DAR of Betacles the Builder - Defender of Greece

[JimiD]

'What, you don't like bananas??!!'

Not familiar with this one...

[Theseus]

Look at my avatar... a historic reference to the PTWDG.

[Beta]

The DAR continues, and as we all know, when investing in real estate, the 3 most important considerations are:

Location. Location. Location.

More on this later. Back to our fearless hero, Betacles the Builder....

1500 BC

More trading this turn. I have maintained a pretty good tech lead, and am willing to do pretty much any deal - a la GOW in the PTWDG.

Philo and CoL to Persia for MM and 100 gold
Sell HBR to Babylon for 25 gold
Sell philo to Germany for 40 gold.

This gives me 349 gold in the treasury. I am still a ways to Republic - 39 turns.

I am by philo, code of laws and map making on all civs, except Persia who are even with me.

1100 BC

Fast forward a few years. I am 13 turns to Republic. I have lost my tech lead. Most civs are even with me now, and a couple, including Persia are up by Polytheism.

My military is average to Rome and Persia and the Germanics, but strong relative to the others.

I still do NOT hace contact with the Celts.

Two more cities are in. Unfortunately, Persia has started to settle the SE coast. . I had hoped to block this - and you will note that I have two hoplites blocking further land passage. They should have been there sooner. The nation now looks like this:

[Antrine]

QUOTE//Two more cities are in. Unfortunately, Persia has started to settle the SE coast. . I had hoped to block this - and you will note that I have two hoplites blocking further land passage. They should have been there sooner. The nation now looks like this://UNQUOTE

Now if I had taken, that position in charge of those Hoplites instead of my too eager yet slow cousin we wouldn't be in the fix? I just hope the Imperial Council takes more notice the rabble going down in the local taverns!

Special letter the Emperor,

Dear Emperor, it has come to my attention that we are growing intirely too slow. Why don't we have twice as many cities? And what of all the unclaimed/unpatrolled lands to the south, east and north? This is just unacceptable! Do you need more help in council dear Emperor? And while I am at it, I've heard some nasty rumors, or other civilizations having better religious choices than we have! How could you let the science minister do such a lousy job? WE NEED more RELIGIOUS choices. Polynesium or whatever it is called will allow more Gods and Goddess' and goodness knows we could use them right now!

P.S. I think our armies are too low, what do you think?

Sincerely,
Imperial servant to the barmaid

I just wanted to pass on this nondescript letter on to your perusal your highness! WE must not LOSE. And unless we way ahead I get nervous. Time flies you know! Look before you know it, Christ will get here, and then what?

[Beta]

750 BC

Republic completed a couple turns ago. Persia beat me to it. Damn. I was able to trade for some techs and cash. I only need currency and construction, and I reach a deal with the Romans (evil scum that they are) for Republic and Currency.

Thought long and hard about doing this - but I was out of leverage with the AI's to get more tech - and sooner or later Rhoth would be able to swing a deal. I wantde to get something in return for my long investment in Republic.

Three more cities are in, and I am aiming to claim most of this corner of the world. The Persians have expanded in the SE.

Also note that a lot of other civs units are rambling around. When they show up with settlers, this will get interesting.

Iron is being connected up north, next to Argos. Bit of a warrior building program in preparation for sword upgrades.

I am using libraries out on the perimeter for cultural expansion. They are cheaper for me than temples - and ultimately more useful.

I am still surviving with only one luxury - spices.

And I still do not have the horse resource, near Pharsolos, connected to the capital. Rhoth remarks in and around here that I seem pretty strapped for resources and luxuries. They simply have not been the priority. Expansion is. I need more settlers. And I need them fast. I am currently 40 behind Rome in the score - and it is pretty early.

But - I did invest in granaries in Athens, Sparta, and Corinth. Sparta also has acces to the food rich flood plains bordering the city.

And I have a settlement plan in idea if I can get the settlers out soon enough - and keep the AI at bay.

Here is the nation at 750 bc:

[Beta]

BTW - question - I am resizing my maps down to a size that does not require scrolling on the posts. Does this work for you - or does it make the maps too small? If they are too small - I can replace the above with larger maps.

I will also be going to some un-zoomed maps shortly.

Please let me know.

[Antrine]

Not too small until maybe you try to show individual units.

[Theseus]

You still have a lot of room... this is a screenshot of my screen at 1024 of your screenshot:

[Beta]

I think a resize to 1024 wide will require scrolling of the text. A resize to 800 wide requires you to scroll over so that the avatars and signatures are not available - but you can read the text without scrolling.

I will be using 800 from here on out.

[Beta]

450 BC

You will see from the attached map that things are indeed getting interesting.

To start with - I have decided to stay in despotism to keep the expansion going. City growth is largely the same in despotism - and that is what is key right now. A few turns of anarchy could mean a city site lost.

And the power of the granaries is starting to show its worth. Five new cities built since that last screen shot, and there is a settler enroute to the Persian border in the mountain just east of Ephesus, and there is a new settler under the warriors in Corinth.

Egypt has a settler trying to enter my territory from the north - and I have kept my dearest and beloved blocked from entering my territory.

Also - lookie here. A Roman warrior no doubt intent on engaging a hoplite to trigger a golden age while I am still in despotism. (Warriors and swords to the front!!!)

Also of note - battling with horse barbs in the west and arrrgggghhhh - Babylonian and Germanic galleys coming down the coast.

(at this point I am thinking - remember those questions on interviews that ask you about being able to manage multiple priorities....)

I have been reasonably succesful at blocking settlers coming in from the north - and Persia has stopped expanding in the south-east, but now the galleys. Note that I have swords in the area and enroute - on anticipation that this will get nasty.

This would not normally be an issue in a regular SP game - simply let them settle and then culturally assimilate them, or destroy the cities. But in this scenario - you can't do that. It becomes this bizarre dance that I have used in games before to keep settlers out of my territory. The galleys are another thing all tohgether. Not much I can do about them.

btw - at this point I am into the next era - and researching engineering. Also - I am now 46 behind Rhoth in scoring, and anchoring last place behind Cleo.

The nation in 450bc:

[Beta]

430 BC

The Babylonians landed a settler. Not much choice now. I had been preparing for this eventuality by:

a) having swords in the area
b) having the northern border reasonably protected
c) ensuring that none of the Bab units roaming my territory could do much damage

I kill the Babylonian spear with my sword - and capture the settler. I also get Egypt to ally with me and go to war against the Babs. Cleo also gives me her entire treasury of 7 gold. Who says you cannot win a game of civ3 using charm.

The problem now is that the Germanic galley is coming up next - and I cannot block sufficient coastal tiles. Besides - if they are going to land - I want them to land here where my swordsmen are.

410 BC

The Germanics land. My sword kills their spear and captures their settler. Great, , I am now at war with two of my neighbours.

Also of note - at this point I am no longer in the cellar. I have passed the Egyptians.

And - I am pretty much even tech-wise. Persia is up on me by Engineering, which I get in 14 turns. And I am up on Rhoth by Monotheism.

My tech lead will disappear shortly. As will what little good will I have left in the world.

350 BC

No real serious threat from Babylon or the Germanics. I am able to easily dispatch the few warriors and spears the Babs have in my territory, and my settlement plan continues.

I am concentrating on getting cities down where they will complete the 'picture' of the civ I have planned.

I have to admit - it is somewhat more nerve wracking than a usual game of civ.

So, the fruits of my labour. Here you will see two settlers enroute to the west coast city sites, the swords which had been battling barbs in the area and ambushed the Bab and German spears and settlers, and the new slave workers hard at work improving the countryside.

[Antrine]

Emperor Betacles! Where are you? I hope you are not getting our ass kicked!!

P.S. I have not read the othersides DAR, however getting tempted to. But I STILL believe in GREECE! Emperor Betacles! You are the 'One'!!!!!

[Beta]

Originally posted by Antrine
But I STILL believe in GREECE! Emperor Betacles! You are the 'One'!!!!!

Thank you Antrine. I am trying my best to do the supporters of Greece proud.

The game continues - at a somewhat slower pace. And I need to catch up on my DAR. You are correct. So - back to our story....

[Beta]

270 BC

War with Rome!!

...albeit a small one.

I have avoided Rhoth's warrior for a number of turns now. By avoided, I mean preventing him from entering my territory, and from attacking a hoplite. I have done a little dance with 3 warriors, who always present a 3 tile wide front - and shuffle this way or that as needed to keep Roamin' Robby at bay.

But now I have a settler and hoplite next to him - and the settler is about to build a city there. He will get a chance to attack a hoplite and trigger my GA while in despotism, unless I want to risk defending the city with warriors - with the Roman Warrior, and the Germans around.

I also have Egypt still trying to get settlers into 'my' territory. The gigs up. One of my warriors attacks and kills Roamin' Robby and triggers a war with Rome.

Also note that the Babs and Germans had been bringing in troops. In fact - the Babs have archers - courtesy of a galley landing - on both sides of Argos. But thankfully the Babs are willing to make a peace deal. More on this in a second. Here's the situation:

[Beta]

270 BC ...still...

The Babs offer peace to start this turn. as I mentioned above. I readily accept given the dicey situation on this front - but not before I also get the Babylonian treasury of 15 gold. Cannot swing engineering.

There is a downside to this. I have broken my military alliance with Egypt against Babylon. My ally and sweetheart, Cleopatra goes from this........