[PB27-SPOILERS] Yup, it's HAK here...no idea what I might do this time...

[HitAnyKey]

Still don't know to what level of planning and detailed thinking I'm going to do with this game. So stay tuned to see what happens.....






....

[HitAnyKey]

So my random roll ends up being Justinia of Russia. I've just reviewed the details of each and even though I was originally planning on taking the first roll regardless of what it was, I'm tempted to go for a reroll. For some reason (and I'm not even entirely sure what it is), something about this combo rubs me the wrong way. I'll think about it and probably make the decision in the morning.

[HitAnyKey]

So I just randomly decided I want the re-roll. This combo gives me only 2 double-production buildings, one of which I don't know if I care about. And as much as I sometimes like Spiritual, I think it also gets me into trouble. So my conclusion is....


RE-ROLL!!!!

EDIT: Editing it into this post so that it is near the top, but not right at the top.
For the turn-playing lurkers or anyone I might ask to sub for me. My password is

hak4

and only play for me if the timing is within a couple hours of running out and I have not made a peep on the boards.
I'm home most of the time right now, so will likely be playing my turns super quick compared to most other people.

[BRickAstley]

Here are the second set of picks for players who have chosen to reroll. If you're in the top part of the list with blue on the right side you're locked in so nothing left to do.

If you're in the bottom half, you have a new combo to pick from there. You can either keep that new combo, or you can choose to reroll again, If you choose to reroll, that third set that you roll will be what you will have for the game, no more rerolling at that point.

[HitAnyKey]

So been thinking about this one slightly for a bit. Was distracted the last couple hours with my PB25 planning and thinking. But now time to think about this again. This new pick is also a tough one. The traits are nice, with Agg/Phi. And the starting techs of Myst/Mining are also good ones. But this UU....basically NEEDS to be for an early rush. And I'm not too keen on those, however in a huge game like this...we might be kinda cramped. And it's quite possible there will be some early eliminations. The UU would also be a great early defender I guess...to keep me from being rushed. It certainly won't stop an Axe rush, but it would most certainly stop any other rush....Warrior, Chariot, etc. So it has that going for it.
If I do a re-roll, I'm of course stuck with whatever comes. Which I'm also fine with. I do tend to like the random leader/civ stuff, and just play whatever I'm given. Having the option of a re-roll actually makes me doubt wanting to keep what I have until I no longer have an option.
Will have to doublecheck if a deadline was given for this one, but will surely make my decision after dinner so I guess it doesn't really matter that much. I may just flip a coin to see if I go with a re-roll or not.

[HitAnyKey]

I suppose I'll keep this one. So now all I have left is to wait for the starting screenshot and then to see how long I survive in this madhouse.

[BRickAstley]

Here is the starting BFC sandbox for you to look at and start planning, if you choose to do so. This accurately represents what the starting BFC will look like when you load into the game. The file has any strategic resources stripped out (since you would not know those on turn 0).

We reserve the right to make any changes to the BFC, but this is at least very close to what it will look like in game, so should be dependable for planning purposes.

No screenshot for the thread too because that's just time consuming right now for me to go take a picture of each one too.

Link to the starting sandbox: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4491...wordWBSave

[HitAnyKey]

Soooo.....my start according to the WBSave:

Not too shabby. I'll think about things in a bit more detail later. For now, got some other things to do tonight.

[HitAnyKey]

So I just ran a few SIMs and I'm tempted to try something crazy, which could very well get me eliminated quickly do to not expanding fast enough. But there's a chance I may try it. Basically it's going for an Oracle rush of Metal Casting, with hopefully getting Buddhism along the way. Even if I fail at getting the religion, I'd still try to push ahead with the plan. The religion is just a great benefit if I get it, since that would get me a Shrine by like T61 or so. The huge risk is that if I miss both items (religion & Oracle), then I'm totally hosed. Will see how I feel once the game starts.
Things might also change somewhat once I start exploring with the scout. Because if I determine that due to neighbor proximity (and who they are) that I need to get out a settler earlier than T47, then I'll have to change my whole plan. But yeah....a T47 first settler is probably a horrible idea with this many players. But I could have out the next Settler by T61, and have a Warrior & 2 Holkans in my retinue for defense. Again, probably all too little too late, but something I still may want to try for....depending on who my neighbors are.

[MindyMcCready]

Tech 1 Hunting. Tech 2 BW.
Chop whip out 3 holkans. With C1 + first strike immunity you have 33% odds against an unfortified archer.

3 holkans are the same price as a settler. If it works you get a capital instead of a second city.

Build worker. Pasture. Chop forests into Holkan.

This has a pretty good chance of working if your opponent is close by.

Tech3 could be a religion since you won't have workers to keep busy.