[SPOILERS!] Grimace and wetbandit hope to stay on their side of the DMZ

[wetbandit]

Assuming this will proceed with a normal snake draft that GJ described, Civ choice will be restricted by the start we are given. Resources and starting techs will narrow civ choices down. From there, we can think of a syngergy either with Civ and leader traits, or go with the traits that you want to explore or find interesting.

Another thing to consider with the traits that you select is their general effectiveness over the course of the game. Washington has two early-game focused traits. Sure, expansive and charismatic have some bonuses in the mid to late game, but the primary bonuses for these traits are the +2 happy cap and the bonus to hammers spent on workers. You're looking to get the snowball rolling earlier with faster workers and more tiles worked/more whipping. These traits might inform a decision to attack someone in the mid-game because they have better late-game traits and will gradually out-produce your empire.

In a seven player game, it's reasonable to assume that the game probably won't deep into the industrial era or beyond, like PB13 or how PB18 likely will, with the jumble of players there. PB19 may be a helpful analog to see how a seven player game will progress, albeit, the players in that game were much more aggressive than is likely to be the case here. That game ended right before Assembly Line and factories around T180. That game was also BtS, which has a quicker research speed than RtR, assuming you are one of the first to research the tech. If we think the game will end around that time, this might favor a strategy to play for a stronger early game to get a stronger position earlier, which may allow you to conquer or cripple an opponent with late-game traits.

Not going to say much about Civ choices until we get a picture of the start, assuming we're doing things that way again. I will say that the dominant military strategies here on RB favor 2-move units (HAs, knigs, cuirs, cav, etc.) versus seemingly stronger 1-move melee/units. In the context of the Bowman, I do not think that many people here would attack into a city stacked with them with just melee units, and if they did, they would probably have enough cats to redline said Bowmen. 2-move units allow for more versatility both on offense and defense. I like the buffs to the swordsman in the mod, but aside from the limited exception for an AGG-Rome, I don't think they're something to prioritize.

[Grimace]

Assuming this will proceed with a normal snake draft that GJ described, Civ choice will be restricted by the start we are given. Resources and starting techs will narrow civ choices down. From there, we can think of a syngergy either with Civ and leader traits, or go with the traits that you want to explore or find interesting.

I know, but I'm excited! This will be the first PB I'll play from the beginning. I haven't completely hosed the position LP left me in PB20, but I also haven't been as effective as I could have been. This is an opportunity to learn from the start.

Another thing to consider with the traits that you select is their general effectiveness over the course of the game. Washington has two early-game focused traits. Sure, expansive and charismatic have some bonuses in the mid to late game, but the primary bonuses for these traits are the +2 happy cap and the bonus to hammers spent on workers. You're looking to get the snowball rolling earlier with faster workers and more tiles worked/more whipping. These traits might inform a decision to attack someone in the mid-game because they have better late-game traits and will gradually out-produce your empire.

In a seven player game, it's reasonable to assume that the game probably won't deep into the industrial era or beyond, like PB13 or how PB18 likely will, with the jumble of players there. PB19 may be a helpful analog to see how a seven player game will progress, albeit, the players in that game were much more aggressive than is likely to be the case here. That game ended right before Assembly Line and factories around T180. That game was also BtS, which has a quicker research speed than RtR, assuming you are one of the first to research the tech. If we think the game will end around that time, this might favor a strategy to play for a stronger early game to get a stronger position earlier, which may allow you to conquer or cripple an opponent with late-game traits.

Yeah, that's what I'm expecting, that this game certainly won't go to a Space victory. Which means late-game benefits should not be prioritized. And I may be wrong, but it seems to me like the traits really don't matter, in the sense that unless the map is biased in a certain way as long as you play to your strengths you can succeed whatever your traits may be. It seems to me that starting techs and your UU/UB are what can really make a significant difference in how your empire develops.

Not going to say much about Civ choices until we get a picture of the start, assuming we're doing things that way again. I will say that the dominant military strategies here on RB favor 2-move units (HAs, knigs, cuirs, cav, etc.) versus seemingly stronger 1-move melee/units. In the context of the Bowman, I do not think that many people here would attack into a city stacked with them with just melee units, and if they did, they would probably have enough cats to redline said Bowmen. 2-move units allow for more versatility both on offense and defense. I like the buffs to the swordsman in the mod, but aside from the limited exception for an AGG-Rome, I don't think they're something to prioritize.

Agreed. We can't make any decisions until we have an idea of what our start will look like.

I've also noticed that, and Old Harry explained it to me. You're essentially relying on numbers and speed rather than tailoring your attack to the type of defenders. It's a difficult lesson to assimilate when you're used to playing SP and just hammering the AI under.

[wetbandit]

I know, but I'm excited! This will be the first PB I'll play from the beginning. I haven't completely hosed the position LP left me in PB20, but I also haven't been as effective as I could have been. This is an opportunity to learn from the start.

Enthusiasm is great and you've already got an idea of what traits you want to play, I believe this is the proper time one starts coming up with a naming scheme or complaining about the lack of a map.

[Grimace]

Enthusiasm is great and you've already got an idea of what traits you want to play, I believe this is the proper time one starts coming up with a naming scheme or complaining about the lack of a map.

How's this...

Geez, it's taking the mapmakers FOREVER to get the map ready...my grandma works faster and she's been dead for 10 years!

Naming schemes...hmmm...I'm a student of military history, so maybe WWII battles? WWII ships? (Who wouldn't want a city called "Admiral Graf Spee"!)

[wetbandit]

WW2 ships sounds like a good idea. Old Harry and TBS used a battles theme for one of their games, I think it was PB13. There's quite a big pool for names.

[Grimace]

WWII ships is a big pool, too, so let it be so!

Now, the capital's name? I'd narrow it down to Enterprise, Yamato or Bismarck. Probably 3 of the most famous of the WW2 ships.

[Commodore]

Big E all the way!

[wetbandit]

I can get behind any of those names for the capital. If you end up doing ships, I hope that you end up using USS Nevada, the ship on which my grandfather served.

[Grimace]

I can get behind any of those names for the capital. If you end up doing ships, I hope that you end up using USS Nevada, the ship on which my grandfather served.

Sure. The USS Nevada...lead ship of the Nevada-class battleship (which was two ships, Nevada & Oklahoma). 10 14" guns in two triple and two double turrets. Built just before the end of WWI, she didn't do much until WWII. She was at Pearl Harbor when it was attacked but was the only ship that actually got underway. She was hit several times and started to sink, so the Captain ran her aground so she wouldn't go under water. She was later repaired and modernized, and continued to serve all through the war as a fire-support ship in the Pacific theater.

And yes, that's from memory.

EDIT: The only BATTLESHIP that actually got underway. There were some smaller ships that did so.

[wetbandit]

Been away a day or so, but very impressive recollection. I believe that the ship was also present to support the D-Day and Southern France landings.