The scratching post

[Catwalk]

Ceiliazul has been contacted, I sent him an e-mail saying "please don't build stonehenge" Second worker done next turn, then on to the first settler. Planning on revolting to slavery next turn.

[haphazard1]

Ceiliazul has been contacted, I sent him an e-mail saying "please don't build stonehenge" Second worker done next turn, then on to the first settler. Planning on revolting to slavery next turn.

Are you planning to whip the settler? If not, delaying the revolt until it is done and moving to the selected site would avoid losing a turn to anarchy.

If you are whipping the settler, then obviously you have to revolt first.

[Catwalk]

Yeah, I think I'll whip the settler. The extra pop is doing me little good at the moment, and there are two good tiles waiting to be utilized. Got the following response from Ceiliazul:

I greatly appreciate your gesture, it makes planning a lot easier. It stood to reason that no other civs would benefit as much from Stonehenge as we would, but it is nice to be certain. Being Industrious, I figured there was a risk of you wanting to pick up easy culture and GP points. I am also happy to accept your proposed NAP (and agree with the definition of it), as we desire a peaceful start to this game. Being my first online game, I wouldn't want it to be over too soon I can confirm that my capital as 6E12N, in a location mostly identical to your own. We have silver instead of gold to the north, and there seem to be minor differences with jungles and forests.

Best regards,
Catwalk

I want to see if I can land another NAP with Cull, I really want a peaceful early game.

I decided to go for Mysticism next, and then head towards Hinduism right away. Not sure if this is a wise move or not, it'll delay granaries quite a bit. Considering switching back to Wheel and do Mysticism later, don't know if Hinduism is important enough to delay granaries.

[haphazard1]

Whether a religion is worthwhile depends on what you intend to do with it. You do not get the shared religion diplomatic aspect like you would in an SP game. But having a religion does give you culture, happiness, and the ability to use religious civics (if you can get it spread to your cities). Being able to use OrgRel for the building boost, or Theocracy for additional XP, etc., could be very useful later in the game.

And of course it depends on whether you actually get the religion. And it depends on what you have to delay to get it, such as cheap expansive granaries.

With the only civ starting with Mysticism not going for Polytheism (as far as they have said, anyway), and other civs all being creative and not really needing Mysticism early for monuments to pop borders, I think you have pretty decent odds of getting the religion. But I have certainly been wrong about religion grabs before...I tend to focus mostly on getting a later religion in my SP games.

[Catwalk]

Ad Hoc just informed me that he's going for Hinduism instead, fine with me as Buddhism is a little cheaper. I'll stick with my decision and go for Buddhism and Stonehenge, grabbing Buddhism first in order to know the location of the Holy City. I know there's not a lot of synergy, but it'd be nice to be able to gather the prophet points in the same city.

What kind of research boost will I get if I research a tech that's known by all other players? I'm thinking most will have researched Wheel and Pottery by the time I start on them.

[haphazard1]

Ad Hoc just informed me that he's going for Hinduism instead, fine with me as Buddhism is a little cheaper. I'll stick with my decision and go for Buddhism and Stonehenge, grabbing Buddhism first in order to know the location of the Holy City. I know there's not a lot of synergy, but it'd be nice to be able to gather the prophet points in the same city.

The holy city will not produce any GPP itself, but if (when) you get the shrine built it will add 1 prophet GPP/turn. Two per turn with your philosophical trait, of course.

If you know when the tech will complete compared to your settling schedule, you can predict the location of the holy city. Obviously if you still have only one city, the religion will found in the capital. Otherwise it is strongly likely to found in your second city. I am not sure of the exact percentage but capitals get a sizable negative on the founding roll. If you are out to three cities by then, then it it most likely to appear in the larger of the non-capital cities.

All of the above assumes no foreign religion spreads to any of your cities first. Not likely at this stage of the game, though.

What kind of research boost will I get if I research a tech that's known by all other players? I'm thinking most will have researched Wheel and Pottery by the time I start on them.

The exact effect varies by map size, game speed (I think), and number of players at the start of the game. The effect is usually small per known civ which also knows the tech, maybe just a few percent. But if all four rivals already know it you are likely to get something like 10% - 12%, or something in that range. It is not a huge effect, but is helpful.

[SevenSpirits]

The exact effect varies by map size, game speed (I think), and number of players at the start of the game. The effect is usually small per known civ which also knows the tech, maybe just a few percent. But if all four rivals already know it you are likely to get something like 10% - 12%, or something in that range. It is not a huge effect, but is helpful.

It's 30%/N, with N=5. So 6% bonus per opponent that knows it, max 24%. (You can't get the bonus from knowing it yourself. )

[Catwalk]

Sorry for neglecting updates! Lots of e-mails being exchanged, the gist of it being me and Ad Hoc aligning to potentially form an alliance. We're keeping each other informed of our diplo with other players. I've suggested that we keep this arrangement secret and that we align loosely with Cull and Ceiliazul. Most players in the game seem to be suspicious of Pegasus (being the most experienced player), Ad Hoc is also suspicious of Ceiliazul on grounds of him being the only Industrious player and fearing he'll snatch all the wonders if he's seeing too much peace. I've finished Mysticism and have started on Meditation in order to found Buddhism in 5 turns. Crossing my fingers!

Screenshots will follow after my next turn

[Catwalk]

Managed to forward the save in less than 20 minutes Will put up screenshots later tonight. I'm a little worried about city upkeep costs, as I understand it they ramp up massively on small toroidal maps. My settler will finish next turn and I have two workers already, not sure if I'd have enough for a third one to do. Should I start Stonehenge already, or go for a second settler?

[haphazard1]

Will put up screenshots later tonight.

Screenshots are good.

I'm a little worried about city upkeep costs, as I understand it they ramp up massively on small toroidal maps.

The toroidal wrap does make a very noticable difference in maintenance costs. Your planned sites are pretty close to the capital, which will help. But other than that there is not a lot you can do at this point in the game except try to get more commerce going to cover the costs.

My settler will finish next turn and I have two workers already, not sure if I'd have enough for a third one to do.

Do you have a connection (roads + rivers) to the planned city site? Will one or both workers go with the settler to the new city? Do you need to chop some forests to get Stonehenge or to speed units/buildings? Screenshots would definitely help on evaluating this.

Should I start Stonehenge already, or go for a second settler?

Is your capital prepared for high hammer output -- mined hills, mainly, and maybe some pre-chopped forests? If not, maybe go for another settler -- you do have lots of very high quality land to claim. You can prepare the capital in the meantime. If you are ready to pump the hammers, go ahead and start the wonder. How is your happy cap situation? Will the capital be growing during the build? Do you have any plans to use whip overflow to speed up the wonder?