Aussie Group MP Games (may include Americans and other ring-ins)

[kbarrett]

I am curious about this concern over coincidental attacks.

Is it due to the two participants not having established diplomatic contact yet, or just a house rule?

[Gibsie]

Just personal preference, really. trev was the strongest power by then, and because both myself and Snotty launched an attack on one of his neighbours - albeit completely separated attacks, both on parts of deity's territory that were a bit vut off from his main area - he took that to mean we were working together to boost our power, and so he decided to even the score.

Nothing wrong with it of course, as long as he doesn't claim to be doing anything honourable when his ultimate aim was to annex at least one of my cities from the conflict

[MasterDave]

I will be available later today (probably 3-4 hours from now, 10:30 AM PST). If that is compatible with this new game, please reply.

[Gibsie]

It sure is for me!

[trev]

I was the strongest power and gibsie and snotty were contenders who if left unchecked would have had a good chance to rival my power, so it was in my interests to put a break on that power. Secondly deity and myself are good friends and therefore do sometimes cooperate, but as gaming rivals, this happens as it suits us on a game to game basis, not as a permanent ally situation, we are always both out to win. I was also suspicious of the coincidental attacks, it appears those suspicions were not justified, but I only had limited information at the time and therefore misjudged that situation. I agreed to a request for open borders primarily so I could explore more territory and also to allow missionaries for conversion of my cities, I did not found a religion, and therefore was happy to get multiple religions in my cities for the culture benefits and happiness benefits after liberalism was learnt which was not all that far away.
Besides what is the use of a large army if it is not used.

[trev]

Next game is as soon as sufficient players are available, which can be now if people respond to messages.

[Snotty]

well im about but need an hour or two of sleep if i want to see the end of a long game. will check back here in 2 hours unless i get a call first

[Gibsie]

This is the start me and trev just had:

http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/3476/startyl6.jpg

[deity]

My goodness, I've never seen that before!

[trev]

I moved my settler 2 squares south to the plains hill, a better location with 4 food specials, would have been a great start if gibsie had not been there. Interestingly his city was not visible until I built mine despite it being close enough it should have been, unless perhaps he built it on the 2nd turn like me.

[trev]

It was a most intriguing game we played with the restart, began with 6 players, unfortunately for DD, his poorly defended cities fell to 2 chariots by Gibsie, giving Gibsie a great early boost. With corn, flood plains and a number of hills for mining, plus nearby stone, my civ got off to a great start with stonehenge and pyramids followed by another 5 wonders with no 8 (Statute of Liberty) only 3 turns from completion. Being philosophic Peter the Great, and running pacifism has resulted in 140GP points in the capital per turn bringing me up to 14 GP's being generated by the end of the session.
But the game did not go all my way, snotty had the greatest financial start romping away to a very early and large tech lead and building a very large stack of Janisseries supported by catapults and trebuchets. His fewer early cities were expanded by warfare and peace treaty gifts. While still about 5 techs away from gunpowder he decided to take my civ on, but did not allow for a larger stack of catapults, the only weapon to use when technologically outclassed. The first 2 assaults he retreated with few losses but a massive loss of health, his 3rd assault his entire stack which by then included cannons and grenadiers was almost wiped out. By then however my first musketman and grenadiers were also coming onstream to assist in the destruction.
A counterattack soon after when my cannons began to come online was decimated, the offensive move a mistake, losing 30 units to about 10 of snotty's. Active battles ceased after that with snotty becoming involved with wars with kbarrett and gibsie, initiated I think by snotty, he can confirm the details.
Gibsie with the advantage of early conquest of DD and then more cities taken from MasterDave, who is now a vassal, has a small tech lead I think (certainly he has techs I do not, not sure what reverse situation is) and was first to move to cavalry and therefore is in a strong position, snotty being first to railroad has a mobility advantage, whereas my advantage is in the massive hammer production in my capital, the result of 10 or more Great People settled there, just about all engineers and prophets and the corresponding science output as I am running representation.
It is an intriguing struggle and a game which must be continued, as any of 3 people can win it.

[kbarrett]

Actually, it more of Gibsie getting involved in disrupting snotty's low grade conflict/conquest.

Just making sure he didn't get much for the few units he was willing to spare from his front with Gibsie.

I'll take full blame for allowing Snotty to become a power. I started with an aggro civ, and still fell into my builder habit. Once he bee-lined to Janissaries, I pretty much became his target range.

[trev]

Nothing wrong with a builder habit, that is my trait also, I just make sure my defences are strong enough to cope with more aggressive players, most players know that now in my regular games so they leave me alone, know the cost of an assault is generally too expensive.

[trev]

I will be around from 1pm to about 3.30pm for our regular Sunday game.

[deity]

same