[PB25-SPOILERS] The Lunacy of the Reign of HAK Continues

[MindyMcCready]

I think that we might have to entertain a different City #3. 4S4E of capital, it's a bit of a stretch but has the following benefits:

1. Assuming that Grimace doesn't bypass shared food and settle for the marble, we then wouldn't have to react to whatever city Grimace settles.
2. We would then be locked into Agriculture as the next tech. In my SIMs using Agriculture next, I got the 2nd settler on T39 however it wasn't that useful to get the settler earlier since the Gold city couldn't grow. We now have the option of a highly useful, and earlier, city #3 by planting near the corn.
3. It's a blocking city and would force any further Grimace cities onto flatland (since he wouldn't settle on sheep).
4. It fits nicely with a city 2N1E of the whales. That city has river, connects to water and has useable water tiles and luxary (with sailing).

Our tech path would then be Agriculture >> Wheel >> Fishing/Pottery.

Another thing to note is that I generally avoided whipping for a 2nd settler, again since the city #3 wasn't going to grow anyway. Now, with wet corn available + farmed rice we can whip then regrow more quickly and land those valuable resources more quickly.

It's not worth simming anything right now, but once we discover BW; we should plan on splitting out the SIMs.

[HitAnyKey]

Hmm, certainly some interesting things to think about. My biggest (well, one of them anyway) concern is that unless we send the scout back over there after we get City#2, we wouldn't know if he settled for that Marble until we already have our Warrior/Setter headed that way. That hill 1N of the Marble is a prime spot for him. If he's feeling risky, and really wants that marble, he might settle that as his 2nd city. That would make us not be able to settle on the PH 1NW of the corn (your desired spot).

I also think getting that Gold online ASAP is kinda key for us. We're already last in GNP and will be for awhile. We need to get that gold city online (both for the happy & commerce), and grow it to size 2 (that's really all we need to get it to...then it can slow-grow) so it can work the Crab & Gold. That city in the SE doesn't have any luxuries (unless there are any on those 3 fogged tiles).

Though (and this is where a SIM will be important) I suppose while the settler/warrior is on it's way to that spot we could probably pretty quickly make another warrior/settler from the capital to settle our gold city not too long after. And C#2 would be responsible for churning out all the workers we would need.

The minor difficulty we'll have is that as soon as we get BW (and know where our copper is), we'll need to run these SIMs immediately. Since it is that turn we would need to decide if we go Agri or Fishing.

[MindyMcCready]

Hmm, certainly some interesting things to think about. My biggest (well, one of them anyway) concern is that unless we send the scout back over there after we get City#2, we wouldn't know if he settled for that Marble until we already have our Warrior/Setter headed that way. That hill 1N of the Marble is a prime spot for him. If he's feeling risky, and really wants that marble, he might settle that as his 2nd city. That would make us not be able to settle on the PH 1NW of the corn (your desired spot).

I guess I'm discounting that as an option for him. He should know that shared food is important so those 2 hills seem far better. Next, marble doesn't do you any good until you have Masonary. Given the tech constraints I think that prioritizing that would be a mistake for him.

But even if it happened that he settled that hill as his #2 city,...no biggie. We settle 1W of the PH and have pigs 1st ring with furs+cow+corn as second ring. The contingency plan is just as good economically but loses the stragetic advantage (which is gone at that point anyway).

I also think getting that Gold online ASAP is kinda key for us. We're already last in GNP and will be for awhile. We need to get that gold city online (both for the happy & commerce), and grow it to size 2 (that's really all we need to get it to...then it can slow-grow) so it can work the Crab & Gold. That city in the SE doesn't have any luxuries (unless there are any on those 3 fogged tiles).

Oops, I was going to answer this, but just read farther things that I agree with. Also, furs but we need expanded border and AH.

Though (and this is where a SIM will be important) I suppose while the settler/warrior is on it's way to that spot we could probably pretty quickly make another warrior/settler from the capital to settle our gold city not too long after. And C#2 would be responsible for churning out all the workers we would need.

Agreed with the above. We'll only be a few turns behind

The minor difficulty we'll have is that as soon as we get BW (and know where our copper is), we'll need to run these SIMs immediately. Since it is that turn we would need to decide if we go Agri or Fishing.

Yes, I think that we both lack the experience to know for sure which scenario would be better. You should try to play your turn soon after the turn rolls on the turn that we finish BW. Splitting up the SIM options would make it more manageable.

[HitAnyKey]

Mr. Scout survived the Lion attack...but just barely. Trying to decide what to do with him. Probably should remain in place for at least this turn, next turn he can get a promotion to heal him partly. And then decide when to start moving him again. Still trying to decide if I need to/want to time his movements such that he can get back to the north for helping escort the Settler.
This turn everyone got score increases from land control, and a bunch with other increases mixed in. Probably some growing and others getting techs.

[HitAnyKey]

Yes, I think that we both lack the experience to know for sure which scenario would be better. You should try to play your turn soon after the turn rolls on the turn that we finish BW. Splitting up the SIM options would make it more manageable.

Since I'm currently basically unemployed (got laid off a few months ago), playing the turn as soon as it rolls should be pretty doable since I'm basically available except when I'm sleeping.

[MindyMcCready]

We need to move that settler NNEE to get around that darn bear. Remember, even 0.1 health still accomplishes the mission of protecting city #2.

We're not likely to survive anything unless we're fully healed. We may need to keep moving NE each turn to avoid the bear. We'll also heal quicker in our culture.

[MindyMcCready]

More on that, we'll probably just make it to the city by T26 which is getting close to when the settler comes out. I don't think that we can afford any detours without jeopardazing the 2 escort plan.

[MindyMcCready]

Since I'm currently basically unemployed (got laid off a few months ago), playing the turn as soon as it rolls should be pretty doable since I'm basically available except when I'm sleeping.

Sorry to hear that. CVs > CIV,...but only when unemployed.

[HitAnyKey]

I'm actually somewhat tempted to take a minor risk and move him N-NW this turn. Then hope that the bear moves S or SW, such that the scout then then move NE-NE the turn after that. Doing that clears a good amount of fog. If the bear moves SE, then I would probably move the scout NW to go around the bear that way.
Basically the risk here is that there is some other animal in the fog. It should be pretty easy to avoid this bear on the way north. It's animals we don't know about which will determine if the scout makes it back north alive. But that could happen even if we move NE from where are are, since there could be animals over there too. But I'd rather not backtrack through land we already explored if I can help it.

[HitAnyKey]

So as discussed in chat, moved the scout N-NE....and.....Ivory!


And right next to Furs. That tile I have marked where the Bear was on T18....that could be an awesome city. On the pond, Pig/Ivory/Furs first ring, with Cows 2nd ring. And if we can indeed get a city on that PH where the bear was T14....that's really good city placement.



In the north, that Bear has been alternating between that far NW corner on the odd turns. Hopefully that keeps up, since current timing has the Settler able to move onto our hill there on T29. So if the bear is in that corner, we're all set.

We also get graphs on Grimace next turn. At which point I'll decrease the EPs I'm putting into him to split between him and Commodore. Or maybe just do all Commodore to get his graphs while putting some into Grimace whenever necessary to make sure we don't lose graphs.