[Spoilers] GES, Roland & Friends (Mansa of Egypt)

[Gaspar]

Very well played game, GES. In my humble opinion, your machinations in the early game in PBEM17 really improved you a lot as a player. That said, I can't believe you'd walk away from all that just because you don't like to war, I'd think you'd like to take advantage of the opportunity to learn something.

Also, you still sound too much like mini-Krill. :neenernee

[luddite]

His research rate is absolutely sick. I started building wealth in two cities so as to keep teching 100% research at just -100 gpt. The plan is to go for military tradition, start building cuirassiers, and then upgrade them to cavalry as soon as rifling comes in. Then we can start busting heads while going for tanks.

[Gold Ergo Sum]

Very well played game, GES.

Thanks.

In my humble opinion, your machinations in the early game in PBEM17 really improved you a lot as a player.

That was the main reason indeed. Also watching what others did better than me in PBEM11.

That said, I can't believe you'd walk away from all that just because you don't like to war, I'd think you'd like to take advantage of the opportunity to learn something.

I thought I was playing with a teammate (Roland) and three active DLs. It didn't really turn out that way. I definitely have a lot I can learn about warfare, but I don't really feel like doing it on this map. Astronomy just opens up too many possibilities, and much as SG4 eventually became a huge slog for me, I don't want to get to the point where this game does the same thing. I will still be around and can play turns. I spent two hours last night getting Luddite up to speed on micro at each city.

Also, you still sound too much like mini-Krill. :neenernee

Krill considers me a failed student because I still retain a shred of my former humanity.

His research rate is absolutely sick.

I started building wealth in two cities so as to keep teching 100% research at just -100 gpt.

We agreed that was better than building soon to be obsolete units.

The plan is to go for military tradition, start building cuirassiers, and then upgrade them to cavalry as soon as rifling comes in. Then we can start busting heads while going for tanks.

Godspeed young man.

[luddite]

So, I finished Printing Press, and the beakers per turn shot up from 1060 to 1190 . The GNP actually went down though (from 1480 to 1260) since I didn't have a new tech selected.

Anyway, this is what I meant by a sick GNP spike


And the tech screen is just ridiculous. We could research communism in 1 turn, with no prerequisites! That's just from beaker overflow.


The only thing to be slightly worried about is Yuri's rising power graph. But since the only thing he can make is muskets, I'm not too worried.


demos, while researching PP.

[luddite]

Sent 200g to RL7, and grabbed gunpowder. Here's the new demos (with tech selected).


Yuri's power graph is rapidly increasing, so next turn I'll start making some muskets and tech construction. I'm also switching some mines over to windmills.

[Roland]

I thought I was playing with a teammate (Roland) and three active DLs. It didn't really turn out that way.

I feel like I let you down. It certainly was not my intention. I realized (belatedly) I'm just not cut out for this game, and especially the time investment given everything that's going on my life right now. I have followed your progress as a DL (although not very active), but I really haven't had anything to offer - my strength lies in diplomacy, not actually playing the game, and you've been able to handle the diplomacy on your own, so far as I can see.

I'm sure there are other games I would be glad to play alongside you in. Civ just turned out to not be one of them, and I'm sorry I had to learn that the hard way - after you got roped into this. It's just not for me, and I simply don't have the time to dedicate to making it more enjoyable for myself.

Having said all that, I congratulate you heartily on your progress. It just goes to show you didn't need anyone's help in winning this.

[luddite]

Interesting diplo this turn. First, from Yuris:

Hi GES / Luddite,

Unfortunately, we no longer feel our NAP agreement in PBEM19 is
mutually beneficial. With deepest regret, we decided to invoke its
cancellation. The NAP will remain active up to and including T116,
expiring at the start of T117

All the best
Board of Directors of Radioland

He basically admitted that he's declaring war on T117.

Here's how GES suggested I respond:

I hope you realize that due to your foolish move, I can put RIFLES everywhere within five turns. Janissaries are good against archery (didn't tech it), melee (already teched past it), and mounted (but still lose to curaisser and cavs). But they will get utterly slaughtered by rifles. And cannons. Oh yeah, I will have those too within 10 turns. And frigates and ironclads. Yup, I can have those too soon afterwards. So you know, if you would like to rescind your cancellation, I am going to give you 1 turn to do so. Otherwise, annihilating you will become priority #1. Also, I am sure the superpower that now surrounds you will be keen to learn that you are considering moving your troops out of homeland defense.

GES

But this is what I actually sent:

Well that's unfortunate. I hope you won't do anything rash on T117...
-Luddite

And this is from Commodore. Not quite sure what to make of this:

Luddite/GES,

I'm writing to inform you both that I've decided to end our rolling NAP. I'm still fuzzy on the exact meaning of "inclusive" in the whole turn inclusive, so depending on what that means I could declare war on either 118 or 119. It's up to you guys how you'd like that to read, because I don't plan on declaring war in either turn, honestly, nor the one after, nor the one after...I actually don't mean this as some sort of hostile "in ten turns I'll come at you, bro" thing, I just have been watching the GNP of insanity and figure it makes sense to call "Farmers Gambit!" If you merely have to focus a little more on an army to feel secure, which is what I've been having to do, then I think we can continue playing economy races.

Hope things are going well,
-Commodore

And my response:

Hmm I see. My reading on that is that the NAP includes the tenth turn after you end it. Anyway I hope you don't feel like you have to suicide rush me to stay competitive, although I realize that GES's GNP graph is really scary right now.
-Luddite

[Gold Ergo Sum]

But this is what I actually sent:

Candy ass.

[luddite]

Here's the current demos... notice RL7's large GNP increase


Power rise, Yuris and Commodore are increasing, but not too fast. We can increase much faster.


Here's what's building. Next turn I'll get construction and start making catapults, then I think I'll get guilds and banking, and head towards rifling. Originally I wanted to run over someone with cavalry, but that's looking unlikely now.


I whipped Karl Strauss so it can start on the national epic next turn. Maybe I'm too greedy, going for the national epic while preparing for war, but I think it'll be OK.


And i set the capital to working more cottages.

[Gold Ergo Sum]

That GNP increase was probably the city with TGLH coming out of anarchy over in MNG's former lands.