Epic 13 - Benno's Portugese

[Benno]

Well firstly I notice the 2 warriors. Nice.

They move but don't find anything that tells me to not found on the spot, so I do.



Work Boat is queued and Bronze Working researched for some growth and whip.

Well it is at this point I actually decide to look at Portugal as a civ and pull out the manual. It tells me nothing so I then open up civilopedia. Joao is expansive and imperialistic, the two worst traits in the game (well to me anyway). At least I can get workers and settlers out quick. I'm a peaceful player at heart (even though the only non-AW epic (the last pot luck) I've played was won by domination but that was because Hatty had the copper I needed for my SS parts and wouldn't trade and one thing led to another but that's another story for a previous time). I digress...

Portugal's UU is a boat, a caravel that can carry passengers, again marginally useful. The UB replaces the customs house and adds 1 gold to all sea tiles. OK, now we're talking.

A strategy would seem to lend itself to trying to chase Great Lighthouse and Colossus and trying to hit Economics and aim for the stars. We'll see.

We have stone but its not really that useful, maybe sneak in Great Wall or Pyramids as well?

I pop a hut that gives me a map that exposes precisely 2 land squares not already visible (I counted them ).

Hammurabi is pretty close. Tempting to have at him with 2 warriors but not really in the spirit of keeping with the no pre-2000BC declarations. We'll come back later. There's no way to keep things civil being so close.

Suryavarman is close too. No wonder we can't declare before 2000BC.

Bronze Working in and we have copper. Sailing is selected for Great Lighthouse attempt.

Work Boat in. Order in Lisboa will be worker/warrior/settler/lighthouse/Great Lighthouse hopefully.

We meet Justinian.

I pop Masonry from a hut, was going to research this next. Can do The Wheel instead to hook up the copper.

And then Willem.

[Note: I was going to post screenshots of meeting all these victims but you all know what they look like. If you don't what are you reading this for ]

Next goal is Alphabet as we have 4 trading partners already so Pottery --> Writing --> Alphabet it goes.

Pop Iron Working from a barb-guarded hut. My warrior gets eaten by a panther while healing next turn. There were alot of huts in the jungle area between Willem, Justinian and Suryavarman, what gives?

Second city founded to pick up Iron, corn, silver and deer.



Meet Pacal.

I take a tech detour to Mysticism so I can whip a monumnent in Oporto (reminds me to switch to Slavery as well).

I also take a build detour and throw in a granary and another settler before Great Lighthouse.

Zara Yaqob is found as well.

Third city founded.



Sitting Bull found.

Great Lighthouse part of the plan complete.



[Yeah I know you all know what this looks like too but hey, I'm showing off here].

Now I've got to wait 575 years to be able to delcare on Hannibal. Barracks and axes queued.

Alphabet in and here's what to be had.



Not the greatest selection on the board.

I'm now heading for Construction.

At 1000BC, I've got 5 axes but want to wait for another couple before declaring on Hannibal. His archers get a melee unit bonus so I need catapults as well.

I manage to build Pyramids.



Representation here I come.

Willem has built Colossus (he bulbed MC from Oracle) :mad: .

We declare 215BC.

Get a GM. I bulb Currency. Allows me to sell junk techs for cash and get my research rate back up to 100%.

Hammurabi has whipped some defense in Babylon.



I reduce defenses to 0% and start the catapult bombardment. I lose 2 of 3 at over 80% odds :mad: . They have done their job as all 4 of my axes win but that leaves one defender. As suspected that means he whips another bowman.

Nevermind, victory is ours.



Second city taken but its a bit of a slog now so a temporary cease fire is declared.



Barb city taken. We have 7 all together now. Hammurabi's last city will make it 8. Is that enough to launch?



I research Music for the free Great Artist for use later.

Once I research Civil Service I burn the Great Artist for a Golden Age (only need 1 with BtS). I use the Golden Age to make some free civics swaps.

Great Library is built during this time.



Machinery is researched and maces are ordered.

Pop a GE in Lisbon and decide to build Parthenon as I've got decent GP production going with my representation action.

War is redeclared on Hammurabi.



And with that he is no longer.

Looking at the AI tech progress and power, Justinian would be a decent next target.

A couple hundred years of peace and military build up are planned before the glorius triumph of the Portugese armies.



Something about mice, plans and men comes to mind (and other stuff I won't repeat here).

An interesting (and well-timed) quest.



I just hold my own without ever being in a position to attack his lands. Eventually buy peace. By this stage Justinian has started to improve his situation and isn't such a juicy target. Decide to just ride the train to space.

Very interesting solution to the castle quest, brings everyone to pleased.



The race to Liberalism is on, I'm one tech up so can't get anything better than Nationalism or Astronomy at the moment. I end up taking Astronomy as its the meatiest tech on offer.

From here its just sailing towards a launch.

Decide to settle a city or two on the island to the north.



Justinian beat me to the rest of the island. Was on my behalf as I just dithered about instead of using my caravels to get the settlers there in time.

Taj Mahal gives us a 15 turn Golden Age.

I use a privateer to pillage Sury's fish and then sell some back to him for 12gpt.



I also DP up with Willem and crazy eyes Pacal.



Industrialism is in, where is the Aluminium?



Yee-hah! As I've got Coal, my backup plan was to get the Aluminium Company but don't need it. There's actually a source in Hamurrabi's old land under my control as well.

Fairly stock standard race to space game from here. This is nice though.



I decide to forego Space Elevator as Robotics doesn't enable a SS part. A third GA will have much the same effect. The new world chops out two parts as well.

I'm fighting border culture wars against the Khmers (who are creative). I bribe Justinian to take them out and he does. Right out

MM to get last pieces out on the same turn.



Zara is second to build Apollo, as I've got 1 turn left on my last three pieces. Justinian completes his the turn after I launch.



I just have to press enter 15 turns now and we win in 1912AD.