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Krill
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On a cold wet rock, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
Dec 2003
time: 05:22
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This is the DAR ("During Action Report") thread for the second 40 turns of AU504 - The Glory of Culture.
Describe how you have positioned yourself in the second 40 turns of the game. How have the special parameters of this game affected your strategic decisions? Have you continued to build upon the economy that you have so far constructed? What lessons have you learned so far? What are your plans for the future?
Last edited by Krill on 21-09-2004 at 00:35
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Krill
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On a cold wet rock, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
Dec 2003
time: 05:22
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Just for the basics and a few strats tonight.
The main issue for these turns are, IMHO, either pulling off an archer rush, building up for a sword rush (IE, mass upgrade), or a philo beeline. I took the latter choice for the simple reason that I had a four turn settler pump.
I continued to pump out settlers, but I did spend about ten turns building workers in total, since I needed the land improved asap to keep up with the settling of new towns. I have 2 granaries, Delhi (4turn pump) and Madras (3 turn workers or 6 turn settlers). Bangalore is either 3 turn spears or 2 turn warriors, but since I have enough warriors for MP and future upgrades I want the extra defense to man the southern chokepoints.
Bombay is a wonderprebuild, and I am torn between SoZ or GL. I am leaning towards the GL, since I can then shut off research and either rush build cultural buildings or prepare for a couple of large-ish SoDs.
Western Empire
 Attachment: au 504, dar 2, western empire.jpg
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Last edited by Krill on 22-09-2004 at 01:51
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Krill
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On a cold wet rock, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
Dec 2003
time: 05:22
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Tech
Basically, I finished researching Writing, and got Philo first, taking Lit as the free tech, and am currently researching maths (for both SoZ and cats). China has HBR and IW, but not Writing, and will not trade (like I care). Persia has writing, but not IW or HBR. Great, This seems to easy...I wonder what is happening on the other continent...
And China got the Pyramids 
I am weak to China in F3, and average to Persia. When I get a few more barracks up, and build warriors, then I will take back the jungles with swords and archers, leaving any cats built for a future SoD in the two choke points.
Eastern Empire
Attachment: au 504, dar 2, eastern empire.jpg
This has been downloaded 168 time(s).
Last edited by Krill on 21-09-2004 at 00:56
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jshelr
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pittsburgh
Apr 2002
time: 00:22
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Emperor level Au Mod
I'm in a cranky mood after the upstart Europeans crushed the Americans in the Ryder Cup.
Even so, who can complain about this start?
The peaceful Gandhi was born in the middle of a natural worker/settler pump. And, as the picture shows, it's been pumping quite nicely since our granary was built.
Our middle position could be a disaster if our often- warlike nearby rivals gang up. But, no sign of that yet and, due to being in the middle, we were able to broker some early techs to get an immediate tech lead.
Ivory Iron
Even in the expensive, toned-down version offered by the AU Mod the SoZ is powerful. Our beautiful, tree-lined, lake-side second-city location, complete with lots of bonus shields looks so good that we even started with a temple rather than a directly focused prebuild.
So, we will build a military, adding a temple now and then, and break stuff. Probably china.
Sure looks like fun. The challenge may well be in the "speed to finish" aspect of the game.
Picture is for 1600 bc
Later on, when we had our 9 cities, temples and most libraries, we started on units and researched toward Monarchy.
Snagged Hanging Gardens and bribed Xerxes into helping with an attack on China.
China, unfortunately, then built the Great Wall.
Next bad event: Spain is destroyed.
Whoever did that will be a cultural powerhouse.
The war went on forever, despite a steady and very impressive flow of immortals. I'll include some info on it, although it runs over the time limit for this thread.
We got a leader and decided to play with the new army rather than build an FP. The army let us build heroic epic -- for the culture, of course.
We finally finished the seige of China, walking away with the Pyramids and the Great Wall, having had to raze the MoM.
China was hard to bully and we had to pay to get out of the ancient era. We are now behind Persia in tech. But we were able to build cities in our "backyard" pennisula and so we're pretty big.
Time for some markets and aqueducts before moving on to the big happiness builds. I think I'll research along the peaceful line and see what happens. Having fun.
Attachment: culture1.jpg
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Modo44
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in western Poland
Jul 2004
time: 06:22
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Monarch level, AU mod.
My both food-rich cities were making settlers and spearmen. Shortly after 1000BC Delhi switched to workers, because the underdeveloped land started to show. A few warriors came up in the process - to time things with population growth.
I Researched Writing first and probably made a mistake by not trading it at once (could get Horseback Riding and all their gold from the Chinese). A couple turns later I had to pay some gold to get it. Then sold it to the Persians, to get the money back. Seems that they have problems developing - they lag in research ever since I met them. At 1000BC I was close to finishing Literature, with the Chinese knowing Iron Working and the Persians far behind in technology.
Made embassies with both neighbours as soon as I had Writing. The Persians were building a Spearman and the Chinese started the Pyramids (it was 100+ turns at that point, I don't remember how many exactly). This was mostly to get a target lock on both capitals. Beijing was closer... to death. 
You can see that I started two wonders, possibly as prebuilds. No shields were lost, I can tell you that. To build two wonders simultaneously was the first choice really different from my normal play. Usually I would go for one of the really powerful wonders (Great Library or SoZ) and never bother with the others. But I wanted all the early culture I could get.
In 1000BC the Indian empire was the world leader in all important demographics. That is, if military service isn't important to you. My intention was to go and attack someone right from the start, but the surroundings made me rethink that. So it was pure expansion and building for now. No archer rush. The plan was to make some swords and then hit hard.
Here's a flyby view of the empire, 1000BC. The Settler near Karachi was going south to the hill near the sugar grassland.
Attachment: building the empire 1000bc.jpg
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Tarquinius
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quote:
The main issue for these turns are, IMHO, either pulling off an archer rush, building up for a sword rush (IE, mass upgrade), or a philo beeline. I took the latter choice for the simple reason that I had a four turn settler pump. |
I also did the latter, although a bit late (I still won the race, but I will cover that in the next DAR.)
I combined with a different military strategy: building Chariots and later upgrade them to Horsemen. (I attacked China as late as 500 BC) I plan to upgrade my horsemen as soon as I get Chivalry; that could take a while though.
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Arrian
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Kneel before Grog!
Jul 2001
time: 00:22
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Monarch, AU Mod.
In 1750 bc, the Chinese discovered Horseback Riding.
Normally, this wouldn't be all that important. On this particular occasion, however, they got an SGL for it. I know this because they completed the Pyramids in 1725bc in Beijing.
The Chinese are the most hardcore AI opponent I've seen in a long, long time. That's a combo of the Pyramids and the AU mod. I'll have a more complete report later (my notes are at home), but suffice it to say I fought a meatgrinder war against them (ancient age units - archers, spears, cats, swords, horsemen) and had to call it off after taking only 2 cities from them, having suffered terrible attrition (some of which was due to some pretty bad combat rolls - despite my catapults). My initial army was nearly wiped out.
I've done a LOT more damage to the Persians, with much less force required. Oh, and the Iroquois, wherever they are, are freakin' scary wonder-builders.
I'm up to 590 AD, and am building up for the all-out strike to take China down.
-Arrian
p.s. 300 shields for the SoZ which produces AC w/o the hit point bonus... that's a strong nerf. Ouch. Took me forever to build it, and then the payoff isn't really all that good.
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Risa
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1950bc: Bangalore was founded 4 tiles northeast from Delhi.
From what I knew that time I thought further east was only hostile jungle and had no proper city spot, so it became the east front of traditional India. I concentrated on civilizing central area and west peninsula.
Bombay handed over its duty of warrior camp to Bangalore, started the first temple of India, then a palace prebuild.
1725bc: We learned how to write. The next object is how to do maths. Of course, for Statue of Zeus.
1600bc: Persian also knew about writing this time. So it's time for teaching Chinese about it. They rewarded us with the secret of wheel. By that time, they even knew how to ride horses.
1450bc: Several years earlier my scout climbed over the south mountain barrier and found a large beautiful unclaimed grassland. So came our people. This year Karachi was founded on south foot of the mountain. It was a pure peaceful town, not a single military unit guards there.
1400bc: Well, that land was not that unclaimed as I thought. 2 Chinese archer approached to the undefended city and burned it to the ground. My warriors were too late to save the city when they arrived, but they did stop Chinese from invading across the mountain.
1150bc: By this time Chinese was finally willing to come to the table. Peace was resettled. We taught them about maths, which we had mastered for some time, and they taught us about iron working. We were learning about literature, but we had been informed that persian was already knew it. So it just call for a fair trade, maths for literature.
1000bc: Hyderabad was found on ruin of Karachi. Heavy guard accompanied.
The prebuild in Bombay worked well. It was only 2 turns before SoZ completed by now.
The loss of Karachi is my second mistake of this game. I shouldn't left a city unguarded on the front line. The war costs me not only a city, but as later turns out, a wonder as well. By that time Madras was about to start the Colossus, but it had to training military units during the war. Later I lost the race to German by only 7 turns. If without that war...
Another is I completely forgot about the free tech of philosophy. Later when Chinese got philosophy and map making at the same time, I was wondering why. Of course I shouldn't complain that. After all I get the SoZ.
Perhaps a more serious one is city placement. Especially on the peninsula, my cities are too loose. By 900bc I complete the settle plan, only 5 city on the peninsula. It should be 7, or even 8.
No save at this time as well, so no screanshot still.
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nbarclay
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Huntsville, Alabama
Dec 1999
time: 23:22
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quote:
Originally posted by Modo44
Monarch level, AU mod.
My both food-rich cities were making settlers and spearmen. |
Used properly, Delhi can crank out a settler every four turns or a worker every two. Four-turn settler pumps sometimes require managing cities yourself instead of counting on the governor to do it (since governors have a nasty habit of sacrificing food for shields), but their value is enormous. I know it's too late for you to take advantage of that in this game, but you might keep it in mind for future reference.
quote:
In 1000BC the Indian empire was the world leader in all important demographics. That is, if military service isn't important to you. |
One of the oddities of the "Military Service" demographic is that it is a function of both military size and population. Thus, if a player has a significantly larger population than the AIs, it is possible to have the largest, most powerful military in the world and still rank dead last in military service. That makes it a lot harder to view that demographic as important, or even particularly useful.
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nbarclay
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Huntsville, Alabama
Dec 1999
time: 23:22
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Calcutta, northeast of Gold Peak, became India's fifth city in 1910 BC. With lots of bonus grasslands around, India decided to take an outside chance that it might be possible to build the Pyramids there (after first building a temple to help the city handle a larger size). The capital even built more workers than it would have needed otherwise to improve the area relatively quickly and eventually add a couple workers to the city.
Granaries were completed in Bombay, Madras, and Bangalore, although Bangalore's original attempt at a granary was disrupted by a band of barbarians. The city actually had a warrior available to defend it, but the warrior died attacking the barbarian on the city's outskirts. Hyderabad, on the southeastern edge of the Indian nation, gave me some anxious moments when Chinese and Persian units moved adjacent to the undefended city. But fortunately, those civilizations were not in a mood to attack at the time.
Speaking of granaries, my hopes for the Pyramids actually had me focusing a little less on them than I normally would. Instead, aside from my first four cities, standard operating procedure became to build a temple and then a barracks.
Since I was planning on Feudalism as my government, my research path after Pottery was Writing (since I didn't have Masonry at the time), then Mathematics, and then Currency. I probably should have gone for Construction at a 50-turn pace instead of Currency, but I wasn't thinking of it at the time.
Attachment: bc 1000 dar 2.jpg
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cracky
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Well... I got a scientific leader from Writing and rushed the Pyramids... That pretty much means game over for me on Monarch. But since we're working on cultural victory, which I've never attempted, this game should still be a good challenge.
Tech: I have all first tier techs, plus Mysticism, Writing, IW, and HR. I'm one turn away from Philosophy. The Philo rush didn't quite work out as planned. Neither China nor Persia took different tech paths, so my free tech (assuming I get it) options are limited. I'm not sure if I should get Polytheism, Map Making, or Math (for my SoZ prebuild). Persia is two techs behind, China is even... Of course I'll be well ahead again with Philo.
REX+workers: I have 12 cities plus one settler, and 16 workers. Using Bombay to pump workers still, with the occasional settler thrown in. My REX to the East and South is pretty well finished due to the expansion of Persia and China. I haven't even started to settle the peninsula to the west though.
Culture: I only have temples in half of my cities so far, but at least 4 other cities are half way through their temples. Maybe I should get Literature as my free tech and start building libraries and the GL.
Other Civs: I'm not sure I know how to play this game without an ancient age rush  , so I think all my warriors will be upgraded and sent through the jungle muck after the Persians. Maybe, just maybe, I can pull this off before the Persians have many immortals... The Ancient Cavalry (assuming I get the wonder) will have a much easier time invading the plains of China.
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cracky
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and the screenshot....
(Reading over the DAR2's, I can't believe some people have already built the Hanging Gardens. I guess that's Emperor level for ya...)
Attachment: cracky-dar2-au504.jpg
This has been downloaded 112 time(s).
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cracky
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One more post to explain some things. Somehow, with 16 workers I think I should be farther along in my tile upgrades. I look at Delhi and it looks positively barren. But a double check tells me that all the tiles it is using are upgraded just fine, and that's all the bigger the city needs to get for now, at least while it's still a settler pump... The big worker drain at the moment is the improvement of Calcutta, my wonder building city. Due to Ghandi's stupidity, there are three cities in that NW-SE 'row' that aren't on rivers, but just look at all those wonderfull BG's.
Still, looking at some of the other DAR's, my workers have been downright lazy. Any pointers on my worker usage would sure be a big help...
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cracky
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Well. That's the plan, Bombay as a worker pump for the rest of the game. I did use Bombay (2nd wheat city) to build two settlers. I think that slowed down my worker production significantly. With granaries everywhere, even with a 3 turn worker pump, it's going to be difficult to keep up with the population explosion I'm having...
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Aqualung71
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Lord Desolator of the Desolation Row, C3CDG
Oct 2002
time: 12:22
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A Great Hosannah – The Saga of the Guru Ravi Shankar
“If we stand here together and we see the world as one
We may think there’s no future, but it’s the same for everyone
It’s like the world has lost its head, and it’s like all the Prophets said
But we will arise to a new world…….”
The Guru Ravi Shankar awoke one sunny morning in early 2150BC (the calendar being based on a dimly remembered prophecy of some seminal event that was to occur in the future) in his sub-continental capital of Holy Grail, yawned and stretched his arms with a gnawing feeling that today the world would change. When he returned to a more relaxed posture, sitting on the edge of his luxurious bed chamber, he cast a satisfied glance back at the huge round bed and glimpsed several slender female arms and legs snaking out from beneath the silk sheets, intertwined with each other yet still silent with exhaustion, and he recalled with a faint stirring in his loins the night of eroticism the four of them had just shared as he pictured the nubile nakedness that lay just beneath the sheets. He made a mental note to reward the girls with gifts, and have them groomed again for his pleasure very soon. Meanwhile, they will enjoy the pleasures that each others’ delights will bring to them.
He pushed all thoughts of the recent hours’ events to the back of his mind. Abruptly, there appeared a glint in his eye. Ravi was thinking and scheming of much grander issues…..matters of State and Empire…and prophecy. It was at this very moment that the seeds of destiny, planted by his forefathers, began to germinate. He would be a King unlike any other. He would truly be the Guru of a glorious and mighty Indian civilisation. It was then that he knew his time had come. It was time to drink of the Cup of Life, passed down to each successive generation of the Shankar dynasty. The Cup of Life had been brought to the ancient city by a strange traveller, who thereupon disappeared without trace, and on that day the city was renamed Holy Grail – the jewel in the crown of the fledgling Indian civilisation, which had now grown to four settlements. The Prophets foretold that only one human could partake of the Cup of Life and continue to live, such was the power and strength of its contents. Should an incorrect judgement be made, the Shankar line would wither and die, and the Empire would crumble and be pillaged at the hands of the powerful Persians to the north. Ravi now knew – he was that one human. It was his destiny to enjoy the fruits of the Cup of Life.
Purposefully, Ravi made his way through the long corridors of the Palace to the Sacred Room. The Royal Guards at the entrance to the Sacred Room snapped to attention and saluted stiffly as Ravi passed between their spears, his tall muscular frame dwarfed by their brawny bulk. Intently, as a man possessed, he removed the large diamond encrusted key from around his neck where it had rested since his ascendance, and carefully inserted it in the simple lock adorning the magnificently carved oaken door decorated with Emeralds and other precious Gems from the mines of his lands. One false movement would prove fatal, activating the booby traps set millennia ago as the ultimate security device for this most precious of treasures. Slowly he turned the key in the lock and after a complex series of clicking noises, he knew he had succeeded. The door swung open of itself and Ravi entered the room. Magically, the door quickly swung shut behind him. His fate was now sealed. One way or another, Ravi Shankar was to be the last human in his line.
Ravi stood in the small chamber alone and eyed the diminutive flask with trepidation. The confidence and assuredness that had welled inside him only a few short minutes ago began to evaporate. Had he made a disastrous error? He steeled himself and steadied his nerves with the discipline of mind that his father and grandfather had instilled in him through countless days of battle training and nights of meditation. Intently he raised the small flask. His moment of self-doubt had passed. His fear had evaporated. Ravi raised the flask to his lips and quickly poured the bitter liquid into his mouth, swallowing every last vile drop. Instantly he knew. He was the one. The ancient Prophecy was at last fulfilled. The Indian civilisation would finally blossom in this terrible world. Ravi Shankar had finally attained the gift that generations of his line had been awaiting.
IMMORTALITY!
Later that day Ravi met with his advisors. He was in an aggressive, confident mood as he strode around the ancient oblong table, hurling orders at his ministers.
“Indian culture is the most magnificent in the world. Yet I see no examples of wondrous achievements in our lands. Go out and build me Temples and Libraries. Get the people out on the streets and make Workers out of them, then start building. Improve our defences against the dangerous Xerxes to the north and send our Warriors out exploring the lands to the west and east”
And so it was to be.
Ravi retired to his chamber satisfied with the day’s progress, and picked up the Sitar bequeathed to him by his most loyal friend and advisor, the late, great, George Harrison MBE…..and began to play.
”Without going out of my door, I can know the ways of heaven
Without looking out of my window, I can know all things on earth
The farther one travels, the less one knows, the less one really knows…..”
And so the Indian nation under their immortal leader Ravi put their collective shoulder to the grindstone and worked, then worked some more. Slowly their citizens were trained to build roads, irrigate and mine stone for the construction of Temples. Slowly (too slowly!) more fighting men were trained to protect the borders against the feared Persians, who seemed to wander in and out of Indian territory at will.
Ravi commenced his diary, dictated daily to his scribe in his personal chambers. Of course, the scribe was under threat of death if he ever divulged any of the diary's contents.....or perhaps more pertinently, if he ever related the hedonistic events he witnessed inside the Guru's bed chamber
2030BC: The town of Lakeside is founded, with stunning views across the lake to the nation’s capital….and behind the town, across the river to the Forest. Ravi made a mental note to construct a Palace there and establish a harem of slave girls for his pleasure.
1750BC: The town of Two Shores is founded next to the Ivory, again in an extremely good defensive position.
1725BC: An Indian Curragh exploring the southern coast bumps into the Chinese civlisation. Ravi is surprised, as he did not expect to find more land there, much less find it inhabited. He retired to his bed-chamber to consider the implications of having a second close neighbour.
When he emerged, limping only ever so discernibly, he agreed to trade the Indian secrets of Ceremonial Burial, Alphabet and Pottery (and 34g) for knowledge of the Wheel…..a vital invention to help the Indian workers haul the stones to build the Temples. It was a simple matter to get Xerxes agree to take The Wheel for Warrior Code.
Ravi considered his research position, and started to think that the days of tech trading must surely be numbered.
1675BC: Indian scientists discover how to Write. “A very useful skill”, mused Ravi. He sent them in search of Philosophical thoughts next, hoping they may accidentally learn Literary skills at the same time.
1625BC: Ravi’s Minister of Religion, the esteemed Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, rushed to the Palace…….”My Lord, we have just completed our first Temple in the town of Lakeside”. Ravi was visibly moved. ”The foundation stone of our culture has been laid. Let there be many more”.
Ravi picked up the sacred Sitar once more……
”Arrive without travelling
See all without looking
Do all without doing”
1600BC: Northport founded on the northern coast. This will be our sea route to Persia. Ravi was pleased that Dyes will soon be provided for Indian grandmothers to colour their Saris.
1475BC: Gold Mountain founded north of the capital. Ravi was even more pleased……because as we know, Indians love their gold 
1400BC: Twin Peaks founded southeast of the capital.
1225BC: Marlboro Country founded south of the isthmus to China, near the Tobacco 
1150BC: The Venerable Bede claims that India is the 4th Wealthiest nation on earth. This is immediately after Xerxes extorted Ravi for half his wealth! There must be some poor old sods out there somewhere!
Fort Resolute established on the eastern side of the great lake, in a position that is virtually impregnable given a reasonable garrison. (picture Civ2 and Partisans in the mountains!)
1075BC: Fisherman’s Harbour founded near the Banana plantations on the north coast.
1000BC: The turn of the millennium was a seminal year for the Indian civilisation. The art of Philosophy was discovered, and at the same time a separate team of Indian scientists learned how to draw maps (yes, we Indians are not known for our seafaring abilities…..but we will be now!). The secret of Philosophy was promptly traded to the Chinese in return for Horseback Riding, Iron Working and Literature.
Ravi feels that his civilisation is growing according to plan, with the exception that he feels militarily exposed. His ministers have done an excellent job training the people to work and erecting Temples as monuments to Indian culture. However, this has been achieved at the expense of military security.
The following years shall be spent building the Indian military, using the Iron resource that has conveniently appeared in the west. The West shall also be the direction of future expansion, now we have hit up against China to the South and Persia to the North-East.
Ravi is also keen to start engaging architects to design Wondrous buildings, whose secrets may be unlocked by scientific research. In short, pre-builds must begin!
The state of Ravi’s Empire at 1000BC:
Towns: 12
Settlers: 1
Workers: 14
Warriors: 8
Spears: 1
Curraghs: 2
Temples: 6
Granaries: 3
Attachment: au504 1000bc.jpg
This has been downloaded 97 time(s).
Last edited by Aqualung71 on 24-09-2004 at 18:32
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Aqualung71
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Lord Desolator of the Desolation Row, C3CDG
Oct 2002
time: 12:22
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Where's yours Dom? I hope you're playing this game!
Last edited by Aqualung71 on 24-09-2004 at 18:45
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21-09-2004 00:19
!! Nice story, Aqua! 
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