Das Boot (directed by Wolfgang Petersen and Singaboy)

[Ituralde]

That's because I am German

I am thinking of renaming Kiel to include the crabs...something like Krabbenkiel

Test bestanden! 

I didn't want to presume and had the information about you living in Singapore in the back of my head. I think Kiel is fitting enough for a coastal slightly northern city.

[Singaboy]

Turn 59:

Two units are done (builder and archer), the archer produces a Eureka and an Inspiration. Unit are healed and can move. I spot a new long boat near Aachen. As I have covered all improvements along the coast bar the wheat, Japper can all but pillage that to heal, which he doesn't need. He might still pillage it for the loss of 1 hammer. I am not sure whether he actually does this silly act, but we shall see.

In one turn, we can sign peace, but I am in a foul mood regarding him. He declared an opportunistic war on me, got nothing out of it except for 25 faith, ignored my peace offer and continues to play silly stuff along the coast.




I start to move my units to the western coast, the northern archer will cover the copper later on, while the southern archer will protect the builder and then the salt. The builder first repairs the sugar at Kiel and we now have two copies of it. The others till have only one luxury or two, but no extra copies and its all sugar and wine anyway. I need to get to oledavy and Jester soon to be able to get some more intel and potential trades.

I swap back to Mil Tradition to be able to swap civics next turn. As my income is rising to 21 (not shown correctly in the ever troublesome UI), I can afford to drop Conscription for now. I will have to pay an additional 5gpt for 3 archers and 2 galleys. I rather keep Urban Planning though to get the small cities up to speed with their production.
I will get rid of Agoge and Conscription to implement Colonization and Maritime Industries. While Zuckerstadt is now producing a builder (with Ilkum bonus), it will swap to a galley next turn. The galley should be produced in 6 turns, when I then start a Quadrireme. This units is might expensive (120 hammers) and will take me around 10 turns to complete. However, I would feel better with additional naval units to protect my initial settler/military force when embarking on its journey west.

The camp will be finally done next turn and I can start the wine settler to claim iron. Unfortunately, this also means that the next settler will cost a whopping 200 hammers, which only Aachen can produce in a meaningful time frame. With a Hansa, it should get a lot better, so a Hansa will be first in Aachen then the settler.



Once Mil Tradition is done, I will continue with Games and Recreation. It opens up pathways that are important rather than waiting for construction which would take a long time to complete. Culture output is now at 13.3 (wrongly shown). With two more monuments coming online, culture wll remain healthy. I could buy the rain forest between the three northern cities to get Zitronenhain much better production instead of working the useless 2 food farm. I will check next turn what other tiles I need to buy for districts before making a decision here.

I will adjust my plans to get to Apprenticeship with the mined iron too as I can see that research is a little faster, Kiel's second builder is faster than initially calculated. The builder might improve the second stone before heading to the iron giving Aachen one more hammer.

In the scoring not much has changed, oledavy is pretty fast with regards to civics, he has 7 like me, but he lacks technologies. TheArchduke wants a NAP for 30 turns, from T60 to T90, which suits me just fine. However, I don't want to make it too obvious that I am after Japper (it's a public discussion) and I will ask for a condition to keep the straits in the north open. If he founds a city on his southern coast, he can shut off my naval traffic and could buy the northern tile on my continent. That has to be part of the NAP deal.

[Singaboy]

Planning Adjustments:

Technologies:
Shipbuilding (T63) then apprenticeship (T71)
Followed by wheel (2 turns), iron working (3 turns), engineering (need city walls), construction, machinery

Civics:
Mil Trad (T60), Games and Recreation (T67), delayed by 2 turns to facilitate policy changes, Defensive Tactics (T74)

Policies:
Maritime Industries, Colonization, Ilkum, Urban Planning (T60)
Urban Planning, Conscription, Maritime Industries, Maneuver (T67)
Urban Planning, Conscription, Maneuver, Strategos or Colonization (T74)

Production:
Kiel builder #2 (T65). Between T65 and T71, either library, CH or a granary

Builder #1 will head to Salz am Meer to mine the salt (T63), head up to Zuckerstadt to mine copper (T69), last charge to chop a rain forest
Builder #2 will improve stone (T68), mine the iron once the next city is settled (T71), improve wine (T72)

Aachen camp (T60), settler (170 hammers) with a production of about 25 hammers (T67)
The new city can then be founded on T71.
Between T67 and T71, Aachen can build a horseman, if policies are changed on T67

Zuckerstadt (production at 7.4 hammers next turn), growth on T65 for a production of 9.5 hammers
galley (T65) -> Quadrireme (until T67), switch to library or heavy chariot, then T71 Hansa

Salz am Meer, Zitronenhain monuments, then districts or granaries.


Once Aachen is done with its Hansa, it should go for another settler and then military for the colony on Japper's Island

[Singaboy]

Turn 60:

Japper really pillaged the wheat gaining him NOTHING as his longboat wasn't even injured. I lose 1 food, big deal. This to me is really a bad judgement as he could have used this tile for a quick heal for his boat in case he needs it. Well, maybe he thought better pillage now before the tile gets covered too.

We finish the camp and get a new Inspiration along with Mil Tradition



Time to change policy card:

Maritime Industries to facilitate a fast galley in Zuckerstadt, Colonization for the settler in Aachen, Urban Planning over Conscription for now (costs 5 gpt)




As I have 141 gold, I can afford a tile purchase at 8o gold and decide to buy the rain forest to give Zitronenhain a little more production. The monument drops from 5 to 3 turns.
I put back Games and Recreation and notice that it now takes a mere 4 turns thanks to overflow from the previous civic. I will switch out of this civic when it is at 1 turns to get another chance at policy changes at T67 when Aachen's settler is done.




Finally, an overview of my homeland. For the time being I don't have to fear anything from the north, only Woden from the east and Japper of course, could attack me. This makes me feel a little safer. In fact when looking at the numbers and stats, I needn't be too worried unless they all gang up on me. I am shown in the lead for all categories except religion, which is a non issue for me this game.

I am still happy about Japper's mediocre score for all categories including military strength. I am going to try and take out his long boat when I have two galleys down there including archers. Of course, his current position gives him the option to move west. I need him to sail further north. With his science output, I doubt he will get to shipbuilding very soon.



Other information about the players I met:

Singaboy 5 cities, 14.9 gpt
Archduke 3 cities 4gpt
Woden 3 cities 11gpt attacking LaVenta according to rumors
Japper 3 cities 5 gpt

[Singaboy]

Turn 61:

A really quiet turn. Japper's long boat has moved south along the coast. No new units or actions are required for two turns besides moving a few units here and there. The builder is on the way to the salt to improve it in two turns, the warrior moves west to cover bananas later on. The galley moves south to block the passage and maybe do some intel.

Two questions popped my mind
a. Should the new colony on the other island be built along the coast or one tile inland. Along the coast would mean an easier passage of units via Salz am Meer. They could embark there and be in the new city in three turns. However, coastal cities are of course, more vunerable. If I feel confident, that i can take out Japper in the long run and then block the access to all cities south of the Straits at Zuckerstadt, a coastal city would be fine.

b. How do I get to farm 6 tiles for Feudalism. Currently, there are two farmed but pillaged farms (near Zitronenhain and Aachen). There is a potential farm at Salz am Meer (floodplain) and there will be two rice paddies next to the new city. This leaves one tile to be farmed. There is a wheat west of Zuckerstadt, but that would eiother require a third ring purchase or another city. I would really want those 6 farms for sure. I will need to think about this issue.



By the way, I am now the only one with 1.1/60 Great General points. Might want to use Strategos eventually to speed up a run for it.

[Singaboy]

Turn 62:

As Japper had already announced in the diplomacy thread, he comes up with a proposal this turn. Seems the war didn't give him as much as he had hoped for  
Other than his proposal, it's another quiet turn. No new techs, no new units etc.



Let's have a look at Japper's proposal. It's straight 10 turn peace deal, which I can happily live with. Let's give him the feeling that I am glad to have peace hoping he doesn't realize that he is my target. He still has 3 cities only and no luxury but horses.




Since it is now safe to travel the waters between Norway and Germany, I get a new idea. Next turn, ship building is done and I can send units across to the other side. I am going to send a warrior to the location I am planning to put down a city. I have plenty of warriors at the coast and will embark there landing on the other side in a few turns (T66). In fact, I am starting to wonder whether I should send the settler under construction to said spot.
The city could also help me gain the farms I need for feudalism. I would then need to buy a thrid ring tile for Aachen to claim the iron. That costs currently 120 gold.

However, my galley is exploring the coast and I am not even sure whether my planned city is on the same landmass as Japper's further up north. Regardless, it is a good idea to send a warrior over. My hope is that Japper's longboat is exploring south and won't spot my warrior. I would like him to NOT know that I have researched ship building. It might only put him on the invasion alert.

[Singaboy]

Turn 63:

When opening the save I am greeted with a war declaration and I am at first, very surprised. However, it turns out yet another declaration on a city state. Woden has already declared war on La Venta (according to rumors) and now it is TheArchduke on Lisbon. I can only assume that they are after the city states workers as nobody can really send units around. It might be an attempt to take the city with galley as well.

The other news we get, of course, is that ship building is done. Zitronenhain finished its monument and culture output is at 15.4 :




Zitronenhain starts to repair the granary as its housing is at 2/3 and once we work the citrus, it could grow a lot faster. I finally put down the first mine at Salz am meer and get the boost for the wheel (now a mere 3 turns). I adjust the citizens there which now work the flood plain and salt to speed up growth. The city will grow in 4 turns while the monument will still be done in 6 turns.

I start apprenticeship with the estimated date of completion on T71 (assuming I manage to mine copper and iron). I switch from Games and Recreation to Drama and Poetry to delay policy switches. I want to stay with Colonization for another 4 turns, before implementing what was stated previously.



In the east, we run into La Venta, which is not interesting to us. One move by my galley later and I spot Woden with a galley and a builder, which he most probably (according to the diplo thread) stole from La Venta a smart move. I wonder whether I ever run into oledavy and Jester. They must be somewhere out there. I have met seven city states yet (one is mine now). Time to meet the other civs for more intel and possible trades.

I decide to invest the envoy I just gained into Carthage for an additional +2 hammers in Aachen when producing units. I am hoping that Archduke is not conquering the city due to its suzerain bonus. In fact, I could play him out if I produce a chariot and gain a second envoy there and invest another that I gain through civics.



In the west, my galley more or less confirms that Norway is in fact not on that Island I selected to expand. The city spot there is juicy and would provide nice opportunities to expand. However, it can't be used to stage an attack.

I will need to think about the logistics of an attack later on. In the meantime I can gather more intel with my galley soon to be two galleys in the east. On the screenshot, you can also see that I have sent a warrior on its way to the smaller Island.




In the score, I am still leading all categories, but Woden has just gained a first Great Scientist and will make faster progress there. I note that Jester's score has stagnated from the last time I updated the overall score. His cryptic message about RIP Pizarro might be the reason. First I thought he lost a settler or builder he named Pizarro, but in fact, he might have lost a city. Nobody really jumped in score due to a conquered city (I assume it has to be oledavy and Jester at war due to a missing rumors or open messages from the rest), a city might have been razed?

As I found out from my own galley, they can be really powerful in attacks and with two galleys, a city at the current strengths can be down fast. This will only spur me on to get my first horseman out to increase city strength. My cities all hover around 15-20, which is be far not enough. With a horseman that is more flexible in moving around the empire, I would feel better. Aachen will go for horseman production after its current settler. With a production of 18.9 hammers currently, a 50% production bonus due to Maneuver and some overflow from the current settler, the first horseman should be done three turns after the settler on T70.

[Singaboy]

Planning update:

Now that oledavy is watching the eclipse, there is some time to think about the next 30 turns or so. Since the staging city for the war against Japper has turned out not to be a staging city after all, there is a need to do some adjustments. If I attack right west of Zuckerstadt, I might have to be prepared for some resistance. Japper will get his Great Prophet next turn and I assume he will choose DoTF for added +5 defense on his Island.

I will need some serious force to attack. I am thinking of 5 horsemen, 1 battering ram, 3 archers and a Great General. While being at war, I would also need to keep producing units to defend my own Island against potential counters. I have an agreement with Archduke that expires at turn 89. This would be around the time I can think of mounting an attack against Japper.

So, what is the plan to execute this. First off, I need a strong economic and production base to support this and not get run over as I was in PBEM2. Hence, finishing districts will be beneficial. My current government adds +1 amenity to each city with a district, finishing them in Salz am Meer and Zuckerstadt is even more crucial.

In order to place the Hansas for Salz am Meer, Kiel and Zuckerstadt, I will need to claim 2 tiles and chop two rain forests. Hence, I will need an additional builder as soon as possible. I will have to buy the desert tile south of Zuckerstadt for it Hansa. Salz am Meer should claim the tile needed through cultural expansion before T71.


A more detailed plan for technologies, civics and production:

Technologies:
Apprenticeship (T71), Iron Working (3 turns), The Wheel (2-3 turns), Engineering (need city walls), construction, machinery, astrology and celestial navigation for harbors

Civics:
Games and Recreation delayed to T67, Defensive Tactics (T73) for cheaper walls, Mil Training, followed by Feudalism and Civil Service. This requires a city of size 10 as well as six farms. I will have to put up a plan to achieve that. Currently, our capital looks best to achieve pop 10 within a reasonable time frame, but would require a granary to push housing limit to 10.

Policies:
currently: Maritime Industries, Colonization, Ilkum, Urban Planning
T67: Urban Planning, Conscription, Strategos, Maneuver to ease unit support, aide horsemen production and gain GG points. I am currently at 3.2 GG points, which will grow to 7.7 by T67. With Strategos in place, the GG should be gained by T83.

Further adjustments after T83 to support production of naval units or archers, swordsmen


Production:
Aachen settler (T67), horseman (T70), CH for one turn gaining 40 hammers due to overflow from horseman and T70 production, Hansa (needs around 75 hammers) (T75), CH (T78)
From T78 onward, Aachen can produce horsemen at a rate of at least 30 hammers a turn (This will increase with additional adjacency bonuses). This would give 4-5 horsemen by T90 in addition to the one produced on T70.

Kiel builder (T65), CH between T65 and T71, then switch to Hansa on T73 after the rain forest chop. Once Hansa is done, switch to battering ram and other military (one heavy chariot etc)

Zuckerstadt galley (T65), builder ready by (T71), Hansa (T80), swap to archers or naval units.
The builder will move to chop the rain forests at Kiel, first to go into the CH, second to support Hansa

Salz am Meer monument (T68/9), Hansa after T75, in between potentially trader, archer etc

Zitronenhain granary (T68), builder...needs adjustments according to geopolitical situation. Potentially walls due to the exposed position as well as a camp later on.

Weinberg (the new city in the south) built on T71. Monument to get city borders to grow, growth emphasis with rice, locking of Hansa and later CH when forest has been chopped.


If all would go according to plan and I don't see dramatic changes in the geopolitical situation such as a sudden rise in military strength, I could mount an offensive by T90. As there are around 10 units involved + at least 2 galleys for support, I would need to mount the attack from my western tip of the land as well as the southern Island (relative to Japper). I need to get my units into and out of the water in the shortest possible time. I need more recon intel to plan accordingly. It is crucial to have the GG around to give additional strength while my naval force has to protect the units. It would be quite exciting to see how this plays out.

[Singaboy]

Turn 64:

A quiet turn for me, galleys do some recon work, the builder moves north and my warrior sails west. I spot the long boat in the south near Buenos Aires. I suspect Japper will declare war on Buenos Aires to steal the builder that is hanging around there. Well, we check out Norwegian landing sites for the invasion. The city of Midgard looks like a suitable place to start the campaign later on. Ideally I could start to attack the city with three horsemen supported by a galley. Well, that's 30 turns from now and we shall see what happens. Japper made a big jump in the score due to gaining a religion and having 4 cities all of a sudden.




You can see, the difference in score between 2 turns:
Singaboy: +2 points
oledavy: no change
Jester: +5 points, has gained a CH as he is now making Great Merchant points
Japper: +15 points ! due to 2 new cities and a religion, he also has both horses and iron connected. Not an easy target for sure
Woden: no change
Archduke: no change

Border expansion of Kiel has gained up the important rain forest tile, which I work for Kiel for a little faster growth.

[Singaboy]

Turn 65:

Two tiles have been incorporated into my land, the citrus at Zitronenhain and the fish at Zuckerstadt. For now, I need to emphasize production though. Zuckerstadt finished its galley and switched back to a builder done in 5. Kiel finished the builder and starts the CH, done in 12 turns  Since Kiel is so hammer poor, I will use the rain forest chops to help it speed up the CH and Hansa.



Zuckerstadt has grown to pop 5 and will not grow much without a granary or other enhancements in housing (such as a plantation for bananas). Hence, I shift the citizens around to maximize production. This way, the builder will be done a turn earlier, though that might change again due to swapping out of Ilkum in 2 turns. I will need to remember to buy the desert tile for Hansa next turn before I gain yet another civic when swapping back to Games and Recreation. 



I explore more land and think, I have finally found a natural wonder as the tile yield suggests. This will bring astrology to a mere 25 science, not much more than a turn. I will need to improve two sea tiles to get the Eureka for celestial navigation and harbors.



Surprisingly, Japper has not declared war on Buenos Aires and stolen the builder. My warrior has reached the shore and is out of sight for Japper's long boat. I hope I can keep him in the dark for a bit longer.