Talks about music. The famous talk show feat. yuris125 & Nicolae Carpathia

[yuris125]

T53

We completed the Colossus at EOT. Sailing will arrive next turn. I opened OB with Fierce, because our scout was trapped between his borders and Luddite's. I will try to get OB with Luddite and Sian next turn, too

Meanwhile, NS7 completed the Pyramids. Now I understand why they wanted that stone. They converted to Representation, and now they're really running away I'm afraid

[yuris125]

We discovered Sailing, and signed OB with Fierce and Luddicator. Sian declined, and we don't want OB with NS7 and Mackoti

Still, our economy is doing ok, and will improve further when we build Lighthouses and start working water tiles. So I decided now is the good time to get IW

The island in the south is not uncontested by the way, and maybe even not an island. Mackoti founded a city there right after I suggested it might be a good idea to go for it. The eastern island is still available, so we should think about getting a Settler there soonish

[yuris125]

Speaking of NS7, I suspect in 5 to 10 turns they will suggest OB again. If they do, how to we react? I'm tempted to reply with a demand for Luna, just to make our position clear to them: no negotiations unless you hand over your aggressive settlement. However, with our current military, the best result is they decline and their attitude towards us drops. The worst result is they bring 4-5 War Chariots to our land, and we die

Maybe we should just swallow the issue of Luna, and sign OB?

[yuris125]

T57

OK, I decided to sign OB with NS7. They offered it again, and I didn't see a reason to annoy the clear leaders until we get a decent military. And we will need more international trade routes as soon as we discover Currency

Otherwise, all quiet. Building more Settlers, researching IW. We're actually in clear 2nd place in score, although I don't think it matters much

[yuris125]

T58

IW in at EOT. Come on iron, were are you?



Ah, here you are

Well, good news are, it's on a tile firmly controlled by our borders (just 5% of Egyptian culture). Bad news are, it's too close to the border for my liking, and not in the BFC of any of our cities

Thessalonica completed a Settler, and I'm going to send him to the eastern island



I'm thinking of founding on the plains tile 1SW of the silk. It's somewhat crazy to do it not knowing there is food. But intercontinental trade routes will help us in any case, silk appears to be an island-only resource, and I don't want to lose this spot. Adrianople completed a Galley this turn, next turn I will start an Axe and whip, then start on a Worker

I really think we should push for expansion into Sian's jungle next, now that we have IW. But we need better military too, it currently consists of 5 Warriors, not exactly frightening

[yuris125]

Well, the island city plan didn't cause an outrage, so it's a go. Although hearing something on the lines of "this is a crazy idea, but it might just work" or "this is a crazy idea and you're mad even to consider it" would be nice

[yuris125]

T61

NS7 completed hanging gardens. Sorry, but I don't see how we're going to win this. Their capital is size 11 already!

[yuris125]

T62

We have beaten Sian to the island spot by 1 turn



A minor achievement, but a satisfying one
If he decides to declare war over this, we have a slight disadvantage, because I brought an Axe to protect the city, and his Chariot of course gets a bonus against him. When I founded the city (on the plains tile), his units were kicked to the forested hill in the south of the island. So if he decides to declare war, he has to put the Chariot on the hill next to the city, exposing it to the Axe. An unpromoted Axe attacking an unpromoted Chariot... not such a big advantage as I'd like, but an advantage at least. And of course, it would be a bigger battle than Axe vs Chariot: we risk a city, and he risks a Settler. Hope he remains reasonable, and accepts that he was beaten

Although I have to say it's unpleasant for him. He can't get the Settler back on a Galley, because our borders will expand quickly, blocking a Galley path back to his land. He will have to agree to OB with us. And of course, I'll be happy to agree to it, extra trade routes are always nice

[Nicolae Carpathia]

Whoo good to know! Note that when our border expands, his settler is going to be straight up kicked off the island. Will it be kicked to the north or south?

But thanks to NS7 we're fucked regardless unless we can Make Something Happen with cataphracts.

[yuris125]

T69

Long time no update... well here is one

On loading the turn, I got this



Huh? A dozen turns ago you declined a blank open borders offer, now you offer OB + a resource? What's this? Are you afraid of the army of Workers on your borders? Or do you hope this will stop us from stealing your stone? If so, no chance

Anyway, accepted the deal. Conveniently, Currency is discovered at EOT, so those extra trade routes are always nice

Here is the army of Workers I'm talking about, as well as the overview of most of our empire



Not a great screenshot, but the tile 2N of the cow has an Axe, a Settler, and 3 Workers chopping the jungle. The Settler will found a city 1N of this tile/1S of the stone. I'm going to grab Masonry next, so that we can build a quarry by the time the jungle on the stone is chopped

Also, note an oasis on an island to our NW. I'm definitely going to expand there next. If this island is anything like the one near NS7, it's an excellent place to found our next cities. By the way, if NS7 found their island early, it explains how they could maintain 5 cities before T50



This is our south. We built a shrine in Thessalonica, also this turn. However, I believe Buddhism is present in just 2 cities so far, need to get Monotheism soon to spread the religion. Note that, as expected, NS7 got the banana/sugar/clam spot



And this is NS7's core. This picture very well shows how much Representation happiness helps them, and why I think the game is unwinnable - although we will try, of course



So the plan still is to expand, expand and expand. Research is going to be Masonry - Polytheism - Monotheism - Calendar - Monarchy (?), then back on the path towards Guilds. Still need to hook up the iron, maybe with a filler city 1N of it, don't know yet