A Challenger Appears!

[CFCJesterFool]

If you want to end the game sure...BUT...Nicolae is the clear winner. I won't spoil the surprise but if you had Alphabet, you'd already know.

Translated...If you could see what techs Nicolae has researched (i.e. had Alphabet), you would already know he has maceman. Since he can run Theology (he built SP) that means CR2 maceman with CKN's + cats. Doubtful any of us can reach crossbows in time. I could possibly reach longbows but am trying to bulb CS/Paper and then Machinery. Already have 1 GM and could have the other GS and GM in ~12 turns although it might be quicker to self tech Paper and use the GS for a golden age. Not sure if Nicolae is really planning to attack theStick but whoever he decides to attack won't last more than 10 turns.

[CFCJesterFool]

Unless theStick and team SAT DIDN'T read the banter thread, the game is now a 3 vs 1. Can Nicolae win culture...the answer is a resounding yes. But we do have a chance (unless thestick or SAT attacks a coalition member in which case I won't be continuing with the game because Nicolae already won and I don't care who comes in second).

I am catching up to Nicolae on tech. I might try getting to Nationialism first since he will have to self tech Philo and I really need to deny him Taj.

I offered 40g to theStick so I will need to save gold for a turn but will be able to bulb Machinery to FINALLY achieve military tech parity...not bad all things considered. I'll try to get UoS once stone is hooked up although failgold would be even better. I plan on beelining Steel for a musket+CR2 mace+cannon showdown with Nicolae.

I have a GS coming which I probably will part bulb Education with.

That means I probably have to forget about the Taoist shrine but we'll see. If I get a GM, I will do a trade mission with theStick and try to funnel him some gold to help speed up his tech rate (as long as it doesn't hurt my chances to swipe the Taj from Nicolae). I need to switch to OR/Slavery so I can transfer my Palace and whip courthouses, but once back in Caste/Pacifism, I plan on running max priests/merchants here.

I forgot to mention that I built the ToA. In a normal MP game, that would be pretty stupid (well except for the GPP). However, I don't think Nicolae wants GMs since he is going culture (and thus won't be visiting ToA). TheStick and SAT otoh could absolutely use trade mission gold to get back in the tech game. TheStick hasn't opened borders with SAT yet so maybe he doesn't plan on dogpiling Nicolae. Also possible SAT isn't planning on that either.

Edit: I've considered that maybe theStick might try to eliminate SAT (or me but I'll concede first in that case). SAT is pretty far behind so I guess I am fine with that although I hope that's not the case. A 2 vs 1 against Nicolae probably works but by the time it is a 1 v 1 (if that is what theStick is thinking), Nicolae has rifles (or cuirs/cav) and wins anyway.

[CFCJesterFool]

are you guys coming for antoher party? SAT is unsure what to do, what with no stacks of catapults and axes in our lands...

I'll see where this is going but I guess theStick wants to see who comes in second? He can't beat Nicolae. I am pretty sure Nicolae libs Nationalism in like ~3-5 turns. After that, all he requires is Sistine, which I am sure he'll have finished by the time he gets the Taj GA.

[thestick]

Well, Tankra was going to rush me with Dog Soldiers! I thought I was being overly paranoid.

Why Specialist economy instead of cottages? Just couldn't wait that long for them to mature?

Nice job rebuilding, JesterFool. Are you going to play any other PBEMs later?

[CFCJesterFool]

Well, Tankra was going to rush me with Dog Soldiers! I thought I was being overly paranoid.

Why Specialist economy instead of cottages? Just couldn't wait that long for them to mature?

Nice job rebuilding, JesterFool. Are you going to play any other PBEMs later?

Actually was in the process of moving the capitol to Dumb Mud which was cottaged up. The specialist economy was just a means to get to CS/Machinery since specialist economy always loses long run to cottage economy. The problem was Tankra didn't cottage the capitol early although Dumb Mud had mostly towns by the end. It was pointless to try and cottage the starting capitol when I took over but running specialists until I could move the capitol was viable and I did make up alot of beakers.

I'd be interested in playing again later although teaming up with someone would probably be all I would have time for. I am a better player than this game showed (starting from such a terrible position). I kinda got forced into going crazy farmer's gambit because I was so far behind. A big gamble which turned out to be too little, too late.

[Nicolae Carpathia]

Hopefully there'll be a game coming up soon. This, 39 just ended, and 38 is in its endgame.

And I do sorta regret boating that city and ending the game. I'd had that opportunity for ages, it was incredibly tempting, but I kept holding myself back. You were obviously my enemy, so it was difficult to not start punishing you for your lack of military.

And if it counts for something, I was incredibly tempted to attack SAT as well, and I had to suppress my instincts in favour of a better status quo

[CFCJesterFool]

And I do sorta regret boating that city and ending the game. I'd had that opportunity for ages, it was incredibly tempting, but I kept holding myself back. You were obviously my enemy, so it was difficult to not start punishing you for your lack of military.

And if it counts for something, I was incredibly tempted to attack SAT as well, and I had to suppress my instincts in favour of a better status quo

I'm assuming because you wanted to win by culture? Boating that city was a good move if you want to win so I don't knock you for that. You said so yourself in your thread..."embarrassing". I now know how you play though so that's something. I have my own playstyle (which maybe you'll be the receipient of one day)...it's called "start war and raze every city to the ground (even ones with wonders)". Now that, I think, would be embarrassing.

[Nicolae Carpathia]

I'm game!

[CFCJesterFool]

I'm game!

You got anything in mind? Like I said before, I would need to team up w/ someone to avoid PYFT problems. Not interested in doing another cramped map but a reasonable standard size map I'd be game for.