[SPOILERS] Don't mention the war

[NobleHelium]

Yeah I thought so too, but apparently it was changed in one of the patches to scale with game speed.

[plako]

Here are the messages I mentioned.

Serdoa:

as you probably have seen a GA was born last turn. You might have already
realized that I was the one who produced him.


I think we both realize how strong a GA-bomb could be in this game, but as I
said in earlier conversations, I would rather have us agree on letting the other
one live in peace. I don't see it as a winning tactic to pressure the other one
culturally so long that he decides that enough is enough.


Of course, not using him on our borders would also mean that I would expect
the same from you. That means that we both would not try to harass the other
culturally. We can define that more explicitly of course, but I think we both
understand what is requested to hold up the spirit of such a deal.


I would hope we both can find a solution for this. As I said, I'd rather work with
you than against you.

Response:

I am pretty happy with our current border so I've no plans to harass you culturally. I think that only the city of Pindildo could use some of its 2nd ring tiles that are still inside your cultural borders. Since they're not inside any of your cities BFC, I hope it is alright for me to try to claim them at some point (It will take a lot of time).

If the above is alright to you, and you're also happy with the current borders, we've a deal.

In general I don''t care too much, if you decide to use the Artist for bombing. If it annoys me enough, it would be relatively easy for me to generate Artist and counter bomb.

[plako]

T91

Feudalism finished and heavy whipping.

[plako]

Mechanics question. I've been thinking Pacifism+Vassalage, but does it work? I'm afraid that converting would give me high upkeep civic as Vassalage that only provides +2 exp points and Pacifism counters the free units benefit?

If this is the case, I probably should have converted to just Pasifism+Caste couple of turns ago and spare Vassalage to be combined with Theocracy phase.

[NobleHelium]

Well there's no inherent problem with running Pacifism with Vassalage. Pacifism military costs are separate; if you check the expenses screen and hover over the unit support line, it has a normal value and then a value for "military units" which always says 0 unless you're in Pacifism. Being in Pacifism turns that switch on and you get charged 1 gold for each military unit (I assume this does not count workers, work boats, settlers and scouts/explorers). Vassalage gives you extra free units under the normal support cost, which counts all units you have, and you get more free units if you have more population. If you're already not getting any normal support costs then the free units benefit from Vassalage doesn't do anything for you.

[plako]

I had to check this out. I found an old but presumably still accurate description from CFC

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=141475

After some calculations and checking out the Civic upkeep costs I get that converting to Vassalage alongside with Pasifism costs me 0 coins i.e. it is no-brainer.

Here are the calculations. Currently my N i.e total population is 72. I've 33 units of which 19 is military.

This gives:
Free support for units 0.24*72+7=24.28
Vassalage Free units 0.1*72+5 = 12.2
Pacifism free military units 0.12*72+2 = 10.64
Handicap cost = -9*0.2 = -1.8
(the last one seems to be suprisignly rounded down to -2)

On the other hand Vassalage costs in civic maintenance +7 and Pasifism is -16.

So this gives current units costs:
Unit costs: +9 (24 free units)
Military unit costs(Only pacifism): 0 (10 free units)
Handicap: -2
=> 7 coins

Unit costs in Pasifism+Vassalage:
Unit costs: 0 (24+12 free units)
Military unit costs(Only pacifism): 9 (10 free units)
Handicap: -2
=> 7 coins

So unit costs are exactly the same. Vassalage raises the civic upkeep by 7. However if I convert just to Pacifism I lose the Unit cost reduction so this is essentially even money proposition and I get the +2exp boost, if I want to finish some of those Longbows.

Overall I get quite big savings though since Pasifism is way cheaper civic than OR (-16). Net effect of this is +9 coins and probably also +1 coin from lower inflation.

[plako]

T92

I converted to Vassalage+Pasifism+Caste and then hired some specialists here and there. Mainly Merchants/Scientist in inner cities and Artist on border ones. At the end of turn Felix Leca generated Great Prophet.

[plako]

sigh. This turn pace is starting to resemble PBEM11. Well at least it is holiday season so hopefully we can get back to 1 turn/day next year.

Since there was nothing else to do I took a 2nd look at the current save and here are some random findings and thoughts:

• There are now 2 players with Construction - probably TMIT+WK. Not sure what WK is planning with HBR and Construction. Maybe some of his NAPs is ending soon or he doesn't intend to keep them
  
• WK popped gems near Canterbury
  
• Most/all have Metal Casting now. After Civil Service I'll probably take it and then Paper+Philo before heading towards Guilds.
  
• I had also a chat with Oledavy and apparently they're heading towards Nationalism 1st before going towards Guilds.
  
• I've also reconsidered my civics and I probably won't take Theocracy+Vassalage next and just adopt Bureacracy and possibly OR and try just finish few Longbows now while in Vassalage.
  
• I'll try to do without Sailing+Calendar for now. When I'm getting in happines problems I'll finish them
  

[plako]

T93

Hinduism Shrined. There are 18 hindu cities currently and I'll spread religion to 2 cities.

Demographics:

[NobleHelium]

18 Hindu cities sounds pretty amazing on this map. You're #2 in GNP despite not having tech on. #1 is probably Serdoa with all his wonder culture? And obviously you got dogpiled, etc. Great signs.