Caesar Succession Game: 2.42 team SPOILER

[La Fayette]

It would be handy if another member of the team posted an opinion

If this remains between you and me, here is my opinion:
- my save is better, but the difference is very slight;
- we chose your save at 3000BC, my save at 2000BC, why not your save at 1000BC?

I am ready to start playing from your save.

[Bloody Monk]

Cheers, Lads!!

For now, I am back from the hospital, but, I don't think I will be of much help. When I try to compare between your saves, I just get confused. Both of you seem to be playing well. I like the idea of incorporating trade in the overall strategy. More than that I can't say. Good luck!!

Monk

[Elephant]

Hurray you're back! That little "checkup" turn out to be more than they hinted?

We need a bit more "bloody-mindedness" here...

[La Fayette]

Cheers, Monk

Happy to see you back

Just look at us:

and relax

[Elephant]

If we are then I should be - I thought we were ...

Comparisons:
LF@1000: 8 cities, 4 settlers, 6 caravans, 2 frigates, 5 Trireme chain to English;
2 more frigates plus 1 caravan completing next turn;
1 hidden Silk mined, 1 working;
got MonoTheism, researching Masonry (toward ?);
war with Zulus (got HG), alliances with English (got Nav) and Mongols, no Egypt maps;

El@1000: 9 cities, 7 settlers, 6 caravans, 5 Trireme chain to English;
1 caravan (or frigate) completing next turn (up to 5 in 2 turns);
3 hidden Silks mined, 2 more close;
got MonoTheism, researching WarCode (toward SunTzu);
war with Mongols(partial map), peace and maps with rest.

[La Fayette]

Of course we are
but I thought the Monk would probably find more enjoyable.

Anyway OnS should be having a look at our saves right now IIRC (and I am ready to play from your save ).

[Old n Slow]

Hmmm looking for a smilie with three or four faces...

but I think that the message would be premature.

[Old n Slow]

Hmmm tough choice -- LF is rated as Moderate & Ele ranks in at Inadequate.

I'm thinking that we should milk the 2.42 advantages wherever possible (hence how about more allies?)

Iirc, since the world has knowledge of Inv & Nav, aren't the trading bonuses already reduced (reference to a prior discussion)?

Regardless, I see no reason not to use Ele's save, so I'll play a little with that one & see what occurs.

[Elephant]

Originally posted by Old n Slow
Hmmm looking for a smilie with three or four faces...

Well, there's - and we could put either or next to it to make 4...

But this might be most appropriate for the next turnset:

[Elephant]

Originally posted by Old n Slow
Hmmm tough choice -- LF is rated as Moderate & Ele ranks in at Inadequate.

Funny, because mine has more cities and more settlers...

I'm thinking that we should milk the 2.42 advantages wherever possible (hence how about more allies?)

The problem I've always had with alliances in a conquest game is the "return home" thing when you break them...

Iirc, since the world has knowledge of Inv & Nav, aren't the trading bonuses already reduced (reference to a prior discussion)?

We have not taken either yet, to keep the deliveries to English higher, but both civs are on our "next up" list, and we really want Nav for Magellans (both saves have 6/8 caravans waiting, although I was preparing to send a few more to the English).

Regardless, I see no reason not to use Ele's save, so I'll play a little with that one & see what occurs.

Mine it is. Next round is 20 turns to 500BC. Did Peaster set a due date?

I'd suggest if a Dip in London does not show they are near building Magellans we take out Hastings (wish it had been one tile SE, but I think it was from a hut). Once we get our hands on HG those 7 settlers can become cities (the two on the Hill south of Hispalis were about to start mining - probably a dumb last-minute idea). Once we take Nav the delivery bonus will halve, so you may want to fatten the coffers beforehand.

[Old n Slow]

Hmmm I feel like I'm playing with my weak suit -- speed was never my forte...


But you never know...

[La Fayette]

Originally posted by Elephant


Next round is 20 turns to 500BC. Did Peaster set a due date?

IIRC he wrote 20.01.05, which means thursday, the day after TOMORROW

[La Fayette]

1000bc to 500bc

A few more caravans to English cities in order to get some cash for rushbuilding. Then a mix of frigates and caravans (precisely 6 caravans in order to build STWA as soon as we get Feudalism from the English). Then frigates (until we own 12). Then 8 caravans for Magellan.
3 civs (English, Persians, Vikings) destroyed.

Situation at 500BC:
22 cities (20 left to conquer); 15 frigates; 6 crusaders.
Thebes, Samarkand, Elephantine and Mpondo to be conquered next turn.

[Elephant]

Dispensing with the usual exhaustive log:

At 500BC:
- Got 19 cities (6 captured), 3 settlers, 8 frigates, 7 crusaders, 6 horse, 2 diplomats
- Captured HangGardens, built SunTzu and Magellans
- Killed Vikings, French, Persians (both colors restarted)
- Cities left: Zulus 4, Germans 1, Egypt 6, Amer (1), English 7, Mongol 6 = 25

I sent Frigates and Horse toward Zululand and Vikeland, after the English gave me what I wanted without a fight. I kept them around for quick caravan deliveries, but found little use for them as most caravans went toward SunTzu or Magellans (or got switched to warfighters). Once the easy coastal cities were in my hands the fighting bogged down. The Zulus rebuilt their capital inland (which I've surrounded and should take in a couple turns), but they are researching Gunpowder so Bapedi needs to be taken ASAP. The English build the GreatLibrary, and when the Americans restarted they reaped all the techs they were missing. Trondheim seems to be a magnet for Mongol Catapults for some reason, too.

Elephant's 500BC save:

[Elephant]

Some thoughts after reviewing LF's 500BC save:

Questions:
- Why didn't you contact the Germans?
- Why are you taking Samarkand rather than Ulundi?
- Are One&Half frigates enough for Thebes&Eleph? One Crusader each?
- Are Zimbabwe & Hlobane OK with several Zulu units nearby?
- Where is the frigate from Hastings going (NE of Romeland)?
- Where is the frigate from Nottingham going (East of England)?
- Why are you researching Physics - Steam?
- Why are you sitting on so much gold?
- Is 40% Lux really necessary? More gold instead?

Other comments:
- Frigate by Washington has no land unit
- Bapedi building Leos, and Zulus researching Gunpowder biggest threat
- Ships by Samark and Mpondo carrying Pikes - cannot land&take
- Not enough Crusaders
- Replace ships holding cities with Pikes