[spoilers] Going Dutch: The Commodore Files

[Commodore]

Plako (stolid, steady) as
Roosevelt (Industrious, Organized) of
Sumer (Agriculture, Wheel, Vulture, Ziggurat)
I am reasonably certain that within the breast of the man who we call Plako there beats a warm, passionate, and feeling heart. But the iron-plated terror juggernaut that we play with upon the civ board is the News Crew Standard: Dedicated, Determined, Dependable. And, while one of the winningest players on the forum, the guy who spanked Mackoti soundly after getting hit with a three-player dogpile...I still have no idea how Plako does it. He just plays good civ; nothing flashy, nothing particularly notable, just a damn sight better than almost anyone else in the history of the universe. (Ah, the benefit of a small old game community, hyperbole is real!)
Gamer Strength:
People Play:
Fear Factor:
This is...pretty good, I think. I mean, FDR means that Plako is a shoo-in for building the GLH, which has to be a trope by this point, but both traits are excellent; for sheer hammers saved on buildings you'd be hard pressed to find better. I kind of dislike Organized Sumeria, because its less of a savings, but industrious loves Priesthood, so Industrial Sumeria is gold. Vultures are good if not flashy units; worse against axes yeah blah blah blah but hitting archers or defending against horse archers I'd rather have that base strength. This is a combo like the player playing it; strong, unsexy, balanced, hard to find flaws in.
Combo Power:
Early Game Power:
Middle Game Power:
Late Game Power:

If you see him:

[Whosit]

What do if start next to Plako? :P A rush will totally work, right?

[Commodore]

What do if start next to Plako? :P A rush will totally work, right?

So far the best best seems to be warrior into undefended cap: Ceiliazul in PB5.

[spacetyrantxenu]

What do if start next to Plako? :P A rush will totally work, right?

PB18 spoiler (sorry Whosit):

You can try to deter him with deity warmonger AI levels of units. As long as he has someone else to kill you may live longer and die later that way. Maybe even long enough to enjoy your game before reaching the almost inevitable gruesome death plako's neighbors usually experience.

Nice guy, terrible, terrible neighbor.

[Mardoc]

I wonder what mack's posted to get so many lurker comments. Maybe a micro-challenge?

[Commodore]

I wonder what mack's posted to get so many lurker comments. Maybe a micro-challenge?

"hey so here is my start how woud you oepn this?"

Mackoti is the lurker-trolling master.

[Gaspar]

I haven't read one of your early game threads in a while - its funny noting how I think of you and I as the foremost player profile writers on the site but we've both changed our format quite a lot over the years.

[Commodore]

Oh man, two sets of player reviews? You're spoiling us, Commodore

Seriously, these are fantastic. You should do one of those "stat me!" type threads and hand out traits to everyone.

Thanks! Although I think I did you recently...

Barry Lyndon (smurfish, impatient) as Hatsheput (Spi,Cre) of Celts (Hunt/Myst, Gael, Dun)

Xenu had a crazy theory that this is actually Lord Parkin; he knew that civstats wouldn't work for 34 people and so he signed up to become a living nightmare of double moves and clock game, undetectable. I doubt it. But he's got a pretty okay leader with a much fun civilization. 50% city attack 50% withdraw swords that can two-move through hills are a scary thought. Probably won't come to that, though.

Nah, must be mistaken...

I haven't read one of your early game threads in a while - its funny noting how I think of you and I as the foremost player profile writers on the site but we've both changed our format quite a lot over the years.

Heh, hope they're enjoyable. Weird not to be fighting the view war hardcore...

You gotta keep working on the format! The viewers these days, they expect a big multi-media show!

[Commodore]

Really Evil Muffin (gamespy, fibrous) and
AdrienIer (talkative, excited) as
Mehmed (Expansive, Organized) of
Korea (Agriculture, Mining, Hwatcha, Seowon)
I was originally calling this REMAI, but judging by post frequency and sheer amount of round-the-forum-reading I see, I think we're looking instead at AIREM. I'm...not sure how these people will play, honestly. It is mysterious! I am slightly worried about the Gamespy vets' use of the clock, but that's just a bridge to cross when we come to it.
Gamer Strength: 404 file not found
People Play: 404 file not found
Fear Factor: 404 file not found
I've spoken well of organized now, of course, and expansive is a good if massively changed beast. I at first pegged Mehmed as being vaguely anti-synergistic, given courthouses and markets/grocers are two different ways of dealing with costs...but I think the market happy is bigger than the 25% gold, to be honest, and in RBmod, where whips got whipped, cash upgrading is a much more sane proposition. So I guess it's okay. Korea is clearly picked for the techs and a mild improvement on the catapult; if you aren't Philosophical you're only ever going to build enough universities for Oxford and have done, so that's a vanishingly mild boost. Still, nothing says you have to be synergistic...so Toku Netherlands tells me.
Combo Power:
Early Game Power:
Middle Game Power:
Late Game Power:

Approach with friendliness, be ready for anything, watch your clock.

[Commodore]

2metraninja (irascible, proud) as
Pacal (Expansive, Financial) of
Portugal (Fishing, Mining, Carrack, Feitoria)
The weirdest player here to peg on skill is 2metraninja, the guy who never ever wins or will win, but who can at times royally wreck some other guys' games. It seems like 2mn plays down or up to the level of his nearest opposition, for whatever that is worth. He is temperamental and very willing to go on tilt, murderous, stubborn, and mercifully very linear as a thinker. He's not one to go on a stupid jihad, but this is definitely as militaristic a player as they come.
Gamer Strength:
People Play:
Fear Factor:
Pacal of the Porch Uggles is...actually pretty darned nice. I've basically just come off playing this combination, actually, just trading hammers saved on workers/work boats/harbors for hammers saved on settlers/feitoriae. Pacal's still a very good leader and holy crap does he get some gold %-modifiers. I like this combo for building. The carrack is okay I guess, never bad to have, but it's not like Astronomy is skippable on a Big and Small for long anyway. Our unique stuff is pretty equivalent, actually...
Combo Power:
Early Game Power:
Middle Game Power:
Late Game Power:

Approach with guns out, be ready to defend, watch for opportunities.