City States PBEM

[CerberusIV]

I'm back. Are we ready to go with this one?

[Harovan]

Hmm, I didn't have time last week to discuss it.

Will we be able to beat 4 deity AIs, if contact is possible only after Navigation, while they can contact (and tech whore) right after Map making? Well, in this case we may see a SS launch yet before we contact the first AI. Or do we want to change the rules? Opinions on this?

[CerberusIV]

It depends how we play our research. I assumed we would co-ordinate so that no-one researches the same techs and that whenever one of us discovers a new tech they give it to the others.

We won't need to spend anything on unit support until the AI's have navigation so should be able to all support high research rates. If we are also careful about co-ordinating building GW's we could get several of the early ones which will also hold back the AI.

I don't have much experience of deity so I may be a little bit optimistic here.

[ormuzd]

The AI has to accumulate only 60% of the actual shield price of the wonders - this makes almost impossible for us to build anything (except maybe something very early - Colossus or Pyramids, the latter doesn't have any sense for one city).

IMO the only possible way for a win is the diplomatic victory.

[CerberusIV]

Deity is looking a bit difficult. Should we play at emperor? That only gives the AI a 20% advantage on building things. It is certainly possible to overcome that by being efficient.

A cultural win is out because we will all be too close to each other but diplomatic is certainly on and space race at emperor should be possible.

I understand that we aren't allowed to found new cities after the first one but are we allowed to conquer and keep AI cities?

[ormuzd]

so, will we start as four players on emperor?

[Harovan]

My proposal: 4 players, 4 emperor AI civs each on its own medium sized continent. The AIs split in 2 groups per 2 civs. Both civs in a group can meet (and trade techs) after Map Making, the other group can be met after Astronomy or with the Lighthouse (sea bridge of at least 3 tiles), human civs can be met only after Navigation. Or do we want some more early entertainment? So far it sounds like a deadly boring ancient and medieval age. Opinions?

[CerberusIV]

Ancient/Medieval was always going to be quiet. I think we should play at emperor level so that the humans have a reasonable chance at some early GW's. I am still interested in the original basic idea of a co-operative OCC for the initial part of the game and that has inevitable consequences in terms of pace and level of activity before navigation/magnetism.

I think the proposal is good and am inclined to go with it. Earlier contact with an AI just means an AI to beat up and extort from. If we are going to do that we might as well play on a pangaea map.

[marcuspeddle]

I agree that early contact is not such a good thing. With just one city I will need time to build good defences and infrastructure before being set upon by the AI.

[ormuzd]

Also the boring Sncirnt and Medieval will be played very fast - eit hone city and 20 squares you don't need to think much