Finished reading your thread!
Woden, we met at turn 13 and from that turn till end our diplomatic relationship was shaky, we basically were isolated from others due geography. So in order to win PBEM, it was sort of unavoidable that one of us had absorb other to be able against the winner of triumvirate conflict in eastern continent which turned out be oledavy. Most striking thing about our diplomatic relationship is fact that we did sign declaration of friendship three times, in total 90 turns of 182 played turn basically a NAP (almost 50% of whole game). That play of us got some criticism from others in eastern continent and lurker thread. I shall start from beginning and I shall talk about those DoF's when it comes up.
When reading first page of your thread I was genuinely surprised that you went for religion from start. I initially thought that you did rush Stonehenge and found religion purely only to stop my religion. And I must say that I am very deeply impressed of your plan and theory crafting, very detailed! I am bit amused that we thought same way: in PBEM nobody went for religion and so my opponents in this PBEM 2 shall think same, so I shall found religion.
And the result is two players going for religion, granted in PBEM 1 there wasn't players with civilization suited for religion. You did have choice from China who could rush Stonehenge or Arabia a civilization with religious flavor (France is bad choice for multiplayer), and me at other hand got 3 civilization to choose, each with bonuses for religion/faith, so I knew that I had to try religious victory.
Going for China and build so many wonders possible to see how powerful they are in PBEM sounds intriguing and you did pull out it impressively. And now at end of game, looking back to it, shortcomings shows up. Firstly not all of wonders are really good and worth to get it and some are depending upon situation. Your ideal Petra location was robbed by me (I did that intentional, also founding Desertgrad is meant to safeguard for my capital St. Petersburg. Also I run desert folklore pantheon, so I needed that desert tiles for my faith), so you had to settle with less good location for Petra. Also Great Lighthouse isn't impressive with this map for example (I just invested one turn into it and decided to abandon it for trader which would gain me more gold with triangular trade). Also since you invested heavily in wonders (also builders), you did neglect important districts a bit, I think? (I was surprised to see relative low amount districts from you at end game graph at page 63 of organization thread of this PBEM). But now you played China in this PBEM strongly, you also showed them shortcomings and so future China players shall be likely more selective about Wonders and invest more at districts and other things to make China even deadlier, you paved road for that players, well done!
I do wonder about your choice of pantheon though, I know that is a good synergy with China. But I do look in this way: since you are basically guaranteed of Wonders thanks China's ability to rush builders, you don't need that extra rush to grab it and instead you could have chosen other useful pantheon? For example you stumbled upon 4 stone resources fast, with stone circles 8 extra faith, or oral tradition/God of Open Sky for more culture. Or do you disagree and Monument of gods were really necessary for you and I overlooked something?
You choice to not go for extra culture is likely helped by your very impressive scouting, grabbing all four envoy's of city states in western continent and leaving me biting in dust. If I look back in my thread, then I should have gotten envoy from Vilnius at turn 10 which you did meet at turn 11. But I can't turn back time and I give you all credit, not only grabbing all envoy's but especially making a good use of it afterwards to grab leadership position in this PBEM. I think that everyone did predict you would win this PBEM for very long time. I also appreciate your reviews every 10 turns and making plans for future, it really makes it pleasant to read your thread.
There was one thing I found interesting: you never got good look at my capital, didn't you? I always made sure to scout every tile if possible to gain so many information as possible. Singaboy was only one who got a look of my capital in this PBEM thanks open border that allowed his scout roam around my lands.
I really disliked your Jungle Cruise settling, because it severely boxed me in and you indeed did scout with warrior and discover that I am in danger of boxing in. In long term I was forced to break out through you or city states and ultimately I choose city states which resulted in adding 3 city states in my empire in first instance boosting me greatly. Over that very long turns, Jungle Cruise remained a thorn in my eye, especially when you tossed down that encampment in direction of St. Petersburg and two tiles away from my planned site for Desertgrad. I always prioritized capturing/razing Jungle Cruise when war between us broke out, it has became my obsession. At other side it was good move of you to box in your opponent to weaken it and keep it as little threat. But in order of that be effective you need to cage your opponent constantly and not allowing him break out which I did when I captured those city states. You thought that you already did successful keep me in cage forever and started to look at in eastern direction towards oledavy and how to deal with him while ignoring me. The result is that you started underestimating me which would be your undoing in future, but at that moment neither of us really thought that PBEM would end this way.
Then turn 53 first DoF of three. At that moment I was irritated about Jungle Cruise and I did consider attack it, there was indeed tensions between us. But at same time I was walking around with 2 settlers thus units was needed to protect them and you also already became suzerain of Vilnius, so in case of war I had to face attacks from two sides. Your offer DoF to me was perfectly timed from you, I thought that I could use it to expand and build up peacefully to catch up with you. But 30 turns later you just run away even more and you started spamming wonders. So while playing I thought that DoF would benefit me more, but now looking at your thread, I have to say that you are winner of first DoF. Well done! Also I need to note that I wasn't looking forward ancient warfare with warriors and archers, in eastern continent it was different story with two Greek civs which got UU with bronze working.
Then we added more cities, you founded your 4th naming it Kilimanjaro Safaris firstly instead later naming it into Pirates of Caribbean, fooled me. I thought firstly that you did change name when you realize that I might gain information about location of Kilimanjaro site. I really thought that natural wonder Kilimanjaro was over there north of Main Street due yet defogging area north of Main Street with scout. Later I found out truth by finding actual Kilimanjaro between TheArchduke's and Singaboy's lands.
You mentioned no video when wonders were completed, same for me when Mahabodhi Temple and later Alhambra was completed, maybe they are turned off in multiplayer or a bug?
But it was impressive to see you building one wonder after other wonder. It boosted your score greatly, normally in multiplayer such huge score is a reason for other players to stop you. But I was too weak at that moment and all other players were too far in eastern continent and constantly warring with each other. So you couldn't imagine better conditions for wonder rushing without bothered by other players. That rode you in very strong leadership position for long time.
Then before turn 83 when second DoF was signed. I am really deeply impressed that you managed to read that I was planning to put 1 for 2 envoy in Toronto and then with Great Writer as quest for Toronto knock you out suzerainty. And your plan to get rid of me, it was actually good idea. It was as you said: you has enough production to replace your losses and you surely would have overrun me after my initial attack upon you. Your remark about galley not smart of me, well I don't blame you not knowing that Zanzibar did give me quest to trigger eureka of shipbuilding which requires building 2 galley's. At that moment you yet again managed to claim suzerainty of Zanzibar despite my efforts, I became desperate and felt powerless against you. Was war broken out at that moment, it would likely end in my elimination. It was really impressive of you to read every move of me and mounting counter against every move of me. However there was one move that you seemingly didn't foresee: my offer for another declaration of friendship. It resulted from my realization that I can't win against you and I decided to cling to my last hope: religion. You said that you needed to think about it for 20-30 minutes. It seemed that you rated me not a big threat anymore and same time eastern continent was plunged in war once again which allowed you to run away even further. I do actually agree your reasoning to accept second DoF, only nobody could foresee and I myself also not that I would be in much better position at end of second DoF.
Then at strategic view of turn 90, you mentioned that you had reasons to keep me around, only you wouldn't yet tell why. I try to find answer in posts after turn 90, but I couldn't find or did I overlook it. I am quite curious about your reasons at turn 90 to have me stick around. By that time I already got Vilnius and started to eye upon Toronto and Zanzibar, with other words: I started to break out cage that you boxed me in.
Then that moment: kicking out your army out Zanzibar. Reading back at your whole thread and my thread, it was the turning point for us. From that moment you was reacting to my moves instead me reacting to your moves. I already suspected that you did put envoy meant for Zanzibar in Carthage, my galley were nearby and saw your horseman roaming next Carthage. I admit that it was really pure luck that I got 5 envoy's in Zanzibar: first one was I just met Zanzibar and it requested train archer and I just completed that couple turns later (request in ancient age). Second one was actually a weedy mistake of me: I pulled out a weedy move accidentally put envoy in Zanzibar with diplomatic league on (1 for 2 envoy) while it was meant for Toronto. Quite bizarre that my weedy move would in long term contribute to my victory, at that moment I didn't know that yet. Third one was from building two not so smart galley's (request in classical age). Fourth one, well at that moment I was depressed and I thought that I couldn't win this PBEM anymore and decided just to knock you out for fun, next turn you placed your 5th envoy in Zanzibar. My fifth one was medieval request: build knight, I did it at turn 105 and then turn 109 I attacked Zanzibar with that very same knights.
At same period, you didn't post much from turn 100-114, because you were too busy, thus missed out some details for example me having 5 envoy's in Zanzibar. I really thought firstly that you would put 7th envoy in Zanzibar just in time and was surprised that I could pull it off.
Good read that I wanted Mahabodhi Temple or war and I wanted to go for religious victory and I also needed to convert your cities too and needed another DoF with you, hence my offer. You at other hand was more desperate to sign other DoF, I didn't expect that of you, well I always got picture of you as very confident player (strongly based upon how game went from our meeting till Zanzibar incident). You was confident that you could prevent my religious victory, well it was prevented but barely with help of oledavy. Speaking about religion, you did choose scripture and it caused me headaches. But looking back it, scripture is more meant to counter heathen religion in your cities and not for effective spread. I did look up and there are three factors for spread: amount cities within 10 tiles that influence affected city, amount population of other cities and strength of pressure. And it turned out that amount cities that influence the affected city got strongest modifier of all pressure variants. Hence you spread did go slow due Main Street being your only city with your religion while you empire gotten surrounded by cities with Weedy Movement (or some or your cities already converted), thus my spread was stronger for long time until you purchased inquisitors to pull out weeds. Actually I think that without scripture my spread in your empire would been worse and I might already won around turn 140. My choice for Holy Order meant aggressive spamming of missionaries and apostles, thus more effective spread. Your choice of divine inspiration for wonders is a natural combination with China. And oh nice lucky break with that wood tile to chop temple in Monsanto (actually you didn't swap tile afterwards? Which resulted my tile next Small World when I conquered Monsanto?).
After successful preventing me from religious victory around turn 140, diplomatic situation became messy between players resulting in bizarre situation around turn 160. I think that most are said already at other threads. From your report of turn 140, I actually feel myself more heartbreaking closer I come to your report of turn 160 because well I know the ending. You really did awesome job with China and everyone in this PBEM did make their fair square of mistakes and you were optimistic about your chances and prospect to war at good side of 2 vs 1. But truly heartbreaking that just not grabbing one certain civic turned be such a fatal mistake that completely turns the table in my favor, I can't believe it either. I don't think that you shall underestimate Cossacks next time either, though I can't help but laugh by you calling them bogeyman.
There was one thing that I didn't foresee and you probably also not: you denouncement of oledavy lasted 30 turns(!!!) and in that period you two couldn't open borders. oledavy could only rush to help in your lands by declaring you war, but then oledavy would instantly lose a lot amenities which results in revolt in his lands. So with oledavy actually tied his hands, I had total freedom to roam in Chinese lands. You already said many things why it went wrong and I won't repeat it now.
There was one more thing that you might avoid doing in future: at turn 159 I already suspected that you were close replaceable parts due you being 6 tech ahead of me. I didn't know when you would get it, but next turn you actually gave me that answer!: 7 turns thanks that 7 gold of 7 gold deal that you offered me. So you was basically telling your hostile southern neighbor who sports Cossacks jacked up with Great General: "please wait 7 turns more before I got infantry that can match your Cossacks a bit unlike my musketmens now". Well naturally at turn 160 I fly off the handle and invaded you to kill so many musketmens as possible to prevent mass upgrading of infantry and conquer some cities before increased city defenses and tougher units in form of infantry.(you still lacking civil engineering unlike oledavy also contributed to my decision)
In war times you really did your best to prevent my religious victory, at that time I was deeply irritated by it (also by cheesy move of oledavy at Hattusa) and used strong words in my thread. I apologize for that if you already read my thread, I was too emotional and was very close to victory. Now looking back, I really respect your spirit to deny your biggest rival to prevent its victory. Singaboy did same against oledavy at other side of map.
But I think that playing this PBEM has been interesting experience for us both and both has learned a lot lessons. I am looking forward you put it in a good use at PBEM 4!
I am really glad to have you as though opponent in this PBEM, you was my biggest obstacle to overcome since our meeting at turn 13.
Good luck at PBEM 4!
