GOTM 20 Ancient Era Timeline Pre-game analysis: 1. We are Spanish - Religious & Commercial. We start with Alphabet + Ceremonial Burial + Wheel, and we get cheap temples and cathedrals + lower corruption and extra gold in big cities. Early contacts should give us trade opportunities with our three starting techs, so early exploration is important. Cheap temples allow fast early culture growth (= land grab) as well as improved happiness. 2. We start with extra gold, and the river start means we'll accumulate more. If we can keep it, this will help us to trade or research effectively. We should use cheap Fortresses to defend our cities against barb pillaging, and also build upgradeable Warriors to avoid looking too weak and attracting ransom demands. 3. We need a view of the wider terrain to choose city locations. Conquest class have three treaasure chests we can move on the first turn to push back the fog, avoiding wasted worker moves. One will go to the hill for sure. 4. The start position looks food- and gold-rich. 14 tiles have riverside positions so a big city could generate lots of gold. 3 improved and worked flood plain tiles could deliver 2-turns per pop point, but these tiles will produce zero shields. There are 2 visible grass tiles. These could only deliver 1 or 2 shields each for a max. total of 5 spt at pop 5 with the city tile if they are both bonus grass. At pop 6 we can get another spt from an irrigated plains tile. A settler pump with a granary at the start location can produce a maximum of 5 + 7 + 6 + 9 = 27 shields in 4 turns including the extra shields at each pop expansion, so it can't produce a settler every 4 turns. Starting with 2 flood plains tiles worked at pop 5 we get expansion to 6 in three turns. Turns 1 and 2 we can use 2 flood plains + two mined grass + one irrigated plain to give 8 food and 8/10/12 shields depending on grass bonuses. Turn 3 we can switch the 2 flood plains to irrigated plains to add 2 food for growth and 7/8/9 shields including growth bonus. Turns 4 and 5 use 3 flood plains plus 2 mined grass + 1 irrigated plain for 10 more food for growth and 9/11/13 shields including growth bonuses. If and only if there are two tiles capable of delivering 2 fpt and 2 spt this will work as a micromanaged 5 turn settler pump. It needs 4 irrigated tiles plus two mined tiles - a total of 52 worker turns = 26 turns with the starting workers. We really need to find a better location for a fast settler pump. Let's see what the chest can find. 5. Do we build a city on the start tile? Cracker's Opening Game article identifies four reasons for moving before founding: - Are we located on a powerful tile? No - Are we located on hostile terrain? No. Wherever we go within a tile or two we'll be working the flood plain and risk disease. - Are we within one tile of the coast? There's a possible coast tile to the west. - Is there a defensive advantage to be gained from moving? Yes, maybe. The start tile is a plains tile with defence bonus of 10%. The hill to the NE gives a 50% defence bonus. Both tiles have river protection from three adjacent tiles. 6. Do we want to research for Pottery? I will look at the list of civs (F10). If there are no Europe/Middle East/Africa expansionist civs then I'll assume I won't be able to buy Pottery, and I'll self-research it at 100%. Else I'll research Writing at minimum. 7. Do we build a settler before Pottery/Granary? Practice starts at Deity indicate that land disappears under AI expansion very fast. So I'll use two chests to fast-track 2 Warrior/explorers in the first city. This wastes two shields, but the early exploration start should be worth it. Use third chest to fast-track a Fortress for early defence of the gold reserves, then at least one Settler before starting a granary pre-build. 8. Second city? Location and build orders will depend on what we find out from the initial chest exploration. First thoughts are that it will be at 3 tiles NE to be same side of river as the capital and use the grass. Maybe a Fortress, barracks and Warriors. Worker moves: First priority is to get some shield production going in the first city, so develop two plains/river tiles to 2.1.2 (8 turns). Second priority is to maximise food production so move to two flood plains to get them to 3.0.2. Start on W and SW tiles. =============================================================================== !!!!!! Open the file, let battle commence !!!!!! *** 4000 BC. 85 gold Chest NE to hill. Sees cattle/plain and cattle/grass and wheat/flood plain and bonus grass. Chest S. Sees incense/desert. Chest NW. Poor move, only sees one more tile - confirms forested plain which was already partially visible. Worker #2 W. Is on coast and sees forest on coast to SW. City location decision time: Settler 1 NE to hill for defense bonus and cattle/wheat. This will be a very productive first city site for settlers and others. Settler #2 W towards forest site on coast. Lots of plains for shields, one flood plain for growth, and coastal access for exploration and trade. Access to incense. Worker #1 (Sancho Panza) irrigates the start tile. F10: England exp/com, Ottoman ind/sci, Keltoi mil/rel, France com/ind, Zulu exp/mil, Japan rel/mil, Aztec rel/mil, America exp/ind, Iroquoi exp/rel, India com/rel There are 4 civs with Pottery. Assuming we are on same continent with England or Zulu we should be able to trade for Pottery. The European/Middle East/Africa civs cover all six traits, so we stand a good chance of trading for all the first level techs. IBT - (In between turns) *** 3950 BC. 85 gold Found Madrid on hill. Madrid > Warrior. Disband chest for 10 shields to complete Warrior. Set Madrid to work flood plain to get gold instead of waste shield next turn. Chest W to coast hill north of second city site. Sees more coast and sone plains/grass. Oops! Should have moved chest into Madrid for another Warrior next turn. Chest NE towards Madrid. Worker 2 irrigates plain. Settler 2 SW to forest on west coast. Set 20% (min) science. > Writing. F11 shows top 5 cities are: London, Sogut, Entremont, Paris, Zimbabwe. IBT - *** 3900 BC. 87 gold Found Barcelona on coast. Madrid builds warrior #1 Chest to Madrid for next warrior. Chest to Barcelona. Barcelona has no 2 fpt tiles yet. Waiting for Sancho to irrigate a plains tile in 2 turns. Barcelona produces 2 spt, so it's not a good idea to use this chest for a 10-turn unit. Decide to fast track a barracks using the chest plus 2 spt. IBT - *** 3850 BC. 92 gold Disband chest Brcelona. Barracks in 14 turns. Disband chest Madrid. Warrior next turn. Warrior #1 W. Sees mtns NNE+gold and SSW. IBT - *** 3800 BC. 97 gold Madrid Warrior #2 > Defence. Warrior #2 S Sancho irrig > road Barcelona works Sancho's tile Warrior #1 NE IBT - *** 3750 BC. 101 gold Worker #2 irrig > road Warrior #2 S sees forest Warrior #1 N to gold Mtn. Sees Andalusia NNW, bonus grass, and cattle 2 tiles east. Science slider is annoying - 10% of 6 = 0. 20% = 2 gpt. IBT - *** 3700 BC. 105 gold Warrior #2 S to forest. sees more incense and more forest. Warrior #1 N. Another mtn and river to north MM Madrid. 2 turns to go for defence. Use irrigated plain instead of cattle for extra gpt. IBT - Where is everybody? *** 3650 BC. 110 gold Sancho road > NW, N to cattle/plain tile N of Madrid. Warrior #2 SW to hill Warrior #1 N F11: London, Sogut, Paris, Zimbabwe, Kyoto. All are size 2 :( Spain is 4th in mfg, land area, productivity. 5th in approval, GNP, income. 7th in population IBT - *** 3600 BC. 116 gold Madrid builds Defense. Fortify it. Start Barracks placeholder. Sancho irrigate plains/cattle Worker #2 to shared flood plain in advance of Madrid expansion Warrior #2 S Warrior #1 NEW to mtn. Sees deer NNE IBT - *** 3550 BC. 121 gold Worker #2 irrigate flood plain Warrior #2 S to hill Sees horses SSE Warrior #1 N off mtn iBT - French warrior approaches Warrior #2 from SE *** 3500 BC Contact France. Has Masonry and 10 gold. No cities. We are up Wheel and CB. Joan has clearly not traded with anyone yet. Wants CB + Wheel + 69g for Masonry. We don't need Masonry yet, it's expensive, so no deal. Warrior #2 E Warrior #1 N to mtn. Sees wheat to W and ENE, lots of BG, lake. I need another explorer. This appears to be a big continent. Change Madrid to warrior - needs 4 shields. Madrid will grow next turn so set governor for production to get 2-shield bonus from forest. MM Madrid to get 2 spt so we get the warrior out next turn. Set sliders to 8.1.1 to avoid an entertainer in Madrid. [I forgot I had Defense in Madrid so there was no need!] IBT - Madrid borders expand, Madrid grows to pop 2, Madrid builds Warrior #3 French warrior moves N towards my territory. *** 3450 BC. 133 gold Change Madrid to Settler (10 turns) Warrior #3 SE to look for signs of life. Warrior #2 S Warrior #1 can see white edges N. Tundra? A bit far south? Mountains? N off mtn. Slider 8.2.0 Madrid now has 3 spt + 4 fpt from wheat. Growth in 5 turns. IBT - *** 3400 BC. 139 gold Warrior #3 SE Sancho finished irrigation > road. Madrid now has 5 fpt, growth in 4 turns. Warrior #1 N sees tundra mixed with grass. Warrior #2 SW to horse hill sees whale tail 3 tiles to SW. IBT - French warrior returns S. Didn't get within sight of Spanish cities. *** 3350 BC. 145 gold Warrior #3 SE towards mtn. Worker #2 irrigated flood plain > road. Barcelona grows to 2. Use 2 irrigated plains Now we need some entertainment. Slider to 8.1.1 giving 7 gpt. Warrior #2 E Warrior #1 W. Sees 2 furs. IBT - *** 3300 BC 152 gold France has met someone. She now has Pottery + BW + WC + Masonry + 29 gold. No longer needs CB. She gives Pottery + 3 gold for Wheel. She still has no cities! Warrior #3 E to mtn Warrior #2 SE in jungle Warrior #1 W. Sees some coastal edges. MM Barcelona to 2 spt for remaining 2 turns for barracks. Messy slider 6.2.2 leaves 5 gpt net for this turn. IBT - Madrid grows to pop 3 *** 3250 BC 160 gold Sancho finishes road. Moves to adjacent grass/cattle tile. Worker #2 will deal with the wheat for movement efficiency. Warrior #3 E off mtn Warrior #2 SE in jungle Warrior #1 W. Coastal hills. F11: Top 5 cities are Entromont (pop 2) London, Sogut, Paris, Zimbabwe (all pop 1). These have produced workers or settlers? Spain is #1 in manufacturing and productivity, #2 in population, GNP. #5 in approval, income and #10 in land area :( Scores: Spain 131, France 91. France is obviously not the big player at this stage. Since we must be aread of her in land area she's last. Wonder if the barbs have got to her settlers? Sliders 7.1.2 -> 8 gpt Madrid will grow to 4 in four and produces a settler in 4, back to pop 2. Barcelona barracks next turn, grows in 5. Writing in 26 turns. IBT - *** 3200 BC. 168 gold Barcelona completes barracks > Warrior. We've seen no barbs yet, so defense is not a priority. Exploration is! We can change to a Defender if anything appears. Worker #2 finishes road. Move to wheat tile. Sancho starts road on grass/cattle tile. Warrior #3 E Sees desert Warrior #2 S Sees French border Warrior #1 W to west coast. Sliders 8.1.1 Courtesy visit to France. She has hooked up Dyes (none spare). Still no cities. Still has BW, Masonry, WC, 26 gold. IBT - *** 3150 BC 175 gold Warrior #3 E across desert Warrior #2 S. Sees French worker in Paris bounds, game NW of Paris outside city border. Warrior #1 N. mtn on NW coast. IBT - *** 3100 BC 182 gold Warrior #3 E. Sees East coast? Warrior #2 SE to mtn. Sees Paris, regular warrior defending Warrior #1 N on hills sees gold and fish. Start of NW peninsula Visit France - no change. Is she going for an OCC? IBT - French warrior reappears near Paris *** 3050 BC 189 gold. Madrid produces Settler, drops to pop 2, growth in 4 turns. Where to build next city? Next city should be in the core, towards our competitors. Paris appears to be on a narrow part of the continent as our southern scout can see eastern coastal beaches? France does not appear to be a major threat yet - single city, has to be number 11 in land area as it's smaller than Spain at #10. Main threat on our continent is probably either south of Paris (Keltoi would account for their CB and WC tech trades and they could have researched pottery) and/or north and east. We have found horses due south, but at least two city radii away in jungle with poor city positions around it. We could found on the coast north of the horses, but there's not a lot of food nearby - one fish tile, one BG tile. We could settle 1 tile north of the horses and reach fish + wheat with a rush temple expansion. Lots of worker activity and then join workers to a city for the rush. Let's see if there are nearer horses first. We have uncharted teritory north of Madrid, and a good city site next to the lake that fits a three-tile spacing pattern with another city on the west coast, and another on the upper reaches of the river east of Madrid. Our Madrid settler can reach the lakeside location in one turn via sancho's roads, so off he goes. And bingo! He lands next to a horse tile. Sancho irrigates grass/cattle for next city Warrior #3 E. Sees ivory and east coast Warrior #2 E from mtn in jungle Warrior #1 NW on mtn. Slider 8.1.1 - 5gpt IBT - Barcelona grows to pop 3 *** 3000 BC 194 gold Found Seville. Start temple to grab territory Warrior #3 N to hill on east coast Warrior #2 SE rowards east coast Warrior #1 N on mtn to NW cape of continent Sliders 6.1.3. We need to garrison Baceelona to reduce entertainment tax F11: sogut(3), London(2), Paris(2), Zimbabwe(2), Kyoto(2) Spain is #1 approval, gnp, productivity #3 population, manufactured goods #7 area, income #9 disease (all our flood plains, but so far no deaths) #11 military service (AI starting bonus units?) Diplomatic check - France now has a second city - Orleans, and Mysticism. Still 26 gold, 1 spare dyes. Outnumbers us. IBT - Machiavalli's list of most powerful nations: Ottoman, Zulu, Japan, India, English, Iroquoi, Aztec, America. Not even ranked - France, Keltoi ... and Spain :(. *** 2950 BC 200 gold Barcelona builds first vet - Warrior #4. Move SE to add to map. Worker #1 finish irrigating wheat. Road. Warrior #3 N. Sees Catalonia, fish, cattle, plains. Warrior #2 SE round Paris Warrior #1 SE down north cape peninsula Barcelona to build defender for garrison - entertainment is costing 5 gpt. IBT - *** 2900 BC 206 gold Warrior #4 SE Warrior #3 NW off hill Warrior #2 S past Paris Warrior #1 E. Sees whale Madrid grows to 3 next turn. MM for max shields IBT - *** 2850 BC 212 gold Sancho to horse tile Worker #2 NW to flood plain Warrior #4 SE Warrior #3 N Warrior #2 S. sees more land 2 coast tiles east. Another continent or eastern extension of this one? Warrior #1 SE IBT - *** 2800 BC 220 gold Sancho road on horse tile Worker #2 NW to flood plain Warrior #4 S Warrior #3 NW Warrior #2 SE. Looks like the land to the east is part of this continent Warrior #1 E IBT - *** 2750 BC 229 gold Barcelona completes Defense. Fortify. Start Worker #3 Worker #2 irrigate Warrior #4 S. Sees dyes Warrior #3 N Warrior #2 . Sees French border south of Paris. Must be Orleans Warrior #1 SE Slider to 8.1.1 Diplo - France unchanged IBT - Seville grows to 2 *** 2710 BC 240 gold Warrior #4 SE to mtn. Sees more horses and wheat Warrior #3 N to hill Warrior #2 W to mtn Warrior #1 SE Slider to 6.1.3 Barcelona and Madrid both grow next turn. MM for max shields IBT - Horses connected. Let's hear it for Sancho! NMadrid and barcelona to pop 4 *** 2670 BC 246 gold Sancho to BG NW of Seville Warrior #4 SE Warrior #3 E Warrior #2 SE Warrior #1 E MM Madrid to complete granary before it grows again. Adjust Barcelona shields for last turn to build worker, maximise gold F11 shows we are #1 on all major criteria. Still not in top 5 cities, though IBT - *** 2630 BC 254 gold Barcelona completes Worker #3 Move E to plains. Starts Warrior #5 Sancho starts road on BG. Warrior #4 SE Warrior #3 NE. Sees English scout and narrow land bridge to the east plus game and fish Warrior #2 can see a brownish border. E. Meets Keltoi warrior. Warrior #1 SE Let the diplo begin. Brennus/Keltoi is polite. He has BW, WC, Masonry, Mysticism like France. 3 cities listed, no gold, no horses, outnumbers us. Wants 10040 for Masonry, 130 for Mysticism, 100 each for WC, BW Elizabeth/England has the same techs as France and Keltoi, 156 gold, 2 listed cities, outnumbers us as well. I think the northern land bridge and the south east if the continent are joined to form an inland sea. If so, the land bridge behaves a bit like Gibraltar and/or the English channel. Histograph shows scores: Keltoi 188 and highest power, Spain 183, England 180, France 137 I'm keen to see what second level techs are available, specially iron and horseback riding. I have cash, so I could buy WC and BW. BW would kill off the Defender production, but I've seen no barbs at all, and there's not the customary land grab going on in my area, so I don't feel the need for defenders. Joan offers BW and WC for 163. Deal. No one has iron working or HBR yet So I'm behind Mysticism and Masonry. IBT - *** 2590 BC 98 gold Worker #2 road Worker #3 irrigate Warrior #4 S Warrior #3 E towards land bridge Warrior #2 SE towards brown border. It's not England or Keltoi colors, of course. Rats! Should have waited for another contact before trading. No units visible, but they can see me and Ottomans appear in Diplo list. Annoyed Ottomans also have Masonry and Mysticism, no cash, but 6 listed cities! Extra starting settlers? He outnumbers us of course has ivory hooked up, no surplus. Doesn't need horses so he has those hooked up. Histograph scores now - Ottomans 280, Keltoi 193, Spain 186, England 183, France 139. Histograph shows Ottomans started with twice the power of anyone else - 3 0r 4 settlers? IBT - Seville grows to pop 3 *** 2550 BC 105 gold. Warrior #4 SE in jungle Warrior #3 E towads land bridge, sees English border Warrior #2 S Warrior #1 SE along north coast. Can't make Seville happy with any resonable slider position. Temple due next turn, so make a scientist and zero science slider. Sliders now 7.0.3 IBT - *** 2510 BC 105 gold Seville completes Temple, Starts Barracks. We need a couple of military unit and worker sources. Warrior #4 S in jungle. Sees dyes Warrior #3 SE on land bridge Warrior #2 S Warrior #1 SE on north coast Sliders 6.1.3. Fire the scientist in Seville. Diplo. Everyone now has iron working. France wants 3gpt + 94 England wants 3 gpt + 108 Ottoman wants the same as England Keltoi wants 4gpt + 97. Greedy! Buy from France. We have iron on the north west coast north of Madrid, east coast east of Madrid and west coast south of Madrid. Quickest hookup will be the southern deposit. It also captures incense and points a line of attack towards France. France has Lyon on the west coast south of the iron next to the first horses we found, so we need to stem any north-bound ambitions they may have. Madrid will complete its granary next turn. First Settler out of the settler farm will go south. IBT - *** 2470 BC 25 gold Madrid completes granary. Starts Settler Worker #2 towards BG west of Madrid (2 turn journey) Barcelona completes Warrior #5 starts Warrior #6. Warrior #5 to Madrid as 2nd MP as Madrid is now going to be at pop 5/6 continually. Warrior #4 SE to dyes in jungle Warrior #3 E off land bridge. Warrior #2 SW along Ottoman border. Sees west coast to south of Orleans. Warrior #1 S to fill in some fog holes in the map. F7 shows no one we know is building wonders. IBT - *** 2430 BC 31 gold Warrior #1 SW Warrior #2 S Warrior #3 E Warrior #4 E. Sees goody hut in jungle on coast. Warrior #5 fortifies in Madrid as MP. Worker #3 road irrigated tile Worker #2 to BG Diplo check - city lists have increased, no other major changes. IBT -Warrior #3 sees an Indian warrior. *** 2390 BC 37 gold Ghandi is polite. He has Mysticism, Masonry and Writing, and contact with Zulu. Also 233 gold and 3 cities listed. He obviously knows all our contacts as we have nothing to offer but gold. He wants 7gpt + 35 for Writing. I research it myself in 7 turns at 10%, so no deal. He wants 1 gpt+11 for contact with Zululand. I take it. Zululand is polite. He has Masonry and Mysticism, 89 gold and 2 cities. He outnumbers us of course. Histograph scores: Ottoman 323, India 221, Keltoi 216, Zulu 210, England 208, Spain 200, France 160. Warrior #4. Do we pop the hut? It's in jungle and he's a vet, so let's live (or die) a little! 2 disturbed Barb warriors. Oh well! Come on, let's see first blood spilt this game. Warrior #3 E Warrior #2 S in Ottoman country Warrior #1 S Worker #2 mine BG IBT - Warrior #4 kills first attacking barb, down to 2 hit points. No promotion. Second barb attacks and kills him with no damage. Keltoi settler+warrior seen in mtns east of land bridge. *** 2350 BC 32 gold Barcelona produces Warrior #6. Starts Warrior #7. Warrior #6 to Madrid to relieve Warrior #5 as MP. Warrior #5 from Madrid to Seville as MP. Warrior #4 is no more RIP. Warrior #3 E. Finds Keltoi border Warrior #2 S. Now west of Uskudar Warrior #1 S filling map gaps. IBT - *** 2310 BC 39 gold Warrior #1 S Warrior #2 SW into Izmit to be expelled next turn, hopefully into new territory. Sees Ottoman ivory. Warrior #3 S. Sees Mohacs Warrior #6 fortify in Madrid Warrior #5 fortify in Seville Worker #3 to plains SE of Barcelona Diplo - only India and France have Writing. Price is 7gpt + 31, approx 150 equiv. I could maybe get 100 back from Ottoman. Zulu has 93, so I might get my cash back between these two. And then maybe swap it for Mysticism or Masonry to turn a profit on the deals. But it's a risky bet. I get it myself in 5 turns, so I'll see if I can make something of it then. MM. Slider at 6.1.3 IBT - Ottoma asks me to leave. I agree. Squid seen of south coast in Ottoman territory. *** 2270 BC 47 gold Madrid produces Settler. Heads for hill north of the iron hill, a 3 turn journey. Madrid starts next settler - one every 4 turns now. Sancho finishes road. Moves to BG/river tile on west coast. Worker #3 irrigate plains Warrior #1 S still completing map. Warrior #2 S. Hope to be auto-expelled south. Warrior #3 SW round Mohacs Diplo check. England, Otto, Keltoi, Zulu still don't have Writing. IBT - Squd off Barcelona. They'll be a challenge when we get afloat. Warrior #2 auto-ejected south by Ottomans. *** 2230 BC 53 gold Barcelona produces Warrior #7. Starts Warrior #8 Settler south Sancho stars mining operations Warrior #1 S Warrior #2 SW after ejection. Warrior #3 W Warrior #7 follows Settler towards iron. Diplo - England and Ottoman have Writing. Keltoi and Zulu don't, and they have nothing to trade with the others, so I might be able to deal when I get it. Slider 7.1.2 IBT - *** 2190 BC 60 gold Warrior #1 S Warrior #2 SE Warrior #3 SE round Keltoi border Warrior #7 S behind Settler Settler S to hill site of next city. Madrid grown to pop 6. Slider to 6.1.3 IBT - Seville completes Barracks, growes to pop 5. Starts Worker #4 *** 2150 BC 67 gold Warrior #1 S Warrior #2 SW. Sees ivory. Now SW of Iznit on the coast. Warrior #3 SW to mtns. Sees wine and game. Warrior #7 to next city site on hill. Settler builds Toledo north of the iron hill. How appropriate. Cracker does it again. Toledo is the Spanish center of excellence for metalworking! IBT - Writing discovered. Keltoi settle a city on MY side of the land bridge! Oh well, saves me building settlers for that area later! *** 2110 BC 75 gold Madrid produces Settler. moves E towards Keltoi. Will settle a core city in that direction next. Barcelona produces Warrior #8. Starts Warrior #9. Worker #3 irrigated. Start road. Warrior #1 S Warrior #2 E into Bursa to get kicked east, I hope. Sees three more ivory. Warrior #3 NE to explore more of the eastern half of the continent. Warrior #7 fortifies in Toledo. Warrior #8 stays in Barcelona as MP for growth to pop 5 next turn. Set research to Literature at 10%. Let's try for the Great Library. Now let's deal on Writing. Keltoi will swap Mysticism or Masonry for Writing. Zulu now has Writing and HBR as well. Offers HBR for 5gpt + 49. Ottoman offers HBR for 5gpt + 43. India offers HBR for 5gpt + 31. It's a deal. England and France don't have HBR. Sell HBR to England for Mysticism + 17 gold. Swap Keltoi Writing for Masonry. Now Zulu, Ottoman, India have Maths, I am at tech parity with England and I have HBR over Keltoi and France. Current debts: 3gpt for 10 turns to France, 1gpt for 13 turns to India, 5gpt for 20 turns to India. Slider to 6.1.3 and MM Barcelona for net +1 gpt. we are giving 9gpt to other civs an 7gpt for entertainment. We need to get the incense and dyes near Toledo hooked up. IBT - Ottomans ask us to leave. We accept their offer. *** 2070 BC 62 gold Seville produces Worker #4. Starts Warrior #10. Settler moves towards next city site at head of river, next to mountain, east of Madrid. Worker #4 heads for BG tile next to this new city site. Warrior #1 SW. Sees La Mancha Warrior #2 NE in Ottoman territory to get auto-ejected east? Warrior #3 N over mountains and around Keltoi warriors. Keltoi has HBR from someone generous so he's at parity with me. He had nothing to give last turn! Slider at 7.1.2 as Seville has produced a worker and reduced pop. Making +4gpt. IBT - Ottomans DIDN'T eject Warrior #2. *** 2030 BC 68 gold Warrior #1 S Warrior #2 NE inside Ottoman territory Warrior #3 E Settler builds Santiago. Starts Granary. Worker #2 E to flood plain for Santiago. Worker #4 road on BG to connect Santiago to Seville. Histograph check: Ottoman 372 (graph falling back), India 260, Keltoi 251, England 250, Spain 239, Zulu 238, France 200. No one has a culture lead. F7 shows England, Keltoi and France are building the Oracle. F11: Top cities are Kyoto (4), Tenochtitlan (2), London (4), Salamanca (4), Entremont (2) We are #1 for Population, GNP, manufactured goods, productivity. We are #2 annual income, #8 disease, #9 land area (tight city spacings), #11 military service and approval. Slider to 6.1.3, +3 gpt. IBT - Ottomans auto-eject Warrior #2 east. Yeay! *** 1990 BC 71 gold Barcelona produces Warrior #9. Starts Worker #5. Worker #3 to incense Worker #2 irrigate Santiago flood plain Sancho finishes mine, starts road on BG. Warrior #1 S Warrior #2 S to south coast. Coast extends further to south east. Warrior #3 NE round Mohacs. Warrior #9 heads for Santiago. MM Madrid for extra gold. IBT - Herodotus publishes his list of wealthiest nations: India, Ottomans, Spain !!!, America, Iroquoi, France, Japan, Zululand. *** 1950 BC 76 gold Madrid produces Settler. Starts Settler. Settler heads east of Santiago to claim cattle and space. Worker #3 starts road on incense Warrior #1 E Warrior #2 E - tundra and deer Warrior #3 E. Shortcut across north Mohacs. Warrior #9 onwards from Madrid towards Santiago. Slider 7.1.2 IBT - Keltoi ask us to leave Mohacs. No problem, Brennus, we were going anyway. *** 1910 BC 84 gold Warrior #1 SE. Sees whale and the other side of this long thin inland sea (aka Mediterranean?) Warrior #2 SE. Warrior #3 E out of Mohacs. Warrior #9 into Santiago. Diplo check: no change in techs. IBT - *** 1870 BC 93 gold Barcelona produces Worker #5. Starts Warrior #11. Settler NE towards plains/cattle city site. Seville produces Warrior #10. Starts Warrior #12 Warrior #10 follows Settler. Sancho to BG tile. Warrior #1 W Warrior #2 SE on tundra Warrior #3 E. Sees east coast of east half of our continent. Slider 6.1.3 IBT - *** 1830 BC 97 gold Warrior #1 N Warrior #2 S Warrior #3 NW on hills near east coast. Sancho starts mine on BG. Worker #2 completes irrigation south of Santiago. Starts road. Worker #3 completes incense road. Great job! Moves S to next incense tile to complete Toledo road. Worker # to plains/river tile west of Madrid. Slider now 7.1.2 with incense on line. Diplo check: Ottomans down to 4 gold??!! No changes in techs. F11: #1 population, income. #2 approval, GNP, productivity. #4 manufactured goods We currently have 10 warriors, 5 workers, 2 defense and 1 settler. IBT - *** 1790 BC 104 gold Madrid produces Settler. Starts Settler. Seville produces Warrior #12. Starts ??? New Settler heads for the core city location on the southern river, 3 tiles SE of Madrid. Worker #3 incense road to Toledo Existing Settler builds Murcia NW of plains/cattle tile. Starts Granary. Warrior #1 NE Warrior #2 sees Zulu impi on mountains to his east. Moves SE - still more tundra and mountains. Warrior #3 E to east coast between English cities. Warrior #10 moves into Murcia Slider 8.1.1 IBT - France builds Marseilles in La Mancha by the horses. Cheeky! First incursion north of the jungle. *** 1750 BC 116 gold Barcelona completes Warrior #11. Starts Warrior #14. Warrior #?? Noth of Madrid moves N to clear west coast FOW. Warrior #10 fortifis in Murcia Warrior #3 is between canterbury and York on east coast. Moves west. Warrior #2 E onto hill Toledo has 20 shields left to build temple and pop 2. Ruxh it next turn to grab dyes. IBT - *** 1725 BC 129 ? gold Seville produces Warrior #13. Start Pyramids prebuild for Great Library (Literature in 30 turns) Settler builds Valencia on river bend sount of Madrid/Santiago Valencia starts temple to put cultural pressure on Marseilles. Worker moves west of Santiago to road/irrigate towards Murcia Warrior #? north of Madrid. NW Warrior #1 N on coast of inland sea Warrior #3 blocke by Keltoi and English warriors. Has to move S into Canterbury Warrior #2 SE to mountain. Sees south coast and squid. Pop rush Toledo temple Diplo: Military parity with all bu Ottomans and Zulus 13 warriors. Total 20 units out of free 28. Slider 7.1.2 IBT - Liz asks Warrior #3 to leave. OK. *** 1700 BC 145 gold Toledo completes rushed temple. Statrts worker. Needed for forest chops/dyes. Worker #3 compltes road to Toledo. Moves to iron hill. Worker # completes irrigation west of madrid. Starts road. Worker moves to east of Santiago for road towards Murcia. Warrior # E towards keltoi. Warrior # fortifies in Valencia Warrior # north of madrid moves W to coast. Warrior #3 south through Canterbury. May get bounced back as Keltoi border is adjacent to English. Warrior #2 SW to hill on south coast. Diplo: India has Map making. Won't sell. Will buy WM for 80 gold or TM + 62. No good deals available yet. F11: Still not in top 5 cities, bu #1 in all criteria except approval (#4), area (#7), disease (#9), mil service (#11) Slider 7.1.2 IBT - England ejects Warrior #3 north :( *** 1675 BC 162 gold Madrid completes Settler. Starts Settler. Barcelona completes Warrior #14. Starts ?? Settler moves towards NW coast to complete core ring. Warrior #14 N to meet Settler. Worker #3 road on iron hill. Worker # starts road to Murcia Warrior # scouts west coast north of Madrid towards mountain Warrior # continues E towards Keltoi. Warrior #1 E on inland sea. Warrior #3 NW to try to scout England Warrior #2 SW on south coast. Sees squid. Diplo - no change Slider 8.1.1 IBT - lots of squid moves off south coast *** 1650 BC 182 gold Warrior #2 NW Warrior #1 N on inland sea coast Diplo: no changes India - WM + 182 + 21 gpt is "close" for Map making Remaining deal with India is 7 more turns at 5 gpt. IBT - England asks Warrior #3 to leave. OK *** 1625 BC 203 gold Worker region arrives from Barcelona NNE of Seville to work BG tile Warrior #3 moves near London, waits for auto-eject. Warrior/Settler N to hill on west coast Warrior #2 W to tundra hill Diplo: Ottoman, India, France now have Map Making, so it 's cheaper. France offers Map Making cheapest, for WM + 10 gpt + 8 gold. Deal. Swap territory maps with England to grow our map. Keltoi sells Maths + WMap for WMap + Map Making + 16 gold Swap WMap with England now it's bigger. India give WMap + 88 for my WMap Zulu give Philosophy for my WMap + 60 gold Sell Philosophy to India for 128 gold Sell WMap to Keltoi for 17 gold (all he has) France gives WMap + 26 for WMap Buy Zulu WMap for 75 gold now mine is complete except for his bits. France now gives 2 gpt for my Wmap + 14 gold. Offsets my 10gpt outlay with her. Finally sell Wmap to India for 28 gold. Result: I have all other civs techs and a full map of our continent. I have 317 gold, 114 more gold than I started with. I am paying France net 8 gpt for 20 turns. I am 3 techs ahead of England and 1 tech ahead of Ottoman and Keltoi. These civs have no cash. I am at tech parity with France (14 gold), Zulu (188 gold) and India (122 gold). Four more required techs to go to Middle Ages - Construction, Currency, Code of Laws, Polytheism. Histograph scores: Ottoman 426, Keltoi 323, India 322, Spain 307, England 305, Zulu 281, France 260. F11 now #3 approval, #2 GNP, area #8. Kyotyo and Tenochtitlan still top two cities. F7 has 4 known Oracles and two Pyramids including my prebuild. Military still weak vs. Ottoman and Zulu. Par with others. 14 warriors, 2 defense, 5 workers. Slider 7.1.2 IBT - Toledo border expands *** 1600 BC 328 gold Barcelona produces Warrior. Starts Galley #1 (6 turns) Warrior # moves towards Vanecia - French front line defence. Settler/Warrior pair move towards river delta city site on west coast. IBT - Kyoto completes Oracle *** 1575 BC 338 gold Ciudad de la Luna founded at NW river delta. Starts temple Warrior fortifies in Ciudad de la Luna Workers move, continue to improve core sites. Warriors regroup towards French and Keltoi frontiers. No more exploring needed now. We now have 8 cities. Do we want a Forbidden Palace? We could build it near Madrid and then jump the palace? The strongest city is Seville, and that's prebuilding for the Great Library. Can't really spare Bacelona or Santiago as we'll need ships and military. Leave it for now - let's see how the world develops a bit. Diplo: Ottomans have Currency, but say I can't afford it. France has Code of Laws. I buy it for 251 gold plus WMap. Sell Code of Laws to India for 124 gold + W/map. (all he has) Sell Code of Laws to Zulu for 100 gold + W/Map (all he has) England doesn't need these techs. Ottomans won't even swap Currency for Code of Laws + Philosophy + 311 gold + 10 gpt! Everyone's broke except Spain and France. I'm up Code of Laws on Keltoi, and I have Code of Laws + Philosophy vs. Currency with Ottomans. I'm at tech parity with the others. I have spent a net 27 gold this turn, and have 311 gold left. IBT - Squid movements off south coast. Warrior #2 is a bit isolated now. Game reminds me about Forbidden Palace. *** 1550 BC 321 gold Workers work, Warriors move towards frontiers. Settler moves towards my east coast. France now has Currency as well, but Ottomans don't need Philosophy or Code of Laws. So France did the Currency deal that Ottomans wouldn't do with me. France wants 7 gpt + 300 gold for Currency. Too expensive as everyone else is broke so I can't sell it on. Slider 7.1.2 IBT - *** 1525 BC 333 gold Workers work, Warriors move towards frontiers. Settler moves towards my east coast. Ottomans have a Worker for sale. I buy him for 27 gold + W/map. Ottomans worker to flood plain Se of Madrid IBT - Keltoi warriors are showing an unhealthy interest in *my* northern territories. *** 1500 BC 320 gold Workers work, Warriors hang around frontiers. Settler moves towards my east coast. IBT - Keltoi warriors still running around in the north. Didn't notice any settlers yet. *** 1475 BC 335 gold Buy an Indian worker for 25 gold + w/map. Joins Ottomans worker. IBT - France has build Avignon south of Toledo next to horses. *** 1450 BC 328 gold Barcelona completes Galley #1. Starts Galley #2. Toledo produces Worker. Starts Barracks. Worker joins one already clearing forest next to Toledo for road to dyes. Galley #1 explores north from Baarcelona, probing out for western passages. Not suicidal yet. Whip Valencia's temple @ 19 shields Swap my W/map around and get 12 gold. IBT - Keltoi complain about Warrior #3 who is returning from his adventures through Mohacs. OK, just passing through. *** 1425 BC - 360 gold Santiago completes granary. Starts Settler (8 turns) to help push the north eastern land grab. Valencia completes whipped temple, starts barracks. The other half of the continent is crowded and less abundant than mine. We'll need to build up our forces to defend our space soon. Settler arrives at east coast between fish and cattle and in reach of extra iron after expansion. IBT - Warrior #3 auto-ejected into home territory by Keltoi. Thanks Brennus. *** 1400 BC 381 gold Murchia completes temple, starts barracks Found next city, but suggested name duplicates Ciudad de la Luna. Called it Los Alamos. Ottomas have 2 workes for sale. Buy them for 56 gold + w/map. IBT - Suleyman complains about Warrior #2. Sorry! *** 1375 BC 346 gold Madrid builds settler, starts another. The 4-turn farm is running like clockwork. Settler heads NE towards wheat and furs. IBT - Ottomans forcibly eject Warrior #2 to my side of the border. Warrior #2 sees badly wounded Ottoman troops. He appears to be fighting the Zulus. *** 1350 BC 367 gold Galley #1 still moving north. No western paths visible so far. Maybe there's a "north west passage"? Nothing to report ashore. IBT - Toledo forest harvested to accelerate barracks. France builds an embassy in Madrid. *** 1325 BC 388 gold Settler founds city at Warrior Wheat/Game area. Duplicate name problem again. Cracker has run out of names? Call it Las Palmas and decide I'd better find a Spanish map as we are going to need a lot more names. Barcelona produces Galley #2, starts a Harbour. We might be able to start trading lux? Galley #2 heads south to look for a western passage. Diplo: no change. F11: We're still not in top 5 cities. We are #1 except approval (#5), area (#7), disease (#8), mil svc (#11) IBT - Galley #2 attacked by squid and sunk :(. Squid red-lined. We need that harbour and some vets. *** 1300 BC 410 gold Whip temple in Ciudad de la Luna at 19 shields. Shift-Upgrade three warriors to swords for 40 gold each. 2 in Seville, 1 in Barcelona. Diplo check - nothing new. IBT - Ghangi wants to swap w/maps. OK. *** 1275 BC 311 gold Ciudad de la Luna produces temple, starts worker to improve local tiles. Settler in place, European road atlas found and deployed .... Cordoba build next to lake/river, near wheat and furs. Starts temple. Galley #1 reaches north west cape and sees no sign of a north west passage. Start swapping warriors/swords around to arrange upgrades. Ottomans now have Polytheism and Currency. No deals yet. IBT - galley #1 sunk by squid which swims away uninjured. First seafaring attempts a failure :( *** 1250 BC 331 gold Upgrade 3 more warriors. IBT - *** 1225 BC 231 gold Diplo: no change. IBT - Keltoi and France have formed an alliance to destroy the Zulu. Ok, let's see if we can get a piece of this action. *** 1200 BC 251 gold My military is weak vs. Zulus, but they are as far away on the continent as it's possible to be. The Zulu hordes would have to come at me through France and Ottoman to the south, or through Keltoi to their north. I have no current deals with the Zulu and no troops on Zulu territory, so there would be no rep hit if I joined in. France sell me Currency for an alliance plus 1 gold. I build an embassy in Entremont for 35 gold, and get 67 gold from the Keltoi for an alliance against the Zulu. I have an embassy plus Currency, and a profit of 31 gold. I have a 20 turn alliance with my closest neighbours, which should give me some time to build my military unless they decide to break it. I have declared war on the Zulu, the most powerful adversary I know, but I can't reach them and they can't reach me (yet!). Exit strategy - I can just wait out the 20 turn alliance period to keep my rep. or If I need to make peace early Warrior #2 is stranded in the south. He could make a token futile gesture/heroic sacriifice to honour my alliance. [Note: I forgot at this point that the Ottomans are probably also at war with Zululand, and I could have done a deal tehre as well :(] IBT - I get my first palace extension - a bijou front door fit for a great ruler. The Americans have completed the Colussus in Atlanta. It'll burn! England has built Oxford on my side of their little land bridge. *** 1175 BC 303 gold Madrid builds a settler, starts another. Settler moves towards Las Palmas in the east to head off England's push into my world. Seville has grown to pop 8 so sliders go to 6.1.3 yielding 15gpt. Whip barracks in Toledo - 19 shields for one citizen Whip barracks in Valencia - 18 shields for one citizen IBT - The Pyramids have been builld by the Iroquoi in Salamanca. *** 1150 BC 318 gold Switch Seville to Palace for the Great Library pre-build. Build Malaga on the inland sea coast norht of Los Alamos. Start a temple to put pressure on Keltoi's Richborough. IBT - nothing *** 1125 BC 333 gold Santiago completes settler, starts ?? Settler moves towards Las Palmas to continue northern land grab. Whip Los Alamos temple at 19 shields to go. The gpt deals with France are ended. We now get 21 gpt into the treasury at sliders 6.1.3 IBT - *** 1100 BC 354 gold Los Alamos completes temple, starts a worker. Diplo: Ottomasn, France, India are ahead Construction and Polytheism. They should now be in the Middle Ages. I have Literature in 5 turns. IBT - nothing *** 1075 BC 376 gold Madrid completes settler, starts settler. Settler moves towards ivory on the inland sea coast south of Los Alamos. France sells us a worker for 24g + w/map. French worker goes south to help clear jungle near Toledo. We now have 3 settlers moving into position. We have 9 warriors to upgrade, 6 swords, 2 defenders, 6 Spanish workers and 4 guest workers. We have 12 build cities and three more shortly. Diplo review: We are at peace with all except Zululand, and have 15 turns alliances with Keltoi and France. All known civs outnumber us, all either admire or are impressed by our culture. Zulus aren't talking to us, India is cautious, the others are polite. England have 17g, down Currency, 9 cities, no horses or iron hooked up, would buy our incense. Ottomans have 279g, up Polytheism and Construction plus at least one freebie Middle Age tech, 8 cities, no iron hooked up, would sell ivory and buy our incense. Keltoi have 49g, tech parity, 10 cities, no horses or iron hooked up, would buy our incense. France have 8g, up Polytheism and Construction plus Middle Age techs?, 10 cities, no iron hooked up, would sell dyes and buy our incense. India have 258g, up Polytheism and Construction plus Middle Age techs?, 10 cities, no horses hooked up, would buy our incense. IBT - France asks Warrior #2 to leave. We'll try to get him home, but I doubt it's possoble. Ottomans build an embassy in Madrid. *** 1050 BC 375 gold Whip Las Palmas temple at 19 shields Upgrade 3 warriors. IBT - Warrior #2 ejected by France back to the south. He'll have to take his chances for the time being. Either sacrifice himself in Zululand so we can end our alliances early or wait for a passing Spanish galley? France and Keltoi will not pay for a ROP, so I'm not giving it away. Red-lined squid still lurking in Barcelona's waters. Keltoi settle a city near the north coast game. I'll surround it asap and put cultural pressure on. *** 1025 BC 280 gold Barcelona completes harbour, starts a galley (5 turns). Murcia completes barracks starts a horseman (10 turns) Las Palmas goes into disorder. I had moved its MP warrior out for upgrade and forgot it's not quite hooked to the incense yet. Sword arrives. He was going there anyway to relieve the warrior. Also its road will complete next turn. I should have waited. First disorder report in the game - I had been doing so well :( Las Palmas completed temple, starts warrior. It can build a warrior as it has no access to iron yet. Not sure if this will stick when the road completes. Upgrade another warrior. We now have 10 swords and 5 warriors plus 2 defenders. Diplo - no change IBT - French want to swap maps and take 5 gold. Agreed. We have had no real ransom demands yet. Keltoi warrior is trespassing at Las Palmas. Las Palmas order is restored and its road is completed. *** 1000 BC 256 gold Upgrade the warrior who left the girls in Las Palmas smoking and in tears. Sancho and friend complete road on first Furs tile. It's not in our culture zone yet. Whip Cordoba temple. Build Pamplona north of furs next to new Keltoi town. Make them feel welcome on borrowed territory ;) Check Foreign advisor - forgot about her! Ottomans are, indeed, at war with Zululand. I get Construction in exchange for an alliance against the Zulu + ROP + w/map + 39g. Pity I didn't think of doing this before, as my alliance commitment is now 20 turns again instead of 12. Set the sliders for +1gpt budget surplus and save game for possible QSC submission. State of the Nation at the end of the QSC period: We have two settlers at their destinations and four warriors to upgrade, including poor ole Warrior #2 who can't get home. We have Literature next turn, so that might be an interesting trading turn. I only need Polytheism to get to the Middle Ages. I could buy it now but I'd rather wait a turn fro Literature and see what my options are then. I can switch to Great Library then and cross fingers to get it in a few turns. That'll take the pressure off the research budget. I'll get the dyes and furs and ivory connected real soon now, then I'll be in good shape to buy Republic and switch. Religious - zero revolution delay, Yeah! So far I have just been trying to ensure survival, then expand. I should focus on a victory option next, I guess, but lack of experience leaves me uncertain which will be best. None of the local civs look particularly impressive, and they have poor territory as long as they don't steal mine. So it looks like whatever I do I should aim to roll them over to get this continent. That would position me for domination or diplo, and would be a necessary precursor to conquest. I could even play dirty as long as we have no contact with the other four before I win this phase. In 975 BC I completed Literature, and traded it for Polytheism and gold and map updates. I switched Seville to complete the Great Library in 7 turns. Fingers crossed .... Sooo ... I'm Middle Aged and still alive at the first spoiler! I'm now only down one tech against Ottomans with their free MA tech. I have cash in hand and Gibbon says Spain is happiest nation in the world :party: