[SPOILER] Fate/stay close (to home)

[Charriu]

It's no spoiler at this point, but I also had planned to keep some forests for lumbermills in PB52. But then things happened.

[Jowy]

It's no spoiler at this point, but I also had planned to keep some forests for lumbermills in PB52. But then things happened.

I only built one lumbermill. It made me notice I pretty much always want to work that tile.

[Jowy]

Next time I'm organizing a game I'll just write down all the rules when posting sign ups. Some people just want to be difficult  

Carthage pick from SD is interesting. Maybe another Pro contender? Carthage wasn't on my list because I don't plan to go down the HBR path for their UU.

[Jowy]

I would love to have a public shittalk thread like in the past. Sadly it is probably too hard to keep it to just banter, some diplo would leak in and affect the game state.

[Jowy]

I've soured on Portugal. Customs House not really worth it when I doubt there'll be continents. Carrack gets no extra str and only has 2 cargo space. Scratch that off the list.

Mali I planned to pair with Ind, but they are pretty good even without. I still want MC early, it's cheaper, it allows lumbermills, and The Colossus if that's something we can go for.
Skirmishers might only play a part if we get attacked early. So far no signs of rush picks, though if we start next to Celts we'd be glad to have Skirmishers.
Actually, starting next to Lewwyn or Superdeath we might also be happy to have an early defensive UU.

Dutch/America have bad starting techs. Not a WB start, and Agri is cheaper in the mod.

Native America starts with Hunting/Agri in the mod. Their UB is moved to Archery, which means we can get "monuments" for culture without going for Mysticism (which lost its +1 commerce bonus to Palace).
The UB also gives +3 exp to Archery Units (and +1 to Gunpowder Units). There is a lot going on for NA now. Could be our pick!

[Jowy]

Clarification: The Customs House bonus would work with those small island cities that GKC promised would be available to everyone. But it will not stack with the Pro bonus because one's for domestic only and the other for foreign only.

[Jowy]

Analysis: 8. Gaspar/Lewwyn/AndFriends - Pacal of Khmer
I love Khmer, I think it's one of the strongest civs in the mod. Good starting techs, good UU, decent UB.
Financial is the best trait at least on a watery map. Exp isn't great, but cheap granaries and cheap Barays is reason enough to pick it.
I had a hard time fitting in Barays in PB52. The health bonuses rarely matter, but +1 food is very nice especially if you can get it built early.

[Jowy]

Analysis: 7. AutomatedTeller - Charlemagne/France
Combining Pro with the two-move Musketeers to make a super mid-game unit. Imp must be just as a general eco trait, only synergy I can see is GG generation, which probably wasn't the reason for picking it.
That said, it will be easier to land grab and protect it with the Pro+Imp combo. Wonder if he'd have gone for Wang Kon if we didn't pick it first.

[Jowy]

Analysis: 5. Gavagai - Sury of Egypt
What is this, a vanilla game? Sury's got the double nerfed traits, Exp and Cre. But nerfs were needed and it should be interesting to see how Sury does in his current state.
Between border popping, granaries and libraries, these are all still things that everyone needs to get done. Sury's gonna get em done faster.
Egypt is still good because War Chariots are wonderful early game units.

[Jowy]

I'm up for a Civ pick. I'm going to go with Native Americans. Start techs are good for this start (Agri/Hunting) even if they are cheap.
The XP bonus from Totem Pole will be relevant for a long time. The culture bonus means we can ignore the religious path.
Dog Soldiers I'm not sure if they will be relevant. But we can for example not worry about our Copper being camped because Dog Soldiers don't need it.