February 22nd, 2021, 06:11
(This post was last modified: February 22nd, 2021, 06:33 by Amicalola.)
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Well I got lucky and caught the Pick List a few minutes after Lewwyn posted it, so here is a quick analysis. Exciting!! I love thinking about this stuff, since it's about as close to lurking as you can get while playing.
I don't think I know enough to comment on every individual pick or player, so here is my general take on the game:
Generally, player skill is more impactful than pick in my predictions for how we'll all do, though both factor in. The 'top 10 players' is in order. We have a pretty balanced spread of players, and I think most people got picks that were at least 'decent.'
The fact that there are only 2 IND players in the game is really nice for us, albeit maybe a sign that I picked a bad trait  . It will be really important to keep an eye on Charriu, and get inside his head. What techs is he going for, what wonders, etc.
Otherwise, the traits are about what I'd expect. High ORG, IMP, and CRE, which are probably the strongest 3 traits right now (depending on the FIN nerf). The lack of IND worries me, but I guess it's because it's a big game?
March 3rd, 2021, 05:53
(This post was last modified: April 12th, 2021, 22:22 by Amicalola.)
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Turns 0-2 (4000-3920 BC)
The game is up!
On T1 we founded our capital, Hidden Place, on the sugar tile. The scout headed north, and they've revealed some land, then the northern coastline. I'm extra pleased about settling on sugar now, as it allows for an extra city here.
Overall, the land looks pretty lush so far. I'm desperately hoping that a second city will work on this plains hill, but it's too early to make any plans. Our scout was actually delayed a turn by an additional forest on the silk. Not that I'm complaining about that!
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I've been thinking about 'safe' wonder dates quite a bit over the last week. They should be somewhat later than usual, considering the larger map size. I'm trying to strike a balance between using my Industrious trait, and not falling behind in expansion. It's tricky, and obviously depends on circumstance, but I think the answer is to budget 2 of the early wonders for myself. Here are the wonders and my estimated safe dates:
Stonehenge: T40.
Oracle: T50
Great Lighthouse: T65?
Colossus: T75?
Hanging Gardens: T80?
Great Wall: 
Temple of Artemis: 
I want to go for two of the first five. The question is which...
March 5th, 2021, 22:59
(This post was last modified: March 5th, 2021, 23:04 by Amicalola.)
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Also, I've finally improved mentally to a state I'm happy with, which is nice. More relevantly, I think I'm going to start reporting properly again. Probably not every turn (too busy), but certainly more than once a week; at least every couple of turns. I'll try not to death-spiral this time. 
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(March 5th, 2021, 22:59)Amicalola Wrote: Also, I've finally improved mentally to a state I'm happy with, which is nice. More relevantly, I think I'm going to start reporting properly again. Probably not every turn (too busy), but certainly more than once a week; at least every couple of turns. I'll try not to death-spiral this time.
Sounds like a plan! I’m very happy for you. In any case this game is definitely more of a marathon then a sprint so keep on keeping.
“The wind went mute and the trees in the forest stood still. It was time for the last tale.”
March 6th, 2021, 04:34
(This post was last modified: March 6th, 2021, 04:36 by Amicalola.)
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T7
Thanks Lewwyn, I appreciate the kind words. 
Found a jungled gems this turn, which is interesting. I guess the question is whether or not we want to settle next to or on top of it - iron working might be a considerable time away. Settling on top of would ruin the micro I just made, but I don't want to fall into the trap of sunk-cost fallacy. Settling on the plains hill would mean we have to wait at least 100 turns until the gems are connected. Decisions, decisions...
Edit: Ah, crap. I've just realised my micro doesn't quite work, I missed the hill 1N of the plainshill in my sim. I'll need to do some adjustments. Probably a good thing - I might be able to improve it anyway.
March 7th, 2021, 21:34
(This post was last modified: March 7th, 2021, 21:36 by Amicalola.)
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We found a forested gold on a hill nearby that gems this turn. I think that encourages us not to settle on the gems, since we'll get a gold about 20 turns afterwards anyway.
It also makes me very glad I picked IND, since forges look fantastic right now. Very early Metal Casting is looking better and better. I'm really struggling to decide between two of Stonehenge, Great Lighthouse and Colossus. Obviously the latter two synergise, but Stonehenge is extra good with my UB, and the map seems designed to make for many tricky city-sites. It probably depends whether we can find things for the workers to do between Myst->AH. If yes, then Stonehenge is probably best. But if not, it might be too much of a hit to expansion.
March 9th, 2021, 18:04
(This post was last modified: March 9th, 2021, 18:07 by Amicalola.)
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Turn 12
This is such an interesting map. Literally every turn I find new information that makes me want to change how I'm playing my start, or think about new options. A lot of them feel deliberately placed that way. It's seriously amazing.
Anyway, this turn, I'm trying to decide where to settle the 2nd city. Here are the two relevant spots:
They both have 3 relevant forests. The northern site necessitates AH early on, whereas the southern site could use agriculture. They're both on plains hills. The southern site claims gold, but takes longer to get to. So many factors!
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Those are some rave reviews.  I'm glad you are enjoying it!
“The wind went mute and the trees in the forest stood still. It was time for the last tale.”
March 12th, 2021, 19:01
(This post was last modified: March 12th, 2021, 21:42 by Amicalola.)
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Turn 15
My scout got attacked by a bear and has to heal for 8 turns, so I haven't really explored any more yet. At least it survived.
I haven't met anyone yet. I've already explored my fair share of the 110 tiles per player. My guess is the northern jungle is a buffer zone between me and somebody else, with neither of us wanting to cross it. I'm getting antsy about it already, but it's probably in our interests for our neighbours not to know who we are, so I'll leave it unexplored for now.
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