[Mjmd #52 no players] Working on the Homestead

[Mjmd]

I'm more worried someone beats me to music. I'm assuming as I'm the only one NOT in a war that everyone else is researching military techs. AT is only person who has for sure gone down that path and his GNP isn't great even in free religion during a golden age. Still its a known free GP and I'm going to Guilds first for safety.

Pork Chops can work 2-3 specialists pretty easily (mer or sci). Pancakes had a small bank of GP pts from stonehenge and I started working an engineer there (pri or eng); I had planned on this being the 2nd GP for the next golden age; I could prob actually stop working the engineer until it grows again actually, but prob won't in case the music GP gets taken. The 3rd would have to come from Evaporator. I can chop remaining forests at Evaporator for Partheon (if not built) plus national epic; do some kind of wall or stable whip for some overflow before as well. Would end up with a very very high chance of great artist. I'll then have to save forests at the C city site slowing down that development for Taj later on. Hell maybe I'll build lumbermills there. Means I should slow build a settler for it somewhere or other. I don't really have anyplace that wants to 2 pop whip atm. To be fair lumbermills actually sound great during a golden age.

[Mjmd]

I'm more worried someone beats me to music. 

Cairo teched Philosophy???? WTF.  He then converted to Taoism even though it popped in the city still in anarchy (weird). Huh.

Huh

Ok, so how bad do I want this free great person. Pretty bad? Enough to sacrifice 1 knight (caused by decay in que). I can either get in 5 turns or 3 turns (if I skip double prereq which hurts my soul; otherwise adds a turn to one and two turns to whatever I skip because I run out of gold). 2 people know Aesthetics. Which route did Cairo take to Philosophy or did he go for double prereq? I decided to delay guilds to make a run at the great artist; I wonder if I should have done last turn....... When you can 1 turn almost everything opportunity cost isn't as high. Plus I get to start Parthenon earlier. I'll see how many people know the techs after it and evaluate next turn; 2 people know aesthetics; one of which is AT. I've only whipped 3 horse archers and other 2 shouldn't decay (barely; again would have to skip double prereq). Power corrupts...... This could be stupid, but I don't think a 2 turn delay will be the end of me and other than hurting my soul, skipping 20% bonus beakers for a turn is also worth the price for continuous golden age. Without the free great person the 3rd golden age is delayed a long time and there is a much higher chance of great person overlap for what is born (with free GP I can choose to make that chance 0).

Other world news is that Charriu and Jowy made peace (well fought Charriu). Jowy gained a total of 1 city for his effort.
Evidently because he wasn't teching militarily Mr Cairo also made peace with AT also after taking just 1 city, which I'm happy and confused about.

[Mjmd]

Question: anyway to one how many overflow breakers you have?

Edit. Nvm figured it out. Morning brain failing as usual.

[Mjmd]

Not sure if its 100% a mistake, but ya Jowy got a great artist 3 turns ago now (I just rolled turn), so turn I decided to tech aesthetics. I just missed the great artist being born with everything else going on, but I was double checking this turn. He also just landed great library. Ah well means Heroic Epic and Parthenon are a couple turns further along. Does mean there will be a break after this for golden ages. Also, 3rd golden age is going to be trickyish.

I had had some chops lined up this turn in newer cites, so rather than tech guilds I am currently teching code of laws for the bonus beakers while I wait. Guilds will be teched in 1 turn next turn. I can then turn off tech and let overflow beakers complete banking......... and still have some overflow beakers left over...........

Other major world news is SD razed and I'm assuming resettled a city. I had actually decided nothing was happening on that front so had sent scout back to explore SD backlines, and then actual things happen on that front for first time in forever........ Pin has knights, so doubt I can take an attack of opportunity. I did take the safety precaution of moving my horse archer stack west as I don't think either AT or Charriu will attack. Charriu did just enter his golden age.

[Mjmd]

Jowy entered his second golden age and his GNP is higher than mine. HMPH (assuming there is descent known tech bonus inflating it).

As requested finance screenshot from turn 150. Note**** teching banking increased from 25% to 27% turn 151. Love getting punished for doing well. Glad this was changed to an option no one will ever pick in next version of CtH (although maybe this is all natural as my impression was the increased was most likely just a factor in tech trading and advanced start; who knows, find out after the game I guess). Also settled the iron city T151 and between new turn and it, increased city maintenance by a cool 13gpt. Glad I held off on it until I had workers for it and Sap was a descent size. I also will be settling the crab city with a 1 pop whip from Maple Syrup. Maybe the whale copper city? Being financial it might be ok even without optics and once I have some courthouses up? 

Empire Overview from T151: 

Now if you look very closely you'll notice evaporator is starving..... Tally up a couple more mistakes. Parthenon should have been done T151; HOWEVER, accidentally moved one of the 5 workers required for the chops to a bad place delaying it 1 turn. THEN this turn I forgot to reassign the grassland forest next to Splitting wood so that chop went to the wrong place. Luckily with an extra turn of production plus stealing the hill mine and working the plains forest I am on exacties. I'm thinking about working an engineer for safety just in case for some reason it assigns tiles weird randomly, plus forgot to rename new city.

Also switched to mercantilism. Actually came out very slightly ahead I think. Down 38(ish gpt), but obviously picked up a bunch of beakers (see Drama in 9 turns on 0%) and a few hammers from scientist and engineers. Merchants will be worked more once I have banks which should put it easily ahead. Plus obviously free great person pts, which significantly jumped timing. Now I have to hope both Salmon (40%ish) and Pancakes (like sub 8% prob) don't both birth scientists. Also, makes me want to invade ATs island city for another 2g trade route...... He has a single archer there and he has been whipping it pretty hard so its at 2 pop atm. 6 knights timed when it doesn't have the pop should be more than enough.

I've been thinking over what to tech. Short term I have 2 more full turns of tech in golden age I will be spending on Civil Service. I know I had originally pegged Engineering, but I think I want to make SURE SURE I get Lib. I could also bulb education with likely (80+% prob) scientist from Pork Chops if needed. 3 person golden age is prob on other side of Taj at this pt. Should be able to get during my next golden age if I'm not unlucky. El Grillo thoughts? The only reason I can think Cairo teched Philosophy is that he is going for Lib? Would also explain why he stopped his war if he didn't want to build an army. His army still is over there instead of defending against me...... Then there is also Jowy who probably doesn't need to detour to guilds as both his neighbors are weak so he could go for as well. I know he has had civil service for a bit. Obviously skipping engineering has some risks, but I have the same weak neighbors Jowy does at least on 1 side.

Production plan with units after / inbetween. I am 3rd in soldiers atm.
Production cities will get courthouses (other than maple sugar because its a waste of prod once it has heroic epic). It will get walls 1T chopped soon.
Mixed Cities will get banks in short term and will then produce units until next golden age.
Commerce cities will get both banks (1st) and grocers. 3rd ring chop is coming in next turn for bank at French Toast, so that bank should be done T153. Currently working engineer there as gets base prod up to 16 giving it some extra hammers via organized and forge; why that sign is there for next turn.

Comments questions? Someone so I'm not talking to myself please!

[GeneralKilCavalry]

Was your settling plan in the west dictated by the position of those barb cities?

[Mjmd]

Somewhat. I had planned on Sap being 1W, but wasn't going to pass on a free city. Maple Sugar was going to be on hill 1N, but barb city prevented (for I think 4-5 turns so would have been sitting around); current spot is technically better, but obviously more vulnerable. A lot of it was just dictated by where food was.

[Mjmd]

Engineering does have its attractions.........



Plus if I bulb education I should be fine on lib....... with another 12 turn golden age.... maybe. 1400 beakers for engineering seems like a good idea atm. Also, thinking about 2 pop whipping settler just for some overflow and get out some things sooner. Its just working 2 new cottages so not a big deal.

[El Grillo]

I’m pretty sure those whips are headed west to try and finish superdeath off. After all, superdeath is still stuck in the position of only bordering one player who has no reason to trust him, having already warred and being superdeath, so I don’t think there could ever be long term peace between them. And since pindicator’s core is closer to his superdeath border, it seems unlikely for him to attack your frontier cities and risk his capital, though there is also the Mausoleum as a prize to consider... I’d probably just stay the course on your plans and tech Civil Service towards the Liberalism race.

[Mjmd]

And Parthenon! I should be out of golden age for less than 10 turns hopefully.

Thanks; your probably right. I did make a literal midnight decision and 1T teched alphabet  at 40%. I also have 4 knights finishing this turn and more that were behind other things in que; trying to do a lot of buildings during golden age for extra hammers. Have 2 spys in production. If he comes after me I should know where, if he goes after SD, attack of opportunity? He has to deal with having 2 flanks where as I just have my bulge.

I also played a morning turn (I know I know). Came into this trade (why the morning!?!?!)

After actually thinking about it, I resent it back without the open borders. I may have just moved majority of my horse archer stack west as those whips were indeed knights. At least until I have more knights / spies in his territory. Now AT does have open borders, but Mr Cairo is still over there and hoping there is bad blood. I also have a horse archer in his territory. I should still get a longbow in Pork Chops soon. Other interesting information I had missed was that evidently Cornbread was supposed to be Charriu's iron. Currently* Jowy is currently trading with just 2 people; Me and SD. I've been providing a fur to SD for free (hurts my PB51 soul) to help prop him up. I sent him a demand to stop trading with Jowy for that fur this turn.

Tech situation now that I have alphabet. Pin is going for circumnavigation, which will also give him control of the seas.... Another direction I'm pulled in. (note in this mod everyone can get and gives plus 1 trade routes; I'm more worried about the caravel part). Can I fit that detour in? I guess I can watch what Mr Cairo techs and how fast. No signs he will get a 2nd golden age any time soon. Maybe there is a scientist coming for him to bulb education? Even though it won't pay for itself I will be settling that crab city for another naval production city down there. I have to decide next turn probably. More El Grillo thoughts please! Edit: Mr Cairo does not have civil service either. So he is literally up only 1 tech in the race atm.

BTW I totally forgot how many hammers banks actually are. I had just kind of clicked on them last turn..... 200 hammers!!! Not something I've payed a ton of attention to in single player. I should have had a second 3rd ring chop lined up for French Toast. I might 1 pop whip it next turn just to increase by 1 turn. Its worth 48!!!! GPT (45 if I don't switch to merchant). Mind the pop would regrow so slowly it might end up even.