[SPOILERS - PBEM15] Ioan XIV of Byzantium

[Ioan76]

Hi guys !

I'm in hurry to go to sleep - just posted the starting position for the moment ...

[Ioan76]

OK - so ... let's try to write several considerations & ideas :

1. All other players picked a Financial civ - so I decided to give a try to a different combination ... may result in an interesting game.
2. The map seems to be quite scarce in resources - maybe Creative trait will prove to be really usefull to claim enough resource for next cities !
3. I'll try to use Industrious trait ASAP - and I'll focus my effort to build Oracle.
4. I and another player have the only civs which start with Mysticism - so grabbing an early religion seems to be a logical choice. I'll give a try to Polytheism.
5. For the moment Agriculture ( as first tech ) + worker build are no-brainer choices. I'll see after ... let's hope that my warrior-scout will find something interesting to decide what to research/produce next.

That's all for the moment ...

[Ioan76]

Researched Agriculture this turn - I'll take a bold step this turn and set the research to Polytheism.

[Ioan76]

Played another turn - finished the worker and set for production a new warrior.

Man ... this map seems terrible as resources-distribution !!

[Ioan76]

I met somebody or actually I saw "cultural borders" of another player ( it's yellow color - Malinese one ? ) ... but I was in big hurry this morning so I didn't have time to study more the map or to take a snapshot.

[Ioan76]

I received an email message from Twinkletoes this morning - his empire is the one to which I spotted border yesterday ( Huyana of Mali - as I guessed ).
Here it is :

Good day Ioan!


I must say I was surprised to see your warrior so early on in this game, but pleasantly so at least!


I have found this land very interesting and I would be happy to share screenshots with you to further both of our understanding!


Also, as you are my Industrious brother, would you be interested in discussing wonder co-ordination so that we do not end up needlessly competing when we could be friends?

I eagerly anticipate your reply, and good luck with your turns until then!


TT

The tricky part is the underlined one.
Honestly - I don't belive that we will be "friends" in this game :

1. he is ( until now but probably this will be the status ) quite close to me - even if I didn't find yet a land route to him ( actually I spot his borders from a coastal-hill but anyway ... ).
2. he's financial AND industrious ... which could be a devastating combination on long run ... so I need to prevent this "long-run" to happen.

Let's see if he agrees to give up on Oracle-race ( I'm seriously doubt here but ... who knows ?? ).

I'm still not 100% sure what to pick as next technology to research - Mining seems the most logical-choice but Animal Husbandry came quite close looking to the map ( reduced ) resources ...

[Ioan76]

Hmmm ... at least a honest reply from TT :

Hey Ioan!

Ok I shall send over my screenshot as soon as I get the save again! Will be interesting just to see how 'unmirrored' this map really is!

I had a guess you may be after an Oracle push, hence why I mentioned it so early. As you may have guessed given my combo, I too am heading for the Oracle at full speed. I am directly heading towards it now, so it will be a fast race for both of us so I wanted to gauge if there is anything I can 'bribe' you with to leave it to me?

I am prepared to listen to whatever you would like to propose - perhaps I can trade you a worker & some skirmishers for early defence or a guarantee not to pursue other highly desirable wonders that we will no doubt both be coveting!

I would like to work closely with you and try and build a strong early partnership so if there is anything you can think of which may sway you to avoid the Oracle then I would be happy to listen. Alas, if you cannot then please be frank with me. I am happy to race you with no hard feelings should you win, as long as we both know where we stand.

TT

Now I really need to think to a reply.

[Ioan76]

OK - it the moment for another update + picture of part of discovered world ( nothing spectacular actually ).

My scientists finnished study of Polytheism and Hinduism was founded in Resita. For the moment the ruling class is still not willing to allow open practice of the religion in order to not affect the military training of next warrior ...

Why Polytheism instead of Meditation ?
I don't have a 100% rational answer for this - probably I felt it like a little bit safer bet, because the other civ with Mysticism could also try it as first option ( but could happen the opposite, I know ), probably I did this due the fact that it allows also the build of Partheon ( with Aestetics ) which is one of my favorite wonder when I play non-Phi civs. Even the chances to built it sometime in the future are very slim it combines really nice with Industrious trait + cheaper Libraries from Creative one.

Now - regarding general strategy :

First of all - right from the beginning I picked an Industrious leader + a civilization which start with Mysticism in order to do an Oracle-attempt. So I'm not willing to give it up to TT.
Initially I'd thing a strategy like : grabbing Metal Casting with Oracle, pre-chop 2-3 forests for a Forge to be completed ASAP, hire an engineer there and calculate to obtain a Great Engineer before the Great Prophet from the Oracle and ... see what will happens.

Now ... with TT determinance to race Oracle too I'm not so sure I'll have enough time to detour for research of Mining + BW + Pottery - so ... I'll try something different.

But Mining is ( still ) the next tech to be studied because I really need 1-2 mines to be built & worked when Priesthood will be completed and the work to Oracle started.

That's all for now ...

[Ioan76]

I sent my ( censored ) map to TT - let's see what he'll send back.

No feed-back/opinion from any lurker ??

[kalin]

I sent my ( censored ) map to TT - let's see what he'll send back.

No feed-back/opinion from any lurker ??

Not much to say atm... You seem to be doing rather well. How do you plan to expand? Any cities planned yet?

Kalin