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

[Mjmd]

Updated Vanrober scouting report along with some updated dot mapping thoughts depending how things turn out. The most significant change is the addition of the alt spots. Specifically the Alt corn detassling which would force him to settle back somewhere not on a hill. A lot of my thinking is actually based on the Spicy Clam spot invaliding filler along with current corn detassling spot if I settle on the spice. Note the alt corn reach spot actually invalidates a clam up north, which is real sad. I'm still  mulling it over and it depends where Vanrober settles / what is happening up there.

[Mjmd]

Mainly posting to fish for Mig feedback on extra worker and putting a chop into granary OR  doing a settler for 5th city at 4 corners location (supported by a worker just in case Mig didn't read all my prior ramblings).

Anyways discovered Vanrobers 3rd city. Which isn't that far per se from his capital. Ruff settled his 2nd city FINALLY. Mig thoughts on where to send scout. I could either go 1E or go onto that plains hill I think are the best options. I don't think Van would attack me atm even if he has a warrior in position....



Edit: forgot to mention Cairo just saw Cumae. Hopefully fine with.

[Miguelito]

Sorry for the silence. Yes to the settler.

I like alt detassling, but there's probably no going back from vanrober being our mortal enemy after that.  But we're Agg for something right?

How many vital land grabbing spots to go? At some point I guess we'll need an extra round of workers to get cottages going, since from traits we don't get anything to support the economy from traits... but you're better at that than I am, so I'll trust you.

Do we want any wonder btw, besides the million praet army wonder? You mentioned HG as a vague possibility,  something else?

[superdeath]

Do we want any wonder btw, besides the million praet army wonder?

Im very curious what the largest single-unit stack record is on this site. Im guessing upper 70's.

[Mjmd]

That is the thing about going granary is it is much better for the economy. I think 4 corners will still be there at capitals next whip cycle. That being said it is an incredible solid site that can help accelerate the curve into crashing lol. Alt corn detassling is probably the actual last key land grab site for the moment and either site will prob be city #6. That being said I wouldn't expect to settle it before Van settles his up there, so if he wants that hill site he will probably get. If I go granary at capital I think I would feel good enough about going for alt corn detassling as #5. I might try to play out both and see which feels better at turn 70 say (prob no notes and not trying to optimize).

What were the army sizes in PB48? Those seemed real big.

[superdeath]

What were the army sizes in PB48? Those seemed real big.

TOTAL size counting everything in a stack, i think the largest single stack was 90 units or so? Maybe? PB43 is the game with the biggest stacks that ive participated in. Cairo's defensive stack in particular was MASSIVE. 200+ units? Something stupid like that.

[Charriu]

The longer the game the bigger the stacks

[Mjmd]

I meant PB43 in my head lol.

Anyways here is the situation as I know it between Vanrober and ruff. Vanrober settled straight at him. Also, Ruff recently settled a city 3 tiles away from Vans. Assuming copper as I'm on horse. 


Also shown is Neapolis. Civac beat me by 1 turn to 4. Mind he can get an early academy to get himself out of a hole. Jowy is evidently somewhere south of me; finally saw his scout. I'm curious if Cairo knew my warrior was down near Cumae or just moved its full movement at once, because it ended up in forest near my sentry warrior. I returned the earlier favor and didn't kill it.

Its 11:20 PM and I need a decision by next turn to decide on settler vs worker. I'm leaning worker as the safe option as the main goal is to steal spots to the north. 4 corners will still be there. Also, to not crash the economy will probably require an island city. Also, earlier granary means that way I can work the copper and ivory which are both good tiles more. I'll see what I can get done in 25 minutes.

[Mjmd]

So I woke up early this morning and ran through both. I actually meant to go back through and rerun the worker first because I was being pretty inefficient, but no time now. I set tech to 0% and gave myself sailing T61. Quick summary is that 4 corners being delayed 9 turns nets 20+ gold. Again I wasn't being the most efficient. You can see the delay in silver fish, which is purely due to delayed galley.

Worker first
cities: alt corn detassling T58, 4 corners T61, silver fish T71
gold: 165 T71

settler first
cities: 4 corners T52; alt corn detassling T58; silver fish T73
gold 142 T71

Notes
- importantly I was pretty much broke on 6 cities. I've always found on monarch pre currency that 5-6 cities is about the max unless you have a gems, gold, or silver.
- I get to avoid mysticism for a while. I'll go writing after sailing because economy........ this may be a game where we bulb on the way to currency.
- Only 1 worker "needed" up north. Delays road network, but otherwise just have a worker out in the boondocks doing nothing vs improving at home
- Really need to keep on top of where warrior is between Rome and Antium so they don't become unhappy. Speaking of for settler first I'm camping the beaver after corn for happy lol.
- 1 pop whipped an axe in Cumae to help defend NE in case Van and Ruff make peace and those 5 warriors need somewhere to go... Even with this I'm running shoe string military while building granaries.
- Does capital culture really not hit the silver? Assuming because of how tiles are WHICH SUCKS. I still think I settler northern first as it adds the fish. It isn't even clear the island is a priority if I can get international trade though. It pays for itself without. I could settle to only get one city on the island for first ring silver, but meh meh meh.
- I was saving forests in Antium for wonders, but I really think I should sink 1 into a granary. It just takes forever otherwise. Still will leave me 6 forests there.

Summary:
4 corners is fairly safe from Cairo stealing I think as the best food in that area his side is the banana and even from what I know seems like he shouldn't settle soon. To help afford my empire I think I should go worker first. I haven't directly compared maintenance to sim, but I think I'm close.

[Mjmd]

My sim fingers are itching. I kind of want to go writing before sailing.

Sailing 1st is due to getting Neapolis connected to trade network and in case ruff specifically gets writing, but I just think that later is super unlikely. I'm basically wondering what if instead of building a work boat and galley I instead build a library in Rome. I also plan to build 1 in Cumae. It is also possible that with chopping in a granary in Antium along with going worker first that I can whip one in there. I can save ALL my gold post writing until I get those online. Maybe with a deviation to sailing. the other thing with worker first is that I'm very likely to be able to hook up Neapolis sooner as it only will take 1 rd connection, so the lost commerce there is probably close to zero. Man its nice saving 60 beakers on mysticism for foreseeable future.

In fact going in now to switch tech for that 1 beaker per turn!

Note van actually settled 4th city this turn. Will try to figure out where.