[PB65 LURKERS] We lurk in single-file to hide our numbers

[naufragar]

Smack talk about starting picks to come soon?

[Tarkeel]

Mjmd hinted ad something interesting in his thread: Is this the map Commodore originally made for PB62?

[Charriu]

Interesting that both Mysticism/The Wheel civs were picked in the same game and as the first two civs. We also haven't seen Zulu since PB52.

[Charriu]

Mjmd hinted ad something interesting in his thread: Is this the map Commodore originally made for PB62?

That reminds of a plan that I had a few years ago, which I will most likely never do. I recreated the map from the famous Apolyton Demogame and had the plan to modify that map, so that it could be used again.

[Commodore]

Okay, here's the map, more or less. Resources not yet balanced.

[Ginger()]

Seems that the PB63 and 62 map have colored their expectations and they think it's tighter than it is.
Seems SPI and serfdom are big winners with how dry it is, PRO is a big loser with no ICTR.
As for the player choices:
I think Sucksatciv makes a terrible mistake if he skips Animal Husbandry.
Looks like Pin ignored Civac's gentle nudge about islands.
Bing is looking at two fine leaders in Joao and Pacal, but is passing up Ottomans/Khmer for the Inca, which is a little odd to me, stacking discounts isn't ideal, and 23 hammer granaries are probably worse than 30 hammer granaries and the ability to build 2 happy for 40hammers.
The monoculture resources at the capital do indeed make Byz and Arabia viable. Pericles of Arabia is hilarious btw, I've played it in singleplayer and it steals first ring tiles from Immortal AI.
Zulu is a strong pick up for Mjmd, but Giggles might be a weak leader pick in this scenario.

[Tarkeel]

First impressions; the map looks similar to PB40? Probably not an issue, and that map did seem to work well. It's a lot less watery than recent maps (PB62-excluded), which isn't a bad thing as ORG will not have as many cheap lighthouses. It's pretty brown and hilly, but might be a bit low on food?

I like the current copper location; they are all in the safest direction (seaward) and nobody can pick up a new food first-ring with copper first-ring, except Darius and Washington. For horses, everyone except Alexander can settle for both horse and new food in first ring. Happiness will be an issue here, which I like, but it's possible to be locked out of all early resources.

Chariot rushes might be a thing here; the terrain looks slower than it is.

[Tarkeel]

Picks so far:
SAC: Mehmed of India
MJMD: Gilgamesh of Zulu
Pindi: Charlemagne of America
Superdeath: Darius of Byzantium
Cornflakes: Pericles of Arabia
Bing: Undecided

[Tarkeel]

Final picks:

SAC: Mehmed of India
MJMD: Gilgamesh of Zulu
Pindi: Charlemagne of America
Superdeath: Darius of Byzantium
Cornflakes: Pericles of Arabia
Bing: Wang Kon of Inca

[Ginger()]

Funnily enough, with 3/6 PRO leaders the trait might actually become redeemable despite total lack of ICTR. There might not be enough basic 2C trade routes available via OB.
Surprised that Bing didn’t go Pacal of Ottomans, felt like a really strong Math-3Cs beeline pick.