[SPOILERS] - tales of Brennus, famous Chinese warlord

[yuris125]

3rd city gives only 1 new trade route. Capital and the 2nd city already have trade routes, and don't get another one until Currency

I don't like IW before Writing, Libraries are important, and IW is a relatively expensive tech, so I think it delays them for too long

[Zero_1627]

3rd city gives only 1 new trade route. Capital and the 2nd city already have trade routes, and don't get another one until Currency

Ouch, I thought it's 2 routes.

I don't like IW before Writing, Libraries are important, and IW is a relatively expensive tech, so I think it delays them for too long

True, but quick 3rd city is also important. But bigger than I expected costs means You may be right - especially as Writing isn't that costly at +60% bonus . So Pottery->Writing->IW.

[Zero_1627]

To the West - I was afraid Barbarian Warrior will move SE, forcing me to abandon Copper mine construction. To my enjoyment, he decided to move SW!!! Robert Tye will keep his promotion for later and return to his duties as Beijing defender.
To the East of empire another Warrior appeared and will probably move on Cows next turn - just in time to become XP source for our brand new Chariot.


Demographics and promised graphs:

Note: our production going down is probably Shanghai switching from Horses to Pigs, while Mayan increase is due to Drugs (2nd city - I dont know where to find it, but it's now 5th best city in the world, replacing Shanghai). Also, Mayans seem to suffer from military problems (while other palyers are rather strong!).
Celtic Pride GNP is inflated by Wonder culture.

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far South - I think cutting down forests on Mayan border is a good idea, depriving them of good locations to threaten Shanghai and helping the city (and doing it now when they may have less military units to counter the action).
EDIT: after some thought I think it's too risky and tempting, I'm abandoning the idea for now.

[Zero_1627]

Warrior from E moved on Cows as expected, warrior from W turned around. Will have to send something his way next turn - probably Chariot from Shanghai (he may promotion-heal, and should have about 75HP without it). Pottery is researched, now let's accumulate Gold for 2 turns to get Writing (and then accumulate Gold until Beijing library is online ).

Also, Mayans already have Sex and Drugs - so we're only waiting for them to Rock'n'Roll

[Zero_1627]

Eastern Warrior was easily dispatched:


To the West, Barbarian Warrior moved to threaten both Copper and Furs. Chariot moved to counterstrike Copper, victorious Eastern Chariot will have to return and counterstrike Furs (Robert Tye will not be able to prevent him moving on Furs in time).
Btw, Copper is connected (through the Lake), but road connection will be essential for mine protection.

Other news: new borders of Celtic Pride are seen by the lake! 3rd city?... (one of opponents has 96000 population - capital at 5 is 90000, 2nd city at 2 is 5000, and 3rd at 1 is 1000... unless I'm wrong and size-2 city is 6000 pop? EDIT: it is 6000 pop, my mistake. 2nd city then.). Celtic Pride terrain identifies itself as The Big Three, which made me thinking AT changed his civ's name. It must be adjective, though .

[Zero_1627]

We just have lost worker turn AND at least one Chariot healing turn due to automated worker running who-knows-where. The trick is: I hate worker automation and don't use it (unless it's fairly late in SP game, there are lots of workers and everything important is taken care of). And in case of this worker - I specifically verified last turn that it has no orders, as it was needed for roading Chariot's way to counterstrike Copper! Is there a way to automate worker without realizing it? Some keyboard shortcut maybe? Btw, I think previous Worker antics were due to the same reason (and with the same worker!).

I decided to revolt to Slavery and whip Granary in Beijing. This way it'll be possible to get military unit out befor library (...and then whip library). Shanghai will probably whip Granary ASAP and build Library manually (it's no such priority with Shanghai's beaker output). As soon as the above is complete I think we may revolt out of Slavery. Both Beijing and Shanghai have very nice tiles to grow into, cottages to grow and Great Scientist (for Academy - in 3rd city if commercial) to create. Whip will probably be required to build necessary building in 3rd city, but that's in the future.

[yuris125]

I wouldn't revolt out of Slavery, depends on how much more expensive Medium upkeep is, but I like to be in Slavery to have an option of emergency whips if something goes wrong. No worse feeling than have 5 Chariots appear on your borders, and be unable to whip Spears because civic switch is on cooldown

There are keyboard shortcuts for Worker automation, yes. Be careful

I understand tomorrow is the last turn you will play before going on holiday? Can you post a detailed plan of what you want me to do in the next 20 turns or so?

[Zero_1627]

No revolting out of Slavery - go with Your gut, for now there is no cost difference.

Detailed plans - I will post them today (maybe more general guidelines than detailed plans ).

Last turn I play before holiday is the one just played. That said, I should be able to play Fri&Sat (not guaranteed, though), and hostel owner of where we'll stay for last 7 days of vacations said internet for guests is available. I'll believe it when I see it, but at least I can hope . In the middle there is unknown area, either I'll be able to play or I'll be completely out of 'net.

[Zero_1627]

PLANS FOR NEAR FUTURE aka vacations
I hope I'll be able to make moves myself, but I'm far from certain. In case You play - I'd like You to know what my plans and thoughts are. Remember they are just plans, though, and are subject to change if threats or opportunities show up - if You strongly feel something else should be done, go for it (and leave me note in thread).

Military:
2 of our neighbors have more Power - I think investig some hammers in military may be wise . I think we need ~4 Chariots for active defense, killing any threatening Barbarians and some scouting. We would also need defenders of 3rd city: Axe+Spear, I think. Of the above we already have only 2 Chariots (but would have another one in 2 turns, I hope). These are _necessary_ builds - if we have spare hammers for more, we can use them . Also, 3rd city may get one of our Archer defenders, and new construction will protect Capital or Shanghai instead.

City production
Beijing: Library ASAP (the plan is to whip it), Settler to be ready when iron Working is in (to build 3rd city ASAP), some military in between (3rd city defenders/more chariots are both important).
Shanghai: Granary (with whip probably), Library, then - maybe Barracks to be able to produce trained military?
I think both cities should go lightly on whip (after Granary/Library, at least) - they have many good tiles to grow into, cottages to grow, one of them has Great Scientist to produce (Beijing probably). Academy should go to commerce city (hopefully 3rd, else Beijing).
3rd city: whip-heavy in the beginning to get out infrastructure

Worker actions
I marked 3 tiles as cottages (2 of them are ready) - I think that's enough for Beijing&Shanghai, they won't have population to work more any time soon anyway. That's already more than planned in the beginning .
Necessary infrastructure for Beijing is there, Shanghai has some resources still unimproved. Workers may improve further, build road network (priority after 3rd city site is chosen!), cut down forest to help (good for Settler, but may also be saved for Forges and/or some Wonder), build some mines.

Research
I think short-term path is pretty much set: Writing ASAP, then Iron Working. I haven't put much thought into what next, but probably some commerce enhancers: Mathematics->Currency (will open Calendar, too!), or maybe Monarchy (if so - maybe Monotheism first, for Organized Religion?)
EDIT: actually, Monotheism isn't very costly, and it gives 2 serious advantages: Organized Religion and Holy City status for 3rd city (which should settle any border disputes it might have)! So I think it's worth researching right after Iron Working, even if we don't go for Monarchy at first.

3rd city
I feel that 3rd city ASAP is important - and I think it should be commerce center (if Iron location allows).
I assume that if Iron is in undefendable location (or completely out of cultural borders) then new city should be near Iron.
If iron is not the deciding factor - for now jungle SW of Beijing seems the best. There is both Gold and Gems there, some food and some of farmable/cottageable land. That jungle needs to be scouted more once we have some healthy Chariot!!!
The best city site I see now is 1SW of Gold. It claims both Gold and Gems (and Spices to boot) and has plains hill for production (and overlaps Copper for even more production when it needs it really bad). Cons: only one food resource, and it's on Celtic Pride border.
City sites we don't see now will be on someone's border too, though
1SE of Gems may be good, too, if there is something great in the fog under that location - for now it loses Gold and most production, but takes safer food in 2 bananas and fresh water access, and more grass for farms/cottages. If it has something nice in the fog (resource? hill(s)? flood plains?) it may be even better site.


Big thanks for being there to make moves - I would have problem otherwise (and game would slow down)!

[Zero_1627]

turn played, 3 new Barbarian Warrior Self-propelled XP Sources detected.

Also, tech guidelines above are updated: Monotheism is good!
EDIT: it needs Masonry first, but I still think it's worth taking right after Iron Working.