[Spoiler] Master Auro Has A Living Army

[haphazard1]

Ah, the dreaded expansion crash. I think we all have experience with doing that.

What is your plan for recovery? It looks like you do not have enough cash to tech all the way through Education at full speed -- how long do you expect the tech to take?

The proposed city looks pretty good, if a bit jungled. Pythagoras does help seecure your border with Dave, and has food; I am curious about the one off the coast positioning. Fear of watery mass destruction?

[Aurorarcher]

Yeah, I can't quite get it at full speed. I went back to 80% research (still same turns to tech Edu), but at the end of turn civic upkeep costs jumped and that'll delay Edu by a turn.

Also, Dave's traits changed: No more FIN/RAI but instead SPI/FIN/CRE. Wow. That's very good if he can keep them for some time.

[Aurorarcher]

It's kind of funny how I was making someone (I bet it was superjm) bad a while ago for having such a low GNP... and just a turn ago I had GNP of 11 .

Well, now I have Education and Incense hooked up so it's getting better but so slowly... maybe too slowly. Also, cairo has cap at size 11!

My neighbour has a pretty good tech lead on me... Crafting, Mining, BW and probably even OO (too lazy to check now if it was Dave or someone else).

These guys made me nervous for a sec.



But I think Dave is just going to settle this way? Certainly attacking would be waste of both our time, I have C3 warrior in the city (and can take promo after the barb suicides on it) + another warrior. Of course I don't have bronze weapons so he'd have an edge but 3 units wouldn't do it. Hopefully he doesn't have aggressive intentions just yet (he can see I have more power than him).

Found superjm's scout with my sentry worker... I know, that might look rather silly But I had a plan to make upgrade it to beastman if I find it in trouble... of course only to notice I'm 1g short here (I'd need 7g to upgrade). I don't think superjm can see me though, at least it's still showing ?-mark next to his name so no contact. But my scout might be dead next turn if he moves NW.



I think I'm close to circumnavigation, only need some more S-N tiles.

To be honest, I don't like my chances very much at the moment. This hasn't been the greatest opening, but I'll try my best to improve my position.

[Aurorarcher]

superjm saved my worker, he was the one with OO, that's great news.

I got a decent event on T71.



3% to inflation (it's already making me lose 1 gpt) sucks but this will pop the borders of 6 cities.

Land in south, I had to upgrade my worker to not get killed by that wolf. Notice the sign showing jm's borders. Decent land here, I need that Cotton for happiness. I think others have found more happy resources nearby, even Dave with only 4 cities has cap at size 8 (must have 3 happy resources, I don't think he has any happy buildings). I only have Dyes at the moment.



I think I'll get Fishing first now that the borders popped. I have 4 seafood to be improved, not that I need food though, commerce is what I need! On the other hand... Crafting would let me build Depturus in the capital, that would help as well. I still need to save cash for a couple turns so no need to decide just yet what I should do.

[Aurorarcher]

Dave revolted to City States, now only tech I'm up on him is Education. In the other news he turned his warriors away in the north, that's good. He also has Sailing... if he has a coastal city and that water path leads to one of his cities, then it could be a real problem if he builds a galley. On the other hand, there's so much land around him that I trust that Dave won't do anything that wild just yet. I hope his galleys can't acces to small islands, otherwise later he could attack Klein (Incense city) out of the fog.



I decided to turn the tech on instead of saving gold. Fishing helps with commerce too. Next turn I can complete two more cottages, hopefully can get Fishing eot74.

Demos when slider is at 70%

[haphazard1]

Helpful event, popping borders in multiple cities. The inflation boost is a pain, but overall pretty nice.

[Aurorarcher]

Yeah, that inflation boost will hurt later a lot more when costs are higher. To be honest, I don't quite understand how/when/why inflation rate grows? Does it grow linearly with time? I think I do understand how the cost is calculated (inflation rate, say x % multiplied with total expenses).

T73. My "supposed to go prove that world is round" -beastman is in trouble. So many animals everywhere! Combat calculator gives my warrior 74,52% chance to win if that Lion attacks. Hopefully I win . I'm only couple tiles short of revealing the S-N axis as well so losing this unit would be annoying.

[Aurorarcher]

Unfortunately the beastman died.



Also, Dave got a set of new traits. PHI/EXP/ORG... well, that's certainly going to help him to REX hard now, dang it... and also get fast first GP.

Found Wines in the south, I could settle 1N to improve it quicker... and I think I want it sooner than I can get monument there.



Also forgot to promote that Beastman, Griffon nearby could kill it at 14% odds.

[haphazard1]

Ouch on losing the beastman. I have had something similar happen in a few games, leaving me just short of completing the necessary axis path. Hate it when that happens.

I am not sure if inflation works the same in EitB as in base Civ. In base Civ it seems to grow more than linear would predict; I think there is also some multiplier factor based on the era? Or perhaps on certain techs having been researched? Anyway, it really climbs very rapidly in the later eras and costs get brutal.

[Aurorarcher]

I've made some stupid mistakes lately. Thoughts/mistakes:

1. I sent a wb for a small scouting visit and got eaten by sea serpent from the fog...
   
2. superjm asked for my Corn for his Clam. I refused and offered back OB + what he offered. Since we had TRs I thought, well, that could help... only to find out next turn that I of course need Sailing for any routes. To make things worse, he of course has Sailing and is getting free 6c from me per turn!   Well, it hopefully is a sign for peaceful intentions. Dave will win this game if he is not stopped. And he was just in a GA and with EXP he has as many cities than me. With one exception: I have GNP around 60 while he has 150. Small difference. I really think it was mistake (on my part as well) for letting this game go without banning Lanun.
   
3. I'm not giving up obviously. Just got Mysticism, then Sailing, then BW. I could do BW first, I do have gems under jungle. The eastern coast is my weakest point as Dave could attack it easily with galleys.
   
4. I still haven't proven world round! The land in the south has just been so crowded, tons of Griffons/Bears. I'm only like 2 tiles away but it's getting hard. I was lucky to win against Griffon on flatland with just 20% chance to win.
   
5. I'm getting Depturus in cap soon, that'll help a bit.
   

Pics to come next turn I hope.