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Winning Friends and Influencing People |
| A purple border means the Iroquois, which means...Munchkin
Warriors. Ack! I can but hope they don't get any horses, or it's going
to be...iffy. The good news is that I'm apparently in a wide but
nonetheless defensible penninsula. No more multiple fronts like Epic 14.
In 1725, I suddenly notice that I have diplomatic contact with somebody...the Mongols? Oh dear. Dial up Temujin, who's actually polite to me. I can get Pottery, Ceremonial Burial, and my remaining Wheel research for Masonry and 40 gold. He has Alphabet and Iron Working, but I can afford neither. The deal is made, but as Temujin is leaving the bargaining table, we get a good look at the state of his dental hygiene. The secrets of good dentistry must be brought to Mongolia!
We have horses, coincidentally, though in a really awful spot:
Ick. Such is the state of the world in 1675: Green dot and Magenta dot are to be the basis of our southern defenses against the Iroquois. Green dot will be settled first, Magenta dot when practical. Blue dot is the foundation of the northern defensive line, and has third priority for settlement. Those cities will be our borders until we can do something to expand them. The cyan dots are the first ring cities, to be settled after the border cities are up and running. Red dot cities are sort of wishlist cities, to get up and going after the teal cities. If possible, Shanghai will do the granary/settler thing to try and get as many cities up and running as possible. And heeeeeeeere they come!
In 1450 BC, the Iroquois pop up out of nowhere, asking for 70 gold in exchange for Mysticism. Well... No. We will trade 85 gold for Alphabet, however. Also, they need to learn how to do proper haircuts. We'll invade their cities, crush any resistance, and set up barbershops!
Iron Working is completed, and we rush full speed for Horseback Riding. In 1400, the first Mongols go up against the walls of Canton and lose badly. In celebration, a new lawn is added to the cav...palace. Future attacks fail badly, though Temujin keeps on sending warriors like a fool. Canton appears to be the fire magnet for the moment. Meanwhile, on the home front, Beijing is set up as a spear factory, while Shanghai puts up a granary and starts mass producing settlers. Heeeeeeeeere they come again!
Notice newly-founded Nanking up there on blue dot. So I lied about the settlement order. The Mongols go up, the Mongols die. The spears defening Canton promote to elite. The Iroquois go on past the lines. Ack. Horseback Riding comes in that next turn, but one notes the total lack of convenient horses. Mathematics is started for catapults. |
