And of course this gives us our Golden Age right off the bat. In Despotism. Blarg.

St. Louis, of course, drops like the proverbial fly. And then so does Buffalo. Gee, that was easy. Despite the random swords Abe sent over. In the end, it's all worth two more cities and a substantial discount on Republic.

Oh, wait. I'm religious, you say? Funny how that works. <click>

Our God is a satiated God.

Or...not.

"Hi, Hannibal? Give us lots of tech, or else. No? Ok then."

Cirta obviously goes down ASAP. As does Cadiz. The assault on Hadrumentum falters, and so we make peace with Carthage for a substantial discount on Monotheism. Our God is a satiated God. Our God is the One True God. Our God likes Gallic Swords. A lot.

In 720, our Golden Age finally ends. I dare say it was a pretty good run. Infrastructure is more or less completed on the main island. We had two successful pointy stick wars. We made an awful lot of money. This is good.

In 770, we ponder trading our newly-acquired-from-the-Aztecs Invention to France for Chivalry. We ponder for a moment? Horses? No, no es horses. Infantry flashbacks it is. Good thing I've got cavantry, eh? Maybe we'll invent reindeer cavalry.

Abe! Abe! You haven't got Invention! I feel so terrible for you! Maybe if you gave me Education, we could make a deal! Oh, you want 6 gpt, too? I suppose. Now, for the Zulus...not to Currency yet? On second thought, let's go check Japan instea...whoops, just barely in the Middle Ages? Hrm. Hey, France. Give me money. Yes. Money. $$$. Oh, you're broke. Ok then. We note that significant amounts of the pack went up the Education tree, except uberachievers like the Aztecs who have guns, too. Wonder if there's any saltpeter.

Er, hello.

No, but thanks for playing.

Oh, but I see you brought friends.

No, but thanks for playing.

880 AD comes and goes...

"Hi, Hannibal? Give us lots of techs. Or else. No? Well then."

Oh, sorry. Did you need Rusaddir for anything? Oh, you did? Well, sorry about that. No harm done, hey? Oh, wait. I bet you needed Hadrumentum, too. Well, uh, finders keepers, yes?

Oh look, a leader.

Almost immediately after, the Second Carthaginian Pointy Stick Beatdown ends when I don't QUITE have enough troops to take Oea, so settle for a hefty discount on Banking. Going in for Hefty Trades R Us, we snag Gunpowder from Monty, who for some reason is our best buddy. There are, in fact, five saltpeters that I can see in the world. One of them is at Oea. Another is at one of my crappy island colonies. Greece or Rome has another couple. BFD. Muskets and cannons. Who cares?

Meanwhile, over in New Carthage, everybody is exceedingly inspired by the heroic efforts of Vercingetorix at Oea, and...

And for some reason, I got about 8 turns worth of palace improvements just now.

Bad Joanie. Bad.

Let's go with a "no" on that one. Maybe some sarcastic comments about the blazing speed of caravels, or French military prowess. Yes, that sounds like a plan.

Our God is not a tribute-paying God.

Joan is not a warmonger, either.

And then in 1070 Tokugawa decides he wants some wines, too. Bring it on, Mr "I'm too stupid to learn Theology." Oh, sorry. Education. Anyway. In 1090 my wines deals run out, and I trade Abe 800 gold and wines for Chemistry. Then I notice he's sort of short on Metallurgy these days, so I trade Hannibal 1375 gold and my map for it, and then turn around and trade it, 60 gold, and 5 gpt to Abe for Physics. Of the important stuff I am now down by Democracy and Magnetism.

In 1160, we trade wines and 1125 gold to Hannibal for Theory of Gravity, then turn around and trade that and 175 gold to Abe for Magnetism. Abe, you rock.

I am, of course, too broke for either of Steam Power or Democracy.

In 1190, we trade Wines, 1196 gold, and 67 gpt (ow) to Babylon for Steam Power. Guessed where this is going, yet? Yup.

"Hi, Abe. Picked up this new tech I thought you might like. Steam Power. You want it? Oh you do? And you'll give me Democracy, Spices, 30 gold, and 15 gpt for it? I suppose."

Oh, we have coal, you say? And we're religious, too? <click>

Uh-oh. Come the revolution, I run out of cash. Well, uh. Hey, Zulus. You don't know Theology? How about giving me Monarchy and 26 gold? Good. Hey, Alex. How about 5 gold for my map. Good.

Behold the power of Celtic commercialism.

We pause for a moment after exiting Republic, and note that everybody in the world likes us a lot more now for some reason. <checks> Yup, all Democracies. Didn't realize the same-government bonus was that heavy. They all HATED me before. Granted I'm trading with them, but still.

Quoth Caesar, 1230: "May the friendship between Rome and Celts last for many years!" Heh. Heh. Heh. Take that, history. NOW who's on top of the pack, huh?

Our God is a smiling, happy God.

1255, Japan randomly declares on Carthage. So much for being excellent to each other. Poor Carthage. Me, Japan...

And there is nobody in the world but me what can afford Industrialization from the Aztecs. And it would cripple me to do it. So we'll see where the tech race goes from here.

Finally, 1265 arrives, Carthage pulls Industrialization, and we trade 2394 gold plus 10 gpt and the obligatory map for it. And I seem to have forgotten that Nationalism is the single most expensive tech ever for absolutely no reason whatsoever, so no pulling a twofer off on Abe. Blarg.

In 1285, Carthage signs the Aztecs up against Japan. Things are getting interesting.

And Monty wants our map and 71 gold? WTF? Um. But we want him on our side, so we give in.

Our God is a displeased God.

In 1290, Monty signs up Rome and Greece vs Japan. Hey, world war!

Then Japan signs up Abe vs Monty. THAT was freaking stupid.

My 1295 trade of Industrialization for Medicine to Abe is probably one of the most lopsided of all time, but what the hell. Abe could use the help.

Our God is a generous God.

Also in the news for 1295, Babylon and the Aztecs sign an MPP. Heh. Then they sign a military alliance vs Abe. Overkill much, guys?

Babylon and Carthage sign vs Japan. Rome and the Aztecs sign an MPP. Then the Aztecs totally out of nowhere declare on France.

1305, Greece and Aztecs sign against France.

To quote a certain sig, "But what if they gave a war, and _everybody_ came?"

Zulus and I are the only ones at peace in the world.