[spoilers] Commodore takes Advanced Starting

[Charriu]

Would go so far to say that tech cost in advance start should be reduced?

[Commodore]

Would go so far to say that tech cost in advance start should be reduced?

I...don't know? I'd be loathe to change it based on a single game. The picture of "correct meta" is going to shift quite a bit depending on map, for instance...those of us going for three cities clearly did better than those going for two or one here, but is that true in all scripts?

As ever, of course, the real game driver is people. TBS and Cornflakes are at it again, to the benefit of Scooter. I managed to get a 24% odds Great Engineer, but there are no more wonders to rush. I shed a single tear for a potential Machinery bulb, and launched my golden age.
   

My GA demos look pretty okay. I'm laughing about how little my MFG jumped, here; no plains and darn few hills on the map means that this damp squib of a hammer bonus won't be making a ton of forges here. Alas, most of the knight stack are going to be whipped without that bonus, I think, unless I opt to remain in OR. Need to figure out the timing there; only three more techs means I don't think I have the time anymore.
   

[Commodore]

Poor AT, even the Other Picked-On Man declares on him. I think this is a trade cancellation, but...


Scooter is aiming to take a bite out of AT here in a turn or two; I don't know that he's aware of the lurking galleys. I also don't know if it matters, because Chucklenaughts mean never having to say you're sorry.


Meanwhile, I'm "expanding". I think this is one of the sillier cities I've settled, but it's something that can whip for a long, long time, so...

[GeneralKilCavalry]

Puget is one quarter of a city, but I guess still worth it, isnt it...

[Commodore]

Puget is one quarter of a city, but I guess still worth it, isnt it...

Hopefully. It's about to be a really sad holy city, actually, as that's where Christianity is going to have found. 

Christianity? Why yes, I am putting a lot of faith in AT's abilities to slow Scooter. 

But if he can? I'll be really glad to be able to revolt Vassalage/Theocracy in two turns to really make Charismatic shine. Then it's Machinery->Guilds for 9xp knights. And probably immediately after GUNPOWDER for early 7xp Janissaries off of 3-move galleys. 

Guys I'm really well set up for a culture victory here. It's a flat map...

[Hitru]

Yeah, it most certainly sounds like peacefull culture victory is in the cards here. Can't complain about tech path, sounds like maximal blood line.

[Commodore]

Yeah, it most certainly sounds like peacefull culture victory is in the cards here. Can't complain about tech path, sounds like maximal blood line.

Well, it's a slower blood line. Costs four turns on the path to Guilds, which isn't great. It might be okay, but I'm not encouraged by this:
   

It can't have felt good to kick off a golden age without Caste, with a definite need to whip in the middle of it for knights (he's researching Guilds right now because Chucklenaughts=Machinery and Vassalage=Fuedalism). Still, that's also going to blossom his already-excellent tech rate to "I can get whatever I want", and with only six Japanese cities left I'm not sure how much he's going to sweat with even a couple knights breaking in. Now is Scooter's time to win, and he seems to have somehow gotten Cornflakes on-side by hook or by crook, so...up to me and my own timings. Onward Hindu soldiers.

[Commodore]

My GA demos look pretty okay. I'm laughing about how little my MFG jumped, here; no plains and darn few hills on the map means that this damp squib of a hammer bonus won't be making a ton of forges here. Alas, most of the knight stack are going to be whipped without that bonus, I think, unless I opt to remain in OR. Need to figure out the timing there; only three more techs means I don't think I have the time anymore.

Last dominant turn before my GA ends; Scooter is rolling his GA for a while longer and he's going to see #infinity knights as his result.


TBS' graphs finally here, I'll post the game state:





THE NATIONAL THEOCRATIC FEUDAL STATE OF WASHINGTON:

We're not winning, but we're very close to the brass ring. I don't know what the next...twenty turns or so will look like, but I'm pretty sure the game gets decided in these next twenty. Feel free to disagree violently in the lurker thread.

[Hitru]

There seems to be spot for 1 more fishing village that can share some cottages on mainland, are your costs too high or why it's not settled?

[Commodore]

There seems to be spot for 1 more fishing village that can share some cottages on mainland, are your costs too high or why it's not settled?

My costs aren't grossly high but it would up my expenses and I need GNP more now than I need a weak whipping point. I'll get there, right now I'm in a scramble: