Alhambram toast his first PBEM game with Russian vodka

[Alhambram]

Turn 54:

   

Completed settler in St. Petersburg, but not in Astrakhan due increased cost of settler from every completed settler, ouch!
However I was able to rearrange tiles in Astrakhan a bit so settler there is complete next turn, just in time when I plan to swap out colonization policy.

Next turn political philosophy is complete, I still ponder which government to get, autocracy or classical republic. The last is best for economic growth, but I don't really need diplomatic card right now. Bonuses from suzerian from city states close my civilization are all mid term bonuses when I get more districts down. Only Vilnius get benefit when I go for it, however Woden cleverly become its suzerain to get free inspiration of one civic when he reached classical age. 

At other hand I would like get Ilkum and keep conscription policy. With classical republic I have no choice to put conscription into wild card spot. However I don't have some for wildcard policy to place right now, since I still need research mysticism for revelation policy for extra Great Prophet points. So my plan is go for classical republic first and then when I got mysticism swap to autocracy. Before swapping government I shall use diplomatic league card to put one envoy from mysticism into one of city states. 

Against my promises to myself, my hand clicked settler to go city 3 instead city 2 spot, well I hope that I won't regret it. Settler from Astrakhan surely goes to city 2 spot. Meanwhile Woden's builder chopped forest tile nearby stone and didn't build something on it. This also mean that I got more range of sight when I move my archer next his border what I just did. This allows me to see his possible incoming settler earlier. I can't declare him war due our friendship declaration, so his builder is safe from my units.

At score list, oledavy extended his lead once more, it seems that he is going be runaway civ of this PBEM, as I predicted that he is favorite to win. Maybe it was really good idea to declare friendship with Woden, so we might form alliance in future to stop oledavy from running away with game. Only question is whether who is now Singaboy's friend, it is going be problematic if oledavy is his declared friend.

[Alhambram]

Turn 55:

Got political philosophy and swapped government to classical republic. With this I also reached classical age. I start research mysticism which is complete next turn already and I shall research military tradition which takes merely 2 or 3 turns research.
Maybe next turn switch to autocracy already or wait till military tradition, I shall decide that next turn. 

   

Astrakhan completed settler and start building lavra. My new settler is escorted by archer due Singaboy's scout wandering around.
St. Petersburg is about to be bothered by barbs again, since my units are busy escorting settlers or defogging Woden's borders, I have to send warrior that is protecting city 2 spot to St. Petersburg to intercept barbs.
So if Woden intends to steal spot 2, it is his chance now. I know that he got 2 settlers and he did found a city just now in this turn, which means that he still have one left. By coincidence my scout located it already. 

   

Seems that Woden wants to cut off my expansion east of city states, well fine with me. I do plan to ride religious victory with my cities settled around St. Petersburg while Woden plants cities between me and other players so that they have go through Woden to reach me. Maybe there might some interesting spot directly east of Vilnius, but it is too exposed for now. I shall scout around there to make sure whether it is worth to settle?

Speaking of settlers, I did mention oledavy completed settler in turn 50 and he did settle new city now, further boosting his score. Slowly that moment come closer that one or more players decides that oledavy shouldn't be left alone and might declare war to prevent oledavy running away with game. My bet is on TheArchduke with his Great General that he gets soon. 

   

Three city states put new request, I think that I should manage get one from Zanzibar. Because I do plan to build 2 galleys for exploration and that triggers eureka for shipbuilding. Other city states ask for Great General and Great Merchant. I might buy them with faith if I got plenty of it.

[Alhambram]

Turn 56:

Completed Mysticism and got an envoy. With diplomatic league I was supposed to put it down in Toronto for 2 envoys since I didn't have any there. What did I? I put envoy in Zanzibar, because I was planning to build commercial district in city 3 soon, only to realize that I wasted usage of diplomatic league.
Seriously, I keep making   mistakes. However that gave me idea about what sort religion I shall found, you shall see when I found it.

Well, then I immediately swapped to autocracy government, 1 yields extra in capital is currently more useful for me since I already got enough amenities and surely be first to get Great Prophet and Great Writer.

   

I picked conscription (lower maintenance costs), discipline (barbs need to be disciplined again  ), Ilkum for quicker builder in St. Petersburg, due in 3 turns and finally revelation for extra Great Prophet Points.

Next turn I shall found city 3 and builder shall farm floodplain wheat for 5 food tile to work for city 3 and in future city 4 too. Builder completed in St. Petersburg shall work at tiles around city 3.
No idea at his moment what to produce in St. Petersburg after builder. Maybe something in combination with policy swap after 2 turns when civic military tradition and tech masonry are completed.
   
Internationally Singaboy burned through his treasure to upgrade slingers into archers, I suspect that due rise in his power at domination ranking. Maybe he is preparing because TheArchduke is going get Great General next turn. We shall see whether that would shift this PBEM from peaceful builder game to more warlike shenanigans.

[Alhambram]

Turn 57 with big international news!:

Just when I said previous turn that appearance of Great General might shift this PBEM from peaceful builder game to more warlike shenanigans, this turn Singaboy just declared war on one of Greece players! 

   

Well which Greece player: oledavy or TheArchduke? I suspect oledavy due message that Seoul declared war on Singaboy as response which it means that Seoul is under suzerainty of player attacked by Singaboy.
Since I tracked all scores and I noticed that TheArchduke have 8 techs while I get 8th next turn, so no big difference between us. Oledavy however got 11 tech, unlike me which mean he got advantage of 2 extra beakers per turn and now 4 due having an campus. So it is most likely that oledavy is one who got declared war by Singaboy. I already pointed out at turn 55 that oledavy might running away with game and sooner or later someone had to make move against him.

But I am surprised that it already happened this turn, maybe Singaboy is non amused about something different for example settling contest. Also oledavy is currently 1st on domination ranking and maybe he was planning to attack Singaboy, but Singaboy decided to do preemptive strike. It all is still speculation, maybe when I meet with oledavy and TheArchduke, maybe it become clear to me what happened or I shall read their treads when PBEM2 ends to find out the reason. Interesting to note is that Singaboy has an declaration of friendship with TheArchduke who got Great General this turn, maybe TheArchduke is joining war soon?  

Since I have contact with Singaboy, let's see what he got:

   

He got horse and iron resource, also I know from Great Person screen that he got an encampment which mean he can build horseman and swordsman with just one resource. 
Also note that he got an commercial district, but I have yet to see Great Merchant points, which mean that it is still unfinished. Same as Woden:

   

It says that he got encampment, but I know that it is still unfinished and it don't show up at Great Person screen at Great General points list for Woden.
Woden just founded his 4th city which is north west of his capital named Kilimanjaro Safaris, does that mean that Kilimanjaro natural wonder is close that city? Need to scout that area later.
Space Mountain is one which is placed at east of his capital. Meanwhile I also founded an city:

   

New founded city was originally named Moscow, but I feel Rostov-on-Don is more fitting name for seaport city. Also farmed floodplain wheat tile: Rostov is going grow in 3 turns already, then it is going work at 1f/4p/1faith tile. I shall decide next turn bunch what to do as which tech, civic, policies. Next turn I shall get Land Surveyors policy to buy tile for lower price for Rostov's lavra and I shall toss it down. Also less than 10 turns before I found religion to make things for everyone in this PBEM more messy.
As you can see, I have to deal with that barbs soon. Also I shall observe international news more closely from now.

[Alhambram]

Turn 58:

Singaboy's domination count went from 166 to 147, injured unit due battle? I don't know what is happening somewhere with Singaboy and his opponent.
Woden meanwhile met with another player, I don't know who yet.

It seems that I got my hands full with barbs for now:

   

Astrakhan grew to 3 population and completes lavra in 3 turns. I shall get Great Prophet in 7 turns if all goes as planned. I swapped Ilkum for land surveyors for reduced price of land purchasing, I purchased land for 96 gold instead 120 to toss down lavra.
I started to research sailing because I want to get 2 galleys sooner than later. And I started research civic drama and poetry because I need research it for theology because it unlocks useful holy scripture policy which doubles adjacent bonus of holy sites.
Next turn builder in St. Petersburg is finished, I shall think over what to build next turn.

[Alhambram]

Turn 59:

   

Dang, had to retreat my warrior at south east barb camp due my warrior attacked by archer hidden in fog. My warrior shall retreat to my borders and heal there and wait for reinforcements.
At south west barb camp, my warrior is holed in Rostov while other warrior protects builder, this is an annoying situation.

My settler is going found desert city at turn 61. Great Prophet due in 6 turns, still according planning. So I decide to build shrine due in 6 turns to enable building missionaries.
Speaking of religion, it seem that holy war between Woden and me is possible coming:

   

Woden started to build Stonehenge to claim free prophet, it is annoying. But I can't do something about it: I lack city with stone and Woden who got China civilization which favors wonder building, starts mearby stones. 
I think that he decides to build it to hinder my religious victory attempt, because he still lacks infrastructure for religion and he didn't select pantheon to support religion but support wonder building.
We shall see who gets religion first: my Great Prophet in 6 turns or Woden's Stonehenge.

International news: another city state fell to human player, this time TheArchduke did it. Also TheArchduke did produce an settler previous turn while founding another city, so soon he shall have 5 cities.

[Alhambram]

Turn 60:

In turn 58 I mentioned that Woden met another player, I know now who it is:

   

TheArchduke's lands are over there, although I see his borders. Official contact has yet to established, that might happen next turn. Also next turn is founding my 4th city and I shall name it Desertgrad. Astrakhan's lavra is going be completed next turn, same as sailing research.
I shall research writing and currency next, I am behind everyone if you look at technology progress. So some extra traders might be useful to use Peter's ability to add extra science and culture while trading with advanced civilizations.
I did some calculations: I shall come one Great Prophet point short to get Great Prophet in 5 turns, so 6 turns it is which means that at turn 66 my Great Prophet shall make his appearance if Woden don't complete Stonehenge before me.

   

Woden started to toss down commercial districts which means that he got currency, also he got civic games and recreation because he tossed down entertainment complex in his capital. I do question about last one, since it is least useful district in my opinion. You usually build entertainment complex's after your cities has grown beyond 10 populations and you have run out of amenities from luxury resources. Maybe Woden did it to keep it costs low, but generally it is better to save district usage for better districts due limit for building districts in low population cities. Also Woden made a interesting decision to harvest stone nearby Jungle Cruise, I am wondering whether it is a good move or not. Time shall learn and I shall surely check his thread when game is finished.

I don't exactly how war between Singaboy and oledavy goes, but I see Singaboy domination score rise and fall which mean he is fighting somewhere. Also in Great Person screen oledavy's accumulation of Great Scientist points dropped from three to zero. That imply that oledavy swapped away inspiration policy card from wild card slot and same time his campus got pillaged by Singaboy which results in no generating of Great Scientist points?

[Alhambram]

Turn 61:

   

Founded Desertgrad, completed lavra in Astrakhan and started monument there. I decided to build walls in Desertgrad since it is likely no.1 place to be attacked by Woden if he declare me war, I shall purchase granary for 240 gold in Desertgrad to boost its growth. Woden completed an settler, he is likely to send it to north or east lands., there isn't way to settle nearby me except going through my lands or sail along coast.
Barbs are annoying, but my archers just arrived and they shall rip them apart.


Turn 62:

Bad news:

   

Woden completed Stonehenge and claimed first Great Prophet, he didn't found any religion. I wonder why he didn't it since there are some useful benefits from founding religion and he just got free Great Prophet himself.

The result for me:

   

More time needed for me to get Great Prophet, I shall get him at turn 74 or earlier if I complete more shrines or lavra's (St. Petersburg's shrine is going be complete in couple turns resulting in 7 Great Prophet points per turn).

Good news is that barbs don't stand chance against me, I simply dealt with them around Rostov with archers. So no really trouble over there, my builder shall mine iron at turn 64.

Internationally there is some news:

   

Singaboy managed to conquer Seoul, which is an blow to oledavy and boost for Singaboy if you look at science per turn, Singaboy went from 14 to 17 in 1 turn and oledavy likely lost 4 (maybe that already happened from pillaging campus). TheArchduke stopped using Great General wildcard policy, he just generate one Great General point per turn, so Singaboy can attempt to go for next Great General now.

[Alhambram]

Turn 63:

Woden did found a religion after all and he did call it Norse Mythology, an nod to his player name Woden. He made a good choices regarding followers beliefs and founder belief: all wonders +4 faith (perfect combination with China civilization) and religious pressure to other cities +25% and 50% when printing press is researched.
And Woden just started another wonder: Oracle which enable Woden to purchase Great Persons for lower amount faith.

   

Well what should I do and pick when I get religion? I most likely shall get Feed of World as follower belief: it gives 2 food bonus for shrine and 4 for temple which totals 6 extra food in each city. Since my surroundings aren't always filled with food, it is a help to get some free food. For founder belief, it is more tricky. I shall make a decision: shall I go for mass production with Holy Order which makes missionaries cheaper or shall I go for Itinerant Preachers which extend the religious pressures from my cities from 10 tiles away to 13 tiles away. But that wouldn't help much against extra pressure that Woden has. Missionaries are quickest and most effective way.  

A wonder that Woden is also likely attempting to get is Mahabodhi temple which gives any player two free apostles and you can evangelize your religion to maximum power. It needs an holy site and temple. Woden have yet to get it, maybe I can attempt to get it if I don't see Woden building holy site yet.

I don't stare blindly on religious victory although it is my original goal. I still have two back up methods: one is simply slug out with Woden with militaristic army instead missionaries. Another method is piling up Writers, Artists and Musicians thanks lavra. This strategy require tossing down theaters besides lavra's to have a place to present Great Works. Downside is that Woden is also going accumulate many tourists from his wonders and in future Great Walls. For now I concentrate on religious victory.     

Writing completed, researching currency now, due in 5 turns. Civic Drama and Poetry due in 4 turns. All barbs in my lands are exterminated, now my warriors are healing up and then they are going attack camps.
Singaboy got declared by city state Hattusa, seems that oledavy managed to become its suzerain. I didn't get in touch with TheArchduke due Woden's slinger blocking my scout's route, but next turn I should get in contact with TheArchduke.

[Alhambram]

Turn 64: 

Finally contacted TheArchduke by having an view of his city Helice

   

Most interesting thing is that TheArchduke also declared war at oledavy, this officially confirms that Singaboy also declared war at oledavy as I did suspect but I never got 100% evidence till now. 
I did say at some point that oledavy might running away with game, it is likely that around that moment Singaboy and TheArchduke declared at oledavy and also they declared friendship with each other.
Oledavy therefore is facing an 2 vs 1 war at this moment, also Oledavy just completed an encampment, maybe he can produce swordman and horseman with one resource to swing war in his favor.

Another thing about TheArchduke is that he conquered city state Buenos Aires and got an horse resource but no iron. His major weapon is without doubt Great General, but do TheArchduke have classical units at this moment since archers, warriors and spearmans (thus also hoplites too!) are an ancient units which mean Great General don't do anything with this units. Maybe TheArchduke is simply having Great General to deny other players, that is also an possible strategy. The Archduke is also running oligarchy to further boost his melee units, but as result he is bit behind everyone at economic side at first look. Maybe it says something about oledavy that he have yet to lose an city in war against 2 players, till now only city states suffered from warmongering but not really players themselves although that might change sooner or later.

There is one thing that I am bit worried about: TheArchduke declared friendship with Woden. I could say that winner of this war is Woden and to lesser degree me.
This basically sums up situation: oledavy was about to run away with game when TheArchduke and Singaboy intervened. Now that three are slowing down a bit due fighting and not investing in economy: as result I made a little comeback from dead last place to 3rd player, but more importantly Woden took the lead thanks his wonder rushing.

   

If this situation continues, Woden might be one running away with game, he already completed Stonehenge and Pyramids and is building Oracle and Hanging Gardens right now. Therefore my evil subconscious tells me to save up many gold for possible intervention against Woden and don't spend it to buildings as granary.
I did accept declaration of friendship with Woden which basically is an NAP at turn 51, which means that it should expire at turn 81 (in single player games against AI it expires after 30 turns). Therefore it is 17 more turns before that happens, with other words 17 turns before my possible declaration of war towards Woden. What to do: first finish researching currency, then research iron working (I just mined iron this turn which triggered eureka and halves research time for iron working). Also I shall complete Poetry and Drama after 3 turns and then I shall swap discipline (barbs have been disciplined enough) for agoge to spam warriors before iron working is researched and couple archers and maybe chariot (research wheel after iron working). I shall continue researching civic theology for free envoy and then beeline for military training for another envoy. I shall attempt to bring some city states in war against Woden too, so I shall try to complete their quests. I decided that I shall conquer Vilnius if I declare war at Woden, it also deny Woden of his current only suitable iron resource. With saved up gold I shall upgrade my warriors into swordmans and I likely needs couple battering rams (still pondering to build or purchase them). Woden is currently not investing much in army same as me and is mainly building wonders now, but at turn 81 situation might already change. I shall try to save swapping from Autocracy to Oligarchy till last moment possible, because going in Oligarchy is basically telling others that I am about to attack someone.  

This is just an blueprint for my plans for when declaration of friendship expires at turn 81, I need to work hard next 17 turns. Also I still go for Great Prophet and more religious related things to mask my war plans a bit from Woden.