[spoilers] Commodore is strategic in Pitboss 74

[Commodore]

Dodging this warrior, somewhat annoyed. I can whip a longbow in Squander if its needed.

Succeeded in killing the warrior...and stabbed in the back by my allies. This PYFT war was a failure. Ah well, can only do our best.
   

It's been a good turn for barb-killing. Took this little fishing village for 129g.
   

I'm about to have some *fun*. Once Economics lands, I launch the golden age...hopefully with a spare GM from economics, but either way, I'm firing next turn to go into a double-GA *at least*. Might make it triple if I can nap Communism *and* Physics.

Revolted. In three particular cities, I have Great People baking...
   
...in others, Mercantile Specialists are just popping borders or making a little cash to compensate for the lack of foreign trade.
   
Does Mercantilism nerf Great Merchant missions? I forget.

Going into the Golden Age, barely in first place (but worried about power):
   
   
   
   
Here's what we've got now (spoiled for size):

   

Wish me luck.

[Mjmd]

Thanks for the update.

[Commodore]

Thanks for the update.

Anyone have any idea about the Mercantilism/Great Merchant Trade Mission thing?

Assuming it works, I'm going to burn the Economics merchant in a quick trade mission on the nearest overseas Tarkac city. He peaced out with Plemo, enraging Superdeath (and me), but no point in complaining. I peaced too, fleet will be stationed up there in 10t to keep on the pressure. Tarkac had a shot, but he whiffed.


The GP plan is pretty easy, Bismarck gets the 500-GPP person by going 72 per turn for the next four turns (412/500), then starves the fifth turn (502/500). Hopefully it's a GMerch, but it's not lethal to my plans if it's another GSci. 

...then Blitzkrieg pops. Next 3t it's business as usual (360), fourth it's one less (441), then full-starve the next turn (567), allowing turn six of the burn a simple 4-specialist turn (603/600). This allows a defensive revolt if there's a security need on the last turn of the golden age.

There's probably going to be a security need...

[mackoti]

Oh I wanted to answer to that question and I remeber that its not afected. At least in BTs and  Krill mod wasnt...

[Thoth]

Anyone have any idea about the Mercantilism/Great Merchant Trade Mission thing?

The what?

[Commodore]

Anyone have any idea about the Mercantilism/Great Merchant Trade Mission thing?

The what?

Mercantilism blocks all foreign trade routes, I wanted to ensure a trade mission wouldn't mess up. Thanks Mack.

Keen-eyed observers last turn might have noticed I teched Priesthood. It wasn't needed for anything in particular (no Christianity spreads), but I did it to clear a 90b tech, because...

...here's hoping...

Okay. I'll take it. Not where I was intending to go, but it's 900+ beakers towards Cuirs/Cavs.

South Japan here is turning out very nicely. Already netting more commerce than it costs, it only will get better as ORG courthouses come online. The TwixT spot is actually where the settler is going; might as well get the two-fish spot online first with the granary and lighthouse forests available.


Heroic Epic is online in Former Bing Capital. Chops are going into +100% modifiers, that's acceptable. Just going for 1 knight a turn for the entire golden age, need to build up the power rating a bit.

[Mjmd]

What do you think of their being astro huts? Was this expected when you requested a big and small map with huts on?

[Commodore]

What do you think of their being astro huts? Was this expected when you requested a big and small map with huts on?

It's pretty cool. I expected most continents big enough to spawn huts would be in player-range, but with the modifications I figured some might remain, it's part of the logic behind rapid Astronomy.

Really glad I went Astro. Without these 10+ cities from galleon settlers I'd be officially hopeless against Gavagai.

[Commodore]

At last. The long long period of carefully waiting on the ruins has yielded…half a turn’s research into Scientific Method. Can I pave these ruins over now or does the event have a chance of firing multiple times?

Didn’t have enough money to try for the deeper research expedition, but I fixed that issue immediately with a trade mission. Got a little unlucky with the Civilization GP, came up Merchant…so now I’m crossing fingers on a swing for a Scientist at Bismarck. Despite the drag race I’m in for Communism (Gavagai landed Taj Mahal), I still took a moment to get Gunpowder.


…because the world is much more dangerous. Scooter, who I very much appreciate for taking over the Amica-land, made the…iffy…choice to move out. So Pindicator is going to be able to finally murder with impunity, losing darn near nothing. Gross.

And WEIRDLY ENOUGH, now Tarkac are making aggressive moves southward with this stack. I’m going to be very miffed if they’re going to be attacking me after all game’s very positive interaction.


Racing to Kremlin hardcore; if I land Communism, I'll fire golden age #3 immediately with an OR revolt as well, looking to end in Nationhood/Theocracy for vast security on the way to full industrialization and then a dive to Universal Suffrage driven by the Kremlin.

[Commodore]

This game is almost criminally underreported in most sectors.

On the one hand, I appreciate Scooter taking over for Amicalola in turn pace. On the other hand, he's now also gifted Pindicator a nearly bloodless victory, which feels...nervous for me.

How bloodless? This bloodless:

Note also GKC losing a massive battle to Gingelito. Pin's got options on that side.

Rest of the charts, for the interested:



It's Gavagai #1, Me close #2, then distantly Pindicator and Gingelito fighting for #3. Ramping up soldiers just for protection...


I need to see where Gavagai is going, so I'm tossing a turn at 10% EP fully onto the English. After the Communism push I'd love Physics, but I need Nationalism and Theocracy too. Whew. Finances straining.


Here's the tech situation, worldwide. Pindicator is surprisingly primitive, while Plemo is lurking at Astro/Paper. There's another funny thing but I'll cover that later.


I disappointingly got yet another Great Merchant, so Blitzkrieg doesn't mind this one being a scientist. I'm going to swap back to artists for the last turn, just taking advantage of Pacifism+GA for another 111gpp into the next one. Golden Age #4 still needs to be provided for.

...the bulk of the great people will come from War At Sea, by the plan though. +14 food and juuuust enough hammers to laboriously make a National Epic, this will be the source of the 700 GPP and 900GPP births, I think. Hoping to net the Physics GSci (plus airships are a big deal), the fourth great person can be a little slow to get the Universal Suffrage revolt. Planning long-term here.


Kremlin prep is in process. It's vulnerable to cavalry, but the ONLY place that can manage the build fast...Afrika Korps is going to be able to swap to the mine to net a massive 49hpt base, which with stone, forge, OR, and State Property is 102hpt into the 800h Kremlin. Get at least 143 hammers of overflow out of the observatory, and that's a good solid 5t build. Acceptable.

This city has TWO TILES that WOULDN'T benefit from a levee. I need Steam Power too.

Gavagai is about to polish off GT, so I'm concerned about what the follow-up is. We'll see that research.


That funny tech thing? Gingelito popped Astronomy from a hut. Hilarious. Real hit to their bottom line with obsoleting of Colossus, but that doesn't matter...

...because Little Continent diplomacy is nuts. Donovan Zoi just stabbed Magic Science in the back

It's a massive tragedy this continent is getting little to no reporting from the five teams. I don't have DZ/MS contact so I don't know their history, but I don't see how this is anything but a massively stupid handing of both their games to Gingelito. I'm...actually okay with it, in my own geopolitical calculus, they're right next door to Gavagai so I want a strong rival to him waxing ever stronger.