It will be a while yet before I am able to finish a game in a reasonable time frame (and, therefore, a lot of new experiences still lie ahead).
Epic 1 brought me to 1 AD; to finish it I would need at least 3 more months at my present speed.
We settled Paris on the same hill at the coast where most did, for the extra hammer and to claim two more resources. A Worker was started right away and appeared in 3240BC, at the exact same time that we discovered Animal Husbandry. At this point we had already met Mongols and Aztecs. The Mongols beat us to a hut in 3800BC and got a second Scout, so the chance of finding another hut became virtually zero right away. Someone claimed Buddhism in 3480BC, and we killed a lion.
Next the curious French chose Fishing, to be able to use all those water tiles and explore the coast. The Worker improved the Cow and then went straight to the Wheat in order not to lose any growth. There was plenty of time to build roads afterwards. To our surprise we still found another hut and popped it for an extra Warrior. With Paris adding two more Warriors as it grew to size 2, exploring went well. We met Greece in 3040BC, then to our horror found Karakorum (Mongols) already at size 3 in 3000BC. Another lion was killed and our initial Warrior promoted to Woodsman I. Fishing was discovered in 2880BC.
At this point nobody had founded Hinduism yet, and since our Worker had plenty to do, we took a chance and picked Mysticism next. Meanwhile, Paris hit size 2 in 2720BC and started on a Settler. Growing to size 3 first would cost too many turns, we figured. The brave French Warriors killed more animals (lion and wolf) and met India in 2600BC. In 2440BC Mysticism was discovered, and at the same time the borders of Paris expanded to range 3.
Decision time. Hinduism was still available. So we let our Worker continue with roads, and started on the expensive Polytheism. The last rival, America, was encountered in 2360BC. Five turns later, Paris finished the Settler. We founded Orleans on the coast in the west, where it could claim fish, pig and rice. A difficult choice: it would have been better to have the holy city of Hinduism somewhere central, but on the other hand this was a food-rich location which could quickly start on adding Workers and Settlers to the empire. Paris next completed a Workboat which was in time at the fish, before Orleans first expanded borders. On the same turn, in 1925BC, it grew to size 3 and started on a new Worker, sicne the initial one was now improving terrain at Orleans. Our Warriors, carefully keeping to the forests, killed 3 lions, 2 panthers and a bear. And in 1800BC, the magnificent French were the first to discover Polytheism and founded Hinduism in Orleans, which had just grown to size 2.
Not much happened while we researched Masonry, which became available in 1450BC. Paris built a Worker and 2 more Warriors, then grew to size 4 in 1500BC, and started on a new Settler. Orleans had already started on another one.
Lyons was founded in 1325BC at the small lake opposite Karakorum to deny the Mongols easy access to our vast jungle patch. Like that was somehow important. Rheims followed in 1175BC on a desert tile east of Paris, also to claim territory. Neither of these towns were in great spots but they had some long-run potential and, quite frankly, there were no great spots available anywhere. That is, we did not dare to settle as far away as on the gold river, out of fear of being cut off and becoming an easy target. In 1100BC, the quasi-religious French discovered Monotheism and founded their second religion in Lyons: Judaism. We did not employ Organized Religion though, because our state religion had not spread yet.
In 1000BC, the French empire found itself with 4 cities, a grand total of 8 pop (Paris 4, Orleans 2, Lyons and Rheims 1), but controlling a lot of land, for a score of 294.
![[Image: Epic01_1000bc.jpg]](http://www.castlegobs.nl/civ4/Epic01_1000bc.jpg)
At this point we had committed to consolidation. An additional city would have been expensive, and would have added little until we could start clearing some of that jungle. In hindsight, we could probably have built one or two anyway, but as it was we were on wonder-building in Paris and Lyons, while Orleans was adding additional Workers and Rheims was headed to become a military stronghold, starting on Walls.
Mining was discovered in 960BC, followed by Pottery in 800BC. Hinduism spread to Rheims (weird, so far away, and skipping Paris). Barbarian forces appeared and killed one of our exploring Warriors. In 920BC, India came offering Open Borders, and we accepted. We hoped to improve relations with them, and we did, but never did we get a chance to trade technology with anyone. I've yet to figure out how to manage that.
Paris completed the Pyramids as early as 660BC, exactly when it grew to size 6. The French plebs revolted for Representation (what else) and with unhappiness out of the way we could now grow for real. Paris completed a Barracks and built 3 Warriors to keep the Barbarians in check who by now had established to jungle cities. Hinduism finally arrived at Paris in 480BC. In 520BC, we finally discovered Bronze Working and were happy to find a Copper source near Rheims. In 420BC, Lyons completed Stonehenge. like Paris profiting from the Stone quarry. Now, Lyons was a good match for neighbouring Karakorum, culturewise. Priesthood was discovered the same year and Lyons started on the Oracle right away. Orleans, by the way, was working on The Parthanon, but still had a long, long way to go.
The Copper got mined and hooked up. Paris started on Axemen and sent them out towards the Barbarian aggressors. In 260BC, Sailing was discovered, and near expanded Orleans a Horses resource was claimed as well.
The year 180BC brought the great tiding that the French empire had grown to 500K souls. Paris finished a Lighthouse this turn, and Rheims a Barracks.
In 80BC, Lyons completed The Oracle, and the French entered the Classical age. We chose Metal Casting as our free tech and switched production to Forges everywhere (well, Paris completed a Granary first). Meanwhile our Axemen - with a city attacker and a medic - had reached the Barbarian town of Angle, which has Archers garrisoned. It is taken without losses in 60BC. On the same turn, we discover Iron Working and start cutting away at the jungle.
Gamebreak came in 1AD. At this point we had 5 towns, and were preparing to claim the entire jungle as well as a number of islands quickly. Score was 615, and we counted 25 heads (Paris 8, Orleans 6, Lyons 5, Rheims 5, Angle 1).
![[Image: Epic01_1ad.jpg]](http://www.castlegobs.nl/civ4/Epic01_1ad.jpg)
Some statistics in 1AD:
Score: France 615, India 455, America 384, Aztecs 332, Mongolia 318, Greece 295
Towns = 5 (25 heads)
Population = 25,51%
Land = 12,50%
Religions = Hinduism (state), Judaism
Civics = Representation
Resources = Cow, Fish, Pig, Rice, Wheat
Wonders = Pyramids, Stonehenge, Oracle
Buildings = 2 Barracks, 1 Granary, 1 Lighthouse, 1 Walls
Units = 5 Workers, 7 Warriors (and 2 dead), 2 Axemen
Improvements = 4 Farms, 3 Pastures, 1 Fishing Boat, 1 Quarry, 4 Mines, 1 Cottage, 6 Hamlets
Epic 1 brought me to 1 AD; to finish it I would need at least 3 more months at my present speed.
We settled Paris on the same hill at the coast where most did, for the extra hammer and to claim two more resources. A Worker was started right away and appeared in 3240BC, at the exact same time that we discovered Animal Husbandry. At this point we had already met Mongols and Aztecs. The Mongols beat us to a hut in 3800BC and got a second Scout, so the chance of finding another hut became virtually zero right away. Someone claimed Buddhism in 3480BC, and we killed a lion.
Next the curious French chose Fishing, to be able to use all those water tiles and explore the coast. The Worker improved the Cow and then went straight to the Wheat in order not to lose any growth. There was plenty of time to build roads afterwards. To our surprise we still found another hut and popped it for an extra Warrior. With Paris adding two more Warriors as it grew to size 2, exploring went well. We met Greece in 3040BC, then to our horror found Karakorum (Mongols) already at size 3 in 3000BC. Another lion was killed and our initial Warrior promoted to Woodsman I. Fishing was discovered in 2880BC.
At this point nobody had founded Hinduism yet, and since our Worker had plenty to do, we took a chance and picked Mysticism next. Meanwhile, Paris hit size 2 in 2720BC and started on a Settler. Growing to size 3 first would cost too many turns, we figured. The brave French Warriors killed more animals (lion and wolf) and met India in 2600BC. In 2440BC Mysticism was discovered, and at the same time the borders of Paris expanded to range 3.
Decision time. Hinduism was still available. So we let our Worker continue with roads, and started on the expensive Polytheism. The last rival, America, was encountered in 2360BC. Five turns later, Paris finished the Settler. We founded Orleans on the coast in the west, where it could claim fish, pig and rice. A difficult choice: it would have been better to have the holy city of Hinduism somewhere central, but on the other hand this was a food-rich location which could quickly start on adding Workers and Settlers to the empire. Paris next completed a Workboat which was in time at the fish, before Orleans first expanded borders. On the same turn, in 1925BC, it grew to size 3 and started on a new Worker, sicne the initial one was now improving terrain at Orleans. Our Warriors, carefully keeping to the forests, killed 3 lions, 2 panthers and a bear. And in 1800BC, the magnificent French were the first to discover Polytheism and founded Hinduism in Orleans, which had just grown to size 2.
Not much happened while we researched Masonry, which became available in 1450BC. Paris built a Worker and 2 more Warriors, then grew to size 4 in 1500BC, and started on a new Settler. Orleans had already started on another one.
Lyons was founded in 1325BC at the small lake opposite Karakorum to deny the Mongols easy access to our vast jungle patch. Like that was somehow important. Rheims followed in 1175BC on a desert tile east of Paris, also to claim territory. Neither of these towns were in great spots but they had some long-run potential and, quite frankly, there were no great spots available anywhere. That is, we did not dare to settle as far away as on the gold river, out of fear of being cut off and becoming an easy target. In 1100BC, the quasi-religious French discovered Monotheism and founded their second religion in Lyons: Judaism. We did not employ Organized Religion though, because our state religion had not spread yet.
In 1000BC, the French empire found itself with 4 cities, a grand total of 8 pop (Paris 4, Orleans 2, Lyons and Rheims 1), but controlling a lot of land, for a score of 294.
At this point we had committed to consolidation. An additional city would have been expensive, and would have added little until we could start clearing some of that jungle. In hindsight, we could probably have built one or two anyway, but as it was we were on wonder-building in Paris and Lyons, while Orleans was adding additional Workers and Rheims was headed to become a military stronghold, starting on Walls.
Mining was discovered in 960BC, followed by Pottery in 800BC. Hinduism spread to Rheims (weird, so far away, and skipping Paris). Barbarian forces appeared and killed one of our exploring Warriors. In 920BC, India came offering Open Borders, and we accepted. We hoped to improve relations with them, and we did, but never did we get a chance to trade technology with anyone. I've yet to figure out how to manage that.
Paris completed the Pyramids as early as 660BC, exactly when it grew to size 6. The French plebs revolted for Representation (what else) and with unhappiness out of the way we could now grow for real. Paris completed a Barracks and built 3 Warriors to keep the Barbarians in check who by now had established to jungle cities. Hinduism finally arrived at Paris in 480BC. In 520BC, we finally discovered Bronze Working and were happy to find a Copper source near Rheims. In 420BC, Lyons completed Stonehenge. like Paris profiting from the Stone quarry. Now, Lyons was a good match for neighbouring Karakorum, culturewise. Priesthood was discovered the same year and Lyons started on the Oracle right away. Orleans, by the way, was working on The Parthanon, but still had a long, long way to go.
The Copper got mined and hooked up. Paris started on Axemen and sent them out towards the Barbarian aggressors. In 260BC, Sailing was discovered, and near expanded Orleans a Horses resource was claimed as well.
The year 180BC brought the great tiding that the French empire had grown to 500K souls. Paris finished a Lighthouse this turn, and Rheims a Barracks.
In 80BC, Lyons completed The Oracle, and the French entered the Classical age. We chose Metal Casting as our free tech and switched production to Forges everywhere (well, Paris completed a Granary first). Meanwhile our Axemen - with a city attacker and a medic - had reached the Barbarian town of Angle, which has Archers garrisoned. It is taken without losses in 60BC. On the same turn, we discover Iron Working and start cutting away at the jungle.
Gamebreak came in 1AD. At this point we had 5 towns, and were preparing to claim the entire jungle as well as a number of islands quickly. Score was 615, and we counted 25 heads (Paris 8, Orleans 6, Lyons 5, Rheims 5, Angle 1).
Some statistics in 1AD:
Score: France 615, India 455, America 384, Aztecs 332, Mongolia 318, Greece 295
Towns = 5 (25 heads)
Population = 25,51%
Land = 12,50%
Religions = Hinduism (state), Judaism
Civics = Representation
Resources = Cow, Fish, Pig, Rice, Wheat
Wonders = Pyramids, Stonehenge, Oracle
Buildings = 2 Barracks, 1 Granary, 1 Lighthouse, 1 Walls
Units = 5 Workers, 7 Warriors (and 2 dead), 2 Axemen
Improvements = 4 Farms, 3 Pastures, 1 Fishing Boat, 1 Quarry, 4 Mines, 1 Cottage, 6 Hamlets
