The scratching post

[Catwalk]

Alright, I really need some help here. Newbie mistakes are starting to pile up


Where should I settle? My settler is situated SW of the Wheat, en route for the yellow dot (distance 6). I'm terrified at the prospects of 6gpt or so in distance upkeep, and am considering the purple dot instead (distance 4). I've also included later expansion possibilities north and south. The purple dot will not give me access to additional resources other than the oasis, the banana to the south will likely stay under Ad Hoc's control. There is a cow to the east I'd be able to grab, though (can be seen to the far NW in the picture in the mirror image, it's 2E of the yellow dot).

Furthermore, I have [strike]cunningly[/strike] foolishly started researching Iron Working because I want to be certain of settling on it. I later realized that I have most likely settled on it already, and I'm not about to go to war anytime soon. I 51 beakers invested in it, Writing can be researched in 6 turns instead for access to libraries. Ceil will have Writing in a few turns for Open Borders, btw. Already got a southern trade route plotted. Other options are Polytheism, Priesthood, Sailing, Hunting, Masonry, Horseback Riding and Metal Casting.

Sensible input greatly appreciated Going to sit on the turn for a little bit, need to make good decisions here.

[haphazard1]

Alright, I really need some help here. Newbie mistakes are starting to pile up

Where should I settle? My settler is situated SW of the Wheat, en route for the yellow dot (distance 6). I'm terrified at the prospects of 6gpt or so in distance upkeep, and am considering the purple dot instead (distance 4). I've also included later expansion possibilities north and south. The purple dot will not give me access to additional resources other than the oasis, the banana to the south will likely stay under Ad Hoc's control. There is a cow to the east I'd be able to grab, though (can be seen to the far NW in the picture in the mirror image, it's 2E of the yellow dot).

The yellow site will cost you a bit more per turn in maintenance. It will also grab the oasis and the cow (inferred from the mirror positioning). It would have a chance at getting a banana, although there would be cultural pressure (and maybe diplomatic issues?) on that tile. It would also reduce overlap compared to the purple dot, both with the capital and with future pink dot/red dot cities.

I can't tell from the screenshot -- are either yellow or purple on hills? Defensively that could be useful, although you are planning on peaceful expansion for some time to come yet. Purple would eliminate a jungle for free.

Overall I like yellow more -- plains cow is a strong tile and a good addition to any city, and the oasis is also useful for food and commerce although it can never be improved. (It also requires no worker turns.) You might also consider the tile between yellow and purple: it does not get the cows, but it will have costs in between purple and yellow while still getting the oasis and reducing/eliminating overlap.

Furthermore, I have [strike]cunningly[/strike] foolishly started researching Iron Working because I want to be certain of settling on it. I later realized that I have most likely settled on it already, and I'm not about to go to war anytime soon. I 51 beakers invested in it, Writing can be researched in 6 turns instead for access to libraries. Ceil will have Writing in a few turns for Open Borders, btw. Already got a southern trade route plotted. Other options are Polytheism, Priesthood, Sailing, Hunting, Masonry, Horseback Riding and Metal Casting.

Iron Working is not a bad choice: reveal iron, unlock praetorians, chopping jungle are all useful things. But since you have copper (may not be roaded yet, can't tell from the screenshot) and horses and are not planning significant military action at the moment you don't really need the metal and praets right now. And you don't have much jungle to chop, although you will get some at the new city.

I would be strongly tempted to go for Writing and libraries. You can boost your beaker output, but more importantly you can start running some scientists to start getting value from your philosophical trait for a GS. An academy at your best science city, or an early bulb (depending on your exact tech position and whether you could get good value from it), would be a very nice boost to your empire. Also, scientists are a good way to keep some science going even if your research slider is down due to city costs.

One other factor to consider is your planned builds in your cities. If you are not going to have room in your build queues for at least one library, then Writing will not help you much right away. (Although it would allow Open Borders with other civs than Ceil.) Iron Working might be better in that case, and do Writing after. Or maybe go for Priesthood if some temples for happiness would be useful, although so far Buddhism is only in the holy city. (I do see a monastery under construction, so that will presumably change.)

Sensible input greatly appreciated Going to sit on the turn for a little bit, need to make good decisions here.

It is your game and your decisions, but I would go for yellow dot and Writing if it was me. Hope this was helpful, and good luck!

[Catwalk]

Quick question: If I switch away from IW now, will I lose any of the beakers invested in it? Also, yellow site is on PH.

[haphazard1]

Quick question: If I switch away from IW now, will I lose any of the beakers invested in it? Also, yellow site is on PH.

If you change research, the beakers already invested in IW will remain. Whenever you come back to the tech you will pick up where you are now. Or if you trade for IW later, the invested beakers are counted when the total value is assessed. (At least they are by the AI in SP games, MP would be whatever you can convince the other player.)

And a plains hill for extra defense and an extra hammer per turn makes yellow even more attractive.

[Catwalk]

I decided to stick with my original decision of going for the yellow site, and now I have someone to share blame with if it's stupid Thanks again! Will try really hard to update properly tonight.

[haphazard1]

Happy to serve as a useful blame device if needed.

I think yellow will work out well -- it will be a bit more expensive, but it will be a stronger city overall.

[Catwalk]

Those upkeep costs are scaring the crap out of me, this one will be 6-7 per turn total or something silly like that. But if I'd settled the purple spot, I'd be encouraging Ad Hoc to settle up on me. Already his Terminus expansion is quite far in my direction.

[haphazard1]

The high maintenance costs will make the usual economic techs (Currency, Code of Laws) an even higher priority than usual. In the meantime, you will just need to focus as much as possible on developing commerce to keep your economy going, and maybe running some scientists as well once you can get a library or two (or three) built.

The maintenance costs will also have interesting implications for war and conquest. Taking multiple cities, even if it can be managed militarily, will be a tremendous drain on the economy. Razing avoids the costs but also means you don't get all that much long-term benefit from a war, other than perhaps removal of a rival. Placement of the Forbidden Palace will be important, and Versailles will be much more desirable than usual. Eventually State Property civic will become available, and even more attractive than normal as well.

[Catwalk]

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Cities
Thunder Kittens (E)

Just founded Thunder Kittens, raising city + civic upkeep by 7 and lowered army upkeep by 1. Currently gives 3 commerce, so it will be profitable soon enough. This is really not that bad all things considered, I'm tempted to expand some more in the near future. Borders will expand in an almost timely manner when Stonehenge finishes in 4 turns. Decided to get the granary first to be able to whip properly, then a workboat. Regretting this already, but the save has been forwarded.

Cheezburgers (Capital)

All is well in Cheezburgers, busily producing cheezburgers. I was planning on mass producing workers with whipping, but I can only whip off 1 pop at a time at current production levels. I think that will lead to a buildup of unhappiness over time, so I haven't been whipping.

Fur Fighters (SW)

Fur Fighters is producing a very nice cultural border against Ceiliazul. I'm currently producing a monastery because I need to grow the city and had nothing better to do with it. Alternatives were barracks, warriors or chariots. Ceil might be a little peeved about the monastery, but he's currently in the lead so I need to hamper him. I'm still kicking myself for not settling one further south, would apply awesome cultural pressure on him and let me grab several good tiles.

Catnip Factory (NW)

Catnip Factory is almost done with Stonehenge, I have confirmed that noone else is in the running for it. This combined with Buddhism should go a long way towards offsetting my cultural weakness. I think that can help give me a slight edge in this game, I have effectively produced an extra leader trait fairly cheaply. I'm still not enthused with Expansive, though. I'd rather have had Industrial, Spiritual or even Charismatic (+2 happiness at this point would allow for massive growth). Two forests are being chopped, letting it finish a granary right after Stonehenge finishes. I was wanting to do a cottage on the flood plains, but would rather pasture the cows first. But that would lose me a move, so I ended up chopping the forest. If I can double whip something at size 4 I will be able to compensate for my temporary lack of developed tiles (although undeveloped flood plains aren't bad).

Graphs & demographics

A comparative look at my development. Graphs look really nice, but unfortunately I only have graphs for my two weakest rivals. Demographics still cast a favourable light on my empire, I'm close to the lead in both crops and production. Someone is a GNP monster, though. Those #1 ratings are all controlled by either Pegasus or Ceiliazul, hopefully shared among them. My population looks pitiful at the moment, it should look much better in a few turns with rapid growth underway.

Surroundings (comments added!)

Ceil settled Hazard a while ago with my permission, he's planning on building the Oracle there (said in confidence). As mentioned above, still kicking myself for the location of Fur Fighters. The midpoint between our capitals is the tile E of the southern deer. I'm thinking about settling somewhere east of Hazard next.

Ad Hoc has settled up on me a little bit, Thunder Kittens was planted partly to stake an early claim on the area between us. The midpoint between our capitals is the tile S of the banana.

My NW border is less contested, Pegasus hasn't expanded in my direction yet. Ad Hoc settled on his version of the forested grassland hill south of the lake, not really sure why. Still planning on settling 2W of the corn, but not an urgent priority.

NE area. It's so tempting to settle up on Cull on the PH by the two deer.

[novice]

Looking good. Some unsolicited advice:

You can still change your mind in Thunder Kittens regarding what to whip, it doesn't cost you anything. Ideally you would have chopped both the work boat and the granary, though.

Pro tip: Don't work plains hill mines if you're trying to grow. In fact, Fur Fighters could have borrowed your capital's pigs, since your capital is stuck on a worker build anyway.

Catnip Factory is managed unorthodoxely, but I'll let it slide since it's building a wonder.