Since my prediction was too long to fit in (and I figured it'd be fun to show my victory date etc prediction) here's mine in full:
Winner: Charlemagne
Runner Up: Napoleon
FRD: Hatshepsut
Total Wars: 16
Victory Type: Spaceship
Victory Date: T337
I know Charlemagne isn't too popular in AI Survivor, but I think he's actually somewhat underrated. People talk about his undeserved wins, but Charlemagne also had a win robbed from him in the infamous Wang Kon Troll Job of 2017. On that note, saying the only notable thing about Charlemagne that game was throwing feels a bit out of place when Charlie was so militarily and landgrab successful that game!
I feel like this game is great leader-wise for Charlmagne but bad positionally. If he was in Asoka or Napoleon's place it would be obvious: Kill Hatshepsut with inevitable differing faith, expand well, beat ultra-aggro civs who tired themselves out. As-is, Charlemagne is at serious risk of Shaka or Napoleon or both dragging him down hard. If he doesn't have that happen, he will probably either kill Hatshepsut due to religion or a backwards Shaka or Napoleon and win. I feel Charlemagne will therefor likely ally with one of the two warmongers.
I picked Napoleon for a few reasons. First off, I don't think Napoleon is as bad as his 3 points indicate, I'd take him over guys like Roosevelt. Secondly, Charlemagne and Napoleon share a river and so religious spread is highly likely. Thirdly, Napoleon has the higher religious +. Finally, Napoleon has Bismarck to his flank as well, making Napoleon significantly more likely to war elsewhere AND to war successfully. Similar to Game 4, I predict the way the land will partition will keep Domination from occuring, and I feel like this will be another game with no survivors.
IMO the other main ways this can go is a Shaka + Napoleon finish where they gang up on Charlie or Hatshepsut and conquer around (If so, my bet is on Napoleon 1 Shaka 2) or an Asoka culture victory with his large tracts of land + the warmongers dragging everyone down ala Gandhi. No matter what happens, Hatshepsut seems destined to be FTD: Surrounded by Shaka AND Napoleon AND likely to found a competing religion to both Charlemagne AND Asoka. She's also shown to be completely militarily incompetent. If it isn't Hatshepsut, it is probably Bismarck.
(Oh, and finally, fun fact: With Mansa dead, a Charlie who advances to the Playoffs could leap frog Mansa and make EVERYONE salty!)
Runner Up: Napoleon
FRD: Hatshepsut
Total Wars: 16
Victory Type: Spaceship
Victory Date: T337
I know Charlemagne isn't too popular in AI Survivor, but I think he's actually somewhat underrated. People talk about his undeserved wins, but Charlemagne also had a win robbed from him in the infamous Wang Kon Troll Job of 2017. On that note, saying the only notable thing about Charlemagne that game was throwing feels a bit out of place when Charlie was so militarily and landgrab successful that game!
I feel like this game is great leader-wise for Charlmagne but bad positionally. If he was in Asoka or Napoleon's place it would be obvious: Kill Hatshepsut with inevitable differing faith, expand well, beat ultra-aggro civs who tired themselves out. As-is, Charlemagne is at serious risk of Shaka or Napoleon or both dragging him down hard. If he doesn't have that happen, he will probably either kill Hatshepsut due to religion or a backwards Shaka or Napoleon and win. I feel Charlemagne will therefor likely ally with one of the two warmongers.
I picked Napoleon for a few reasons. First off, I don't think Napoleon is as bad as his 3 points indicate, I'd take him over guys like Roosevelt. Secondly, Charlemagne and Napoleon share a river and so religious spread is highly likely. Thirdly, Napoleon has the higher religious +. Finally, Napoleon has Bismarck to his flank as well, making Napoleon significantly more likely to war elsewhere AND to war successfully. Similar to Game 4, I predict the way the land will partition will keep Domination from occuring, and I feel like this will be another game with no survivors.
IMO the other main ways this can go is a Shaka + Napoleon finish where they gang up on Charlie or Hatshepsut and conquer around (If so, my bet is on Napoleon 1 Shaka 2) or an Asoka culture victory with his large tracts of land + the warmongers dragging everyone down ala Gandhi. No matter what happens, Hatshepsut seems destined to be FTD: Surrounded by Shaka AND Napoleon AND likely to found a competing religion to both Charlemagne AND Asoka. She's also shown to be completely militarily incompetent. If it isn't Hatshepsut, it is probably Bismarck.
(Oh, and finally, fun fact: With Mansa dead, a Charlie who advances to the Playoffs could leap frog Mansa and make EVERYONE salty!)