AU501 - DAR5: Flight

[DrSpike]

Yeah Ancrya was a worker camp. By the end I had enough, so I could have bumped it up, since I had a load of squares. If I'd gone for SS I would have.

We had a good relationship with Egypt, and they antagonised a lot of civs. They were already at war with several throughout the game. If it had come to trouble an all-on-Egypt dogpile would have been quite easy to pull off with my tech lead.

Fortunately they weren't interested in my humble empire, and as my main rival once the UN was built they made a perfect opponent.

[Hermann the Lombard]

AU501 – DAR5 Stock, Merely Monarch

1300 AD – [singing] I start working on the raillll road…

Phooey on the Russians. They want Ivory+Incense+ToG for their Dyes, and yes, I want the Dyes. Minor trouble in Roman Sumeria: Ur and Sumer must either starve or be in unrest. Tough choice. [Anyone see a contradiction in starving people being less restive???? Seems like much of the history of Rome involved how fast the Head Count got ugly if anything interrupted the grain supply.]

1315 – The Byzantine Democracy Proclaimed! Dutch offer 30gpt for Incense and Ivory. They have Industrialization but won’t trade it. Electricity in 5 if I accept –56gpt.

1320 – Privateer sunk by British Man O’War without even putting a scratch on the hull. So much for “chatting.” ALMOST sank a Russian Galley. Privateers s**k (that’s “sink”). Sumerians sue for peace, offering Akshak+3gpt+World Map. So now we have two islands in the far southwest to worry about, with the last Sumerian city in between. Come to think of it, if I had the middle one I could base a force to protect all three… Many celebrations in honor of the victory!

1340 – Electricity! Sci.Method in 4. Gems+WM to Dutch for 17gpt. Incense to Maya for 6gpt.

1345 – Renewed MPP with Dutch.

1355 – Maya offered straight-up ROP; I asked for 2gpt.

1360 – Scientific Method! Switch the capital from Pentagon to ToE (now 10t), and Kyoto from dummy Palace to Pentagon (20t). Several riots as if I lost a luxury; I must have cancelled a Wonder. Atomic Theory in 8, aiming for Electronics and Hoover.

1365 – All “home” cities connected by rail, now concentrating on Const. city radius (now 26 spt).

1370 – Exploring Dromon (barely) sunk by pursuing Privateer. Damn. My Privateers never sank anything!

1375 – Swapped territory maps at English request. Build city of Ani ESE of Erech on West Island to exploit unused tiles, including Game.

1385 – Finished basic rail net of Byzantine Sumeria and Byzantine Hatti (all cities linked).

1390 – West Island railed except new city of Ani; now railing many hills. Atomic Theory in 2, ToE in 4. Dutch trade Industrialization, Ironclads, WM, 25gpt and 180gp for Electricity! Quite a haul. I’m close enough to ToE and I need Industry. Electricity to Maya for The Corporation, 10gpt, 30gp. Start Factory in Adrianople, queue them up in Const., Trebiz,Varna, and Nico. No, build Stock Exchange first in Trebiz to get a bit more cash coming in. (Generally I’ll build the production enhancement first, but in a few cities I’ll mix it up.) So now what, O Sages of Technology? My plan is to research Refining and take Electronics and Replaceable Parts with ToE. Once I get those I’ll know the location of Rubber and Oil, and I’ll be 3 techs from Flight.

1400 – Russia renews Dyes for Ivory and Incense. France and the Dutch sign MPP (talk about a mismatch! The French are to the Dutch as Lichtenstein is to Germany. Our scientists announce Atomic Theory, and start on Refining…but change to Electronics to prevent the wrong free tech from ToE.

1405 – Large Dutch squadron sighted between Byazantine Hatti and Russia, cruising back and forth.

1410 – Theory of Evolution in Constantinople, took Electronics and Replaceable Parts, restarted Refining. Start factory in capital (9t). Declined MPP with Maya but gave them 10gpt to be Polite. Now what is my best shot of getting Hoover Dam? I would hate to miss it. OK, the best shot is an SGL (fat chance). Barring that, what are my high-shield river cities? Not Const. or Adrianople! Not Harran. Kyoto, but few cities there and far from the Palaces. That leaves Nicomedia or Dyrrachium, pushing one at the expense of the other. Rush Factory, rush Coal Plant, grow to Pop 12 while rushing, and crank those shields!

1415 – Dutch offer 30gpt for Incense and Ivory, my crack negotiators get 45gpt…but I gave back 5gpt as I want Dutch good will. Dyrrachium builds our first Factory! Now take one turn of production, then rush the Coal Plant. All Japanese cities linked by rail.

1420 – Rush the Coal Plant for a mere 576gp [ouch], start Hoover Dam. Also rush Factory in Const. for 684gp [ouch]. To prepare for this I’ve been running 50-turn research at +548gpt.

1425 – Theodora announces that it’s been too long since the last Diplomatic Reception and Fire Sale. The hot item this time is Scientific Method. Maya pay Communism, Free Artistry, 5gpt, 20gp (all the cash I could get…I don’t need those techs). Dutch offer Rubber [yay!], WM, 25gpt. England offers Furs and WM (all they have). Invention to France for 20gp, WM (all they have, too). Democracy to Sumer for 1gpt, 15gp. [whoopee]. Switch research to Steel since Dutch have Refining, hoping for trade or even SGL. Steel in 5t at 90%+10%lux, -142gpt. [Double Ouch.] I assume that I have heavily overbuilt (as is my wont), and I need Banks and Stock Exchanges (though not while spending everything on research and lux). Theodora orders a census of commerce facilities: 16 markets, 10 banks in 48 cities, with construction in progress on 4 markets, 2 banks, and 1 stock exchange.

1430 – Tacitus’ Great History lists Byzantium as the most powerful, followed by the Russians, the Dutch, and the Maya. Chopped forest adjacent to Dyrr and worked by Dyrr, but shields went to more distant Trebizond. That stinks. Oh. Can’t chop forest to fuel a Wonder, can we?

1440 – Cranking out small infra (temples and universities), and even more workers.

1445 – Smoke-Jaguar offers 6gpt for Incense, ups it to 8gpt; William offers 17gpt for Gems. Prilep produces the first Byzantine Infantry, thanks to Dutch rubber. [I have rubber on the island I got from Sumeria, but I’ll hold off putting a road on it.] Dutch complete Shakespeare’s Theater. Four civs are building Universal Suffrage, so Byzantium won’t even try…as the only one building Hoover! Byzantium proper is completely developed and cleared except for one mountain next to Mt. Theodora, and the forest between Const. and the volcano, so now a lot of surplus workers are awaiting Hospitals to become productive citizens…or to be Volcano Sacrifices. Shipping workers to Japan and to Sumer.

1450 – Russia demands Gems without compensation. Greedy Catherine! Tough decision. We have the same size military (not the same quality, I hope!). Theodora refuses and Catherine backs down, but won’t offer anything for the Gems, and refused a gift of 3gpt (despite Russia’s poverty). The Dutch offer to renew the MPP, accepted. STEEL…but the Dutch got there first. I could offer Atomic Theory, but not until Hoover Dam is complete or no longer in doubt. Switch off to Sanitation in 4t in hopes for SGL (fat chance) or trade bait. Hoover in 13t, Pentagon in 2t. Dutch are paying me 70gpt for Incense and Ivory, a nice deal in this cash-poor world. Const builds first Stock Exchange, 42spt, MM several cities to bring Const to 45spt for 2-turn Infantry. Marketplaces arrive in Hattusha, Tokyo, and Aleppo. Nicea adds an Infantry, and it’s time for upgrades to Guerilla and to Infantry.

1455 – Smoke-Jaguar offers ROP and 2gpt. Advisor tells Theodora that the Mayans betrayed the English. Well, we trust them as far as we can throw them, but we can TRY to keep them on our side, or at least neutral. Upgrade 4 Cannon to Arty, but that’s all I can afford right now. France gives WM and 13gp for Gunpowder, rolling in dough as usual. Dutch want Atomic Theory AND Steel for Refining. Too much. Hurry Library in Akshak to bring Rubber inside my border (which is silly haste unless the Dutch cut off the supply).

1460 – Const Infantry, start Army. Finished Pentagon in Kyoto, start Factory. Akshak gets Library and starts Worker to develop the island. West Island builds mine on the Iron without a road.

1465 – Factories finish and Stock Exchanges start, and vice versa.

1470 – SANITATION. Dutch trade Refining (finally!) + 26gpt for Steel+Sanitation. They’re ready for Electronics, but Byzantium must get Hoover am! Maya trade Espionage for Sanitation (and both deal with dirty business). Russia has nothing to offer except Fascism, and while I would consider Communism at this size, I would not consider Fascism. England and France have NOTHING. Hey! Byzantium has oil outside Kadesh! Ruthless expansionism pays off once again! Now huge MM of scientists and food shortages to get Combustion in 5t at –65gpt. Hoover in 9t.

1475 – Building warships (starting ironclads and frigates). We must control the seas! Seafaring? What seafaring? Inadvertently built Fortress next to Kyoto. Hey! There’s also oil on the island with Brusa. That one I colonized just because I could. No road there yet.

1480 – Sumer audaciously asks for MPP and ROP, then asks “If that won’t work for you, what will?” The envoy mutters under his breath: “Your death, Gilgamesh.” Oops. I’ll run out of gold before I finish Combustion. Navigation to Gilgamesh for WM+14gp (yeah, I’m that desperate for cash); Sanitation to England for 15gpt; Russia and France have ZERO gold, Maya have 2gp; WM to Dutch for 6gp. Now 187gp and –59gpt with Combustion in 3. Sheesh. Byzantine Hatti is almost fully developed, including rail, so concentrate on Sumer. Clearing swamp for city NE of Ur next to unused Game. Now in teams that can clear swamp in one turn.

1485 – Treachery! The Russians land two Knights outside Naissus in Bananaland, and declares war when asked to leave. Sparse defenses there, with one lone Rifleman as my best unit, no barracks and no cash to rush one, BUT I have excellent mobility due to rail net. I have a Galleon loaded with troops enroute to the Sumerian enclave; divert them toward Bananaland.

1490 – The Dutch honor the MPP and declare war on Russia! Good young William! He looks great for a man 3000 years old. (I must say Theodora remains comely, too.) Of course this may be good business for the Dutch, if they can take a piece out of the Bear. Worker disbanded due to lack of funds, but we get COMBUSTION. I expected to get a Galleon this turn in Satsuma to carry troops to Bananaland, but instead I have to wait 5t for a Transport. The Russian Knights attack Naissus killing my Rifle and Pike, but leaving both Knights badly hurt. Unfortunately, I have nothing with which to attack them! Pollution starts to hit the home continent, but I rescued all the shrinking cities. Flight in 7t at 60%.

1495 – The Russian Knights thoughtfully kill themselves attacking. Sumeria and the Netherlands sign a Military Alliance against Russia. Now THAT should make Catherine tremble in her boots! Now Sumeria is against her!!

1505 – Russians land more (obsolete) troops on Bananaland. William offers the “fair trade” of WM for WM+Electronics! Hideous deal, but I want him on my side. [Theodora enters a black ball in her Little Black Book.] Naval engagement: Dromon bombards Russian Galleon, harmlessly, then two Frigates attack. The Russian sinks the first and is sunk by the second. Temptations: “probe” the 3-city Russian island off the east coast of their mainland, and prepare a fairly quick thrust at the Russian cities nearest Byzantine Hatti. Probably makes more sense to make peace, wait 20 turns, then hit them HARD. At minimum, launch some modern warships! Meanwhile, don’t overlook those “obsolete” units when they’re sitting next to an undefended city!!

1510 – Two Russians kill themselves attacking (and almost killing) a Rifleman, but promote him to Vet. A third Russian (spear) trashes tile improvements as we land the 2nd Zoological Army (Knights) next to him. Frigate sinks Russian Caravel off Ugarit, promotes to Elite, puts into Agade for repairs. Finished two turns of slow (38t) research to accumulate some gold for upgrades; now raise research to max with net positive gpt (Flight in 6t at 60%, _37gpt). Const. builds first “from scratch” Army, starts another. Cruisers and Destroyers and Transports under construction. It’s a pity there are no cheap modern ground units, when even “guerillas” take 90 shields! Mayan Lagartero completes Universal Suffrage.

1515 – Dutch offer 45gpt for Incense and Ivory. That beats the hell out of that World Map deal! First Transport launched in Satsuma. 2nd Zoological Army kills the lone spearman (no victory parade for THAT one!) Created 4th Zoological Army (4xCavalry) in Const. now that I have Transports to move such.

1520 – Russians land troops on South Hatti Island; should be no problem. Easily killed Russian Knight. Built Edessa on coast NE of Ur. Hoover Dam!

1525 – Dutch trade Alliance vs Russians + Spices + Rubber + 150gpt for Combustion (after an initial offer of just Spices!) Maya trade Alliance vs Russians for Gems, joining the dogpile. Vet Frigate sunk by already-damaged Russian Galley off Kadesh. Phooey. They’re probably stockpiling Spearmen to face my future Tanks.

1530 – Dromon bombards Russian horses but is sunk by Ironclad.

1535 – Harran launches first Cruiser, starts Intel Agency.

1540 – Frigate squadron bombards Heliopolis, and almost sinks Ironclad…which then sinks a Frigate. FLIGHT! Start Mass Production. Ur finishes Cathedral and starts an Airport; I want one on each land mass. Many warships and transports launched.

So that’s DAR5, and I’m up to date (on March 1). Whither Byzantium? I have two Galleons of troops with Frigate support off the Russian 3-city island. I will hazard the landing; at worst it will be a slightly-expensive diversion, and I could catch them napping. A landing on the Russian mainland would be much more hazardous; a Dutch invasion was already snuffed out. My idea would be to land on the high ground outside the nearest city. No point in landing with less than about four transports of the latest troops, including at least one transport load of artillery. Let them come to me to get chewed up, and make sallies to pick off the cripples. Once the first wave is weathered, grab the city and rush an Airport and a Harbor.

Now maybe that’s a lousy idea. Do I NEED to invade Russia to win this thing? No, I don’t think so. However, if the Dutch and the Mayans really take it to the Russians, I’ll want a big piece of the action. Besides, Theodora wants to teach Katerina a lesson!

So if I don’t need to invade Russia, how can Byzantium reach victory? Any way we want, I suspect! I have a nice group of land masses, though several are now poorly defended. I have two cores and a lot of productive cities. I am (barely) in the tech lead, neck and neck with the Dutch and trailed by the Maya. I need Mass Prod+Motor Trans+Radio to reach the Modern Era, then Rocketry and Fission to reveal the remaining resources. I could aim for a Space Ship win. I’ll want the United Nations to protect myself and possibly to win. Byzantium has the strongest culture, and could perhaps drive that high enough to win. Byzantium is also the most powerful, roughly double the nearest on the Histogram. Victory status:

Area: 33% to Russia’s 19%
Pop: 38% to Russia’s 19%
CultCity: 3827 to Amsterdam’s 5133
CultCiv: 35545 to Dutch 24595
Score: 2259 to Russia’s 1256
Power: 35-40% of total, double the nearest

So maybe the question is “How do I want to win?” and the biggest risk is wasting resources against Russia…but right now I have my biggest rivals also wasting resources against Russia. If I make peace with Russia, the Dutch and the Maya will have to do SOMETHING with all their toys.

Any advice?

[vmxa1]

Originally posted by Hermann the Lombard
Anyone see a contradiction in starving people being less restive????

Nope. Have you read any accounts of the siege of Russian cities?

Starving people are too weak to do much, once it sets in.

[Aqualung71]

Nice game Hermann. Crusing

[Jaybe]

[I have rubber on the island I got from Sumeria, but I’ll hold off putting a road on it.]

Rubber does not deplete (unless you changed it in the AU and I missed it).

[Jaybe]

So maybe the question is “How do I want to win?” ...

Any advice?

So, do you want to win, win most efficiently, or win and enjoy??
For an exciting time, pursue the Russian war (and hope there are no major complications, such as not being aware of an MPP).

[Hermann the Lombard]

Originally posted by vmxa1
Nope. Have you read any accounts of the siege of Russian cities? Starving people are too weak to do much, once it sets in.

Well, Leningrad was a tough nut, though without the ice road I suppose you're right. But a couple of things: we're not talking about resisting a besieger, we're talking about being pissed off at the local govt. *before* widespread starvation sets in. People know that the governor is eating, and always assume that the govt. is holding out on food in the storehouses. Again, many an Emperor went down when the grain supply got interrupted. Once they are dying in droves, that's another matter.

Nice game Hermann. Crusing

Thanks, Thriller, but it *is* "Merely Monarch" and I stand in awe of those doing this on Demigod.

Rubber does not deplete (unless you changed it in the AU and I missed it).

Oh, thanks, I didn't know that. So which strat resources do NOT deplete?

So, do you want to win, win most efficiently, or win and enjoy?? For an exciting time, pursue the Russian war (and hope there are no major complications, such as not being aware of an MPP).

Ah, now that's where the metagame meets the road, isn't it (since the rubber doesn't deplete)? I'm inclined to go for the Russian gusto (haven't had any good vodka lately), but I also want to finish this game in finite time, and they don't call me General Glacier for nothing!

[Jaybe]

... but I also want to finish this game in finite time, and they don't call me General Glacier for nothing!

Considering that a large-map continents game typically takes me 60 hours, most of it actually "playing", I doubt that you have anything on ME!

... and that does not include any note taking, etc.

[vmxa1]

Horses and Rubber do not deplete.

[Aqualung71]

Originally posted by Hermann the Lombard
Thanks, Thriller, but it *is* "Merely Monarch" and I stand in awe of those doing this on Demigod.

Don't we all! Not to mention those Deity gurus. Check out Aeson's and Alexman's games for truly inspired and original genius, if you haven't already.

[Hermann the Lombard]

Originally posted by Thriller Not to mention those Deity gurus. Check out Aeson's and Alexman's games for truly inspired and original genius, if you haven't already.

They are indeed. I can't wait to see the Postgame comments, though I'm stubbornly holding out on peeking. I was a regular Deity player of Civ2, but not of Civ3/C3C.