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The Frozen Aztecs- Zalson's Report

Disclaimer: This was my first ever game Realms Beyond game! (hooray!), but also my first on Monarch (in any game of civ); and what a horrid starting spot it was. I think that it was also my second game of Civ, so I was still feeling out the game (especially after not playing Civ III for a few months). That’s enough to probably tip you off to how this game went--not extremely well. I did survive and would have survived until the end, but it was getting stupid. And sorry for the lack of shots.

But enough with the disclaimer, onto the report.

After rounding the glorious city of Tenochitlan (really little more than a few huts and a large, wooden building), the young Montezuma decided that all was well. His father had just passed away, but he had been blessed with almost near immortality. After mourning his father’s death, he met with a few of his elite scouts, and sent them off north, to learn more about this cold, cold land in which they lived.

After several hundred years of struggling through icy and hard terrain, the warriors found a small village. As they drew near, the Aztec scouts saw the inhabitants fleeing. By poking around in the camp, the Aztecs found valuable metal deposits worth 47 gold.

Shortly after this news arrived, greatly exciting Montezuma, a group of brawny young men, trained in the art of Ser-Tun Deth marched out from the capital, intent on glorifying the name of the Aztec people. Before they left, Montezuma held a great feast, and hinted to his closest advisers that another group of young, similarly equipped, would warrant at least a pat on the back.

His scouts sent back another bounty from their travels, a bright grayish metal called silver. Later, they reported that they had been provided with maps by some ancient, nomadic relatives that lived far, far away.

Eighty years passed, until a momentous event occurred. One of Montezuma’s sons, disgusted by the state of material wealth, and the splendor of the palace, found enlightenment in the denial of self. Though Montezuma was a bit wary of this strange religion’s fascination with sitting and doing nothing, it made the people happy, and Montezuma was nothing if not a people person.

The chanting and meditations of the Buddhist (for Montezuma’s son had taken that title of Buddha, meaning Enlightened One) Aztecs seemed to have greatly increased their luck, for they soon received word that a tribe of nomads had decided to follow in the footsteps of their scouts, and had pledged allegiance to Montezuma. As preparations for festivities began, a strangely clad man made his way through the crowd.

“I am Julius Caesar of Rome,” he declared, and Montezuma ushered him to a prestigious seat at the table. They talked long into the night, and at dawn the next day, they agreed on friendship, for the time being.
Later in the year, the scouts sent back a map, detailing just where this “Rome” was. It lay many leagues away, and the man had been nice enough, so Montezuma made good on his word, and peace prevailed for many years.

Puzzled by the lack of another warrior regiment, Montezuma spoke to his advisers again to learn that in his drunkeness at the celebration, he had said the word “war-hic-er,” which the adviser had interpreted at “worker.” The next day, that same adviser achieved permanent enlightenment; he no longer had to worry about any physical desires, because his head became detached from his body. While Montezuma mulled over this slightly humorous solution to the problem, he couldn’t help but kick himself. How stupid could he be?

The next years brought bad news from the front lines. His warrior regiment had seen massive, flesh-eating beasts called “bears”. Though anxious at this unknown threat, they dug in, and waited out an attack, which never came.

The scouts sent back better news a while later, they had discovered how to use taut deer sinews to bend a piece of wood, which could then shoot a stone-tipped shaft of wood called an “arrow.” Dire news, unfortunately, was just around the corner.

The archery-practicing scouts encountered golden beasts, called lions. Though they fought valiantly, the scouts could not escape their wrath, and were utterly destroyed. Then, a marauding group of bears ate the warrior regiment alive. Many around the palace remember Montezuma making a short trip to the cemetery, where he did some digging, and relieved himself several times.

His anger was then relieved another scout returned to show him how to plant seed in the ground and water it, to make nourishing plants grow from the ground. But the icy confines of Tenochitlan were unable to produce much food. Fortunately, Montezuma’s preoccupation with the oceans was able sustain them for now.

Scouts brought back more and more reports, of hundreds of marauding animals (you should’ve seen it, but I forgot to take a screenshot; my next reports will include many more) and of our neighbor Caesar impressing his people into slavery, forcing them to work at his behest. While the Aztecs were shocked at this development, Montezuma mulled the option over in his mind. Once he discovered how to make this ‘bronze’ which Caesar so bragged about, he would implement that plan.

The next year, a similar man (if only because of his strange dress), met with Montezuma’s scouts. He called himself Mansa Musa, and claimed to lead the Malinese people. Montezuma was polite and genuinely liked the man. In fact, he felt a kinship to him, which could easily be explained by reincarnation. But Monty hadn’t ever died…

Later on, the same scouts returned with information that a people in the far south had begun to worship cows and pigs and other animals, which they saw as deific. The Aztecs were puzzled, but they knew no one who followed this strange religion.

Then passed a period of several hundred years, in which nothing happened. After scouts had reported to Montezuma that Caesar had founded another ‘city.’ Interested in the prospect, Montezuma ordered preparations to be made for another to be founded. He chose a location a little ways to the east, and sent a party of archers out to claim it.

Montezuma’s military might was increasing, as his warriors had destroyed several menacing bears. Shortly after this triumph, news came from across the waters that there was only one god. The Aztecs were perplexed at all the different meanings that people could find for the universe.

But that year was a good one for the Aztec people. Not only did their scouts bring back tributes of gold and precious metals from the west, but they also made contact with a ruler that was actually quite close by, the leader of the Chinese, Mao Zedong.

Sometime later, the Aztecs began to develop their Buddhist religion into a system of monks, who worked to spread the religion throughout the land. But along with this joyful development, news came from the south that the final legion of Aztec scouts had been massacred by barbarian archers. This sad occurrence was erased from the minds of the people the following year, when the city of Teotihuacan was founded in the west.

The Aztec people desired greater spiritual leadership, and Montezuma began to develop an Oracle, to determine the course of future actions. While it was under construction, Montezuma implemented his goal of enslaving the people, in addition to making contact with yet another people, the Arabs, who lived to the east.

The Arabs were a strange bunch; it appeared that though they were not the people who had discovered the worship of cows, they were adherents to that religion. Later, another religion was founded, concerning a balanced set of codes and laws. Montezuma was amazed at all these developments, and was beginning to feel a little unsure of his position.

Montezuma completed the Oracle, and with its great power he selected… Translators Note: On the original copy of this short history, this section is fragmented and partially ruined … and then the great Julius Caesar sent messengers, saying he had found a way to derive the seasons and crop times by a massive stone calendar (Stonehenge was built really, really late; like 800 BC or so) . Montezuma was impressed. But he retaliated, inviting the Roman to visit the newly-founded city of Tlateco.

Tlateco was impressive. It was founded below a previously impassable mountain peak to the south, by means of a fleet of galleys. A few years later (literally), the city of Texacoco was founded on a hill, to the south and across the ocean.

The next several years began a semi-golden age for the Aztec people. The barbarian city of Uzbek was conquered, as were the cities of Tlaxcala, Xochicalco, Calixtlahuaca founded (all over a period of maybe 100 years?). But the rapid expansion of the Aztecs greatly hurt their economy, causing them to fall behind their rivals.

And the civilization plunged into a dark age, until 875 years after the birth of Jesus Christ (which occurred in Neapolis apparently 125 years after it should have; this is definitely one of the most amusing parts of the game). That was when Teotihuacan completed the Colossus, and Montezuma made a decision.

For some time, Montezuma had realized that he had been lagging heavily behind his rivals. But it took a report on advancement to indicate to him that he was very, very far behind.

… And now the story ends, because I’ve gotta explain something; and don’t really want to invest so much time in a broken (whoever thought up that start *cough* is evil) game. At around 900 AD, I had decided that I would just quit the game, and not publish a report. I went and ‘won’ a few single player games on Noble --the first one was a close, true diplomatic victory, the second a slaughter-- and succeeded on those. Then I wandered back onto the Realms Beyond website and decided that I would try to finish this one.

So I embarked on an attempt at a space race victory, hoping I would gain the tech lead. I actually did, for a short period of time. I even was the first to liberalism, and got Versailles. But losing the Taj Mahal was a blow I don’t think that I ever recovered from. With that Golden Age, the game would have changed by a lot, but Vicky got it two turns before I did.

I attempted to slow her down by getting Alexander--leader in National power-- to declare war on her, but to no adieu. Casear soon took over the tech lead, and was producing spaceship parts in 1969, when I finally retired (Also, no one would attack him). One, because my machine had such a horrible lag at that time, and two, my best city only pumped out 25 shields per turn WITH THE IRONWORKS. AND A FACTORY.

Looking back, I probably should have actually built a military (it will be interesting to see how many people did this; when I first began the game, I was stuck in the builder mode… I’m beginning to learn), but I think what really killed me was inexperience. I figured this out after I had managed to beat everyone else to Liberalism; it showed me that I could actually succeed. But from there, it just went downhill.

My result: Retired at 1969, in 3rd to last place (in front of war-torn Saladin and Mansa Musa, who got on the bad side of Alex and Mao, respectively). See the screenshots to see how horrible I did!

--Zalson
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"War-hic-er."

lol [Image: rotfl.gif] lol

You took on a tough assignment here for your second game of Civ4! 8) I wish you more success in your next adventure. smile


- Sirian
Fortune favors the bold.
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Hi Zalson. You're right, this probably wasn't the best game to play for your second or third game of Civ4. But I'm glad you tried your hand at it anyway. smile

Two warriors from the start may not have been the best way to go. That made for slow growth at the capital, and relatively little long-term value from the military units. Perhaps by reading some of the other reports you'll get an idea of some of the other possible paths to take out of the gate in this one. nod

Your scouts certainly met a lot more civs than mine did! I enjoy the style of the report too, although it's sometimes a little hard to tell what's going on.

Wow, got to Liberalism first? You were doing very well! Taj Mahal would have helped, but it's not really a gamebreaker. Still, it's not easy to see your big rival steal it right before you.

You were definitely on the right track here in this game. Maybe not a win, but to be "not in last place" from that start is an accomplishment in and of itself. With some more practice, you're only going to improve that much more. Thanks for playing - I'm glad you went back to the save and played out more of the game rather than quitting in 900AD! smile
Follow Sullla: Website | YouTube | Livestream | Twitter | Discord
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Sullla Wrote:Two warriors from the start may not have been the best way to go.

After reading your report and a few others (and also from my own, drastically increased playing experience) I realize that a worker probably would have been the way to go... I was stuck on my previous Civ experience about scouting, etc, but, it didn't really work out too well. My scouts were slaughtered rather quickly...

Hey, thanks for the review, though.
"My ancestors came here on the Magna Carta!"

www.earnestwords.com
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I'm finally going to get some screenies up (after a while)...

I apologize for the lack of screenshots in the report. My next one will have more, I promise (the next one will probably be Adventure 4, because I have quite a bit of trouble on Large Maps... too much lag).

Thanks to everyone who played. You taught me quite a bit.

[Image: zalson_capturingchinook.jpg]
This is the barbarian city of Chinook, before I captured it. It was in the west, and quite a few other people settled on it. It was my top producer, 25 shields with an Ironworks and a Factory. Oh yeah. It was lame.

[Image: zalson_civ4screenshot0003edited.jpg]
Meeting Caesar (missed all the other ones.

Endgame Pics

[Image: zalson_civ4screenshot0010.jpg]

The turn I retired. I wasn't fast enough, but both Caesar and Alex had finished their Apollo programs and Caesar was done with casings. I had... way too many turns left to take them on. Chinook,my super producer, was scrounging to finish Internet... I wonder what would have happened...

[Image: zalson_civ4screenshot0012.jpg]
My horrible, horrible stats. I'm about last in everything! Did I say about? I meant definitely last (Saladin and Mansa were almost dead).

Thanks again to everyone who played. And sorry about the clock stuff. Gotta monitor how much time I spend playing wink.

--Zalson
"My ancestors came here on the Magna Carta!"

www.earnestwords.com
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Actually, don't get discouraged when enemy civs have spaceship casings. That actually means very little. Horrible machine lag from a standard map is not good, but if the AI only has casings, they're still a long way to go.

The AI still requires a lot of time to research the techs for things like SS Stasis Chamber. If you take a look, even though they're able to make casings, that means squat, because they still have a long way to go.

I've pulled internet in Epic 1 and squeaked in a spaceship victory while my large rivals had completed all their SS casings and various other parts. It is still possible to win if all they have is casings.

Don't feel bad. You did great.
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Drasca Wrote:Actually, don't get discouraged when enemy civs have spaceship casings. That actually means very little. Horrible machine lag from a standard map is not good, but if the AI only has casings, they're still a long way to go.

The AI still requires a lot of time to research the techs for things like SS Stasis Chamber. If you take a look, even though they're able to make casings, that means squat, because they still have a long way to go.

I've pulled internet in Epic 1 and squeaked in a spaceship victory while my large rivals had completed all their SS casings and various other parts. It is still possible to win if all they have is casings.

Don't feel bad. You did great.

Well shucks... Although I think I made the right decision; after all, Apollo was 60 odd turns away.

Thanks for the encouragment.

--Zalson
"My ancestors came here on the Magna Carta!"

www.earnestwords.com
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