Pong 3: Turns 52 - 90 of Russia

Picking up where we left off, 51 turns into the game.

My previous post describes the very early game, where I began to carve out the Russian empire, and started down a peaceful path of Culture and Faith. The majority of this session was a continuation of that.

Soon after starting, I swap my Policy Cards with an emphasis on Wonder production.

+STR to Barbarian attacks isn't super useful at this stage, but I'm not doing much else that would make use of that slot.

The Chinese have had issues with Barbarians the entire game. I lost a trade route to one of their cities very early on, and it appears as though they're still losing the war with the camp on the Southwest peninsula.

The Barbarians, for whatever reason, offer me a captured Builder. Possibly a tribute to keep be from interfering in their war with China?

Again, since I'm not using my Horses I trade them around. Hojo was the top bidder this time around, as he didn't have any hooked up.

I pondered also selling my Iron, but figured it was smart to keep on hand if I ever wanted to upgrade some Warriors to Swordsmen.

I wasn't sure how the open borders worked with city states, and was a little frustrated when my Galley got to Hong Kong and couldn't find a way around. Talked about it a bit with Nate.

Apparently you have to have more than any other civ, even if you're not the Suzerain. I was tied with Nubia here, so I was locked out.

I decide to make my Religion reflect my original Pantheon belief. The beasts of burden that my people have inspired countless songs and works of art, and to further honor them we found Moo.

Zen Meditation is always a knee-jerk for me. I often struggle with amenities in the later stages of the game, though thinking about it now I seem pretty well set up with luxuries this game. Still, better to be super happy than upset!

Lay Ministry is a new one for me. I usually go for Tithe, as I often did in Civ 5, the gold being a compelling reason to spread my Religion wide. I decide on Lay Ministry to help push my Culture and Faith advantages even further: I plan to build a lot of Lavras and Theater Districts.

I swap +1 production in every city for Colonization to mark the beginning of my Age of Expansion.

As mentioned in my previous post, there are a few city locations north of the Great Wastes that allow access to multiple luxuries, and I plan to send two Settlers there.

After Apadana finishes, all three of my cities are churning out a Settler each.

I try to negotiate a luxury trade with Nubia, who refuses a flat exchange. I ask what it'll take.

Way too rich for my blood!

It seems like China has begun an age of expansion as well!

I didn't care much for that land myself, and don't mind China filling in the void. I'm trying to keep in their good graces and figure they'd make an okay ally later on, but part of my always worries about the fickle AI deciding to fight later on.

Nubia doesn't like that I built a wonder. That's probably not good for me, long-term, because I plan to build a bunch.

They're still declared friends with me at this point, but they also have the largest military in the game. Not an enemy I want to make. I'll do my best to offer favorable deals or outright gifts to them throughout the game.

After finishing Apadana, I get two Envoys. I decide to throw them at Hong Kong so my boat can get past their borders.

In terms of bonuses, it's not very good. I don't have any Industrial Zones, and their unique bonus relating to district projects isn't something I'll make use of.

Still, I think it's worth it. That little boat does a heck of a lot of exploring after this point.

Nubia was first to a great prophet, and I got mine soon after. Very shortly after I founded Moo, all of the remaining prophets are snatched up!

I'm also well on my way to a Great Writer. the first of many!

The World at Turn 60

Norway, eh? Seems like Japan knows Nate.

There's a lot of land I still haven't seen at this point.

My Lavra is paying off, and my culture-focused game is off to the races.

My Missionaries have been spreading Moo throughout China and to various City States, and hit enough to trigger the eureka for Reformed Church.

I start thinking about what government I'd like to move into next around this point.

I usually prefer Mercant Republic for the bonus trade routes, and I certainly use the gold this game.

Monarchy gets 3 Military policy cards, which I don't plan to make use of.

Theology gets 2 Economic cards, which I like, and allows me to purchase military units with faith. I'm not sure how much I'd use that, as the religious wars with Nubia are apt to take up a lot of my faith. Finally, the legacy bonus reduces faith costs over time, which will certainly come in handy.

I'm thinking Theology.

I still haven't tossed that Barbarian bonus, and I've barely used it. I really need to work on other militaristic civics.

My settlers done, I start some more wonders and push for more Great Writers.

I have made a grievous error. I was planning to build the Colosseum in St. Petersburg, and somehow thought it required a Theater Square and not an Entertainment District. Whoops!

The Colosseum is one of my favorite wonders and I've built it quite often, so I'm surprised I made the mistake.

Instead, I build a Temple and then start the Mahabodhi Temple, which will give me some faith, and two free Apostles, which will kick off my religious war with Nubians.

I start the Colosseum in Smolensk a bit later.

When I finished my Settlers, I realized I had mad a mistake and not gotten Shipbuilding. Instead of being able to cross the sea to reach those luxury-cities to the far east, my stacks need to walk.

Half way there, I notice just how much traffic there is along the way. It becomes difficult to get through, and I end up moving north to get to the sea when the tech pops.

Hojo likes me! Another friend!

I've been building loads of Faith and Culture, and he's built to like that.

A wandering Warrior caught a glimpse of a coast, so it embarked. I found a Persian trader, but apparently that's not enough to make contact.

He really likes me! I accidentally hit on his randomized (and still hidden) agenda by having a bunch of productive cities.

Nubia wants to buy one of my great works! I can't imagine any scenario where I'd sell them, but certainly not for a temporary luxury deal that will expire quickly enough.

I finish my Wonders, and with nothing better to do with the Economic slot toss it to +2 gold per trade route. I'll be swapping it soon enough.

My settlers made it to sea! It's much smoother sailing than walking.

I berate myself a bit, but let it go.

My third Settler heads north to claim the tundra.

Someone is sieging Kyoto, and it's not anyone I know!

I watch for a while, and notice it's HP going down during my turn, which means it's Nate. We use Hybrid turns, which allows us to take them at the same time when we're not at war. This GREATLY speeds up the game.

First Contact with Nate, shortly after I notice him sieging Kyoto. I mark the spot.

I haven't used markers a whole lot, because they were buggy in MP and the enemies could see them, even through fog! But Nate told me recently that they added visibility toggles now, and you can make them self-only.

Here are the Diplomacy and Score screens from the turn I met Nate.

I'm pretty happy with the way we stack up. He's got a larger army than me though, and I'd bet on a bunch of Longships. I'm playing a lot more peacefully than usual this game.

On the same turn that my friendship expires with China, they get mad that I'm on their border headed to a Barbarian camp. Sucks.

They accept a re-up of the friendship, though.

One of Nate's Longships off the coast of China. Soon after, he finds me.

This has me worried a bit. I still don't know where he is, and his ships and embarked units can cross the Sea. St. Petersberg is coastal, but only has one sea tile to attack from.

I'll need to start building more units. I'll have Crossbowmen soon, which should do well at beating back any boats that try to raid the coast, or anything brave enough to land on my shores, even Berserkers.

Nubia likes me! She has an agenda where she likes civilizations that have districts in all their cities.

The World at Turn 80

I have no idea what this is about. I know he gets mad at people who mess with city states, but I don't believe I've done anything with them recently. Maybe he has a hidden agenda?

I checked his diplomacy screen, and didn't see him at war with anyone. Maybe he went to war with a city state I'm friendly with, and didn't notice?

I replace the Barbarian-killing card, finally. I'm still not getting much use out of that slot, given the number of luxuries I have.

Back to Wonder boosts!

Again, Nubia tries to buy a great work of mine. No dice, lady! Go write your own!

The East.

I intentionally placed the cities away from the coast to keep Nate's ships from destroying the cities, and forcing him to fight me on land later on.

I love the Mother Russia land grab effect! I rush buy a worker in each city and quickly hook up Incense, Tea, and Oranges. I still need to hook up the Truffles.

All my cities go to Ecstatic. +20% growth, +10% to all non-food yields.

This is great for production, but it's also helping with all the faith I get from Tundras!

Somehow, China thinks that is settling too close. Sorry.

GET OUT OF HERE YOU MISSIONARIES! ALL GLORY TO THE COW!

MOOOOOOOOO!

I shop around my Horses again, and realize that Nubia doesn't have them. I could have sworn they did earlier... Anyway, they offer me a luxury and some cash.

I don't really need the luxury, but I'll take it off the table for others and hope Nubia is willing to keep this deal up.

No idea what he's talking about. I barely know anything about Persia!

With the Mahabodhi Temple complete, I get two Apostles, plus the one I bought myself. GET READY TO RUMBLEEEEE.

Building a Wonder in St. Petersberg gives me two Envoys. I had one saved, and I send all three to La Venta. I've got two Lavras, so this is a net +6 Faith per turn.

I become their Suzerain, but I don't have a whole lot of forests and can't make use of their Colossal Head improvements.

China expands again, completing the insulation of my core from the rest of the continent. I hope I can keep them on my good side.

Nubia has begun converting cities, and I start fighting back.

End of Session, Turn 90

Nate has made up the score difference, having fought a war with Japan. He never took Kyoto, but claims he got "a good deal" for peace. I figure he got a city in the trade.

I'm 6 Civics and 8 Techs ahead, but I'm still worried about his army. Now that he's at peace with Japan, those Longships need to go someplace.