[Spoilers] RFS-81 and haphazard1 don't know RtR, but won't let that stop them

[RFS-81]

So many info screens Yes, Coeur indeed has the wonder.

Not much happening right now. I can turn on Science for Polytheism pretty soon. I accepted Open Borders with superdeath.

There's a Quecha from Magic Science trapped in my borders. I'd offer Open Borders, but he doesn't seem to have writing yet. Also, here's how the land is developing around there: A cottage on the sugar, and to the north of it, I'm building a farm, mostly so that it can spread irrigation once I have Civil Service. You know, just in case I last that long.

   

My plan was to keep watch on what was happening between Coeur and Charriu. I was hoping that Coeur would start a counter-attack and then I'd go for the horse city. I already moved some more axes and spears to Lighthouse, but it turns out they made peace last turn! Anyway, here's a glimpse at Charriu's land, as far as my scouts can see it:

   

[haphazard1]

Hmmm, so Coeur did build the Oracle. Lots of possibilities for what tech was taken, but if he is interested in iron then something leading him toward Machinery or Engineering seems likely. Metal Casting is always a strong option, since it is very expensive for the era and also unlocks forges. (This is why the AI likes taking Metal Casting; most expensive available tech plus unlocking a useful building.) Anyway, the possibility that he could show up with crossbows or perhaps pikes should be kept in mind; crossbows especially would be very hard to counter without horses.

Charriu's land...hmmmm, several plantation resources. Does he actually have plantations on them? I can't tell for certain from the screenshot. And spices on a hill? Don't usually see that, so I think that is a map edit from the map maker balancing things.

The farm will give Black Corridors a bit more food, which is useful. And hopefully it will also be useful later for chain irrigation.

[RFS-81]

Farm up at Black Corridors, Utopia has its first cottage. I decided to build a granary at Rocky Paths, after all. I'll help it along with chops. Also, I turned on research. I might fall somewhat short of the mark, though.

[haphazard1]

How many beakers/turn are you getting when research is on?

[RFS-81]

50 now. But there are bigger problems now. Charriu has declared war. I have the first half of the turn. Walls at Lighthouse can be whipped next turn. I'm going to chop a bunch of units in Rocky Paths. No sight of the main force yet, but those galleys are going to pillage my fish. Nothing to do about that without Sailing.

   

The chariot killed one of my scouts. I sent my other scout on a suicide mission to see more of his forces:

   

Ok, so the main force must still be hiding somewhere. What I've seen so far doesn't account for such a power difference.

   

I'm thinking about offering sheep-for-sheep type deals with some neighbors, but that might put even more of a target on my back.

EDIT: I'm thinking about logging back in and changing research to sailing...this would take 7-8 turns. Or keep the money in the bank to upgrade my warriors.

[haphazard1]

War! Well, it was going to happen at some point.

I would probably keep the money for possible unit upgrades. The fish at Lighthouse are an ocean tile, so the galley should not be able to enter the tile to pillage. You were able to net them because of your culture, but Charriu should not be able to reach that tile.

Good luck! Hopefully you will be able to spot his main force once Charriu begins to move; then more decisions can be made on best units for match ups and the like.

[RFS-81]

That wall may be too late, Charriu can attack with 6 chariots and a few swords on his turn

   
(Note: I whipped the walls and moved the spear into the city after taking the screenshot)

I have one archer, three axes and two spears defending (including the one who is still outside in the screenshot). The axes all are maximally fortified.

I've also started walls in Golden Void, due in two turns even without any whipping.

Space Love has popped borders, but didn't get the wheat back yet. I'll connect the iron up there, so I'll have a backup.

[haphazard1]

Good luck! Hopefully the RNG will be kind.

[RFS-81]

Lighthouse is captured. I killed all attacking swords, one axe and one or two chariots. Some of my units executed some unfortunate queued-up moves*, but there doesn't seem to be a point in asking for a reload anymore. For the same reason, I'm not going to waste time with screenshots. I'm converging units on the capital, which will have walls next turn. I'm chopping more units in Rocky Paths. I think I'm mostly going with archers (city bonus, hill bonus, garrison promotion, cheap) and spearmen.

* I need to get out of the habit of doing that.

[haphazard1]

Queued moves can be a problem in MP games. Even in SP it can sometimes cause problems, but obviously human opponents are far less predictable than AIs.

Lighthouse taken. Well, it sounds like Charriu took some losses capturing the city, which will hopefully weaken his forces enough to make a difference.

For a defensive stand against an enemy with plenty of chariots, archers and spears should be a good mix. An axe or two in the mix to deal with swords is useful, and they also give you something to counter-attack with if an opportunity presents itself. But getting as much defense as possible often means plenty of archers. And their cheaper cost sometimes lets you fit them into a build queue where another axe or spear would take an extra turn.