[PB70] Charriu tries to promote the arts again

[Charriu]

Opponent analysis

It's that time again. But before that, you might remember that I asked every player for video game music to go along with the turn report in which I met them in the game. I won't do this here. All the players already got a song in PB67. You won't get another one for prematurely ending PB67. Consider this a small revenge. 

Superdeath
Suleiman (PHI/IMP) of Egypt (Obelisk, War Chariot, Agriculture, 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. Back in PB67 I said you can work with Superdeath in a diplo setting. I have to get back from that a little bit. Back then one of his very first things he asked for was a Defensive Pact against my good neighbor Tarkeel. This was rather awkward considering we were in the pre-T100 turns. Have to be cautious with him in diplo terms.

My first thought looking at his civ was, oh great he will try to rush somebody with mounted units like he did in PB67. What's the point of a diplo game when you rush the first players you meet? But then I noticed the other synergy that is Obelisk plus PHI. I think he will try to go for a monk economy and shrine in this game, which Egypt is well suited for. Aside from that I expect him to fail with PHI. To be good with PHI you have to make good long-term (bulb) plans and micromanaging. Two things that Superdeath isn't the best in. My prediction for this game. He will try to get a religion and shrine, which he will accomplish. He will get bored of the PHI monk economy and rush somebody.

Player rating: 3
Aggression rating: 5
Economy rating: 2
Civ/Leader combo: 3
Please be my neighbor?: NO, please
Neighbour rating: Danger
How likely to build the Pyramids: 1

--

Mjmd
Zara Yacob (CRE/ORG) of America (Carnegie Public Library, Minuteman, Agriculture, The Wheel)

Mjmd is a good player, who 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. Back in PB67 we were able to establish a good border situation and I think I could do something like that again with him here. After the departure of Tarkeel  I'm looking forward to meeting Mjmd as he's probably the only one with whom you can have good diplomacy interaction in this roaster of players.

Mjmd felt the need to take America before I do it, because in his opinion they are overpowered together with Pericles. To bad my friend I never wanted to take America to begin with. Because of that he was forced to adapt his plans. Obviously he took CRE to combine it with the Carnegie Public Library. I wonder which unusual specialists he will try to generate with this combo. Like in PB67 he took the strong ORG trait, because it works well with Emperor difficulty. It all comes down to what he will do with his specialists, but at least this combo does not scream I RUSH YOU!!

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

--

Bing
Churchill (PRO/CHA) of Mali (Mint, Skirmisher, Mining, The Wheel)

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, that I can freely talk about, 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. Back in PB67 I had some diplo exchanges with him, but I had the feeling he wasn't really interested in negotiating anything. Most exchanges had to be triggered by me.

The combination of Skirmisher plus PRO screams: OMG, I'm afraid of everybody, please don't hurt me in the early phases of the game. I considered Mali for myself combining it with Nebu of IND/PHI and going for Pyramids. There the skirmishers would have been needed to secure my position while Pyrmids are being build. Here with Bing's combination I see nothing he would be going for that needs that early protection and especially not the added promotions from PRO. Yes, he could choke somebody with skirmirshers, but you don't need PRO for that. All in all a very defensive combination with some advantage on the water (CHA), providing easier early culture with monuments (CHA) and a tech advantage from PRO. A ok combination, but nothing that strikes fear in the hearts of your enemies or looks to be like a great game plan.

Player rating: 2
Aggression rating: 3
Economy rating: 2
Civ/Leader combo: 3
Diplo rating: 2
Please be my neighbor?: Yes
Neighbour rating: Food
How likely to build the Pyramids: 1

--

Ginger + GKC?
Nebuchadnezzar (IND, PHI) of China (Pavillion, Chu-Ko-Nu, Agriculture, 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.

I can't really say how the diplomacy with him will turn out. From what I learnt in PB67 is that you can at least negotiate with him, but it's harder as for example with Mjmd. But at least there is talking.

As for civ and leader: Ginger is falling back to what is working well for him. PHI-powered specialists plus Pyramids. What else would he do with this combination. The bigger problem is that he's somewhat vulnerable in the early stages of the game, but once that is passed he can become very dangerous especially on water with the Chu-Ko-Nu. It's also worth noting that he wanted IND as he already had it in PB67 too. Great combination, would have like to player this leader too, although with a different civ. Looking forward to his game.

Player rating: 5
Aggression rating: 3
Economy rating: 5
Civ/Leader combo: 4
Diplo rating: 4
Please be my neighbor?: Yes
Neighbour rating: Warning
How likely to build the Pyramids: over 9000

[Tarkeel]

Always interesting to read opponent analysis, even if some of the players are pretty well described ny now. BTW, you have Superdeath's "old" pick listed as well, and Bing's last game is actually 69, where he's ded-lurked by civac.

[Charriu]

That's what happens when you just repeat a pitboss. Thanks for notifying me.

[Charriu]

The song

https://ffdistantworlds.bandcamp.com/tra...-fantasy-v

Music: Distant Worlds: music from FINAL FANTASY - Distant Worlds IV: more music from FINAL FANTASY "Main Theme of Final Fantasy V"

If you are looking for any concerts regarding Final Fantasy chances are very high you first find Distant Worlds. It's a concert series touring all around the world with excellent arrangements of the themes from all different Final Fantasy games. They started staying very close to the original composition, but with each album they brought up the courage to bring in something of their own to the arrangment.

The song I chose here of course is the main theme and beginning of Final Fantasy V. We start with an awesome intro that is definitely not present in the original, but is certainly fitting for those epic Final Fantasy games. I love how every part of the orchestra has its short moment to shine in this intro before we actually fall back to the original composition at 0:20. From here on out we stay fairly close to the original, but the arranger always found moments for some nice additions or embelishments like the strings in the background of 0:32, the xylophones and strings at 0:47 or the woods at 0:56.
We stay true to the original almost to the same point in which it normally starts to loop. But we make a hard turn thanks to the strings at 1:28 and start a longer journey back to the beginning of the original. Here the arrangeur shows what he can do by returning to their own introduced motives from the beginning of the piece like in the lower brass at 1:37 and following. And we here another little part from the beginning (0:13) during this transition at 1:57. A really expertly done transition.
We return to the original at 2:07 beautifully presented by the flutes and other wood instruments, but underneath the main theme something new is happening within the strings or later in the wood instruments at 2:40. We finish our second run through the theme at 3:06 and start with the outro. Here we hear that Final Fantasy V can also sound like jazz at 3:12. This almost ends the piece, but before that we finally return on last time to the new motives from the beginning at 3:27.

This was a great piece by Distant Worlds and I think a very fitting start for this game. You can buy this song directly from bandcamp. Now one last thing. Should you ever attend one of their concerts a little hint. They do like to show moments from the games on video during the concerts. I know people love those, but I noticed that looking at a video during the song diminishs ones ability to listen properly to the song itself. So I usually close my eyes during the video parts so I can fully concentrate on the music.

T0:

---

And the madness begins.

I opted to settle in place before scouting since I made all the micromanaging plans as well as the civ/leader choice with this spot in mind. I moved the scout towards the fogged water tiles. It looks to be no lake and it even continues 1NW and 2N of the scout. The scout itself will move 2NW next to get out of the 2nd and 3rd capital rings. The water tiles will mostly be unfogged by those border pops, so need to spend more scout turns there.

I renamed the capitol to our first video game composer and who else would be fitting for that then Civ 4s very own:

Christopher Tin

I doubt the man needs a lot of introduction. You know him for composing the great "Baba Yetu", Civ 4s intro theme, and also Civ 6s "Sogno di Volare", which personally I like even better then Baba Yetu. I can also highly recommend his first album "Calling all Dawns". Mr. Tin might not have a big track record like some other big names in VGM, but the things he has done so far are awesome. I think we can expect a lot more from him in the future and I'm looking forward to that.

Did I shamelessly copied text and music from my PB67. Yes I did.

[Tarkeel]

I remember mis-interpreting your capital as the metal Tin instead.

What is your tentative tech path?

[Charriu]

First I go for

The Wheel
Fishing
Bronze Working

then I will most likely need to go for either Agriculture or Animal husbandry for the second city. Maybe even do one before BW.

After those it's straight towards Writing

[Qgqqqqq]

Without looking this up, I'm very certain Ginger played games before the ~60s. I believe he had to reopen a new account at one stage because he lost login details - but I remember playing or reading his games before I took a break.

Thanks for the updates!

[Charriu]

The song



Music: Mana Philharmonic - Spectrum of Mana "Seed (Whisper and Mantra)"

I've looked back at what music I posted back in PB67 and to my shock I never got around posting music from one of gamings finest soundtrack: Seiken Densetsu 2 or how most people in the west know it: Secret of Mana

The piece in question is a beautiful vocal arrangment of Whisper and Mantra. You hear this song pretty early in the game, when you first visit the water palace. The song starts very light and fragile with the harp and later vocals playing the main melody. But not for long as from 1:10 onward the song becomes gradually more grandriose, take up more instruments and giving the main theme to the flute. This really gives you a feeling for the big hall that is the water palace in the game.
But just like more often in music it's not always the big part that is the most interesting. From 2:05 we break down to a small very intimate vocal arrangement. This further away from the source material, but it still feels so close to it. Now what I really love about this whole piece is that even among it's most opulent parts it remains this mysterious vibe you get from entering this magical place the first time.

This song is from 2013s album "Secret of Mana". A joined effort by multiple remixers. You can find all the information as well as download links on

T3:

---

It's turn three and the CRE leaders get to report early about their first border pops. Looks like I will definitely need Agriculture for my second city. The east looks like safe backline for later and to be honest the north looks the same. My first instinct is to go 3S of the capitol or 1W of that for the second city. This will share the banana and deer with the cap and can work any river cottages from the cap. It also has its own food resource in wheat. Lastly I will connect the ivory soon after the border pop in T25 so it's just nice if a city can also work that tile too.

If you look closer though you may notice that not only is there water N and E of me but also to my SW. The T25 border pop will uncover the most part of that region. Therefore it's not necessary or better phrased it feels a bit of a waste to move the scout in a circle around the cap. Notice also that the scout found non-fresh water 2W of it. I will most likely have a look at what is SW of the scout next.

[Charriu]

Without looking this up, I'm very certain Ginger played games before the ~60s. I believe he had to reopen a new account at one stage because he lost login details - but I remember playing or reading his games before I took a break.

Thanks for the updates!

I know that Ginger lost his account fairly recently, so if he had another account before the 60s it would have to be pre-CtH as PB63 is the first CtH game he played.

[Qgqqqqq]

Ah, I guess I don't see CtH as a wholly different game.