2020-01-12 (c) Copyright Brett Paufler # # # # # # Random War # # # # # # 2020-01-12 4000BC T0 It's a Random Start with most of the Standard Settings: Yes on Events, Goodie Huts, Tech Trading Also, Yes on Permanent Alliances All of the Standard Victories are enabled. But I can only win by Amassing Ten Great Generals and/or Incredibly Experienced Units (100+ Experience Each). I'd like to play this game as a Proof of Concept... that I can destroy the AI on Noble. So, I don't want any reloads. Thus, we have Starting Gate Questions. Builds? Research? I think I will start with a Worker (given my starting Technologies, they can Mine out of the gate) and Bronze Working for Axes to Fog Bust and Kill the Barbarians. # # # 2020-01-12 1500BC T200 It has been awhile since I have played with Barbarians. But I built The Great Wall, so they are a non-issue at the moment. As to Events, they seem to be gifting Happiness or Commerce to my Opponents. So far, I've had a Forest Fire. And that is all. {In the end, the Events were clearly a net boon, but did little for the game playing experience. I think it can be argued that both Goodie Huts and Barbarians favour the AI. And thus, taking them away benefits the Human player. But as far as I can tell, Events are neutral.} I have 3 Cities and am on a Wonder Spree. I've pushed The Oracle back some (not prioritized it from the beginning). So, I may not get it. At this point, that would suck as The Technology {from The Oracle} is worth more than the Fail Gold. I'll start The Temple of Artemis soon enough. But I won't be put out if all I get is the Fail Gold for that. Robert the Bruce is on a Close Neighbouring Continent. Meaning, I could send a Galley his way through a Culturally Controlled Ocean Tile, but he cannot return the favour. I might just have to Attack him. I share a Continent with both Bismark and Victoria... neither of whom is particularly peaceful. Researching: Pottery (a few Cottages couldn't hurt) -> Writing (for Open Borders) -> Iron Working (let's get those Praetorians online) -> Alphabet (mainly as a prerequisite, but maybe I can get the Trade On) -> Currency (for Forums) Assuming I get The Oracle in 16 Turns, I am planning on Choosing Metal Casting for The Colossus... and a Workshop or two couldn't hurt. It is too late for a Rush and Early Wars have never done me much good. So, I'll be building up my Cities, working on Infrastructure with just enough Military to Deter Others. After the Oracle, I'll Build another Settler, bringing my City count to Four. I'm not arrogantly happy {with my Game Play}. But things could be a lot worse. Eh, I probably should not worry about the Diplomatic situation too much. I need a few Wars. And rather than The Bruce, it will make sense to clear the Home Continent first. # # # 2020-01-12 990BC T251 The Most Powerful Civilizations: Bismark ? ? ? Me ? ? ? ? ? ? Victoria Robert the Bruce Robert the Bruce is cruising on the Espionage. I can only surmise that means he is running Espionage {on the slider}, which seems like a mistake this early in the game. # # # 2020-01-12 910BC T259 Having 5 Cities, I am done with my initial Settlement. Researching: Alphabet (maybe, I'll trade Technologies) -> Currency (I'll build a Forum or two) -> Aesthetics (Wonders) -> Literature (more Wonders) I Settled my first Great Person, which was a Great Spy. So, I should be able to maintain parity on my three adversaries. The Power Report of a few Turns back indicated I was doing alright. But after a Library in Rome, I will build a pair of Praetorians. I'm not doing great... but good enough. # # # 2020-01-13 1AD T350 I am playing straight Peace Wonder Builder. Germany took over a Barbarian City between My Lands and England. I think that will prove to be a mistake... a monetary drain, as I do not believe Bismark will win the Cultural War. {I started in the middle, Victoria to the West, and Bismark to the South. Since Bismark lost the Culture War big time (loosing a City to me and having the borders pushed back to his City Line), I cannot see how this City or the Cities he eventually Captured from Victoria ever did him much good.} Bismark and I are getting along. Hopefully, when he is ready, he will Declare on Victoria. I would like to Build for awhile, yet. I am sweeping the Wonders, which is likely a mistake. But then, this is the strategy I know how to play. The first one to Cannons or Infantry will win the day... or not. Whatever the case, Robert the Bruce looks to be easy pickings. I have Settled a Great Artist in a City Bordering Germany. So, I should turn that Culture War around. I do not think Germany will ever fight back enough to regain his Tiles. I am Building a Settler (8 Turns Out), which I will send off to Settle some lands in England's hinterlands. There are one or two Sites, which England is leaving undeveloped and with me running 80-90% Research, I can take the hit to my Economy. I've been thinking I should Settle amongst the Corn and Pigs, but I may be better off Settling on the Coast (for the additional Trade Routes) and nab a Fish. Either way, I'll get that Iron. Of course, England may get to the first Site before me, which I believe will leave me the Fish by Default. # # # T355: I gained control of the Gold... the first Tile in the Cultural War with Germany. The Gold is in both of our Fat Crosses. But I have always thought of it as mine... {especially, since I Settled first, you know, if I remember correctly, at this point.} # # # T363: A few Turns back I traded my World Map to Robert the Bruce for his World Map and a pile of gold. He only has two Cities... and a reasonable City Site or two to spare. If I can, I am settling his Hinterlands, as well. {I got the Fish Site from Victoria. And at this point, I cannot recall if I Settled or Captured the Second City to the Far West. I Settled two Cities on Robert the Bruce's Island. One was mediocre... eh, they both might have been mediocre. But the one packed with fish did not feel that way... or at least, was not so obviously mediocre, but it did have a lot of Desert in its Fat Cross. And finally, Dido of Carthage was happy with a Single City, so I Settled a Trio of Floodplain Hill Cities. Dido and Robert simply played poorly... very poorly.} {While it is true that upwards of half of one's Research comes from a single City. Production is spread out more evenly and comes from one's entire empire.} # # # 2020-01-13 725AD T445 Since I dropped down a few levels, I am not overly stressed. Like, I'm not rushing to Circle the Globe. I've got a few Caravels in Production and they'll Circle the Globe soon enough. Man, does Robert the Bruce suck. He's built 2 Cities. I'm basically invading his continent peacefully, as he just doesn't care. Well, he's sure to give me the -1 Our Borders are Close run around. But he's not filling in the gap. He found Buddhism and has a Shrine. So, I will be taking over his lands eventually. I'm in trouble if anyone attacks, as I'm not overly prepared. I have Victoria on Power. But Bismark has me. I am more worried about Victoria Declaring and Bismark deciding to pile on. As always, that window will close soon enough. The era of Early Wonders is coming to a close. And more and more Cities are switching to Units. Oh, I've got the Full On Monk Economy. It's very nice. # # # T448: I reloaded. The Great Wall does not prevent against Barbarians on other Continents. Thus, I lost my newly founded City in Scotland right away. Sorry, I'm not eating that. The log record has been cleansed. # # # 2020-01-13 875AD T475 I have gotten absolutely nowhere on the theoretical goal of this Map. Having not had a single War, I have exactly 0 Great General Points. Of course, that will change... but not anytime soon. I have not met the last Civilization, yet. There is a Big Continent to the South West. But if that is where my last Opponent resides, they are not expanding as they should. Seriously, I took about half of Robert the Bruce's land. And there is not much he can do about it... not that he seems to want to do anything about it. As it stands, I am 2x-3x his Power and the AI does not Attack at those odds. Germany on the other hand is the Power Leader, having maybe 50% again my Power. But then, he likes me. I waiver between Pleased and Friendly. Victoria, on the other hand, is his logical target. She's at half his Power. And whereas I'm at +11 in the Diplomatic Modifiers, she's only at +4. I am the undisputed Tech Leader. Nobody is close. Though, Victoria does have a pair of Technologies I could use. I am going to Research Astronomy next. I will lose 12 Commerce (12c/T) due to The Colossus becoming Obsolete {i.e. I was working 12 Water Tiles}. But I believe I will more than make that up with Foreign Trade Routes. Also, there's that South Western Continent, which if it's available, will mean Game, right there. Of course, I'll still have to do some stomping. But if it is available and I can build 2-6 more Cities, that's the sort of advantage that will completely tilt the game in my favour. Nobody else is nearly big enough to compete with that. Plus their Capitals, the City Count is as follows: 10 for Bismark 6 for Ragnar 9 for Victoria 5 for Montezuma 2 for Robert the Bruce I have 7 Cities (plus my Capitol). And I will be Capturing a Barbarian City (I presume) before very long. I'm still running 80-90% Research. And I don't see the Peaceful Acquisition of Cities running my Economy into the ground anytime soon. # # # 2020-01-13 880AD T476 I will admit, Dido of Carthage looks pretty nice {her Avatar}. But she's in last place and only has a single City. You know, if I am going to fight it out and get that Combat Experience, it's looking like my Home Continent will be where that happens. Well, that's it on the day. I wanted to meet the last Civilization. It is sort of ironic that the two Leaderhead Expansion Pack Leaders in this game are in last place and haven't bothered to expand. There is something wrong with their Flavour Values. They are not bringing it. # # # 2020-01-15 950AD T490 I am a lot of people's Worst Enemy: Ragnar and Monty. Interestingly, Monty may well be a contender this game. He looks to be Teching as well as anybody else. # # # 2020-01-15 1010AD T502 I Discovered Astronomy a few Turns back. And I took over the Second Barbarian City to the south. {There is the Home Continent, an Island that can hold 1-4 Cities to the south (in Galley range, this is where the Barbarian City, two of them, was located), Robert the Bruce to the East (if it was my land, I may have only built Six Cities total), and Dido's Island to the South West, which can easily hold 4+ Cities.} Dido (a bit of a ditz that Dido) shows no interest in Settling a Second City. So, I am going to Set Sail her way and claim whatever lands I can. That pushes me another 20-30 Turns back. At which point, I may wish to think about starting a War or two. But no real hurry. For instance, whenever I Declare on Dido, I don't plan on taking over her Capitol. Rather, I plan on bombarding it with Cannons and such for the rest of the game, harvesting whatever Experience I can. # # # 2020-01-15 1200AD T540 Bismark signed a Defensive Pact with me. The Game is sewn up. I haven't fought a battle, except versus Barbarians. And I do not have a single Great General Point. But the game is sewn up. Soon enough, I will Declare on Dido and take over her one City. And do the same with Robert the Bruce and his two Cities... sorry, his Four Cities. Actually, maybe I won't. The goal is (still) to nurse Great General Points, so maybe Robert will be a source. Certainly, I expect both Monty and Ragnar to be unwilling Victims to my Violent Tendencies. And in the end, I will Declare on both Germany and England and let them send their troops towards me... for Double Great General Points in my Cultural Borders. # # # 2020-01-15 1335AD T567 I will be Declaring War on Dido in a Turn or two. She can't possibly hold out. She has one City. And it is Cannons versus Longbows... which could be nice if she'd Founded her Capitol on a Hill. But she did not. For the Assault, I have 4 Cannons and 9 Other Assorted Units. {This would have been less stressful and likely more rewarding if I'd twice that many Cannons.} To keep the Peace with Bismark, I just Traded him Military Tradition (my end of the deal) for War Against Dido (moot, as neither has Astronomy), War Against Victoria (I will likely have to join before long), Drama, World Map, and 290 Gold. Victoria is Annoyed with me, while Dido is merely Cautious. Anyway, Bismark and Victoria will go at it. And I will be able to take Dido's lands in peace {i.e. without outside interference or worrying that Bismark will backstab me}. After which, I will join the War against Victoria... or whenever Bismark requests. But I will not be very aggressive. I really don't have the Troops for a dual front War. The main advantage was in keeping the Peace with Bismark. Since he is at War, I will suffer no penalties from Declaring against Dido (my main objective at this point) and I don't care if I am at war with Victoria... well, if Bismark asks for my assistance on the roll, I may well lose a City or two... but probably just the one... Cliffs of Dover if I had to guess, hence another Unit being Queued Up. Hmmm. I wonder if Dido would Capitulate to Bismark. Well, that will be interesting if she does. # # # 2020-01-16 1372AD T581 My Siege Combat Experience Engine is working like a dream. I have a stack of 4 Cannons blasting away at Carthage. The Defenders do not gain Experience for being blasted by Cannons... or at least, it does not look that way to me. I suppose I should pay better attention. The Numidian Calvary both had Combat II and Flank I. The Axe and the Spear both have Combat I. Let us see if that changes. So far, I've gotten one Great General. It has been easy Experience. {If the Defenders earned Experience, I would have expected Garrison I, II, III, & IV Units after awhile. But they never emerged.} Germany is winning the War against Victoria. I will need to attend to Germany before too terribly long... or not. I may well be able to win the game without ever Battling Germany. # # # T588: I went to War with Victoria at the behest of Bismark. And of course, Bismark made Peace a few Turns later. It's no big deal. Victoria's Army has been decimated. And to a lesser extent, so has Germany's. And that was another big reason for the War. Both Bismark and I remain at War with Dido, which is churning out the Experience at around 5 a Turn (though, probably a bit less) with almost no threat to life or limb. # # # T689: I accepted Victoria's token offer for Peace, as I am in no position to wage an Offensive. # # # T610: Dido was worth roughly Three Great Generals. She is no more. It is time to move my forces over to Aztec Lands. # # # 2020-01-16 1450AD T620 I believe Bismark has decided to Declare War on me, while Monty is willing to Capitulate... almost before I began my Attack. What's happened to you Monty. I'll need to build a slew of Riflemen for Defence of the Homeland and see what happens. # # # T626: There is no doubt Germany would like to Attack. Those Stacks are getting high. My homeland is doing nothing but cranking out Riflemen. # # # T634: Bismark Attacked Victoria (a few Turns back), which seems strange, as he was not willing to take a Bribe to Attack her. Ha! I almost forgot about that pesky City Victoria founded down Carthage ways {Dido's Lands}. It's going down. And two clicks later, the City is no more. # # # 2020-01-16 1486AD T638 I granted Victoria Peace for 780 Gold. I'm not sure why. Which mostly means, I can't remember anymore. Actually, I think I couldn't see any German Troops, so I thought I had time. But the next Turn, Germany took over a small City (Hastings). So, Bismark's Stack was out of sight, not non-existent, destroyed, or back in the Homeland. I won't worry about it too much. I get Machineguns in 12 Turns, which will render Bismark's outdated Stack meaningless. So, give it 30 Turns and War with Bismark won't matter. War with anyone else already doesn't matter. This game is won. But the Great Generals are not in. And I am having fun. # # # 2020-01-16 1508AD T649 I gave Bismark Education to Make the Peace with Victoria. I am going to eat the rest of England if I can. The only thing that can really stop me is Victoria Capitulating to Bismark. I am getting nowhere with Monty. He has longbows. And when in a City on a Hill all Fortified, it is not worth the long odds... just for Combat Experience. I do not have much of a desire to have Monty as a Vassal. So, I'm not sure where that leaves me. I've eclipsed Bismark in Power. It's ever more doubtful he will ever Declare War. Actually, I don't know if he can at Friendly. He can at Pleased. But I don't know if he can at Friendly. I looked it up. The AI cannot Start to Plot at Friendly. But if already Plotting, can Declare War even at Friendly. If Bismark takes on Victoria as a Vassal, her hatred of me may rub off on him. I would say that if I have another dozen Turns or so, Victoria is out of The Game. And Bismark will not Attack me. # # # 2020-01-18 1522AD T656 Since I am playing like a cat unto a mouse, I'm not stressed over the Turns... and overly anxious for the roll. I took over the remainder of Victoria's Cities and knocked her out of The Game. I'm fairly far below the 64% Land Area Victory Condition for Domination. I have 47.92% of the Population, which is just a hair over the 47% required. I bribed Bismark with Liberalism (5400 Beakers) to go to War with Robert the Bruce. I do not need his help. But I do not wish to incurr the Diplomatic Hit. If I Declare first, I have Declared on Bismark's Friend. But at the moment (after Declaring), Bismark is Annoyed with Robert the Bruce, the Diplo Modifiers having fallen to -2. Military Victory is in the bag. So, it is just a matter of milking those Great General points. I don't have a Unit over 30 Experience (if that). So, a Unit with 100+ Experience is looking increasingly unlikely. Corporations is the next Technology. At which point, I will found Mining, Inc. in Money Bags. Medicine (for Sid's Sushi) is still a long ways off, though. As it stands, Mining will yield +13 Hammers. Corporation (6 Turns Out) unlocks Wall Street. But I only have 5 Banks (not the 6 required for Wall Street). So, I will not be able to Build that in Money Bags for a solid 20 Turns... unless something changes. If I remember, I should move the newly minted Executives to the Cities that are building that final Bank (there are several of them), first. Edinburg and Tenochtitlan are on my list of Cities to take over. At 100% Research: +1230 Beakers -289 Gold At the 60% Research I am Running: +848 Beakers +71 Gold If I remember, I'll check those numbers again after I Research Scientific Method. # # # 2020-01-10 1546AD T668 I just discovered Scientific Method. With Slider at 100% Research: +1366 Beakers -343 Gold And with the Slider at 70% Research: +933 Beakers +71 Gold Well, that's not the hit I was expecting. In fact, the numbers are better than they were before. I can only assume I have Built a Courthouse or two... and brought, perhaps, close to six more Cities online, as the Wars are going my way. # # # And a few Turns later, that is all on the night. As I've said, in a normal game, it would be over. However, I am finding this soothing... and something I can do long after my mind is shot. {I like doing things which I find meaningful. And it is hard to call playing a game of solitaire meaningful... but writing it up, pushes it over the edge. And as a whole, playing CIV IV does, in fact, feel meaningful... slightly. Of course, when I think about alternative activities both Fishing and Playing with LEGOs are the first things that come to mind. So, meaning is sort of hard to come by inherently in my life. I have enough food. I have no children... these words are likely as close as I will ever come to that.} # # # 2020-01-21 1568AD T679 I must admit I'm a little bored. My lead is decisive. I'm winning a Two Front War. And I have a grand total of two Military Units in Production. I find it difficult to take more than a few Turns in a row. {In the Late Game, I have a hard time focusing on The Win. After Rifling and Steel (for Riflemen and Cannons, respectively), I likely did not need to Research anything further. Mining, Inc was nice, but The Game was already Won. And Buildings are only cost effective in the long run. At 200+ Turns to go, almost every Building is cost effective. At 50- Turns, almost none are.} # # # T680: Ragnar Declared War! The Idiot! # # # T681: I lost a single Rifleman to Ragnar's Assault. Idiot! # # # 2020-01-21 1574AD T682 I have 8 Settled Great Generals... two that I Captured in London, which I am going to count. My most Experienced Units are still shy of 50 Points. So, I will get the last two Great Generals prior to a Single Unit bouncing over the 100XP Mark. Ragnar Declared when he took Monty on as a Vassal. I do believe I will knock out the remaining two Aztec Cities and March on Nidaros (the Viking Capitol) and hope for a Settled Great General or two. I should switch to 100% Troops, as this is the end game. More Cannons merely mean more Cities on which to work the Siege Trick against. War! Total War! Let's see how disciplined I am. With any luck, I can wipe out a dozen Cities on my Final Turn, boosting the Score. # # # 2020-01-24 1586AD T688 I believe The Game will be over today. I am going to count the two Captured Settled Great Generals in my total. So, I have two to go... or about 500 Combats. Bismark is gearing up to do something. But it makes little difference. I mean, the most annoying thing would be if he joined the War against Ragnar, as I don't need him killing Troops. But it makes no never mind. I probably will be able to Bribe him to make Peace prior to his landing any Troops. I will be Eliminating both Robert the Bruce and Monty from The Game quite shortly. I'm sort of sad to be eliminating Robert. But it is what it is. I will keep his last City, taking two in the War. The only Aztec City I am interested in is Tenoctitlan, which I already control. I am sending troops off to his last City. And I believe the 2x Great General Bonus I will get from suddenly controlling Tenoctilan will make up for a lack of milking the Siege Experience. Since the amount of Great General Points required is ever increasing, this strategy has a point of diminishing returns, which I likely have reached. I am thinking the next game will be Fall From Heaven or one of its Derivatives. Though, one never knows. {And I did like the idea of moving on to Fall From Heaven. But as of this edit, another standard game at Monarch seems far more likely. Perhaps, I am hoping for that Late Game Challenge, which hardly ever materializes. Though, that isn't accurate. Pretty much, I either win or a I lose... by spreading myself too thin going for some long gambit without building enough troops.} # # # 2020-01-24 I think I am going to go for the Religious Victory. Ragnar will Capitulate. So, if I have a few Missionaries ready to descend upon his Territory. I can convert him right before the Election. And being my Vassal, he will vote for me. I have almost enough Votes for the Win by myself. So, the End of The Game is 10 or 20 Turns Off, depending upon how long it takes me to get the Missionaries in place. Oh, and in the meantime, I can bash the heck out of Ragnar, getting that final Great General. So, yeah. It might be closer to 20 Turns. Research is Off. I am pumping out 1,034 Gold per Turn... and still Banking 396 Beakers per Turn. Yeah, let's get that Religious Victory. # # # 2020-01-27 1638AD T714 So, I decided to try for a Religious Victory. But my timing on this isn't the greatest, as the vote was 35 Turns out. I accepted Ragnar's Capitulation in regards to this gambit, even though I am one Great General shy of my goal. I may or may not end The Game in a Last Turn War against German to acquire said Great General. I guess it would not be a single Turn War. But if we assume I want both 10 Great Generals and a Religious Victory, I have 18 Turns until the next vote... so, 10-15 Turns until I Declare War. # # # 2020-01-27 1638AD T714 A half an hour later, after lunch, I decided to call it. The Great Generals are in the bag. It is just a matter of nursing it. I could Declare War on Bismark now (or wait 5-10 Turns when I am in better position) and Bismark could do nothing. He does not have Cannons or Riflemen, while I have Artillery {and Machine Gunners} and could be Researching Assembly Line (for Infantry) if I wanted. I double Germany on Points and Power. And my Diplo is +14, which makes us Comfortable Friends. Or in other words, he could not Attack me even if he wanted to... and he is programmed not to want to. I can actually see nursing the Great Generals in Future Games... and likely shall more and more. On the other hand, I think it is far more critical that I am not taking over every one of my opponents Cities. The Maintenance for a Far Ranging Empire is killer. And the truth of the matter is that anything not on the Home Continent almost never gets up to speed. Let us assume my Core Cities have Hundreds of Turns of Infrastructure in them. Captured Cities, hardly any at all. I am interesting in playing again. I won't say I was in a funk today. But I was supremely unmotivated. And now that I have fired up The Game, hours have drifted by. I am going to interpret that as interest. # # # Fewer Cities # # # I think I would like to go for a Religious Victory next time... well, that or Diplomatic if Religious is no longer available. Monarch I am going to have to think about the remainder. Given my strategy of Late (or call it Mid) Game War, what is the Best Civilization and Leader. # # # # # # 2020-01-28 Notes From Reading My Notes Through 1) Additional Spies in the same Tile provide no additional benefit. If I am feeling paranoid, I should line the road. 2) I often Discover Land and then (and only then) Build the Settler. Having an Extra Settler at the Ready would put me 5-10 Turns ahead in many Settlement Races. 3) Only certain AIs will plot at Pleased. None can start plotting at Friendly, but they can follow through on plans they have already made. 4) For internal scoring purposes, I'm calling this a 75,000 Point Game. 5) I need to tighten my focus in the End Game... only Building Units for a Military Victory. # # # # # # And That's A Wrap! (c) 2020-01-28 Brett Paufler