Woden's Wondrous World of China

[Woden]

It is nice to see with 5 player threads, the last one's last update was 51 minutes ago. Nice to see everybody is taking an active role in this PBEM. Thanks everybody! Another turn this morning and looks like I should get at least one more today, maybe 2 if Singaboy wakes up in the middle of the night and plays, like he has done the last 2 nights.

Turn 17

Builder finishes, start settler. Move Builder to horses and pasture them. Get eureka for Horseback Riding. I just want to note that I keep typing worker and have to back track and change it to builder. Guess I am to used to Civ 4. Main Street grabs bananas and selects rice as next tile, due in 9. I have been rethinking my Builder moves now. I think I am going to move him to the copper, mine it, then to the forested river grassland to chop (buy tile), then go mining the mercury (buy tile). I don't need food right now with 3 3-food tiles that also provide production. It will delay Irrigation a little but I will need the amenity sooner anyways.

Barb scout near my Warrior disappeared, move him west to see if I can find him. Don't see him




Can't see where he went but think it is on the tile under teh fog by Russia's boundary. I think that is the only tile he could have reached that I don't have vision on. Moved Slinger in the north south to see what is down there.




See more coast. I think I am definitely on the west coast, unless there is more land west by Russia. Also see that the land off the coast is definitely a desert island. I could put the Pyramids there but don't think I will have Sailing by then to get there.

In international news...




I am in the lead with score (does this mean I am winning?) with 16. TheArchduke finishes a tech and passes Russia. Singaboy also finishes a tech but still only has 2 pop at his capital. Must not have any high food tiles or focusing on production. Next turn I will pin my third city placement.

[Woden]

Got one last turn before Singaboy went top bed.

Turn 18

Moved my Warrior southeast a tile to see if I could see anything down there. Of coarse the wood on the pigs block vision. I set him to heal with his remaining movement. Probably should have moved him to the forested grassland to see what was past them instead of wasting teh movement.    Moved my Slinger to the cooper hill, don't gain any additional vision. I am bringing him back to help protect the Settler so I don't have to bring my warrior all the way back and can keep an eye on any Russia movement near the city site. I don't know if any bards are south of Main Street and do want to have some protection for him. 

I took a look at the production in Main Street...




7 cogs into the Settler, another 7 after this turn. It will be another at 7 when I move my Builder to mine the copper and will be 8 per turn after, 9 when it grows in 4 turns. If I assume the chop will give 35 cogs. The settler will be done in 6 turns for now. Then 6 turns to move down there. Hopefully, Russia has not started a Settler yet or has even decided that spot as a second city. It will be close to his capital but hopefully he has pick a spot over by the sheep or somewhere to the west. This could be close. If I where him, I would try to forward settle to prevent me from settling there. This is what I am trying to do, granted I planned this before I met him. The good thing is that he doesn't have an extra charge for his builders and if he wants Craftsman inspiration, he will need improvements not chops. 

The tile picker changed to the mercury tile this turn; will pick it up in 8 turns. Builder might have to wait a turn or 2 before mining. If that is the case, I will let it. I want to buy the stone at the 2nd city or a Builder to do some chopping. I think I am going to build another warrior at Main Street and a Slinger as the first build in the 2nd city then go settler and traders as the respective builds. Probably do 2 chops at the 2nd city for the Trader and another Builder and then hook up the stone and rice at Main Street. Should be able to improve development with that plan. 

In international news....




I am now last in science but that should improve once I start researching tech I have eurekas for. Still 2nd in Military power. Oledavy is now tied with me in score.




He finished another tech. Definitely first to a science CS. No other changes in score to highlight. 

Good turns so far. Hope I can get my 2nd city location before Russia, if he is even trying for a spot near there. I forgot to put pins around teh third city location this turn. I kind of rushed it, I wanted to see if I could pass oledavy on my average turn timer. Him and I are fairly close to each in average turn timer. He is at 1h27m and I am at 1h32m and he is leading the pack. Silly I know, but why not. I just need to make sure I prioritize and focus on my turns first. Maybe another turn later today, if Singaboy wakes up and finds the desire to play. If not, probably tomorrow morning (?), depending on if oledavy plans before I leave for work. If not, my turn time is screwed.

[Woden]

Another turn today before bed.

Turn 19

Slinger starts head back east for Settler, who I figure is out on turn 24, settles new city on turn 30. Warrior moves east, on to the forested hill and what do I see...




A bunch of dessert. Spelled with 2 s's because I want more! I wonder if there are more desert tile there? It looks like it continues under the fog. I hope there is a bunch, especially hills.  I wonder if I can steal it from Russia? We will have to see as the game progresses. I will check this area out after I settle my second city. If there is more desert there, I might have to make plans. If it big enough, Russia might not settle it. Or he will settle it last. I hope he has land to the west of his capital so he won't notice if I steal this "worthless" desert.  I also need to send somebody to the east of Main Street, maybe there is a desert over that way that could be all mine?

I also noticed the purple warrior is almost dead. Must be a barbarian camp nearby. 

Laid out what I know for the third city...




Figure the best place for a city. Not a high production city but has 5 hill tiles and a couple of forests I can lumber mill but does have plenty of food. Marked the Pyramids and Commercial Hub. I plan on putting another at Main Street were the "Chop" pin is. Not much new to report on the international front except Russia is ahead of me in Military Power. I think he built a Warrior. Maybe good if he hasn't started a Builder yet. I will have to check the trade screen to see if he has anything hooked up and his gold. That way I can tell if he bought or built.

[Woden]

Turn 20

Open up the game and find a promoted Russian warrior standing next to my warrior on his way back from the north. Move my warrior to the oasis tile to the west, see a few more desert tiles. 




With his warrior moving south and the injured purple warrior, I guess whatever barb camp was to the north is gone now but will see when I move my warrior up there in the following turns. Also, with the promotion on the Russian warrior, I think the promotion put Russia higher in Military power last turn and not building a unit. I double check to see if I can figure out how power works, and see...




This turn, his power has really jumped to 53. Don't remember exactly what it was last turn but know it was in the 30s.  I checked his gold and it looks like he bought a warrior or Slinger last turn because he only has 40 some gold. I should set up a C&D spreadsheet to track this stuff. 

In other news, Builder puts mine of copper. Will move him next turn to the forest chop and buy the tile. I hope buying the tile doesn't increase the time to get the mercury tile. Main Street will grow in 2 turns. Moved Slinger across the river. I am going to move him towards where I have the pin for Stonehenge to provide protection for the Settler. Then move him east once the settler is passed to the  warrior. Since we are at turn 20, I will do a summary/strategic review next before I report Turn 21.

[Woden]

Turn 20 Strategy Review 


Not much has changed in the last 10 turns, strategy wise. I am probably 4 turns from my first settler. 4 turns from finishing Craftsmanship by virtue of an inspiration by mining the mercury. I am still in the lead with score and culture but last in science and 4th in military power. A lot of this will change in the next 10 turns as I start expanding. I have an awesomely productive 2nd city site and I confident I should be first there (he says as he crosses his figures). I will discuss city #2 plans when I settle it. I didn’t take any overview shots this time because nothing has changed, a little early yet.

The Next 10 Turns

I am moving my warrior up to the 2nd city location, doing a little scouting along his way. I will bring him to where the “IZ” pin is located, so he has vision on the settler’s path. I am also bringing the slinger back to just south of Main Street, to get vision on the settler’s path. Once the settler has passed the slinger, I am going to move the slinger east. I need to see what is over there soon.

I have marked out a 3rd city but after thinking about a bit, IDK if I want that to be my second settler location. It looks to be a back-line city and there may be a frontline location to the east that may be more important. After Main Street finishes its current settler build, I am going to have it go: Warrior->Settler->Settler. If I find a good spot east by the time the first of the back-too-back settlers are out, I will send him east and have the second one go to the mark spot. I don’t want to wait too long because I want to build the Pyramids soon for the extra builder’s charge. I will probably have Main Street kick another settler out and then shift settler duty to one of the other cities and let it grow vertical.

For my 2nd city, I am going to have it build: Slinger->Trader(chop)->Builder(chop)->units… I plan on buying a Builder to do 2 chops to speed up the trader and builder, then move him to Main Street to connect the rice and stone (for inspirations). I will want to throw down an encampment at some time and may chop it partially out with the 2nd builder but I plan on him putting a few mines down too.

Tech-wise, I still plan on following eurekas, prioritizing the path to Machinery. Same for civics, following inspirations as best I can. I am going to have to waste a few turns as inspirations come in and probably will slow research State Property before I have a district. One good thing is that I am way ahead in the culture so far but I know once Gorgo starts hunting barbarians that could quickly change. I probably will have new cities build monuments first, starting with city #3.

I need to work out the upcoming wonder strategy and will probably post something after Turn 30.  By then I should have an idea of where my third city will go.

[Woden]

Turn 21

As life happens, I needed to come home around 1pm and was able to play another turn today. I moved the builder to the forest tile I want to chop next turn and buy the tile for 55 gold. It doesn't increase the shown turn tile for the next tile grab, which now shows the rice tile. I wish they would pick one and stick to it but I guess it was the original pick, oh well. I think with the drop in population, I probably could get by without the mercury in the short term.




I move the slinger to the stone, 2 tiles southwest of his starting location. I move the warrior two tiles northeast and see another desert hill. I will send him back down here to properly check out this desert after the slinger is finished in the 2nd city.




In international news, Russia grew a population. nothing else changed in score.

[Woden]

Turn 22

Got another turn in today before bed. Finished Pottery, started Wheel. Done in 7. I could've went Writing in 4 but I want to see if I can get a chariot out for faster scouting. I switched civic from Mysticism to Early Empire and will waste a couple of turns in that until I farm the rice or mine the mercury (which ever one is grabbed). Mysticism will finish when I get my Pantheon in 15 turns. I will start State Property when I finish Craftsmanship. I may actual shift next turn to Craftsmanship, just to finish it (4 turns?). Both Mysticism and Early Empire have more than 40% invested, so I will get them when I get the inspirations. Maybe not, I think I will get it with the tile improvement (3 turns) faster. I think I am actually making too much culture, need to waste a little. Not a bad situation to be in.

Main Street grew this turn, working the 2nd bananas now. Builder chops the forest for 27 cogs, settler went from out in 5 to 2. Move my warrior to the northeast jungle tile and find the northern edge to the desert. Move the slinger east on to the forested grassland. Spy a coupple of Toronto warriors hanging around. Hopefully they don't block my settlers path. 2nd city should be founded on turn 30.

Another interesting bit of news, a barb camp showed up west of Main Street, north of Nan Madol.




If it is still around by the time my settler passes the slinger, I might send him over there to try and get the Archery eureka. About time they show up. I was get worried that as soon as I move a unit into the fog, it is going to get rushed by horseman. Still might happen but it is almost guaranteed if I didn't see anything soon. Still haven't seen a scout near my capital, so maybe they won't show up (Woden's famous last words).

In international news...




oledavy passed me is score (well at least at the end of his turn). I actual have more points (19) since I grew and finished a tech this turn but I will give him the lead (at least until I hit next turn). He has 4 techs, nice to have a science CS. I am guessing the 3 initial techs plus probably Writing or Archery (if he met barbs yet). I am pretty sure he met a neighbor, since I already met Russia. I am kind of surprised nobody has found my capital from the east. Definitely have to get somebody over there to check it out. If I send the slinger towards the barb camp (it will be gone by the time I get there), I will send the warrior (next build after settler). I am now 2nd in science, Russia doesn't have a 3rd tech yet, probably skipped one of the intial techs and researching a more expensive tech (Bronze Working maybe with barb scout I saw and it looks like he cleared a camp, maybe he is at 3 barb kills (?). See if he complete something next turn. Still way ahead in culture.

[Woden]

Turn 23

Well, I should have keep my big fat mouth shut....




Open the file and find not 1 but 2 scouts scoping out Main Street. This most likely means not only is their the one barb camp I can see but 1 up to the north on the little nub of land to my north. That also means if I don't see the scouts next turn, I can expect horseman in a few turns. Well, Slinger is not going east. I should have a warrior out in 6 turns (1 to finish settler and 5 to build) and probably start another. I will start a Slinger once the new city is founded and then move the warrior up when it is close to finishing. I will switch to Agoge once I finish the last improvement. I move my builder east to head towards the rice and double check which tile it is going to select...




Now it is at the stone. Good grief, pick one! I think I might actually just throw down a mine on the hill the builder is sitting on to finish Craftsmanship. I won't get any eurekas from it but will get Agoge quicker and can spit out a few units for when the horseman show up. In addition, then I don't have to worry about the tile selector craziness! I will think about it.

In international news...




TheArchduke finishes a tech, probably the last of the initial ones, and is now 3rd in score. We are producing the same science now, I think? I check the science rankings and Russia is last and we are producing the same rate but I do know that rankings are based on number of techs and not rank. So maybe it is a little less, I do have 1 population more than him, IDK. I am last in military power, so everybody has more units than me, for now!

Settler is out next turn and Slinger is in position to guard. I probably will just throw down a mine, maybe?

[Woden]

I though about for a few minutes and I think I will mine the hill.  Actually, I think it was a mistake not to mine it earlier (before the chop). It might have increased the chop by a cog and wouldn't have affect the settler turn time but I would have finished Craftsmanship and not wasted a few turns in Early Empire!    

I don't think I need the eureka for the stone or rice yet and I can always put a few turns in to Bronze Working or Archery. Oh well, hindsight is 20/20!

[Woden]

Turn 24

Eventful turn (not really, just changed a few things up). Started out by mining the hill, finishing Craftsmanship. Switched military policy to Agoge.




Settler out, moved to where slinger was standing, leave slinger there for protection. I don't see anything around and I have city-states to the south but I am not taking any chances. I will move them both done next to the marsh next turn and them switch protection duty over to the warrior. Now that the settler is out, start warrior. I looking into the city to micro...




Damn tile selector moved back to the mercury. It will probably chose the rice next turn just to F@%# with me! I still think mining the hill was the best move as it finished Craftsmanship. I drop the bananas (3/1/0) and pick up the grassland hill (2/2/0). This will let get the warrior out a turn earlier but the city will grow a turn later. I think right now this is the best option. Warrior out in 3. 

The barb scouts move closer, still outside my boundaries but closer. Thank god they didn't leave to get their buddies yet! I should be good for the moment. Warrior out in 3, then build a slinger in 2 or 3, then probably another slinger before move to another settler. I am probably going to move the existing slinger east now that I have units coming on-line. I NEED to find out what is over there!

In international news...




oledavy was tied with me at the end of his turn and he grew a population. Singaboy is lagging in last with 14 points, wonder if he is having trouble with barbs? It looks like I am the only one with more than one civic. Nice! I have 3 and two that are complete and just waiting for the inspirations. I should be in Political Philosophy before anyone gets  both Early Empire and State Property or either? I was just thinking, since oledavy met a science cultural and I met 2 cultural city states, it will kind of show which is better for early development. We are both leading the respective pack but I did meet 2 and I don't know if that is the case for him. What is better is the beginning, high cultural or high science? Only time will tell...

I checked the civic tree to see timelines....




I switch to State Property this turn and it will be complete in 12 turns, maybe 11 if I grow a little. that means I have to get my cities to 6 total population in 12 turns. Mysticism will be done in 13 turns when I get the Pantheon, which is nice because it will give me the opportunity to switch out of God King. Wow, turns 35-37 will be crazy with civics. Should be fun for the lurkers to read reactions. Political Philosophy should be done around T47, maybe even earlier if I chop a monument out at my new city. I think I want to buy a builder to get that city going and hook up a few things at Main Street.