[SPOILERS] - WK does it again

[WarriorKnight]

Culture is for sure a very risky thing especially once Serdoa is gone. The epic feat in PB6 is hard to repeat.

PB6 had nothing to do with it (well maybe it did given that I was playing but it wasn't the main reason). I was looking at ways of winning without catching up to plako/mackoti, and culture is pretty much the only way to do so. Time and Conquest never happen (although Conquest may be possible on a map this small), Space and Domination require a lead which I currently don't have and diplo is essentially backdoor Domination.

Seeing as I need to catch up to both of them, I wonder how I can get plako and mackoti to fight each other? plako doesn't seem interested in starting any wars unless it's 2v1, and mack probably feels the same way (although I haven't actually talked to him recently). I'll see if anything changes once Serdoa's gone.

[WarriorKnight]

I have a feeling plako is going for culture. He seems to be spreading Confucianism for no other reason I can think of, while avoiding Sci Method so far on a map where SP is king and already having 3 cities in the top 5 city screen. He also has told me he'd be happy for us all to race for peaceful victory. Maybe I should grab DR next turn for denial? He'll surely get that if he's going for culture.

In that case, no wonder he doesn't want to start a war. Assuming I'm right, I need to think of a way to let mackoti know that without getting involved myself.

[WarriorKnight]

Brief update now that Serdoa is finally dead. I've started to industrializing my empire now that I have AL. Sistine's is a wonderful thing, I likely won't have any more culture trouble from here on out. My GNP is actually slightly ahead of plako/mackoti, however most of that is culture and espionage and they both have me beaten at MFG and food, although not by much.

mackoti has a tech lead, up Physics, Electricity, Radio and this turn Industialism on both plako and I. plako is up Bio on me. I just got Railroad and am now getting Bio myself. It may seem like mackoti's ahead but plako is the clear MFG leader (although mackoti does have Kremlin) so AFAIK it's still evenly matched between the two of them.

[Rowain]

Thanks for the brief update Any plans/visions for your future in this gmae?

[WarriorKnight]

Erm, not really. I'm in a strange position where I'm last out of three but not really that far behind either of them. Sadly it's probably too late to overtake them if they get involved in warfare, and since modern warfare is all about first strikes, a stalemate (the best possible outcome for me) is unlikely.

Even if they do somehow get in a stalemate, this map is too small for peaceful victory conditions to be reliable, so I'll probably get involved in war sooner or later. I expect that I'll still be alive at the end, but I probably won't be the winner unless something drastic happens.

[WarriorKnight]

...unless something drastic happens.

Well something came up that I wasn't expecting. plako offered me a deal:

plako: I've been thinking my possibilities to win and they're slim unless something is done. Would you be intrested in a proposition that has at least decent chance to bring you in tech parity with us and ally with me against Mackoti?
[COLOR="DeepSkyBlue"]me: hmmmm
what exactly would you have in mind?[/COLOR]
[COLOR="Sienna"] plako: Basically Internet
Neither of us wants to build it
It is wasted beakers hammers - However to you it is a big thing
Unless Me and Mackoti play it so that it ends up useless to you[/COLOR]
me: internet, didnt think of that, could be interesting
[COLOR="Sienna"]plako: So the deal would be that I keep teching same things as Mackoti so that there are lot of techs you could gain
But you ally with me to fight against Mackoti
a real war
I won't build it and Mackoti is techleader so he only gains denial and loses ground in a rush towards space
So it is unlikely he would do it[/COLOR]
[COLOR="DeepSkyBlue"] me: ill have to think about this
ill let you know before i send the next save[/COLOR]
plako: ok great
me: but i am certainly intrigued by the idea

Basically plako is offering to research techs mackoti has while I build the Internet to catch up in technology in exchange for my cooperation in a war against mackoti. I'll admit I hasn't thought of the Internet, and it may be a good way to catch up. There are several problems though:

• Firstly, I'm not so far behind that the Internet would be amazing. I'm not that far behind plako in tech, a better assessment would be that mackoti is ahead of both of us by a fair amount. Likewise, currently plako is the MFG leader and I'm second, but I suspect that will change once mackoti finishes 3 gorges.
  
• This plan relies on mackoti not building Internet for denial nor switching off research. The former is unlikely but the latter is certainly possible if he suspects something
  
• Assuming success, I have very little to gain from the Internet after mackoti is crippled. plako could also very easily not keep up his end of the bargain (although I can easily tell if he decides not to), the unrelyability of the Internet with only 3 civs.
  
• While I'm busy teching Computers plako will be getting a head start on the Spaceship techs, assuming mackoti heads that way too (currently heading to Superconductors for labs) although preparations for war could disrupt that.
  

I still have a chance at this game but not in the current status quo (although my late game micro is lacking). Also late game warfare and close races are always interesting to lurk. I'll sleep on it, but I'll probably accept just to bring some needed late game excitement into the game.