Just checking the threads… idle day. Not much banter lately… 
Game is progressing with Cleo way ahead in score… thinking interesting thoughts on how to proceed with that! Perhaps we can infiltrate her new embassy with spying apparatus’. If it is OK Cleo, we will glady build you one in our capital! Most of you have my domain mapped by now, you will see my cartographers finally getting to that. Thankyou for welcoming them. Looks like a peaceful lot, so glad to see. Canada doesn’t have to put much of its GDP into military obligations! Leaves us time to put resources into Campus infrastructure while it is subsidized by the UN. For those advancing culture, methinks Science will overtake, and we are investing big. Pay no attention to those religious zealots, I will need to tax them more.
Heh Cleo: Noticed your city’s rice fields are burning. Don’t worry, I am sending salvation, we will help clear the smoke in your people’s eyes so that they can see the light! I have sent an alliance offer to hasten your enlightenment. It will be to your benefit, as it was to mine, I am sure.
Are your foreign Gods raining their burning wrath down on my beautiful paddies?
All assistance sent will be gratefully recieved.
I know not the ways that my Gods proclaim their presence, but even if the fires were good or evil sent, it has inspired me to send spiritual sustenance for the comfort of your citizens. Enjoy, and I am sure the disaster will be quelled imminently once the majority are converted!
I can’t believe it!!! I am in control of a whole land mass, and a bloody barbarian camp forms in the middle of it all!!! They are surrounded on all sides, and my amassed military units will take quick action against them, once I train them to reduce casualties! They seem to have bribed a builder, but little do they know that he is lazy and won’t likely build anything for them while they have him captured. Anyways, just tickled that these guys had the audacity to camp in the middle of hostile territory and then move against my populace!
It appears that Cleo is close to culture dominant!!! A bit earlier than I expected, but with so many wonders, culture output, and whatever else it takes, I can understand why. I really do think getting the suzerainships of a couple city states really helped with building all the wonders and acquiring culture. I see that Cleo built a ton of Sphinx’s, so that must have helped. Have no idea how they generate 7 faith around the capital! not that faith really mattered I don’t think, just jealous with my religion pivot, haha. Nevertheless, Matt with Cleo in his hands has undoubtedly ruled supreme over this tiny world, and it was a very impressive cascade of civilization advancement. It is not over yet, but I really don’t see how we can disrupt the win. I am allied with you, so no military action! Conversion of your populace which was underway would not slow down at all the cultural cascade. So if the other civs have an idea of how to slow down this cultural awakening throughout all of civilization, I think the end of our competition is nigh. It may be longer than the 9 turns listed in the culture screen, as I have seen it happen, but perhaps I can start to talk about whether you guys want to start another 4 person game after this one. I have enjoyed playing with you mainly because everyone was so good at playing almost 2 turns a day. It was a great pace for me, and I also really appreciated the help and advice, and hope that I can put some of it to use to be a tougher opponent… Are you guys willing? I know Matt has tons of games going, and don’t know how he does it, and I have acquired a few now too with 5 going, but would like to keep it there. Your thoughs appreciated.
We had a very lucky start discovering with a tribe who gave us their most holy relic, thus allowing us the first pick of the pantheons and an early second settlement.
The Sphinxes really helped us to grow our early culture which gave us the jump on a number of Wonders, including the Great Bath which is what is making those faith yields, not the Sphinxes themselves.
Faith has been important for Monumentality Golden Ages as we have created many builders and settlers which enabled us to grow beyond our initial landmass, chopping some forests to help with the Wonder building and now planting woods to enhance the appeal of our natural parks.
A lot of things have come together nicely to get us to this point, but as you say - it’s not over yet and I’m not counting any chickens.
I’d certainly be up for another game, but I’ll leave it for a week or so as I’m off on holiday with the family on Monday.
Hallelujah! (I am in religious mode now). I have a visiting tourist! Glad to have that. Cleo has been attracting them all, and now she has competition. Cultural dominance may not be imminent!!!
Well, not sure, but my switch to a religion push as a result of Cleo’s impending cultural victory, may have been a good move. I feel that a victory could be close. Not sure how that happened, but the other religions seem to not have had quite the fervor of my missionaries and apostles! Culture / Religion, kind of the same thing as long Galleries only show images of naked people in a religious context. Anyways, if I do get the victory, it is a surprise for sure, and I admire how Matt built up such a strong cultural force so quickly. Of course, probably counting my chickens as I thought awhile back Matt had it in the bag.
Oh, and I combined that with putting up as many hockey rinks as I could, all praise to hockey… not sure if it generated any tourism or not to make Matt’s job a little tougher.
I guess I managed to get the victory! Thanks for the game guys, but quite surprised I did it. KInd of makes sense that a religious victory is possible on a smaller map though as there is not as many civs and cities to convert. I did make the pivot primarily when Cleo got way ahead in Culture, and figured with my lack of military might there was no way that I could compete anywhere else. Went as powerful as I good in faith and religious unit generation, including making sure I had the right dedication. It was an interesting problem, and it worked out better than I anticipated. Thanks for the game, and hope to meet you guys at another time, really appreciated your help, and the prompt turn playing. If any of you want to do another game with me in some form, would love to do it. There is an open game for 6 players on a small map that had at last look 2 openings, might go in that one.
GG Blarney. I had no defence against the religion, just had to hope the others would be able to keep you out. I was still a while off the Culture win, needed to get to Rock Bands really.
Just not quite sure how to formally end the game. Do each of you surrender in the tab above? and then it goes to our completed games folder?
Congratulations!
Yes, everyone but you surrenders, and after that, you’ll get the “End Game” button.
I noticed Matt, that the culture victory prognosis isn’t very accurate when they say things like victory imminent in 9 turns. However, that is what got me really going with the religion push. I also tried to push my tourists up, but didn’t have much that I could do that with. But yeah, at one time I really did think you had the game in the bag. Only about 4 or 5 turns ago I began to think it was possible. I tried to focus on the other guys holy site cities as soon as I could. And with 6 charges on missionaries and apostles each, plus 6 movement, really helped with the swarm. I then tried to get my sea travel sped up a bit too. As I said, it was an interesting puzzle to work out, and it worked out. However, if you would have had a religion of your own, I think it would have been impossible for me to make the progress I did.
Yeah if you do something that gives you a big burst of tourism it then calculates how many turns if you got that many every turn, which isn’t realistic.
I was wondering how that worked, as it always confused me as to how it could often be so wrong in my solo games. Its almost like they shouldn’t even have it, as for the most part, an experienced player should be able to get a sense of where the leader is at. Awhile back I suggested that we may have another 4 person game. I liked the pace, and of course the competitors, and wondered if you were all interested? I know Steve had told me he is busy with a project and was purposely only checking on his turns once a day, but who knows, maybe he likes the pace and the company…
Yeah, I’d be down to play another
Started a game, can discuss parameters: password blarney