[Spoilers] Commodore as Washington of the Mongols

[Commodore]

A turn happened. My scout finally found the halfway point, and wow did Twinkletoes pick the right traits. This is a huge, massive map, and I want this half. The chewy center? Very chewy.



Probably not needed, but Slam Beefchest is confirming its a close mirror I expect the only differences are the wheat versus the corn, and probably his spices are wines or dyes or something.



I can abuse the whip even more now thanks to the power of beavers.



Still two out of every three Horde citizens thinks I'm an okay guy. Those furs will be carrying Mr. Economy here for a while, too. Now I just need to mine the copper and pasture the cows and horses, and it's leading-all-the-demos time.



Horses, you say? Why yes, horses. In fact, they are positioned to be shared by Gryphon and Manticore, looking all fine and frisky. I'll still be mining the copper first, but the horses need love too. My dang capital is rewarding my Chm pick, with a whopping 5.5 must-work tiles.



I think TT discovered Buddhism, unless whip cycles did something very odd with the scores. I'm feeling a little better about Stonehenge now, although I can't afford to sandbag it.

[Commodore]

I'm annoyed at how marginal the tech situation is here. I could do a 2-turn Mysticism, by going 90%, 100%, but there's no point so I'm just cheerfully going to let the tech take its full time and work on improving my copper instead. The only real solution to these terrible demos is to settle Gold Valley, I'm sure.



Gold Valley's eastern egress area, Barren Waste Hills, is still looking pretty sparse. I hope I see seafood in two turns, otherwise I'm mostly writing off the area. Whee dessert incense, dry rice, and impossible-to-work plains hills. Although I suppose a city on the incense could just work two plains hills mines and the rice and pump Keshiks until the end of time.



Mirror maps make for dull scouting. Joe here is only now trying to survive to contact whomever lies in the lower-left. I am very aware how nice this middle blob is, I need to take control of mine up north.



I love expansive. At the end of turn, I finished the newest worker ("Pat Rick" Henry) and the next worker will be out in only two more turns. Good stuff, good stuff, now I just need half a dozen more settlers.



Need to work an ETA for Stonehenge, it'll be one of the later ones to drop if I get it.

[Ceiliazul]

Need to work an ETA for Stonehenge, it'll be one of the later ones to drop if I get it.

I think you have 2 workers tending to the cow, then chops, in Gryphon? and Pat will work the copper, then the horses, and migrate south from there?

[Commodore]

I think you have 2 workers tending to the cow, then chops, in Gryphon? and Pat will work the copper, then the horses, and migrate south from there?

Actually, now that I think about it, Pat will probably work on the horse pasture first, as Gryphon can share them with the capital and work them for a 1/4/1 production tile while banging out Stonehenge. Three chops is 39 hammers, plus whip overflow if I can swing it for at least 15 more...that's 54/80, or 26 remaining. One more chop plus 2 turns working cow, 1 turn on horse, gets me the wonder.

[Ceiliazul]

I like the idea of horse first, I'm sure it will speed your rock stacking...

What's the build order in the capital? Also, any sgn of TT scouting?

[Commodore]

No sign of any TT scouts, he's apparently happy bumbling around his local area. Once I finish checking out the east coast I'll station a sentry down at the southern edge of Gold Valley. Capital is still going worker, 1-turn warrior (if no overflow is lost), settler. Things are humming along, although thanks to the stupid Expansive bonus my granary in Gryphon will complete before I can whip it.



More boring scouting by the scout. I think that no matter how things go with TT, I'll need control of this fertile middle area to have a shot at this. 1N of the scout would make an incredible cottage place if I could get them down early enough.



I need to stop looking at these things. I mean, sure, my MFG is up, but my CY and GNP are now strictly average. Meh, need to get Gryphon's borders up and out to farm that flood plain, the poor place needs food badly. Calendar will be a major help.



Things still humming along. I'm getting increasingly worried about Stonehenge dropping, it's late for it.

[Commodore]

Well, that's 45 minutes an another turn passed...I'll get to the sparse turn report, but first of all, a moment of silence. Oh Joe, how you were blessed by the RNG so long ago against that bear, now only to have a lion eat you as you neared the end of your great westward journey. May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.



My slower but much more gnarly explorer is showing me again that Calendar is a priority tech on this map. I need to be pumping settlers now, to claim this obscene amount of land. It's going to be PBEM 22 mode for a while now, I think.



Gryphon is looking healthy. I can't help but feel that a second city should be a stronger site, but darned if I could think of a stronger site. Ah well, the supper-site due south is looking closer now with this awesome road network.



Need moar food, hammers, and commerce, but beyond that, it's swell.

Oh, um, except for one other thought...what the heck should I research next? Polytheism is still there, taunting me with its undiscovered religion. HBR is an eventual goal and an early Keshik or two would certainly let me wave the whip hand around. Ceil, I know your brainpower is mostly focused on 25 right now, but any thoughts?

[Ceiliazul]

I'll open the save tonight, my gut feeling is Polytheism would be good. Possible religion, step closer to oracle and/or CoL... I'll check in-game soon.

[Ceiliazul]

thanks to the stupid Expansive bonus my granary in Gryphon will complete before I can whip it.

I believe the normal thing is to work the granary to within one turn, divert to a warrior or barracks until the tech comes in, then immediately put the warrior on hold, whip the granary and plan your chops to come in the next turn.

Edit: I think your 2 cow pasturing workers are in perfect position to move to separate forests next turn, chop for 3 turns and pour them into Stonehenge on the first possible turn.

[Commodore]

I believe the normal thing is to work the granary to within one turn, divert to a warrior or barracks until the tech comes in, then immediately put the warrior on hold, whip the granary and plan your chops to come in the next turn.

Edit: I think your 2 cow pasturing workers are in perfect position to move to separate forests next turn, chop for 3 turns and pour them into Stonehenge on the first possible turn.

So it is written, and so it is done. I actually had the ability to sink those extra hammers into Stonehenge this turn:



But you know what they say about the best-laid plans of mice and men? Yeah, the whole often go awry bit? It's going to be building a warrior instead. Need to poke at TT, make sure he's not planning to be adventurous.



And yes, his (holy?) city is already claiming the southern gold. I need to nip this in the bud post-haste, fortunately, I'm looking at a 3-turn settler next. Plus more warriors. Plus horses about to come online. I'll survive this, just need to push fast. My own settle spot is on the northern plains hill in the valley's middle, at least TT followed my dotmap.



Demos say "need more cities". I'll obey them.



Need to go cow TT...