The Escapist Plays: Civilization V (MOAR PLAYERS PLS)

[Mr Thin]

Wonders are the jam on my jelly roll.

Can we have a full list of buildable wonders pelase? I'd like to pick and choose at my leisure.

Now let's find out how far south we can send this empire while Waltz is gone.

 

[lacktheknack]

Secularism it is.

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/541778247956745644/098ED5B98F6311DFDCC29D70E54EEFB08A7D06E6/

Also, as I've received little input to Science (and because I completely missed Mr. Thin's post now that I'm looking back, sorry), I'm picking the cheapest (Physics)

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/541778247956748259/D8333AC3CB31B80454AC4DBA4971EFF0CDFEC164/

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/541778247956744428/FFE2DF476A8261A59B465972BF6857AA9ECF2BCF/

We have two sources of spice, I think. We can give him some to keep him happy.

It's about here that Our scouts wandered up to Purgatory, where they got attacked.

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/541778247956741925/481783864002B27BE4A2B7A3E8A646F3043865DA/

...Only to get pwned.

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/541778247956739528/D6AA5549CB475D44BD09397513A1601B3600F5EF/

(Yeah, those are flying rocks about to pwn that pikeman.)

...And get their encampment ruined. By the scout they attacked.

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/541778247956751246/CA428C260C8BE90D17ABD45B41355CF57A1B97EE/

Physics finished. What tech should we do now? (Your votes will actually be noted this time, Thin... sorry.)

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/541778247956747139/6EDAA21C5DBC09D4217F691307CB7DC08BB0CA88/

Also, the queues in Knackopolis, Eumersiania and Thinville could use an update.

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/541778247956754666/064D0125147FB1B1A48E3F74BCEC3F02A64A0BB0/

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/541778247956752714/432180D57377A3B5C9A9A16AEB7721A52A8855CC/

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/541778247956749563/649A86D2E02CB2B93B2F25E6FAF8B4EA077D04E3/

Note: Himeji Castle and the Forbidden Palace can be built in any of them, the Machu Picchu can only be built in Thinville.

 

[Mr Thin]

Wonders! Wonders everywhere! The Machu Picchu in Thinville, and the Forbidden Palace in Knackopolis. Queue up Banks in both of them after that.

As for Eumersania, I say Bank then Forge. We gonna be so rich.

Edit: My tech votes are the same as last time, Acoustics then Scientific Theory.

 

[lacktheknack]

You are tearing me apart, lack of players!

 

[Mr Thin]

We may have maxed our player limit. You should construct additional pylons, just to be sure.

 

[lacktheknack]

http://www.seraphius.com/phpsc2replay/SC2Icons/th_btn-building-protoss-pylon.pnghttp://www.seraphius.com/phpsc2replay/SC2Icons/th_btn-building-protoss-pylon.pnghttp://www.seraphius.com/phpsc2replay/SC2Icons/th_btn-building-protoss-pylon.pnghttp://www.seraphius.com/phpsc2replay/SC2Icons/th_btn-building-protoss-pylon.pnghttp://www.seraphius.com/phpsc2replay/SC2Icons/th_btn-building-protoss-pylon.pnghttp://www.seraphius.com/phpsc2replay/SC2Icons/th_btn-building-protoss-pylon.pnghttp://www.seraphius.com/phpsc2replay/SC2Icons/th_btn-building-protoss-pylon.pnghttp://www.seraphius.com/phpsc2replay/SC2Icons/th_btn-building-protoss-pylon.pnghttp://www.seraphius.com/phpsc2replay/SC2Icons/th_btn-building-protoss-pylon.png

Will this do?

 

[Doc Gnosis]

I'd recommend Machu Picchu for Thinville, while Banks for Knackopolis and Eumersiana.... Or we could pay for expedient construction. As for the other wonders, I'm all for it.

Tech-wise, it's between Acoustics and Printing Press; the former for reasons Mr. Thin has disclosed, and the latter because of the chance to discover Economics.

EDIT: On another note, ooh pretty lights. o_o

 

[lacktheknack]

Sorry about the wait, things happen.

Anyways, two votes for Acoustics!

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/542904782746765601/31872C1FB8218C6735F115BEB2472240216EA030/

(not pictured) Japan just declared war on Rome. Why do you always do this, Japan?

Queue updating time! First, here's Knackopolis...

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/542904782746766789/CB0B3FCAFA4285A6C7CF0A376ADCEB2648DA053A/

Then Thinville...

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/542904782746773595/D6CCBB052F1B67FC53367074A1F225DA5CA1BDC9/

And Eumersiania.

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/542904782746763836/F12050A9AB6BDEBCD6855B3418E03CFD93DCD661/

Caesar wishes to let us have open borders. Sold, for 30 gold!

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/542904782746768648/98F23291673BA4D6642FD9299D65321A3E891159/

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/542904782746777359/657058331CD18F46AF12C48DE9244612F19677DE/

Hmm, we'll keep that in mind.

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/542904782746769849/945A3921EE101E0CFD2C5DBBC3A526230243E04B/

Whoops. Oh well, you can't win them all.

Look at this, Alexander has the worst defensive strategy EVER!

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/542904782746775017/223843EBD40C17ABF579B315187AAC20F39FBEFE/

He knows it too, he has been playing nice recently-

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/542904782746779977/2F944B486A6867543A1544C3C0169F64046D35DA/

Alexander, you are an idiot.

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/542904782746778682/4836EFC903C2B85BBFEA84E6D92F5B8180C17388/

Acoustics completed. What next?

 

[Doc Gnosis]

If the Scientific Theory is our bottom line, I'd recommend researching Physics and Economics in order to unlock it. The only concern I have is whether these discoveries will render the Mohawk Warriors obsolete.

On another note, perhaps it's time to run Greece through. It raises the question as to whether the bulk of Alexander's military is stuck on the other corner of the map. Either way, it would help to capitalize on this; declare war and see if you can raze one or two cities.

 

[Mr Thin]

Begin research on Scientific Theory, and attack Alexander. Wipe that smirk off his face.

 

[lacktheknack]

Running through Printing Press and Economics to reach Scientific Theory.

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/542904782787121741/6FB7650308581AE3F47D9EE5CD3303EDE26D9C78/

And it seems that we all agree that it's time for Greece to go down!

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/542904782787109978/7949231CD1967A46F623381D3BF622A9970F0D33/

BOOM!

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/542904782787130913/606C9E28911A6C887ADA7EAD85636CA7872EEBA2/

Whatever you say, Alexandra.

(At this point, the armies are large enough that I'm taking over promotions and basic warfare myself - if you have any ideas for sweeping tactics, feel free to say them, but as far as you care, wars are now automated. I'm not inept, so don't worry. )

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/542904782787103364/83230E64BB5FF19CBB57CE8FE8E45AFB79F59F05/

We're leaps and bounds ahead of everyone else!

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/542904782787112621/C1C29F2CB2E869B31B1E5DEC973852C7DB34B8F7/

Boom.

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/542904782787128637/2C6023E25A99234FADC5F6FA18C77F7456CF8B1F/

Frigate completed! Which direction should it go?

Also, queues are done in Eumersiania -

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/542904782787123031/42EBDE5CF7578287E3A3E1588BBE08838D9A14C7/

- and Waltzburg.

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/542904782787104889/451751A7A14470B2E1AB09F08A8A114AE9090AC2/

Queue up, please!

 

[Bohemian Waltz]

I go away for a little while and what's this war with Greece? Well I suppose it will be successful. I'd have advocated for a straight shot to rifling as I value a STR 25 unit over the ability to build public schools. It appears science is what we're going for though.

On a side note I assume the workers are near Knackopolis/Eumersiania are on Automate? Screw their obsession with lumber mills. Production is nice, but when you start running out of useful things to build it suddenly not very useful. Cover up roughly half or 1/3 of those lumber mills with trading posts as the extra science from trading posts due to our next rationalism policy will become crazy with a sufficient amount of trading posts all of them multiplied by science buildings.

It's also unfortunate that we're building Machu Pichu in Thinville rather than the Sistine Chapel. Both Sistine & Hagia give great artist points which would make Thinville a golden age making machine, but oh well. The Sistine chapel is still badass though so building that in Eumersiania would be a good idea happiness and culturally wise even if it's not optimal.

My votes:
-Eumersiania: Sistine Chapel, (when printing press is done queue up a theater), Opera house.
-Waltzburg: Colosseum, Harbor, Seaport, University, Bank.
-Economics: trade out some lumber mills for trading posts and switch most size 7+ cities to avoid growth or production/gold focus. Throw happiness buildings into queues where they can be built.
-War: Watch out for that flat land that covers the south and west of Cornith, Alexanders units can move double on open terrain so they can sneak up and kill our catapults if we're not careful. Protect our great general by stacking him with the strongest unit or behind a screen of units with our artillery. Unless there is a new luxury or a wonder built in a Greek city raze it rather than puppet it or annex. We can't afford them happiness wise.
-Diplo/Trade: Try to start RA with any civ who probably won't want to attack us (i.e. England). If no one bites trade extra luxuries for nothing less than 100 gold. Trade away up to 6 horses and 1 iron with any trade no less than 100 gold. If nothing can be done at all then consider waiting around 8-10+ turns for Incan influence with Brussels to deteriorate a little bit and spend 500+ gold to turn Brussels into an ally. This will annoy the Incans, but you'll get access to Furs which to can then gift to Genoa and get a fun culture boost in the process. Then turn Genoa into an ally and spread the access to excess luxuries around for a profit or to quell the Incan's displeasure.

 

[Mr Thin]

Sistine Chapel wasn't available when I asked for WONDERZ! Just saying

Now, let me see... for Eumersania: Opera House, Harbor, Forge.

For Waltzburg: Colosseum, University, Bank.

And send the frigate towards Alexander, give him something else to worry about.

 

[Bohemian Waltz]

Sistine Chapel wasn't available when I asked for WONDERZ! Just saying

Ah? Well it's actually a good choice for the wonders available. It's just my biting obsession with putting all my great scientist wonders in the same city as well as all my great artist wonders in the same city.

I do think the Sistine Chapel is a must though it's a 25% boost in culture empire wide (making it a 11+ culture building currently). In terms of production/culture per turn it beats the pants off of an opera house 59hammers/per-1CPT vs. 63hammers/per-1CPT and it doesn't cost 2 gold in maintenance and also produces great people points. Plus since it's a 25% global boost it scales and becomes even more valuable over time.

Buildings like Harbors/Seaports/Forges/Stables/Barracks/Armories only produce benefits based on tiles worked or things produced.

If you build a Barracks and Armory in a city and rarely if not ever produce units in that city it's essentially simply a drag on gold. Likewise with buildings that only improve tile yields as a good rule of thumb is unless 2 or 3 tiles will be worked that gain the benefit of the building it's a drag on gold.

A harbor is ok in Eumersania especially if there is a direct sea route from Waltzburg eliminating our dependency on a friendly Genoa to maintain our trade-route. A forge is a bit useless unless we're committing Eumersania to building a considerable amount of units in which case I'd say we need to double down and build an Armory and Barracks as well followed up by military academy when military science opens up.

And send the frigate towards Alexander, give him something else to worry about.

I agree 100% Frigates bombard is deadlier than our catapults. I believe the the way further east is blocked by land/ice, but we should be able to bombard the hell out of Argos which is good enough. It can also hamper troops that exit Argos which try to flank us as we destroy Cornith. Argos then should be weakened enough to be taken with minimal troops freeing us up to march south/heal up.

 

[lacktheknack]

Quick update today.

Here's the lineup for Eumersiania (I'd like more clarification on the forge, pls).

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/540653236852448686/CE9498DE742BA60E5B410C9363E36E9E504233E0/

And here's the one in Waltzburg.

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/540653236852443306/CF5C575D76DCCBBE351C86DB97F8C7327203572F/

Here's our front lines.

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/540653236852440814/81A092DE11C52457D9998CF691DD6F7660579187/

Corinth is going down!

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/540653236852445391/FBDB921CEE8616EEDF52EBD4A137F2B24BEC16E4/

Great! What should we do with it?

Also, we need updated queues for Geneva...

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/540653236852446760/5A514157246588CB1F96B8850B6B7AA7E449B1F3/

..and Ragnorak.

http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/540653236852450809/A5963A9DB0447D4925356DE98AF10859E48E1E86/

By the way, we're annexing Argos... it will let our frigate pass to the Eastern Greek Seas (it's currently blocked by ice, but Argos has access to both east and west seas).

 

[Bohemian Waltz]

By the way, we're annexing Argos... it will let our frigate pass to the Eastern Greek Seas (it's currently blocked by ice, but Argos has access to both east and west seas).

I'm not sure if that's a fantastic idea. Unhappiness between 1-9 isn't that big of a deal it just means all cities grow at -25% rate (and population growth is a major player in unhappiness). However at 10 unhappiness we can't build settlers, no cities grow, and we get a really nasty combat negative for all of our units. The only thing worse would be hitting 20 unhappiness which throws our empire into revolt and barbarians start randomly spawning in our borders and destroying shit.

Argos will easily drop us to 10 and under that assumption make it damn hard to win the war against the Greeks and if the English get a wild hair up their arse from our war mongering and wonder hording and decide to invade at the most inopportune moment that combat modifier and the fact that we don't have a heavily militarized border with them might prove difficult at best damning at worst.

In my opinion Argos isn't worth it especially if the western sea isn't closed off like the eastern. Worst case scenario if we want a panama canal we can crank out a settler in a few short turns and plant him on Argos's ruins when we can afford the unhappiness.

Depending on the timing the forbidden palace might help, but we're dangerously close to the wire I think a Colosseum in every city along with Theaters once printing press finishes is a heavy priority.

 

[lacktheknack]

But then again, we have over a thousand gold, and I can't say that a courthouse is an unworthy expenditure.

 

[Bohemian Waltz]

Courthouse or not, 1 city = 1 unhappiness; factor in the population and we could tip to 10 easily. Also keep in mind that (unless they changed things in a patch; and I really don't think they have) you can't raze capital cities, thus making any strategy for the domination of the Greeks a requirement to annex/puppet their largest city (probably between size 6-12). The tons of gold (600 I think on standard speed/start) required to rush buy courthouse(s) would be better used on Athens and it's subject to further scrutiny if we'll have enough to do both (unlikely or it could break our treasury).

Furthermore, we don't even know if anything on that side of the ocean is worth the investment.

I don't think we're in a situation where we'd like to get to Athens and then declare peace as it offers us simply an angry neighbor who we'll have to guard against and who will constantly denounce us.

The question is, "Is a canal city worth it?". The happiness can be better spent growing our western colonies or capturing a city from Alexander that actually contains a new luxury. There isn't a whole ton of benefit from being able to cross into the eastern sea; and if it becomes appealing we can always burn 5 turns building a settler and not have to deal with the headache of keeping our happiness under acceptable levels or spend absurd amounts of gold rush-buying a courthouse.

The worst case situation is if in that fog of war there's another peninsula/ice wall. Best case there's an island with every luxury we don't have floating in the eastern sea in that pesky fog of war.

Edit: If we want to simply get a boat to the other side raze and move through; razing is auto annex but the city burns over a few turns (we can always build a 2nd boat and explore the west with that one). I simply object to keeping it. Razing already causes unhappiness so unless something changes fast simply burning Argos to the ground will likely screw us into 10 unhappiness (making a possible counter-attack with our weakened units deadlier). The idea being to avoid being stuck at 10 or below especially since we're at war; if we need a canal city that badly 5-7 turns to pop a settler then force the city to avoid pop growth it saves us 600 gold or so and some headaches of happiness issues (a size 1-3 city kept that way by avoiding growth doesn't produce much unhappiness and the forbidden palace's unhappiness modifier only applies to our cities not captured ones).

 

[Mr Thin]

Raaaaaaaze! Burn it to the ground, and spit on its ashes!

Geneva: Circus, Granary, Monastery, Lighthouse, Bank. Why is the Library greyed out in there?

Ragnorak: Water Mill, Temple, University, Bank.

As for Eumersania; bugger the Forge, but stick the Opera House in that queue somewhere.

 

[Bohemian Waltz]

Why is the Library greyed out in there?

Because it's currently in queue. I think we're of the same mind on most things Thin; Science/Happiness > Culture > Food > Gold > Production.

My votes:
-Military: Burn Cornith to the ground likewise with Argos when the chance presents itself. Wait/Heal and let Cornith burn a little before taking Argos. Try to time taking Argos with Forbiden palace or other happiness building or after we've dropped Corniths population via Raze enough to not matter. Throwing our Frigate into the eastern sea is also fine by me it'll harass the Greeks easier.
-Geneva: Circus, Bank, University (when Library Finishes), Monastery, Theater(when printing press finishes).
-Ragnorak: Watermill, Bank, University, Theater(when it opens up), Temple.
-Eumersiania: Bugger that forge throw in a Theater anywhere in the queue when it becomes available.
-Waltzburg: Same as Emersiana Theater when possible wherever throw in a Harbor/Seaport in as well at some point. It's situated to work at least 3 coastal tiles so Sea-improvement buildings will be monstrous.
-Diplo: Search for trades in luxuries try and buy some with our redundancies if not look for money if a RA isn't viable. Consider paying others less than 200 extra gold and perhaps a redundant luxury for a RA it's technically worth it.
-Tech: Straight shot to Public Ed.