PBEM #6 [Spoilers] Zara of Byzanthium

[Nakor]

There we go for my first RB PBEM game.

I know Jowy and Athlete from RBPB2, so this should be fun!

[Nakor]

And here is the line-up:

[SIZE="5"]The Revered Docter [/SIZE]

Surey of Babylon
Traits: Expansive & Creative
UU: Bowman
UB: Garden

[SIZE="5"]Athlete[/SIZE]

Shaka of the Vikings
Traits: Aggresive & Expansive
UU: Berserker
UB:Trading Post

[SIZE="5"]SevenSpirits[/SIZE]

Isabella of India
Traits: Expansive & Spiritual
UU: Fast Worker
UB:Mausoleum

[SIZE="5"]Jowy[/SIZE]

Boudica of Rome
Traits: Aggresive & Charismatic
UU: Preatorian
UB: Forum

[SIZE="5"]Nakor[/SIZE]

Zara of Byzanthium
Traits: Creative & Organised
UU: Cataphract
UB: Hippodrome

Looks like two guys that want war fast (Athlete & Jowy) and three more builder-like guys.

Know, RBPB2 thought me that early warfare is not good. So that won't be what I want.

This is a No Tech Trading game and with FIN/PHI excluded, I need to find a way to tech fast. Creative seems like the way to go with cheap Libs. The cheap Hippodrome's are a great combination here. Organized should help keep my economy in good shape and gives discount on Lighthouse and Courhouses. I do need to build granary's without discount (not EXP), but my other discounts should make up for that.

Of course I'd like to do some warfare after Guilds with Cath's and Trebs, but first I need to get there by dealing with an aggresive Jowy (hope he is not that close) and Athlete. My extra culture should give my cities some nice bonusses.

So now I keep my fingers crossed and hope for a good map.

[Nakor]

Played a little testgame (difficult when you don't know the settings) to see how I would compare tech-wise to the other civs. Noble difficulty for even settings.

Now, we all know the AI isn't that smart, but that game was a walk in the park for me. Ended up with Isabelle on an island and teched like crazy. Was able to take her out with cats/maces and then stopped. I was first in all categories DEMO wise.

Now, this game doesn't tell me a lot, but it does show me that tech-wise I should be able to compete and maybe even outtech the others. Surey is the one to be aware of in the tech department, though.

[Nakor]

So, finally we start! Here is my starting position:



Do I settle in place or not? There is a lot of coast, so not much production pre-MAOI. I think I need the hill tile more for production and decide not to move and settle in place.

The warrior moves 1W and shows the borders of a barb town. How nice of our map maker.



Looking at the resources and the barb city close by, I'll tech hunting first to hook up deer and furs. AH could be next for sheep and hopefully horses. If not, I'll have to go Mining-BW or Fishing-Sailing.

There is more land in the NE corner. My first border pop will show me a bit more...

Interesting start! Now I'll have to wait for almost a week untill the next turn...

[Nakor]

Not much to tell. There's a barb city on a hill blocking my path from further scouting. It's defended by a warrior.

I probably want to keep it so will wait untill it is size 2 and I've got a bigger army. So techwise that will be Min - BW - AH after hunting.

Probably build a WB soon as well to do some island scouting.

[Nakor]

Very easy and boring turns with no scouting to do.

Hunting is in, on to Mining.

Barb city is size 2, so I can take it! But wait... I only have one warrior and the city is on a hill....

Hope there is copper or horses nearby... else I need to warrior-rush the city.

Or leave it there and start sailing. But then I need fishing-sailing....

Still think going for the city first is the best option though.

Map still looks almost the same as above...

[Nakor]

And another few turns done.

Barb city has 2 warriors now and is size 2.
I decided to go for a barracks first to get promoted warriors.
Camp on the deer is done, so I'll start on the furs next. Going to work the deer to get a quick barrack and more warriors for a possible warrior rush.

Teching towards AH before BW in the hope of horses. No logical copper tile around, I think and it helps getting the sheep online as well.

After AH-BW probably going for fishing since there is land across the ocean.

[Nakor]

Here's my empire at 3000 BC.

AH is just in and now I'll go for BW. Probably no copper around (no horses either). That means Fishing - Sailing next to go to the fertile island east.

The worker is pasturing the sheep. He can build a few roads before going to chop out an army.

I still think I want to take that town first. Maybe Archery is an option as well if I want to go for that city...

[Nakor]

There is copper! 1SW of the capital.

Switched civics to slavery to whip 2 axes after the worker I'm building.
Research set to fishing-sailing before going to Pottery (cottages is the way to go for research this game).

I hope to claim that barb city soon and sail east for further expansion.

[Nakor]

Still not much to update. Axe is getting ready to take the barb city down.
We're on a small island, so I'll build a Galley/settler next to settle the island East. And then another Galley for scouting/ferrying....