[Spoilers] DZ'CH is apparently a catchy name

[Cheater Hater]

At the very least, can a lurker let me know if there's a turn split I should be observing if I log in just to dump some pictures in the thread?

No turn split.

Thanks for the info.

Here's pictures for turn 301--I didn't actually do anything (except set Staalplat to a Levee, as it finished a University this turn). We have six cities, are going to settle number 7 this turn (the stone island), and have two more settlers in production right now. We're technically in last place score-wise, though we're only behind BGN by one point (which will probably be matched once we settle the stone). Otherwise we don't seem in that bad of a position, though our stats hurt (presumably both GNP and Production will go back up once we finish the round of universities and start our Factories in ~15 turns. Anything you'd like to add DZ? (after you finish the turn--we're the only ones left to play )

[greenline]

so, uh, did we attack REM or not?

[Epoxy]

so, uh, did we attack REM or not?

Nope!

What was the priority behind settling the stone island city, and not the rest of the bigger island you're sharing with Dreylin?

[Cheater Hater]

Remember, I haven't heard anything--just waiting for DZ to say something (or maybe I should leave something in game for him).

[Donovan Zoi]

Hey all, quick update.

Sorry for being so out of the loop. I have had alot going on in RL, plus I am playing in 2 games that I can't seem to spend less than 2 hours per turn in. So unfortunately reporting has suffered.

Significance of the the Stone city is merely to shave some turns off of Oxford while hopefully stealing some culture away from our contested waters in the north. What's cool is that we're finishing a Settler in Wax Trax (the Oxford site) next turn with only 15 hammers left, so 1-whipping that last turn should give us a good jump on finishing Oxford quick. It's ending up timed nicely though, as we have our Ironworks city Zoth Ommog 1-turning a consecutive Library and University after a similar Setter surplus with no whip.

Ever the OCD paranoid nurturer, I have concerrns over the next few turns about losing one of our 6 cities that we need for Oxford before it is complete. Dreylin conquered Gaspar 3 turns ago and can have his Cavs back to our borders 5 turns from then. So I'll be on edge until the project is complete, but we should be able to eke it out.

The Next 10 Turns

As of now, we have 9 turns until Assembly Line after saving up some gold for the last 7-8 turns. I expect that target get even closer after Zoth's multiplier buildings come on board along with Oxford. In fact, our new Stone was such a hot commodity that fellow PHI player Dreylin cancelled our Gems trade so he could try to get Stone from us instead. Sorry not happening, especially when 4 is the smallest surplus of happies we have in any city, even after the trade was cancelled. I may save our Silks to trade for REMs Fish to combat any health issues caused by our smoggy endeavors.

I chose to go with ALine over Railroad or SciMeth for the sheer power of the Factories/Coal Plants combo, and how they can help us get the advantage on settlement since we would now have 4-6 cities doing what Zoth and Wax Trax are capable of now. I still think we will beat BGN to his island and can get at least one more city on the Dreylin island. We also have 3 cities we can plant on the southwest in the corridor on the way to BGN. We just have to avoid a devastating conflict for the next 10 turns.

With that said, my plan is this:

1. As our domestic builds for Oxford finish, will be switching to straight military until we have AL. We are spread a bit thin, but our Explorers/Spies show that none of our other 3 neighbors are an immediate threat. So all forces with be sent to reinforce Zoth and Staalplaat against Dreylin/OT4E.

2. I'll be emphasizing growth where possible in our smaller cities, so that we are in a position to use as much production as possible to get Factories/Coal Plants on board -- maybe even whipping a pop or two if it doesn't set us back too much. This means using the crappy coastal tiles, but the extra commerce there could also help get AL faster.

I'll hopefully get around to posting pics again soon, but let me know if you have any questions!

[Donovan Zoi]

so, uh, did we attack REM or not?

I chose to wait on REM once I realized how good we could have it with Free Market since just about everyone went SciMeth/Communism to get State Property. Plus I didn't want to risk leaving our border with Dreylin.

We were small enough that Free Market is actually better in the short term. It just means we need to stay at peace for awhile. But in 9 turns, we will have Infantry, Cannons and Drydocks over our neighbors --- the latter two currently matched only by non-neighbor pindicator. Dreylin does not have Steam Power or Steel yet, while scooter, BGN and REM all have Steam Power. We can choose a target then, after our quick industrial enhancements and after seeing which of our neighbors is most vulnerable on the tech tree.

[Cheater Hater]

Thanks for posting something at least. I'd help with reporting (as I did by getting some pictures a couple turns ago), but I can't read your mind

It's weird that everyone else is prioritizing State Property--I get that it's the default best choice, but Corps have to be part of the calculation somewhere (though it loses a bit if you can't spread to opponents--though I don't know how useful that would be with Mining Inc). I mean, I didn't realize we had Steel as well--that's a large military advantage, and hopefully we can use it before everyone else catches up.

I saw most had Scientific Method, but do they actually have Communism yet? Dreylin probably does (since he skipped Steam Power), but the others all have two techs, and I don't know how reasonable it is to get three techs at this point.

Who actually took out Gaspar/Noble--Dreylin, REM, or someone else?

[Cheater Hater]

Can I join in on the lurker discussions? I feel left out when everyone else is updating (presumably over the controversy in the tech thread). If I wasn't so busy I'd go get another picture dump for the thread, and I still might if I get a free moment.

[Mardoc]

If I wasn't so busy I'd go get another picture dump for the thread, and I still might if I get a free moment.

Just an FYI, then, you're in a turn split now with Dreylin...

[scooter]

So I really enjoyed reading this thread until it abruptly ended . Although I definitely don't blame you. It's hard to keep up the reporting energy when someone screws up your game early. You were also the only person to be directly bordering the players that finished 1-2-3, so that was some pretty poor neighbor luck. Anyway, great reporting, and nice job surviving to the end.