[SPOILERS] WillPlunder as Mehmed of Arabia: Noobs meet world

[WilliamLP]

that's a +100% increase, clearly significant

I don't think I understand what you're saying.

[Plunder]

never mind, it was referring to the +2 food from +1 food when making the rice wet.

[WilliamLP]

Retep got Optics and has enough hammer production to rule the water, and he should since he seems to have no land threats! Now he can either go for Astro and try to be first to colonize a lot of land, or go for the powerful economic techs like Biology and Communism.




I'll probably invade Kuro next turn, through the 1-2-3 route. The workers are there ostensibly to improve the cow, but actually to road the way in first. I think I'll leave the 2-movers at 1 next turn so they aren't open to a catapult + spear charge. They also can stop any attempt to counter-invade along with west alley.

Kuro has Feudalism now - there is 1 longbow in Sam Walton.

This war is not committed and not thought out well. I probably should be supporting it with galleys full of troops up the sides. My navy is kind of overloaded though, keeping an eye on bandit, and I want to be ferrying settlers to the new lands very soon.

If Kuro is paying even a little attention, he should know what's up. I'm not sure I see any evidence that he's being watchful or even cares though, honestly.

[Plunder]

So, I have some more time to check the game now =)
Just some questions as I catch up.
Why are we building a forge in tortellini? I think we can better use a market or courthouse there...
Same for Noodle lake, would a Madrassa not be more useful now?
Why are we researching music, rather than going for printing press? I think the latter would give an important boost to our economy.

[WilliamLP]

Why are we building a forge in tortellini? I think we can better use a market or courthouse there...

Sure, I'm happy to discuss anything and be accountable for my decisions!

Tortellini is a commerce city (though not a very good one) and it will eventually have a Courthouse / Madrassa / Bank / University / Market / Grocer (approximately in that order). The forge first is a long term play that will eventually save hammers on the rest of that and future builds for the rest of the game (if it goes long enough).

There's a part of the curve where a courthouse first would be better for the economy, for sure. Honestly I don't think it out very carefully, it's just that granary to forge first seems to be considered optimal by a lot of people here for cities that don't need a lighthouse.

[WilliamLP]

Why are we researching music, rather than going for printing press? I think the latter would give an important boost to our economy.

It's very debatable. But what I want is to pop the borders at Instant Noodles (just add water!) And with Music we can get +3 culture per turn there (working a citizen for 1 hammer) instead of having to wait the full 10 turns. And culture there will enable us to start settling those western islands very soon since it makes the ocean passable. There's already a settler on the way actually. Every turn saved starting to get that land developed may be crucial since we're on a clock until Retep and Wetbandit get Astronomy.

Music is also good for border pops in new future cities in the west. And it's a prerequisite for Military Tradition and Cuirassiers later.

But, going down the line to Paper, Education, Printing Press, Economics, etc is certain defensible. (And was probably defensible before Engineering too or even Optics.)

[WilliamLP]

War is declared on Kuro!




Honestly this war is as much for the learning experience as for the in-game gains. (I have no multi-player war experience to speak of, this late in the game[) Since he has no 2-movers in sight, I have the luxury of putting a sentry chariot 3S1E of Sam Walton.

The general plan is:
- Roll the cats to 3 slowly, take down defenses.
- If he moves units from Sam Walton, take them out with 2-movers in transit (if possible) and/or take the city, probably razing it.
- Use superior units and promotions to take out CV. (We can't afford many suicide cats, but 1-2 are probably in order.)

Criticizing myself:
- This war isn't committed. There are no excessive whips and the bulk of my power is in the south, paranoid at a possible reaction attack down there. Attacking with decisive force is basically rule number one in any strategy game.
- A great opportunity to use the sea is wasted. A few galleys with maces sailing along the sides would mess him up.
- Probably I waited too long - he can whip longbows now, where he couldn't a few turns ago.
- Not enough cats, noob.




At least the rest of the world isn't behaving like they're waiting to strike.

[Plunder]

We're maybe not committed to the war, but our opponent not to the game :P

But yes, I would definitely suggest getting out some more cats. They probably don't care about a long and drawn out war, but we do.

[WilliamLP]

Kuro did log in for 40 minutes and whipped 4 times so he's not totally mailing it in. I don't know if he sees us as traitors or welcomes this game being more interesting for him.

Yeah, I've been focusing a lot of military production on longbows to cover up the south, and also having enough maces and catapults down there to make bringing in a stack a very bad idea for any rival down there. But a mass whipping of a lot of camels + catapults (maybe 20 of each) was possible - we have a lot of population. It still would be possible but it would set back economy quite a lot.

[Plunder]

If we have alphabet, does that allow us to see all 'tradable' techs in the relations screen?
If so, maybe we can get that tech before paper?