hannibal is in first place (Score Wise) and looks to be pulling ahead. It should not be that much of a surprise, as he is the one who landed a Continent all by his lonesome. I hope to spread Christianity to Gandhi, induce him to switch, and enter into a Defensive Pact. If that goes well, I will seek a Permanent Alliance. I hope to do more-or-less the same thing with Bismark. But all my Missionaries are headed to India, first. {Both Germany and India had a State Religion, so this was a losing proposition. I thought I might succeed because both were running Religions they had not Founded. I was wrong.} At Peace, I've been able to build more Units. Also, I am in a Wonder Drought. There is nothing to build. I will beat Hannibal to Liberalism, as he does not have Philosophy. Or at least, that is the way it looks to me. With Philosophy, I intend to take Military Tradition, so I can do the Defensive Pact with Gandi. Though, that is likely a mistake, as he's at war; and as such, not at liberty to accept such a deal. Oh, well. I will have to think harder on that. I am pumping out the Missionaries. And expect to remain at full complement for the remainder of the game (3 of each type). {I did not do this. Missionary production stopped shortly.} My next City is 50 Turns out... or so. As such, I will need to make the ones I have count. # # # 1005AD: Joao just stole Drama and Theology from me. {I had two Spies in most of my Cities in a later game, this Map. In the key ones (the one the AI was stealing from), I had five. The AI nabbed far fewer Technologies in that later game.} # # # T502: Gandhi is running Theocracy, so my Missionaries no longer work. I am changing my target to Bismark. And this, mere Turns after I declared war on France at India's behest. # # # T515: I feel that Hannibal will be attacking in under 50 Turns with Cannons. I need Rifles as a counter. # # # 1095AD: Joao Declared War {on me} and promptly killed off his stack. Good show, Joao. # # # 1135AD: Ethopia has Declared War. A few turns later, he landed a Stack. This might be it. And it would most definitely have been it had Zara attacked prior to reducing my Defenses. Let's see if I last. # # # 2019-09-27 1160AD T532 Zara has Captured Far Shore. I lose. I will regenerate {maps} again from the Third Stone {a save not included} and try again. I am tempted to reload with: 8 Adversaries 4 Continents But I shall try this again. # # # # # # # # # # # # 2019-09-27 4000BC T0 I Regenerated the Map a few times from the Third Stone. But got tired of that real quick. So, I reloaded the same map. Maybe, I will do better this time. Oh, and I am being a bit more aggressive. I will Research Agriculture, Wheel, then Masonry. # # # FAIL! Judaism Not Founded! Trying Again! # # # # # # # # # # # # 2019-09-27 1730BC T177 Judaism has been Founded. It was Founded 22 Turns earlier in my previous game. That's not good. # # # 2019-09-27 210BC T329 I got The Great Wall and Stonehenge at the cost of a lot of better stuff. The only thing I want out of Masonry is The Pyramids. That is all. The First Game, I'd founded Islam by T315. But thanks to 3 Great Spies (entirely my fault for building The Great Wall), I'm still at least a dozen Turns away. I will call it a night. Hopefully, I do better tomorrow. Playing may well be the only thing I do tomorrow. # # # # # # 1 Worker Research: Masonry -> The Wheel -> Polytheism -> Monotheism Start building The Pyramids as soon as possible. Agriculture is nice... but I don't know if important. Feudalism means staying alive until Sea Contact. I should, probably, give more importance to both Meditation and Priesthood than I have been giving them. Research: Masonry -> Meditation -> Polytheism -> Monotheism -> Priesthood Of course, if I do that, I don't need Stone in the Fat Cross? Hmm? # # # # # # 2019-09-28 4000BC T0 I will be playing the same map. I thought about switching. If I don't hook up Stone early, I'd likely be better off with Gems or something. But I won't. First, Joao has shown a consistent willingness to adopt the Jewish Faith. And I'm going to change down from Christianity to Judaism. Down, as in, it's earlier in the Research Tree. {Thus, Judaism with be The One True Religion.} Hopefully, Joao and I can be friends, which was my original hope... or was it? Second, I like those Flood Plains. Also, unless I feel incredibly advanced, I shall not be bothering with Optics or Astronomy until I can actually go on the Offensive. # # # 1810BC: I have landed Judaism and have Researched Meditation and Priesthood. I am Researching Writing in the hope I can build The Oracle and land Theology, which will save me a Great Person. I will finish The Pyramids prior to building a Temple, as the +6 Beakers from the Free Priests in the existing Monastery is more important. # # # 1640BC: I Revolted a Turn late into Representation. For a Computer to truly model a Human {playing Civilization}, they have to make all sorts of time delay bad decisions like that. I was in the pattern of hitting End Turn. And so, that's what I did. # # # T196: Both The Great Wall and The Great Lighthouse were built in Far Away Lands. It gave my heart the start. I am 4 Turns away from Oracle. And it may well be worth my while to reload if I don't get it. # # # 2019-09-29 1500BC T200 This is a very nice start. I have landed: Judaism... with Shrine Christianity... with Shrine The Pyramids... in Representation The Oracle... how I got Theology I am in Judaism, have Open Borders with Joao, and will switch to Christianity if that is what he adopts. In every other game, Joao has been a thorn in my side, adopting Judaism early; and thus, becoming an enemy later on. It would be ironic if this game, opting to bypass this problem and declaring Judaism {as The One True One}, he went for Christianity. To bypass that possibility {and if it comes to that}, I will follow his lead. I would like to land The Temple of Artemis for the extra Priest. But it hardly matters. I'll be running 14 Priest Specialists without it. One more is hardly decisive. Still, it's in the queue. Actually, given all that, The Temple of Artemis may well be a mistake. I can Build a Settler instead. I might be aggressive and build my Second City towards Joao. That would give me Three Good Cities. I should build it on a Hill... just in case. I should, also, note that those last two paragraphs got inserted way up by the other reference to The Temple of Artemis, as I'd done a search to see when it was completed in other games and didn't move the cursor back to the end {of the document}, prior to writing again. It's only a matter of luck that I discovered the mistake. And no, I have no idea when The Temple of Artemis can expected to be completed. On the other hand, with a Settler, Library, Granary, and all the rest yet to be built, I think Building The Temple of Artemis will have a low priority. # # # 1410BC (T209): Joao Converts to Judaism. And I figured out why I favour Dates over Turns for these entries even though Turns are much more meaningful in the long term {as it is much harder to reason over Dates}. I did not notice at the time when Joao Converted. So, I had to look in the log, which does not list Turns. # # # 2019-09-28 920BC T258 Joao Hold is the name of the my Second City. It's at Size 3. As I Founded Islam this Turn, I wondered if I had made a mistake in founding this City early. But I will say not. I may not have gotten {this City Site} if I had waited for Islam. And it certainly would not be Size 3 {at this time}. And I will get my Third City that much sooner this way. # # # I looked it up. Joao will not Plot War at Pleased! Joao will form a Defensive Pact at Friendly! Joao is currently Pleased! I will not have to build any Military Units for 100 Turns or so. # # # 2019-09-28 1AD T350 I may just have to break one of my rules. Joao is going for Code of Laws. No one has Confucianism. And if he gets it, he's likely to switch his State Religion. So, for his own good (and mine), I will try to cut him off. It will be close, though. I'm 7 Turns out. He's 8... but that's a highly variable number. Joao Settled a crap City up north, which leaves the Marble available for me. So if the site is available in a dozen Turns or so, I'm Settling it as my Fourth City. Note: Confucianism was Founded much earlier than this in all previous games. # # # T357: I Founded Confucianism. So much for only Founding Three Religions. And to make matters worse, I'm going for Philosophy next, so I can build Angkor Wat, which is one of the most important Wonders in the game for someone with as many Priests, as I do {+1H per Priest}. # # # If I change to Hereditary Rule, I'll likely get enough bonuses to induce Joao to form a Defensive Pact. # # # 2019-09-28 625AD T425 I switched to Hereditary Rule and Joao agreed to a Defensive Pact. Thus, it is my desire to enable Permanent Alliances as fast as possible and enter into one with him. Such a fate is several hundred Turns away. I am sure Joao is beelining Optics, at this point. {He was not.} I should help him along as much as possible. I breezed through the Building of the Monastery and Temple in Clam Cove (my latest City) by Chopping them out. That worked well. I will change out of Heredity Rule in 5 Turns. I hope it makes no difference on Joao and my relations. Yeah, a Permanent Alliance is a Million Miles Away. Oh, well. Finally, a Great Prophet was wandering around my lands a few Turns back... or so I thought. I think it was just a matter of my Roads being more extensive than Joao's. So, it was the shortest route {to it's destination: another one of Joao's Cities}. # # # 2019-09-28 760AD T462 Joao favours Gold over Technologies. Perhaps, I should not care. In fact, trading the Gold is likely a bad move if we are to be long term allies. But it does have the effect of giving me a substantial Tech Lead... or so, I presume. My Caravels are out. I switched focus. Oh, well. I shall Circle the Globe. I have massive stacks of Troops. If someone attacks, it will be free Experience. And that is still 100 Turns off. # # # 2019-09-29 760AD T462 There are Three Continents, but only Two Religions outstanding. There's likely an opportunity to Spam Judaism and make another friend. I give them the +3 Priest Specialist Opportunity {from building a Monastery and Temple}, so this will not work with Hannibal. He will already be too powerful. {I pretty much forgot about the possibility of Converting Every City for the Win. Also, seeing as how the game turned out, leaving all the other Victory Conditions in play would have been fine. I might have gone for a Diplomatic Victory... might have gotten it.} # # # 2019-09-29 ? T469 I got a Great Scientist. I will create an Academy in Holly Roller, increasing research from 353 to to 446 in the City. Assuming I could have used him to Bulb at 3,500 (I should have checked), the Academy will break even in 38 Turns... likely sooner. I have not made contact with Hannibal, yet. I have been avoiding him. But I want to see how he is doing Research wise and how much time I have on the Post Education Techs. So, it is time. Both Germany and Ethiopia had no Religion. So, I am spamming Germany with Judaism. He has already switched. Ethiopia is in Second Place... maybe third, once I contact Carthage. I am indecisive about gifting him Judaism. But, he'll probably get is sooner or later. It will make for a nice Religious Block. Joao has not spammed Judaism. I think I will convert one of Zara's Cities and see if that's good enough to Convert him to Judaism. # # # 2019-09-29 850AD T470 The game lists me as Fourth Place in Score, which is meaningless. Score relies much more on Land than Tech. But Winning is much more dependent upon Tech. Joao will only Trade Tech if the exchange is grossly in his favour. But I am assuming we will be forming a Permanent Alliance before long... or at least, that we will never go to war. I'm at +15. {I think the high was +18, which fell way down after we made the Permanent Alliance... maybe as low as +8 or so.} Germany and Ethiopia will share my Religion before long. I will pay whatever Tribute Bismark, Zara, or Hannibal request to stay on their good sides. My Tech lead is decisive. So, I'll take Astronomy (or the most expensive Tech) as my Free Tech from Liberalism. Then, I'll Research Economics. I anticipate fighting a War with France and India before the End of the Game. Research: Liberalism -> Astronomy -> Chemistry (to wreak havoc on France and India with Privateers) -> Economics (for the Free Great Merchant) # # # 860AD: Zara Converted to Judaism on his own after two Cities had the Religion. It doesn't take much. {I didn't bother to spread Judaism after this.} # # # 2019-09-29 1000AD T500 I am 2 Turns away from Settling my next City, deep in French and Indian Territory. The main purpose of the City is to have a Cultural Presences, so when I do go to War with the Franco-Indians, I will be fighting on my land; and as such, will suffer no War Weariness. {I do not know the mechanics of War Weariness, but this was not the case. In multiple instances, I suffered War Weariness both in my Native Land (100%) and out in the Territories (52%).} # # # T501: Civilizations by Size: Hannibal De Gaulle Zara Joao Me Bismark Gandhi # # # T505: I Settled Alamo Taunt in-between French and Indian Soil. De Gaulle could have attacked that first Turn and wiped it out. But he did not. I'm fortifying it via Galleon Brigade. And will have a stack of 20 Odd Defenders in it before long. At which point, it will be invulnerable to attack. # # # T507: The turn began with a start. De Gaulle attacked one of my Privateers. I thought he had Declared War. I'm not ready for War with De Gaulle quite yet. # # # 2019-09-20 1125AD T525 I am at war with De Gaulle. Also, India. But I don't expect Gandhi to make a showing. Zara requested I join his War. And I was thinking about Declaring in a Turn or two, anyway. So, why not. Let us see how Defensive Muskets on a Hill fare against Calvary. Oh, Joao is on the War, as well. He was already at War. I am at +18 with him. Once I get Fascism, he's a shoe in to make a Permanent Alliance with me. # # # 2019-09-29 1150AD T530 I got pounded hard by De Gaulle. I gave him 750 Gold for Peace. I'll be reinforcing the City shortly, before resuming the War. I had half as many Troops as I needed. And I did not give them the Garrison Promotion. I should have. # # # 2019-09-29 1360AD T575 I have a Permanent Alliance with Portugal! Yippie! Victory is ours! I'm actually reasonably Friendly with everyone on the board... except De Gaulle and Gandhi. # # # 2019-09-29 1380AD T585 Carthage is going to eat France alive. I believe Hannibal will Declare War again in a few Turns... once the Treaty is Over. When he does, I will Declare War on him. I don't see that I have any choice. I gave him some big Tech to Declare Peace. I cannot afford to keep on doing that. # # # 2019-09-29 1402AD T596 I don't know the mechanics of War Weariness. I thought there was no War Weariness if you had the Dominant Culture. But that doesn't seem to be the case. War Weariness is adding up when I win Battles in my Sphere of Influence... over 50% of the Cultural Tile and in my Homelands. This is the case certainly for Offence. War Weariness: Hannibal: 111 De Gaulle: 126 Gandhi: 30 If I am going to suffer War Weariness. It might make sense to take the hit and just level Cities. # # # 2019-09-30 1404AD T597 I called the game. Holy Roller alone (with all the Wonders and Settled Great Priests) could likely take on the world, alone at a Unit a Turn with +7 Experience. I did not feel like mopping up. Ironically, I did not get to the late game like I desired. But then, my desire is to, also, need to get to the late game. That's not the case. Once I got that Permanent Alliance, the game was over. The AI just didn't know it yet. # # # 2019-10-01 (c) Brett Paufler # # # As to future games, I would like to move on the the Mods... the first one being the BAT AI. But I don't know what type of board yet. Standard Rules. No XML modifications. # # #