[SPOILERS] Roland and Suboptimal Team Up

[Bruindane]

both russia and norway have huge gold, no doubt battleships incoming

Russia is in fact one tech away from the Modern Era. Might be a bit of lottery if battleships are next for them. Perhaps they are banking their faith for the next Great Admiral to cover modern units, which might  explain why they did not faith build an army to take us out.  It's possible they are skipping their leaf-tech cossacks-- we are going to calvary as our 'last' tech because I never imagined they would leave us alone so many turns before doomsday.




Thoughts on our preparation to take back Al: suboptimal, how much is it to buy a trader that could then build a road between us?  That and a builder to hook up the niter and tea.

[suboptimal]

There is already a road from China to Al - my first trade route went from Al to James Tavernier. There is also a road from James Tavernier to Diamonds and that city is running a route to Conor Goldson. I have a second trade route slot unless/until the Harbor at Obvious Child gets pillaged. I can buy a trader for 355.

[suboptimal]

Turn 161

China has sent over 20 horses and given me the I requested. I immediately upgrade the slinger at Obvious Child to a crossbowman. My income is now 1.9 per turn. This puts me in a bit of a quandary as the next time I get a unit out I’ll need periodic maintenance from China. The caravel at OC will get paused 1 turn from completion to avoid maintenance on that until/unless I need the unit.

Look around the map, the knight at Al is outside the city, having banished Confucius to OC. My prophet moves up to the border, ready to enter Russian territory again next turn.

Over at Graceland the man-at-arms is complete. No sign of Russian aggressors as the frigates have gotten tired of playing tag for now. I move the man-at-arms to the Campus and start work on a trader. I’ll stop that to rebuild the walls in a couple of turns assuming no further aggression.

The pikeman steps off the horses to scout:




That’s either a second trebuchet or a new one. I move back to the horses and will see if it continues its approach.

I’ve extended the following peace deal to Russia:




The ceded cities cannot be removed from the cede list – they either stay there or show up in the “return” list. I’m unable to ask for the transfer of Scott Brown, unfortunately. The resources are part of the city transfer of Adios Hermanos.

[Bruindane]

161 World Congress

Voted purely on self-interest as we could use a few inspirations, and are not particularly fond of ships shelling our cities.

[Bruindane]

161 epilogue: It'll end in tears



Was going to throw up this screenshot to show how cheaper museums leads to inspirations, when I spotted another path.  We are not friends or allies of Japan, and of course they no longer have a team-mate, so my intent is to denounce them, and then declare war in 5 turns.  Let's say the imagined grievance was Archduke voting down our earlier emergency.  We can then pick up nationalism in 7 turns and with it form a pair of bombard and calvary corps with the bonus +10 combat strength.  That should be a real threat. 

By denouncing on my next turn, before Russia sees the peace offer, they may recognize why (I mean I wouldn't, otherwise I would have take then this route a few turns earlier), and perhaps they may be more likely to accept the offer.  I don't mind peace, as it achieves the desired outcome, but I am a bit more blood-thirsty then I was previously.

When does the game end I wonder?  When we accept the concessions from the other teams in 2023?

[suboptimal]

That's an interesting plan....the catch is do you have a casus belli available after denouncement? Just denouncing and declaring a formal war isn't enough to get the Nationalism inspiration.

At this turn pace I think 2023 is optimistic. The over/under should be the release date of the rumored Civ VII.

[suboptimal]

I put three votes into Theater Squares and one into -5CS for ranged units. Almost went with the opposite (1 for TS, 3 for ranged).

[Bruindane]

Turn 162: In time of war the priority must be entertainment




We'll build the two museums for the inspirations, and get the corps out sooner with the increased .  Your votes mattered suboptimal, thank you.  Just in time for the completion of the Roland Theater (+6 ).

Perhaps more sanely, Russia and Australia did not want us to build barrack buildings-- or Norway with captured Japanese encampments. 




Phoenicia did not accept our friendship, but did offer excess diamonds for excess mercury, that I accepted.  It is a little surprising, as Phoenicia's traders are coming to my cities, and an alliance would help them more than me as my traders are going to Norway (cultural alliance with 14 turns remaining).  Are they afraid that we will win by culture in 30 turns?  Absurd.  It is decisions like these that make me consider switching sides between doomsday teams, I'm sure Russia would be happy to send traders to us.




I get the inspiration for military science, and calvary are close.  I have slotted in Nationalism, and you are right suboptimal, formal war doesn't trigger it (I did get an achievement   for declaring a formal war for the first time while checking this out).  Not going to denounce Japan now.

The Russian knight and ship pictured have +4 support bonuses (and a frigate with +4 support visible to my spy).  I unintentionally moved my caravel out a bit far while scouting, so not in the harbor at end of turn or do I dare pillage a Russian trader to the south of Mitla?

[suboptimal]

What was the result of the other vote - it appears that option 'B' won (-5 to a unit class) but which unit class got the malus?

There may be a Russian caravel within striking distance of that trader. Something to consider but if we need the gold more than the caravel it might be worth it.

[Bruindane]

Interturn: To plunder or not to plunder



I'll let you unwrap the logic here.



Tempting for turn 167 (which is the turn before Doomsday).  The trader is moving towards W(Odin), though I don't know how much plunder it gives.  Those Russian ships can move 9 with Admiral Magellan offshore at Al.  The surprise and the timing may work in our favor here.