Nobody expects the Chinese Inquisition: Isabella of China

[NobleHelium]

Well then PKP will definitely allow you to get ships into the water in the lake east of it. All water tiles are equal in terms of ship traversal in Civ 4; this isn't Colonization.

[Mardoc]

I think you've served me the wrong dish
Does *this*:


Look to you like it's supposed to? I think I'm supposed to have that over there:

[Gaspar]

Funny stuff

Thread was certainly popular overnight. My theory - either:

1. Mackoti has already settled floodplainstopia and the lurkers are placing bets on how much I'll lose it when I find out.

or

2. Mackoti and Commodore are racing Oracle and the lurkers are placing bets on how many turns Mackoti will win by.

No time for pictures, but thematically appropriate Xi Ling Shi the Great Scientist born in the capital at EOT. Judaism founded in Croqueta China at EOT as well. Several borders popped.

[Gaspar]

Its a good thing I have NAPs with everybody and am not really going for anything, because that much traffic in the lurker thread definitely has my spidey sense tingling.

As stated, ending turn landed Judaism in Croqueta China and birthed me my GS.



Xi Ling Shi founds an Academy in Arroz Frito, which is always nice.



Camaron lo Mein founded in the north for fish.



First set of borders popped this turn, we'll pop borders for one more next turn and the new city the turn after that. Then we'll swap to HR/Slavery/OR - Monarchy is due next and should come in 2T after saving gold this turn.

[Gaspar]

T64 Update:

mackoti built the Oracle and now has more cities than me.



Here, figure out what I'm doing from F1 - I'm too tired of getting my ass handed to me to write up a proper report.

[Mardoc]

I'm too tired of getting my ass handed to me to write up a proper report.

Now, it's not that bad.

Remember, Creative is an early game trait, which ought to be scaling down in importance, oh, nowish.
Philo, too, he should get to a point where he's gotten all the Great people he's going to. In any case I don't expect it to get much more powerful than it already is for him.

Spiritual, on the other hand, you just got the first/only benefits from Spiritual so far, and that should start to ramp up. And expansive will be beneficial as long as we need workers/new cities, which appears to be basically forever.

[Gaspar]

Now, it's not that bad.

Remember, Creative is an early game trait, which ought to be scaling down in importance, oh, nowish.
Philo, too, he should get to a point where he's gotten all the Great people he's going to. In any case I don't expect it to get much more powerful than it already is for him.

Spiritual, on the other hand, you just got the first/only benefits from Spiritual so far, and that should start to ramp up. And expansive will be beneficial as long as we need workers/new cities, which appears to be basically forever.

Eh, it is that bad. He's just starting to see the benefits of early Representation. And Philo's a long way from slowing down, he's only gotten one GP yet. Not sure what he Oracled, but this late I'd guess Civil Service - its like he's playing on Noble, really.

I think if he hadn't stumbled on my borders so early we could have given him a run for his money but with the better land in between us and the security of essentially a game long NAP I don't have a good way to catch up. Don't get me wrong, going to keep expanding, I'm still competitive in tech, etc. We settle city 11 in 2T, and the cap can churn out 3T Settlers right now which seems like a pretty decent option until we get a bit closer to the western cities being able to produce foodhammer units reasonably quickly themselves.

But yeah, he's got a big enough lead and all the toys that I'd say we're playing to keep things interesting at this point, not to win. Part of the problem is I don't know wtf TT and Commodore are doing over there but they're not expanding fast enough nor are they building any wonders. I've already seen way too many "exploring" Keshiks from Commodore - if you're going to build that many early HAs, not to mention Gers, since they're triple promoted you need to attack someone. He just wasted hammers that should have been going into Workers/Settlers on military units that will obsolete before he can do anything with them.

[Gaspar]

Sent this along to mackoti. Mild PBEM23 spoiler inside.

Hi Mackoti,

Gratz on the Oracle, did you take Civil Service?

You should stop playing so well, we're just going to end up conceding before T100 - that's not any fun for you, is it?

And stop sounding so down in PBEM23 - we're relying on you to keep the game interesting. Spend more time on that one and start making some mistakes here.

Regards,
Gaspar

[Mardoc]

There's got to be some sort of silver lining...ooh, I know! At least the turn pace is fast, so you'll be able to retire from this game with your silver medal in not too much more time.

[zakalwe]

If you're going to be out-teched but safe, maybe you could try planning for a culture victory. Seems like the most popular "losing" game plan, but it's got to work sometime, right?