[spoilers] Pax Commodorica: Pharaoh of Rome

[Commodore]

Your start:

...huh. Well I don't love it, but I don't hate it either. Some quick thoughts:
-3 junk tiles for a super-cap, but food and rivers say we can build us an Ottawa, somewhat.
-Exp nets a 10-turn worker or (risky!) a 12-turn worker while settling on the wines.
-Agriculture improves wheat same turn hunting gets deer, but less efficiently moves around after.
-Kibosh on fishing, sadly. I was so hoping to take Rome...
-Subliminal message: Mali
-WHERE DO I EXPLORE? Scout can't find a damn thing useful t0.
-Pottery early kplzthnx.
-Capital food levels/quality bumps Chm up a few bars in my estimation.

I'll be back shortly with my impulsive combo list.

[spacetyrantxenu]

-WHERE DO I EXPLORE? Scout can't find a damn thing useful t0.

Success.

Actually you guys made me remove the huts, there was going to be a trail of breadcrumbs leading your scout into the gaping maw of an awaiting bear, but alas, not to be.

[Commodore]

Okay, pick list for you Brick:
1. Ramesses of Rome
2. Ramesses of Ethiopia
3. Pericles of Maya
4. Peter of Korea
5. Wang Kon of Ottmen
6. Joao of Aztecs
7. Catherine of Babylon
8. Brennus of Ethiopia
9. Julius Caeser of Mongolia
10. Washington of Carthage

Okay, some more thoughts on each one.
1. Ramesses of Rome
It was this or Ethiopia; I'm assuming us having deer means others have Hunting options, otherwise that's a major early foodhammer boost. Rome trades a useful tech for crappy Fishing, but it gains a wonderful defensive unit in the Praetorian. Bit weedy perhaps, but eh.
2. Ramesses of Ethiopia
First choice, and one I kind of expect to get. The techs and Spiritual work well together here; go BW first, worker camps and then chops out the next while you grow->whip a second, etc, etc, snowball. Ramesses is a good solid leader, King of the Monk Economy and a pretty solid man for the Pyramids, and this is a good wonder cap. Plus, given size I expect the Gunpowder era to be the beginning of conflict; normally I'm not a drafting fan but Spiritual drafting Oromos makes a lot of good sense. Steles suck.
3. Pericles of Maya
Here's a gimmie “stupid synergy pick”. I like the happy cap options along the aforementioned Gaspar Road that this enables here, and creative gains some hammers from getting the deer in-border fast. Pericles is an excellent leader, of course, and Maya is a classical pairing for a reason. I might well just ignore improving the deer for a while with this one actually, given a desire for cheap MP and the strength of the tile by itself. The early, early academy Pericles specializes in is going to be nice with this early, early capital.
4. Peter of Korea
Lol-synergy at it's worst, here! But what can I say...I like the techs best for a non-Creative because I'll want religion for borders in a decent timeframe. Peter is one of the strongest leaders available (probably third after Zara and Louis), and I'll never not love all this lovely Exp joy that he brings. Leetle dry.
5. Wang Kon of Ottomens
Shudder. This is just for proving a point; WK of Ottoma is just Fin of Good Techs (don't even talk to me about Drill Jans). However, Fin of Good Techs probably is better than every other pick I just listed, folks. But still...so slight and weedy, one would doubt his power to stay.
6. Joao of Aztecs
REX man with cheap courthouses. Krill approved. Scares me.
7. Catherine of Babylon
See above, except with less messing around on techs.
8. Brennus of Persia
Beaker-savings, huge freaking early capital, horse-ninjas look cool.
9. Julius Caesar of Mali
Good solid expansionist, good solid techs, good solid protective UU. I think the Mint/Industrious synergy is grossly overrated.
10. Washington of Carthage
If I somehow manage to get all the way down to my tenth pick, it is a sign I need to gamble on the wine coast settle. Exp is called for then, and I like ole' Washy-buddy for the GLH; call it nostalgia.

[Hashoosh]

Classic double Rammer pick!

PB18 Spoilers

Your TBS ranking has now terrified me, just met him last turn outside my cap

Nice bits on the other players, that seems like a pretty good evaluation of the talent in the field.

1NW-SW with scout?

[WilliamLP]

PB18 Spoilers? You might as well just PM him!

[Commodore]

1NW-SW with scout?

Either that or 2NW; definitely want to check out the floodplains downriver.

You know what, I'm swapping my pick order for 1 and 2, Ethiopia's tech is better but I want to be able to ignore longbows forever.

[Hashoosh]

Agg rome's overrated anyways, the praets' true power (IMO) comes from CR promos.

Edit: and the base 8 strength, duh

Does the Rome pick mean a coastal cap is in the cards, or are you playing this with one starting tech for the first 30 turns.

[Commodore]

Does the Rome pick mean a coastal cap is in the cards, or are you playing this with one starting tech for the first 30 turns.

It hurts when you make it that stark. But yeah. It means skipping Hunting for a while, actually...but the size is only Standard, techs aren't super expensive anyway.

[novice]

PB18 Spoilers? You might as well just PM him!

[Hashoosh]

Wow, I feel so honoured, being one degree away from the site quote

I'm confused, has the double-rammer pick been deemed kosher? These picking rules make very little sense to me, but anythings better than a snake pick. Seriously, snake picks are just awful when the value of picks drop off so steeply like they do in CIV.