Woden's Wondrous World of China

[Woden]

Turn 55

Only one more turn during this mornings power hour. Kind of disappointed but life goes on. 

I start this turn by harvesting the stone at JC. There is 6 cogs left on the warrior and the stone provides a base 58 cogs (87 with Agoge card). 




This instantly completes the warrior and essential the builder. If you look at the builder box at the lower right corner it is full. I should have a little left over from the chop and what is produced this turn overflow into an archer and I will do the same into another builder in 2 turns. If my math is correct, I get more into the builder (81 cogs) than if I chopped directly into the builder (75.4). Nice!

I found city #3 but forgot to take a screenshot. I will do that next turn. I still haven't decided on a name and am actually thinking about changing the naming scheme to fictitious city names from Disney movies instead of rides. IDK, I will think about it. 

Builder will be done next turn in MS and then will chop the jungle int a settler. Not much else going on this turn. I saw Singaboy has iron hooked and is making 8 gold per turn. Russia is still making 18 gold per turn. Other than that, I do know that I need to sit down and figure out where people are and keep a little better tracking. May add it to the bottom of the post as a reminder. I will work on that this week.

[Woden]

Turn 56

Forgot to mention last turn but my trade route finished last turn and I moved the trader to the new city and started a trade route to MS this turn. Also, started a builder in the new city. Here is a look inside...




I decided to name this one space mountain. I am still considering switch naming conventions but I still needed a name. Builder will take a while but I will chop it out once teh Pyramids are complete. I wanted a builder to start developing it as soon as possible and I will have 2 units around this city once the guard of the builder arrives in a couple of turns.

In the north, I move the warrior west to see what is over there while he waits for the archer to arrive, due in 4.




Looks like this is the end of the road for this spit of land. Next turn I will move to the forest northwest to double check. Hopefully that barb galley is not over there.

JC and MS finish builders. JC starts warrior (due in 2) and I will harvest the stone next turn and finish it and a builder the turn after. The warrior should only have a couple cogs left next turn, so I should get some good overflow. Now that I think about it, I might switch to a warrior in SM and stop before it is complete and then chop into that and overflow into the builder. I was worried the warrior would be done before the Pyramids, which is due in like 7 or 8. One last thought I had is that my builder are going to be expensive because I am build a bunch but I think it will still be cheap per charge than anybody else, I will have to look into it. I chop the southern bananas' jungle into a settler in MS, due in 5. This will be the Petra city.

Currency finished and I switch to Astrology to finish it next turn, then I will start Math until I get 40% done and then start Horseback Riding (4 turns to complete). After that I may go for Apprenticeship to increase production. I threw a CD down in MS to lock price, will work on it after I finish current builds. 

In international news...




oledavy is now 1st in culture, most likely due to the culture he received fighting the city-state. I think he also finished his 3rd district and a settler this turn or grew 2 population. I need to check the GP screen next turn to confirm. Singaboy finished a tech and Russia finished a settler and a civic this turn.

Oledavy is pulling ahead but I am not too worried, I think I should be able to catch up pretty quickly once I build my wonders. Remember, I will get +2 GP per district, a religion, an extra builder charge, 15% growth, and +3 amenities in the next 10-15 turns.

[Commodore]

Oledavy is pulling ahead but I am not too worried, I think I should be able to catch up pretty quickly once I build my wonders. Remember, I will get +2 GP per district, a religion, an extra builder charge, 15% growth, and +3 amenities in the next 10-15 turns.

How many shields is that all together? I'm not intimately familiar with the wonders (something, Stonehenge?, Pyramids, Hanging Gardens?, something)

[Woden]

Oledavy is pulling ahead but I am not too worried, I think I should be able to catch up pretty quickly once I build my wonders. Remember, I will get +2 GP per district, a religion, an extra builder charge, 15% growth, and +3 amenities in the next 10-15 turns.

How many shields is that all together? I'm not intimately familiar with the wonders (something, Stonehenge?, Pyramids, Hanging Gardens?, something)

Total wonder cogs (shields); Stonehenge = 180; Hanging Gardens = 180; Oracle = 290; Pyramid = 220; Colosseum = 400; and Petra = 400. Total = 1,670 cogs.

I can build each with 1 builder, given the stacking of the Pantheon, Autocracy and the policy. So, I need a minimum of 5 builders because I get one free with Pyramids. Each builder cost 4 cogs more, so if I assume starting at 62 (first 3 for chops and development) my costs are: 62 + 66 + 70 + 74 + 78 = 350 cogs. 

But wait there is more, each builder's charge is worth 21.8% of a wonder, meaning I will get 9% overflow for each wonder. So 1,670*1.09 = 1,820.3, that is a 5.2 cogs per 1 cog put into builders. A pretty good return. plus i have 5 more wonders to build. Also, by manipulating Agoge, I am get more cogs out of chops overflowing into builders, so my actual costs might be lower. 

I am not worried that oledavy has at least 1 additional city that is more developed than mine, via capture city-state and maybe a few more districts. I have lots of cogs stuck in trees and stone that my 5 charge workers can quickly turn into something useful and my wonders will overflow into other things.

[Woden]

Turn 57

Exciting times are ahead, everything is falling into place...

Open the save and I finish Astrology and Games and Recreation. I start Drama and will work it for 4 turns and then switch to Military Training and work it until 40% is done. Tech-wise, I was going to start Math to get 40% done before I switched to something else waiting to finish the districts but thought it might be nice to have a more defensive tech, so I started Horseback Riding. I will still be able to finish Math to 40% before my districts are done. This will allow me to kick out a few horseman when the encampment is done. My plan to finish the encampment is to start another builder next turn in JC to develop the lands and I will chop the encampment out (maybe with overflow from a unit).

Settled city #4 and here is a look inside...




Not very good tiles to work with no 2/2/0 tiles. I am working the 2/1/0 tile instead of the rice because I am going to harvest the rice when a builder gets over there to work on the Pyramids. That should be 2 additional population to the city. This city is starved for production, so I am going to lumber mill the 2 flatland forests and only chop the jungle and hill forests. I threw down the Pyramids and I didn't know what to start, so I started a monument. I might switch that to a watermill next turn for the added production. It should finish when the Pyramids finish or at least be close.

At JC, warrior has 33/40 cogs done and stone gives 63 base cogs (94.5 with Agoge) and 87.5 will overflow into a builder and finish it next turn with a little overflow left. As I said earlier, I will start another builder next to chop out the encampment, through a few farms down and mine a few hills. Warrior also gave me 8 land units, giving....




Inspiration for Mercenaries, nice!

Here is an overview of my civilization using the strategic view...




Builders for the Pyramids are 3 turns out, Pyramids done in 8 turns. First builder from JC to MS will move to Oracle spot and start building it in a few turns. Builder due next turn will move up and start Stonehenge is 3 turns. The builder I have chopping in JC will also move up and put a charge into Oracle or Stonehenge after Pyramids are complete, same with 2 charge builder already in MS. This will give me the 4 1-charge builders I need to finish Petra on the turn I finish Mathematics.

Since I finished G&R, I switch policies. I take out Ilkum and put in Corvee for the wonders. I need the settler out of MS more than builders and I can always chop into a builder from a unit if I need too. Once everybody is in place, I can start wonders.

In international news, I am first in culture again because I completed G & R. I don't expect to stay there. I am also 2nd in science and now have a higher research rate than Singaboy. I did look at the cultural victory and notice something, I can tell who else is in Autocracy....




When you scroll over the foreign tourism, you can tell who is in a different government because a 6% reduction for different governments is shown. TheArchduke and Singaboy are in different governments and oledavy and Alhambram are in the same government as me. This means Russia has finished PP and oddly chosen Autocracy. I would have though Classical Republic for the extra GP points but maybe he wants the military slots for unit builds and lower upkeep? Maybe he is after a wonder and is thinking about Petra or another one.

Also, I double check the GP screen and it looks like oledavy grew 2 pop last turn as no other GP points for him showed up, but he is 5 turns away from the first Scientist. Nothing I can do about that. Hopefully his last. TheArchduke got is general and Singaboy has an encampment. Russia is making 4 Prophet PPT and should expect one in 7 turns. I wonder if I can screw him by building Stonehenge before that, doubling his cost?

[Woden]

To continue with Commodore's question about wonder costs and so I have a reference in this thread. Here are the other wonders:

Remaining wonders' costs are: Colossus = 400, Great Library = 290, Great Lighthouse = 290, Mahabodhi Temple = 400, and Terracotta Army = 400 for an total of 1,780. At 109% = 1,940.2 cogs that I will get for 5 more builders. The costs of the builder will be higher but I also may complete some of them with feudalism and have 7-charge builders.

I haven't laid out detail plans yet but I know where I want them and will start with the Great Library first. This will give me the eurekas for all the sea tech in the ancient and classical eras, which is 3. Then I will research so I can get Harbors and the wonders and build them. I will want to try to complete all of the wonders before the Divine Right civic because that eliminates the 15% wonder card and replaces it with later era wonder card. That actually might be tough but I should be able to build them with 1 7-charge builder by then.

[Woden]

Turn 58

Big turn internationally. I open the save and go to move my eastern slinger that is chasing the scout and what do I see...




Greek boundaries. I though maybe Singaboy would be down that way since that is where his scout came from. I move my slinger down...




And meet...




TheArchduke's Pericles. I check out his information and find him at war with olevday! I also see that he has horses, jade, and 3 cities (including capital). But teh most interesting think is that it looks like he is not making any gold! He must have high maintenance costs on his units without a lot of income. For numbers, he is making 8.8 science per turn with 8 techs; 6.6 culture per turn and 6 civics; a military strength of 162; and 0 faith per turn. He is last in score with 55.

While I was in this screen, I decided to check out the rest of the board to see if anybody has anything new and found...




Singaboy is also at war with oledavy  Awesome, hopefully these guys battle it out, wasting a bunch of cogs on units and leave me alone while I build up. The downside is that if oledavy is taken out soon, they may come for me as the number 2 leader. Good thing my encampment is only 8 turns away and I can start kicking out horseman. I may also be in a race to settle a city next to Zanzibar. We will have to see about getting a settler out of Space Mountain after the Campus. 

As for me. I move the warrior up north, west and indeed find the end of land...




JC finished build, starts another, due in 7. I buy the tile for Stonehenge and throw it down. Then I use a builder charge and...




38 of 180 cogs complete. That is 21.1%. I guess the benefits are additive and multiplicative. The was one thing I was not a 100% on. So, I guess I will only get 5% overflow. I can increase that by throwing a turn of production. Then I can get higher modified overflow into something that doesn't get it, e.g. a district. I switch back to the settler. I decide to start building it now and will get it out before the pyramids because I want to delay Russia from getting a religion for 10-12 turns. He has Holy Sites and I don't. Once he builds a shrine he can put out missionaries and kill my religion by converting my cites. By delaying it I can get a spread among my cities to make it more difficult and hopefully make progress towards a Holy Site, so if he does come, I can remove his religion from my cities. 

Pyramids start in 2 turns, finish in 7.

[Woden]

One last idea I want to share that I just had. I think I might want to ask TheArchduke for friendship. He should accept because he then would not have to worry about me attacking from the rear while fighting oledavy. It will give me 30 turns of peace to grow into a monster while he is slowing oledavy down and wasting cogs attacking him. Then when the 30 turns are over, I should have horseman and crouching tigers to hold off any invasion or I could then go and attack him.

[Woden]

Turn 59

First, I move my slinger south and find coast...




If I can get a city between Space Mountain and Vilnius, I could block off my side of the continent from Greece completely. I don't have vision on any eligible tiles yet but I figure all 3 of the fogged tiles should be eligible. There is not fresh water but I can settle the coast. Added bonus if I get a settler down there, it would block Russia from going east if he doesn't have a unit over there yet. Which reminds me, I need to get a unit or 2 exploring east. I start moving the warrior that was guarding the builder, as it moves towards the Pyramid site, heading east. I think I will bring him over here and explore east of SM. Then the warrior in the north will head east after clearing the barb camp across the northern shore. Hopefully I can find were Germany and oledavy are located.

I get the notification that an unmet player has been eliminated and check if anybody that I know has gained a city-state...




Pericles has captured Buenos Aires. I wonder if oledavy wanted that CS and that is why he is at war with Pericles (to protect it). This should help Greece out a bit. I think it is too early for an industrial district (I think BA is an industrial CS). Speaking of Greece, I kept going back and forth on if I wanted to try and get friendship from him for 30 turns of peace. On one hand I can build in peace and when I get some wonders out, I will need peace because I am putting a big target on my back. On the other, if Greece and Germany take out oledavy quickly, they may both start to run away if they cut up his territory, and there would be nothing I could do about it. I finally settled on asking for friendship. I have a lot of land I need to settle and a lot of infrastructure to build so my economy can handle war. Besides, I think I can be close to Theocracy in 30 turns and maybe I will pray for an army and stomp some heads. Also, Greece is weaker than oledavy and I think if he can focus solely on him, it will slow all three of them down more. Hopefully oledavy can hold out for 30 turns, then maybe I can help him out.

Not much happen this turn. I sunk another charge into Stonehenge. Builder is in position to start Pyramids next turn. I harvested the rice. Northern archer is in position to fire on barb camp next turn. Settler at MS is due in 2. Horseback Riding due next turn. I am 2nd in military power but I know Pericles has at least 1 32 strength unit as seen in the strength of Helice (26 strength) is previous post. I believe city strength is half the garrison unit strength plus 10. I will have to look that up.

Edit: I just looked up BA to see its type and why in the world would you capture that CS? They give your bonus resources provide +1 amenities. In my opinion, that is one you keep around. Maybe oledavy was Suzerain, but why would you stick 3 envoys in an industrial CS this early (except for the amenities).

Edit #2: I just re-read about settling a city between SM and Vilnius. I reason I want a city down there is that it would create a chock point. You could only attack (by land) from 2 tiles. I don''t think I made that clear.

[Woden]

Turn 60

Another turn today. I played the last turn right after I got home from work but couldn't write it up for a while. This one I can write up right after playing.

Start off by moving the southern slinger west to see what is under the fog. More jungle...




But I do find a few eligible tiles for a city. I actually moved the pin to the one closer to the mountain so an aqueduct could be built.

Greece accepts my offer of friendship. Awesome! Now I can build in peace for at least 20 turns ( Russian agreement ends on T80). Plenty of time to get some wonders built, build a few districts, and plop down some more cities. I did notice that Greece went from last in military score to 2nd....




Now at 204. Last turn he was at 162 , so he built something with a strength of 42. Nothing I can think of has that strength but he could have gotten a horseman out and promoted a unit or 2? He does have horses and he could have beelined Horseback Riding. He has only 7 tech to my 12, so that could be why he is behind. Probably focusing on the bottom of the tree, maybe iron working too but he doesn't have iron hooked up yet. For comparison, my military score is 154. Good thing I asked for friendship.

I can now start the Pyramids, so I have a builder put a turn of production into it...




46 cogs, nice! will be done in 4 turns. Also if you look up in the left hand corner of the above screenshot, you can see the barb galley showed up. I decided to attack it with my archer before taking the camp. Also not shown in the screenshot, I renamed "Kilimanjaro Safaris" to "Pirates of the Caribbean". Thought it was more appropriate considering the great lighthouse and Colossus is going their. Harvesting the rice indeed provided 2 population. I move the builder that was working on Stonehenge up to where I am going to put the Oracle and have the other builder fresh from JC put a charge into it. Out in 2. Settler out of MS next turn and then I will put a turn of production into Stonehenge. I might actually put 2 turns if it will finish it. I will need a builder's charge to chop the jungle where the Colosseum is going and I won't have one around to do it.

Taking BA sure help Greece's score...




He is now 3rd and only has 6 civics and 7 techs. His empire score is 1 higher than mine but he does have at least an encampment, so I have higher population cities. I check out JC and find...




A Russian settler going to the desert. City should be founded in 2 turns. I hope the extra tiles he grabs are to his south. I hope he doesn't get the jungle hill Toronto's archer is sitting on. It would be 3rd ring for the city, so there is a good chance he will not. I also remember to throw down a commercial district in JC, I have been meaning to for a while. I should be able to get the city to 7 population easily once I have a few farms and chop some jungle. Then I will put down an industrial zone. Speaking of which, Horseback Riding finished this turn and I selected Math to work for 5 turns but then I realized my builders won't be in place for at least 13-15 turns and I could finish Apprenticeship and Math in that time frame. My builders have to wait until the Pyramids (3 turns) are done and then use a few charges on the Oracle (3-5 turns) before heading to the Petra city (7 turns of travel). To add to it, the Oracle is on a hill, so I have to move a builder to it and he has to wait until next turn to put his charge into it. I can still finish Petra on the turn I get Math but it seems to be pushed back a few turns. So, I decide to switch to Apprenticeship to get the extra production from mines going quicker. Hopefully oledavy doesn't steal it. I actually don't think with 2 wars he could afford building Petra now (I could be wrong and will kick myself if he gets it 1 turn before me) but I am not taking any chances.