In 1335, the Zulus abandon the peace to attack Babylon. I'm it. The sole light of peace and sanity.

Our God is an amused God.

And lo, it's 1345, the prebuilds are running out, and nobody can research jack. Research on Nationalism slammed from one scientist to max. 21 turns to 9. That should help. I can buy any tech that comes in in the meantime.

In 1350, both Joanie and Shaka come asking for alliances against Babylon. Popular guy, is Hammurabbit.

Meanwhile, Carthage and the Aztecs researched up separate branches, snagged Corporation and Electricity, and traded with each other. Hrm. I sense an idea coming on.

Hey, Monty. Here's 3350 gold. Gimme Electricity. (But what about Corporation, I hear you saying. Just wait...)

Hey, Joanie. Here's Electricity and 200 gold. How about some Nationalism?

(side note - everybody else wanted Electricity, 600 gold, and somewhere in excess of 70gpt. WTF?)

SciMeth in 9 turns. Prebuilds come due in 12 and 13 respectively. The 12 is a Palace that's actually starving to keep from finishing too soon. I think we might be able to do this, folks.

Meanwhile, I can't even keep track of the gigantic world war.

This is timing:

Our God is a lucky God.

Oh, Hammurabbi. You haven't got Electricity! How unfortunate! How about giving me the Corporation and 70 gold for it? Excellent.

Say, Hannibal. You haven't got Scientific Method. How tragic. But if you give me Replaceable Parts, 170 gold, and 60 gpt, we might make a deal.

Say, Monty. How about giving me 80 gpt for SciMeth. Excellent.

Our God is a crafty God.

Our God is also a broke God at 300 gold, but our God is also making 700 gpt. Our God is a happy God.

And lo, we start a lot of stock exchanges.

Happy 1400, me.

For lack of a better idea, we run the Atomic Theory/Electronics route.

Atomic Theory overpriced, you wonder? Why do you ask?

Robber barons of the world, unite.

200 more gold + 190 gpt from Carthage.

+255 gold on 100% science. Our God is a wealthy God.

"Hey, aren't the Celts supposed to be a militaristic civilization?"

To quote another sig, "Business is war."

Teotuhuacan beats us to Universal Suffrage by a turn. Our God is an annoyed God.

"Uh, say. God. You do realize you forgot to put rubber in the world, right?"

"We did?"

"You did. There isn't any anywhere. We're doomed to rifles and cannons forever."

"Oh, well. Dear. Um, we'll put in extra next time, ok?"

"Gee, thanks."

(didn't even mention rubber in my "This resource will be missing" thing. Called that one, huh?)

Open your eyes, Hannibal. Open your eyes.

I'll take the consequences, thanks.

"Uh, yeah. I'd declare war, but your feeble civilization just isn't worth the effort."

Or, you know, you JUST NOW entered the Industrial Age?

And the world apparently beat me to Refining by 2 turns. Oh well.

Because, really, it's about Seizing the Day:

And lo, we have 3 oils. Oh, Monty. No Oil? Tragic. Oh, you haven't got any money? I wonder why that is.

In 1485, our people want to build Wall Street. Good plan there, people. Let me just use my handy Battlefield Medicine prebuild, here...

Budum budum... Oh look, Carthage beat me to Radio, and everyone got Steel. Hey Hannibal, how about 3150 gold for Radio? Excellent. Hey Monty. How about Radio and 300 gold for Steel and Espionage? Great.

In 1590, the Aztecs and Carthage enter the Modern Age, and I'm right behind them. We start up a UN/MP prebuild just in case.

And since they're being slow about it all, we'll just make a maxsci run on Computers. Foolish warmongerers.

Because Carthage went for...Fission. Bonus.

And then he sold it to Monty for a lot of money.

And then I sold him Computers for a lot of money.

And then Computers and 1400 gold will get me Fission from Monty.

Our God is the Master of the twofer.

And then we change our prebuilds to the Manhattan Project and SETI while we run maxsci on Miniaturization.

And in 1705, we connect our saltpeter on a random offshore island. Good thing. I was really feeling the lack. I mean, all that cavalry I couldn't build. Terrible.

Also, both Carthage and the Aztecs are in Communism. I think it's pretty safe to say I've won the science race.

Also new in 1705, Abe FINALLY dies to Monty after centuries and centuries of slow agonizing death. He should do opera.

In 1710, with my Manhattan Project 2 turns to completion, the Aztecs start the Manhattan Project. Good timing, there.

And of course with 3 turns left on SETI, Carthage starts it. Great timing. The Aztecs have been building it in Tenochtitlan since I gave them Computers, however. Actual race to SETI? Maybe.

Have fun with your toys, guys.

Hannibal, bless his little soul, went for Rocketry.

A rather short time later...

You know as how the thought of them wasting all those shields on wonders just gives me the Warm Fuzzy Feeling.