2nd Apolyton C3C MULTIPLAYER TOURNAMENT

[Taian]

The 4 civs in our game ended up being the Inca (me), the Carthaginians (Wittlich), the Greeks and the Mayans. I had contact with the Greeks and the Mayans by about 3200BC and I think Wittlich and I ran into each other sometime around 2700BCish. No attacks took place, but I didn't proceed any further south with my Chasqui Scout so for most of the game, Wittlich's land was blind to me. I used the scout to keep tabs on where his warrior was wandering and followed it all the way to my own borders
At this point, I had a spearman in each town, but little else in the way of military. However, he didn't proceed any further and was content to keep the warrior stationed a few squares outside my borders until (I think), the Mayans started a war with him at which point he moved it back towards his land.
So, expansion continued along merrily in the Incan homeland. I had decided once I saw all the rivers to pursue an aggressive growth strategy early on, moderated by the omission of granaries. Unfortuneately, I didn't make it to the iron until the Greeks had already settled a city there (they beat me by two turns ) I ended up sending the settler intended for the iron south to found a city near the dyes. It was at this point that I decided to bulk up and prune the Greeks back. They had started slow, but were coming on strong and with the hoplite unit, it was better to do it quick. So, barracks were built in the majority of the core cities and mass horsemen were begun.
In the screenshot below, you can see three luxuries within my immediate borders (dyes, incense - under the spearman, and gems). Past the upper right corner there is also ivory and another iron off in the jungle to the right.

[Taian]

The pruning war went remarkably well with the Greeks. I started with a stack of about 10 horsemen and razed their iron city without losing a man. I went on towards their capital and captured it as well, leaving them with 2 cities. At this point, I sued for peace and we stayed at peace for most of the rest of the game.
The dumb thing about pruning the Greeks was that they were on the complete other side of the landmass from Carthage (top vs bottom). So, I had to move everyone back and start them on the road down. I also wanted to build up a decent force first since

a) It was a long way down and I didn't have a road there yet, and
b) I wanted to make sure I didn't lose steam while pressing the attack.

I think this was sometime late sunday that most of the build-up was happening. Wittlich was expecting my invasion force, but I was in no position to send it yet, but was getting close. I started my workers on the road south to help get the swordsmen to the front lines. I wasn't as concerned about the horsemen with their extra movement point, but I didn't want to only go with them against the 3 def Numidian. After about 4 and a half hours on Sunday afternoon, we saved the game for finishing tonight.

After loading up the game again, the plan stayed on schedule. The road was progressing well and the troops were making it to the front lines.
I took Hippo relatively quickly with a sword/horse force and also threatened a couple of his other cities with the same type of make-up. Within the first few turns of the second sitting, three of Carthage's cities were fallen; two of which were now under Incan control.

Oh...I guess I should also mention that prior to engaging Wittlich, I had moved my Chasqui scout into the neutral land between him and the Mayans. The Mayans had previously declared war on me and I used that opportunity to trigger my GA. Moved by scout onto a hill beside a Mayan warrior and it was triggered when he lost in the attack. So, I was now producting either a horseman or a sword every 5 turns or so.

[Taian]

Wittlich's first few cities weren't defended with a ton of NMs...I think maybe 3 in each. I used the next few turns to consolidate my army and finish the road down to the front lines. The turn after I finished the road, there was a barbarian uprising triggered by Carthage's entry into the middle ages. I had previously entered it and had just finished research on Feudalism. The turn before, I had also rush built a barracks in Hippo (I had changed to Monarchy quite a few turns ago). The same turn that the road finished, 9 swordsmen were promoted to the ranks of the medieval infantry. Since it didn't really matter now if I lost Hippo, I left it relatively underdefended and started sending the infantry against Utica. Silly me....he must have had about 7 NMs defending it. The first wave of attacks saw me lose about half of my MI and a few horse to boot. Regardless, I managed to push through and took it on the next round of attacks. All during this time, I had troops moving down the road network from the homeland, killing the barbs as they went. After a few more turns of consolidation, I pressed the attack onto Carthage. Same thing there...a good 5 or 6 NMs (or seemed like it anyway). But by this point I had a few MI, about 5 swords and 5 horse who managed to take Carthage as well. I probably could have ended it a little sooner, but I was expecting another onslaught of NMs when I went after the last city. The following is the pic just before the final attack. The stack showing is only one of two currently outside the city.

[Taian]

I think that I was the one pushing the tech pace for most of the game. I detoured a while and then decided to go for Philosophy and managed to be the first one there. I have to say though that I'm really frustrated with the lack of pop-ups. I ended up getting Map Making as my free tech, because I didn't get asked what I wanted to research next. Dumb thing

Anyway, it was a fun game...thanks again Wittlich..well played from the tough start you had. I'm sure I'm going to be met with the same rotten luck in the near future

[MarkG]

Originally posted by notyoueither
Problem, Mark. Krasny is in Britain (?) GMT time zone. I am GMT -7. We missed each other this past weekend, and now can't hook up until this next weekend.

What do you want to do?

can you arrange it for this friday?

[notyoueither]

I work Friday, and it is 1am for him by the time I get home. :/

[Snotty]

Originally posted by Taian
I have to say though that I'm really frustrated with the lack of pop-ups. I ended up getting Map Making as my free tech

It is indeed a pain. You just have to remember to queue up the tech you want after philosophy by shift (or ctrl?) clicking it in the tech tree. I have not figured out how to get your tech of choice from the sci trait yet though.

[Taian]

I'll give that a try. You don't get to choose with the sci trait though. It's a random tech upon entering (as far as I know, anyway).

[notyoueither]

Krasny and I have an appointment for 20.00GMT Saturday, if that is not too late, Mark.

[MarkG]

it's ok nye

[Beta]

The Snotty-Beta match is scheduled for High Noon (est) today.

[MarkG]

Defeat!

AAR coming up

[Beta]

The Snotty-Beta match went for two rounds totalling well over 3 hours today. Snotty has retired for the evening (UK), and my wife is getting restless for dinner.

Snotty (Persians) clearly has the lead. The two AI's (England and Celts) are still both around and have played key parts - as we have both been trying to buy their alliance.

An early foray by me was repulsed by Snotty. He now has a huge campaign threatening my homeland (Chinese)- but much blood has been spilt, and the game is far from over - unless he has a major breakthrough tomorrow.

The game is scheduled to resume at 5pm est tomorrow.

AND I AM HOOKED!!!!!! This is a wonderful way to play civ. I had some early frustrations when the auto-jog for your own units was not on - and my initial settler wasted two turns while I figured out that just hitting enter wasn't doing much.

Also, combat is very interesting - with its give and take and timing issues. I was a bit slow with the mouse at times I'm afraid. Need more FPS experience.

But large battles are very interesting, His large stack attacking a walled city - while my horsemen counterattack from another spot.

Stay tuned.

[Shogun Gunner]

Sounds great! Can't wait to see the screen shots of Persian-Chinese conflict!

[Beta]

After another two hours of brutal battle and attrition - Beta surrenders.

Congrats Snotty! Great game!

At least I feel very much "initiated" in MP after a 5.5 hr match.

AAR's from both of us to follow.