CH's Through the Ages Report Thread (currently Public games)

[Cheater Hater]

Thanks--good to know someone read this

How much of an opportunity cost was there in those techs you mentioned, especially considering the only one I actually played was Constitutional Monarchy? Clearly there was an opportunity cost in the actions spent, but there wasn't much there. Scientific Method was one-cost over some bad leaders and Riflemen, Coal was over Movies and Architecture (and there was the added effect of denial over three opponents still with Bronzes), and Oil was over Movies and Professional Sports, neither of which fits well with my current plan. You saw that I had just enough science to research everything I wanted, so it's not like I would have had time to take even the good techs.

[Cheater Hater]

Now that we're in-between RB games, I'll update you on some of my public games I've been playing. First, we have this game that finally ended, and it was another close second place. This was mostly known as my Basilica game, and boy is that powerful. Unfortunately, I ended up tying a little too much production in military it seemed, and didn't get enough early Yellows to make up the difference. Still, it came down the the Impacts, and there were a lot this game.

The other game that's going (that isn't still in Age A) is this one, and I'll give you a picture to get the board:


We're near the end of Age II, and it feels like I'm in a decent position. I have decent production, I'm leading in military by a mile, and food is at least partially solved by Ocean Liner. My only problems are the lack of science production (though I have a lot stored right now, and Spy will help as well) and that I don't have a culture base. The interesting thing is that I'm wondering if I can pivot and take Journalism (assuming Lee doesn't take it) and work on both at the same time? After that I need to cope with the Age Transition both through happiness and food--my hope is that I can get my Vast Territory with my military lead (and that might make it worth it to seed Prosperity instead of Spying this turn, especially since I'm pivoting from my Constitutional Monarchy play this turn for Journalism), but I can still build stuff if necessary.

[Cheater Hater]

My other public game has finally gotten into Age III!  Granted, that's because one player took nearly a week, though he quit (so hopefully we can get some more turns in), and now it's an interesting turn:


As always, here are my priorities:
1. Improve my military: I've slipped slightly down over the past couple of turns as I built a couple Journalisms and colonized Vast Territory, and with Lee out of the game I no longer have a scapegoat to Aggression and take the results of events. I can actually do this in a multitude of ways--the obvious is building a Knight/Warrior pair, but I also have the possibility of researching Strategy, or even researching/building a Cannon (Napoleon/Great Wall make it technically better than the pair, and Fortifications makes it the long-term plan).
2. Avoid Famine: In the short term International Trade Agreement helps a lot, but long-term I'll need another food upgrade--I assume I'll get either Selective Breeding or Mechanized Agriculture for 1 Action, but I'm not sure which is better (obviously the latter, but my production is limited in the short term).
3. Improve Research: My Journalisms have helped a lot, but I have a lot of techs I want to research (Con Mon, Cannon, Strategy, and the Food tech at least). I'll probably build the third Journalism eventually, but what I want is a clean window to get my Spy off (and as a bonus, that Cold War I seeded will come up eventually)
4. Improve Production: Yes, I know Mines have too long of a payoff window at this point, so the main things I want are Yellow cards--best case I'll be able to get both Engineering Genius and Reserves for 2, though taking both requires Con Mon.

Any thoughts on what I should do? The main question is what tech to research this turn (Con Mon, Cannon, or Strategy), but it's not clear-cut--I feel like Con Mon is the best option, but that doesn't leave me in a good place to research stuff next turn (unless I completely ignore military this turn and build the third Journalism) unless I can get enough military and either flip Cold War or pull off a Spy.

[Cheater Hater]

One more turn cycle left here--I don't know if anyone is reading these public games, but if nothing else, it's me getting my thoughts in order.


I'm currently in last place, but I have a lot to gain: FFC is going to get me a lot next turn (I think 30 culture), Bill Gates is 9 more, and there are a lot of Impacts in this game (6 currently, I'll play Architecture next turn, and the other two can play more).  My main competition is ZJ: he has a lot of culture right now (105+6, and he'll complete FSF next turn), but due to staying in Theocracy all game (with no other actions), he can't actually do much (to complete FSF, he needs to spend 3 actions to play Reserves and build the final two stages; that leaves him only one action (which he'll research Air Forces)).  I feel like I played a decent game at least.  Once this game finishes I'll actually be out of games; I don't know what I'll do then (either join a public game or two and/or start gathering players for RB Game 4).

Edit: I did end up winning, as the Impacts were very, very good for me--heck, ZJ seeded Variety for me for some unknown reason even.