[SPOILERS] Insert witty title here.

[LogicalTautology]

Turn 20 Report (3200 BC)

Dobby (Worker) moves NE-NE onto Forest.
Research completes on Bronze Working. Research begins on Mysticism.

Having finished Mining the hills south of Hogwarts, Dobby now heads North. In response to a new vision, the Forbidden Forest has been marked for clear-cutting and Dobby will be doing much of the work. Across the Wizarding World, new research has led to the ability to work with some metals, causing much rejoicing. While also allowing us to train some primitive armed forces, the biggest benefit is the discovery of all the sources of Copper in our Empire, documented in the screenshot below!



Well. That was a bit anticlimactic. Oh well. I guess that means we can write up our second set of blueprints for future city locations, given that we no longer need to wait to take the Copper locations into account. (Dotmaps upcoming tomorrow during my day off).

[Zero_1627]

Thanks for reports! I'll give some answer in the evening, everything seems fine - especially idea of Dotmap v2!
BUT: I can't see Your last picture (one with Copper location) - just a white rectangle!

[LogicalTautology]

That's an accurate picture of all the Copper we have revealed on the map

[Zero_1627]

That's an accurate picture of all the Copper we have revealed on the map

ouch!!! good thing we have Dog Soldier available...

[LogicalTautology]

Indeed. My tendency to metagame has me wondering if this strongly implies that there is Copper in the hills a little out of sight around Red Dot (Deer). Otherwise, there really is none that I have a hope of claiming, which would be interesting (and would mean that if I attack with Dogs, it is possible that someone else does not have access to Horses).

[Zero_1627]

Indeed. My tendency to metagame has me wondering if this strongly implies that there is Copper in the hills a little out of sight around Red Dot (Deer). Otherwise, there really is none that I have a hope of claiming, which would be interesting (and would mean that if I attack with Dogs, it is possible that someone else does not have access to Horses).

Thats true - though we do not yet know if we have easy access to horses!
Second option - if Copper was to be placed in range but not close, there's one other option besides N of Red - and this is WSW of Hogwarts, a bit beyond crabs/sheep line, S of the sea (just playing devil's advocate).
Anyway, I think N of Red just moved up in scouting priority, and should be the next scouting goal (both for dotmap and possible Copper).

Also - with so rich map and apparently lots of room to expand, I think that a rush is ill-advised in general. Even if successful, it would set us back vs remaining civs.

[LogicalTautology]

Yes. I didn't mention any Scouting in the last turn because the Scout is slowly walking to and through Hogwarts towards the hills to the North.

EDIT: And if I don't have close Horses...then I think picking NA might have saved our game.

[Zero_1627]

EDIT: And if I don't have close Horses...then I think picking NA might have saved our game.

Between boosted Archers and resourceless Dogs, certainly made it less terrifying , at least early. Big question is: do starting locations of other players look just as strategically barren? If so, any Horse or Metal location - even quite far - may be important to grab!

Also: I do hope there is Iron somewhere nearby...

[Zero_1627]

DOTMAP - a sketch
I'll not use graphics editor (sorry!!!), just give a brief description of sites. I'll use previous colors where appropriate.

---------------- First expansion wave (-> close sites) ---------------

Red - 1NW of Clams. Lots of production from hills, fueled by food from Clams and Deer. Production powerhouse, possible military construction center.

Orange - 1N or NW of Clams - with adequate number of both hills and grassland and abundant food - and some coast - a great balanced city, providing money or production as necessary. No specialization.

Purple - 1SE of Crabs - lots of food and grassland - Academy/research center. A few hills to give production when needed.

Gems - tip of peninsula SE of Hogwarts - with Gems, lots of coast and plains - and hopefully a seafood - it should be nice commercial-oriented city. Backfill possible - and i think desirable.



---------------- Second expansion wave (-> not so close sites) ---------------

SouthPower - 1S (possibly SE) of southern Pigs - another production powerhouse (all those hills), fueled by Cows and Pigs. Which may be nice to have. I'd prefer to leave Gems for dedicated commercial city, whether they end up in BFC or nott (see Gems )

SouthCommerce - 1W of rice - another commercial site; far below Purple of course, but still nice, and possibly a shield for Purple. Gets Wine.

Pink - 3N10W of Hogwarts - general purpose - strong border city, protecting the core.


------ Reconaissance needed (no hard data, but I'd consider them for 2nd wave) --------

NRed - screen site for Red, and relatively close. No details available.

SouthBlocker - 1SE of Dyes - blocks the pass, gets Dyes. I see no food nearby though - so exact location is to be determined. Should allow SouthCommerce as backfill, but would be struggling without food source. May be strategically important.

SW of Purple - land there seems lush, and such location would screen Purple. Highly desirable, but no hard data available.

Incense - closer than further-flung southern locations. May be contested by Alhazard. Land seems nice.




------ Actual expansion proposal --------

General disclaimer: I know You want quite far-flung gambit, but I urge You to start building Dogs once 2 new cities are founded (if not immediately, then at least soon). A token protection seems prudent, and may help some with scouting/dotmap too.
Also, observe costs carefully - and do start cottaging soon. Better to halt/slow expansion for awhile than cripple research too much.

1) Red. As per Your demand production powerhouse first.

Alternate 1) Orange. General purpose means similar early production to Red (so same help for initial expansion), and this location will be more desirable as Holy city (I'm an optimist, ok? ). Also, it may help grow that Floodplains cottage . Work boat would probably be self-built anyway, due to Hogwarts being occupied with priority tasks.

3) Purple. With 2 production-capable sites settled it seems like high time for research boost.
Alternate: this may be #2, too, if AH is researched quickly and Cows are promptly improved - it may build early Workers/Settlers well enough. In such case, definitely Red as #1.

4) SouthPower. Boosting production and allowing Gems to be backfill.

--------------------------------

At this point empire would have 1 excellent commercial site and 2 very strong production sites, one very good flexible site, and excellent (and also flexible) capital. And a good commercial backfill site (Gems). Excellent base for further expansion, I'd say.
This would be time to recap new map knowledge, look at costs, and decide where/how to go further. General ideas I described above.

[LogicalTautology]

I realize I've been doing a terrible job of updating this due to being busy. I'll be sure to get a large update in this week.