Zhonghua Wenming Jinian - The Annals of the Chinese Civilization

[thestick]

The Hanging Gardens completed:


Weep at the lack of improved tiles This place is going to end up like Meiyuan, whipping a Forge and Library to run Scientists.

Speaking of Meiyuan, it's time to whip out another pair of Workers to chop and improve those juicy riverside grassland:



Huishan's going to be Ximen light, strapped for food and cranking out units and junk off of the power of its resources.



The next two cities are going to be in the edge of the jungle, where the food doesn't need Iron Working. The name of the game here is a dense, ICC Representation Scientist farm.



Code of Laws is definitely next; with the new population, Ancheng's up to 7 GPT maintenance. Horseback Riding can wait, since Bob's peaceful and Sian's preoccupied.

For a brief, shining moment, I have a third of the world's population.

[thestick]

Jowy built the Great Library:


Hopefully this means he isn't going for the MoM.

Sian founded Confucianism, and settled this ridiculous city with absolutely NO food, except for MY Clams, which are being held by the Pyramids city.


Why not settle 2S1E of its location to pick up the Sheep and share Wheat? I'll probably let the city live, demilitarized border and all that. I doubt he'll be able to steal my Clams.

Ximen's starting on the MoM, though thanks to me screwing up the micro I'm two hammers short of my projection, meaning I'm forcasting completing the wonder with 302/301 hammers. Please let this work...



Random shot of Kuanghai:


Now to balance growth with Scientists...

Code of Laws in 2 turns.

[Old Harry]

Generous of Sian to give you a free city...

[thestick]

Since Verizon's taking forever to fix Mardoc's internet, about time to start trying to knock together a plan. Boring? Yes. About the millionth time this same line of reasoning has been posted on RB? Yes. Helpful? Yes.

Right, I should stop being so afraid of a guy who's military of ~4 Axes 2 Spears is tied up against a crazy-determined warmonger. Time to jump on it. He does have Horseback Riding, though.

Immediate goals:
1. Horseback Riding
2. Civil Service
3. Iron Working (need to start carving that jungle)
4. Construction

Mid-term goals:
1. Literature. Unlocks the Epics, and leads to...
2. Music. I definitely want the Sistine Chapel, which I probably will beat Jowy to since he hasn't been prioritizing religion. Jowy will probably claim the Great Artist, which is a shame since everybody loves Golden Great People binges. On the upside, I'll probably end up outproducing him since he's not going for Civil Service.
3. Philosophy. Pacifism GAs.
4. Machinery-Guilds. Military tech, plus is on the road to Banking.
5. Paper. University of Sankore.
6. Optics. Whales, and Caravels, since there seems to be overseas land.
7. Theology. AP.

Long-term goals:
1. Banking. With no overseas trade routes and Representation, Mercantilism is a no-brainer. Except for how expensive Feudalism and Guilds are, and how far off the Liberalism path I go.
2. Nationalism/Liberalism.
3. Divine Right. Spiral Minaret. Laugh, fools.

I'm strongly considering the mackoti Banking/Knights/Nationalism route, skipping Liberalism.

Note to self: look into shifting the center of GP production from Yanggang to Meiyuan so that Yanggang can build its Forge/Moai Statues in time for the next Golden Age. Look into whipping a Settler in Meiyuan and a Worker in Huishan.

[thestick]

Whacked the city using a scouting Chariot. There was an Archer behind the city on flatlands, and I whacked it at 70% odds. Dithered between peace and cease fire, then decided on peace.

Mardoc declared war on Jowy. From the Espionage graph, Mardoc's getting his Ziggurats rolling.

Anyway, prepping for another city near the Copper, which will be settled T82.

[thestick]

WHAT. IN. THE WORLD.


IT'S. EMPTY.






So... I screwed up the Chariot movements, since if I pillage the single road connection to Kostchtchie I won't be able to get vision into the city, and should've moved my second Chariot in a way that could get vision on the city next turn. Assuming, of course, that Sian's asleep enough to not kill my Chariot.

Time to get Horse Archers running and go rush for Sian's capital, Manchu style.

...why do I have to be overly cautious. Why. Sian's down to 3 cities, LEFT A CITY UNDEFENDED, and has most of his army tied up against Jowy, and my first thought is 'a Horse Archer rush won't work.'

[thestick]

I noticed that Kostchtchie's population hadn't decreased:


With defences like that, I took the 55% shot with my Chariot... and won. The mighty Chariot takes three cities singlehandedly

Abrupt change of plans:


Forget the jungle city, I'm settling this new city to lock down the central river valley, which is looking quite cottageable.

Jowy's bringing up a War Chariot (which I forgot to take a picture of):


I'm expecting Jowy to declare and come running after my Axe. The good news is Jowy can't reach my Axe before my Horse Archer comes off the line.

In domestic news, growing into cottages in the central river valley:





On a meta note, thank you for the map, Commodore! Luxury resources and Stone in the central disputed area, seafood resources placed so that they're second ring and can only be claimed by flatland cities, this endless chain of peaks...


The water's wide... I can't swim o'er...

I talked myself out of a Horse Archer rush - it'd work, it'd just rather wait. I'm on the wrong side of the conquer's plateau, with per city maintenance going up to 5 GPT with Courthouses and Civil Service just around the corner.

[Old Harry]

That's a pretty amazing chariot! But why did you raze Sian's city? It looks like you want one there long-term anyway...

Also where is that Bob quote from? Am I safe to click the link?

[NobleHelium]

Yes, it's safe.

[thestick]

There's no way I'll be able to hold the city with a single Chariot if Sian decides to put up at least token resistance...?