Epic 38 – Mayan ECC

From the start location, I wanted to avoid wasting the bonus grass, so I moved my settler NE, and saw an Ivory, which was nice, but no bonus food other than the FP.  It would do, as agricultural the extra food from the city would get me to +4.  The worker started mining the BG immediately.  I built Chichen Itza in 3950, then saw the Wheat (just out of reach) and more flood plains to the N, as well as another Ivory.  I started my first warrior, and research on Warrior Code (23 turns).  First warrior explored north, worker finished mine and road, then moved to start irrigating the ivorys.  My second warrior explored to the west, then north along the coast.  I sent a third warrior east, finding coast, then north, and started the granary.  In 3250 I saw a warrior from the Netherlands, to my south, they were up Bronze Working and Alphabet, but down Masonry.  I couldn’t get Alphabet, but by now Warrior Code was due in 3, so I waited.  In 3100BC the Ivo was connected, and Warrior Code was completed.  Time to make a deal, I got Alphabet and his 10g for Masonry and Warrior, probably not the best deal, but I couldn’t swing Alpha and Bronze.  I wanted to start research on Math for a tradable tech, and with Javs I wouldn’t be building spearmen anyway.  In 3050BC I met Carthage to the N, they were also up Bronze Working.  Not the most auspicious start, but at least I know who my rivals will be:

2900BC I meet China, also to the N, who has BW and the Wheel.  In 2750BC the granary completes, and I take a slight deviation from my plan.  Carthage has 2 workers for sale, but it is still too early to buy them, but in pondering my situation, I decide I want a second worker of my own.  With the granary, Chichen will grow fast, probably faster than I can continue improving tiles with just one worker.  I can get a second worker in 2 turns, just as I grow to 6.  Math is due in 20, because I have to keep raising the lux rate, and I am also now over my unit support.  In 2710 I meet Germany, who is up Bronze, Wheel, and Burial, but doesn’t have Alphabet yet.  I have to temporarily drop science, but I am able to swing the Wheel and Ceremonial Burial for Alpha, 20g and 4gpt, then turn CB and the Wheel to the Dutch for Bronze Working.  Research on Math is slow, but I am even in tech.  After the worker I start the Barracks.  Once all the plains/river tiles are irrigated, I mineD the one grass along the river.  The barracks completes in 2390, and I start building my Javs.  Germany and China have Iron Working as of 2310, but the others are broke, so I wait.  My first Jav completes in 2230, I MM so I can get 10spt by not working the FP until my next growth turn, AND the extra shield in the city center helps, as I hit size 7.  I finally meet Rome in 2110, far north, and they must not have met anyone else, as they have Iron Working, but are down Masonry, CB, and Wheel.  I trade Masonry and CB for Iron Working and their 10g. 

First Dutch War

I am building javs every three turns now, and my plan is to get 5-6 built up and then go after the Dutch, hopefully after I complete Math and trade it around.  However, William decides to force the issue a few turns early:

Note that I only have 13g, and running a deficit, so of course I say no, and begin my offensive.  I move south with all FOUR of my Javs, leaving Chichen in the capable hands of a warrior (my other 2 were still out exploring).  Luckily, his leading attack was a warrior/settler pair!  My first attack not only triggers my Golden Age in 1790BC, but I also get my first slave!

Ah, yes, the only thing better than a Golden Age in Despotism is a Despot GA with ONLY ONE CITY!  But, at least my javs are now every other turn, and with some MM I can still use the FP for food every other turn (14spt/16spt).  1750BC, the second turn of the war, I get some good luck.  First, a jav takes on the warrior/settler pair, and I get the triple-play, enslaving the warrior and getting two “normal” workers.  Another jav enslaves another warrior in 3 straight wins, I wonder for a moment if the enslavement % was adjusted, but it evened itself out after this first rush.  I also completed Mathematics, everyone else has HBR, and Germany and China have Mysticism, China also has 140g (must have sold Mysticism to Germany).  I thought I had some time before anyone got Math, so I hold off until some other techs are available.  However, my luck starts to turn sour the next couple turns.  I lose a Jav, disease hits Chichen (twice), and Germany and Carthage suddenly have Math!  However, there is a silver lining, as China does not, but they do have Writing.  So I trade Math +2gpt to China for Writing, then Writing to Carthage for Mysticism, then Writing and Mysticism to Rome for Horseback Riding.  I start research on Currency, which I drop to minimum after a couple turns, so I can build up cash for more tech trading, I can’t really afford to research that high, as I am still running 30% luxuries, and unit support is eating me up.  I do switch Chichen to a settler, and found Copan in 1650, 3 due S next to the game, using Slave 3 (third captured, first used).  This is both for unit support, and as a base against the Dutch, hoping they would come attack across the river.  I used my other workers and slaves to time a forest chop on the game to speed along a barracks.  Meanwhile, my Javs have healed, and I get my 4^th slave vs. another warrior.  After the skirmishing, my first target was Groningen, which was their Iron source to the SE.  My jav loses 2hp vs. their lone spear, and it is razed.  There is a whale in the distance, I will definitely want to rebuild a city near here. 

In 1500BC, Otto decides to try where William failed, and demands 23g.  He is far to the north, although I have seen a spear wandering around, and he gets the same answer, and also declares war.  I start my first assault on Rotterdam, near the spices, in 1475, but between his archer defensive shot and 2 spears, I lose a jav, redline another, and pull back.  Hannibal decides to “request” 26g in 1375, but two wars are enough, and he is closer, so I give him what he wants for now.  By 1350 the Dutch have Map-Making, and no one else does, but I really want Rotterdam out of the way so I can grab the spices.  A second attack costs me two more javs to kill a spear and redline a second, getting a 5^th slave, but I can’t attack again.  My GA ends in 1250, and I switch production to settlers, time to prepare for peace.  A final assault on Rotterdam, with 4 fresh javs, destroys the city and captures a regular worker, and another jav razes the Hague near the fur on the southern coast, getting another worker.  That’s enough crippling for now, I want to give him time to build up more slave-archers, so I make peace for MapMaking.  It is no longer a monopoly, though.  China and Germany both have Philosophy, and Germany also has Construction (free tech?).  So far I have only seen (and killed) 2 spears he sent, and he will talk, but wants 100g for peace!  So, we may have to wait for him to send some slaves our way.  Meanwhile, time to start using our slaves to settle us a core!

Mayan Core Development Plan - 1200BC

We concluded peace with the Dutch in 1200BC, getting MapMaking, but were still at war with Germany.  My army of 7 Javs would have to suffice, as it was now time to switch production to settlers and use our newly captured slaves.  We begin founding our core cities, with the focus on securing luxuries/resources.  First is Palenque in 1075 (Slave 5) SE of the Spices.  Next was Tikal in 1025 (#2) N, NE of the FP Wheat.  It will take two expansions to get the dyes, so I will build a colony, but I don’t want to build closer and give up the river bonus (I would later regret it!).  Then was Yazchilan (#1) SE of the Fur, in 975BC.  I also planned a city for the Iron, but it would have to wait.

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