[PB16 SPOILERS] SevenSpirits goes off the deep end and finds Krill

[Krill]

OK, I'll list the main points for lurkers, because Seven will understand this stuff anyway.

Moving to the plains hill means no 4 hammer start to benefit EXP. We can tell from peering into the FoW that there are now forests on the tiles south of the plains hill (and it goes grass - plains - grass for the tiles south of the plains forest hill FWIW).

Moving to the plains hill does mean a 12 turn worker. We lose 1 turn moving the worker to the wheat (a 6 food tile).

Settling in place also means a 12 turn worker due to the ivory. Either settling in place or moving to the plains hill are both fresh water, but moving to the plains hill costs a turn, so why even both. Yes, we could get a warrior out at growth to size 2 by settling on the plains hill but that isn't a great advantage IMO.

Settling 1E means a better capital at size 20, but that is so far in the future it is barely worth thinking about. The exchange is 3 lanes, 1 plains hill and 1 grass land for what looks like 2 grass river hill, 1 grass hill, 1 river grass land and 1 grassland (might be river grassland) but a 13 turn worker due to not working the ivory for 5 turns.

[Krill]

Seven picked Zulu because he felt dirty picking Agri/Wheel. Personally, I think it's legit, not really any worse than Egypt due to the ivory.

Now to see if Shaka is around on the way back...

[BRickAstley]

Seven picks Zulu.

I am not joking here, this is the real pick.

[Krill]

The thing is, Zulu has totally legit starting techs: whatever happens at size 2, that ivory is going to be worked. Even if the starting techs were Wheel/Agri, there is no way that Pottery would be the first or second tech, or that the second tile worked would be an FP cottage. We would definitely have Hunting researched by eot T17. On top of that Impi are total beasts when combined with HA stacks. Sure the Ikhanda is a bit weird at 60 hammers, not like we want to build it in every city, but it's not like it's a total waste.

[SevenSpirits]

Actually I feel dirty picking Zulu too. But crappy starting techs just railroads you in the start and makes it less fun, so...

[Krill]

Well, yeah, that's the problem with having a grain. You pretty much have to start Agri, or research it first. What were the other starting tech options?

Agri/Fishing? Not near the coast, so basically we are giving up about 7 turns of research.
Agri/Wheel already commented on.
Agri/Hunting is the same.
Agri/Myst is banned (only Inca)
Agri/Mining is only China and is just as good again, because we could theoretically go BW first and still just about get Hunting in time to hook up the ivory around T20 odd. Plus slave out a second worker to chop some of the forests after planting 1E.

I think Agri will cost about 90 beakers. Hunting is about 60.

[BRickAstley]

Yeah, that all makes good sense, I can get that.

My post was equally driven by me having found that gif and really wanting to use it.

[Krill]

For the love of god Zaldax pick a fucking leader.

[SevenSpirits]

Pick analysis:

1.SevenSpirits/Krill: Zulu. This is a good pick, it means this team gets to start with two techs, and they will have a UU and a UB.
2.Zaldax: Nothing. Suboptimal pick here, really you want some techs as well as traits.
3.Gavagai: Nothing. Same comments as for Zaldax.
4.2metraninja: Nothing. Not standard RB play but we know 2metra likes to reject that. It won't go well for him.
5.Jowy: Nothing. Well, I wasn't expecting a good showing from him anyway.
6.Dhalphir: Nothing. I know he's a noob but come on man, this is basic stuff.
7.Gaspar/Noble: Nothing. These guys should know better. Without a civ you don't get starting techs which sets you back like 10 turns, and without a leader you just can't compete with those who do have leaders. Maybe they're banking on no one else taking a leader either? If so, it's working so far.
8.Retep: Nothing. Curious to see his reasoning after the game is over.
9.Kuro: Nothing. This is really surprising, but maybe a dedlurker convinced him that this was wisest so that he has fewer tools to hang himself with.
10.Mikehendi: Nothing. Don't know anything about this guy, he is a dark horse. Maybe the "nothing" is a facade and he actually has a restricted pair up his sleeve?
11.wetbandit: Nothing. 11 may be the worst spot in the snake but that's no excuse. Shame on you, wetbandit.
12.Goreripper: Nothing. Well, I guess he used his position on the "wheel" to get some synergy between civ and leader. 0x0 is still 0 though. Goreripper probably doesn't know about math.

Overall: SevenSpirits/Krill team is poised to crush the competition.

[darrelljs]

What an awesome game you have signed up for.

Darrell