AU 100-A DAR 3: The Classical Era

[nbarclay]

This DAR covers events in AU 100-A as players play through the Classical Era, ending when players enter the medieval era. As examples of things that could be interesting to include, consider the following questions. What research and technology trading strategies have you been following? How much have you decided to expand, and do you plan to expand farther? What wonders have you built, or tried to build but been beaten to by another civ? How are your relationships with other civilizations going, and have you fought any wars yet? (And if you have, what happened in them?) Did anything else interesting happen? And did you learn anything of significance, or have anything happen that reinforced a lesson you'd already learned?

[nbarclay]

After having traded for Pottery, America shifted some of its attention from expansion to building cottages for gold – especially in Philadelphia, a flood plains city northwest of Washington. On flood plains, even a cottage was enough for America’s Financial bonus to kick in. Later, the city of Washington traded its irrigation for cottages as well.

After researching Alphabet, Lord Nathan’s researchers went on to research Drama, mostly for trading potential but also for the potential to use the culture slider. Next, they went back to pick up Metal Casting in order to build Forges. Boston built the Great Lighthouse, providing additional trade routes for coastal cities and making a large empire a bit more practical than it would have been otherwise (especially as long as the extra cities are coastal). With Metal Casting completed, America turned its efforts to Philosophy and the discovery of Taoism, which was completed in 450 AD. With that discovery, America entered the medieval era. Tech trades have resulted in acquiring Calendar, Mathematics, Iron Working, and Priesthood. America has a slight overall lead in tech values, but some of the AIs have techs that America doesn’t (and are not currently willing to trade them).

Expansion of the American nation continued through the Classical Era, but more sporadically and at a slower pace than before. In the year 450 AD, America settled its thirteenth city. The empire’s size makes it extremely expensive to operate, running at –1 gold per turn at 60% science. But with a GNP almost three times that of the average AI, and with hair over twice as many cities as the nearest known rival, America can afford it, and getting the extra cities started now will make them more valuable later on.

The biggest drawback to my strategy thus far is that I’ve been leaving myself pretty wide open militarily. I have warriors in all my cities to keep them from being unhappy over not having any protection, but the most I’ve ever had in more modern units was two swordsmen and an archer, and one of the swordsmen has since been killed by an axe-wielding barbarian. If one of the AIs decides to get aggressive before I get around to reinforcing my borders, I could find myself in very big trouble.

In regard to my relations with the AIs, the one thing I truly hate about Civ IV is how demanding the AIs are. It’s just plain insane that I spend huge amounts of gold researching state-of-the-art technologies, and then AIs get irritated with me if I’m not willing to hand over the fruits of my enormous investment for free. It’s also highly irritating to be bombarded with demands from AIs to cancel deals with other AIs. I don’t expect to be able to be everyone’s best friend at once, but neither do I like being penalized for trying to remain neutral in regard to the AIs’ mutual dislikes of each other – especially when the AIs aren’t actually at war with each other.

Right now my relations are at a net +1 with the Mongols and Germans, -1 with Egypt, -3 with Spain, and –4 with the Arabs. I have open borders with the first three, but not with the last two.

I’ve had a couple interesting adventures thus far. One came just before I finished researching Drama when a barbarian snuck up from the South and pillaged my only fur camp before I could get any units into position to do anything about it. That caused some anger in at least two of my cities (including the capital) until I finished researching Drama and used the culture slider to quell it. (Getting a new camp built took a bit longer.)

The other adventure came when the Mongols snuck in a city directly adjacent to one of my cities to claim some ivory that was supposed to be mine. For the time being, I managed to snatch away one of the ivories by using chops to help build a quick library and theater in my city and intrude culturally into the Mongol city’s first ring, but I don’t know how long the situation will last.

I’ve also noticed that the resource situation in this game is a bit better than I realized when I set it up. I knew about some of it from deliberately looking in the World Builder to make sure there was at least one early-game happiness resource within a reasonable distance, but I hadn’t realized quite how many resources the human player has within reach – at least insofar as the resources revealed thus far are concerned. Now that I have Calendar and am about to research Monarchy (both of which give me access to previously unusable resources), I should be in pretty good shape to let my cities grow a bit larger.

Egypt is in the lead in the wonder race with four wonders, while Spain, the Mongols, and I each have one. Thus far, I’ve been too busy doing other things to spend much time on wonders, but that’s likely to change in the near future.

I’m not sure what I’ll research next after I get Monarchy. I think I’ll wait and see if anything happens in the next couple turns to help me make up my mind.

[teriakiburger]

With confucianism now founded as state religon after 1 turn of anarchy, my free missonary heads to Washington to spread the faith there.

I would usually pursue more rapid growth, but then again I usually play with 18 civs no matter what the map, so I got plenty of time still to expand.

In 1280 BC my stone quarry is done which will help with the pyramid gamble.

I am refusing the requests for open borders, no sense in now getting them, I am not ready to explore further out yet.

In 1200BC the rednecks rejoice as hunting is researched, but decide to get the wheel, as I see the stone is not being used by New York without a road


Also founded 3rd city of Boston in 1200BC with the wheat, cows, and ivory on the river to the east of Washington and start work on a worker.

With a warrior for exploring completed, Washington turns inwards and a decision to constuct a library is made.

With Washington size 6 at the max happiness, an egghead is taken out of the fields to help research as the Chaste System is adopted

With -4 gold with just 3 cities at 100% reseach, the thought of more cities makes the grand bean counter head explode.

In 1000 BC, the pointy arrow research is continued at redneck request.

975 BC warrior out on patrol in a forest barely defends against a barbarian warrior, a true tool.

900BC we now have archery, fear the bowmen :cough: cough:
Playing with clay (Pottery) is next, as Boston completes a worker, our first archer is ordered to be trained for defense.

In 850 BC joy of joys, Isabella settles Cordoba just to the NW of Boston, I guess she just loves super close borders.

Finally in 825BC road to the stone quarry is complete, and in 800 BC pottery is completed.

Decide to go for Alphabet to gage how my rivals are doing (normally plan with tech trading off, but let's see if I can tech whore)

First archer is completed in Boston by selective lumbering and a settler started.

Gods have blessed us in 775BC with a Merit Ptah, who prompty founds his academy in the capital.

In 725BC the capital is under barbarian assault, with a farm pillaged.

In 675BC the barbarians learn the hard way of 60% cultural boni, crashing harmlessly on the gates. An archer is stationed in the capital to harass any further attempts from the west.

A settler is sent out to settle the 4th city to block the mongolians to the north for strategic purposes, like Boston did for Isabella.

It seems the barbarians have set up a city just to the north of my capital, I must give my regards to them soon.

In 525BC, the library is completed in the capital, so to bolster our poor defenses an archer is ordered up.

Philadelphia, our 4th city is founded in 525BC bringing expenses to -8 turn, which will run out our gold reserves in 7 turns, so research is reduced to 90% at -3 turn.

And the gamble pays off as in 500BC I got the pyramids in New York, these American dunderheads did a good job

A worker is ordered next for New York, and I connect the capital to the ivory in Boston.

Of course, revolution is in order for the power of representation.

In 450BC our pinheads finish the study of alphabet. But no one wants a reasonable trade, and already I am the worst enemy of both Isabella and Hatschepsut without doing anything


---to be continued---

[Fireb]

Goal recap Diplo victory, spam judaism, cottages and cities.



625 BC - Horses appear next to New York. With 3 wineries nearby, a cow to the north, and floodplains to the south, the city stands to become a drunken cesspool of pox-ridden cowboys.

An egyptian stack of 2 axmen and a spearman appears next to philadelphia! They're peaceful, but for how long? Where are those missionaries, I need to convert her to the only true and acceptable faith - fast!

550 BC Washington is attacked again. Barb archer appears close to washington. My archer is promoted to city garison 1. Genghis discovers (and converts to) confucianism! My worst fears have come true, now he'll hate me and probably attack me. Argh!

500 BC Genghis demands I cancel all deals (open borders and wheet for fish) with hatty. I refuse. Diplomacy now stands at -1 with Genghis.

475 BC Both Genghis and Isabella cancel open border agreements with me! Trouble is brewing, I can feel it. Barracks are started across the empire.

400 BC Another barb city is found, this time in the west. Just what I need, barbs to the south and west, an irritated isabella to the east, and an irritated genghis to the north...The situation is becoming dire.

375 BC Hatty converts to Judaism. Celebrations are held throughout the empire. In the long term, this is good, in the short term, it doesn't help against the barbs, or the mongols, or the spanish...I decide to trade alphabet for ironworking with saladin, as I'll want to take down those barb cities as soon as the barracks are completed. 2 iron tiles are within working range of my cities. Another relief.

250 BC The previous turn finishes. The next turn loads. The messages appear. Wow! Chistianity is founded, but not by me

And then...all hell breaks loose, the sound of war is made! My worst fears have materialised! Who has attacked me, Isabella or Genghis?

I read the message. I read it again. I can't believe it. Genghis has declared war on isabella!!! Wow! What an amazing piece of luck, particularly as I still have nothing but warriors and archers, and last in millitary power.

Current scores are:
584: Hatty
463: Me
452: Genghis
405: Saladin
343: Isabella

275 BC
Genghis asks me to declare war on isabella. Maybe I should have accepted, as I'm protected by genghis. However, I refuse. I don't want war weariness at this stage.

225 and 200 BC
Washington attacked by barb warriors in both turns. My victorious archer is promoted to city garison 2. 5 barbs killed defending my capital! This is unprecedented. 2 barracks are completed in 200 bc, and swordsmen started, I need to eliminate those barbs, fast!

175 BC
Hatty's axmen burn down the barb city in the east. Thanks hatty, that really helps.

125 BC
Theology is researched. All I can trade it for is sailing. I don't bother. Saladin has converted to confucianism. That's not good, he'll be able to go through genghis' lands to attack me, while I still don't know where he is. Meanwhile, a barb axman appears close to washington! Now things are really heating up. My archer should hold out, but it bodes ill for the future.

Overall I'm first in land area and GNP, but 7th in pop! The extra unhealthiness/unhappiness for this difficulty level really shows. I need more settlers and cottages, just as soon as I can eliminate those barbs. I also need a great prohpet, fast, and I still have no wonders or specialists.

[teriakiburger]

So far things are going well, Stonehenge, Pyramids, Oracle, and Confucianism founded, an academy in the captial are done, however negative points are the slower expansion with 4 cities in 425BC, and a poor military.

The lazy workers are ordered to be prompter to hook up the resources to our cities, and archers are being trained.

Polytheism we complete in 375BC, and our worker brings the bacon into town, and another chaffs the corn.

We decide to research sailing next, maybe we can get the Great Lighthouse, even though we just have 1 coastal town.

The hounarable venerable Bede ranks us #1 in size, with Hashepsut at #2, Genghis at #3, Saladin at #4 at Isabella at #5 and then the 2 loser unknowns.

Another archer is ordered for New York so we don't look so weak militarily, and another archer for Boston.

In 325BC we decide cottage cheese hamlets are needed for our growing population, and it is so.

300BC our archer in Boston defends against the barbarian invader, and the yacht club is founded with sailing.

Next the court poet secretly orders for literature to be researched to the chagrin of all.

The archer that Washington made is sent to our northmost city Philadelphia, next to our Mongol friends.

In 275BC, a lighthouse is started in New York, and we decide to trade with Saladin for iron working giving him alphabet, maybe not so wise, but it was done in a fever. Luckily the iron is closer at hand to us.

In 225BC, bad news as the Parthenon is built far far away in Thebes.

In 200BC we launch the bid to get the Great Lighthouse in New York, and Boston begins work on a settler.

In 150BC we get the book worm with literature, and decide to go for metal casting next, and we start the Great Library in the capital.

A worker has been trained in Philadelphia, so an order is made for a settler.

Curses foiled at the great lighthouse is completed by Saladin



And we drop research down to 80% as we are broke, but get 46 gold next turn from the failed parts of the lighthouse. Instead, New York starts to crank out swordsman to take the barbarian city.

Taking stock at 1AD, we are #3 in gold, #4 in Mfg goods, #2 in crop yield, #7 in military, #1 in land area, and #3 in population.

A settler is on the way to settle our 5th city, and forces are being drawn up to take the barbarian city of Hsung-Nu.

I decide to give iron for free to Genghis Khan, keep him happy while I finish expanding.

Good news as Confucianism spreads the first time to Baghdad, and Saladin adopts Confucianism.

We reject Isabella demanding next in 75AD for alphabet, and start on a barracks for Boston, it seems to be a good military base, plus close to those annoying Spainiards.

100AD and the capital is 20 turns from the Great Library, cracks the whip.

In 150AD we decide to research horseback riding now that the forges can be made.

In 225 AD Bismark declares war on the Khan, good news indeed. That nasty Khan, who knows what he is thinking founds New Seari just south of Boston! I see he snuck through a mountain pass I missed..

In 250AD the barbarian city is captured, but I decide to burn it, as I place Chicago just to the SW of the ruins for a better location.

Taking stock at 250AD, I am now #1 in population, and moved up to #3 in mfg goods, gold has dropped to #5 though, not good at all, and military is still last

We trade Bismark Alphabet for Mathematics, he gets a better deal but that is the way it goes.

Isabella also declares war on the Khan, good good, I dont need a war now, a few more cities to fill up first.

Since horseback riding completes in 300AD we go for currency next for more trade route action.

In 400AD, we decide to stop giving Genghis Khan Iron as everyone hates him and cancel all deals with him at Hatshepsut request.

Meanwhile, our crack swordsman and axeman force prepare to raid the 2nd barbarian city of Ligurian by the clams already size 6

We start the collosus in 425 AD , just 10 turns away since we have copper too hooked up.

Our settler for our 7th city is ready in Boston, so next up is a forge to help military productions.

Ligurian falls to our forces, but a swordsman is lost to a defending warrior.

Imhotep is born in 450AD in New York, I will keep him on ice for now. Christanity is founded somewhere else.

The census at 500AD, shows I have 7 cities now, military has moved up to #6 and mfg goods moved up to #2, still leading in score.

We decide to pursue music next for the great artist, and notre dame wonder.

In 560AD at last the Great Library is established in our capital.

In 600AD made a trade with Bismark of Currency for Construction.

640 AD sees the Colossus completed in New York.

680 AD I enter the Medieval era! with Music. Giving me a great artist Ling Lun, and my capital chruns out another Great Scientist Nabu-rinmai

Taking the census at 680 AD, I now have 8 cities, am #1 in GNP, Mfg Goods, Crop Yield and Land Area. #6 still in military strength and have dropped to #2 in population.

As for Wonders: Stonehenge, Oracle, Pyramids, Great Library and Collosus. And leading in score at 1010 points.

Luckily have avoided any wars so far, and I plan to place 4 more cities around the empire to better use the land.

I still havent got a great prophet yet though which is hurting religion spread.

[Aeson]

I entered the Classical Era on a (mostly) beeline to Code of Laws in 1440BC. I researched Mining real quick after CoL, needing to mine the Gold for Happiness, then went with Alphabet. In 1080BC I finished the Oracle and took Civil Service, which was 35 turns of research at the time. Technically that was the end of the Classical Era... but all the rest of what has happened so far has been Classical Era stuff.

Waited a while to get some Chariots and Settlers out before switching to Caste System and Bureaucracy. Still didn't switch to Confucianism because I didn't want to take the attitude hits with those who had religions yet.

After Alphabet I started in on Drama and trading techs around. First trade was Meditation and Priesthood to Saladin for Sailing. Then Writing and Pottery to Isabella for Polytheism and Hunting. A turn later, Polytheism and Meditation to Genghis for Archery and Masonry. Pottery and Meditation to Bismark for Bronze Working. This left me with monopolies on Alphabet and Code of Laws, with the only techs I didn't have that an AI did being Iron Working and Mathematics.

Sent a couple Missionaries to the Mongols, and got them to switch from Polytheism to Confucianism. Confucianism also spread passively to Hatshepsut, who adopted it as her state religion. She still won't talk to me though! I think there must be some sort of bug... it's been 30+ turns and she still won't talk.

I was escorting the Missionaries with Chariots, and was going to keep sending them out, but on their way back the Chariots spotted a stack of Arabian troops heading towards me through Mongol territory. There was a Spear, 3 Chariots, 2 Swords, and 2 Axes in the lead group. All I had at the time were Chariots and Warriors. I had Horses, could build Archers if it came to that, but had no Copper, so traded Code of Laws to Isabella for Iron Working. I had 2 sources of Iron, and another I could have grabbed if necessary, but one was way out of the way and the easy one to hook up was the right in the way of the invasion. I tasked all my Workers to mine and road it, while building a few more Warriors and turning research down to 0%. I traded Code of Laws to Genghis for Mathematics, and then convinced Bismark (who I also saw sending some units my way) to attack Saladin for Code of Laws. I also finally switched my state religion to Confucianism so I could send most of my Warrior garrisons to the front.

I threw the first Axe in the way of their stack, on a Forest tile. It killed one Axe, injured the other, and a Chariot on the Forest held the. 3 of Saladins units (Sword, Spear, Chariot) went on instead of attacking the Chariot, while 1 stayed back with the injured, and 2 more caught up. The next turn Saladin sent an Axe and Chariot right at my Iron. I attacked with 3 Chariots, withdrawing from the first fight vs the Axe, winning the second fight vs the Axe, and losing to the Chariot. That left the Chariot at .2str, which I finished off with a Warrior. The Warrior was then killed the next turn by an Axe.

By this point, Saladin turned his units around. I had seen a few other units coming through the Mongol cities I had converted, and they turned around too. I killed another Axe, Spear, and Chariot as they were withdrawing. Then I switched back to research, finishing Drama, then going for Currency.

All the while I could see Genghis was building up units. He likes me though I guess, cause he attacked Isabella with them. I'm doing ok economically, but the war with Saladin really set me back. Still only have 4 cities, and just now starting to address the happiness concerns so my cities can grow. Drama really helps. Still have monopoly on the continent with Alphabet and Civil Service. A couple AI don't have Code of Laws yet, and Hatshepsut is positively backwards, 5 techs behind and still not willing to talk in 300BC.

I'm second in GNP, a bit above average in MFG, average in everything else except soldiers, where I'm 7th. Middle of the pack score wise.

[Cort Haus]

DAR 1 - Opening
DAR 2 - Rest of Ancient Era
DAR 4 - Medieval Era
DAR 5 - Renaissance Era
DAR 6 - Industrial Era
DAR 7 - Modern Era



Although Civil Service is a Medieval era tech, I'll wait until discovering another one before considering my game post-Classical, especially when the first thing I do is research Masonry.

With the Oracle done, and stone only a few turns away, the prospect of Stonehenge and/or Pyramids beckons. The Henge will only take 7 turns, even before stone, but Pyramids will really hit my expansion, and with so much good land around I'd rather take the cities than the civics. Especially as I suck royally at using civics and never get round to changing like I should, or knowing what would work best for my situation, or even remembering to use them properly once I've switched and am paying extra upkeep.

I can use Bureacracy though, because all I have to do is press 'Revolt' and it works Thanks to that Civic I'm up to 2nd in GNP & Mfg. Just that 7th in miltary and 5th in pop to work on next.

Sometimes after the CS beeline I do alphabet to backfill by trade, but I don't want to wait at least ten turns to find out they won't trade me Archery anyway, or that it will cost me Code of Laws, so after Masonry I pick up Hunting & Archery in a couple of turns each before starting on Alphabet. Need archers NOW! Sooner than now, in fact, as a marauding barb has pillaged a mine. Luckily the Henge is done in two turns, and doesn't need it. I get a warrior on the adjacent mine to the barb, and he manages to defend in one piece. Stonehenge completes (that'll double the speed of the Great Prophet while helping newbie cities in my Secular Confucian state, and I don't want to build a temple and draft a Priest in to speed it up).

That reminds me, I didn't switch to Conficianism. My initial thought on seeing Isabella close by was to wait and maybe convert to her religion - the only way to get on with her, it seems (unless you are Bismark in this game - I think they've got a thing going between them, despite religious and border disagreements). Until I've got at least an average military, with the barracks/hammer capacity to quickly raise more units, I want to keep the diplometer in the green.

I mentioned a pillaged mine - before a worker could get there to repair it, a forest grew on the spot! Woot!! Thank-you, that barbarian, sir! A sweet reward for my non-deforestation policy.



I'm leaving the grassland undeveloped as long as possible to maximise the chances of forests growing there in the meantime.

In this era, from 900 BC onwards Washington was recieving constant barb warrior visits from all sides. The Archers now being pumped out of New York started taking up positions around the besieged capital, fortifying on hills and pushing back the FoW while waiting for settlers from the capital, which are spitting out every 5-6 turns.

On discovering Alphabet in 600 BC it takes a few turns for things to shake out on the tech deals. Some civs apparantly are not missing anything that I have until the following turn, when they're 4 techs behind. I know it sometimes takes a turn for next level techs to be revealed, but sometimes stuff gets hidden when it shouldn't, I suspect. Whatever - I manage to get Pottery and Monotheism for something worth about 150% of their value, but with no diplo plusses on the 'fair deals' ledger. Some have Iron Working to trade, and for that I'll research Mathematics, which IIRC is cheaper than Code-of Laws. I also eventually manage to get Sailing from tech trade. No-one has alphabet of Code of Laws, and some didn't even have Myticism. I gave a few early religious techs away, but no-one gave me any diplo credit for it. Ungrateful scum! Hattie and Bismark are both pleased with me, though. The others are cautious.

As I usually find, the moment I start having anything resembling a minimally-respectable military (capable of little more than a modest defence against barbarian warriors), support costs start to bite and drive down research. If anyone can point me to the part of the documentation that explains support costs (however much I look at the mouseover on the F2 screen, it makes no sense at all) I would appreciate it. Meanwhile, I just have to groan at my ignorance every time I delete a weaker unit to try and reduce costs, and the mysterious 'Handicap Cost' changes and I make no saving. Other times I build a unit, and support costs appear to go up by two. I almost find myself cheering the loss of an archer to a barb warrior because it'll speed up my research!

Meanwhile, after founding Boston in 625BC (on the Ivory site indicated in 3800 BC), Spain's borders are close enough to mine for my Confucian Missionary-Explorer to hop over the border and take a look round. The Gemans are the other side, and although they've already converted to Hindiusm (joining Hattie & Saladin), there may be some religion-free cities on a river to plant my Mish - which I eventually do in Berlin.

My religious policy is almost non-existant atm, except the slow +4 GPP from the Oracle & Henge working up to a Prophet and Shrine. Meanwhile my small civ is totally focused on defence & expansion, so can't start spreading the Word which is not even a state religion at home.

In 425 BC Philadephia (city #4) is planted, and the next turn Mathematics is completed, and Literature ordered. Hattie completes the Parthenon.



I'm up to 5th in military, just below the average number, but still 7th in pop, 6th in food but I trade Maths for Iron Working in 400BC and I'm now first in score. There's plenty of Iron about, which makes up for the lack of Bronze. I also get Sailing from a trade, and start researching Compass. Harbors won't give me any sea-food health but if I'm planning some coastal commerce.

In 350 BC a report puts me 5th in Power, but importantly ahead of Genghis & Izzie. My pals Egypt and Germany are in the top three. Genghis builds the Pyramids and sets up a Police State. It certainly cost him a lot if land - he's choked on all sides by Egypt, Arabia, Spain & Germany. Spain's not faring much better though, in all that jungle. Maybe those two are not so scary in the medium term. Next turn Genghis converts to Buddism - so there's Buddhist block of Spain & Mongolia, and a Hindu Block of Egypt, Germany & Arabia, with a Secular Confucian America on good terms with 2 of the Hindu block. Maybe I don't want to convert to Izzie's creed after all.

Atlanta is the 5th city - this one is on the Wines/Horses site north of the capital, and research is at 80%. Unit support seems more of an issue than maintenance at this point.



Compass is researched, and Monarchy chosen, and synchronistically, someone builds the Great Lighthouse in 50BC,
Military at this point is 4 Workers, 8 Archers, 1 Axeman, 7 Warriors and a Galley.

Chicago was founded in 25AD between the floodplains and the gold NW of the capital. Wiser folk than me have probably been poprushing from here all game, but I intend to set up a Great Person city here and finally use my Caste System which has been sitting around gathering dust (except for artist-driven border expansions) and draining income while my cap pushes settlers out. The foul Mongols have planted a city between Boston and Atlanta, though, so the artists come in handy again to put the squeeze on the evil city. Boston completes a harbor and starts on a temple to help the culture war, but to my disappointment the harbor does nothing. Not even a single gold. It was 2g before, and 2g after. Hmm, maybe after some growth upwards from its size 4.

Monarchy comes in 125AD, and Currency is started. Size 5 Boston finally manages to get another gold from its harbored-up trade route

350 Ad and it's Courthouse time across the empire as the increasing number of cities nudges up the maintenance. At this Organised price, Courthouses would have been better built before Harbours, as they have more impact. In other games, though, harbours have rocketed commerce in the cities that built them. Finally, that other income-generator the Great Prophet emerges blinking into the sunshine, and takes his Sacred Journey to New York to build the shrine. My main unit-pump is also my Holy City, but that can't be helped in a strat like this. Other cities can soon help with units, as the shrine city will want a marketplace.

Next tech is Literature for the Great Library. Meanwhile, the barbs have a city in the tundra - not quite where I wanted to build, but not a bad site, and I start diverting the Axemen from Mongol-watch down to take the barb city - which I foolishly though was full of warriors but when I arrive it's full of archers. No matter - City Raider gives the required odds (phew, no culture) and I get that city, losing one axeman. It also means I can disband some of the warriors I had picketed down their - costing double in support as they were 'away from home' whilst on-guard.

Music's siren call tempts me with the prospect of a Great Work down there in the tundra. Otherwise the AI will fill every last useless nook & cranny and generally be a nuisance. Astonishingly though, it seems that the English - wherever they are - have already got it, as no-one round here has Music and there was not Great Artist for me. With the second Medieval tech discovered, I set the controls for Metal Casting, and declare the Classical Era over.

8 Cities, 2 more on their way.

1st in GNP
1st in Mfg
2nd in Food
4th in Mil
1st in Land
3rd in Pop

1st in points - 1045 against Hattie's 832. The other four are in the 600's.

[chriseay]

DAR 1: 4000 BC - 1520 BC
DAR 2: 1480 BC - Beginning of Classical Era
DAR 3: Classical Era
DAR 4: Medieval Era
DAR 5: Renaissance Era
DAR 6: Industrial Era
DAR 7: Modern Era

Everything looks ok. I feel like I am playing on too easy of a level, and I now wish I would have started this game at noble. I had reservations, but the mechanics of reporting on the game in this manner have made me think much more about each move, so I am doing much better than I have in other games. I will move up levels in the next game that I play.

425 BC: New York finishes the Oracle, and I take Mathematics as my free tech. I'll need it to get Construction and Calendar. Plus, I want to stop taking techs so far in the tree with the Oracle, because when I move up in levels, getting the Oracle will be that much harder.

400 BC: I finish Monarchy and start on Calendar.

350 BC: I finish the Pyramids in New York. I will now switch to representation.

175 BC: Finish Calendar, start Metal Casting. Forges will help with production, as I have been emphasizing growth everywhere.

50 BC: I found Seattle far to the north, bordering on both the Mongols and the Egyptians. I hope that I can solidify the area in between it and the rest of my empire, otherwise it will become isolated and ripe for conquest.

25 AD: I build San Francisco between the river and the mountain range on the northern frontier

75 AD: I start work on Compass, for harbors, and will start forges in most cities now that I have them. I also am building up militarily a little, as I have two barbarian cities to take care of, and I do not want to spread myself too thin through the somewhat rapid expansion I am doing.

100 AD: New York finishes the Great Lighthouse. The extra trade routes will help my expansion, since most of my new cities will be coastal.

200 AD: Build Los Angeles on the north coast by clams and corn. This will hem in a Mongol settlement, as they have taken one of the barbarian cities. I hope this will not start a war, but yet another reason to continue to build up my military.

250 AD: I start Houston on the southwestern coast, near the whales after destroying the barbarian city. I plan on one or two more cities at the least in this area, with many good resources available.

300 AD: I finish Code of Laws, but do not found Confucianism. I start research on Literature, because I'd like to get the Great Library.

350 AD: I get Imhotep in Washington, and use him to build the Great Library there. This will add to the Great Person potential of Washington, as well as my scientific progress.

450 AD: I start the Colossus in New York, which will take only 6 turns. I just hooked up copper, and finished a forge. I am looking for the boost to my commerce.

500 AD: I finish Music, and move into the medieval era. I am the first to research this tech, so I also receive a free great artist. I will use it to push my borders on the Mongols and the Egyptians at Seattle, where I am in desperate need of a border boost. I start research on Currency. I'll play the next three turns for this DAR to use my great artist in Seattle.

560 AD: The culture bomb in Seattle works wonders, giving me control of the whole city radius, plus completely enclosing a Mongol city in my borders.

I am first in every F9 category except for trade, and far ahead in pop, prod, food and gnp. If people are bored with how well I am doing, I am willing to sit out the rest of this game and start the next a level up. As I've noted before, I am amazed how effective pop rushing can be in a game with enough happiness resources and food. It can really make up for a lack of shields.

[Taian]

Monarch Difficulty

This DAR is actually my second DAR, but since I entered the classical age within the constraints of the time period covered by the first DAR, I'm sort of skipping the DAR2 category and heading straight into the DAR3 period.

DAR3: Classical Age (1520BC - 50AD)

During this period, the American empire began to spread its wings and blossom into the most technologically advanced civilization on their continent.


1480BC - Animal Husbandry. I decided to go for Currency after AH to get the +1 trade route bonus and also to give my cities the chance to build markets. Coupled with the rapidly growing cottages/hamlets/etc they should produce a relatively robust economy early to help fuel further expansion.

1200BC - Saladin converts to Buddhism

950BC - Currency. Now it's time to go after Calendar and get those luxuries hooked up.

875BC - Sailing. Next stop Calendar. Isabella adopts slavery.

850BC - Hatty adopts slavery and Stonehenge is constructed somewhere.

800BC - The Oracle is constructed somewhere.

600BC - Calendar. Time to re-route those workers into linking up the spices and silk.

500BC - Pyramids built somewhere.

475BC - Genghis adopts Police State. Guess I know who built those Pyramids now...

450BC - Code of Laws. Confucianism founded in New York. This was the turn where the early gamble to go
for growth and forego the early religions had it's final hole closed; I managed to found one of the religions. Revolution is started to adopt Confucianism as the state religion. I want to get the happiness bonus moving in the cities asap even though I know this could (will) spark tensions with the rest of the civs on the continent.

425BC - Confuciansim adopted as state religion.

400BC - Capture Gepid from the barbarians. The placement was good enough that I decided to keep it rather than razing. It helps provide a bit of a guard against further Spanish expansion and also, once it has
expanded, will hopefully net me one of those ivory resources. I also used the missionary from Confucianism to spread it into Washington on this turn, giving it the happiness benefit.

325BC - Capture Bulgar from the Barbarians. Again, the placement wasn't too bad so I kept this one as well. It should have access to 4 fur resources and the sheep as well once the borders expand.

300BC - Alphabet. This is where the fun starts. Time to start trading to backfill the techs that I bypassed on the way up. First off, sent Currency over to Bismarck in exchange for Mysticism, Masonry, Iron Working, Hunting and 60 gold.

275BC - Second round of trading takes place and I send Iron Working over to Egypt in exchange for Meditation, Archery and 60 gold.

There were a few other trades in the ensuing turns, but nothing too big. I forgot to keep track of them so
they're not listed but I was able to backfill virtually everything I had previously bypassed....worked out quite nicely I think.
Also in 275BC, both Genghis and Bismarck adopted Buddhism as their religions. This isn't shaping up too
nice. There are now 3 different state religions on the continent: Isabella has hinduism, I have confucianism and everyone else has buddhism; I can already sense the upcoming conflicts...

225BC - Confucianism spreads to Atlanta. Egypt adopts Hereditary Rule.

175BC - Drama.

75BC - Confucianism spreads to Seattle.

1AD - Hinduism spreads into Gepid. I was expecting this to happen sooner or later given its proximity to
Spanish cities...

50AD - Philosophy. Taoism founded in Boston. Thus ends the Classical age...

I'm currently researching at an 80% rate and losing about 3 gold per turn. Not too worried though since I
have 234 in the treasury. I'm 9 turns away from Civil Service and at the moment, I'm thinking my next line
of techs will go something like:

Civil Service
Music
Paper
Education
Gunpowder
Nationhood
Horseback Riding (if not traded for already)
Liberalism (and take Military Tradition as the free tech)

I haven't thought it out all that far though so that's subject to change. If I do pursue it though, the idea would be to get to Cavalry and start...umm...converting/pacifying...the continent


Polytheism (All others), Horseback Riding (Bismarck) and Monarchy (Hatty) are the only techs that the AI
has and I don't as far as I know. I have Meditation, Priesthood (Germans have neither), Code of Laws,
Alphabet, Mathematics, Currency and all the techs above those as monopolies over the civs I have contact with. Things are going well on the research front...


Significant Events:
525BC - Americans reach the 500,000 population mark
300BC - Alphabet completed, now allowing tech trading.
50AD - Classical age ends. Americans reach the 1,000,000 population mark

Demographics:
1st in Crop Yield, Land Area, Population, GNP and Production
5th in Soldiers
3rd in Approval Rating
7th in Life Expectancy
6th in Imports/Exports

Cities:
Washington
New York
Boston
Philadelphia - 1480BC
Atlanta - 1120BC
Chicago - 850BC
Gepid - Captured from barbarians in 400BC
Bulgar - Captured from barbarians in 325BC
Seattle - 100BC

Infrastructure:
5 Libraries - Washington, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Gepid
2 Markets - Washington, New York
2 Courthouses - New York, Boston
1 Lighthouse - Boston

At one point, I was (and I guess still am) building libraries to push the cultural borders since most of my
cities weren't generating any culture. That's the reason that Gepid has a library already. I'm hoping to push out the borders and snag an ivory with it.

Units:
5 Workers
1 Taoist Missionary
11 Warriors
1 Archer
6 Chariots


Technologies:
Hunting
Sailing
Animal Husbandry
Archery
Mysticism
Meditation
Masonry
Priesthood
Iron Working
Alphabet
Calendar
Drama
Currency
Code of Laws
Philosopy
Currently 9 turns away from Civil Service

And, from last DAR:
Mining
Fishing
The Wheel
Agriculture
Pottery
Bronze Working
Writing
Mathematics

[Bobtoad]

The Saga (DAR Links)
4000 BC - 1520 BC
1480 BC - Start of Classical Era
The Classical Era
The Medieval Era
The Renaissance Era

Summary...
The Classical Era was a time I sought to bring balance to my empire. The two big areas I felt it lacked in were military and number of cities. So my technological path through this time was directed at these. In further exploration though, I found myself more boxed in than I had expected. Spain is immediately East of Washington (hence why it's still black on my map and hardly anyone else's). The Mongols are very near north. At least West and South are safe for expansion though, right? Hah. I soon found barbarian cities in both locations. But this is okay. I'm going for military anyway this era, so instead of building new cities I'll capture the two barbarian ones.

Since I'm looking to capture a couple cities instead of building settlers, this led my technological path to include things that would stabilize my existing cities (whether it's units, buildings, or research, they need to have something to build). Mathematics (after Masonry) gave me some needed health with Aqueducts. Monarchy was put to good use in two cities and added happiness (and civics, but I'll get to that). Metal Casting helped my food/commerce rich locations to get a little more productivity with the forges - making the health of aqueducts and granaries that much more important to offset the forges. And Alphabet allowed me to explore trading options though the AI was most cheap.

Making use of George's Organized trait I implemented a few civic changes noted in the chronology. I also only conducted one trade after researching Alphabet, which is also listed below. With Hatshepsut being my chief rival in points, the Aggressive Genghis Khan my close neighbor, and their lack of interest in each other, I had to make a choice. I think I feel safer with the Mongols at my side. If, and deep inside I still find it a large if, but if I can keep the Mongols as a friend their military prowess could come in handy against the point racking Egyptians.

Chronology...
850 BC - Barbarian warriors ascend upon Washington
775 BC - Isabella cancels open borders. This is when I realized I should have explored and expanded East sooner.
750 BC - Iron is found near Washington!
400 BC - Adopted Hereditary Rule and Caste System. We're Organized, so why not?
350 BC - Gibbon ranks The Most Advanced Civilizations. I rate 1st.
175 BC - Mongols declare war on Arabia. Better them than me!
50 AD - I reach 1/2 a million souls in the American Empire.
200 AD - First Great Scientist is born. He constructs an academy in Washington. Christianity is founded elsewhere.
375 AD - I trade Metal Casting for Calendar and 70 gold from the Mongols. Maybe not the best deal, but I didn't find it to be the worst either. I was just surprised Genghis didn't demand the technology without offering anything haha. I also discovered Civil Service and entered the Medieval Period.
425 AD - Took the time to adopt Bureaucracy. Also captured Cherokee from the barbarians. Should join my empire soon.

Information Rankings at 425 AD...
Gold - 1st
Prod - 2nd
Food - 2nd
Soldiers - 7th
Land - 1st
Population - 2nd
Imports/Exports - 3rd

Points at 425 AD...
683 - Me
680 - Hatshepsut
528 - Genghis
and it goes down from there...

Cool Link: Gibbon ranks The Most Advanced Civilizations in 350 BC

Thoughts: I might not have captured Cherokee until the end of the age and am still in the process of assaulting Bulgar, but I don't feel too bad about my pursuit of expansion. My boundaries have blocked off the land, and a quick city or two will fill in things nicely. What time I didn't spend building swordsmen/archers I spent improving my cities. Each of the core cities contains a number of improvements. And even though the rankings still list me last in soldiers, I feel my goal of improving the military was succesful as I built enough advanced units (for the time) to feel safe(er). Hatshepsut led me in points throughout the era. It wasn't until the last turn or two of the Classical Age that I [barely] moved back into first. Improved world rankings and a feeling of satisfaction for balancing my empire lead me to believe that my strategy worked for this stage. Perhaps the next era will teach me otherwise though.

As you can see I'm researching Paper. All this time we've been writing, but on what? From there I'm aiming to go for Education and Liberalism to promote my science advantage.

And I'd also like to note that I still haven't discovered Monotheism. This prohibits me from utilizing the Organized Religion civic. I didn't think much of it before, but looking back now I could've really used the extra production. I mean I even went a bit out of my way for forges, which is a more expensive technology and requires the buildings. And with Washington being Organized, aren't high priced civics supposed to be his thing? Oops. And as I noted in my first DAR, though I realized it after this era, Slavery could have been extremely useful with all the food in my empire. Of course the time and money I didn't use towards these were placed elsewhere, in retrospect though I wonder how much I could've benefitted from them in this game.

[DeepO]

DAR 1
DAR 2

Last time, we left the DAR in 1120 BC, with 2 cities and the Oracle about to complete in 3 turns.

CS beeline ending

This same turn, I spot a settler party from Isabella. I hesitated... if that would have been an archer instead of a warrior scouting, I would have attacked. Now, the risk was simply too big. I wasn't expecting Isabella to have build up a lot of units, so I'd probably be able to go for archery immediately, starting units in both my cities. I'd be relatively safe.

But if my initial attack would fail, I'd be of a lot worse. Isabella would still found an ivory city, and I would have one less unit to fight with (and no worker either).

The decision was made to postpone my attack on Isa, we would get to war anyway, so let her build up that site for me. Before elephants arrive, though, I need to make sure I steel that ivory back!

Next turn,Seville was founded on the grass, in reach of both ivory sources. Which mean that my third city needed to go near the stone... do I smell a great artist use? I still haven't decided what the next tech will bring (after the wheel, I've got 3 immediate concerns: alphabet, IW and monarchy. I think I'll go for alphabet first, which opens up the Music beeline. Music=free GA, at a moment where you most need him)

Tensions between me and Isabella are only going to grow. I need to prepare for war asap.

1040 BC: confucianism spreads to Washington, as my missionary auto-converts.
I'm loving these new queued actions on units, and am still fully exploring how to use them properly. In this case, upon building the missionary, I shift-right clicked to Wash, and while holding shift clicked the 'convert' button. Once that has been done, you don't need to bother with your missionary again.

The same for workers: when I take the time to plan some of my improvements, I typically give 3-5 queued orders to my workers. Move there - build mine - road - move somewhere else - irricate - road. This alleviates tedium a lot, while focusing you on the important decisions. The only problem is that sometimes you speed along in turns so fast you're forgetting to pay attention to your cities

1000 BC: Wash builds the Oracle. I discover CS. This DAR is officially over Anyway, I'm continuing until 50 AD.

Expansion again

With the Oracle built, I can finally switch to confucianism. NY grew this turn, and gave me an unhappy citizen. I'm also planning on switching civics next turn, so that's 2 consecutive turns of anarchy. But at least the warrior completed before hitting anarchy, and I can use him.

Barbs appear near Washington(which starts on a settler). While I gain some promotions, I also lose a farm on floodplains. Oh well. I don't need it that badly anymore, and I intend to build cottages there asap.

The wheel completes in 925 BC, and I start on Alphabet. So far, I've met 5 others, meaning that normally there is one more AI out there. This being continents, I wouldn't be surprised if he got a large island to himself, but is locked in until optics. I haven't done much scouting, though: I'm spending all I got on patrolling the badlands, avoiding barbs to spawn rather than deal with them. As a result, I can't see any other AI territory yet, even if I have OBs with most.

After the wheel, my worker starts immediately on roading the wheat, returning to completing the farm on the tile next to one turn later. It is meant to do another desert hill, hopefully followed by cottages on fp.

750 BC: 2nd settler created in Wash. He goes off to the elephants, where an escort is already waiting for him. Another defender will be sent asap, but hopefully that will be an archer.


in 725 BC, the scientist completes. I use it to build an academy in Washington. My max bpt goes to 42 bpt, over double of what a non-CS beeline would get at this point in the game.

I'm going to turn off the scientists, though. My next GP should be a prophet, and I don't want to risk it becoming a scientist instead. Only... I don't have a temple yet.

So, I shift things around, put my specialists to work the hills until both settler and temple complete, and will use Wash as a prophet generator for now. I've got 2 shrines to build, and still some easy religions to pick up: Theology looks like a possibility with my need for monarchy (wines), and I already have everything ready for Philo. Judaism has been discovered a while ago, so I need to hurry. The AI know how to use prophets too.

Somewhere around 650 BC, Boston is settled near to the elphants, next to the stone. I want it to try for the great lighthouse, however I can't make a priority of that now. It will have to build a worker at this own.

It will get a GA later, but in the mean time it needs culture to reach the wheat... Obelisk first, than worker, lighthouse, GL. If I'll lose the race, so be it, I can probably use the gold around that time.

625: 3rd settler completed. It moves to the river plains near Washington, with piglets in sight. I've got plans for putting a floodplains city North of him, or I would have shifted towards the lake. Might have a made a little mistake there, I'm not sure.

DeepO

[DeepO]

600 BC: Alphabet

As Alphabets is discovered, I take a look in the trading screen. I've got plenty of tech to trade away. Nobody has reached alphabet or CoL, the rest are discovered here and there.

however, one thing immediately strikes me as a setback: none of the AIs are willing to trade pottery yet

I trade away my techs for basically all I miss: never trading away alphabet (never, ever trade away alphabet!), only once CoL. Also keep in mind the prereqs: you need BW and hunting in the first round, if you want to get to IW and archery in round 2.

Very smooth trading, in general, especially Bismarck was nice to deal with. I got him flat up to (but not including) Alphabet and CoL, but gained 5 techs from him doing so.

I'm starting Monarchy in my city, and change some worker plans around: iron within my capital's reach! The horses near to NY are also nice, and it looks like a good spot was opened up by horses to the South as well. My pig city site has iron within reach too... nice

in 450 BC, Philadelphia is founded, and starts on a worker. It needs a border expansion before becoming productive, and is supposed to become a barracks city as well. Hopefully a religion will spread there soon, as it would be best to have it produce a monastry in the short term. I don't have a good spot to build missionaries from, yet, and as Monotheism is not available for trade yet, I can't go org religion.

325 BC: Monarchy
After Monarchy completes, I find that I can't trade for Polytheism. I need to research that myself before going for literature. I'm not changing civics yet, as hereditary rule won't give me any more growth in my cities. They are happy, plus will be getting wines very shortly. Once I get Monotheism, I'll change both hereditary rule and org religion at the same time.

I am ORG, though, and should be focused on using the expensive civics. Normally, I try to avoid things like org religion unless I'm in need for the tech: it can cost you 20% of your total mainentance budget. With ORG, that is halved, meaning that working your strategies around those high-cost civics pays off.


275BC, and a Woodsman II warrior finds the outskirts of a barb town. It's more or less where I want it to be: my archer to the north is at another city site. This barb town is going to get all attention immediately: I don't want them to reach axes, I need swords to crush them asap. Well... after it expands to size 2, of course

On a global scale, Isabella is converting 2 of the others to Hinduism. That's not good, I am going to war with Isa pretty soon, already the tension has been rising.

225 BC: Discovery of Polytheism. I start on literature. Meanwhile, I try to trade for maths, so that I can get to Music asap (I succeed too, for CoL, but I'm not sure when exactly. Sadly, the diplo screenshots still don't work, and I'm using screenshots exclusively to document my games)

I also settle next to the horse/cow. Another barracks city, it seems, with a harbor and a commerce function later on. Production isn't too bad here, once I get the pastures up.

in 175 BC, the pyramids complete somewhere. This is late: I could easily have gotten it in about any city. I wouldn't be able to complete both pyramids and Oracle though, while still having some form of expansion. So I'm not too bothered, I'll try to conquer the pyramids later

In 125 BC, Taoism gets founded. Now this is something else: This was my fault. I traded CoL away for maths, in theory a couple of turns too early. But I didn't realise that another AI-wave of prophets was about to start: You will see in about all games that prophets ome in waves at first. The AI will more or less follow the same build path, meaning that as soon as it can it will assign a priest in a city to get a prophet. As all AIs start out the same, and all put about the same emphasis on priests and temples, typically you will see 4-5 prophets getting born in the spen of 5 turns.

I didn't see this wave yet in this game. I should have waited with CoL until it passed... 3 prophet were born last turn, and one of them took Philo. Damn. I like that tech as well, and have a prophet en route

Oh well, perhaps I can get to Theology then.



A damn shame these strategic line things aren't saved, plenty of screenshots are taken here by reloading. But this is an original: you can see the spots for the next 4 settlers, plus the barb town I want to conquer. First up is the sheep city: placed so that it can take up as much territory asap, thus stopping my barb worries down there (they just killed my warrior in the region, but another one is en route)

25 BC: Literature

In 25 BC, Literature is discovered. I start on the GLib in Washington immediately, but still keep 2 priests running there. I haven't come around to making cottages out of my fp yet, as I have only recently acquired pottery (very, very late for a FIN leader! Maybe I should have gone for the tech myself), and am still improving the tiles next to Boston (the great lightohuse city).

In general, I'm severaly lacking in workers, but about every new towns is starting one first. It gets protection from the units NY has been spewing out, but recently all effort went to swords to attack the barb town with (will take a couple more turns to get enough units, in the mean time they camp outside the city hoping for an attack by an archer. No luck so far.

in 50 AD, I build chicago near the sheep. I have 7 cities now, a relatively good military (not up to par with the AIs yet, but adequate), and have researched everything up to CS, Education, and Monarchy. My biggest priorities techwise are music for the GA, optics for harbors, MC, and currency (which I'll likely get through trade). I'd fancy construction as well, but decide on Music first anyway. My prophet is about to complete, and can take Theology to discover Christianity.

My score shows the same picture: this is looking good Even without all my territory settled (I might still lose a spot to AIs, BTW) I'm first in score. I'm going to attack, or be attacked by Isa soon, but once the barb town has been dealt with I'll have plenty of troops, at 5 XP or above, to take care of that. This era has been nice to me in easy expansion, next era will be about a bit more difficult expansion, I think. I'm not quite ready for the consolidation step: my cities are only starting on CHs, but I've got enough financial power to expand my empire by a factor 2 without stopping research all together.


DeepO

[Swissy]

Noble Level:

Tech: Monarchy, Mathematics, Alphabet, Literature, Music (Med tech and a great artist to make a masterpiece in Kassite), Code of Law (in 5)

425BC Kassite(Barbarian Kingdom) fall to my pair of chariots.
350BC Open Borders with Egypt, next turn Hinduism spreads to Memphis!
300 BC Egypt converts to Hinduism
275 BC Mongols convert to Confuscism and cancel open borders.
150 BC Buddhism spreads to Kassite, next turn Isabella asks me to covert, I say No
75 BC Saladin asks me to turn our backs on Egypt, we say No
1 AD Complete Pyramids in NY and Mahavira is born in Washington, he promptly directs the building of the Kashi Vishwanath!
I also switch goverments to Representaion, Slavery and Organized Religion
250 AD Egypt converts to Confucism
300 AD Washington completes the Hanging Gardens
325 AD I enter the Ren era by finishing up my research of Music and Homer is born in Washington. Mongols start the first war attacking Egypt.

I'll close the Classical age here as I specifically went straight to music to get my culture bomb and esentially give myself a cushion so I will be able to backfill a few more cities in and comcentrate on expanding my tech lead. I am disapointed that I was not able to get any of my religions out yet, and the Mongols have spread theirs to three other civs.

Washington size 15
New York size 10
Boston size 8
Philladelphia size 6
Kassite size 4

F9: GNP 1, Mfg 1, Crops 1, Soldiers 2, Land 1, Pop 1, Approval 7, Life 7, Imp/Exp 6

25 % of world pop, 15% of the land

Northern Empire


Southern Empire

[lockstep]

Originally posted by chriseay
Everything looks ok. I feel like I am playing on too easy of a level, and I now wish I would have started this game at noble. I had reservations, but the mechanics of reporting on the game in this manner have made me think much more about each move, so I am doing much better than I have in other games. I will move up levels in the next game that I play.

Same here. I started at noble, but played more deliberate and found myself in a good position very soon (although I still made some stupid mistakes). Next game will be prince level.

[lockstep]

Having founded my first religion (Confucianism) in 550 BC, I pick up some military techs (hunting - archery), then go for alphabet - literature to enable tech trading and possibly build the Great Library.

In 375 BC I capture Assyrian. In 325 BC, New York finishes the Great Lighthouse, and I finally switch to organized religion and caste system. Isabella is the first AI civ to cancel open border deals (I'm a heathen now), and Saladin follows suit. Soon, both of them want me to cancel my open border deal with Genghis Khan, but I refuse. OTOH, Hatshepsut offers me open borders - thanks, I'll take it.

In 125 BC I get alphabet and sell it to the Khan for iron working. A rather bad deal, but I need those swordsmen, and pleasing Genghis Khan is a nice side-effect. Yay, iron within Washington's city radius! Also, Moses is born in New York and creates the Kong Miao in Boston. Last but not least: my population hits 500,000.

75 BC, and my treasury from early huts (207 gold) is finally used up. I have to lower the research rate to 70% for a few turns, then settle it at 80%. Genghis Khan demands monotheism - I give in because it's a rather cheap tech and also throw in code of laws in exchange for mathematics and corn for dye. My relation to Genghis goes up all the way - is this the beginning of a long friendship?

Chicago is founded in 1 AD to the northwest of Washington, with gold in the city radius. 25 AD: Isabella demands iron working, and I tell her to shove off. I found Seattle to the east of New York in 125 AD to deny Isabella a potential city.

Around 350 AD my population has grown to 1 million. I capture a second barbarian city (Anasazi) that had developed in the far southwest. The city has no sea access, but sheep and lots of fur within its radius so I decide to keep it for short-time profit. A barbarian axeman (the first and last one) nearly retakes the city before he's killed by my horse archer. (Note to self: always check what's hidden in the last three tiles under fog-of-war.)

Speaking of soldiers: I have been building lots of archers from scratch to enlarge my city garrisons (I don't want to be no. 7 in this particular regard) and saved a few bucks to upgrade my level 2-chariots (about 7 experience points) to horse archers. Still unsure about the advisability of upgrading, but at least no AI civ has decided so far I'm an easy target.

Between 375 AD and 520 AD I succeed in building several wonders, namely the Hanging Gardens, the Great Library and Chichen Itza. I've got a healthy lead score-wise, and much earlier than in any game I've played so far! (At this point, I'm pondering about the next difficulty level, though AI bonuses still give me the creeps.)

Some bad news: The mongols manage to sneak in a city (Old Sarai) between Atlanta and Isabella's Seville, on a site that I definitely should have claimed for myself because it's only six tiles awy from my capital. So much for easy defensible borders ... but then I realize that no one has researched music so far and I have the option to do so. Can you say culture bomb? In 540 AD, I get music, enter the Middle Ages, and Homer is born .

[Fluffybunnyfeet]

Progress

Placed an archer in the forest outside the barbarian city to soak up experience - surprisingly, the AI chose to hammer it with two attacking archers, which almost ended that experiment. Maybe two archers to soak up experience in future.

Slavery and organised religion will help. Religion has spread very quickly through my cities.

Barrack Town begins work on chariots (cheap and powerful) and archers. Some Iron suddenly appears, what luck. Time to take care of the barbarian city! The procedure is bloody but profitable, experience-wise.



Pains me to do it, but exlusive farming/mining at Barrack Town seems like the best way to specialise there.

Barbarian wanderers became rarer as my neighbours settle close by.

In 75 AD I get around to Alphabet. I'm surprised to find that i'm ahead on Score, and with most other civs i'm keeping up in the technology race. Also in 75AD, I achieve my first long-term goal. I found my sixth city, and even better, the cities are arranged circular fashion around my capital. I'm only just dipping into 80 percent science, and starting to build courthouses.



I plan to pick only the choicest city sites now, as Maintenance will become a problem very quickly.

Several competitors are getting uppity and demanding stuff. Still, can't afford to be scared until our borders meet. My soldier-producing town is working at a mighty pace, so i'm crossing my fingers for now.

Outlook

For now, I need to keep my worker population up, and largely ignore Wonders. Not sure of survival through the next era. I will pacify my neighbours and hope for the best. I have huge holes in my tech tree. Without the trading, I will have to discover each of these the hard way.

[Derelict]

INDEX

Early Ancient
Late Ancient -- Brief!!
Classical
Medieval: Parts 1 & 2
Medieval: Part 3
Renaissance: Part 1
Renaissance: Part 2
Industrial
Modern

1,200 B.C. Jackpot! With my recent discovery of Iron (in my exceptionally short late ancient period, LOL) I now have two sources of iron available for unit production, which I fully intend to get started on, and now can further delay animal handling and horse back riding in favor of mathematics. Chances are I'll end up trading for those along the way if I can keep my focus on my intended goals.

I'll soon need to get my economy rolling however, as it is a bit lackluster so far. I'm hoping to see Washington grow to at least size 6 before too long and will generate another worker from one of the other cities to help the economy/development.



725 B.C. and I am started on the Alphabet. Washington is now size 5 and starting on an aqueduct. Unfortuantely, Washington isn't exactly in the most ideal of spots for high production so I may not place the hanging gardens there, but in New York instead. Overall I'm pretty confident that I'm ahead on the race toward the hanging gardens which I'm really looking forward to getting in place--the +1 health and +1 pop will help me just that much more ahead, not to mention the engineers I hope to produce.

575 B.C. I convert to slavery and pop-rush a barracks in Washington. It is going to be my main producer of units/workers/settlers and I needed to get the barracks out of the way since New York's production will be tied up for a while. I also need to get city #4 established before too long!

475 B.C. A couple barbs harassing people around Washington but they are easily dispatched. I haven't explored to the south at all and it makes me suspect that no other civ is located below me--more incentive to keep expanding in a northernly direction first.

400 B.C. The hanging gardens are started in New York with 12 turns to go thanks to the supply of stone. As a result I won't worker-chop anything to accelerate that and, instead, save such things for the Great Library which I'll also probably produce in New York (and due to the fact I have no marble).

150 B.C. Genghis switched to police state--doubtlessly he is gearing up to slam someone, most likely Hatty or Isabella. He is on "cautious" with me so I'm not quite as concerned considering his relation and relative distance, but I'll be building a couple extra spearmen just in case.

125 B.C. and the hanging gardens is up--bam! My capacity for population (and the actual population) just got bumped up. Also traded polytheism for sailing (with Saladin) and Animal Husbandry (with Genghis). Literature is 3 turns away and I also have my fourth city, Philly, established due east of Washington (as there is yet another iron source within border expansion of it--that'll safely get me three sources for trade and as a backup if attacked).

25 A.D. and Literature is up, just in time for an open que at New York--20 turns to go on the Great Library there!.

50 A.D. Genghis gives me a buzz, asking me to kill my deals with Hatty. Since she is on the far side of him, and I have every interest in making friends with a pitbull, I agree and cancel my open borders with her. To boot, she is currently leading the game score and I'm hoping that Genghis decides to chew off a little from her. Quite frankly, Hatty has most everyone a bit annoyed with only Bismarck at cautious. She's #1 but I'm betting that won't last forever.

75 A.D. Yup, Hatty is being setup as a pinata starting with Genghis up first to bat. I quite imagine he'll be calling me soon asking to join the fray, which I'll agree too particularly if someone else has also jumped in--bonus diplomacy with someone else!

150 A.D. I move two workers down for a chop near New York. There are 15 turns left on it and frankly, I want to get it out of the way so I can start focusing on the establishment of more cities.

350 A.D. and Genghis has indeed asked me to gang up on Hatty. I'll do so but only carry on a limited pillage war with a few spare units.

375 A.D. I now have forges under foot and need to get started on monarchy--my cities are bulging at the seams and hereditary rule would be nice, for the time, to keep things in order.

400 A.D. The Great Library is built! Excellent! Even still, I feel a little behind where I should be. In many cases, playing other civs, I'd be hitting medieval before much longer and, perhaps, I'm not as far off as I feel at the moment.

500 A.D. Here's why I strongly strongly strongly dislike Isabella. She is now starting to make demands because she knows her conquistidors are right around the corner. Start ticking her off now and it'll spell almost certain trouble with her just around the corner. And once she goes aggressive on you, she'll go *really* aggressive since the latest patch. Did I mention I dislike her? Anyhow, she's demanding I give her forges. Sorry, don't think so. However, I'm going to be giving them to Genghis right now, and seeing who else I can trade with. I see a fight with Isabella in my not so distant future.

So I get Genghis on the phone and freely offer up metal casting. He is now pleased with me, but apparently not enough to trade my alphabet for his calender. OK, so be it...but things are still shaping up more or less like I might've hoped.

For now I'm kicking some military into gear in preparation for Isabella. In fact, I'm starting to consider an early pillage hit to slow up her economy going into the medieval era. I'd like to make sure I have at least a slight tech advantage over her during that time frame. Having said that, now is the time for me to decide since I have metal casting and iron working, both of which she is lacking--thankfully due to her earlier focus on religious techs it would appear. It's my guess that she is currently ranked 5th in the soldier department, though I know for sure that she has copper units that still leaves me with a small window for attacking her cities, if I'm going too. I'll make up my mind very shortly.

Furthermore, I just got Atlanta up, my 5th city. I think this is where I feel a bit behind. By now I'd prefer to have 6 and possibly even a 7th up, being that I am Washington and Code of Laws is not so far off now.

|

520 A.D. New York produces it's first engineer. Excellent timing as this will give me a very strong tech lead on Isabella because he'll instantly discover crossbowmen for me. Given that she has bronze age units at the moment, I'm still a clear leg up on her in a military sense. New York and Philly will both be geared up to produce military for an attack as soon as possible. My hope is to take two of her cities, possibly a third, and get COL in the process to consolidate things nicely. Did I mention I don't like Isabella?

Still, I'd like to have used that engineer in other ways but this will really expand the horizons for me and firmly establish me as the world leader, assuming things go my way. Naturally, this also entered me into the Medieval era.

[Caligula 37 AD]

Originally posted by chriseay

I am first in every F9 category except for trade, and far ahead in pop, prod, food and gnp. If people are bored with how well I am doing, I am willing to sit out the rest of this game and start the next a level up. As I've noted before, I am amazed how effective pop rushing can be in a game with enough happiness resources and food. It can really make up for a lack of shields.

No, please continue the game. I too am playing a game on warlord level, and I too am regreting not to play one level up. As you I am in this game thinking much more about every decision, and thus doing much better than I normally do. (DAR1 and 2 for Caligulas Trading Havens).
EDIT: linkt doesn't seem to work, it is #26 post on this page.

As far as I can see we are the only two playing at warlord level, it will be nice to have at least one game to compare with. If nothing else the two of us can compare the different strategies. As you can see I do a slightly different game consentrating all my effort on trade.

I have just completed my Classical era and will post my DAR3 tonight (European time). I look forward to read the rest of your story.

- C

[Thrar]

Read DAR1 here!
Here is DAR4.
And this is DAR5 .
DAR6
DAR7

1400BC: someone founds Judaism. There's a spanish village near the ivory, have to scout some more to see if I can still get some.

1160BC: 3 barbs simultaneously heading for NY. If they attack, it will go down.

1000BC: the 3 barbs came in, but one after another, in consecutive turns. Also, two of them got weakened, one by a spanish scout, another by my warrior reinforcement from Boston.

900BC: big barb problems at my 3 cities. Philadelphia founded near the ivory.

875BC: more trading: this time it's Alphabet!
Saladin: Alphabet -> Iron Working, Priesthood.
There's iron really close! Great!!

850BC: Drama comes in. Culture rate to 10% both for expanding borders and happiness.
Isabella: IW -> Monotheism. Great deal for her.
Saladin is the only one with Alphabet, and except Isabella everyone lacks at least 1 more tech. There is Sailing and Meditation known, though.

550BC: Atlanta founded up north. Not on the primary spot; Mongols were faster, but still ok. The sign says where I wanted to go.



500BC: Mathematics comes in. Start some research on Music, will switch to Calendar once someone is so kind as to trade me Sailing. The core builds libraries, the two cities further away theatres.

400BC: Washington finishes its library. To get those things going in the other cities, I finally switch to slavery. Still no Sailing in sight...

350BC: According to St. Augustine, I'm the least cultured. I guess he's right...

325BC: Boston can finally rush its library. Still no Sailing.

300BC: NY rushes library (2 citizens). Guess what...
Stats are interesting: I'm first (!) in GNP, last in production, 4th in food and land area, 7th in pop (very low health/happy thresholds). That GNP/production is weird, that's normally the other way round! The AI has 4-6 cities, I'm at 5.
Boston as a border city also gets a theatre.

250BC: Wheat connected!! Ok, I'd prefer a lux, but that's something! Sailing is now in stock, but Math is the least I'd have to pay. I wait, and keep going for Music (16).

175BC: Genghis reminds me of something...resource trade! Corn to him for gold. Happiness!!!

150BC: Philadelphia built theatre. Time to get those elephants back! Rushed theatre in Atlanta. Also founded Chicago in my backyard.



100BC: somebody founds Confucianism. Late, very late it seems. Of all people, it's backward Genghis!! Rush theatre in Boston. Philadelphia is already putting pressure on Sevilla's borders. ETA for elephants: 4 turns. Conveniently with camp already built.

75BC: We just got our own gold! Conveniently roaded and mined by Genghis! I have to correct my estimate on the elephants: ETA 1 turn! Now I'd like to cancel that gold deal with good old Genghis...but it's too early. Well, it costs him 1 lux, me only a trading opportunity (for health).

50BC: as planned, elephants arrive! Genghis comes around and demands Alphabet. I give in. Bastard. Still no Sailing.

25AD: Doh! Mongol bastard settles right next to my stone. That city seems to cry: "Flip me!" He picked the worst location I could have imagined. Nobody really wants to trade with me.



125AD: an arabian city in my backyard. I guess that comes with open borders... That one will be BAD in upkeep for him!

150AD: discover Music, enter Medieval Age. The rest of the world doesn't have Drama yet. There are tons of tech available from them, but NOBODY wants to trade!
Washington is currently building a theatre to get the next culture expansion, and flip that goddamn mongol stone city. Then start on Notre Dame. Still contemplating about the artist, if I wanna bomb the stone for faster Notre Dame. Or I just wait til it flips, after all I have a monopoly on Music and its prerequisite, Drama.
I have enough resources at the moment, no need for calendar. I go for Theology, hopefully Christianity, or at least Islam later. Hinduism is really big: 4 of 5 civs have it! It just started to arrive in America, though.
Stats: now 7th again in GNP, 5th production, 3rd food, 2nd land area. Weird, that with the GNP. 3rd in score, some distance in both directions. My land area is actually 0.02% bigger than that of Genghis - apparently the unknown civ is even bigger. One more culture growth in Atlanta (the one at 100) and it culture attacks 2 cities - one mongol, one spanish. That mongol stone city will also be flipped in a while.
I have Drama and Music ahead of everyone, some have Calendar, Mongols CoL, some Monarchy, some Metal Casting. No trades available.
Oh right, I need more workers.

Notes on the Alphabet beeline:
tech-wise, it sucks when nobody wants to trade with you. But that's always the case I guess. Once they do, I'm quite confident to turn out as tech leader again, I got 2 techs nobody has (Drama, Music).
Drama is a big thing - bigger than I thought. On Emperor, those 10% culture rate I'm running since then makes a big difference in happiness - cities get to 3 instead of 2! By now I have some more lux, so the limit is higher, typically 5 (6 w/ theatre). Theatres are another useful thing - for pushing back those enemy border expansions (from obelisks or, harder, creative leaders), and even culture attacking them! Remember that I was last in culture a few turns ago, and probably still am. What matters, is getting it in the right places, and that's what theatres do!

[chriseay]

Originally posted by Caligula 37 AD


No, please continue the game. I too am playing a game on warlord level, and I too am regreting not to play one level up. As you I am in this game thinking much more about every decision, and thus doing much better than I normally do. DAR1 and 2 for Caligulas Trading Havens. EDIT: linkt doesn't seem to work, it is #26 post on this page.

As far as I can see we are the only two playing at warlord level, it will be nice to have at leat one game to compare with. If nothing else the two of us can compare the different strategies. As you can see I do a slightly different game consentrating all my effort on trade.

I will be happy to continue, though I am going to go for a win as soon as possible as this game is just too easy to be entertaining. I am thinking about either culture (while it would take a while it will give me goals and things to build) or space (it could be interesting to see just how early I could achieve this victory type). I don't want to go for a war based victory on this level as I feel it will lead me to using bad strategies (beyond those I might already be using) that I cannot use later and because of the amount of time it will take in a game that I am not completely enjoying. Any suggestions on which victory to go for are appreciated.

I was happy when I saw another warlord game, as I felt like when I was reading other DAR's they were different games, because it was so easy for me to expand and stay ahead of the AI in every category, and all without confrontation. I will play the turns and write/post the DAR for the medieval period tonight.

[DeepO]

Originally posted by Derelict

Derelict, just a small suggestion: if you use the upload service, there are 5 links you can copy in your posts. You picked the normal thubmnail one, but there is also a 800 pixel one. This looks better...



I like the DAR, BTW. Well, in general I must say I'm very much enjoying following everyone's game!

DeepO

[Caligula 37 AD]

Originally posted by chriseay

I will be happy to continue, though I am going to go for a win as soon as possible as this game is just too easy to be entertaining. I am thinking about either culture (while it would take a while it will give me goals and things to build) or space (it could be interesting to see just how early I could achieve this victory type). I don't want to go for a war based victory on this level as I feel it will lead me to using bad strategies (beyond those I might already be using) that I cannot use later and because of the amount of time it will take in a game that I am not completely enjoying. Any suggestions on which victory to go for are appreciated.

I was happy when I saw another warlord game, as I felt like when I was reading other DAR's they were different games, because it was so easy for me to expand and stay ahead of the AI in every category, and all without confrontation. I will play the turns and write/post the DAR for the medieval period tonight.

This is my thoughts exactly. I might be writing shorter DARs for the remaining of the game, just to save time (I'm closing on 10hrs already).

However us playing on lower levels might be usful to the occational reader. After all we are not participating in the AU only for ourselves. I can only guess, but I think the occational reader and player often plays levels beneath Noble, and maybe our lower game DARs are useful to them. When someone comes around to organize this DARs into a readable fromat, this Warlord games might be the ones our guests read first.
(somebody stop me before I turn into an !)

To the victory issue:
I too would like to complete this game early. We will both find ourselves way ahead in the tech race soon. This means, I think, two easy ways to win: domination and space race. For culture I think I have spread it to much, and lost some early important WWs. You could do it though, as you have more hammers for WWs.
I wasn't really trying my best to win this game at the earliest years, my prime goal was to see what happens if I consentrate on trade in every thought. That means neglecting some of the more obvious choices like religion and wonders for GP's. I had a theory that this might work for a commercial civ like the americans.
Lets play another era, shall we, and maybe we can find a common goal as the game commences?

- C

Anyway: DAR3 "The Classical era of Caligulas Financial Havens" is ready for shipment:

[Derelict]

Originally posted by DeepO

Derelict, just a small suggestion: if you use the upload service, there are 5 links you can copy in your posts. You picked the normal thubmnail one, but there is also a 800 pixel one. This looks better...

[ Image removed for brevity ]

I like the DAR, BTW. Well, in general I must say I'm very much enjoying following everyone's game!

DeepO

Glad you like the DAR--I was hoping it was interesting since it was my first attempt at one!

As to the thumbnail sizes, I'll keep that in mind and will probably do so for the more important screens in future ones, though, for example, my medieval era DAR(s) have 21 pic's! It'd crowd the thread up pretty well if I were to do all of them at the larger size, I'm forced to think, but as you point out it's probably ideal for me to do the larger image/thumbnails when there are fewer in a particular report.

That makes me wonder...do most people tend to upload larger images than 800 X 640? I've been reducing most all of my screens to that size for upload, in consideration of speed and storage size alike. Would people prefer larger screens and the larger thumbnails in general? I guess most people have high bandwidth connections these days, or many if not most, so it might not be as big of a deal.

[Caligula 37 AD]

DAR3: The financial haven of Caligula IX
A rather short DAR this is. Not many turns played, and notes were alas scarce...

Overall strategy
Will try to make a strong commercial civ by developing trade havens in coastal cities.

Recap status from DAR1&2:

4 Cities (3 on Coast). (size7+2+3+1)
Total commerce: 30(all base) Total beakers(90%): 24bpt, Total gold(10%): 6gpt
Trade: 1 route in each city for 5 commerce (2 from Karakorum to capitol)
Strategy evaluation: In the beginnig of the Classical era my coastal cities were still poor. In this era I it will be revealed what the Great Light does to that.

Starting this rounds turns
Beginning the Classical era by trading possible techs, starting with the lowest scorer.
mysticism(t), archery(t), animal hus(t). Mainly beaker for beaker. Bismarck won't trade Iron working (that’s understandable)
I have contact with 5 of the other 6 civs, suspect the last one being isolated.
We are way ahead of the others regardning score at the start of the era.

1520: Judaism founded somewhere. The Woodsman II-killing barbarians from back in 2400 (read DAR1) are spotted near Philly, but we withstand the urge to hunt them down (for now).
Remembering I have to bulid a Temple in my Woodsmen's honour.
975: Discovering Compass for Harbours, hitting on Drama. Harbours are some of the major buildings for the strategy as they give +50% on trade routes.

The effect of the Great Light: (In Boston)
925: Commerce in 4 cities total (16+10+12+6=44)
900: Commerce in 4 cities total (16+14+16+8=54). This is a substantial difference, but no more than expected.
Well it is still early game.

800: Hinduism spread to New York, swich to state religion for closing friendship with the #2 and 3 on the score list.
775: Atlanta founded on the shores west of capitol. Again not on recomended blue tile, but maximize the number of
workable coast tiles according to strategy. Hey! There are NO trade routes??? Possibly there are no available foreign cities?
Correction 750BC: 3 internal trade routes in Atlanta, each of +1cpt.
I guess the trade is not shown until first turn of existence.

750: Gjenghis disliking us trading with Hatty, give him Mystisim to calm him down (dont know if that has any effect, though)

325: Discovering Music, Enetring Medieval era.
Got a GA in Capitol. He is on his way with an escort to Philly to become a super specialist.
I won't however use him as a cultural bomb as this might affect my relations with Gjenghis more than I am ready for.
I really want Philly to achive greatness according to her potential, but she still needs a worker, wich she will train herself.

The end of classical era. Status:

5 Cities (4 on Coast). (size8+5+5+4+3)
Total commerce: 77 Total beakers(90%): 80/Turn, Gold in coffers: 128 (+1/Turn)
Trade: Good! My five cities have a total of 13 trade routes for a total of 23 cpt.
9 of the trade routes are to foreign cities generating 18 of the cpt.
Military: Totaly sux. I will need to correct that quickly, even on warlord level such a weak military force
will call the AI's to you like sharks to a wounded mafioso.
Tech wise: I have gone far up in the tree (music) and have dropped several essential early techs (Meditation).
Many available techs now take only 1 turn to complete. Since no one except Hatty will trade with me (some can't)
I will have to do the research myself. Hatty offers only tech trade to her own advantage +100beakers or so.
I will do currency (for extra trade routes) before backfilling, then maybe the two next religions if my defence minister will accept it.

F9 wise: 1st in money, food, area, pop and trade (export32/import16 rival average 2/2 mohahahah!), mfg: 5th, military:4th.
Diplo and religion: Hatty and Bimarck are all "happy and smile" as Hidu, Gjenghis is a +3 Hindu,
Izzy is a cold bitsj heathen (Buddist) at -4 (I think she is too weak to be a threat though), Saladin, the only
remaining pagan on the continent is at +2. I must teach him the right ways if I come to it, hopefully also the others will. I must teach my own people it too, only NY on state religion so far, Phillys pray in the Synagoges of Judaism.
Religious strategy at this point is to found all the remaining ones, but not swich. This will be a happy place if everyone
read their Vedas and obey Krishna, Vishnu and Shiva. (There will probably be trouble anyway, but one might hope)


Strategy evaluation:
My coast cities are now starting to look good. It is a little worrying though that Atlanta has no foreign trading partners.
This might be a major drawback to my strategy if there is only a limited number of foreign trade routes allowed. I will have
to find the mysterious 7th civ soon and see if more foreign trade can be established.

Game mechanics: I am not sure if the harbors are up to speed, they should give 50% bonus trade. For now I only
have +2 trade routes, some should have been +3 I think. Boston is building Harbor now, I will watch the effects closely.

There is a barbarian city in the middle of my country (well I see it as mine, there are just no americans living there yet).
These barbs might have created a 6th city for me. I will take it by swords or maybe elephants.

[DeepO]

Originally posted by Derelict
That makes me wonder...do most people tend to upload larger images than 800 X 640?

I simply use the in-game ones (1024x768). I upload too many pictures to start cropping them

I think I might have more upload space then you, though. Keep in mind that the AU threads are in general reread long after they finish: you may need to keep your pictures around.

I've been reducing most all of my screens to that size for upload, in consideration of speed and storage size alike. Would people prefer larger screens and the larger thumbnails in general? I guess most people have high bandwidth connections these days, or many if not most, so it might not be as big of a deal.

Well, I figure that by the time you read the text, any connection will have loaded the pictures that goes with it

If you want to show a lot of pictures, divide your DAR a bit into different posts: I'll generally try to keep it down to ~5 pictures each post. That way, the thread will faster start on the next page, which will improve loading time. Don't start posting 50 posts per DAR, though

DeepO

[chriseay]

Originally posted by Caligula 37 AD


This is my thoughts exactly. I might be writing shorter DARs for the remaining of the game, just to save time (I'm closing on 10hrs already).

However us playing on lower levels might be usful to the occational reader. After all we are not participating in the AU only for ourselves. I can only guess, but I think the occational reader and player often plays levels beneath Noble, and maybe our lower game DARs are useful to them. When someone comes around to organize this DARs into a readable fromat, this Warlord games might be the ones our guests read first.
(somebody stop me before I turn into an !)

To the victory issue:
I too would like to complete this game early. We will both find ourselves way ahead in the tech race soon. This means, I think, two easy ways to win: domination and space race. For culture I think I have spread it to much, and lost some early important WWs. You could do it though, as you have more hammers for WWs.
I wasn't really trying my best to win this game at the earliest years, my prime goal was to see what happens if I consentrate on trade in every thought. That means neglecting some of the more obvious choices like religion and wonders for GP's. I had a theory that this might work for a commercial civ like the americans.
Lets play another era, shall we, and maybe we can find a common goal as the game commences?

- C

Both excellent points. I hadn't thought about how other people will be reading these, and the fact that many of them might be people who know next to nothing about civ, but did a google search and found us.

On the victory front, you're right about culture. I went in and looked at my save, and while I could do it, I don't think I focused quite enough on it up to this point. I'm going to beeline for space race techs and see how early I can launch.

[Morrissey]

DAR1
DAR2
DAR3
DAR4
DAR5
DAR6
DAR7


OK, this DAR can be summed up by three letters - REX. Well as Rapid as Civ 4 will allow... in fact, think about it, this DAR can be summed up in two letters - EX (pansion).

In 650BC, my new poor little unprepared city to the north of Boston (next to the mountains north of the start) gets destroyed by an evil barbarian! One turn later, I destroy that evil barbarian (just didn't quite make it in time). Another settler is being built, so it'll be built back up again and a swordsman is on his way to protect the little city, as well as a warrior and an archer wandering about up there. A few turns later, I discover there's a barb city to the north-west and the next turn, I see one to the south-west! I fear an impending babarian invasion, so start building a few swords (as well as settlers).

Genghis declares war on Hats around this time too. Hats asks me to join, which I decline, but manage to trade (her) meditation for (my) monotheism. Whilst they're fighting away, I manage to take over the SW barb city with one swordsman. I saw it was defended by two warriors, so decided to have a stab (literally). Meanwhile, the expansion continued....

Genghis made peace with Hats in 150AD, with no cities trading hands on either side. A few turns later, Genghis demands iron from me. Realising it'd be silly to give him this, I say nope, although make a mental note to build up my military.

Salad takes the NW barb city in 375AD, as my military focused on getting my settlers around OK and not on that city. This means he has a city to the west of me, which I wasn't planning on letting anyone doing, but he can't get any units there as I don't have open boarders with anyone and won't have until everwhere's settled. Start trading (my) corn for (his) crabs to keep him happy (or appeased) for now. Also sell Polytheism for 160 gold to him as this expansion's hurting my economy.

In 760 AD Genghis declared war on Hats, again. Also Salad cancels the corn for crabs deal, but I get ivory for insense instead.

980AD - all areas I want to settle in are now settled. This means that I can now have open boarders with everyone. Although it seems only Bismark and Isabella are interested, everyone else is annoyed with me. Also swap techs with Bismark (Monarchy and HBR).

1030AD - enter Medieval era.

For the people that like stats, here's mine.

14 cities (good)
9 workers (bad), 10 archers, 1 chariot, 2 warriors, 2 spearmen, 3 axemen, 6 swordsmen and 1 galley.
I've also built the pyramids, which I forgot to make a note of, but it's there. Also the Hanging Gardens is nearly complete (in the same city).

Plans for the future is to build units of all kinds (except settlers). Economy is in bad shape, but I seem to be keeping up in science. I can see someone declaring on me soon, probably Genghis, so will build up some military in preperation. I think the main thing for now is WORKERS!!! I needs them!

[polarnomad]

So, having not really been able to explore nearby territory, I now find that I have barbarian cities on 3 sides. Bactrian to the southwest (which I quickly conquer and rename Pittsburgh), Olmec to the east (which I raze because it is poorly placed in my opinion (I found Philadelphia nearby), and Assyrian to the north (which I will conquer in my next DAR). Incidentally I remember someone in another thread mentioning that if you don't remove the fog-of-war quickly, you are more likely to find barb cities later... Perhaps this is indeed the case, and could even be turned into a strategy by someone who might not want to pump out settlers as quickly, instead concentrate on military units, and then use them to take barb cities that appear. Thereby, gaining exp for the units and cities for "free", albeit sometimes in slightly wrong locations...

Otherwise, my lack of religion continues to bother me. I narrowly miss Christianity in 300AD. Washington's unhappiness continues to rise and the only way I can find to alleviate it somewhat is by linking up fur in Pittsburgh. Isabella starts spreading Judaism in my cities, but I am loathe to convert since Spain is the weakest civ and just next door. I would rather try to get Islam if possible, or convert to Egyptian Christianity and get chummy with Hatty who is #1 at the moment. So far there is only one religious camp. Bismark, Genghis and Saladin are all Buddhist, and for a while Hatty was too, but once she founded Christianity she quickly converted.

Incidentally, I have open border agreements with everyone except Genghis. Hatty asked me to cancel my agreements with Genghis earlier and I did, which I thought could make the game interesting, but seeing that Genghis is now in league with Bismark and Saladin, I'm starting to think I was the wrong decision...

In other news, Isabella decides to be sneaky and found a city right on the edge of the eastern peninsula, just a few tiles from Philadelphia. I can feel a war coming along soon.

My immediate goals for the Medieval era are to start a war with Isabella, and take the Barbarian city of Assyrian.

The date is currently 540AD.

Western empire:


Eastern empire:

[Dubhghlas]

The Classical Era

To recap: The Scots have spent the previous seven hundred years working solely on perfecting the use of a method of organized writing symbols to represent sounds (Alphabet). In the meantime, they built libraries in New York and Boston, while the capital trained a series of workers and settlers so that the clan could expand and grow. The Dubhghlasses hope to seal all other peoples of the world out of the area to sunsetward and to coldward with a string of cities running from near Washington to near Boston.

Abroad, the Scots are aligning themselves with the Egyptians, engaging in friendly trading of knowledge. The Mongols loom ever nearer to Boston, though the Khans of Genghis are so far still friendly. The unfriendly Spanish, ruled by the Itchybellies, keep mostly to themselves across the desert located in the direction of the rising sun. The Arabs have built down the coast north of Boston; a city called Baghdad can be found along that coast, across a river.

The Scots hope to further encourage their bent for knowledge and understanding by fostering the writing of tomes of knowledge, stories, poems, manuals, and so forth. However, the shamen have insisted that the clan devote some years to pacifying the spirits and gods of the world; they have been shaken by the news of mighty places of worship in far away lands. They threaten the Scottish people with the wrath of the gods of the world if the Scots do not build shrines and temples to the gods. With barbarians roaming the borders to both sunrise and sunset, this does not seem far-fetched.

The Barbarian Incursions

Four hundred years have gone by. For most of this time, the Scots have suffered at the hands of barbarian raiders. Long had the barbarians roamed the lands to sunsetward of the Scots, rarely venturing closer. But shortly after the founding of Philadelphia in the Great Bend of the Dubhghlas River, barbarians started pouring into the Scots lands from the direction of the rising sun, across the desert and the hills. Boston and Washington came under repeated attack. Often, the raiders would stop to ruin the works in the lands around the cities; but eventually they would attack the city itself and they would be defeated and hunted down.

Just about the time that a new batch of settlers had been recruited in New York, to be sent to the coast located to the warmer climes slightly sunsetward of that city, barbarians began pouring out of that quadrant. It takes 200 years for the barbarian raiders to be rooted out completely from the lands around New York; at one point the timid warriors of that city stayed behind the city walls refusing to attack while the raiders destroyed the farmlands feeding the city.

During the incursions, the Scots generally prospered. Boston completed its library, and started work on a marvelous obelisk, tribute to the gods and the favor they have shown the Scots. New York began work on a very mighty wonder, a building in which they will give thanks to the Virgin goddess that shelters them from harm; they hope this will prevent further barbarian troubles. Taking its name from the Virgin goddess, it will be called the Parthenon. This will take them years to construct. Meanwhile, Boston finishes its relatively puny obelisk and starts work on training archers to protect it.

Shortly after discovering the so-called alphabet, the Scots are dismayed to learn that the Mongols have settled near to Boston. The Mongols are not to be trusted, the Dubhghlasses feel; it becomes quite apparent that Boston will have to be a strong and mighty city, a beacon of all that is Scots for the world to see. Fortunately, deposits of copper are found near Boston, and work begins on mining them. But Egypt, Spain and the Arabs all develop a caste of priests at the same time, giving their gods more power. The Germans have an even more amazing thing happen. A German man is nailed to a cross for asserting that the world would be a better place if everyone would just love everyone else. This spawns a religious reaction. The Scots shake their head at this news; everyone knows that the world is a dour place and that saving money and accepting fate is the only way to endure it.

Thus do things stand. The Egyptians have finished a marvelous Oracle temple. But the Scots have completed the task of codifying and legitimizing the worship of the gods and have established a strong tradition of organized writing, called Literature. They now work to appease the gods again with an priest caste, whose task will then be to codify all the laws under which the Scots live, and write them down. This will enable them to apply the same law in all their cities, allowing the Dubhghlasses to reduce petty theft and waste.

Washington works on it's own library. It is a big city now, with too many souls to count, a handful of handful of hundred hundreds, at a guess. It is unhealthy there, and the citizens are unhappy, but the leaders ignore them and insist that work continue on the library. Ghengis, the “Great Khan”, slyly offers to teach the secret of pottery works to help improve the health of the Scots, but his desire for horses is palpable that the Scots have no trouble saying no. Better a sick mother in the house than one sick mutha for a king!

The Way to Ren

For fully 400 more years the Scots have worked to expand and perfect themselves. In Boston, there is work ongoing on an Epic about the Scots; the hope is that it will inspire great things out of pride in the Scots and their grand achievements. The settlers of Philadelphia have begun farming the lands surrounding their city and are working on their own library. The work on the Parthenon continues in New York. In Washington, the library was completed, but the people there are prideful and intend a much grander design, a “Great Library” containing all the written works of the world. Those who argue for pragmatic things like more military companies or a granary to store food are shouted down and ridiculed. A cadre of workers was recruited, first, to help improve the land and the roads.

Atlanta was founded in the year 3625 (AN: 375 BC). It sits upon the peninsula that sticks out into the Ocean of Warmth directly to sunset from Boston. The hope of these people is to become great traders and sellers of goods and other things, with which trade they hope to make themselves quite wealthy and allow even more effort to go into improving the Scottish people. They have a hard path ahead of them, but the sea is bountiful, much more so than the jungle that surrounds their city.

The Egyptians have continued to be helpful. Hatsheptsut allows the mystery of pottery to be given to the Scots in exchange for learning the mystery of pictoral writing. The Dubhghlasses hope to begin the building of small towns in the lands around the great cities, and to build great granaries for the storage of harvested grain to use in times of famine. But the struggle to increase their knowledge is difficult for the Scots. While other tribes perfect things like Meditation, the working of Iron, and the worship of only one, Supreme God, the priests of the Scots busily attempt to codify Scots law. The focus on great works is costing the Scots chances to found new cities; no one wants to leave and start a new city when a wonderous construction project is providing work for the young men. Yet there is danger in this path, for the Scots are aware that other peoples also aspire to great works. News of gigantic tombs built in the shape of pyramids reaches Washington, though the people who built them are still an unknown entity (AN: England).

Into such uncertainty a shining beacon of light suddenly shines. While working to help codify the laws, a Scot by the name of Connefushis begins to put together a way of thinking about life. After several years, when he is an old man, he begins teaching this Way to students. It stresses the need to think more about how you interact with your fellow man than how you work to achieve your own needs. His influence is felt in the final codification of the Scots Law, and his students now work zealously to convert their fellow Scots to this new way of thinking. Confushunism is born in New York, just 50 years short of the celebration of year 4000!

Author's Note: I'm breaking up the DAR here on purpose; others have opnined, and I agree, that stock should be taken of the situation at the turn 1 AD.

The Classical Era to this point has been a slog. Some positives include the founding of Philly and Atlanta, but the rampage of barbarians was a pain in the neck from 850 to 450 BC. This was mostly because I still at that time hadn't spent much effort on military units like horse archers so that I could confront the barbarians in the field far from the cities. Stupid, that, given that I researched horseback riding just for that purpose! As a result, I have had to rebuild infrastructure, and the founding of Atlanta was literally pushed back eight or nine turns!

Speaking of Atlanta, this city is a gamble. That peninsula looked so juicy for settling and taking advantage of the wonderful bonus that my leader gets on squares with commerce of two, which will apply to all the coastal squares. That will be eight of the fat cross' 20! And this way, only one impassable peak is in the fat cross. A better spot would be one square to the east, but that's ocean and, well, unlike Call to Power, you don't get to settle there. But Atlanta is surrounded by jungle and has very little production capability, so I'll have to be very careful what to build there, which hardly explains why I started with the soon to be obsolete obelisk!! However, I need to grow it's cultural influence fast so that Baghdad and the Arabs get shut down from coming down the coast any further.

Again, as with the last DAR period, I find that researching well ahead of the time is costly. Code of Laws took from 400 BC to 50 BC to research. Meanwhile, the other civs are filling in the much less costly lower level techs. I'm going to be first to Music, I am certain, but I'm increasingly uncertain that I can justify this path. Oh, well, on your sword, if not with it!

My Empire is doing well (see the screenie). Five cities, (8, 6, 6, 3, 1), and second place in points behind Egypt only. My Confucian missionary is going to spread the religion to Boston, where the cultural boundaries are crucial in the eventual war with the Mongols north and east of me. On to Monarchy and wine, women, and song!

[Cort Haus]

To the Warlord players (Caligula & Chriseay) - congrats for outgrowing that level during this game. The power of the AU is that documenting your play and reading other players' accounts raises your game rapidly. I'm not quite ready to step up from Prince to Monarch, as I haven't mastered Civics Management yet, or learned the tech tree (especially in the later game) and Monarch looks like a very big leap in difficulty, but I'm a lot closer than I was before this course. Enjoy Noble level - I doubt you'll be there for long