[SPOILERS] Will the Sun(rise) Ever Set on Washington, Mongolia?

[Whosit]

I did another "test test run." This time Joao of the Zulu.



First Settler out Turn 25, same build as before, basically. Worker > Warrior > Warrior > Settler > Worker. Bronze Working (in the test environment) finished exactly on time with the second Warrior and capital growth to size 4. Will have to see if the tech costs are the same in the real game when we get there.... Anyway, with IMP, was able to 2-pop whip settler after just 1 turn of regular production. Pretty amazing. These two test games are probably the fastest settlers I've ever done, ha ha.

Of course, where we find food is going to be important. With only 2 food resources at the capital, I'm not sure that we really want to split food off if we don't have to. The upshot to the fast BW is that we'll know where Copper is immediately, and might be able to settle for that with city 2 if conditions are favorable (if we DO take Zulu, I would love to get a fast Impi out to make one of our neighbors nervous). Depends what gets picked, of course.

[Whosit]

I could also immediately slow build another settler in 6 turns after the whip, but unless Gav thinks otherwise, probably 2 Workers after the Settler. Or, maybe, 1 Worker, grow with a Warrior, and another Worker.

[Gavagai]

We will definitely need another worker after settler. Whether we would need one more worker would depend on land around our second city.

[Whosit]

Do you a think that 2 Workers before 1st Settler would be necessary if we are unable to split food off from the capital?

[Whosit]

Krill, is the Viking Trading Post intended to give Flanking to Mounted units as well as Naval?

Ha ha, wow! If only I'd known that in PB 18, not that it would have mattered.

[Gavagai]

Do you a think that 2 Workers before 1st Settler would be necessary if we are unable to split food off from the capital?

We will need to look at surroundings but it is rarely the case. Typically the first worker is able to build all urgent improvements around the capital before the first settler is completed. After that a worker can follow this settler and the capital can comfortably build another worker for itself.

[Whosit]

Ah, alright. On another note, I'm thinking that for scouting to do 1NW, 1SW. I think that will reveal the most tiles to the west (taking advantage of lake view).

Also hoping that the snake pick starts happening, even though I know it's gonna be a little slow.

[Whosit]

It wouldn't hurt to list out top 3 picks for Leaders and Civs. Also, we're in that magically optimistic pre-game era where post counts and views and whatnot feel so special and important.

Civs:
1. Zulu (Agri/Hunting)
2. Khmer (Hunting/Mining)
3. Persia (Agri/Hunting)

Traits:
1. EXP/FIN
2. EXP/IMP
3. EXP/ORG

Roughly in order of preference, but I'm still not entirely sure. Definitely would like Zulu. If Zulu still is available at our pick, what about actually matching Shaka up with that? The UU greatly benefits from AGG, and the trait is better than in BtS, although sure there are much, much better econ traits still.

[Whosit]

Dreylin/Ipecac/Ruff you guys are on the clock. Enjoy!

Vikings.

Fishing/Hunting, Trading Posts (Flanking for Boats and, apparently, mounted units), Berserkers (Aquatic Macemen).

Don't know if we can make any real guess about their start. Could be similar to ours except with seafood. Fishing gives them a non-Agri path to Pottery if they so choose. Despite the nerfs to Trading Post, Vikings are still strong, especially with buffs to Hunting and other starting tech costs. Also Berserkerz.

[Whosit]

Rome has been picked. That's... Fishing/Mining, I think, with of course Forums as a replacement for Markets, and Praetorians, which are now Strength 7 Swordsmen and retain all the swordsman bonuses. Interesting that it's been Civ picks so far, but there are still 4 players to pick before we go. I wonder if they'll pair up an AGG-something with Rome, but at least Axes can still put up a fight.