T232, 1610AD
2 turns late because the capture of Groningen was falsely skewing the data for a spell. PP is still
actually on top of the score, with 1 last hurdle on the road to a post-Matrix world.
Being the one to conquer Groningen itself had 2 advantages: the gold, of course, but also a few turns to switch into the representation civic. With mercantilism for free specialists, this is quite profitable. Doubly so once we have colonies out there for intercontinental trade routes.
It's been a great run, hats off to IcaMatrus who tried to fly too close to the sun with wonder spamming.
There were 3 times when I envisioned a complete collapse for this game, including one that really
should have happened but didn't. Thanks, RNGsus.
Ynnek will make quite a contender once he's fully operational. He'll have lands and resources to rival PP and myself. It was a generous deal but I absolutely did need him to have any chance in this.
Depending ont he player, I'm up steel, astro, press and liberalism ; down nationalism and military tradition. Early cannons and frigates will keep me afloat and safe for a while yet: not enough to conquer, but enough to deter (TM).
PP will have cannons of his own before I can rush him on land, so I guess the plan is to control the oceans until my economy can convincingly surpass his, and I can leapfrog into tanks.
For now I'll try and hurry up settling the big island in the center-north before Brunch can claim it. More pictures once it's been better charted.
Plans for now: grow back population in the converted Dutch lands, hyper-specialize cities (NE and HE are up, a crazy specialist pump will come online soon), research for a placating economy and test the waters for sharks.