[Mjmd #56 no players] One ring to find them

[Mjmd]

So Victoria is a good leader because the plan is expand well and then use financial for long game. It is a balanced package. Imperialistic makes sure you have enough build queues for defense and financial is a great long game trait. You get to play both early and late game.

A good advice for being aggressive however is never do it by half measures. The fact that this isn't no score mod is actually bad for being aggressive, so if I pick Rome, it should be aggressive or charismatic. I like imperialistic too much for getting enough cities to pump out prats and get ahead of the curve and then keep ahead of the curve punching people in the face. Charismatic is clearly the better trait, but aggressive means that first wave will be nigh unstoppable, which is the point. I mentioned this in PB54 setup for Charriu, but I'll mention it again. I wish aggressive still had the happy on barracks. This is much more impactful for the window your picking aggressive for. Or just give aggressive both the happy and unit maintenance decrease.

[Miguelito]

If it's Inca, can I warm you to Hannibal (or Cyrus), to boost that early whips? Reference is Cornflakes' PB49 game, although those were Agri granaries..

Otoh, the other map that SD made was so full of happy that CHA might be a waste, and there's always a solid game to be had with Vicky

[Mjmd]

I mean we already have 2 hunting happy resources in view, I would assume there are at least 1 or 2 more total happy somewhere near us. Vicky is just very solid. So if I get Vicky and if Inca are then taken, what is the backup civ? India just because! or?

Is it bad if I just want to go Rome smashy smashy? Cyrus is an interesting choice instead of Gengis. Cha is clearly leagues better than Agr. I'll mull it over.

[Miguelito]

I always think one should pick what feels exciting to play, and if that's Rome for you right now, go for it. How about this perspective:
- if you want to beeline IW and bring on the praets with maybe 6-8 cities settled (good spots taken basically, not really developed yet), it's clearly Genghis
- if you want to build up and go with praets&cats I suspect Cyrus or even Vicky might be better. You have time to get barracks up even though they're not cheap, and the C1 promo matters less if you have collateral (but so may or target)

Otherwise I think I like China better than India here to go with Vicky. But Inca is the most interesting (not sure if strongest, considering the techs)

[Charriu]

Don't take this as any kind of encouragement, but what will your wife Vicky think, if you choose somebody else as your mate.

[Mjmd]

I always think one should pick what feels exciting to play,  and if that's Rome for you right now,  go for it.  How about this perspective:
- if you want to beeline IW and bring on the praets with maybe 6-8 cities settled (good spots taken basically,  not really developed yet), it's clearly Genghis
- if you want to build up and go with praets&cats I suspect Cyrus or even Vicky might be better. You have time to get barracks up even though they're not cheap,  and the C1 promo matters less if you have collateral (but so may or target)

Otherwise I think I like China better than India here to go with  Vicky. But Inca is the most interesting (not sure if strongest, considering the techs)

If you are going with early aggression I think it very much is correct to attack pre cats, which are the great equalizer. The bolded above is exactly what I had in mind.

I really would like to try discounted fresh water granaries. 

Vicky is I think still my first choice. I think she would understand me going on campaign with the Romans though. Promise to be back and all that.

[superdeath]

I always think one should pick what feels exciting to play,  and if that's Rome for you right now,  go for it.  How about this perspective:
- if you want to beeline IW and bring on the praets with maybe 6-8 cities settled (good spots taken basically,  not really developed yet), it's clearly Genghis
- if you want to build up and go with praets&cats I suspect Cyrus or even Vicky might be better. You have time to get barracks up even though they're not cheap,  and the C1 promo matters less if you have collateral (but so may or target)

Otherwise I think I like China better than India here to go with  Vicky. But Inca is the most interesting (not sure if strongest, considering the techs)

If you are going with early aggression I think it very much is correct to attack pre cats, which are the great equalizer. The bolded above is exactly what I had in mind.

I really would like to try discounted fresh water granaries. 

Vicky is I think still my first choice. I think she would understand me going on campaign with the Romans though. Promise to be back and all that.

Dont channel your inner Superdeath. It hasnt worked out yet.

[Mjmd]

Amica took Victoria. The student has become the master.

I guess the armies of Rome will march! Certainly a different style of game than I'm used to. Assuming Rome doesn't get taken. If it does I'm taking Capac I think. Maybe Augustus. Then take Mali on the way back. Or take Mali first as I don't think either of those leaders will get taken. Well lets see if Rome gets taken.

I was wrong, PB54 is 99/player not 101. Looked back at old notes. This still isn't much larger.

[Miguelito]

Why not Capac/Augustus/ whatever IMP of Inca? Or again, Hannibal? I don't see how Inca depends absolutely on Vicky?

I mean, if you want to have fun with Rome go for it of course.


Btw here we were talking whether you could be forgiven for cheating on Victoria and now look at her...

[Mjmd]

It doesn't. Just without Vicky Rome is soooo tempting (I blame you btw, I did not have Rome on my radar going into picking).

So lets go over my 2 primary options
1) Genghis (Imp/Agr) of Rome.

Advantages:  
Disadvantages: All in.   what is an economy. Need to make sure to hit right timing. Thinking right after math (like whip turn before finishes, have chops finishing the next turn type of thing to get two prats out from each city pronto followed by another rd of whips). Probably require some pretty extensive micro to make sure I'm maximizing. 

2) Augustus (Imp/Ind) of Inca.
Advantages: Half expansive, half creative (stonehenge hopefully on a border), likely religion with shrine.
Disadvantages: falls off in the lategame. Ind is nice for national wonders as well.

Those are my two top atm. Again could do Capac of Inca. Could do Capac / Augustus of Mali as well, but I think I would want to try one of the above two.