[Spoilers] PBEM 63 - Ichabod's Thread, feat. a big crew

[Ichabod]

Fishing/mining is actually better for this start, since it means more beakers than agri/mining. So, we could go for Rome, Carthage, England...

I agree with Gaspar when he says that staying competitive is probably more fun than picking whatever seems more fun in the start and falling behind soon.

I think I understand the reasoning behind CHA, since we have a lot of good tiles to work in the Cap, but having an early happy in the Capital makes me think this will be a map with a good number of happy resources, which makes CHA a little less tempting.

Is it just me that thinks ORG gets more value when we have a Capital that would get a very good benefit from a lighthouse? Not only that, I think ORG is better than FIN, in FINs current incarnation on the mod.

I have to go, will comment more later, but I'm liking CRE/ORG or EXP/ORG for this start. CRE/ORG means we can avoid the religious line completely and that's good considering we want pottery and BW soon.

[Gaspar]

I will inevitably stop being helpful in this thread due to my utter inability to be a useful dedlurker but, if I get a vote, I'd rather not do Zara since I played him in my last game.

Good point on Fishing > Agri, forgot about that change. All three of those options could be fun. I think you could go Fishing/Wheel or Mining/Wheel as well, since Agri will be easy to tech before anything else is in, so I think the generic objective of not worrying too much about start techs that Seven was going for seems to work. Lets get a leader and worry about the Civ after.

I think if I were playing I'd just Darius and be done with it, but I could support Pacal or Mehmed as well.

[Ichabod]

I didn't want to lose too much time thinking about possibilities, so I went with Pacal. I think we need an early trait to compete during expansion, because the PBEM maps tend to be a bit more cramped. We also needed a powerful late game economy trait, and I have more fun with FIN than with ORG (I love seeing more coins in the map). I also had an epiphany that wharves are good for FIN, because now all coast will be 2/0/4, which is better than 2/0/3! What a revelation, right? So, FIN is for the late game, just as the techs start costing more, EXP is for early game, when we need to steal the land from Mack and Seven!

Hopefully we are all aboard the Pacal boat!

Civs are way more fun to debate about, because the consequences of your choice are less meaningful. So, we can use our time to talk about this now. I'm up for Carthage (even though TRs are nerfed in AW)!

[Serdoa]

mackoti wants CHA/FIN. I feel like a god!

[Ichabod]

mackoti wants CHA/FIN. I feel like a god!

And I fell dumb!

Nah, I bet he wanted Pacal as first pick, but couldn't get it...

[Ichabod]

1. Ichabod - Pacal II
2. Yuris - England
3. Seven/TBS - France
4. Mackoti - Up now!
5. Dreylin - on deck
6. Dreylin - also on deck!
7. Mackoti
8. Seven/TBS
9. Yuris
10. Ichabod

CHa/Fin Hannibal.

Can i change my pick for IND/fin?

Serdoa!!



I said I'm ok with it just to mess with Serdoa. No, just kidding, I'd be okay with it anyway, since Dreylin didn't pick yet.

[Gaspar]

Apparently mackoti taking up the trolling mantle so I don't have to.

Ichabod where's your lengthy post considering Civs so I can make a 6 word reply to it?

[Ichabod]

What about Mali as a Civ pick? Useful UU and UB and Wheel/Mining starting techs, for a total of 110 beakers, the best we can get. With WB being produced even without fishing, I think we can get Agri + fishing in time for everything we plan to do. The only way I can see these techs messing up a micro plan is if we decide for an incredibly fast BW, for whatever reason. Then we'd need agri + fish before BW, while no wheel start would mean just one tech needed before BW. But, if we go Pottery before BW, I think mining + wheel as starting techs is really good.

I can see Rome just for the UU (7 strenght praets that start with combat 1 - decent, I guess). Techs are fishing + mining.

Carthage for the UB (EXP Cothon is a 50h build that gives 1TR), but in AW, best TR just means 2 commerce - If we want commerce, Wharf is a way better build, considering FIN. Perhaps the Numidian Cavalary makes up for it, as a surprise against the recent Spear for defense meta. They also have access to sentry promo with just stable or barracks, which can be useful ona a AW game. Techs are fishing + mining.

America could be fun, just to see the new UB (grocer with +1 free merchant). Doesn't synnergizes very well with FIN, I guess (REP + PHI could make it decent). Techs are fish + agri.

Finally, there's Native Americans. Is the Dog Soldier decent enough? It gives flexibility regarding settling Copper, which can be helpful, I guess. Techs are fish + agri.

I think I'm fine with any of these. Any ideas?

[Ichabod]

Netherlands is also an option, with Fish + Agri. Dike comes late, but it seems it'll be a decently watered map. And with warves and finacial, we want to work water.

[Gaspar]

Mali's okay, I've played them before and the Mint is probably the best of the UBs after the Terrace nerf. (Best being subjective in my mind that buildings you want to build everywhere >>>> all other buildings.)

Rome is basically a mostly null civ. Praet's don't really excite me.

Carthage is fine for the tech but as you say, +1 tr isn't sexy in AW. Not to mention I'm not big on UBs tied to buildings you don't really want to build otherwise. Ultimately, those are units you're not building/cities you're not settling/workers not improving stuff.

I'd avoid Agri civs for the same reason you skip Fishing civs in the base game. Also for varieties sake.

Japan is an idea as well? Fishing/Wheel, you can tech Agri + Mining before you need either, then decide on Pottery or BW. Did ToW do anything to the Shale Plant? I can't keep this stuff straight.