[PB67] Charriu promotes the arts

[Charriu]

Ah the order of civs was not intended as a ranking on my part. I too would go for fun, therefore America.

In case of Russia I would have given more priority to Education and using all the additonal beakers to get to the UU.

How did you get to 5 turns with a CPL and 2 scientists? My calculation is

First scientist = +3 GPP
Second scientist = +3GPP
CPL = +2GPP

All in all 8 GPP per turn making it 13 turns for the first great scientist. Did you think the +2 GPP are per specialist?

[Miguelito]

Factored in the Phi bonus for 8×2.5 = 20 GPPpt

[Charriu]

Oh right, totally forgot about that.

[Charriu]

Opponent analysis

Bing
Cyrus (CHA/IMP) of Native America (Totem Pole, Dog Soldier, Hunting, Fishing)

Bing had a rough start here at RB with 2 eliminations in his first two games although he made a good showing defending in PB61. He survived PB63 and didn't really have a lot of impact in that game other then absolutely misinterpreting Superdeath AI diplo and dragging him into an early war he didn't want. Very hilarious for us lurkers back then. His last game was PB65, which - I have to be honest - I have stopped watching closely. What I noticed about Bing is that he is doing a lot of mistakes especially if he is recording his turns for youtube. Commenting and playing at the same time is always a hazard.

I don't know what to make of Bing in terms of diplomacy. There is the hilarious AI diplo hickup in PB63, but that might be avoided when we can actually communicate properly. From what I've seen of him in the rest of the forum is making me a bit more cautious as my and his mind don't align very well.

This is the third time we see the Native Americans. Obviously he is focusing on the synergy between CHA and the Totem Pole. Probably going for Archery earlier. Importantly though the Totem Pole now gives +1 XP for melee and together with CHA and a barracks, he will have 2 promotion melee units early on. Could be a dangerous early rush. Then again we signed up for a bigger map. The totem pole also let's me doubt he will go for an early religion as he can avoid Mysticism for a longer time. IMP is normally good, but not on a bigger map. I think the combination is ok, but doesn't really suit the map. Would be awesome on a very tight map though. Oh and one last thing noteworthy. Dog Soldiers are one of the few early units that can handle the Roman Praetorian. Will we see that matchup this game?

Player rating: 2
Aggression rating: 4
Economy rating: 2
Civ/Leader combo: 2
Diplo rating: 2
Please be my neighbor?: Rather not
Neighbour rating: Warning
How likely to build the Pyramids: 1

--

Mjmd
Darius (FIN/ORG) of Sumeria (Ziggurat, Vulture, Agriculture, The Wheel)

Mjmd is a good player that definitely deserves to win a PB at some point. He can manage an economy very well and also wage war. He has a tendency to misjudge other peoples readings on border situation though sometimes, which leads him into conflicts more often. But all in all definitely one of the top players here.

I neighbored him in every CtH game I played so far. It would be really hilarious if we are neighbors again and honestly I'm looking forward to that. We fought each other in every game so far, but we also managed to establish a stable border between us every game and I think that's something we can build upon. I also tried to help him defend against Miguelito and Co. in PB 59. I think I have shown that I can be a good ally even though I attacked him in the end in PB59, but I think all was lost for him at that point.

Mjmd is going for a super economy in this game with the two best economy traits, with the added benefit of cheaper early courthouses for even lower maintenance. The UB will also lead him towards the religious techs and probably gives him an holy city too, because the others have fewer incentive to go there. I think that the Vulture will have more use as a defensive unit for him and not for any early rushes. His game plan most likely is expand into the wide and open world; use your great economic traits and attack later with better tech.

Player rating: 4
Aggression rating: 3
Economy rating: 4
Civ/Leader combo: 5
Diplo rating: 4
Please be my neighbor?: Yes
Neighbour rating: Warning
How likely to build the Pyramids: 2

--

Ginger + GKC
Huayna Capac (FIN/IND) of India (Mausoleum, Fast Worker, Mysticism, Mining)

Ginger has made some impressive first games here. Winning their first game here (PB63) as well as a good showing in PB64. Again as with PB65 I also stopped watching PB66 and can't really say anything about that game. GKC on the other hand made some great games in the past before CtH, but since then hasn't had that much luck in their games. Still a very capable player, but I think has lost a little bit of their touch.

As a mod developer I'm very happy with Ginger and GKC as they are the first ever to play Huayna Capac in a CtH game. There isn't really that much synergy between civ and leader though, but that doesn't have to be a bad sign. India is a solid civ with their fast worker and with them being the only Mysticism civ they surely will get one of the earlier religions. FIN will help them greatly in the mid and later stages of the game. The big question though is what do they want to do with IND or asked differently, which of the early wonders do they want to get. Stonehenge seems unlikely with them surely getting a religion. The Great lighthouse is always nice, but nothing is indicating that direction. Oracle might be an option to get to a different wonder. The Colossus is a solid option with the addition of the forge bonus and together with FIN for even more coastal commerce. Then there are the Pyramids there's nothing in this combo that indicates that, but there is Ginger, who tends to have a fable for the specialist economy.

I don't have any experience with Ginger in any game. From what I played with and against GKC though is that they are someone, who you can work with. Certainly steadfast, but also reliable.

Player rating: 5
Aggression rating: 3
Economy rating: 5
Civ/Leader combo: 4
Diplo rating: 3
Please be my neighbor?: Yes
Neighbour rating: Warning
How likely to build the Pyramids: 3

--

Superdeath
Lieu-Ye (PRO/ORG) of Mongolia (Ger, Keshik, Hunting, The Wheel)

It's RBs very own force of nature. Is there anything that hasn't been said about this player. Actually yes, because there haven't been many true diplo games with him. As for the player I think there really isn't anything that hasn't been said before. I think Superdeath is a solid player contend with where he is within the game.

As for diplomacy, this will actually be interesting. Superdeath is also famous for his AI diplo interaction and the great thing is, this time we will understand what he wants from us. I think Superdeath is someone with whom one can work with. There are more then enough people, who distrust him, but I think that's also due to misunderstanding AI diplo sometimes. I'm even willing to forgive him cancelling my loan in PB59. I also played quiet a lot of Among us with and against him, which does count for something, right?

Superdeath chose an interesting combo. One the one hand there is Lieu-Ye, who is perfectly set up for a Great lighthouse play or just a solid early economy. On the other hand there is the aggressive Mongolia pick. Given that he had some affinity for the lighthouse in past games I would think he would go that route again with an Keshik rush in the classical/mid game.

Player rating: 3
Aggression rating: 4
Economy rating: 3
Civ/Leader combo: 3
Please be my neighbor?: NO, please
Neighbour rating: Danger
How likely to build the Pyramids: 1

--

Tarkeel
Roosevelt (IND/ORG) of Rome (Forum, Praetorian, Mining, Fishing)

Last but not least there is Tarkeel. Tarkeel won PB58 as well as the tight PB62. They also played a very solid game in PB59. This all makes Tarkeel a top player for this game. Tarkeel can wage war if needed, but doesn't tend to be overly aggressive on the contrary I think they are more of a builder type, but one who can defend and attack. Tarkeel's calm demeanor is certainly a strength.

We had a few interactions in PB59, but nothing more then trading resources, which to their credit lasted until the end. I think Tarkeel is someone with whom one can work very well.

Roosevelt screams the Great Lighthouse as an early wonder to me. Of course there are other options but this is the most likely. Rome also helps here thanks to Fishing, while also guarantees protection until the late mid game with the Praetorian, which I think was the main reason for picking Rome. Then again there is the slim chance for a pyramid play because of the Roman UB, but I deem that more unlikely.

Player rating: 5
Aggression rating: 1
Economy rating: 5
Civ/Leader combo: 4
Diplo rating: 5
Please be my neighbor?: Yes, please
Neighbour rating: Warning
How likely to build the Pyramids: 2

[Charriu]

As for scout movement. I will most likely go 2E to that PH spot just to make sure I don't miss out on any seafood for that spot. From there I can move northwards

[Miguelito]

I just want to mention the possibility of going 2SE. Although with America there's a strong argument for keeping the rice in BFC, but the other hill might have corn behind it . Ah I forgot about the sugar forest,  yeah we don't want to miss out on that.

If there's seafood, do we move? Even if it's just a clam or crab? I have come to appreciate seafood commerce lately. The rice not being on the river is mean.

[Charriu]

Seafood would make that spot stronger longterm at the cost of a worse opening. But I think that would be worth it even if it is clam or crab. Of course it also depends on which seafood and in which ring that would be. The rice is not on a river, but it is irrigated thanks to the lake.

The PH spot 2E would also still connect to the trade network via the lake and the rivers.

[Miguelito]

Ya I'm just annoyed but not getting a measly coin out of the rice.
PH start also allows us to farm the sugar while waiting for AH, if that's relevant. And if the PH has seafood that would be a whopping 5 tiles with >3food in the BFC plus the lighthouse lake, whoa. Might straight up build NE in the cap.
Btw besides mids, TGL is the other wonder that we want, right?

[Charriu]

TGL is which wonder for you The Great Lighthouse or the Great Library? I want the latter.

Mids is the question if we can compete for it. We might have a chance as nobody else is looking to go directly for it according to their combos.

[Miguelito]

Yo Great Library, it's the Phi wonder after all. I was just musing thatwe might have a superfood capital that would benefit from an earlyish NE, so we could grab the wonder as well.