2019-10-22 (c) Copyright Brett Paufler # # # # # # For the Games in the Save Game Zip AA-BB-CC-TDDD - Game Name - Save Name - Year AA = Write Up Number of Game BB = Attempt Number CC = Save Number (of that Attempt) DD = Turn Number AA-00 is Initial Map AA-01 is First Play Through AA-03-04 is Fourth Save of the Third Attempt # # # # # # Boar's Head # # # # # # 2019-10-22 4000BC T0 In trying to figure out what to play next, I came upon this 3 Pig, 2 Clam start. And I figured it was as good as anything. I think I am on an Archipelago type World. But I don't know for sure. In thinking about the game, I want to do the Shiny Stuff: Wonders, Religions, and that sort of thing. But we will see. An early adversary might change everything. # # # T33: I was Researching Polytheism. Someone else Researched it first. I'm not accepting that. I'll reload and Research Meditation, instead. I'm not going to bother starting a new LogFile. I'll let it include the reload. # # # 2019-10-22 3550BC T30 I Founded Buddhism. I am now Researching Animal Husbandry. It looks like I will not be going for the Hinduism, Judaism split. I wonder if I will have enough time to land The Great Lighthouse. It could be helpful. # # # T41: I share the Continent with Shaka. Peace will not be an option. # # # T50: Ronald Reagan is, also, on this Continent. There could be just a single Continent. # # # T54: Pol Pot... he doesn't sound friendly. # # # T55: Harald the Viking... a brute, if ever there ever was one. Maybe, I got lucky and started off in a corner. # # # T65: Ataturk encountered. So, it does look like we are all on the same Continent. # # # 2019-10-22 2935BC T71 I just constructed Stonehenge. I am Researching Fishing and Sailing for The Great Lighthouse. Before that, I will be Building two Workers and a Settler. I'll likely Settle my first City close in. Oh, in regards to Stonehenge, I am off in a corner, so that's a lucky draw. Sure, they will attack. But I won't be the convenient target for a while. # # # 2019-10-22 760BC T274 I lost The Pyramid Race and decided to reload. I don't feel like I was playing all that well. And I am not in love with the map. So, I'll regenerate. {I did not. These are all played on the same Map. Though, I did rework the map ever so slightly for the 9th and final play-through of this Map.} It's not just The Pyramid Race, however. One has a feel for these things... or likes to believe that they do. And things did not seem very strong. # # # # # # T257: America Declares War and I am not prepared for it. Game Over! # # # # # # 2019-10-22 680BC T282 I played again, not much differently. And Shaka Attacked on T282. If I had buckled down and just built 5-10 Axes right upon Connecting Iron, I likely would have survived. But I did not. Pyramids are a solid waste based on how I am playing. # # # # # # 2019-10-22 4000BC T0 Starting the -04 Game. Part of the difficulty lies in not having Copper or Horses. So, my first Strategic Resource is Iron, which is a ways off. # # # 2019-10-22 4000BC T0 Starting the -05 Game. I missed The Great Wall by a single Turn... not even. Someone else got it on the roll. # # # 2019-10-22 170AD T333 I rolled back to survive a Zulu onslaught. I was building an advance City and Shaka Razed it immediately. He's nowhere nearby. So, he's travelling across the map to attack me. Anyhow, I pulled back and he wasted his stack. So, that's what I'm playing from. I'm going to say that my advisers would have told me about the stack. Actually, that is one of the things I don't particularly care for in the game. There are so many tedious details that one would never overlook in the real world. But if I don't scan my borders every single turn, someone will sneak by. Eh, I'm going to reload instead. Though, it slows down my expansion. I lost two Units and got a Great General. So, it's a fair enough trade. The real pain comes in the slowing of my expansion. Also, I'm not paying much attention to the Diplomacy. Reagan likes me the best. And he was the first to Declare War. So, his opinion means nothing. I probably should just call it a day. And reload with Rome or something, play Total War. Actually, one of the biggest lessons I learned today (if in fact, I learned it) was the importance of Spears. I tend to Build Mono Stacks. I need to mix up my units more. One of the reasons Shaka's stack was so effective was because it included the counter to Axes {Chariots}. And Axes was all I had. # # # # # # 2019-10-23 4000BC T0 And here I am starting the (-06) game, once again. I am close fitting my strategy {to the Map}. That is for sure. But after selecting an Industrious Leader, I somehow forgot that this is a War Game. Of course, all these words mean nothing if I get slaughtered again. And I'm going for an even longer gambit this time. Well, not longer in time, but it is longer in odds. I will be Researching Mining, while Building a Worker; and then, I'll Research Buddhism and start on Stonehenge. From there, I need to focus on Troops (and Iron Working). Thus, I have very serious reasons for altering my path. {Though, none of that sounds overly like altering my path. I do like the shiny stuff. I would build every Wonder in the game if I could.} Anyhow, the first Hard Save will be fairly soon... either after Founding Buddhism or Building The Oracle (for Monarchy). # # # I'm taking an non-numbered Mulligan, as I thought I was Researching Fishing, but it didn't take and I was researching Priesthood instead, which is what I want to research after Fishing. I've preloaded the first four Technologies, so it doesn't happen again: Mining to work the Land Meditation for Buddhism Fishing to work the Sea Priesthood for The Oracle and Monarchy # # # 2019-10-23 2634 T91 I landed both Stonehenge and Buddhism, which having been down this road before is not much of a surprise. I am Researching: Bronze Working to Chop Forests and improve those Hills into Mines Masonry for The Great Wall with any luck Sailing for a Lighthouse, but not The Great Lighthouse Iron Working for Defence or Offence I am currently Building a Settler for Clam Point down south. # # # T146: I changed my mind and selected Iron Working for my Free Technology, which locks me into building The Pyramids. # # # 2019-10-23 1000BC T250 I have expanded into my third City and am gearing up my war production. I will peacefully expand as much as possible. But as I'll need a Stack of 10-20 Units to defend my forward City before long, it's a small difference between Settling and Attacking. Also, I should remember that there are plenty of Islands circling the Continent. I should build a Galley or two and Explore with the intent of Settling. So when forward progress on the Continent becomes stalled, along with a Land Army, I shall build a few Naval Units. In short, I am optimistic. But we both know (or should) that the slightest misstep will cause me to reload. Hopefully, I'll be happy enough with the current save to restart there. # # # This Save Looks Good: 025-06-02-T250 - Boars Head - Prepare For War - BC-1000 # # # NOTE: The logfile does not correctly list Research. It notes when I select a new item to Research. But if I am adding a Technology to the back of the queue, it lists the time of the first item in the queue as the time for completion of the added item, as well. In other words, the time to completion is meaningless, as I often back up the queue. # # # 2019-10-23 500BC T300 I Built two Scouts and sent them out on Sentry Duty to good effect. Pol Pot was marching a Stack my way and has now reversed course. I think it was because I pulled the Troops that were scurrying into place for my next City into an established City and the Stack there is twice the Attacker's. So, those Scouts have paid for themselves. I was thinking that if I got a Great Spy, I would use them for a Super Scout. And, yes. Now, more than ever. I only have three Cities. But they must be pretty good, as I am up in the points ratings. I am at War and had a False War (no action) before that. America's Cities are close; and therefore, inviting. But Reagan likes me as well as anybody. Well, Ataturk of the Ottoman Empire might like me more. But it's close. So a War with Reagan would be a losing proposition for me. I have a few more Continental Cities to Settle. Then, it's off to the Islands. And perhaps, War. It's an indication of my better play (and much larger standing Army) that I am considering War. Of course, that is 50-100 Turns off... or more. # # # 2019-10-23 1AD T350 I am 3 Turns (hopefully) away from Building The Great Lighthouse. It would be nice to get it this late. It doesn't do me that much good, since I have a grand total of 4 Cities... only two of which can benefit from The Great Lighthouse (I believe). But I like Building Wonders. And I can justify it on account of the Great People Points. I believe Reagan will be a pushover, Culture wise. I would like to target him, but other folks have self-selected. Boru (of the Irish) is my neighbour to the North and has already Attacked. So when my Catapults come online, he is first. Actually, it was sort of fun. I repulsed both Boru and Shaka in a simultaneous attack, loosing a single Unit. Good for me on having a nice mix of Swords, Axes, and Spears. Bad on the AI for Attacking when the cause is hopeless. I am all the way to the West on the Map, which is nice. All my Attackers come from the East. There is a lake in the middle {of the route to my lands}, so they must take either the Northern or Southern Route. I'm moving my Scout away from the Northern Route and will be relying on an overwhelming Garrison, with Cultural Visibility to keep me abreast of the situation. To the South, I'll send my second Scout further into American Lands. It is very nice having advance warning, very nice. Lesson learned this game? Advance Warning! I am going for Confucianism, because... why not. It's not a good reason. But then, it's on the way to Civil Service, which gives me both Bureaucracy and Heavy Infantry. I may get both before anyone else. Reagan is the only competition. Instead of Settling my Fifth City on the Mainland, I will Sail the Seven Seas. Assuming I get The Great Lighthouse, I will be able to take better advantage of it that way. My Island Cities will produce the Worlds Finest Navy. I think rather than Land Units, that is all they will build... until Building more would be absurd. That means Optics will become useful to me... more so than it would be otherwise on this map. But then, who knows what lands lay beyond. I am feeling good. Which is to say, if only one or two Civilizations Attack me, I should be good. Let us assume Reagan {a name I keep on wishing to spell with an 'o', as in Reagon} will find someone other than me with whom to stay busy. He's fighting Harold of the Vikings and has been for some time. Hopefully, that hurts his economy. He is the leader as far as I am concerned. Don't believe what the game says. Oh, and as long as I can, I will be Building Wonders in Boar's Head, Units non-stop in Pig Iron, miscellaneous support in Clam View, and in Clear View, Culture. I wonder how many Catapults I should have before Declaring on Boru? Ten, at least. # # # 2019-10-24 150AD T365 I Founded Confucianism. Yippie! Someone else Founded Christianity on the same Turn. So, there's a bit of luck, there. My Tall Stacks are standing still doing nothing. I am going to Research Aesthetics for the Wonders, while building more Units of Antiquity. Reagan lost the City of New York to Harald, so that's a nice target. But any Attack is in the distant future... you know, especially if I opt for Wonders over War, which it looks like I am doing. # # # 2019-10-24 360AD T386 Hey! Hey! I lost again. Rather than picking up at the save, I will restart from scratch. I was doing pretty well... and then, I veered away from Military. Also, my outpost City still had Jungle in front of it, so the Attackers got +50% on Defence. This game, I did use Scouts and Spies to good advantage, so the Attacks were not surprise ones. I needed twice the Workers in the end, at least. Chopping that Jungle on the Front Line is important. Also, I need to resist the urge to Get Back To Where I Was {playing fast, so I'm to the point where I lost}. It's a new Game... even if it is the same old Map. The Island City isn't that great. It's probably not worth the logistical effort. Now, I don't know about all of the Islands, but that one, yeah. Also, maybe I should advance a bit faster. It would hurt me in the short run, but I do have two chokes. And then, I looked at the Map and holding back even more seems doable. If I have three core Cites, my finances will be better. # # # # # # Start of Boar's Head - 07 # # # # # # 2019-10=24 1300BC T220 This start was a nice Clean Sweep: Buddhism, Stonehenge, The Oracle (Iron Working), and The Pyramids. I now am working on a Lighthouse, leading to The Great Lighthouse... and maybe, The Colossus, after that. It was available for a long time, last game. I am a few Turns away from Building my Third City. But prior to Settling a Fourth, it will likely be prudent to build up a Military. A Settler being worth about 5 Units. And I need a good stack of 10 (at least) prior to expanding further. I'm feeling good. But it all comes down to not be picked as the target for the first war. # # # 2019-10-24 960BC T254 Yep! You guessed it! I lost again! Three Civilizations Declared War. I would not have withstood the one. Also, not seeing them come, I lost all my Workers in the Opening Attack. # # # # # # Boar's Head - 08 # # # # # # 2019-10-24 750BC T275 I swept all the early Wonders. In fact, no one else has built a single Wonder. And I'm doing OK in the Power Graph. I only have Visibility on AtaTurk, but I have more Power than him. Unfortunately, he is in last place. The AI is very silly in many ways... or perhaps, the correct term is The AI is Human Centric. Ataturk is at War with Boru and is so far away, I don't even know where his lands lay. Yet, he's putting half his Espionage Points into me. Oh well. I was going to Research Alphabet. But I don't think anyone will trade with me. Instead, I am going to show some discipline and go for the War Techs. I have a Forested Hill as a Choke Point. And it's loaded with Troops. I need more, to be sure. But it's a good start. This could be the one... And this could be the one where I lose yet again. # # # 120BC: Copper sprang into being in my Choke Point Hill. I've long since moved on. But the Copper is very nice. # # # 50AD T355 I have Built eight Wonders; America, one. And that accounts for all the Wonders. I know I said I would concentrate on the Military, but no one else has Metal Casting, which is a prerequisite for Crossbows or Heavy Infantry. Now, it would be nice to have both prior to the competition. But it's going to be a long time before I am ready to go on the Offensive. Assuming I am not Attacked and it is still available, I will be Settling my next City one West of the Stone. # # # 2019-10-24 640AD T428 I traded Aesthetics to Pol Pot for Monarchy and then rolled the game back, as Monarchy does nothing for me... and giving him Aesthetics would have allowed him to compete with me on the Wonders. I am at parity on the Military Technologies and have the lead down the Aesthetics path. I think I'm a shoe-in to get The Great Library... and more, as no one else is Building Wonders. {In a later game (maybe not this map), my lead down the Aesthetics path was so decisive, I did not have any competition for a single wonder. Note to self: The AI does not prioritize Aesthetics.} Ataturk is getting decimated this game. It's a wonder he's still alive. I think he's been at War with 1, 2, or 3 Civilizations for most of the game... and as such, is taking the heat off of me. # # # 675AD: On the night. If I can get to Heavy Infantry a good 25 Turns before everyone else, I'll be able to build a few {of those units, which I tend to think of as Mace men} before being attacked, which will (hopefully) make the difference. # # # 2019-10-25 675AD T435 I am nice and sick. I'd call it a cold. Who knows what it really is? It started with a sore throat. And now, I have a stuffy nose and am having a hard time standing, which of course, means I'll be playing games all day... at my stand-up work station. Let's see how that goes. # # # 2019-10-25 885AD T447 Pol Pot was headed my way with a massive stack of Elephants. It would have ended the game... or at least, he would have taken one or more of my Cities and crushed my stack. But a Scout met him a few turns away from the border. And he agree to Peace for 75 Gold or so. It was a small price to pay. I cancelled all my dealings with Shaka. And traded Civil Service to Boru for Feudalism and 60 Gold. Boru is in first place, but Reagan is the Tech Leader, so I fear him more. Actually, I don't know how Reagan and I compare, but of the AI he's doing the best. # # # 2019-10-25 1000AD T500 Shaka Attacked. And although I dealt Tit for Tat, that's not good enough. My Troops have withered in half. I'm calling it a game. # # # # # # Boar's Head - 09 {This is the final Play Through on this Map. Odd, at this point, I cannot remember if I won or not. I certainly did not see a Victory Screen. In the end, I don't think I won... nor was I in a Leadership Position when I threw in the towel.} # # # # # # 2019-10-26 4000BC T0 I hope I win this game, as I don't want to have to go back and add a zero to all my logs, changing -1 to -01 and -2 to -02. Also, you know, I'd like to win. I am going to Settle 1 Tile North East, which I think will make all the difference. Well, that and not expanding any further. So, all warfare will take place with the Enemy Attacking a Hill Fortified City and all Counter Attacks will be launched on plains. The defensive bonus for the City Hill is considerable. All my Units can be stacked on a single square. The downside is Iron is out beyond the defended territory. Maybe the AI will allow me access often enough {either through Peace or lack of nearby Troops}. Or if not, I can make a crap City on the Desert Island that has Iron. Also, if I feel the need for a Third City, that Big Island up NorthWest can support two {mediocre} Cities quite easily. {After playing this Game and the next Series, I am as convinced as ever that it is the Big Powerful Cities that matter. A Second City for the sake of a Second City is a financial drain that adds nothing... and as one starts talking about Fifth and Sixth Cities, this becomes even more true.} # # # 2019-10-26 4000BC T0 I have not been recording (or keeping the logs of) the quick restarts... like when I don't get Buddhism. I played the -09 game far enough to not get Buddhism several times. And enough to know that I will miss the Bonus from starting on a Plains Hill (two Hammers in the City Tile as opposed to the standard one), so I did a little jiggering in the World Builder. Now, my Settler starts to the Northwest; and rather than a Grassland Hill, it's a Plains Hill {for the aforementioned +2 Hammers}. Also, I moved the Iron inside the Fat Cross and behind the protective barrier. You know what? As long as I'm cheating, I'm going to switch my starting Technology from Agriculture to Fishing. I'm surrounded by Fish and have no Farm Resources in my Fat Cross. # # # Man, it's hard to Found Buddhism, these days. # # # Fine! The Fine! I am not getting Buddhism. Hinduism, it is. # # # 3595BC: Buddhism was Founded in a Distant Land, so hopefully that means I'll land both Hinduism and Judaism. # # # 1620BC: Reloading because I misjudged The Oracle... by a long shot. I was planning to get Metal Casting, but was nowhere close to having completed Iron Working. # # # 2019-10-25 500BC T300 I got both Hinduism and Judaism, while another nabbed Buddhism, as per previous rolls. I've gotten 5/7 of the Starting Gate Wonders. I'm Discovering Aesthetics next turn, which will open up the Cultural Wonders. I do not have the Military I would like. Clam Dip has six more Units in the Queue; and then, starts works on Moai Statues. From there, more Units or maybe I'll Settle the Island. I do not know. Boar's Landing is concentrating on Wonders. In Boar's Landing for Defensive Bonuses I have: +25% Fortify +60% Cultural +50% Walls +25% Hills ------------- +160% Total I have no idea if this is accurate or not. But if it's close, I can't see an Enemy breaking through without a good deal more units than me. # # # ????-??-?? 1AD T350 Boru Declared War and was kind enough to smash half of his stack against the Cliffs of Doom. I suffered not a single Casualty. Now, that's the type of combat I like. As tempted as I am to Trade, I think keeping my Technologies to myself is the way to go... unless I can get two and three times their value, which I've never been able to do. So, like, I could see trading Aesthetics away to everyone once it's run it's course. But not before. If the Cliffs of Doom (and/or The Bloody Cliffs of Dover) hold, I should be sitting pretty. Certainly, casualty-less Wars are meaningless {my Enemies gain nothing} and only serve to give my troops experience. {It's odd. But as I read this, I am getting more exciting for a New Game than my Existing Game. Reading these Game Notes may well reinforce the starting of a New Game more often than not. I read the notes (once) to clear them off my desktop and publish them to the web. And in the process, get excited about playing.} # # # NOTE: There were six false starts on the -09 game, alone. # # # T372: Boru lost another Stack smashing his forces against The Cliffs of Death. It's very satisfying. # # # T394: Another flawless Defence. This time against the Ottomans. Suckers. # # # T460: Reagan made a sneak attack amphibious invasion. I am going to roll it back to fortify Clam Dip on the assumption somebody would have seen those ships coming. What happened was that instead of scouring my borders, I hit End Turn. # # # T523: A while back Pol Pot built the Apostolic Palace... but I get +2 Hammers for each of my Jewish Buildings, as well. Hot Darn! # # # 2019-10-26 1255AD T551 The Most Powerful Civilizations: Pol Pot Boru Shaka Harald Reagan Ataturk Me They are so wrong. In 2 Turns, I Discover Chemistry. At which point, I am upgrading one of my many Caravels into a Frigate and Declaring War on Boru (and both his Vassals) the next turn. Ha! No I won't. Reagan is once again a Free State... and is no longer a Vassal of Boru. Guess what? I am not waiting. I am Declaring War on Reagan, now. # # # T554: Declaring War was less than ideal, as I lost all my Foreign Trade Routes. Oh, well. It needed to be done. # # # T588: Technological Superiority is a wonderful thing to have. My Cannons made short work of Shaka's Stack. War Weariness is through the roof... but Shaka has few Units left. # # # 2019-10-26 1396AD T593 And that will be all on the day. The next round of warfare will not be as easy, as I'll be going up against Reagan with Muskets. But then, he doesn't have Cannons, yet. So, once I get a few more built, I may just make short work of him. Yeah, I think I may Declare War on Reagan, first thing tomorrow... or maybe, I will think better of it. With my Cannons, I'll take the next City in line. But Boru may not want to negotiate for Peace right away. I best exploit my Military Technology Lead while I have it. Also, rather than letting Reagan Capitulate (if he wants to), I should eat him until only his scrap Cities remain... of which there are many. # # # 2019-10-27 1396AD T593 I have Chemistry and (more central to this discussion) Chemistry on everyone. I am making a run for Liberalism. I would like to continue my advance, but my instincts are telling me to pull back and build up my forces. In a few dozen turns, the Cities I took over will be under my Cultural influence. And so, I can hole up there without getting any War Weariness. I may use a Great Artist to finish the job if Attack comes sooner than I intend. I really have too much trade through and with both Boru and Reagan to Declare War. I will be sending a Stack (consisting of most of my forces) through Ireland to attack the hated Zulus. {The Zulus are on the other side of the Board. And this was a mistake. The distance penalties made keeping the Cities too expensive. Also, Shaka refused to Capitulate, which (I have to believe) was always my hope.} My Slider is at 100% Science. I will be keeping no Cash Reserves. Also, other than the Cultural Buildings in the new lands, I will be concentrating on Units. I was building The University of Sankore. But instead, let's see if I get the bonus if someone else completes it. {I did not... or one does not.} # # # 2019-10-27 1440 T615 I am marching my troops the long way across the continent to get to the Zulu Homeland. It's costing me a fair bit of Research in increased maintenance. But Shaka will not care if I take over a previously American City... and it might just help him {in decreased Maintenance Costs}. But if I take his Capitol, he may Capitulate. {He did not. I took three Core Cities including his Capital and Shaka was as independely minded as ever.} In other news, I am delaying the discovery of Liberalism so as to get a better technology... perhaps, Astronomy. # # # T616: Boru and Pol Pot (the two Big Factions) are at War. I should count my blessings they didn't decide to attack me. But I have no doubt Boru will request my assistance before long. And he will get it. Sorry, I meant Pol Pot. I will remain friendly with Pol Pot for the foreseeable future. # # # 2019-10-27 1542 T666 I travelled across the board and carried the War to Shaka, taking over four {so four, not three} of his Cities and Razing one the Cities he had Captured on the way. I would not say I am in First Place. But I am holding my own. In the last World War neither Boru nor Reagan went on the Offensive, which either means their hands are full or they knew it would have been a lost cause. This version of the Game that I am playing {BAT MOD, Extended Leader Pack, with the Modern Era Expansions} has a lot of Late Game Technology Tweaks. I will have to take a closer look at the options. For now, I am beelining Rifles. My Trade Routes have gone sour, because everyone is running Merchantillism. Oh, well. The weak point is with Shaka. I had hoped he would become a Vassal. He is very strong Militarily. But he does want to heel. I doubt I have enough Troops to hold my gains if he attacks, which means I should likely pull back... and/or start Razing. Also, it's no crime to let him take a City or two back, as a planned retreat. The Cities mean less than the Troops Defending them. # # # 2019-10-27 1544 T667 I am sure there will be a few reloads in here as I get the mechanics of this straight. I have decided to Starve and Whip Shaka's Cities down prior to returning them to him, as keeping them will kill (is killing) my Economy. {So if I had known he would not Capitulate, I should have never crossed the Board. But having done that, I should have Razed everything in sight.} As a bonus, my Troops will be magically transported out of his lands... or at least, that is what I am expecting... and my trial runs have shown. # # # T674: Giving the Cities back to Shaka was the right move, which means sending my Troops across the Continent was the wrong move. It cost me a lot of Research... Gold. And now, the Troops are headed towards Boru from the backside. # # # ????-??-?? 1618AD T704 According to the game, I am in last place. A few dozen Turns back it did a listing of Power. And if memory serves correct, I was in third, which since my lands are not dominating, means that my Army is. Boru will not give me Peace. So, it's War. My Technology lead is not as great as I would like. But no one else has Steel. And only two other Civs can Research Rifling, which is what I am working on. No doubt, sending my Troops across the Board to Attack Shaka was a mistake. I could have been fighting this War with Boru... maybe 100 Turns earlier. Yeah, I just looked. If not exactly, it's close to 100 Turns. Of course, we have been fighting for awhile. So, maybe 50 Turns is more accurate. # # # 2019-10-29 1624AD T707 The War with Boru is going well. I don't believe I can afford to make Peace, as Boru is Researching Rifling. At which point, gains will be harder to come by. I will try to take a few more Cities by then, Razing another. And then, I think I will lay low. I still have Steel on everyone... and will have parity with Rifles within a reasonable period as everyone else. No one has them yet. So, it's War for a few more Turns. Boru was willing to Pay for Peace, so he's on the run, with Pol Pot slicing him up at the other end. # # # 2019-10-29 1638AD T714 I made Peace with Boru for 1,000+ in Gold. And then, I gifted both Boru and Washington both Military Science and Steel, so they have some chance of fending off their oppressors. I cannot afford to take too many more Cities. And I have a long fight ahead of myself against Pol Pot and Shaka. We'll see how it goes. If Boru Capitulates to the Khmer, it's game over. I've got a long run of Peace ahead of me, I believe. I need to switch all my Base Cottages over to Workshops... pure and simple. I'd like to play more... but life awaits. # # # 2019-10-29 1692AD T741 I subsequently went to War with both Reagon and Boru. But as I didn't want to go up against Grenadiers and Cannons, I just sat still. Eventually, we came to a Peace. The whole world was at Peace for a few turns. But that couldn't last. So Shaka (and Boru) are at War with Pol Pot (Harald and Ataturk). I hope Shaka kicks some butt. But I won't be helping Shaka out, as I intend to Attack from the rear... once my Forced Peace runs out. Rather luckily, time and again the Apostolic Palace votes to End The War Against Me. Since I don't control the Apostolic Palace, I don't know exactly why. I have 13 Cities, with all but 4 having been obtained by conquest. Pol Pot has some nice Techs... but doesn't have every Tech I have. So, it's close. But he has more Vassals. Um, I have none. And I would rather be sitting in his position. On the other hand, my Stack is growing quite tall... massive, in fact. For a second, I was thinking about Liberating North Island. But it's a Cash Cow, so I will not be doing that. Only 4 Cities are Producing Riflemen. It is not enough. And that's it for the update. The next 10 Turns should go quickly until I can Attack Shaka. I hope he does some damage to Pol Pot, first. In fact, if he does, I may wish to hold off for a bit. Shaka is a very good fighter. # # # 2019-10-19 1710AD T750 I will be Declaring on Shaka Next Turn, after the Roll. Shaka has Captured 2 Cities, while I sat things out. And both his and Pol Pot's Power have dropped quite a bit in the past few Turns. I am expecting Shaka to start Researching Rifling after he is done with Replaceable Parts in 3 Turns. And I would like to get as much Fighting in, as possible, prior to his discovering Rifling. I don't see as I have any option but to focus exclusively on the Military Techs. And I've got Riflemen in Production in 5/13 Cities, with more to move in that direction shortly. It would be nice if something interesting happens. But barring a major blunder, I don't see the tides changing much: I'll Attack Next Turn Capture 5-6 Cities Sue for Peace Make it to MachineGuns Or the next Military Tech And Rinse and Repeat I will concentrate on Shaka. I can't see much advantage in Reagan Capitulating. So at some point, I will eat what is left of his puny (4 City Empire). # # # 2019-10-30 1734AD T762 The first few Turns of the War with Shaka have been very satisfying. I've taken over 4 Cities, fast on my way to 5 or 6. And his resistance has been minimal. He does not have Rifles or Grenadiers. And so, he does not have an effective counter to Cannons. I lose maybe one Cannon in the Attack. And from there, it is straight victories. Shaka will be dead before he gets Rifling... or at least, that is how it is looking to me. I was going to call this the place where I crossed over into first on the Power Graph, but not quite. I expanded the view to cover just the last 50 Turns. And it is clear, I am ever so slightly behind Pol Pot. That will not last long. # # # 2019-11-03 1742AD T766 Yikes! Harad has Infantry! Having captured all but one of Shaka's nearby Cities, I made Peace for the last one. Afterwards, I basically gifted him Rifling for the rest of his cash. I, also, traded Rifling away to anyone else who would have it. I think Pol Pot was the only taker. It is tempting to launch an Attack against what remains of America, but it would be costly at this stage of the game, so I shall wait. I think I will be doing little but hit End Turn for the next while. I should probably Trade Steel and Iron to Shaka before long, so he can tear a hole in Pol Pot's rear. Of course, he might just attack me. But I'm thinking Pol Pot is closer. # # # 2019-11-06 1742AD T766 I am Researching Railroad for the Machine Gunners. I am 46 Turns out. No one else seems to be Researching any faster than me. So, that's good. It's the size of our Empires and Armies that is holding us back. I expect 1-200 Turns of Peace. If I have a War with Reagan to knock him out of the game, I do not believe I will call that a Real War... even though it may spark one. In the meantime, I shall build my Infrastructure. 3 Spies in All Cities Spam My Religions to ALL my Cities And Build Courthouses and whatever else to Rebuild my Economy Clam Dip is Building the Heroic Epic. And from there, it will be on Cannon duty until Machine Guns come out. At which point, the idea is to Garrison all of my Cities. Machine Gunners are stupid tough at this stage of the game. And will make Offence against me impractical... or so, I believe. After Railroad, I will have to review the Technology Tree. Corporations are nice. Military is nice. Aircraft are decisive. But there are all sorts of changes in this Mod, so I'll need to review and plan my Strategy. Also, I may regret deciding to go a Peaceful Route at this juncture. But I do not believe I have what it takes to win. Sure, I am number one in power. But if no one Capitulates, I'm not going to win. And Pol Pot is not going to Capitulate... probably not ever this game. # # # T774: Shaka did not last long. He is a Vassal of Pol Pot. So, it was a mistake to give him Rifling. Of course, I could have never have known that. And if he had held out, gifting him Rifling would have been worth it. But this is why Pol Pot will never Vassal. He's got too many of his own. And it will basically take destroying him to strip him of his Vassals. # # # 2019-11-06 1767AD T786 My Peace did not last long. I Declared War on Reagan almost immediately (if not immediately) and eliminated him from the game, taking over all of his lands. I have the Founding City for EVERY Religion except Buddhism. It is time for me to spam Missionaries. Of course, that's not the most important task. Building Courthouses pays off much faster. Anyhow, for the spamming of Missionaries (and Building Infrastructure) I have Revolted into Organized Religion. And having Revolted into Free Market at the same time, my Economy is back on track. I'm able to run the Slider at 50%. I should have never gone into Mercantillism. Pol Pot has me on several Technologies. And in fact, the only one of mine he needs is Military Science, which is a Dead End. I am putting most of my Espionage into Pol Pot, but he produces more than me. After Detroit Builds a Levee, it is back on Spy duty. I want three Spies in every City. If I go to War with Pol Pot, my best gambit may be a Slash and Burn Campaign, going straight for his heart, with no intention of holding it. He's killing me. I would have expected to be the Most Powerful, but he took Shaka as a Vassal and that bumped him up. Maybe I should Research Music next and do what I need to do to go for a Cultural Win. Pol Pot is ahead. He'll win the Space Race. And I'll likely have a very hard time taking him over. He's just ahead. Yeah, Cultural may not be the Long Term Play, but it is the Short Term Play. Boar's Landing Clam Dip Detroit And likely one or two others will go for Culture... or maybe just those three, as I'll need a bit of support. But then again, I have a lot of Cities and it's which City can maximize the Culture and come up from behind. Boar's Landing will be first to 150,000, easy. So, who will be the laggards? # # # 2019-11-09 1767AD T786 I'm switching back to Railroads before Music, as I won't be in a position to build any Cathedrals for awhile. But I need Machine Gunners now. # # # T801: I gave Pol Pot Military Science for 10 Turns of Peace. # # # 2019-11-09 1291AD T810 Pol Pot definitely has me on Techs. I am trailing after him. I need to build Machine Gunners so he doesn't attack... which he will do eventually. And I need to build Temples and Cathedrals to win. I am officially throwing in the towel. I do not believe I will pull it off. Pol Pot wants an enemy and it is not going to be Harald, so that leaves me. And I cannot build both Temples and Machine Gunners. So, I lose. I enjoyed the AI bashing it's troops against my shores. I think I need very much fewer Cities. For a Cultural Win, I need nine. And for a Military one, I question. Well, the AI values Land Holding. But a City in isolation can control a lot of Tiles. I allowed my Slider to dip too far down. During the War Years, I was hard pressed to maintain 20%. And this is likely the point at which Pol Pot gained supremacy. It, also, did not help that I repeatedly gave away Technology for Military Reasons, which did not pan out. Finally, Mercantillism is just a rough patch that I should wade through. Switching Civics is not worth the Turns lost to Revolt. Late Game, there really isn't much to say. I'm too far behind for it to be close. All Pol Pot needs to do is harass me until he can Build a Spaceship. Game Over! # # # 2019-11-09 (c) Copyright Brett Paufler