Adventure 1 - killara - The New World is for the English ?

[killara]

Hello again all, the benefits of being in Oz – report earlier. ;-)

I played this game before Adventure 2. Which I think I’m glad I did. So much easier. ;-) Pre game thoughts, as this is where all the differences in games will probably originate. London’s already been founded, on a lake and on the ocean. So the same process that made the Cuban Isolationists a powerhouse – the lighthouse on a lake – will work here too. Was Sirian trying to make us follow that path [Edit: again!], or is it just a ploy? ;-)

And with one of England’s starting technologies being Fishing & Victoria being financial – it’s a very obvious ploy too. *smiles*

Which, along with us being on Warlord level – all means we should be able to out-tech our rivals. Nice. Pity the Frozen Aztecs didn’t have those same advantages. ;-)

Actually – this being a Small World Size & at Normal Speed will probably mean we’ll out-tech ourselves and build units that become obsolete almost as soon at they’re built! *laughs*

Mining should help us to keep up with productivity, and the free Worker unit (with the Wheel tech also thrown in for free) means we’ll have things to do from turn one. But what to learn first ???

Our strengths – Expansive (extra health) along with cheaper extra health builds (granary & harbour) AND the resources of Pig (health), Wheat (health) & Clam (health) visible all mean Happiness will determine our early city size – how many free happiness does Warlord provide ? Hmmm … looking at the London city screen …

Pik 1 – Happiness Versus Health in the capital.



It looks like 6 for the capital and 5 for every other city. Workable. *nods* I’ll just have to keep a lookout for those luxury resources – which are all probably over in the new world, like Chocolate, Coffee, and Potato Chips, oh – sorry – that’s the real world. *laughs* [Edit: Religion brings happiness too! *must remember all these details*]

Our other strength – Financial – means money – which means research – which means farming the oceans and building cottages as early as possible. So many changes from Civ 3 – must knock the old ways out of my head. But what to learn first ???

Pik 2 – The Tech tree options – decisions decisions.



Firstly, I never think this much when I usually play. *laughs*

Path 1: The sailing gambit – to really make the lake and ocean pay as we use them whilst researching once we build the lighthouse, but that’ll take some time to build and cannot be our 1st priority build. It’ll also give us a gallery so we can explore if there’s a quick way to the new world – cannot forget our goals now. ;-)

Path 2: The farmer gambit – use those nearby resources and grow the city, so mines become viable with the extra food obtained, and settlers / workers are much much quicker to build. I’d probably do that if we didn’t have a worker already.

Path 3: The religious gambit – well we NEED happiness, religion’s one way, we’re not creative so obelisks are essential, and Stonehenge (with it’s Great Prophets and free obelisks AND map will help us locate the new world – it’s my 2nd favourite Wonder – after the Pyramids because of its multiple uses). The only problem is if there’s Spiritual Civs out there who grab the Early religions first. But at the difficulty level … it is possible.

Path 4: The chop gambit – research Bronze working to get early forest chops, build up the capital and get axes early. Sorry, I’m just not the war monger I should be.

Mysticism it is then. But checking on turn 2 to see who’s out there. And micromanaging the capital to use only water tiles to start with.

Stay with warrior as first build. Yup. And lets start exploring, in a generally northern direction after popping that hut as we already know we’re at the southern end of the world. :-)

And the worker ? Should I start roads to the resources to prepare for future development ? and then a road network towards the 2nd city cite ? No – I’ve a TWO move unit, I’m actually going to use it to explore southwards, hopefully there’s no animals in the first few turns, and I then won’t waste later turns with my 2nd warrior heading south. Those southern hills will give good views. I wonder how many will use the free worker in this way. ;-)

Pik 3 – The Initial plans for exploration with TWO units.



4000BC – work the little lake – Mysticism in 5 ??? wow – I suppose that’s Normal speed for you – I usually only play on Epic. *laughs* Pop the hut for 108 gold. Move worker also – sheep seen – more health resources. *blah*

Hit enter & notice another border appear (damn – forgot to check out our neighbours) Germany, India, Russia, Spain – Great TWO Spiritual civs. *blah* again. The border’s orange – is that Russia ??? I’ll meet them when our borders expand – looks like I’ll miss out on that clam resource – and sailing out might be a problem without Open Borders – ouch.

3960BC – the 2nd move and I meet Spain with my warrior! *eyes wide open* How small IS a small world ?????? *laughs* Oh yeah – the worker finds a deer (another health resource anyone ?)

3800BC – I’ve finished exploring the South with the Worker – there’s Fur down there! Yippee (happiness resource at last) Mysticism discovered & try for Polythesim – thinking Meditation has to go first – it’ll take 7 turns – one more than London takes to grow. My border expands to hit Russia – Peter says hello & blocks me from coastal exploration until Open Borders.

3760BC – Meet Fredrick of Germany – Small world is SMALL !!!

3680BC – Buddism in a distant land – I’ve still 4 turns to Polythesim. *worry* looks like I’m between people too, now I can see more of the world. Worker returns home and starts on a road to the Pigs. I actually think that exploration WAS the best use for that free worker. *nods*

3640BC – Isabella coverts – ahhhhh – Spain now leads in score. Did they change the worker graphics in the patch ?? I never noticed the dirt flying like that as they dug roads before. Nice.

3560BC – London grows to size 2 – work TWO lake tiles now – worker starts road to wheat (via the plains hill) and Polythesim due NEXT turn. Decide to take warrior on a trip around the outside of Spain.

3520BC – Hinduism founded in London. Praise Be. ;-) Do not convert. I usually don’t until I know the politics of the other civs. Decide on Agriculture & then Animal Husbandry – to use the resources when I need that settler – hmmmm – takes longer to build things on Normal Speed (compared to discovering stuff – or is that just because I’m writing this at the same time ?).

3440BC – Meet India – just as they pop a hut I’d found – I swear it was meant for me. :-( Say hello but I will remember their greed. *winks*

3400BC – Warrior produced – off to explore I think – or is that TOO dangerous leaving London unguarded ?? Dial up another warrior – due in 15. Those that don’t gamble don’t win – he’ll head due north.

3360BC – Discover that we have wine to the North & then the Ocean – we might have the option of blocking in Russia ?? or actually – us being blocked in by everyone else – hmmm, which is the more likely ? :-\ Start farming the wheat now it has a road built to it.

3160BC – When the Wheat farm is complete – I re-jig the food so that London is using it – and move the worker back to the Pig to start working it next go when I discover Animal Husbandry – even I think that’s nice timing. *laughs*

What to learn next though ?? Bronze working I think – with space this limited I better know where it is – just in case. *sighs* [Edit: I’m morally against using the whip as I see these as my real citizens and think it’s a harsh way to rule, and worry about civil war and a coup d'état. *laughs* But after reading Adventure 2 now realise just how powerful it can be]

3120BC – Northern warriors see a bear – who moves away instead of attacking … so I change direction and head south again. Moscow has Gold and TWO Clams – now that’s greedy. I will remember that also. Start Bronze working and look for horses. Due north – right near Spain – Setter – oh settler – that’s the next build. *nods* Already short of military. *laughs* Good thing warrior 1 is being recalled. ;-)

3080BC – The other advantage of religion and it’s Holy city is that borders expand faster! I expand before Russian – but after Spain. One land-bridge to the south is cut off.

2880BC – Bronze Mining – Due West – where my 3rd city was going to be – but will Spain take it ? It’s not a very food rich place. Choices such as these make Civ such a great but painful game. *smiles* I decide to try for Monothesim, via Masonry – two religions could be fun – especially with border expansion. ;-) I rearrange the city resources now I’ve got the Pigs farmed and it IS possible to get that 2nd city before discovering Monothesim. Having religious culture grow in the 2nd city would offset the Hydra benefits of both in the capital. Yup.

2760BC – I’ve finished the road to the wine – for the settler to get north easily & connect trade routes. Then I rush back to that pains hill (which was earlier roaded) and chop. Should have the settler earlier than planned. Then I can go back to research. Plan A. *nods*

2640BC – Settler builds – with enough chop left over to build a warrior in 1 turn !! I rearrange the worked tiles back to lake only – and Monothesim drops from 11 turns down to 6. Now that’s a surprise – but shows the power of the Financial trait! Start a mine on the hill – I try to never combine the chop/mine order due to the delay in hammer payments – the government’s bad enough, why have a game do it too? ;-)

2600BC – Warrior for London built – start Stonehenge with some ridiculous time to complete (117 turns – as I’m working only water tiles) … but I’ll change that as soon as I discover Monothesim. I’ll have uses for those Great Prophets now. *grins*

It’s a big year – I found York to the north … and don’t want an obelisk in case I don’t need it – either Stonehenge or Judaism would be as good … so decide to build walls – that way it can expand a little, which building a worker wouldn’t allow.

BUT … then discover Russian Peter already has a STONE QUARRY worked !!!! Not good … and he’s only got a small area off to himself – a nice area though – very nice. *grins wickedly*

2400BC – Yes !!!! Plan A worked – York becomes the Jewish Holy City. Decide to work Horseback Riding – I’ve horses in range, and military never hurts. Switch York over to Barracks. Walls – ahh well – 2 turns lost. Pasture on the Horses being built. Time to rearrange London’s resources – time for Stonehenge drops from 55 to 11 turns. However Horseback Riding changes from 10 to 17 turns, and growth from 3 to 12. But that’s ok – it’s my priorities. :-) And this early in a game it makes all the difference. -1 Gold per turn at 100%. [Edit: looking at that I probably should have waited until I’d grown in 3 before rearranging citizens]

2200BC – Horse are linked – I’ve fully explored Russia’s probable territory. And so recall that warrior. 6 turns to Stonehenge.

1960BC – Stonehenge built – I’m at the bottom South East corner – which makes Russia a very nice jumping off spot to the new world. Dial up Barracks – never realised just how useful they are until Civ 4. Warriors near Russia kill a lion – 1st animal fought – hmm barbarians from the south will probably appear soon – recall warrior ASAP for sentry duty due South!

Pik 4 – The English Empire – 1960BC – Notice I’ve already begun to reduce the Russian border.



1760BC – Learn & decide it’s way past time I should have lighthouses! Sailing next – due in 5 turns.

1720BC – Barracks complete in London – and even though the first barbarian warrior appears – I decide upon a Settler – to head West. I’ve my Lion killer Warrior that’ll be there to meet them. ;-)

1560BC – Sailing Researched – Iron working next – could be interesting. *nods* That southern barbarian warrior acting strangely – not really doing anything.

1520BC – York has Barracks and Walls – starts on a lighthouse.

1440BC – Barbarian warrior attacks my Lion Warrior in the forest – and dies. Realise I hadn’t promoted that warrior. *shakes head* Settler built & moves West. London finishes barracks and begins lighthouse as its borders expands. Interesting – Russian Peter converts to Judaism.

Pik 5 – 1360BC – The choice of site for Nottingham (red arrow) – Ignore the advice of the computer as to city placement – and build Nottingham on desert – as it saves one wasteful tile & gets the entire lake in the city border. First build is lighthouse to take advantage. Even though this misses out on the deer – I’m planning on a southern city taking in deer and furs a bit later. Move my sentry warrior on that hill to the left in for guard duty. Research to 90% now (-1 gold per turn still – that first hut of gold was useful).



1240BC – London is size 6 – maximum size before unhappiness kicks in – builds the lighthouse – I rearrange to maximize the hammers and head for the Pyramids – a huge 32 turns – might have to chop that grassland hill then mine it. But only after mining the copper – that free worker’s been very busy !!!

1200BC – A year that’ll go down as the luckiest ever !! One of my mines pops Gems !! Happiness – Yes Please !! Rearranging workers within the city to grow and produce more. :-) And Iron’s discovered – and in the radius of London !! Research moves to Monarchy to link those grapes into the network – as barbarians start appearing from North of Russia. I need another worker and some military might in York next. *nods*

Pik 6 – Gems !



925BC – Iron is linked to the network. *evil grin* The barbarians north of Russian ain’t doing much (walking back and forth) – do they behave differently on this level ?? Hinduism spreads to Nottingham – that’ll keep Robin Hood in check. :-P

Again forget to rearrange workers within the city screens. :-( Pyramids now due in 19 turns.

875BC – Discover Monarchy as York builds the worker for the winery. Start on a Swordsman. Pottery – Granary (only 2 turns) – now have too much knowledge to know what to do with. *laughs* It’s at this point I start losing the strategy plot and just have fun … more wine, more wine, more wine, sing along … *hic*

825BC – No idea what to research next – so look at F6 and realise I’ve forgotten about archery – Whoooops. 3 turns to both do both Hunting and Archery isn’t bad. :-)

775BC – Learn Archery and decide on Metal Casting (Colossus). Then ANOTHER mine pops a resource – this time the other hill in London gives Iron ! WOW !!! Is that the difficulty or pure luck ?? And the winery is complete. I’m going to chop that next hill by London NOW and mine it if they keep popping resources!! *laughs* Rearrange the workers again. ;-) London will be my dynamo! :-)

675BC – Open Borders agreement with India – build first Swordsman. Finish chopping that hill forest – London has 10 turns to the Pyramids.

650BC – Confusionism (hee hee) founded elsewhere. Turns out to be India who converts next turn.

600BC – My Sword take out those stupid northern barbarians and will next explore what else is out there – I start my first cottage near London.

550BC – Open Borders agreement with Germany – something Russia won’t ever get. ;-)

Pik 7 – 500BC – The Pyramids are built (and the location of my 2nd Iron) ! Forge next. York now on it’s 3rd Sword. The bank is now starting to be positive – Another settler soon – or invade Russia ?? *laughs* And time to change civics !! Happiness here I come. :-) To representation and slavery – now that’s a combination that just doesn’t make sense – slaves can vote ?? *laughs* Oh yeah – I just saw two Axemen guarding a Russian settler – I’m leaving Russia well alone. *nods*



425BC – Linked up Copper. Moses – Great Prophet Born. Use him for knowledge or shrine …. *ponders* Well – I’ve just learnt Writing – and go for Theology. Lets use brainpower for it *nods* so Plan B it is. Build the Hindu Shrine, The Kashi Vishwanath, in London.

400BC – I don’t give Russian Peter Open Border Agreement. ;-) and I never actually do. *hee hee*

375BC – Half a Million Souls.

325BC – Finally remember to rearrange workers within London now we’ve more happiness. York builds 3rd Sword – to Granary. Nottingham builds Lighthouse – to Granary. London Completes Forge – Great Lighthouse then Colossus. Workers are chopping to cottages for that.

275BC – Spain asks for Open Borders – agree. A sword can go exploring northwards through Spanish territory. Germany converts to Judaism also – hmmm – might have built the wrong shrine. ;-P

Pik 8 – 150BC – Christianity and the Great Lighthouse! Found Christianity in Nottingham. Three cities – all Holy cities. :-) London completes the Great Lighthouse, starts Colossus. I’ve a Settler building in York.



25BC – Just potter along now – expanding and building. Colossus in London, Setter in York, sent North.

Pik 9 – Just look what lighthouses, lakes, the Colossus and the Financial traits can do! Worked tiles highlighted by red circles.



125AD – Found Hasting way to the north (set to build lighthouse, the move for Financial civs) – 1 move before Spain gets there. :-) 2nd Great Prophet, Mahavira born – builds the jewish Shrine – The Temple of Solomon in York.

Pik 10 – The start of my game of intimidating Moscow. All those units on Galleys and the Work Boat are trapped without an Open Borders agreement. *winks*



400AD – Found Canterbury south – near Deer and Fur – still in positive income – 1 more city ? ;-)

Pik 11 – The known world – 400AD.



425AD – Yes! – another Holy City – Islam in northern Hastings – nice culture bonus. Whilst the Parthenon completes in London (Library next).

From here on there are less notes because the game’s less interesting. Onwards we progress, and not a single war is fought between me nor any of the AI. It’s a totally peaceful world. So what’s my only fun ?? I’m adding culture to London to see if I can actually culture flip Moscow! *laughs* That’s all I want from this game now. *huge grin*

Some key dates follow:

600AD – Christian Shrine in Nottingham.

1030AD – Great Merchant to Delhi = 1,300g

1040AD – Coventry founded on the little northern island (does that count as part of the New World ?? *laughs*)

Pik 12 – 1050AD – In order to facilitate New World conquest, ensure I circumnavigate the globe first. :-) Note how uneven those scores are. *smiles*



1070AD – Taoism founded in Hastings as I explore the coastlines of the New World & plan conquests of the barbarian cities I see there.

1280AD – Great Merchant to Delhi = 1,500g

1470AD – Great Merchant to Delhi = 2,100g (subsidized research forever!)

1500AD – Taj Mahal induced Golden Age, during which I received my 1st Great Artist – who’ll be used in the New World as a land grab. :-) And a mine near Nottingham pops Silver resource. Happiness unending. ;-)

Pik 13 – 1585AD – Build Warwick in the New World, Nice road network already built – Only 2 Barbarian cities ?? what have they been doing ?



Pik 14 – 1585AD – Culture bomb Warwick – then upgrade knights to Cavalry & attack barbarian city of Yue-Chi. Cavalry (when unsupported) die against entrenched longbows but finally capture it in 1630AD. Redcoats die against longbows at Zhou but capture it in 1660AD.



Pik 15 – 1655AD – Meanwhile, the cultural impact of London on Moscow amuses. ;-) Down to 41%! (30% in 1818AD, 26% in 1854AD, 22% in 1896AD)



Over the intervening years … Great Merchant = 2,500g, subsidizing the building of city after city in the New World. In order to reduce the number of cities required, I culture bomb the city of Reading in the small islands found to the north.

1854AD – London achieves Legendary Cultural status! :-)

1878AD – the first known foreign city founded on the New World – ice bound German Frankfurt.

Pik 16 – 1882AD – What happened with this cultural bomb ?? Does it need continuous land to work ?? Or do later Cultural bombs become less affective (I don’t think so as I culture bombed Richmond a 2nd time later – with no affect), or is this a glitch in the program ??? (Which allowed an Indian city to later be built where it wasn’t meant to be able to). :-(



Pik 17 – 1908AD – Moscow is totally isolated without an Open Borders deal. *laughs* Note on the mini map the English conquest of the rest of the world. ;-)



1912AD – Build UN, but cannot win via diplomatic without destroying the Spanish, which I finally decide to do as they’ve the numbers I need and I’m still trying to cultural flip Moscow. It doesn’t, even though it’s down to 16% & Size 3 in 1964AD. And I just cannot be bothered building the spaceship.

1957AD – Declare war on the Spanish. It doesn’t last long, Modern Armor against Spanish Riflemen.

1963AD – Spanish destroyed, along with their votes. I now have 301 votes of the 477 total, whilst only 295 are needed for …

1964AD – Diplomatic Victory! I think a change needs to be made to this victory condition to make it such that at least one other has to vote for you also! Next patch ?? ;-) *smiles*

6hrs, 51mins. Score = 11807, Game Score = 5919.

Pik 18 – My influence in the New World (the other civ’s influences are circled in red. I didn’t find out about that one group of islands until they’d already been settled, and in this peaceful world, couldn’t be bothered invading).

[theGrimm]

Interesting. I started off similarly to you, but got lucky in pursuing horses rather than swords against Russia. That was before I realised they had copper, so it was just pure luck. In fact, I didn't know I HAD iron until Moscow fell