Au402 Dar5: 1000ad-1500ad

[Catt]

About the same time that Elizabeth and Abraham Lincoln were negotiating a peace, the Ottomans and Mogols also settled upon peace -- the Ottomans retained their foothold on the continent and ice island did not see the Ottoman palace relocation that had been expected -- Elizabeth hadn't yet reinforced the southern isle with cavalry, but intended to rid the lands of Ottomans should the entire Ottoman empire be relegated to the ice isle. Elizabeth could secure only the American map for peace -- the Americans were penniless following the invasion.

In 1455 AD Germany declared war on France, and much to the Queen's dismay managed to secure a source of coal from the French during the first turn of the war. Elizabeth intened to trade coal to Bismark should war erupt again on his continent, but was denied the opportunity.

In 1465 AD, with the Queen's scientists only 3 turns from the discovery of Replaceable Parts, Temujin demanded contact with the Greeks -- not caring for the MOngolian habit of making capricious demands, Elizabeth declined to trade contact and the Mongols declared war. How silly -- demanding contact with a civ still in the ancient age and declaring war on the technological superpower when refused.

[Catt]

After a few turns of warfare, Elizabeth decided to bring in others to fight the Mongol hordes. It was not out of fear from invasion, rather it was out of a desire to (1) make a tech trade with some degree of comfort that it wouldn't be upset by a hostile alliance, and (2) keep some of the remaining tech-proficient civs in Monarchies.

In 1480 AD the Queen traded Electricty to Germany for 814 gpt, 60 gold, and an alliance against the Mongols. She also traded Electricity to Persia for Medicine,
48 gpt, a world map, and 50 gold. No other civ was either tecnologically advanced enough or rich enough to make further trades worthwhile. In time, Elizabeth would come to recognize that the trade with Germany was a mistake.

Below is an enlarged minimap at 1500 AD -- it's very hard to see, but looking closely you might see that the Ottomans retain a small corner (SW) in their homeland. I've included the info box for 1500 AD, as well as shots of the two largest English colonies -- ice isle and the former China. Much English gold has been used to rush improvements in the former China and the new American cities. In the meantime, Elizabeth began preparations for the second American campaign.

[Mountain Sage]

1000AD + The Fifth Age

1020AD: the New Age 5 started with Education, closely followed by Banking.
1100AD: Leo’s is build (we even might use it!).
1120AD: with Banking in the pocket, we go for Economics in 6 turns.
1170AD: the Ottomans are at war with the Mongols. For once, we hope they just crush them.
1190AD: traded Gunpowder with Persia for Astronomy. Copernicus in 16 turns.
1120AD: we started Smith (no pre-build) and research Music Theory (we have THE BIG PLAN in mind).
1290AD: THE BIG PLAN: Persia, Germany and Babylon were getting too cocky. Therefore we declared war on Babylon. The Germans and Egypt were more than willing to join us for Chivalry. At least Germany would leave France alone for a while.
Then we also declared war to Persia along with the Ottomans, the Zulus, the Iroquois and the Celts in exchange for Music Theory. In the middle of a war, they could very well build Bach’s for all we cared. 1 winner and 4 losers (and 1’000 shield lost).
1335: THE GREAT BETRAYAL. We made peace with Babylon and Persia. Why? We got 400+ gold and started research in 4 turn. Time to pull ahead.
1370AD: Smith’s is done.
1390AD: we switched to Democracy. We have now a 3-tech lead.
1510AD: we entered a New Age with a 4-tech lead and… END OF THE GAME

Why? Well, for two reasons: first of all, we were too far ahead for anyone else to catch on us. We were researching at 4 turns/techs and had a cash of 17’000+ gold (average +350/turn). No other civ had more than 20 gold.
But the main problem was that 5 minutes lag between turns. In summer, I play much less Civ (D&D is fine in the garden) and I just don’t have the time to play such a long game, especially when I know I will win it.
The above is certainly the biggest reproach I have to make to Firaxis, or whatever handles now Civ3. What’s the point of being able to play on huge map with 24 civs if it takes you a whole month?

BTW, this is certainly the worst AAR/DAR you’ve ever seen, and the worst I ever wrote. Sorry about that.
This time, MS is really

But cheer up! Next Friday I’m in for a big surprise (if I have the time!).

[vmxa1]

I don't blame you MS. BTW I had about 70K at one point and was in 5th or 6th place. After that no deals cold be keep, so I stopped making them.

[jshelr]

"I've not actually watched it closely enough to be sure in previous games or in the middle ages in this game -- but I gather that multiple different free techs among scientific civs are the norm?"

In answer to this question, I believe that Nationalism and Medicine appeared immediately and I attributed that to the science civs getting those two techs. I think I was done with steam power and no civ got that.

[Theseus]

OK, I finished up to 1500AD last weekend, but due to 'poly being down and RL, haven;t gotten to the DAR till now.
________________________________________

1000AD:

I'm determined to get all of the Medieval Era GWs; I won't, I'll miss two, but of my choosing. I've got a pretty good tech lead too, and am draining all the decent AI civs steadily... as early as this turn I was able to do a tech trade with Germany for 300g + 91gpt.

I'm building many many Berzerks. My first target will be Carthage, who have the spice island to the west.

[Theseus]

1000-1140AD:

I miss Leonardo (big deal, I'm rich) and Sun Tzu (big deal, I'm MIL and rich). I snag all other Medieval GWs.

1140AD:

Bergen completes Copernicus... so this will be as good a super-science city as I can create.

This also means I can sell astronomy, which is good as it drains the AI civs like crazy, and bad in that my computer can't friggin' handle it.

1160AD:

I find China to the north... trade them polytheism ( ), and dear God, the incense!! Attack plans changed from Carthage.

I'm doing the most exploring; btw, NOBODY but NOBODY gets my WM.

1265AD:

The attack on China is nearly poised.

[Theseus]

1280AD:

I simultaneously attack the three southernmost Chinese cities:
Southmost: 7 Berzerks, 2 Knights, 6 Muskets
NE and NW: 9 Berzerks, 6 Muskets

HOLY AXEHEADS, BATMAN!!! Have you f*cking seen Berzerks in action, in large numbers, on Spears??!! Hell, I don't know how the defensive bonuses work, but they are sorta meaningless at 6a versus 2d. Jesus wept... I remember when Arrian, I think, and I both started playing Japan around the same time, and we fell in love with Samurai... Berzerks, man, Berzerks are da bomb!! And as GL generators? Fuggedabowdit.

Oh yeah, and this kicked off my GA.

[Theseus]

1290AD:

I meet Greece, Russia, Korea, and the Aztecs. Not meaningful threats... good lesser-developed civs to sell things to.

1295AD:

A coupla turns later... not too much of a response, and fairly easily handled. This would later lead me into a false sense of security in re AI civ performance.

[Theseus]

1300AD:

One or two of the leading AI civs research Gunpowder... I sell it off massively. Protection help for the weaklings.

1310AD:

I break through the 30 city mark, and am thus able to build my FP, and find Japan (Mmm, furs... DOH!!).

I decide to hand-build the FP in the city at the northern tip of the original island, and to change my attack plans to the following order:
a) Finish China
b) Japan to the north
c) Egypt / Arabia to the east (a new 2nd Fleet, primarily from Iron Island)
d) Carthage to the west (the China / Japan 1st Fleet)
e) The ice isle to the south (2nd Fleet)

1325AD:

Ahhh, let the games begin... Mongols declare on the Ottomans (having already nailed the Romans long ago), and Persia goes after the Iroqouis.

1330AD:

China? BUH-BYE!! Massing the fleet for Japan.

#1 in Approval, Population, GNP, Manufacturing, Annual Income, and Productivity.

1360AD:

I trade contact with Russia, Korea, and the Aztecs to the world... I am still the only one to have met Japan. At 1000g + 73 gpt, and 0.8.2.

1375AD:

I meet Spain. While the rest of the world is basically in love with me, Izzie is a bee-yatch, no matter what I do. I figure why let her spread lies and bad attitude about me, so she stays isolated (for a loooong time).

1390AD:

The attack on Japan is poised. I'm going for the five southern cities EXCEPT the southernmost, which will be extremely isolated and ready for attack by lagging forces the next turn.

[Theseus]

1395AD:

FLASH FLASH FLASH

Urgent Telegram

From: Admiral Erik Axeblade
To: Lord High King Theseus Longbeard

Sir,
4 out of 5 objectives taken. Stop. Strong resistance and unrest remaining. Stop. Possible loss of offensive force. Stop. Instructions?

[Theseus]

1405AD:

Well, let's get the heck outta Dodge, shall we?

I had no idea of what was waiting for me... thank god I got there before Sammies. I abandoned the northern cities, and regrouped to the south. But I still had a bit of a challenge coming my way.

(And yes, that's my first Army towards the bottom... no mixing units for these bad boys until Marines, but a 2 or 3 Berzerk Army is a friggin' sight to behold!! )

And, yes, Berzerks as stack-whittlers are just d*mn fine... it took a few turns, but the Japanese threat was, shall we say, severely diminished.

[Theseus]

Backtracking to 1400AD:

While the Japan offensive was being pressed, btw, I made some pretty good trades elsewhere. At this point, my rep was crystal clear... but the surprise in Japan did mess me up, as I had broken a per turn deal with them in the initial attack, and they were met by other AI civs before I could finish them off.

[Theseus]

1430AD:

The Mongols have decimated the Ottomans, and Germany has smacked France around pretty bad too (with Babs slipping in some new opportunistic towns).

1485AD:

Japan? BUH-BYE!!! (albeit a hard and close war... took everything I had to get it done, which meant delaying the attack on Carthage)

I made a stupid mistake, though, which you'll see in the 1500AD screenshots... I immediately started trading furs away, but then, to get better CP, I abandoned a couple of the northern Japanese cities, thus breaking my own trade deals.

[Theseus]

1500AD:

Man, I looooove this game (wait till you see where I'm leaving off), but I just can't play any further on my computer. I think Catt said he read halfway through Harry Potter 5 while on wait time? I read the first four books!!! (OK, I'll admit to some Central Park sunny afternoons) I don;t even really know how long the turns have been taking... I read or did something else for "a while" (half an hour?), and then would do the two parts of a turn (building then moving) whenever, and have just kept Civ3 up and running for maybe two weeks.

Anyway, 1500AD, whew!

OK, first the big news, then my final actions: the Mongols, a truly badass KAI, have declared war on me over something stupid... I'll come back to that!

In terms of overall status, I control the original island, Iron Isle to the east, China to the north, and Japan further north. My FP is at the northern tip of the original isle, and I used a GL to build a Palace at Kagoshima, the 4th city from the bottom of Japan. Corruption is not a big problem.

I have an insane number of excess luxuries. I have a solid tech lead, which on this last turn I've used for both trade and alliance reasons to drag half the world into the Industrial Age. As elsewhere stated, I only researched one first-level Industrial tech (Steam Power, of course), then Industrialization. I was able to trade for Medicine with one of the newly advanced SCI civs, and then trade that around too (instead of SP).

Here's an overall screenshot; in northern Japan, you can just see the ruins 9 of New Copenhagen and 77 of New Bergen.