[Spoilers] Alhambram vs TheArchduke (TheArchduke´s thread)

[TheArchduke]

Here we go again. To cull the herd I made a quick and dirty Excel.

   

The Dislike column is self explanatory. I said my piece about Australia, I also think Zulu´s ability could be quite overpowered, but it irks me somehow.
There is a Scythia column, a played before (with some very strong choices). This leaves

Arabia
Aztec
China
Cree
Inca
Indonesia
Japan
Korea
Nubia
Persia

Aztec I have lurked and with continents and not pangea, meh. Indonesia and Japan is sea dependant and thus too inflexible compared to the others. Korea I actually played before in a duel. (Just remembered now). Arabia just does not seem strong enough. China goes out because I am not a big wonder builder fan, especially in a duel.

So

Cree
Inca
Nubia
Persia

The Inca lend themselves to a medieval start. So they are a locked in for game #2.

All the others are more for an ancient start. Persia´s ability is nullified by an immediate dow, so Cree or Nubia. Nubia´s archers are expensive, the abilities however are strong, especially the boost to mining. The Cree lend themselves to a trade and builder game with the housing bonus. Nubia or Cree. I will mull this over a bit.

[Kaiser]

I have prepared a quick map and checked resources and everything. I believe this map should be fine if you pick Nubia. Have you decided yet?

[TheArchduke]

Nubia it is. Although I may should take Cree after you told me it is okay.:D

[TheArchduke]

So, in the one corner we have Alhambram playing as Mansa Musa

   

I am not that impressed to be honest. Musa is designed to solve problems that exist because he is Musa. That is a -30% malus to constructing buildings and training units. Same with Mines, less production more gold.
Which you can of course pay for as you will be swimming in money, but this is once you get going, not right from the getgo.

I am more then curious how it will play out for Alhambram, but Musa is definitely a weak choice imo.

   

Production bonus, Archery production bonus, strong initial unit and a bonus to mines. A very strong leader which is nearly immune to an early attack. I like my chance atm.

[TheArchduke]

Turn 1

Not the best, not the worst start. The plains hill prevents me from moving, but acquiring 3rd ring tiles is important. Most money will have to be invested there.

   

Turn 4

Babylon in a ridiculous cold place. So not something I want to conquer, I doubt I can do much with the CS bonus but we will see.

   

Turn 5

Barbarians, nice, a quick way to grab the deer tile early on.

   

[Sullla]

I am not that impressed to be honest. Musa is designed to solve problems that exist because he is Musa. That is a -30% malus to constructing buildings and training units. Same with Mines, less production more gold. Which you can of course pay for as you will be swimming in money, but this is once you get going, not right from the getgo.

I couldn't agree more. I was playing Mansa on Livestream earlier today, and I saw that TheArchduke popped into the chat at one point. Mansa Musa is a total Single Player leader, a lot of fun to try out because he changes up the gameplay in an interesting way. But he's *VERY* slow out of the gate, and the production penalties are almost crippling in the early game. -1 to production on mines is bad enough in the early game (your mines are essentially +4 gold with no change in net production) but the real blow comes from his -30% penalty to production on units. Your capital takes forever to train units, builders, and settlers. Without landing the free settler from the new pantheon my Single Player game with Mansa would be extremely far behind.

Very interested to see how this plays out. I also like your leader choice much better - Amintore is an above average leader.

[TheArchduke]

Thanks for dropping by and good to see you play CIV VI. I should be ahead thanks to the leader choice. A quick update on the situation. Worker is finished, grain is irrigated and I decide on a 2nd warrior. I know it is slow and dangerous to clear with a slinger, but I want to get to nubian archers ASAP. So I need a support warrior. Another CS north.

I also had a brainfart where I thought I should buy the stone, eureka masonry and get a nubian pyramid going. But for what districts? I need production and good tiles. So I will improve the horses and probably mine the hill NW so I have 3 good tiles (4yield and better).

   

[TheArchduke]

Shooting through the turns right now. Seems we found a mutual window on sunday. Any way. Fun with barbs:

   

I also focus on a settler as I need to expand. I can get a third archer after the eureka. This should serve all my needs so far. I might get a 2nd warrior for a quick CS conquest. Unsure. I could go for the commercial north.

   

[TheArchduke]

Without quick access to archers those barbs horseman would be an issue. Still quite a delay here.

   

[Chevalier Mal Fet]

Woden and I probably should have gotten a lot more out of the Pitati archers than we did in PBEM7. Then again, I guess we did knock Khmer out of the running. How are you liking them?