[SPOILER] The Steak, Beer, and Cigar Saloon

[haphazard1]

What are your plans for AH? Could you fit in Hunting before AH for the prereq bonus without delaying monuments and needed border pops from Mysticism?

Nice to see the second city founded, and that trade route income already present. How much is the new city costing?

[Catwalk]

Turn 37
More nothing happening. I decided to stick with Mysticism, already have 26/77 in it and gives me the option of a religion run if I feel like it in 3 turns New city costs 1 gold (will be 2 gold size 3 or something), working a fish there and getting copper ready soon. Also farming the silk by the capital, 2/1/3 is not a bad tile.

I want Hunting for our next city, and AH after that. Takes a while before we have culture on the pigs anyway, no point in getting AH anytime soon.

[Catwalk]

Turn 38
Remember me joking about running into a bear a few turns ago? Yeah, that joke isn't quite as funny anymore I'm standing on a forest (too lazy for screenshots) with a W1 scout at 90% health. Total strength is 2.43, I'm guessing I have less than 20% chances of winning. Managed to find Nakor's borders this turn, although it would suck to die without having scouted his lands at least a little. There's also a gold mine in between us, along with green river tiles.

[haphazard1]

Well, we can always hope the RNG will be kind. Not likely, but it does happen. Even at full health, a Woodman I scout in a forest has less than even odds against a bear.

A pic would be helpful, but green river tiles and a gold mine sounds pretty promising. Is this closer to Nakor, or more mid-way between Nakor and you?

[Catwalk]

Tile or two closer to Nakor, I think. Will post my scout's demise next turn

[Catwalk]

Turn 39

So close! Moving on at 90% health was a terrible mistake which very likely cost me this scout. With 30% animal bonus and 25% river bonus I would have had great odds on that battle And then I would have had a W2 scout roaming far lands. Sigh.

Second warrior finished in the capital, building a settler at size 3. Just finished the silk farm, currently working a 2/1 forest tile until I can get a PH mine finished. Might go for a cottage first instead, but I'd have to chop a forest first for a river tile to be available.

Gold is a good deal closer to Nakor than me, I'm guessing that's his capital I'm seeing 15 tiles west of me.

[haphazard1]

So close!

Yes, the gold looks like it would take an aggressive move on Nakor's territory. But the deer and silk area could make for a nice city with tons of forests to chop. Not a lot else over there, though. Myst about complete, what are your border pop plans for the copper city?

[Catwalk]

I'm still pondering border popping for the border city. Currently leaning towards building a monument, do you think I should try for a religion?

[haphazard1]

A monument is the surer path. Religion is more of a "Do you feel lucky?" gamble.

There is also the question of how teching a religion would impact your research plans, timing for AH, etc.

[Catwalk]

Turn 41
Missed a turn! Shame on me.

With our scout dead, even less is happening each turn. I decided to go for Meditation. I figure my chances of getting Buddhism are bigger than getting Hinduism, and I'd rather spend less hammers getting to Monarchy. I've plotted in a new dotmap, with reasoning as follows:

C2: PH/deer location
Very useful early on, with +1 hammer from PH and a strong deer tile to work.

C3: Elephant location (+1 happy)
I was tempted to move it NW instead for a better short-term location, as this one will be a little hammer poor and start out slower. But if I do that I won't be able to use the pigs until much later, and if the pigs are available Jowy may be tempted to settle the area. Without the pigs, he has little to settle for.

C4: Eastern cow/pig location
Gives me pigs and cows right away, strong front location against Jowy. I will have Animal Husbandry by this time (also need that for Vacuuming).

C5: Western cow location
A grass cow is good to start out on, and it will have one forest available for a granary without border pops. Also helps establish a coastal connection with the sugar city (although Buddhism in Vacuuming may achieve that as well).

C6: Sugar/incense location (+2 happy)
Lets me make use of sugar right away without Iron Working. Starts out slow, is a good site after first border pop.

C7: Pink dot (+1 happy)
If I wait longer on this one I fear Jowy may beat me to it. He's no doubt starved for luxuries as well, and will want to secure those gems. I will want to have the jungle on a banana already chopped, and I may want to get a missionary ready for it as it has no first ring forests for an early boost.

C8: Wine location (+1 happy)
More of a filler city, but I get happiness and a 2/1/5 tile + clams.

C9: Seafood location
Will only settle this one soon if I see more seafood down there. Just realized that I'll only have 3 forests available for Moai. The PH filler up north may be a better option, has 11 coast tiles it can use freely and has enough hammers to get Moai.


I'm most keen on the proper pink dot at C9a, as this one guarantees me the gems and the eastern bananas. Else Jowy can settle NE of the bananas and claim bananas + have a shot at gems. I also prefer filler 9a to filler 9b, as 9b uses up a river tile for settlement.


I've mostly decided on the following tech path:
Meditation (Buddhism)
Writing (Open Borders + Library)
Mathematics (+50% from chopping)
Currency (+1 Trade Routes)
Sailing (Galleys)
Calendar (Plantations) - need this by the time I settle C6
Iron Working (Clear Jungle + reveals Iron) - need this before I settle C7
Metal Casting (The Colossus)
Priesthood
Monarchy (Wine + Hereditary Rule) - need this by the time I settle C8


All comments are welcome about this plan, of course. I have two specific questions:
1) Do you think Jowy is likely to ruin location C7 before I get there?
2) Do you think C7 would lead to imminent hot war between me and Jowy?