(June 30th, 2017, 04:59)RefSteel Wrote: Regardless, it looks for now like we've secured the desired aggressive border city with a timely show of force, even against dtay of Tokuzulu - impressive job!
I'm sure there's some relevant quote about the best battle being one you win without fighting. It would have been very easy for a new guy to back down in front of a vet with a militaristic civ choice - I'm not surprised dtay tried it on. Very calmly handled.
It may have looked easy, but that is because it was done correctly - Brian Moore
I`m very happy about the way this situation was resolved. No units lost and a zulu retreat is way better than expected. It should boost our chances of doing well long-term. As dtay didn`t really risk anything (except losing a couple of turns with the settler) it was probably worth a shot for him. I appreciate the worth of building a reputation now, as he surely wouldn`t have tried it on another veteran player.
As the chop isn`t of immediate need in Borte, I`ll send the worker back to Muqa next turn. Getting a mine done is vital for in the city as it`ll grow quickly and need more strong tiles to work. In the next couple of turns we should see a big increase in food, as Muqa, Chubei and Oghul Qaimish are about to get more food tiles to work. The worker in Muqa`s bfc will begin a pasture next turn, as I think it`s more important than chopping right now. 4/2/1 is such a nice tile! Chubei doesn`t need a monument badly (though it would obviously benefit from a culture pop). Also, we should get a Buddhism spread there quickly, as it`s only three tiles away from the Holy city. Should. No free spreads for us so far.
Looking forward to that new micro plan! It`s a lot easier to play if there is a well thought-out plan to follow. We`re obviously not playing in a sandbox anymore, so other players` action will still have to be taken into consideration, as I play the turns.
All true! My hope, and at this point my guess, is that dtay will move the Impi and Settler further away (and maybe even found a city this turn; we'll see). Note that by not moving the axe to the jungle bananas, but also neither accepting nor re-offering even a cease-fire, we've probably done as good a job as we possibly could of letting dtay know our position: We're not prepared to cede any part of this land, but we're not coming after you as long as you stay away.
I agree with sending the Worker back to resume the mine. I think Muqa should start a Workboat, assuming everything else goes to plan (now that the axe can be whipped for 1 - we'll resume and complete the axe after the WB for the Whales).
And obviously if dtay does something different, a lot of things may need to change: Another cease-fire offer can be rejected, but if he offers peace having not yet planted a city, we should take it. (Or if he's planted a city and we can see that it doesn't invalidate the copper spot. I think there's supposed to be a way to see the map around the diplo screen and even move it around to see different parts, but I don't know how. Are there any lurkers familiar with this?) If we're not in game-enforced peace and his Impi is still (on or) within one tile of the bananas though, our Worker can't improve the cows, our Axe can't leave the city tile (and therefore can't kill the barb yet) and the Worker on the plains cow would have to waste another worker turn, either joining the other worker on the plains hill to speed the mine, moving to another forest to chop into Muqa (not recommended, I think) or moving e.g. SW-NW (or into Chubei if the Impi is on the bananas) in the hope that we can start on the cows the following turn. If the Impi is on the bananas though, everything is more complicated: No one can move to the plains hill (maybe the other Worker can move to the grass forest hill instead) and we might have to just whip the axe in Muqa. I'm not expecting that though.
According to civstats, dtay played a 5 minute turn without founding a new city! That`s excellent news for us. Now we`re guaranteed our favored city site. I was hoping to play turn 62 right now, but it seems that Ventessel still hasn`t played for some reason.
I agree with accepting a peace offer, as we get to fortify our border without having to worry about an impi sneak attack. If we get a second cease fire offer, perhaps we can decline it and offer peace back. I`d totally forgotten about the possibility of the impi moving over the bananas in order to capture our worker. Well, he has most likely moved the settler and the impi away to found his fourth city somewhere else.
Good points; I entirely agree! The microplan suggestion below assumes no dtay units nearby UNLESS dtay offered (and we accepted) a Peace Treaty. If neither of these requirements hold, the tactical situation becomes more complex, obviously.
This microplan is still tentative and untested, and of course will have to adapt in case of further enemy action. I'm also a bit concerned that it might take too long to get the next Settler out (never mind the next three!) - but to show you what I'm thinking of for now....
T62: Monument is complete at Oghul Qaimish, which begins a Granary. Toregene WHIPS its Monument (3 pop to 2) and works Rice + Furs. Borte WHIPS its Worker (5 pop to 4) and works Cow + Copper + Horse + Clam. The Worker on the Sheep completes the Pasture. The Worker on the hill near Oghul Qaimish begins a Mine. The Worker in the forest north of Borte moves E-NE-NE-NW to the plains hill. The Worker on the plains Cow moves 1NE to the grass Cow and begins a Pasture. Settler founds the city of Chubei and starts a Granary, working the Corn. Muqa switches to building a Work Boat and works Cow + Sheep + Fish + Silver.
T63: Worker is complete at Borte, which resumes its Granary, working Cow + Copper + Horse + Cottage (because the Granary's timing means the additional food from the Clams would be ~wasted). Monument is complete at Toregene, which resumes its Spearman. Muqa is now size 5 and works Cow + Fish + Sheep + Silver + plains forest. The Worker on Oghul Qaimish's Sheep moves 1NE to the forest. The Worker from Borte moves SE to the part-cottaged "river" grassland and continues the Cottage. If units from the dtay front have not begun to withdraw toward Muqa yet, the Warrior moves SW to the desert hill.
T64: Granary is complete at Borte, which begins a Spearman(?) and sets AVOID GROWTH ON while working Cow + Copper + Clam + Cottage (this should be exactly enough to get the city to 28/28 food). Toregene is now size 3 and works Rice + Furs + Lake. The Worker on the forest next to Oghul Qaimish begins a Chop. If it hasn't already withdrawn further, the Warrior near Muqa moves 1S to the Corn.
T65: Muqa is now size 6; if there isn't a unit there yet, the Warrior moves into the city, which works Corn + Cow + Sheep + Fish + Silver + plains forest. The Worker on Chubei's grassland Cow completes the Pasture, and Chubei works the newly-pastured grassland Cow. The Worker on the "river" grassland tile shared by Borte and Toregene completes a Cottage. Toregene works Rice + Furs + Cottage. Borte turns AVOID GROWTH OFF. The Worker on the hill near Oghul Qaimish completes a Mine.
T66: Spearman(?) complete at Borte, which is now size 5; it starts another Spearman(?) and works Cow + Copper + Clam + Horse + floodplain Cottage. Work Boat complete at Muqa, and moves SE-SW to the Whale; Muqa resumes its Axe. Oghul Qaimish is now size 2 and works Sheep + Mine. Chubei is now size 2 and works Corn + grassland Cow. The Worker on the plains hill near Muqa completes a Mine. Muqa works Cow + Sheep + Fish + Silver + Mine + plains forest. The Worker near Borte moves 1SW to the roaded, part-mined hill and begins a Mine. The Worker on the forest near Oghul Qaimish completes a Chop. The Worker on Chubei's cow moves 2E to the forest. The Worker on Oghul Qaimish's mine begins a Road.
T67: The Workboat builds Whaling Boats. Muqa is now size 7 and works Cow + Sheep + Fish + Silver + Whale + Mine + plains forest. Toregene is now size 4 and works Rice + Furs + Cottage + Lake. Oghul Qaimish WHIPS its Granary (2 pop to 1) and works the Sheep. The Worker near Chubei begins a Chop. The Worker on Oghul Qaimish's mine completes a Road. The Worker on the plains hill mine near Muqa begins a Road(?). The Worker on the grassland near Oghul Qaimish begins a Road(?)
T68: If Chubei still lacks Buddhism, it begins a Monument.....
No zulu units were in sight so I went ahead and founded Chubei. Our worker was able to start improving the cows asap, which is very good for us. Our expenses sky-rocketed this turn, we`re now losing 14 gold at max science. The slider was dialed down to 80 %. We`ll still comfortably finish sailing next turn. I sent a peace offer to dtay (we didn`t receive any offer from him). The barb warrior decided not to move towards our new city for some reason. That`s no problem, as our axe will take care of it.
And wow, take a look at that third screenshot. Circumnavigation fell this turn. As this map obviously has enough water to make it relevant, it can prove to be a big benefit for one of the civs out there. I`m glad one of our neighbors didn`t get it.
Still not a single Buddhism spread. My best bet is that Chubei will get one next turn. All cities are following the micro plan. We should let Borte grow again to its happiness limit soon I think, as having a big, strong capital is important.
I think I`m going to continue posting the graphs in a second post. Note that we`re below average in soldier count, but it`s no big deal as both of our neighbors have lower power than us. Joey is working more hammer-heavy tiles right now.
Dtay took peace! That`s a big relief. We`re safe from impis in the foreseeable future. Our axe won easily against the barb intruder (it`s down to under 4 now, but will have time to heal safely). Another XP is good as well. Just one more now for shock. Speaking of barbs, there is another one incoming from the only tile it could spawn on on the west coast. I sent the chariot down to deal with it. The warrior is on its way to Muqa from Chubei to act as MP.
Joey caught up with our city count last turn, but as he`s behind us in gnp and food I don`t think it`s too bad. He didn`t build anywhere near us. We got a trade connection to him this turn. He still doesn`t have horses online! And only one luxury (well, as he`s CHA it`s probably not urgent), but still..
EDIT: And still no free Buddhism spreads for us. How long is it going to take?
