*SPOILER* GOTM26 "A Tale of Two Cities"

Ribannah · 12-12-2003, 19:25

[u]IMPORTANT: if you are playing and haven't reached the Middle Ages yet, do not read!

http://gotm.civfanatics.net/games/gotm26_han.shtml

[u]Scope of the Game
Civilization: Han Dynasty (China)
Difficulty: Deity
World size: 5000 tiles (Standard)
Landmass: Mystery
Geology: 5 billion years old
Environment: Cool/Normal
Barbarians: Raging
Rivals: 10 Preset/2 minor
Upgrade Swordsmen/Longbows: ON
Differential Naval Movement is Engaged

This is my personal 'Tale of Two Cities' until 1000BC.

Play the World 1.27f
Predator

Ribannah · 12-12-2003, 19:26

[u]Choosing home

The two starting sites are almost identical, but far apart, and we are only allowed one palace! For now, that is.

Basically, there are three options:
(a) to settle on or near both starting locations (with a slight preference for the capital near the Dyes as it is more central);
(b) to settle the capital and have the other Settler/Worker pair start a long trek towards it;
(c) to walk both pairs and settle somewhere in the middle.

I decided upon (a) after my first move basically because it was the spirit of the game (that, and the fact that there are raging barbarians). In the distant future, the two cities will be connected, right?

Actually neither starting tile looks real good in terms of rapid growth potential. Those Settlers need to be moved! Luckily, there are mountains near both locations.
We number the northern pair as 1 and the southern pair as 2.

4000 BC
[u]Workers: 1»west
Whoa! You must see this to believe it (well, it IS a modded map).
We have found our capital location and will reach it in 2 turns. But what is that ... tower? ... doing there?
[u]Settlers: 2»east
It has to hang around for 2 turns anyway.
[u]Settlers: 1»sw
Might as well look around since we will settle on the forest rather than the floodplain. If at all possible, we want to avoid working floodplain tiles in our capital!
[u]Workers: 2»ne
We need to connect the Spices asap so we can keep the luxury slider down.

north at the Dyes, and something ...

3950 BC
[u]Settlers: 1»west, 2»n
The secondary town should be right at the luxury as it'll be ages before it can reach it otherwise. Settling on a floodplain is a risk here, too, but much less important, and food is all it can handle anyway.
[u]Workers: 1»nw, 2=road

3900 BC
[u]Settlers: 1=Beijing, 2=Shanghai
[u]Workers: 1=road

At this point there are a few major decisions to make:
- what to research, if anything (we have Masonry and Martial Arts);
- how and when to set up a Settler factory in Beijing.
Feel free to enter your ideas before I tell you what I did, and to ask any questions you may have!

Beam · 12-12-2003, 19:39

Ribannah, just a detail. Change your thread title please into something that reads like:

GOTM26 Spoiler Thread

Not that it spoils it for me, I just don't want to miss the replies before you stop posting here.

Beam · 12-12-2003, 19:53

Thank you.

Ribannah · 13-12-2003, 16:17

[u]The Factory Blueprint

A 4-turn Settler factory can be created in Beijing already at size 4/5. This is what we need: to irrigate the cattle and the wheat, to mine the bonus grassland, and then either two normal tiles (irrigated plains/mined grasslands) or - faster but riskier - irrigate a floodplain and use that and a forest. And, of course, a Granary in place. This is how it works.

[u]Version A
Size 4 (10 food) = 6 shields (cattle, wheat, bonus grassland, plains)
Size 4 (15 food) = 8 shields (same plus forest for growing)
Size 5 (10 food) = 7 shields (same plus another plains)
Size 5 (15 food) = 9 shields (as above plus a forest for growing)

[u]Version B
Size 4 (10 food) = 7 shields (cattle, wheat, bonus grassland, forest)
Size 4 (14 food) = 7 shields (floodplain, but forest for growing)
Size 5 (10 food) = 7 shields (with floodplain and forest)
Size 5 (15 food) = 9 shields (same with a second forest for growing)

Of the 3 options to get there, building the Granary first is the straightforward one. It's possible to complete the Granary in 3000 BC and have the Settler Factory producing its first in 2850 BC (by cutting one forest).

Starting with a Settler (skipping the initial Warrior) would be worse if not for the cattle tile in the north. Of course there is no way of knowing that as it isn't visible yet. A sequence could be: Settler in 3350BC, founding Canton 2 tiles north in 3300BC, to complete a Settler in 2590BC (after a Warrior), a Granary in the capital in 2670BC to make the first Settler there in 2470BC. You end up with the same assets as with building a Granary first, but Canton is behind in development. However, there are alternative uses for that early new city: you could also build a Barracks and start cranking out veteran units. You have one city less but some military instead.

My preference, and what I did in the game, is to start with an extra Worker. You might think you don't need an extra Worker because the Han are industrial, but if you have one the profit is double as good. Playing your strong points is often a good idea.

What happens is that you basically start a number of turns later on the rest of your production in the capital. But because you are improving the land at double speed, you are much more productive. By the time you start making those Settlers, the Workers are ready to improve the new city sites and by the time the new cities can build Settlers themselves (if that is the plan, there may be something better to do, too!) you will have caught up - and still have that extra Worker, and more land improved.

[u]The Science
We need Terra Cotta (Pottery) to build our Granary. However, this is a deity game with lots of civs, and someone is bound to come visit and have it for sale long before we can have it researched ourselves.
Even if we already had it, it would still be a good idea to have some petty cash, so we can do some tech brokering early on. After the early trades we will know what the best research opportunies are.

3900 BC
[u]Treasury: $10
[u]Science: 0% (Terra Cotta)

3850 BC
[u]Treasury: $15
[u]Science: 0% (Terra Cotta)

3800 BC
[u]Treasury: $20
[u]Science: 0% (Terra Cotta)
[u]Workers: 1»s»w 2»e

At Beijing, we can irrigate the cattle just in time to have it count, when the food box is filled at 12. Meanwhile at Shanghai, we have connected the Spices! Now there's need for food.

After this turn, a large company of 7 Khazar Warriors shows up near Beijing! We'd better make friends ...

3750 BC
[u]Treasury: $25
[u]Science: 20% (Mathematics in 40)
[u]Workers: 1=irrigate, 2=irrigate
[u]Diplomacy: Alphabet (Khazar) for Masonry + Martial Arts

The Khazar (1 city) have 3 techs (Alphabet, The Wheel, Burial Rituals) and no gold, so we're not the first they meet.

Alphabet opens up a lot of possibilities. We can try to be the first to get Calligraphy (Writing), but there is an alternative.
It is important to realize that the game has just provided us with an opportunity here. We can play the Mathematics gambit and gather some money during 40 turns of minimum research. By that time the AI will no doubt have Calligraphy available, and more.
Even at Deity, the odds are that we'll be the first to get Mathematics, because it's not a research priority for the AI and we start early. But even if someone beats us to it, all is not lost. The money we save will go a long way to keep us at par, or better.

Ribannah · 14-12-2003, 15:12

[u]Friends

3700 BC
[u]Treasury: $29
[u]Science: 20% (Mathematics in 39)

Note that the irrigation at Beijing already counts before it shows up on the map.

3650 BC
[u]Treasury: $33
[u]Science: 20% (Mathematics in 38)
[u]Production: Warrior (Beijing)
[u]Workers: 1»se 2»n
[u]Warriors: 1»sw

Neither of the Workers has time to build a road. At Beijing, our Worker has to cut down two forests to speed up the Granary. At Shanghai, we want food, and the commerce is lost anyway.

3600 BC
[u]Treasury: $37
[u]Science: 10% (Mathematics in 37)
[u]Luxuries: 10%
[u]Citizens: Beijing=2
[u]Workers: 1=cut 2=irrigate
[u]Warriors: 1»w

Our Warrior is taking a peek at where that funny road is leading to that the Khazar love so much. Knowledge is worth a few measly gold. We get a major fright when a Barbarian Pict appears and comes
running, missing our Worker by a hair ...

3550 BC

Fortunately, two Khazar Warriors already have their eyes on him and they will move first, before the Barbarians. We trust them completely.

They also have Terra Cotta now and 70 gold!
Meanwhile, in the south, a horde of Gogury (2 cities, Burial Rituals, 10 gold) run past on their way north. They seem not the least interested in undefended Shanghai, we must be too puny to be a prize.

3550 BC
[u]Treasury: $42
[u]Science: 10% (Mathematics in 36)
[u]Luxuries: 10%
[u]Warriors: 1»se»w»sw

It's a litte tricky to use The Road efficiently here because of the river. The reward is that we see a yellow border! In the meantime, our friends the Khazar take care of the Pict.

[u]Diplomacy: Contact with the Gogury

We check all rivals, every turn, to see if there are trade opportunities. Unfortunately, this is not one. But soon, our efforts will pay off.

3500 BC
[u]Treasury: $47 -> $57
[u]Science: 20% (Mathematics in 35)
[u]Luxuries: 0%
[u]Citizens: Beijing=1 Shanghai=2
[u]Production: Worker (Beijing)

There is our extra Worker. He will irrigate the wheat, so we get to +5 food a turn, then cut a forest and finally move on to mine the bonus grassland. That should help a lot to get our Granary and the Settler Factory.

[u]Workers: 2»se 3»n=irrigate
[u]Warriors: 1»sw»ne»ne

The yellow border appears to be Mongolia who are awfully close but don't seem to have a stack like the Gogury and the Khazar. What they do have is 2 cities, Burial Rituals and Terra Cotta, but no gold. Trade just became cheaper: the cost of buying a tech depends on how many civs that we know already have it.

[u]Diplomacy: Burial Rituals + $10 (Gogury) for Alphabet
They wouldn't do that last turn!

3500 BC Standings
Mongolia 104
Han 101
Gogury 80
Khazar 67

3450 BC
[u]Treasury: $61
[u]Science: 20% (Mathematics in 34)
[u]Workers: 2=irrigate
[u]Warriors: 1»se»n»nw

After our turn, yet another peloton comes a-visiting: the Baekje (2 cities, 68 gold, The Wheel, Bronze Working). We are right at the crossroads of the world!

3400 BC
[u]Treasury: $65 -> $102
[u]Science: 20% (Mathematics in 33)
[u]Production: Warrior (Shanghai)
[u]Workers: 2»ne 3»s»se
[u]Warriors: 1»n»se»e 2»sw»s
[u]Diplomacy:
- Bronze Culture + $6 (Baekje) for Masonry
- Terra Cotta (Mongolia) for Bronze Culture + $17
- $48 (Baekje) for Terra Cotta

This is what I meant by tech brokering. By playing these two civs against each other, we end up with two techs and some gold! Yet all of this wouldn't be possible if we didn't have some change in our pockets to begin with. Terra Cotta is our key tech, too.
Also this turn, Beijing expands, claiming the bonus grassland.

3350 BC
[u]Treasury: $106
[u]Science: 10% (Mathematics in 32)
[u]Citizens: Beijing=2
[u]Workers: 1»se 2=road 3=cut
[u]Warriors: 1»se 2»se
Beijing's Warrior is back home to police.

We have Terre Cotta so there is no immediate gain from exploring further and leaving the capital unprotected. Things are going well for the Han.

Ribannah · 15-12-2003, 13:02

[u]A Settler Factory

3300 BC
[u]Treasury: $112
[u]Science: 10% (Mathematics in 31)
[u]Workers: 1=cut
[u]Warriors: 2»north

3250 BC
[u]Treasury: $118
[u]Science: 10% (Mathematics in 30)
[u]Workers: 2»w»w
[u]Warriors: 2»n

This is a good time to take a look at Shanghai. Its Warrior is back home to police. The Worker move seems rather innocent, but an important choice was made here.
Sometime in the future we want to connect the south and the north, so both parts of the empire can profit from all resources, and we could have started working on the long road right now. Instead, we chose to further improve the immediate vicinity, and will continue to do so for quite a while, at Beijing as well.
There are two good reasons for this: first, the rival civs may do part of the work for us. Second, while keeping the luxuries separate means a higher slider setting, this is more than compensated by all the improved terrain at our cities.
Around the time our 40-turn Mathematics project is finished, a single Worker won't mean so much anymore, and we should be able to connect the Two Cities then without sacrificing something important. That should be right when we might want to go full science.
Meanwhile, Shanghai is building an extra Worker. It is needed to cut some forests there, too, so the city can actually do something useful, and still have time to prepare the terrain to accomodate more towns.

3200 BC
[u]Treasury: $124
[u]Science: 10% (Mathematics in 29)
[u]Workers: 2=irrigate

3150 BC
[u]Treasury: $130
[u]Science: 10% (Mathematics in 28)
[u]Luxuries: 10%
[u]Citizens: Beijing=3

It is always a good idea to check on every city each turn, but when one grows it's a must. First, it is almost always needed to reassign the worked tiles, because the governer makes a total mess of this. Second, one wants to make sure the citizens are willing to do their job, ie whether they are still content on average. With only one police unit in Beijing at Deity level, the city would have rioted at size 3 had we not used the luxury slider.
And don't be afraid to use that slider, it's there for a reason. Making an entertainer in the capital is far, far worse: growth is everything here.

3100 BC
[u]Treasury: $135
[u]Science: 10% (Mathematics in 27)
[u]Workers: 2,3=road

A moment of choice at Beijing. We could have skipped building a road again and move to the bonus grassland right away, which would have allowed us to start the Settler production two turns sooner.
Instead, we select to build yet another Worker first. It will be a long time before any new city will make one and we can really need another. Making this choice now gives us time to be more efficient at improving the terrain as well.

3050 BC
[u]Treasury: $140
[u]Science: 10% (Mathematics in 26)
[u]Citizens: Shanghai=4 (one entertainer)
[u]Production: Granary (Beijing)
[u]Workers: 1=road
[u]Warriors: 2»w

Trouble in the south. Two Picts approach Shanghai and threaten our Worker. We move out the Warrior to protect him - it's a good thing we can! But because of the high corruption, it is not possible to prevent the need for an entertainer.
Elsewhere, Beijing has finished the Granary thanks to another forest cut.

3000 BC
[u]Treasury: $144
[u]Science: 10% (Mathematics in 25)
[u]Luxuries: 50%
[u]Workers: 2»se=cut 3»e
[u]Warriors: 2»ne

A funny thing happens here. Facing the approaching Gogury Barb-hunters, the two Picts turn and run. Then on the next turn, they reappear with a mate.

We send the Warrior back home to police as our Worker is no longer in danger, he's gonna cut the Spices forest for a nice 10 shields to Shanghai.

3000 BC Standings
Baekje 165
Mongolia 157
Han 151
Gogury 139
Khazar 124

2950 BC
[u]Treasury: $145
[u]Science: 10% (Mathematics in 24)
[u]Luxuries: 10%
[u]Production: Worker (Beijing)
[u]Workers: 1»n»n»ne, 4»n»ne, 3=mine
[u]Warriors: 2»sw

Once again, the southern Worker is not safe. Fortunately, the Gogury will take care of this threat once and for all (we hope)! They kill all three of the Picts.

2900 BC
[u]Treasury: $149
[u]Science: 10% (Mathematics in 23)
[u]Citizens: Shanghai=3
[u]Production: Worker (Shanghai)
[u]Workers: 1,4=irrigate 5»se
[u]Warriors: 2»ne

2850 BC
[u]Treasury: $153
[u]Science: 10% (Mathematics in 22)
[u]Citizens: Beijing=4
[u]Production: Warrior (Beijing)
[u]Workers: 5=road

It is done. Beijing, with maximum police, too, has set up the Settler Factory. From here on, the capital will build a Settler every 4 turns for a long, long time.

Compared to the alternative options (a Granary or a Settler first, instead of a Worker), at this point we are one Settler (city) behind, but with more land improved already and no less than 3 Workers in the northern part of our empire, instead of one, and we have a second Warrior as well.
This means that if we want, we can easily catch up in cities because the ones we make will grow and build faster, and still have two Workers more and much, much more land improved, and more citizens at the time we do catch up in cities.

Ribannah · 16-12-2003, 13:58

[u]Disaster at Shanghai

2800 BC
[u]Treasury: $158
[u]Science: 10% (Mathematics in 21)
[u]Citizens: Shanghai=4
[u]Workers: 1,3,4=road

2750 BC
[u]Treasury: $164
[u]Science: 10% (Mathematics in 20)

While an ominously close dark-blue border appears on the opposite side of the floodplains, we are already at the halfway point of our Mathematics gambit, and the known AI's still have to finish research priorities like Iron Working and Calligraphy.

[u]Luxuries: 50%
[u]Citizens: Beijing=5
[u]Workers: 2»ne»e»ne 5»s

Our second Worker in the south is going to harvest another forest to speed up the building of a Settler in Shanghai.

2710 BC
[u]Treasury: $167 -> $47
[u]Science: 10% (Mathematics in 19)
[u]Workers: 1»sw»w 2=road 3»w»nw»w 4»nw»n 5=cut
[u]Warriors: 1»n»e»e

Workers 1 and 4 are off to prepare for what probably will be the next two city sites. In the north, we find a cattle tile, and a border of a new colour! Our Warrior moves out to take a closer look, since the luxuries are tuned up high anyway.

[u]Diplomacy: Slave (Khazar) for $120

It's been a while since we did any trading, as we are counting on Mathematics to catch up, but this is an opportunity we cannot let pass. Even working at half speed, and coming at an increased price, a Slave is worth every dime in the early stages in the game. Later we may get the money back in another trade, too. Since we are all still in Despotism it can't just disappear.

[u]Slaves: 1»nw

2670 BC
[u]Treasury: $50 -> $85
[u]Science: 10% (Mathematics in 18)
[u]Luxuries: 20%
[u]Citizens: Beijing=4, Shanghai=3
[u]Production: Settler (Beijing)

Our first Settler from the production line (#3 in total) is ready to found a new town on the northwest side of the floodplains, when a terrible message arrives from the south:

Eventually, Shanghai will recover, but it will always remember the flood of 2670 BC ...

[u]Settlers: 3»s»w»nw (stubbornly ...)
[u]Workers: 1,3,4=road
[u]Slaves: 1=road
[u]Warriors: 1»n

The good news pales in comparison. We make contact with the Takeda, who appear to be on an island or peninsula, and we can trade!

[u]Diplomacy: The Wheel + $35 (Takeda) for Alphabet + Burial Rituals

There is a Horses resource to the southwest, near the Mongols. Hopefully there is time to claim it. Meanwhile, the Baekje have discovered Iron Working. And after our next turn, another rival shows up. Suddenly, things are happening fast ...

2630 BC
[u]Treasury: $90
[u]Science: 10% (Mathematics in 17)
[u]Citizens: Shanghai=2 disease lasts 2 turns
[u]Setters: 3»n»nw»Canton

Our first new city, settled on desert, cramped in but still with some growth potential. We have it start on a Barracks, as we foresee the need of quality troops in the nearby future.

[u]Workers: 2»e
[u]Warriors: 1»w

Another message arrives: the Baekje are starting on The Pyramids, a most desirable wonder. Will it really be built on our continent?

2590 BC
[u]Treasury: $99 -> $89
[u]Science: 10% (Mathematics in 16)
[u]Citizens: Beijing=5, Shanghai=3
[u]Workers: 1»w»w 2=irrigate 3»n=irrigate 4»nw
[u]Warriors: 1»s

We have made contact with the Rajaputana (3 cities, $57) who came wandering by. Takeda has now aquired Iron Working, and they're lacking other stuff. Again, having some kind of treasury pays off.

[u]Diplomacy:
- Iron Culture (Takeda) for Masonry + Terra Cotta + $35
- $25 (Gogury) for Terra Cotta

Beijing has Iron!

2550 BC
[u]Treasury: $97
[u]Science: 10% (Mathematics in 15)
[u]Luxuries: 20%
[u]Workers: 1,4=irrigate
[u]Slaves: 1»north
[u]Warriors: 1»w»s
[u]Diplomacy: contact with Korea

Now we know who has the darkblue border. Korea (4 cities, $10) is a bit backward in tech.

2550 BC Standings
Takeda 236
Korea 219
Rajaputana 210
Baekje 207
Mongolia 182
Han 180
Gogury 160
Khazar 152

For some reason, the Gogury and the Khazar are not building new cities.

Ribannah · 17-12-2003, 13:55

[u]Two Cores

With Beijing producing a Settler every four turns, and Shanghai not totally inactive in the south, it is time to talk about long-range planning.
We don't expect this game to get far into the Industrial Age. So, there is no real gain by reserving more than 12 tiles for the capital to work on. Also, the floodplains in particular - not used by Beijing itself - provide fast early growth to cities located right at them. We therefore decide on a core ring at a distance of 3/3½ tiles from the capital, which offers some excellent locations.
Our second core will be around Shanghai. We plan to have our Forbidden Palace there, sometime in the distant future, preferably rushed by using a Great Leader. As a military nation, we should get Great Leaders relatively fast once the war machine starts rolling and on this chaotic map, that is something which can hardly be avoided even if we would want to - which we don't.
Shanghai will have a first ring similar to Beijing, it just takes longer to create it so hopefully the AI tribes won't get in the way.

2510 BC
[u]Treasury: $108
[u]Science: 10% (Mathematics in 14)
[u]Citizens: Beijing=4
[u]Production: Settler (Beijing)
[u]Settlers: 4»n»n
[u]Workers: 1=road 3»w»s=mine 5»west
[u]Slaves: 1=road

Our fourth city will be at the cattle, where the land has already been prepared.

2470 BC
[u]Treasury: $119
[u]Science: 10% (Mathematics in 13)
[u]Luxuries: 10%
[u]Settlers: S4=Nanking
[u]Workers: 1,4=road 5»nw

Nanking starts on a Barracks.
When we check our contacts, it appears that Rajaputana have discovered Calligraphy and already traded it to the Baekje. The next priority of the AI is Map Making, and with only 13 turns left to our Mathematics gambit we are optimistic.

2430 BC
[u]Treasury: $130
[u]Science: 10% (Mathematics in 12)
[u]Luxuries: 20%
[u]Citizens: Beijing=5, Shanghai=2
[u]Production: Settler (Shanghai)
[u]Settlers: 5»e»ne»ne
[u]Workers: 2»n 5=cut

Our second southern city will be at the Incense, which we discovered in 2630 BC. We were planning to put it there anyway, for growth and to limit the expansion drift of the Baekje; the second luxury is a nice bonus! If only we could connect it to the north - but no, there are still more urgent tasks for our Workers.

2390 BC
[u]Treasury: $144 -> $194
[u]Science: 10% (Mathematics in 11)
[u]Citizens: Canton=2
[u]Production: Settler (Shanghai)
[u]Settlers: 5=Tsingtao
[u]Workers: 1»e»ne 2=r 3»e»ne=irrigate 4»se=irrigate
[u]Slaves: 1»nw
[u]Diplomacy: $50 (Gogury) for Masonry

2350 BC
[u]Treasury: $209
[u]Science: 10% (Mathematics in 10)
[u]Citizens: Beijing=4
[u]Production: Settler (Beijing)
[u]Settlers: 6»s»w»w
[u]Workers: 1=irrigate
[u]Slaves: 1=road

For an industrial civ, it's most efficient to have any Slaves lay roads in open terrain, and have the native Workers irrigate or mine them later. Workers laying roads throw away half a turn, and they lose a turn of double production to move onto the tile as well.

2310 BC
[u]Treasury: $222 -> $0
[u]Science: 10% (Mathematics in 9)
[u]Settlers: 6=Xinjian
[u]Workers: 2»se»se=irrigate 3=s 4=se
[u]Diplomacy: 2 slaves (Khazar) for $1pt + $222

Another opportunity that we cannot pass up on; Calligraphy will have to wait. The one gold per turn is something we don't really mind since we plan to keep the non-expanding Khazar, with their Barbarian-hunters, as friends for quite a while.
The money will somehow flow back to us once we have Mathematics.
Meanwhile, the Khazar start on the Colossus, a rather hopeless undertaking in land that produces virtually no shields. The Takeda are building the Pyramids which will hopefully be too late to beat the Baekje. We don't know what is happening in the rest of the world, however: we haven't met all the civs yet.

[u]Slaves: 2»sw 3»n»ne»e

2270 BC
[u]Treasury: $14
[u]Science: 10% (Mathematics in 8)
[u]Citizens: Beijing=5
[u]Workers: 1=road 3=mine 4=irrigate
[u]Slaves: 2,3=road

2230 BC
[u]Treasury: $30
[u]Science: 10% (Mathematics in 7)
[u]Luxuries: 30%
[u]Citizens: Shanghai=3, Canton=3
[u]Workers: 2»sw»w»n 5»nw
[u]Slaves: 1»ne
[u]Warriors: 3»n»w

Canton needs policing, it is high time that we build some units.

2190 BC
[u]Treasury: $43 -> $91
[u]Science: 10% (Mathematics in 6)
[u]Luxuries: 20%
[u]Citizens: Beijing=4
[u]Production: Settler (Beijing), Barracks (Nanking)
[u]Settlers: 7»n»e»e
[u]Workers: 1»ne=irrigate 2,4=road 5=cut
[u]Slaves: 1=road
[u]Warriors: 3»w
[u]Diplomacy:

Still some turns away from Mathematics, another trade deal presents itself. Korea have Calligraphy, they must have researched it all by themselves since they had nothing to trade for it. But we have!

- Calligraphy + Slave + $9 (Korea) for Iron Working + Masonry + Burial Rituals + contact with Takeda
- $14 (Takeda) for contact with Gogury
- $25 (Gogury) for contact with Korea

This is clearly our best deal so far! The Han are on top of the game (well, almost).

[u]Slaves: 4»se»e»n

2150 BC
[u]Treasury: $106
[u]Science: 10% (Mathematics in 5)
[u]Settlers: 7=Chengdu
[u]Workers: 3»e=mine
[u]Slaves: 2»e=mine 3»ne 4=road

2150 BC

2150 BC Standings
Takeda 286
Rajaputana 280
Korea 274
Baekje 260
Han 227
Mongolia 225
Gogury 182
Khazar 182

We have passed the Mongols!

Ribannah · 18-12-2003, 16:43

[u]Mathematics!

2110 BC
[u]Treasury: $123 -> $174
[u]Science: 10% (Mathematics in 4)
[u]Luxuries: 30%
[u]Citizens: Beijing=5, Tsingtao=2
[u]Production: Barracks (Canton)
[u]Workers: 1»se=irrigate 2»n 4»e
[u]Slaves: 3=cut
[u]Diplomacy: $51 (Gogury) for The Wheel

In hindsight, I'm not too happy with the decision to build a Barracks in Canton. It is growing so fast that it may have been better to build a Settler and some Workers there. I'm not sure it would have made a real difference, but still.

The Baekje start on The Oracle, while they are also still working on The Pyramids.

2070 BC
[u]Treasury: $188
[u]Science: 10% (Mathematics in 3)
[u]Citizens: Shanghai=4, Canton=4
[u]Workers: 2=road 3»sw=mine 4=cut
[u]Slaves: 1»nw, 2»sw=mine

2030 BC
[u]Treasury: $203
[u]Science: 10% (Mathematics in 2)
[u]Citizens: Beijing=4
[u]Production: Settler (Beijing), Barracks (Xinjian)
[u]Settlers: 8»se»e»se
[u]Workers: 1»n=irrigate
[u]Slaves: 1=road 4»east

Both Canton and Xinjian are now building Warriors, while Nanking is busy on a Spearman of which we only need a few. The Warriors will be upgraded to Swordsmen once we get the Iron connected.
I'm not a big fan of massive upgrades and the 'stacks of doom' that result. It's a bit unfair on the AI that doesn't know the 'strategy'. At the moment there is not much choice since we do need some military fast and the Iron isn't connected yet.
Another consideration is that when they approach the Middle Ages, the AI tribes often build a considerable number of units. So while our attacking force may be larger, they will be better prepared as well, and casulaties will be high on both sides.
The idea is to be ready before they are. The gold not spend on upgrading will be used to back our research efforts. We are almost done with Mathematics and from then on it's full throttle in the sience department.

1990 BC
[u]Treasury: $216
[u]Science: 10% (Mathematics in 1)
[u]Citizens: Nanking=3, Shanghai=2, Tsingtao=1
[u]Production: Settler (Shanghai), Warrior (Canton), Worker (Tsingtao)
[u]Settlers: 8=Hangchow 9»e»s
[u]Workers: 2»ne 3»w»sw=mine 5=irrigate 6»s
[u]Slaves: 2»w»w»w 4=road

1950 BC
[u]Treasury: $233 -> $414
[u]Science: Mathematics, 70% (Civil Service in 15)
[u]Citizens: Beijing=5, Shanghai=1

The population of Shanghai is decreased as we rush them into producing another Settler asap. Together with the forests being cut, this allows us to make something of this totally corrupt area.

[u]Settlers: 9»e
[u]Workers: 1»s»s»e 2,4=road 6=irrigate
[u]Slaves: 2,3=road
[u]Diplomacy: Bajutsu + Taoist Mysticism + $181 (Baekje) for Mathematics

Hmmm, that's it. No other rival has something to offer, and we don't dare to wait until the AI have Map Making, so the proceeds from our Mathematics gambit seem a bit meagre (partly because we already got Calligraphy, of course). We did get our gold back that went to the Khazar earlier, however, and we won't need to pay for Mathematics ourselves so it's still a fine deal.
At this point in time another 40-turn play is useless. No matter what we choose, the AI will undoubtedly beat us to it. On the other hand, our growing empire is right there with them even on Deity and we can contribute to the common effort.
Our main goal will be to discover The Republic. With the AI still working on Map Making, we take it upon us to research the bigger of the two essential techs: Civil Service, with a good chance that they will have Confucianism by the time we finish.

Now that we go maximum research, it is finally getting urgent to connect all the available luxuries to the empire, so we can study The Republic at 100%. In the north, we have Slave4 at work to connect the Dyes. Near Shanghai, Worker2 has already started on the long road north, and soon Worker3 will start from the other end. By bypassing the Baekje we diminish the risk of being disconnected by any ongoing war, and at the same time the desert road prepares a connection for one or two more southern cities. Worker1 has climbed the Iron mountain at Beijing where he will first mine for extra production in Nanking and then road to hook up the resource.

Founding Hangchow has revealed a second Horses tile within grasp. We'd still like to claim the other one as well before the Mongols expand their borders.

12-12-2003, 19:25	#1
Ribannah Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Reunion Island. Posts: 115	SPOILER GOTM26 "A Tale of Two Cities" [u]IMPORTANT: if you are playing and haven't reached the Middle Ages yet, do not read!</u> http://gotm.civfanatics.net/games/gotm26_han.shtml [u]Scope of the Game</u> Civilization: Han Dynasty (China) Difficulty: Deity World size: 5000 tiles (Standard) Landmass: Mystery Geology: 5 billion years old Environment: Cool/Normal Barbarians: Raging Rivals: 10 Preset/2 minor Upgrade Swordsmen/Longbows: ON Differential Naval Movement is Engaged This is my personal 'Tale of Two Cities' until 1000BC. Play the World 1.27f Predator __________________ <i>If you have no feet, don\'t walk on fire</i> <b>Project Lead of the Might and Magic Tribute Game</b>

12-12-2003, 19:26	#2
Ribannah Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Reunion Island. Posts: 115	[u]Choosing home</u> The two starting sites are almost identical, but far apart, and we are only allowed one palace! For now, that is. Basically, there are three options: (a) to settle on or near both starting locations (with a slight preference for the capital near the Dyes as it is more central); (b) to settle the capital and have the other Settler/Worker pair start a long trek towards it; (c) to walk both pairs and settle somewhere in the middle. I decided upon (a) after my first move basically because it was the spirit of the game (that, and the fact that there are raging barbarians). In the distant future, the two cities will be connected, right? Actually neither starting tile looks real good in terms of rapid growth potential. Those Settlers need to be moved! Luckily, there are mountains near both locations. We number the northern pair as 1 and the southern pair as 2. 4000 BC [u]Workers</u>: 1»west Whoa! You must see this to believe it (well, it IS a modded map). We have found our capital location and will reach it in 2 turns. But what is that ... tower? ... doing there? [u]Settlers</u>: 2»east It has to hang around for 2 turns anyway. [u]Settlers</u>: 1»sw Might as well look around since we will settle on the forest rather than the floodplain. If at all possible, we want to avoid working floodplain tiles in our capital! [u]Workers</u>: 2»ne We need to connect the Spices asap so we can keep the luxury slider down. north at the Dyes, and something ... 3950 BC [u]Settlers</u>: 1»west, 2»n The secondary town should be right at the luxury as it'll be ages before it can reach it otherwise. Settling on a floodplain is a risk here, too, but much less important, and food is all it can handle anyway. [u]Workers</u>: 1»nw, 2=road 3900 BC [u]Settlers</u>: 1=Beijing, 2=Shanghai [u]Workers</u>: 1=road At this point there are a few major decisions to make: - what to research, if anything (we have Masonry and Martial Arts); - how and when to set up a Settler factory in Beijing. Feel free to enter your ideas before I tell you what I did, and to ask any questions you may have! __________________ <i>If you have no feet, don\'t walk on fire</i> <b>Project Lead of the Might and Magic Tribute Game</b>

12-12-2003, 19:53	#4
Beam c00l b33r Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Beat 'm up Scotty!. Lives in the Lands that are Nether. Posts: 5,093	Thank you. __________________ That was a pretty good gamble. -- Scotty, The Galileo Seven, stardate 2821.5, Episode 14 Linux never looked this good!

13-12-2003, 16:17	#5
Ribannah Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Reunion Island. Posts: 115	[u]The Factory Blueprint</u> A 4-turn Settler factory can be created in Beijing already at size 4/5. This is what we need: to irrigate the cattle and the wheat, to mine the bonus grassland, and then either two normal tiles (irrigated plains/mined grasslands) or - faster but riskier - irrigate a floodplain and use that and a forest. And, of course, a Granary in place. This is how it works. [u]Version A</u> Size 4 (10 food) = 6 shields (cattle, wheat, bonus grassland, plains) Size 4 (15 food) = 8 shields (same plus forest for growing) Size 5 (10 food) = 7 shields (same plus another plains) Size 5 (15 food) = 9 shields (as above plus a forest for growing) [u]Version B</u> Size 4 (10 food) = 7 shields (cattle, wheat, bonus grassland, forest) Size 4 (14 food) = 7 shields (floodplain, but forest for growing) Size 5 (10 food) = 7 shields (with floodplain and forest) Size 5 (15 food) = 9 shields (same with a second forest for growing) Of the 3 options to get there, building the Granary first is the straightforward one. It's possible to complete the Granary in 3000 BC and have the Settler Factory producing its first in 2850 BC (by cutting one forest). Starting with a Settler (skipping the initial Warrior) would be worse if not for the cattle tile in the north. Of course there is no way of knowing that as it isn't visible yet. A sequence could be: Settler in 3350BC, founding Canton 2 tiles north in 3300BC, to complete a Settler in 2590BC (after a Warrior), a Granary in the capital in 2670BC to make the first Settler there in 2470BC. You end up with the same assets as with building a Granary first, but Canton is behind in development. However, there are alternative uses for that early new city: you could also build a Barracks and start cranking out veteran units. You have one city less but some military instead. My preference, and what I did in the game, is to start with an extra Worker. You might think you don't need an extra Worker because the Han are industrial, but if you have one the profit is double as good. Playing your strong points is often a good idea. What happens is that you basically start a number of turns later on the rest of your production in the capital. But because you are improving the land at double speed, you are much more productive. By the time you start making those Settlers, the Workers are ready to improve the new city sites and by the time the new cities can build Settlers themselves (if that is the plan, there may be something better to do, too!) you will have caught up - and still have that extra Worker, and more land improved. [u]The Science</u> We need Terra Cotta (Pottery) to build our Granary. However, this is a deity game with lots of civs, and someone is bound to come visit and have it for sale long before we can have it researched ourselves. Even if we already had it, it would still be a good idea to have some petty cash, so we can do some tech brokering early on. After the early trades we will know what the best research opportunies are. 3900 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $10 [u]Science</u>: 0% (Terra Cotta) 3850 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $15 [u]Science</u>: 0% (Terra Cotta) 3800 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $20 [u]Science</u>: 0% (Terra Cotta) [u]Workers</u>: 1»s»w 2»e At Beijing, we can irrigate the cattle just in time to have it count, when the food box is filled at 12. Meanwhile at Shanghai, we have connected the Spices! Now there's need for food. After this turn, a large company of 7 Khazar Warriors shows up near Beijing! We'd better make friends ... 3750 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $25 [u]Science</u>: 20% (Mathematics in 40) [u]Workers</u>: 1=irrigate, 2=irrigate [u]Diplomacy</u>: Alphabet (Khazar) for Masonry + Martial Arts The Khazar (1 city) have 3 techs (Alphabet, The Wheel, Burial Rituals) and no gold, so we're not the first they meet. Alphabet opens up a lot of possibilities. We can try to be the first to get Calligraphy (Writing), but there is an alternative. It is important to realize that the game has just provided us with an opportunity here. We can play the Mathematics gambit and gather some money during 40 turns of minimum research. By that time the AI will no doubt have Calligraphy available, and more. Even at Deity, the odds are that we'll be the first to get Mathematics, because it's not a research priority for the AI and we start early. But even if someone beats us to it, all is not lost. The money we save will go a long way to keep us at par, or better. __________________ <i>If you have no feet, don\'t walk on fire</i> <b>Project Lead of the Might and Magic Tribute Game</b>

14-12-2003, 15:12	#6
Ribannah Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Reunion Island. Posts: 115	[u]Friends</u> 3700 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $29 [u]Science</u>: 20% (Mathematics in 39) Note that the irrigation at Beijing already counts before it shows up on the map. 3650 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $33 [u]Science</u>: 20% (Mathematics in 38) [u]Production</u>: Warrior (Beijing) [u]Workers</u>: 1»se 2»n [u]Warriors</u>: 1»sw Neither of the Workers has time to build a road. At Beijing, our Worker has to cut down two forests to speed up the Granary. At Shanghai, we want food, and the commerce is lost anyway. 3600 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $37 [u]Science</u>: 10% (Mathematics in 37) [u]Luxuries</u>: 10% [u]Citizens</u>: Beijing=2 [u]Workers</u>: 1=cut 2=irrigate [u]Warriors</u>: 1»w Our Warrior is taking a peek at where that funny road is leading to that the Khazar love so much. Knowledge is worth a few measly gold. We get a major fright when a Barbarian Pict appears and comes running, missing our Worker by a hair ... 3550 BC Fortunately, two Khazar Warriors already have their eyes on him and they will move first, before the Barbarians. We trust them completely. They also have Terra Cotta now and 70 gold! Meanwhile, in the south, a horde of Gogury (2 cities, Burial Rituals, 10 gold) run past on their way north. They seem not the least interested in undefended Shanghai, we must be too puny to be a prize. 3550 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $42 [u]Science</u>: 10% (Mathematics in 36) [u]Luxuries</u>: 10% [u]Warriors</u>: 1»se»w»sw It's a litte tricky to use The Road efficiently here because of the river. The reward is that we see a yellow border! In the meantime, our friends the Khazar take care of the Pict. [u]Diplomacy</u>: Contact with the Gogury We check all rivals, every turn, to see if there are trade opportunities. Unfortunately, this is not one. But soon, our efforts will pay off. 3500 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $47 -> $57 [u]Science</u>: 20% (Mathematics in 35) [u]Luxuries</u>: 0% [u]Citizens</u>: Beijing=1 Shanghai=2 [u]Production</u>: Worker (Beijing) There is our extra Worker. He will irrigate the wheat, so we get to +5 food a turn, then cut a forest and finally move on to mine the bonus grassland. That should help a lot to get our Granary and the Settler Factory. [u]Workers</u>: 2»se 3»n=irrigate [u]Warriors</u>: 1»sw»ne»ne The yellow border appears to be Mongolia who are awfully close but don't seem to have a stack like the Gogury and the Khazar. What they do have is 2 cities, Burial Rituals and Terra Cotta, but no gold. Trade just became cheaper: the cost of buying a tech depends on how many civs that we know already have it. [u]Diplomacy</u>: Burial Rituals + $10 (Gogury) for Alphabet They wouldn't do that last turn! 3500 BC Standings Mongolia 104 Han 101 Gogury 80 Khazar 67 3450 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $61 [u]Science</u>: 20% (Mathematics in 34) [u]Workers</u>: 2=irrigate [u]Warriors</u>: 1»se»n»nw After our turn, yet another peloton comes a-visiting: the Baekje (2 cities, 68 gold, The Wheel, Bronze Working). We are right at the crossroads of the world! 3400 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $65 -> $102 [u]Science</u>: 20% (Mathematics in 33) [u]Production</u>: Warrior (Shanghai) [u]Workers</u>: 2»ne 3»s»se [u]Warriors</u>: 1»n»se»e 2»sw»s [u]Diplomacy</u>: - Bronze Culture + $6 (Baekje) for Masonry - Terra Cotta (Mongolia) for Bronze Culture + $17 - $48 (Baekje) for Terra Cotta This is what I meant by tech brokering. By playing these two civs against each other, we end up with two techs and some gold! Yet all of this wouldn't be possible if we didn't have some change in our pockets to begin with. Terra Cotta is our key tech, too. Also this turn, Beijing expands, claiming the bonus grassland. 3350 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $106 [u]Science</u>: 10% (Mathematics in 32) [u]Citizens</u>: Beijing=2 [u]Workers</u>: 1»se 2=road 3=cut [u]Warriors</u>: 1»se 2»se Beijing's Warrior is back home to police. We have Terre Cotta so there is no immediate gain from exploring further and leaving the capital unprotected. Things are going well for the Han. __________________ <i>If you have no feet, don\'t walk on fire</i> <b>Project Lead of the Might and Magic Tribute Game</b>

12-12-2003, 19:39	#3
Beam c00l b33r Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Beat 'm up Scotty!. Lives in the Lands that are Nether. Posts: 5,093	Ribannah, just a detail. Change your thread title please into something that reads like: GOTM26 Spoiler Thread Not that it spoils it for me, I just don't want to miss the replies before you stop posting here. __________________ That was a pretty good gamble. -- Scotty, The Galileo Seven, stardate 2821.5, Episode 14 Linux never looked this good!

15-12-2003, 13:02	#7
Ribannah Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Reunion Island. Posts: 115	[u]A Settler Factory</u> 3300 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $112 [u]Science</u>: 10% (Mathematics in 31) [u]Workers</u>: 1=cut [u]Warriors</u>: 2»north 3250 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $118 [u]Science</u>: 10% (Mathematics in 30) [u]Workers</u>: 2»w»w [u]Warriors</u>: 2»n This is a good time to take a look at Shanghai. Its Warrior is back home to police. The Worker move seems rather innocent, but an important choice was made here. Sometime in the future we want to connect the south and the north, so both parts of the empire can profit from all resources, and we could have started working on the long road right now. Instead, we chose to further improve the immediate vicinity, and will continue to do so for quite a while, at Beijing as well. There are two good reasons for this: first, the rival civs may do part of the work for us. Second, while keeping the luxuries separate means a higher slider setting, this is more than compensated by all the improved terrain at our cities. Around the time our 40-turn Mathematics project is finished, a single Worker won't mean so much anymore, and we should be able to connect the Two Cities then without sacrificing something important. That should be right when we might want to go full science. Meanwhile, Shanghai is building an extra Worker. It is needed to cut some forests there, too, so the city can actually do something useful, and still have time to prepare the terrain to accomodate more towns. 3200 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $124 [u]Science</u>: 10% (Mathematics in 29) [u]Workers</u>: 2=irrigate 3150 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $130 [u]Science</u>: 10% (Mathematics in 28) [u]Luxuries</u>: 10% [u]Citizens</u>: Beijing=3 It is always a good idea to check on every city each turn, but when one grows it's a must. First, it is almost always needed to reassign the worked tiles, because the governer makes a total mess of this. Second, one wants to make sure the citizens are willing to do their job, ie whether they are still content on average. With only one police unit in Beijing at Deity level, the city would have rioted at size 3 had we not used the luxury slider. And don't be afraid to use that slider, it's there for a reason. Making an entertainer in the capital is far, far worse: growth is everything here. 3100 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $135 [u]Science</u>: 10% (Mathematics in 27) [u]Workers</u>: 2,3=road A moment of choice at Beijing. We could have skipped building a road again and move to the bonus grassland right away, which would have allowed us to start the Settler production two turns sooner. Instead, we select to build yet another Worker first. It will be a long time before any new city will make one and we can really need another. Making this choice now gives us time to be more efficient at improving the terrain as well. 3050 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $140 [u]Science</u>: 10% (Mathematics in 26) [u]Citizens</u>: Shanghai=4 (one entertainer) [u]Production</u>: Granary (Beijing) [u]Workers</u>: 1=road [u]Warriors</u>: 2»w Trouble in the south. Two Picts approach Shanghai and threaten our Worker. We move out the Warrior to protect him - it's a good thing we can! But because of the high corruption, it is not possible to prevent the need for an entertainer. Elsewhere, Beijing has finished the Granary thanks to another forest cut. 3000 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $144 [u]Science</u>: 10% (Mathematics in 25) [u]Luxuries</u>: 50% [u]Workers</u>: 2»se=cut 3»e [u]Warriors</u>: 2»ne A funny thing happens here. Facing the approaching Gogury Barb-hunters, the two Picts turn and run. Then on the next turn, they reappear with a mate. We send the Warrior back home to police as our Worker is no longer in danger, he's gonna cut the Spices forest for a nice 10 shields to Shanghai. 3000 BC Standings Baekje 165 Mongolia 157 Han 151 Gogury 139 Khazar 124 2950 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $145 [u]Science</u>: 10% (Mathematics in 24) [u]Luxuries</u>: 10% [u]Production</u>: Worker (Beijing) [u]Workers</u>: 1»n»n»ne, 4»n»ne, 3=mine [u]Warriors</u>: 2»sw Once again, the southern Worker is not safe. Fortunately, the Gogury will take care of this threat once and for all (we hope)! They kill all three of the Picts. 2900 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $149 [u]Science</u>: 10% (Mathematics in 23) [u]Citizens</u>: Shanghai=3 [u]Production</u>: Worker (Shanghai) [u]Workers</u>: 1,4=irrigate 5»se [u]Warriors</u>: 2»ne 2850 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $153 [u]Science</u>: 10% (Mathematics in 22) [u]Citizens</u>: Beijing=4 [u]Production</u>: Warrior (Beijing) [u]Workers</u>: 5=road It is done. Beijing, with maximum police, too, has set up the Settler Factory. From here on, the capital will build a Settler every 4 turns for a long, long time. Compared to the alternative options (a Granary or a Settler first, instead of a Worker), at this point we are one Settler (city) behind, but with more land improved already and no less than 3 Workers in the northern part of our empire, instead of one, and we have a second Warrior as well. This means that if we want, we can easily catch up in cities because the ones we make will grow and build faster, and still have two Workers more and much, much more land improved, and more citizens at the time we do catch up in cities. __________________ <i>If you have no feet, don\'t walk on fire</i> <b>Project Lead of the Might and Magic Tribute Game</b>

16-12-2003, 13:58	#8
Ribannah Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Reunion Island. Posts: 115	[u]Disaster at Shanghai</u> 2800 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $158 [u]Science</u>: 10% (Mathematics in 21) [u]Citizens</u>: Shanghai=4 [u]Workers</u>: 1,3,4=road 2750 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $164 [u]Science</u>: 10% (Mathematics in 20) While an ominously close dark-blue border appears on the opposite side of the floodplains, we are already at the halfway point of our Mathematics gambit, and the known AI's still have to finish research priorities like Iron Working and Calligraphy. [u]Luxuries</u>: 50% [u]Citizens</u>: Beijing=5 [u]Workers</u>: 2»ne»e»ne 5»s Our second Worker in the south is going to harvest another forest to speed up the building of a Settler in Shanghai. 2710 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $167 -> $47 [u]Science</u>: 10% (Mathematics in 19) [u]Workers</u>: 1»sw»w 2=road 3»w»nw»w 4»nw»n 5=cut [u]Warriors</u>: 1»n»e»e Workers 1 and 4 are off to prepare for what probably will be the next two city sites. In the north, we find a cattle tile, and a border of a new colour! Our Warrior moves out to take a closer look, since the luxuries are tuned up high anyway. [u]Diplomacy</u>: Slave (Khazar) for $120 It's been a while since we did any trading, as we are counting on Mathematics to catch up, but this is an opportunity we cannot let pass. Even working at half speed, and coming at an increased price, a Slave is worth every dime in the early stages in the game. Later we may get the money back in another trade, too. Since we are all still in Despotism it can't just disappear. [u]Slaves</u>: 1»nw 2670 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $50 -> $85 [u]Science</u>: 10% (Mathematics in 18) [u]Luxuries</u>: 20% [u]Citizens</u>: Beijing=4, Shanghai=3 [u]Production</u>: Settler (Beijing) Our first Settler from the production line (#3 in total) is ready to found a new town on the northwest side of the floodplains, when a terrible message arrives from the south: Eventually, Shanghai will recover, but it will always remember the flood of 2670 BC ... [u]Settlers</u>: 3»s»w»nw (stubbornly ...) [u]Workers</u>: 1,3,4=road [u]Slaves</u>: 1=road [u]Warriors</u>: 1»n The good news pales in comparison. We make contact with the Takeda, who appear to be on an island or peninsula, and we can trade! [u]Diplomacy</u>: The Wheel + $35 (Takeda) for Alphabet + Burial Rituals There is a Horses resource to the southwest, near the Mongols. Hopefully there is time to claim it. Meanwhile, the Baekje have discovered Iron Working. And after our next turn, another rival shows up. Suddenly, things are happening fast ... 2630 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $90 [u]Science</u>: 10% (Mathematics in 17) [u]Citizens</u>: Shanghai=2 disease lasts 2 turns [u]Setters</u>: 3»n»nw»Canton Our first new city, settled on desert, cramped in but still with some growth potential. We have it start on a Barracks, as we foresee the need of quality troops in the nearby future. [u]Workers</u>: 2»e [u]Warriors</u>: 1»w Another message arrives: the Baekje are starting on The Pyramids, a most desirable wonder. Will it really be built on our continent? 2590 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $99 -> $89 [u]Science</u>: 10% (Mathematics in 16) [u]Citizens</u>: Beijing=5, Shanghai=3 [u]Workers</u>: 1»w»w 2=irrigate 3»n=irrigate 4»nw [u]Warriors</u>: 1»s We have made contact with the Rajaputana (3 cities, $57) who came wandering by. Takeda has now aquired Iron Working, and they're lacking other stuff. Again, having some kind of treasury pays off. [u]Diplomacy</u>: - Iron Culture (Takeda) for Masonry + Terra Cotta + $35 - $25 (Gogury) for Terra Cotta Beijing has Iron! 2550 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $97 [u]Science</u>: 10% (Mathematics in 15) [u]Luxuries</u>: 20% [u]Workers</u>: 1,4=irrigate [u]Slaves</u>: 1»north [u]Warriors</u>: 1»w»s [u]Diplomacy</u>: contact with Korea Now we know who has the darkblue border. Korea (4 cities, $10) is a bit backward in tech. 2550 BC Standings Takeda 236 Korea 219 Rajaputana 210 Baekje 207 Mongolia 182 Han 180 Gogury 160 Khazar 152 For some reason, the Gogury and the Khazar are not building new cities. __________________ <i>If you have no feet, don\'t walk on fire</i> <b>Project Lead of the Might and Magic Tribute Game</b>

17-12-2003, 13:55	#9
Ribannah Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Reunion Island. Posts: 115	[u]Two Cores</u> With Beijing producing a Settler every four turns, and Shanghai not totally inactive in the south, it is time to talk about long-range planning. We don't expect this game to get far into the Industrial Age. So, there is no real gain by reserving more than 12 tiles for the capital to work on. Also, the floodplains in particular - not used by Beijing itself - provide fast early growth to cities located right at them. We therefore decide on a core ring at a distance of 3/3½ tiles from the capital, which offers some excellent locations. Our second core will be around Shanghai. We plan to have our Forbidden Palace there, sometime in the distant future, preferably rushed by using a Great Leader. As a military nation, we should get Great Leaders relatively fast once the war machine starts rolling and on this chaotic map, that is something which can hardly be avoided even if we would want to - which we don't. Shanghai will have a first ring similar to Beijing, it just takes longer to create it so hopefully the AI tribes won't get in the way. 2510 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $108 [u]Science</u>: 10% (Mathematics in 14) [u]Citizens</u>: Beijing=4 [u]Production</u>: Settler (Beijing) [u]Settlers</u>: 4»n»n [u]Workers</u>: 1=road 3»w»s=mine 5»west [u]Slaves</u>: 1=road Our fourth city will be at the cattle, where the land has already been prepared. 2470 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $119 [u]Science</u>: 10% (Mathematics in 13) [u]Luxuries</u>: 10% [u]Settlers</u>: S4=Nanking [u]Workers</u>: 1,4=road 5»nw Nanking starts on a Barracks. When we check our contacts, it appears that Rajaputana have discovered Calligraphy and already traded it to the Baekje. The next priority of the AI is Map Making, and with only 13 turns left to our Mathematics gambit we are optimistic. 2430 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $130 [u]Science</u>: 10% (Mathematics in 12) [u]Luxuries</u>: 20% [u]Citizens</u>: Beijing=5, Shanghai=2 [u]Production</u>: Settler (Shanghai) [u]Settlers</u>: 5»e»ne»ne [u]Workers</u>: 2»n 5=cut Our second southern city will be at the Incense, which we discovered in 2630 BC. We were planning to put it there anyway, for growth and to limit the expansion drift of the Baekje; the second luxury is a nice bonus! If only we could connect it to the north - but no, there are still more urgent tasks for our Workers. 2390 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $144 -> $194 [u]Science</u>: 10% (Mathematics in 11) [u]Citizens</u>: Canton=2 [u]Production</u>: Settler (Shanghai) [u]Settlers</u>: 5=Tsingtao [u]Workers</u>: 1»e»ne 2=r 3»e»ne=irrigate 4»se=irrigate [u]Slaves</u>: 1»nw [u]Diplomacy</u>: $50 (Gogury) for Masonry 2350 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $209 [u]Science</u>: 10% (Mathematics in 10) [u]Citizens</u>: Beijing=4 [u]Production</u>: Settler (Beijing) [u]Settlers</u>: 6»s»w»w [u]Workers</u>: 1=irrigate [u]Slaves</u>: 1=road For an industrial civ, it's most efficient to have any Slaves lay roads in open terrain, and have the native Workers irrigate or mine them later. Workers laying roads throw away half a turn, and they lose a turn of double production to move onto the tile as well. 2310 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $222 -> $0 [u]Science</u>: 10% (Mathematics in 9) [u]Settlers</u>: 6=Xinjian [u]Workers</u>: 2»se»se=irrigate 3=s 4=se [u]Diplomacy</u>: 2 slaves (Khazar) for $1pt + $222 Another opportunity that we cannot pass up on; Calligraphy will have to wait. The one gold per turn is something we don't really mind since we plan to keep the non-expanding Khazar, with their Barbarian-hunters, as friends for quite a while. The money will somehow flow back to us once we have Mathematics. Meanwhile, the Khazar start on the Colossus, a rather hopeless undertaking in land that produces virtually no shields. The Takeda are building the Pyramids which will hopefully be too late to beat the Baekje. We don't know what is happening in the rest of the world, however: we haven't met all the civs yet. [u]Slaves</u>: 2»sw 3»n»ne»e 2270 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $14 [u]Science</u>: 10% (Mathematics in 8) [u]Citizens</u>: Beijing=5 [u]Workers</u>: 1=road 3=mine 4=irrigate [u]Slaves</u>: 2,3=road 2230 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $30 [u]Science</u>: 10% (Mathematics in 7) [u]Luxuries</u>: 30% [u]Citizens</u>: Shanghai=3, Canton=3 [u]Workers</u>: 2»sw»w»n 5»nw [u]Slaves</u>: 1»ne [u]Warriors</u>: 3»n»w Canton needs policing, it is high time that we build some units. 2190 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $43 -> $91 [u]Science</u>: 10% (Mathematics in 6) [u]Luxuries</u>: 20% [u]Citizens</u>: Beijing=4 [u]Production</u>: Settler (Beijing), Barracks (Nanking) [u]Settlers</u>: 7»n»e»e [u]Workers</u>: 1»ne=irrigate 2,4=road 5=cut [u]Slaves</u>: 1=road [u]Warriors</u>: 3»w [u]Diplomacy</u>: Still some turns away from Mathematics, another trade deal presents itself. Korea have Calligraphy, they must have researched it all by themselves since they had nothing to trade for it. But we have! - Calligraphy + Slave + $9 (Korea) for Iron Working + Masonry + Burial Rituals + contact with Takeda - $14 (Takeda) for contact with Gogury - $25 (Gogury) for contact with Korea This is clearly our best deal so far! The Han are on top of the game (well, almost). [u]Slaves</u>: 4»se»e»n 2150 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $106 [u]Science</u>: 10% (Mathematics in 5) [u]Settlers</u>: 7=Chengdu [u]Workers</u>: 3»e=mine [u]Slaves</u>: 2»e=mine 3»ne 4=road 2150 BC 2150 BC Standings Takeda 286 Rajaputana 280 Korea 274 Baekje 260 Han 227 Mongolia 225 Gogury 182 Khazar 182 We have passed the Mongols! __________________ <i>If you have no feet, don\'t walk on fire</i> <b>Project Lead of the Might and Magic Tribute Game</b>

18-12-2003, 16:43	#10
Ribannah Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Reunion Island. Posts: 115	[u]Mathematics!</u> 2110 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $123 -> $174 [u]Science</u>: 10% (Mathematics in 4) [u]Luxuries</u>: 30% [u]Citizens</u>: Beijing=5, Tsingtao=2 [u]Production</u>: Barracks (Canton) [u]Workers</u>: 1»se=irrigate 2»n 4»e [u]Slaves</u>: 3=cut [u]Diplomacy</u>: $51 (Gogury) for The Wheel In hindsight, I'm not too happy with the decision to build a Barracks in Canton. It is growing so fast that it may have been better to build a Settler and some Workers there. I'm not sure it would have made a real difference, but still. The Baekje start on The Oracle, while they are also still working on The Pyramids. 2070 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $188 [u]Science</u>: 10% (Mathematics in 3) [u]Citizens</u>: Shanghai=4, Canton=4 [u]Workers</u>: 2=road 3»sw=mine 4=cut [u]Slaves</u>: 1»nw, 2»sw=mine 2030 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $203 [u]Science</u>: 10% (Mathematics in 2) [u]Citizens</u>: Beijing=4 [u]Production</u>: Settler (Beijing), Barracks (Xinjian) [u]Settlers</u>: 8»se»e»se [u]Workers</u>: 1»n=irrigate [u]Slaves</u>: 1=road 4»east Both Canton and Xinjian are now building Warriors, while Nanking is busy on a Spearman of which we only need a few. The Warriors will be upgraded to Swordsmen once we get the Iron connected. I'm not a big fan of massive upgrades and the 'stacks of doom' that result. It's a bit unfair on the AI that doesn't know the 'strategy'. At the moment there is not much choice since we do need some military fast and the Iron isn't connected yet. Another consideration is that when they approach the Middle Ages, the AI tribes often build a considerable number of units. So while our attacking force may be larger, they will be better prepared as well, and casulaties will be high on both sides. The idea is to be ready before they are. The gold not spend on upgrading will be used to back our research efforts. We are almost done with Mathematics and from then on it's full throttle in the sience department. 1990 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $216 [u]Science</u>: 10% (Mathematics in 1) [u]Citizens</u>: Nanking=3, Shanghai=2, Tsingtao=1 [u]Production</u>: Settler (Shanghai), Warrior (Canton), Worker (Tsingtao) [u]Settlers</u>: 8=Hangchow 9»e»s [u]Workers</u>: 2»ne 3»w»sw=mine 5=irrigate 6»s [u]Slaves</u>: 2»w»w»w 4=road 1950 BC [u]Treasury</u>: $233 -> $414 [u]Science</u>: Mathematics, 70% (Civil Service in 15) [u]Citizens</u>: Beijing=5, Shanghai=1 The population of Shanghai is decreased as we rush them into producing another Settler asap. Together with the forests being cut, this allows us to make something of this totally corrupt area. [u]Settlers</u>: 9»e [u]Workers</u>: 1»s»s»e 2,4=road 6=irrigate [u]Slaves</u>: 2,3=road [u]Diplomacy</u>: Bajutsu + Taoist Mysticism + $181 (Baekje) for Mathematics Hmmm, that's it. No other rival has something to offer, and we don't dare to wait until the AI have Map Making, so the proceeds from our Mathematics gambit seem a bit meagre (partly because we already got Calligraphy, of course). We did get our gold back that went to the Khazar earlier, however, and we won't need to pay for Mathematics ourselves so it's still a fine deal. At this point in time another 40-turn play is useless. No matter what we choose, the AI will undoubtedly beat us to it. On the other hand, our growing empire is right there with them even on Deity and we can contribute to the common effort. Our main goal will be to discover The Republic. With the AI still working on Map Making, we take it upon us to research the bigger of the two essential techs: Civil Service, with a good chance that they will have Confucianism by the time we finish. Now that we go maximum research, it is finally getting urgent to connect all the available luxuries to the empire, so we can study The Republic at 100%. In the north, we have Slave4 at work to connect the Dyes. Near Shanghai, Worker2 has already started on the long road north, and soon Worker3 will start from the other end. By bypassing the Baekje we diminish the risk of being disconnected by any ongoing war, and at the same time the desert road prepares a connection for one or two more southern cities. Worker1 has climbed the Iron mountain at Beijing where he will first mine for extra production in Nanking and then road to hook up the resource. Founding Hangchow has revealed a second Horses tile within grasp. We'd still like to claim the other one as well before the Mongols expand their borders. __________________ <i>If you have no feet, don\'t walk on fire</i> <b>Project Lead of the Might and Magic Tribute Game</b>