Conquest of the World

Introduction

After playing Civ 4 for more than a year, I decided to head back to Civ III and give conquering the world one last chance.  I actually achieved this once with Rome on Chieftan, but that was only about a month into my experience, so it was time for a more difficult conquest.  Thus:

Map:  Huge Earth, modified to have 31 civs of about-equal strength.  The last time I conquered the world there were only 16 civs.

Victories:  Conquest!!!  Time is also enabled (forgot to turn it off), but I'll ignore it if it comes up.  So is Domination, so I can better see how I'm doing, but with 99% land and pop needed to win it, I don't think I'll get it ;) .

Difficulty Level:  Regent.  Could've tried Monarch, but decided not to.

My Civilization:  Greece

My Starting Location:  New Guinea.  I set up the map so I'd have this spot for sure.  Didn't want a really easy start.

Settings:  Everything else is the default for Huge Earth.

Part One

So, in 4000 BC, my situation looks like this:

Nothing too surprising; I settle right where I start.  Rather than rush to colonize my rather small island, I begin building The Colossus right away.  Might as well have some glory.

I finish the Colossus around 1830 BC and then begin colonizing New Guinea.

By 370 BC, I've colonized the whole island and have a skilled Spartan army:

Unfortunately, it doesn't look like I'm set to dominate:

Knowing I'll have to expand elsewhere, I've focused my research on Map Making.  During the next few centuries, I explore the neighboring coasts and train some Archers and Hoplites.  I find my neighbors to be the French in Eastern Australia, the Dutch in Sumatra, and the Russians in Western Australia.  I then set out to colonize my nearest neighboring island, Borneo. 

But the Dutch got there first:

At this point, it's 300 AD.  I've assembled a nice force to invade the French:

...but I'm starting to think maybe the French aren't who I want to invade.  I'm also keenly aware that the Dutch will get Swiss Mercenaries, and as I'm behind on technology and without iron, I'll have no way to stop them once they get Feudalism.  Thus, I tell my troops to march northwest towards the Dutch.  The invasion has been changed!

In 380 AD, I launch my invasion.  Statistically speaking, this isn't the best idea ever.  The Dutch score may be third in score, but they're first in power:

Nevertheless, it's just a short hop across the channel, and with 4 Archers, 4 Hoplites, and 4 Galleys, I'm feeling pretty good about this.  I've even caught a worker outside the city.

Usually I'm the person sending in 8 Archers, offense all the way, but with Greece I decided to use some hoplites.  Fortunately I only lose one archer and the invasion is a success.  The city is razed, and Greek settlers are already being trained to replace the city.

Somewhat inconveniently, the Dutch slip a ship past my Galleys and land a Spearman and Settler on Borneo again.  Without any Archers beside them, I let them build a city, and then raze it the next turn.  Short comeback.

After getting a few more archers to Borneo to replenish the lost, it's time to advance again.  The choices are Sumatra, on the mainland on this map and the location of the Dutch capital, or Java, where there are gems.  As I'm deciding, my scout galley off the Australian coast notices Dutch troops landing by a Russian city.  Somehow this doesn't look like a nice friendly exploration group.  I build an embassy in Moscow and check with my foreign advisor:

The Russians and Dutch are at war!  This is looking much better than before!  Still, I have to win the war before Feudalism.  Seeing as the Russians are already targeting Java, I aim my next attack at Amsterdam, the Dutch capital on Sumatra.  By now the year is 460 AD.

Taking full advantage of my unique unit and my enemy's terrain, I land my troops to create a double-blockade:

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I don't attack immediately, instead ferrying across a few more archers.  Meanwhile, the Dutch target the northernmost Hoplite.  He defends the mountain pass mercilessly, and kills at least 6 Dutch archers.  :goodjob: Even better, he starts a Golden Age!

The attack on Amsterdam goes more smoothly than expected and casualties are low!  The city is taken easily.  About the same time I start a revolution to adapt my new government of Monarchy.  The stalwart Hoplite to the north is by now down to 2 of 5 hitpoints, and I ferry across another to help with the blockade while my archers recover.  My next target will be Rotterdam, a small town to the north on a hill.  I check the tile Rotterdam is on and discover...iron!  As the Dutch are already in the Feudal Age, it's of utmost importance that I capture this city as soon as possible!  I get my archers in position, and a swordsman appears in Rotterdam.

Now that the Dutch have built a Swordman, I have no time to lose.  The year is now 570, and I make my move.  My archers launch an all-out assault, and take heavy casualties.  Too heavy.  They destroy all the spearmen, but when the smoke clears there's that one swordsman, with two hitpoints, left.  All I have left is the new veteran Hoplite and my elite 2-of-5-hitpoint Hoplite.  I consider my options.  I have one regular archer being ferried over.  I could wait for reinforcements.  Then I realize I'm still in anarchy...that's my only reinforcement!  So, left with two hoplites to attack an injured swordsman on a hill, I decide, here goes nothing, and attack with the full-strength veteran...

To my great surprise, he wins!    Unless the Dutch have more iron somewhere else, this war is won.  I gladly occupy the city.  Then...

I forgot that now I'll have iron!  It might not be Hoplites and archers until 1200 AD after all!

Stay tuned for what happens next.  The conquest has only just begun!

"Even the tallest tower begins with the first stone" - Hamurrabi, as quoted in the Civilization III manual.

Part Two

OK, time for an update!  First off, let's catch up with the situation at the end of last turn, in 570 AD.

My Hoplite has just captured the town of Rotterdam, keeping the archer attack from being a failure.  Greece is currently in Anarchy, hoping to emerge as a monarchy, and has just one reinforcement coming.  The Dutch have lost their iron and are thus at a disadvantage.

The Indians have also appeared, with a ship visible in the second-to-last screenshot.

Checking the scores, I'm still decidedly in last

The demographics have improved somewhat.  And...Athens is the finest city in the world!

Negotiating with India, I find myself almost completely behind.  At least I have monarchy and Iron.

Two turns later I come back to India and strike a deal:  I give them Monarchy for Code of Laws, Philosophy, the Wheel, Masonry, and 40 gold.  Not too shabby.

And the next turn I trade Monarchy to Russia for Mathematics, Horseback Riding, 121 Gold, and, more because I can than anything, Horses.  I'm feeling decently caught-up technologically.

Meanwhile, the Dutch city on Java has been razed by the Russians.

The next turn, Russia and the Netherlands make peace.

And two turns later, Babylon declares war on India.  I have no idea where Babylon is, but India's powerful, so no complaints here.

By 630 AD, I finally have reinforcements coming.  But a Dutch ship attacks my transport galley.  D'oh!  Fortunately, my ship survives.  Whew!

Two turns later, Rome declares war on India.

Looks like the AI is feeling pretty good about wars today.  All the better for me!

Exploring along the coasts, I encounter the Portuguese in Southeast Asia and the Scandinavians in China.  Both appear to be peaceful at the time.

Then I find Rome and see how advanced they are...

Looks like I still have some catching-up to do.

The next turn I encounter Germany, on the Arabian peninsula.  I'm not last anymore!!! 

But the war front is moving slowly.  Very slowly.  Everytime I set up a Hoplite blockade, the Dutch pull off an upset and break through.  The Hoplite from the mountain pass at Rotterdam still survives, though.  Rotterdam itself has repelled several Archer and Horseman attacks, as well as one remaining Swordsman.  The situation looks like this:

Not too much better than 110 years ago.  I finally have reinforcements coming in decent numbers, though.  My city of Pharsalos, just to the east of the Worker in this map, is now building Catapults, and Swordsmen and Hoplites are being trained in New Guinea.  The fight must go on!

Part Three

And with the above title, our story continues.  First of all, a World Map.  This one is the known world as of 570 AD, the beginning of section two:

Moving back to the present, we last left off in 680 AD.  The Greek Empire has emerged from Anarchy into Monarchy, and continues its struggle against the Dutch.  Both armies fight with archaic troops, but the Greeks have been gaining a slow advantage, due in no small part to their Hoplites.  Still, progress is slow on both sides.

As I land reinforcements, the Dutch launch a counteroffensive of their own.  A warrior and a few archers and spearmen, totaling six units, charge towards Rotterdam.  The warrior attacks, and, not surprisingly, loses.  The remainder then move to the mountain southwest of Rotterdam (visible in the last screenshot of the previous post).  Realizing they might be trying for Amsterdam, I block the other mountain with the Hoplite that has just landed.  They then attack Rotterdam, and lose.  My Swordsman attacks a Spearman, but to no avail.

The battle then turns to the seas.  The Dutch are again using ships to land troops near Amsterdam.  I order my captains to attack, and my second galley barely defeats the one Dutch ship.  Close call there.  I'm now down to two ships myself, but more are being built.

Turning back to the land battle, the Dutch spearmen are now retreating from their attack and are just one square shy of The Hague.  I decide not to let them retreat, and attack with my Archer.  He brings a spearman down to one hitpoint, but loses.  Rats.  Both now have one hitpoint.  Figuring I have nothing to lose, I attack one with my Elite Hoplite.  Again he is victorious.  They've lost five of six units; not too bad.

By now the year is 750 AD, and my exploration crews have discovered the great city of Rome, capital of the Roman Republic:

The city of Bangalore, visible in the northeast, has been captured by Rome in their war with India.  If they win this war, and there's no reason to believe they can't, they could have quite an empire, even if they don't control the places in between.

In 760 AD, more reinforcements land near The Hague.  The Dutch attack the new hoplite with a Horseman, and win again!   Why does this happen every time?!?  Slightly irritated with the recent results, I switch Pharsalos (on Borneo) from Catapults to Hoplites.  Sparta needs some help.

The next few decades focus mainly on foreign knowledge.  My exploration galley discovers what appears to be Celtic lands on the far side of the Red Sea.  By the Sinai Peninsula are four Babylonian bowmen, on their way to India.  Good news - I'm more advanced than Babylon!

Meanwhile, Zululand and India sign a peace treaty.  I didn't even know they were at war.

I also locate Spain to the north of Scandinavia.  Isabella is annoyed with me.  Go figure.

In 790 AD, a Spartan hoplite defeats a horseman by The Hague.  We're making progress!  By Amsterdam, another horseman lands via a galley (again!) and fails, though barely.

I notice the next turn that my science rate is falling.  Too many troops to support.  Yet not enough to win the war.

Babylon and India make peace the next turn.

And by 820 AD, I'm finally ready to launch an attack on The Hague.  I'm not guaranteed victory - my army consists of two swordsmen, three catapults, and four Hoplites.  But I've been fighting for this city for a quarter millenia - it's time to take it!  Charge!!

Two of my three catapults hit their targets, and I already have an advantage.  This quickly changes as the first swordman loses.  Bad start.  The next one, however, wins.  With four hoplites and the Dutch having a 1-of-4 Spearman, I decide to continue.  An elite hoplite loses, and the Dutch spearman becomes Elite.  I still have a narrow edge in the long run, and as such attack with a veteran spearman.

At last the city is mine!

At this point this chapter of the saga ends.  It's been a long, hard war, and it isn't over yet.  But as a leader, I'm becoming a little war-weary.  I'm thinking maybe it's time to build some libraries and catch up on research a bit, maybe finish off the Dutch at some later point.  The square just north of The Hague would make an excellent defensive balwark, as well.  On the other hand, I do have the upper hand in this war, and this is Conquest, so I could well keep fighting on.

The population of Greece is still a mere 803,000 - 21st in the world, with an estimated total population of 40 million.  There's a long way to go.

Here is the World Map as of 820 AD:

"There are so many worlds, and I have not yet conquered even one." - Julius Caesar, as quoted in the Civilization III manual.

Part Four

At the end of Part 3, the Greeks had just conquered The Hague from the Dutch after a quarter-millenia of war betwixt there and Rotterdam.  Having at last achieved victory, the exhausted Greeks decide to push on.

The mention of an alliance with Portugal had been brought up.  At the mention of it, the Portuguese demand 12 GPT, 28 gold, and Literature.  We scoff at the offer - even worse, with their strong military, they'd probably take all the best spoils.  We don't need any foreigners helping us anyways - we have Spartans!

My troops slowly begin the move northwards towards our new target, Utrecht.  A Hoplite secures the tile to the north of The Hague, creating a chokepoint.  We don't want any invaders anywhere near this city.

In 850 AD, the citizens of Amsterdam finally agree to begin working tiles.  It's about time.  Then I notice they've been assimilated.  I wonder how much longer it would've taken otherwise?  By the next turn I have all of New Guinea and Borneo producing veteran military units.  Numbers alone will overwhelm the Netherlands soon.

In 870, one of my exploration galleys discovers Egypt :egypt: to the south of Rome in Africa.  They are not very advanced, but have a good number of cities.  Back on the home front, there's still a Spearman raiding the lands outside Amsterdam from way back in Part Three.  I send a Swordsman to take him down, and he fails.  Grr.  I decide to leave him until the peace treaty as he's already destroyed almost everything anyways.

At this point, 50 years after taking The Hague, I move my first troops directly outside Utrecht.  The Dutch use an archer to attack my Hoplite, and I lose.   Who's training these Hoplites???  Fortunately, my next hoplites beats back a horseman and two archers.  Might've saved the commander's life there.

I also receive news of two wonders being built.  The Byzantines, who I placed in their historical location in the editor, have finished Sun Tzu's Art of War.  That doesn't concern me too much.  I have no idea if they're powerful or not.  The next wonder I hear of is far more interesting.  The Koreans have completed The Great Library in P'yongyang.  With 31 civilizations playing, that's a mighty powerful wonder.  Too bad they're not close enough I could rob it for a turn.

In 900 AD, I attack the city of Utrecht!  After bombardment, I destroy three spearmen with swordsmen.  Just one archer remains in the city.  Rather than risk hoplites, I decide to let my swordsmen finish the job the next turn.  In that they succeed, and I move quickly to set up chokepoints to hinder Dutch troop movements:

Good luck getting through there, Netherlands.

The next turn, I notice the spearman marauding near Amsterdam has disappeared.  The Dutch are more broke than I in this war.  All the more reason to keep battling them, even if my treasury is a bit under the weather.

I soon encounter the Zulu in southern Africa.  They are in the Middle Ages, but lack Literature.  Like I've done anything with it.  Usually I build libraries ASAP, but war distracted me this game.  Who ever said you needed technology to win, though?

I also find the English way far up north on the seas north of Siberia.  Surprisingly, they're doing very well - they're even third in score.

Scandinavia makes the first outright demand on me thus far in 960 AD.  They want 19 gold.  I call Ragnar Lodbrock's bluff.  Fortunately for me he is bluffing.  I really didn't want a war with them right now.  Then I look and see I only had 19 gold.  He was trying to rob the poor!

All this while my troops have been moving my land forces towards the next Dutch city, Groningen.  The Dutch made one attack on them, and succeeded in destroying a swordsman.  The advances have been steady, nonetheless, until I spot...

A Dutch ship!

OK, so it's not that big a deal.  I'm already well ahead in the naval war anyways.  But you never know...

In 980 AD, I begin the battle of Groningen.  The first round witnesses the demise of two Dutch spearmen and a Greek archer and swordsman.  More swordsmen and archers race to fill the void in the Greek lines. 

The Dutch still have a spearman and archer defending.  They are no match for the next Greek attack, however, as slews of arrays fall the defenders.

To the pleasant surprise of the Greek populace, I learn upon capturing the city that it was built on Silks.  Such good news hasn't came since at least the capture of Rotterdam.  It will not distract Greece from the next goal, however.  For the next Dutch city, Eindhoven, has Gems!  Our troops immediately redouble their marches to set up outside the city's buildings.

And at this point this chapter of the story comes to a close.  Supremacy over the Dutch has been established, but Greece is by no means wonderful.  India, to the north of Eindhoven, is still very powerful despite their war with Rome, and cannot be taken lightly.  The Portuguese also are very powerful.  To close the chapter, here are three main diagnostics of the empire:

The power graph, with scores visible.  Our power is respectable, but not infallible.  Our score is still pitiful.

The Demographics page.  We have over 1.2 million people, and now rank 17th-19th in population, GNP, manufacturing, and land - a significant improvement, if still leaving us mediocre in power.  It also can be noted that our citizens spend an average of 9 of their 24 years of life in the military - no wonder our treasury's not great   .

And last, but not least, the world map.  Greece and the Netherlands are outlined; all others are labeled.

"He who takes the sword shall perish by the sword" - The Bible, Matthew (I'm remembering this from Civ IV!).

Part Five

As you've probably guessed from the title, this chapter brings more war, more combat, and more bloodshed.  It will be longer than either of the previous two chapters, so here it begins:

In 990 AD, the Greeks were expanding northwards against the Dutch, as they had since...when was it?  380 AD.  Six hundred and ten years of warfare.  By now the Dutch are very weak; however, the war shall continue.  Greek troops are currently marching north towards the Dutch city of Eindhoven.

In 1000 AD, Greece discovers Currency and enters the Middle Ages! 

Our free technology is Feudalism.  Considering how we're already being bankrupted by our military, slower-but-stronger units is a good thing.  I also note that Monotheism will take 42 turns to research and Engineering even longer.  I set a citizen to Science in Corinth, set science rate to 0%, and set out on a 50-turn Engineering research path.

The attack on Eindhoven takes place ten years later.  An Elite Swordsman barely wins.  After another swordsman victory, an Elite Hoplite finishes the attack.  Still no great leaders.  A Dutch Horseman fortified outside the city takes down two of my archers, but is finally destroyed by a swordsman.  At this point, the nearest Dutch city, Arnhem, is a short hop across a bay from Eindhoven.  My ships head north to facilitate the passage.

In 1050, my ships lift the first two soldiers across the gulf to Arnhem.  With more ships coming and troops ready to move, escalation should henceforth be quick.  Meanwhile, I encounter the city of Babylon near present-day Cameroon, and decide to build an embassy.  The Babylonians have two luxuries, but no strategic resources, and with their technological disadvantage are certainly weak.

Portugal complains of one of my troops in their territory, but agrees to a right of passage, the first one anyone has signed with me thus far.   I look forward to exploring Portuguese lands extensively.

I soon find Korea in Western Siberia.  Thanks to all the fish, these Siberian cities are actually doing decently well, at least now while the average city size remains small.  Korea is decidedly advanced, but this is no surprise considering they have the Great Library.

France demands currency in 1070.  Fat chance of that happening. 

In 1090, I capture Arnhem without losses.    Their nearest city is in southern Japan, and there are bigger fish to fry, so I go to the negotiating table while there's still stuff to be won there.  And to my surprise, there's a lot to be won.  The Dutch will give me The Republic, 7 gold (all they have), and Middelburg (the city on Japan).  They'll even throw in Leiden.  I have no idea where Leiden is, but if it's free, I might as well  take it!

I use Ctrl-Shift-L to locate Leiden rather than scour my map.  And what do you know, I find it, half a world away! 

It's in far northern Canada!

For the first time in 710 years, Greece is at peace.  At last civilian affairs will come first.  But wait a second...that doesn't mesh with the title of part four, does it?

To the south of Greece, France has just reached the Middle Ages.  I declare war on them, hoping to make headway before they discover Feudalism and have Pikemen.  I troops ready, and send them over immediately.

Two turns later, I capture the French city of Chartres.  I sure hope they don't have any horsemen nearby.

1120 AD - No horsemen, but French Swordsmen have converged on Chartres.  I still have the city, but it's unlikely I can hold it through the next turn.  I sign a Right of Passage with the Russians so I can evacuate my injured Hoplite to near Vladivostok and antagonize the French.  My reinforcing Hoplite fends off one Swordsman, but then falls.  The evacuee survives in Russia.

Across the world, Zululand and Rome make peace, in all likelihood a move beneficial for both parties.  Rome is still fighting their war with India, and did not need a two-front war.

The next turn, I find the Iroquois in Scandinavia.  They are very backwards and have few cities.  At least they appear to have peace.

I also begin my first auction-style diplomatic contest of the game.  I open bidding for selling me monotheism at the most reasonable price.  Silks and 172 gold are included in all deals.  Rome and the Celts want 33 gold per turn.  The Byzantines undercut them with 31 GPT, and England matches them.  Spain and Korea will do it for 30.    India blows them all away with 25 GPT.  But do I really want my next-door neighbor to get 672 gold?  In the end I make the deal with Spain, and with just 156 gold down payment.  Spain is immediately more friendly, I'm still making 28 GPT, and the gold payments will be done before I finish Engineering.  Win-win.

Persia is met for the first time on the next turn.  They have Iberia and presumably a good part of western Europe.

Remember that war with France?  It is 1180 before I land troops in France again, near Besancon.  My injured hoplite in Russia has taken the opportunity to map a good part of the land.  He encounters French swordsmen in Russia.  The French and Russians don't have right of passage agreements.  Here's a diplomatic incident!

The French do not launch an immediate counterattack near Besancon.  My next wave of reinforcements consists of an archer and three catapults.  The pummeling is ready to begin.

Before I can begin, the French send a Swordsman out from Besancon to attack my stack.  My hoplite cuts him down.  Now it's my turn.

All three of my catapults fail to damage the defenders.  Unfortunate, but I can't do much about it.  The attack must go on.  In the end I lose two medieval infantry, but take Besancon!  It's out first city and largest settlement!

By now, fourteen Greek troops have landed in Australia, and the French face a formidable challenge.  We advance the front lines to just outside Chartres.

Rats.  The French swordsmen have appeared on the hill to the south of Chartres.  I'm in a pickle.  Whether I retreat or not, the French get to attack me first.  Retreating will guarantee my catapults are safe.  Still, I decide to press on with the attack. 

My catapults fail again.  I continue anyways, and I receive a great leader, Pyrrhus, when my Elite Swordsman defeats a spearman!  Truly a Pyrrhic victory!

Even with all three of my attacks winning, the French still have defenders.  I send Pyrrhus back to Besancon and garrison as many troops there as possible, and bunker down those remaining outside Chartres.  Let's hope this isn't too Pyrrhic a victory.

The French make a big mistake.  Rather than attack my vulnerable offense, their swordsman move towards Besancon to target Pyrrhus.  Now I get to attack them.  Pyrrhus builds an army, and three Medieval Infantry join it.  My catapults hit right on the French swordsmen, and with the help of a couple Archers, Pyrrhus destroys them.

Time for a quick interrupt in war news for the latest elsewhere.  My "Portuguese explorer" (aka hoplite) has spotted a Dutch city to the north of Lisbon, away from the coast.  I'm not overly surprised - the Dutch had to be getting their horses from somewhere.  In other big news, INDIA agrees to a right of passage with me.  Either I'm becoming a respectably-sized empire, or they're planning treachery, but I think I'll go with the first one for now.  Either way, Eindhoven and Arnhem will soon have walls.

My finance advisors have slightly less exciting news.  My military is causing  my budget to go bust, although I'm still able to run a small surplus.  I'll need some markets soon.  I have 71 troops and can support 34; 37 GPT army support is too much, especially because I'm a monarchy.  I consider switching to Feudalism, as all my settlements are towns, but the war weariness would be a major headache.  Maybe after the war is over.

Back to the war front.  In 1250, a Greek Archer defeats the last French defenders in Chartres.  This is likely the last time we'll be able to fit all of the Greek empire on one zoomed-out world view, so here is a view of the entire Greek empire:

The next target is Marseilles.  The reward for taking it will be Gems, but we have not yet faced such a difficult target.  It has a population of 7 and is on a hill.  A unified effort will be required to take it.  The map is below:

Two turns later, as my troops recover from their latest attacks, the French launch a powerful counteroffensive.  They attack the square two squares south of Chartres and lose one swordsman in destroying a Hoplite and medieval infantry.  I now fortify three hoplites, with various other supporting units, on the square directly south of Chartres.  If France wants to advance, they will have to either attack me here or risk angering Russia.  If they retreat, I will move to the mountain with the gems on it, or the one southwest of it if they defend Gem Mountain.  We'll see what they decide.  Our battle plan is outlined below:

This civil disorder with the Greeks and French thing is reminding me of the discussion of nationality on page 132 of the Civ III manual.  Yeah, I read the whole thing.  I did have to look up the page, though!

Two of the French swordsmen moved into Russia, the rest retreated.  Not a very decisive move.  My archers finish off the swordsmen who advanced, and the rest of my forces advance.

Some important news reaches my foreign advisor.  The Celts have declared war on the Indians.  It wouldn't surprise me if Rome had something to do with this.  It's all good with me - weaker neighbors  :D .

I've also begun my first small wonder - the Heroic Epic in Sparta.

By the next turn, my troops are set to attack Marseilles, but there's bad news.  A French Medieval Infantry has been spotted heading north.  That means France has Feudalism.  Fortunately, France hasn't upgraded the spearmen in Marseilles.  It appears they are plumb broke.  I waste no time in staging the attack.  Pyrrhus takes down two spearmen, and my other medieval infantry take down two more.  Two archers then destroy a swordsman.  One half-health veteran swordsman remains.  My last archer barely defeats him.  Whew.  Didn't want to fight pikemen there.  Hoplites hurry in to fortify the town.  Further back towards Chartres, my medieval infantry defeat two French swordsman who once again were thinking of advancing.  Marseilles is securely in Greek hands.  Paris is the next city down the coast.

Twenty years later, I halt military production in our cities and order an immediate switch to markets.  Our economy needs significant improvement if we hope to compete outside of Australia and southeast Asia.  After the markets are finished, I'll have them build libraries.  I ought to have sufficient troops trained to take most of the rest of France.

Paris has at least one pikeman.  Oh well.  I don't think it'll stop 23 units plus an army.

 Five years later, my leading troops reach the gates of Paris.  At least one pikeman is present in Paris.  Pyrrhus leads the charge.  The battle goes fairly well - and even better, Paris only had one pikeman!  I lack sufficient troops to continue the attack immediately, but countless troops are storming down towards the French capital.

Further to the north, some of my reinforcements spot a Russian medieval infantry.  It's no concern to us now, but we don't want to forget about it.

Back in Paris, France has upgraded a spearman to pikeman.  It will not change anything.  We are confident.

As it turns out, the Parisian defenders fare unexpectedly well; only four defenders are lost.  A swordsman and two spearmen at least remain in Paris.  My troops continue to advance; however, Pyrrhus has been injured to the degree I dare not risk him in a difficult battle next turn.

1295 AD - The battle for Paris continues.  We will not relent.  France has pikemen again.  My medieval infantry defeat both.  Pyrrhus defeats a Spearman.  My elite Swordsman of Pyrrhus then eliminats a Parisian swordsman and takes the city!  We now control the Oracle!  As a tourist attraction, it is a great benefit to the treasury, and is not even obolete yet.  To add to the benefit, we now will have wines.  Paris has been the most difficult battle yet in the war with France, but also the most beneficial to capture.

Checking with my military advisor, I find France to be in anarchy.  They obviously didn't know I had switched production away from military and would be forced to make peace if faced with sufficient resistance.  Oh well; onwards to Lyons!

The war for France is now well under way, but this chapter now ends.  During the past 310 years, however, the Greek empire has become a true empire.  It can be seen on the Demographics page that we are now second in land area, third in production, and eighth in population.  Our GNP lags behind; hence the switch to markets earlier.

Our power also is amongst the highest in the world.  If I were not concerned for the eventual scientific state with such a weak economy, I might keep waging war like this indefinetely.

And last, the world map.  As our knowledge of the New World is still extremely limited, despite having the city of Leiden, only the Old World is currently included.  Interior areas are mostly unknown, but the coasts have shown us where nearly, if not, all of the Old World civilizations are.

The conquests of Alexander the Great shall continue in the fourteenth century!

Part 5.9

1300 AD - The war continues!

Whoa!  Major news!  My hoplite-scout just spotted a !!!MUSKETMAN!!! in the Indian city of Jaipur!!!!!  Whoa!  Yeah, my tech advisor isn't saying we're advanced anymore.  Now we're backwards.  Why am I finding this out from my scout?  Alchemists...

Nothing much happening on the home front.  Slow movement towards Lyons, with those injured heading towards the barracks of Paris to recuperate. 

Musketmen!!!  Wow, that's something.  I noticed Rome had lost Augustodurum and Ravenna before I quit last time, but...wow.

Scandinavia offers me Incense for Silk and 3 GPT.  I pay 44 gold up front instead and call it a deal.  Hopefully they won't feel like renegotiating for awhile.

My hoplites continue to dominate French medieval infantry on defence.

Ah, and the inevitable happens.  Rome asks for an alliance against India.  I had been thinking of entertaining such an offer.  Then I saw Musketmen.  I haven't forgotten this quickly!

But wait.  Rome is willing to pay a pretty good fee for this.  They'll give me Chivalry.  Now I'm tempted.  I don't even remember I don't have horses until I click Rome's resource button.  Guess what?  They have horses, and they'll include them in the deal.  Now we're talking. 

Aw, what the heck?  To war!!! With India!!!

Part Six

1300 AD - Russia wants to terminate the right of passage.  Not sure why.  Then I remember.  Shoot.  I had a right of passage with India when I declared war.  Now my reputation is toast with everyone except Rome.  Shoot.

Wait a second.  Don't shoot.  India's the only one with muskets.  Noo!!!

The Iroquois cancel their right of passage with me.  Looks like there's a trend.  But they'll renew it for 3 GPT, so I agree to try to rebuild my reputation.

1305 AD - My hoplite-scout is screwed.  With a "D".  He's stuck right-smack-dab in the middle of India.  I tell him to head north towards the Himalayas and Portugal as fast as possible.  I'd have him drop his shield and run like Phidipiddes if I thought he had half a chance.

I tell my cities on mainland Asia to forget about Marketplaces and to start cranking out the military units.  We're fighting a true world power, and we're in for a whipping if we aren't ready!

I also tell my three remaining reinforcements headed for Australia to change directions at once.  The French theatre will have to fend for itself.

I press the "Enter" key and brace for the worst...

1310 AD - My hoplite-scout was obliterated by a War Elephant and my archer-scout near Eindhoven was liquidated by a Longbowman.  The Portuguese and Byzantines cancel their right-of-passage agreements. 

Then I encounter an Arabic envoy to my capital.  They are a new face, and very welcome with all the other news that's been coming in.  They tell me their empire is very small, a mere three cities, and that they have Engineering to offer and would like Feudalism.  I cannot make such a trade now, I respond.  However, I see you also have two slave workers.  May I trade for them, I ask?  Only for 260 gold, they respond. 

I decide not to.  They must really like their slave workers.

The Babylonian envoy is next.  They also want to cancel their right-of-passage.  I convince them to renew it with 2 GPT.  Sheesh.  No one trusts me anymore.  I'd have to be a fool to fight them halway across the world...wait, I'd have to be a fool to fight India

I use an Archer to destroy the Most Offensive Indian Longbowman near Eindhoven.  We will defend until the end, whatever the cost.  India shall not step foot on our lands.

I check with my foreign advisor and am very relieved to find that India does not have a right-of-passage with Portugal.  This effectively cuts off their land reinforcements.  Whew. 

I hurry a couple Knights anyway.  Better safe than sorry.

1315 AD - All quiet on the Indian front.  I hurry another Knight.  I can afford one hurried Knight every three turns.

1320 AD - An Indian longbowman enters Greek territory near Eindhoven after being redlined by a defender Archer.  My Knight promptly finishes him off.  No Battles of Agincourt here, India.

Meanwhile...there's a battle on the French front!  Yes, that front still exists :D !  My troops have moved into position to strike Lyons.  The catapults are largely ineffective.  Pyrrhus reverses that with a very impressive performance against two pikemen.  It occurs to me then that until I have Galleons, Pyrrhus is stuck on the Land Down Under.  I'd been hoping to use him against India.  Rats.  Oh well, we'll make do.  A few troops later, Lyons falls into Greek hands.  The battle turns back to Paris, where a French Spearman is threatening to destroy my source of wines.  He spears a Medeival Infantry, but cannot withstand an Elite Archer.  We are preserved.  I will now head to southeastern Australia, and take the French source of Iron while we still have enough troops.

I sink an Indian galley west of Borneo on the first time.  Prior to that, my naval luck this game had been mostly horrid.

By now I have enough troops in Eindhoven to feel secure (unless a bunch of War Elephants come knocking :0), but don't have enough to take Kolhapur.  I also have sent my native worker to build barricades along the peninsulas to help defend ourselves at all costs.

1325 - Really bad news.  India took Pompeii.  India appears to be pretty much ignoring me right now, and Rome's still in trouble, EVEN WITH CELTIC HELP!!!  I then notice that Rome has taken back Ravenna, but still, that exchange hurts Rome more than it helps.  Even worse, Pompeii has Horses.  Rome's probably exporting all their horsies to me right now.  Here's a look at the somewhat-dire situation for Rome:

Rome has more cities, of course, but they've got a pretty big problem pretty close to Rome.

My morale is lifted by good news from the French front.  The city of Tours has no pikemen.  We'll attack next turn.

On the home front, Pharsalos is the first city to complete a Market.  It immediately switches to Medieval Infantry to help against India.

I send two Hoplites out towards Kolhapur.  It's a brave new world.

1330 - Woot!  Still no Pikemen in Tours.  I eagerly attack.

Dang.  Three medieval infantry and an archer died in the attack.  The city is razed for that.  OK, I'd planned to raze it before.  But they really gave me reason to as it turned out.

Pyrrhus heads towards Avignon to finish it off.  The rest of my army turns northwest.

A worker begins building a Fortress east of Utrecht.  This has long been a defensive priority, but only now has gotten major attention.  Ideally we hope to have four blockades along southeast Asia.  The image below highlights fortress locations.

1335 - One of my advancing Hoplites kills a Longbowman coming out of Kohlhapur.  Rock on!

Athens has completed a Marketplace.  We're now making over 100 GPT!

I order my troops to pillage the mines near Kolhapur.  Right now we have to stop India from making Longbows; we can rebuild later.

One of my scout galleys reports that the Byzantines now have Muskets.  This isn't quite as alarming.

1340 - Back on the French front, I've decided to besiege the inland city of Orleans in order to reduce casualties.  The picture below shows the city:

Near Avignon, I pillage the iron before attacking - the last thing I want is them having iron.

1345 - The Celts agreed to a right of passage agreement when my scout galley was in their territory!  It must be because we are military allies.  I make a formal military alliance with them.  The triumvirate will take down India.

While in their territory, my galley had witnessed a brutal Indian assault on the city of Gergovia.  India attacked with four units; the Celts lost just one pikeman but only had one left.  It's a tough world.

In Australia, Pyrrhus takes the city of Avignon.  France is down to two cities.  To the northwest, the siege of Orleans is complete.  Only one-food tiles remain uncovered.  Now we wait.

Kolhapur has been almost quite thoroughly pillaged, and may actually be at a food defecit itself, despite its harbor.  My troops surround it and I plan an attack for the next turn.

Carthage destroys Arabia.  Poor guys.  We hardly knew them and they were gone.  We don't have a clue where they even are.  Arabia claims 31st place.

1350 AD - Another glorious defeat for France.  They attempted to break out of Orleans with an archer, and my defending archer won.  Granted, he was fortified in a Forest, but still.

I found the city of Argos in a cattle-rich area of Austrlia France had not previously exploited.  One more city is to be founded at least.

Back on the Indian front, the Battle for Kolhapur commences!  The screenshot below shows the situation before the battle:

As can be seen, we've got the area pretty well covered.  As planned, the medieval infantry attack first.  The first defeats a pikeman without suffering any damage; the other suffers the opposite fate.  A Knight in Shining Armor then attacks, and is victorious.  Another Knight also is victorious, and becomes Elite.  At this point only a Longbowman defends Kolhapur, and DEFEATS THREE KNIGHTS!!!  Major !!!  A Hoplite finally finishes the lucky devil off, but come on!  What are the odds?  Only one of the knights retreated to survive.  Blimely.  Some quick arithmatic tells me the chances are about 0.8%.  Hopefully that'll get the bad luck out of the system for awhile.

That's where this section is going to end.  It's been a mighty fun section, thanks in no small part to Rome.  Speaking of Rome, they have recaptured Pompeii, and thus look at least slightly more alive.

Amongst other updates, Greece is still in the lower half in score, but now has the largest land area of anyone, is fourth in population, second in manufacturing, and seventh in GNP.  I'd post the pictures, but I need room for smilies !

Part Seven

1350 Anno Domini -- The game resumes.  Don't let the title fool you, there's still plenty of war going on during Part Seven.  But diplomacy will be taking on a more important and precarious role during these times as well.  In addition, Greece will have to wield an iron fist to establish her rule for good.  Fortunately the iron first will not be dealt in the form of changing the government to Despotism!

If you recall from the last post, Greece is currently fighting a two-front war, and their crazy leader is quite excited about it.  On one front, the Greeks fight the French, and are currently laying siege to Orleans.  On the other front, Greece is allied with the Romans and Celts against world superpower and score leader India.  The French front has been going quite well; while Greece itself has made headway on the Indian front, its Roman allies are still working to recover lost territory.  Greece has a bit more leeway in the war with India than its allies thanks to a Portuguese buffer zone.

The next target for Greece will be the Indian city of Dacca.  Dacca was built on the island of Java following the destruction of the Dutch city there by the Russians.  It is located on a hill, and, depending on the technological means of the defenders, could be quite difficult to crack.  Right next to the city, on a mountain, are gems.  This gem of a city isn't going to be Indian much longer.

1355 - The first Greek troops land on Java.  Only spearmen defend it.  With luck, this battle will be short.

During the AI's turn, I witness a War Elephant befall a Pikeman defending Gergovia and a Celtic Knight fail to defeat a pikeman invading Celtic territory, though a Celtic Longbowman succeeds.  Augustodurum's primary guard is a 5-of-6 HP Elite War Elephant.  India's UU is helping quite a bit.

1360 AD - I break with siege on Orleans and launch an attack.  Starving out a city takes a LONG time.  I lose 1 Medieval Infantry but take out both Pikemen who are defending.  Without any iron, France is now in somwhat dire defensive straits.

Update on the city of Middelburg, location Kyushu.  A worker has been trained, and is working to build mines.  City improvements are to follow.

1365 AD - Some very bad news recently.  Very bad indeed.  Deserving of a sad smilie.  :(

Let's start with the first news.  Terrible news came to us via a Celtic envoy today.  The Celtic front has suffered a grevious loss.  The city of Gergovia, population 820,000, has fallen to the enemy.  An Ancient Cavalry defeated the only pikeman stationed there, and the last Spearman, though fighting heroically, eventually succumbed to an Elite War Elephant.  The Holy Land is lost.  The Celts ask for a reaffirmation of Greek commitment to the war, to which I do not hesitate to agree.  The current situation in the Eastern Mediterranean looks as follows:

The other major event is the defection of Paris back to the French.  We are, to say the least, devastated.  We lose not only the city itself, but the nearby wines, a few French workers, and, still very important, The Oracle.  Happiness plummets across the Empire as the bonus content face for temples is lost.  The wines had not been connected to the main empire yet, but the newly taken territories in Australia become less happy.

On the other side of the equation, Orleans is now down to size 6.  We'll finish it off and then hurry back to retake the City of Light.

Indeed, Orleans now falls quickly.  Paris is the next objective.

1370 AD - REALLY bad luck lately.  Really bad.  Now Kolhapur has defected to India.  They aren't getting off as easy as the Parisians, though.  I have three Knights and a Medieval Infantry right outside the gates.  We're going to raze this city and set an example for any more cities thinking of doing this.

As promised, the first order of business is a full and merciless charge on Kolhapur.  They have a Regular Musketman to defend it, with size 8 city, but we don't care if their technology is better.  A medieval infantry falls dead, but an Elite Knight finishes off the musketmen and then finishes off the rest of the town.  Fires rage for weeks afterwards.  Vengeance is ours.  Take that, revolters!

The citizens of Paris shudder at the news.  They're lucky they have the Oracle to offer us.

Eindhoven will complete a Settler next turn to repopulate the area of Kolhapur with.

Slightly placated thus far, it nonetheless pleases me that we have the perfect opportunity to wreak even more havoc on India.  And thus, without further ado, my troops lunge forth at Dacca. 

Though on a hill, it falls.  I'm tempted to give it the torch as well, but do not.  I really don't need Russia colonizing Java.  My troops and ships now head north, to give at the mainland of India.

One other note worth mentioning.  A Roman Galley has appeared from the west near Groningen.  This indicates the Indian navy is weak.  Good news there.

1375 AD - I complete my 50-turn research on Engineering.  Looking at my scientific options, I notice that Printing Press is the technology required to trade communications.  Oh, no.  I've been offered communications in trading for I-don't-even-know how long.  We're seriously behind in this tech race thing.  I tell my guys to invent Invention within 11 turns.  That'll put us at a 32 GPT defecit, but with 711 gold I'm OK with that.  With some serious luck, we can hurry Leonardo's Workshop with a thus-far-unborn Great Leader.

The Mongols offer me contact with the Americans.  I tell them to quit showing off their technological superiority.

1380 AD - Pyrrhus retake Paris easily, and a nearby Hoplite recaptures some French workers I had unfortunately left unguarded outside Marseilles, only to have caputured after Paris was lost.  By Marseilles, the same Spearman that captured the workers is threatening to destroy a gem mine.  My only options are to destroy France this turn or make peace; no way I'm trying to destroy a spearman on a mountain with a Hoplite.  The last French city, Rheims, has too many spearmen to destroy this turn, though I take down one.  I decide to bite the bullet and say goodbye to the gems.  My people will suffer, but survive.  In the past three turns our happiness has shot from 52% and 23rd overall to 79% and first overall, so what's a bit more fluctuation?

India is the first civ to reach a score of 666.  We will not surrender.

The bloody Celts surrendered and made peace with India!  All because they have a score of 666!  OK, that's probably not the only reason, but it's just not cool to make peace with someone with a score of 666!  We'll deal with this later; right now all my foreign advisor will let me do is click the "O" button.  I'd rather march over to the Celts and ask them what in the world they're thinking bailing out on Rome and I.

The French ask for mercy.  I do not grant it.  We must conquer.  In retribution, their spearman destroys the gem mine.  Hmph.  I don't really care.

Russia offers me Theology for Chivalry and 210 gold.  I'd look really smart taking that deal.  Give my next-door-neighbor Knights and cancel out the content bonus from the Oracle at the same time.  I don't think so, Catherine.

Then Russia lands a Spearman and Settler right next to Amsterdam.  I'm thinking, "What???"  Time do go say, "Your forces are within our territory.  They MUST be withdrawn NOW!"  At the same time, I can't help but think they're trying to get us to declare war, so I'm going to tread carefully to make sure I don't fall into their trap.

What are they thinking? 

1385 - Sparta completes the Heroic Epic. 

During the events of the AI's previous turn, I noticed Persian ships ferrying troops to the Holy Land.  Previously I'd seen an Immortal land near Constantinople, and thought they might be fighting the Byzantines, but my foreign advisor told me otherwise.  I decide to establish an embassy and get to the bottom of this.  Persepolis is well-developed, well-defended, and...suffering war weariness!  Just as I'd suspected.  I check with my foreign advisor and...yes!  Just as I suspected, Persia is at war with India!  I send an envoy to Persepolis immediately.  A map of Persia is provided below to give a sense of where they are.

At the negotiating table, Xerxes refers to me as "backwards", but I don't mind much.  Instead, I propose an Alliance versus the Indians and a Right of Passage.  My foreign advisor warns me that Xerxes has betrayed the Zulu, but they're so far away they'd have a hard time seriously hurting me even if they did break the treaty.  It turns out they want me to stay in the war quite a bit, and are willing to introduce me to the Chinese, Hitties, Inca, Ottomans, and Sumerians if I sign the alliance.  We shake hands and walk away, both happy.

I send envoys to meet the new acquantainces.  I won't bore you with the long version, but it's worth mentioning that the Hittites are fairly powerful, the Chinese languish in the Ancient Age, and the rest are somewhere in between but in the Middle Ages.

Okay, enough diplomacy for now.  I head back to the battlefield, and attack Rheims.  It's a quick change from diplomatic nicities to the harshness of war.  Two quick battles later, France is defeated.

Frankly, they weren't that challenging of a fight.  We quit sending reinforcements more than a hundred years ago.  Oh well, at least the Parisians had enough of a spirit to revolt.  Now it's up to us to rebuild France to withstand a Russian attack that may come sooner rather than later.

My settler from Eindhoven builds a city, Herakleia, on the site of Kolhapur.  The Portuguese were half a step too late in building a city.

1390 AD - The Russians spearman-settler combo has decided to camp out by Amsterdam.  It's my turn.  Do I demand they leave?  Well, I could.  But I'm betting it's a trick to get me to declare war.  And I don't want another war in the Land Down Under right now, even if I'm up by Knights.  I'll let the blokes keep on camping by Amsterdam for now.

The Celts want 520 gold to go to war with India again.  I have 523 and am losing 13 per turn.  Considering that, as my advisor says, "Brennus is a known liar and cheat", I decide to wait and see.  The Indians are still fighting Rome and Persia.  Still, it looks like they gained another victory awhile back on Madagascar.  I'm pretty sure the central city of Frankfurt used to be a Roman settlement.

1395 - Persia captures Augustodorum!  I didn't even know they were my allies until two turns ago!  The situation in the Eastern Mediterranean is shaping up much more nicely now:

1400 AD - Only a few turns now before the invasion of India.  My plan is to strike at the very heart of their empire - Delhi itself.  I plan to land ten troops at the initial landing and reinforce quickly after that.  Needless to say, Rome ought to notice a sudden lack of Indian troops heading west after my landing :D

The battle plan is below.  Purple indicates galleys coming in to aid in the transport, blue indicates the transport route, and orange indicates land troop movements.

Just as the battle lines are being formed, however, Part Seven ends.  By now Greece has reached first in the world in manufacturing, and approval is an amazing 86%, thanks to Gems being hooked up near Herakleia (formerly Kolhapur).  Our score is still not even in the top half, but our power is imposing. 

I attribute this feat more to number of cities than brute military force, but I nevertheless am impressed to be this powerful already.  Equally important is that India's power seems to be in steady decline.

Finally, although there is no World Map in this post (it hasn't changed that much), there is this fine map of Australia.  Along with the images above of Augustodurum and Kolhapur/Herakleia, it pretty well sums up the changes.

Part Eight

1400 AD - Persia and India sign a peace treaty.  This is good and bad, but mostly bad.  On the good side of the coin, Augustodurum is safely out of Indian hands for the time.  On the bad side, Rome is now my only ally in the West, and Persia was about to launch a pretty good attack on Gergovia.  And Persia broke their treaty with me.

Scandinavia doesn't want to continue the incense-for-silks trade.  As it stands, I'm running a pretty good defecit, and my reputation is still a mite poor, so I can't renew it right away.  Then, just messing around to see what they will agree to, they mention that for just 80 gold and silks they will join the crusade against India.  First I'll check with my foreign advisor to make sure they can make it there, then I might agree.

Rome wants to cancel the Alliance versus the Indians deal, which also supplies me with Horses.  Turns out the killer for them was the 1 GPT.  They were bankrupt   I renegotiate the deal, renewing the alliance (major!!) and getting horses in exchange for silks and 120 gold.  The right of passage is also renewed.  If we want the deal with the Vikings, we can trade our last silks.  Even after that we'd have adequate happiness.

The Celtic city of Lugdunum completes the Sistine Chapel.  We've still got a (very) outside chance at Leonardo's Workshop.

1415 AD - The invasion of India is set to begin.  Eight medieval infantry, a hoplite, and a knight are set to land in the first wave.

The first galley to cross finds the landing square unoccupied.  Delhi is guarded by Musketmen and is size twelve.  I might have to lay siege.  The troops land and we wait.

The Indians counterattack with just one War Elephant, who retreats from my hoplite defense.

1420 AD - My sages invented invention!  What a wonderful invention!

I finish off the Indian War Elephant, and send my ships back to pick up more guys.

1425 - I lost a Medieval Infantry to an Indian Longbowman but defeated an Ancient Cavalry.  My Knight in India sees another elephant coming, and I decide it's about time to attack.  My ships have ferried over reinforcements, and we bunker down.

The War Elephant my Knight saw coming destroys one of my medieval infantries and then retreats into Delhi.

1430 AD - The stage for the Battle of Delhi is set.  Greece has eleven top-notch attackers in the plains and grasslands outside the city; India has an unknown number of musketmen and other troops inside.  Both sides pray for the results to favor them.  The king of India himself will be commanding the troops defending the capital.  On the other side, one of Greece's finest generals readies his troops for war.  No one knows for sure who will win, but both sides know it will be a grand, important, and bloody battle.

The first infantry attack from the plains south of Delhi.  They go no where.  India was fully ready for this attack, and the musketmen did not waver.  The king congratulates his troops.  The Greek general orders the next wave to attack.  He is frusterated by the lack of progress, but is not yet concerned.

The next wave comes from the grasslands to the southwest of Delhi.  The musketmen are caught off guard, and the Greek troops gain a decisive upper hand.  Finally reorganizing, the Indian troops slow the charge of Greeks, but ultimately are not able to hold them off.  The scorecard evens, but it is worse for India.  The King's finest defenders and only musketeers have fallen.

The Greek general orders the next attack to come from the same direction.  Skilled pikemen now defend Delhi.  This battle is brutal, but in the end the Indians come out on top.  Still, the king is nervous.  This was a very narrow victory, and he needs more decisive ones.  He calls on some regular pikemen to defend.

Greece's next attack comes from the south.  Again, India's defenders barely hold on to win.  More pikemen come to the front of the city to defend; Greece sends more troops from the south.

This line of Greek troops makes no headway.  The Greek general is concerned.  Now four units have died attacking.  Still, he feels confident he can turn the tide.  He orders an attack from the southwest.

These Greeks succeed in penetrating the Indian line, but cannot finish the job.  This line of pikemen are now veterans.  India's king is proud of the defence yet far, but fears it may not be enough.  India no longer has any fresh pikemen to fill the lines.  The half-strength defenders are ordered to go back to the front and pull off another victory.  The King promises them large amounts of gold if they succeed.

Greece's commanding general is tired of mediocre success.  He needs a victory.  To meet that need, he orders a group of Knights to go around to the north of the city and attack there.  He hopes it will catch India off guard.

The Knights charge the city from the farms to the north.  They are met by a scattered line of pikes, and lose their momentum.  Rather than retreat in the face of danger, they stand their ground.  They know that if they do not defeat these pikemen, the battle may well be lost.  Defending their honor, they redouble their efforts and defeat the Indian pikemen.

By now the Indian defenders are spread thin.  The King has no trump cards left, and his other cards are weak.  He hopes that the city can be held long enough for reinforcements to arrive.  In the mean time, he hopes for another victory.  The outlook is not good, but it is not impossible.  He heads to the local temple to pray for victory, and then returns to the front lines.

Again Greek troops charge from the south.  The Indian king's wish is delivered.  Badly injured pikemen hold the line.  The Greek general curses.  Half his troops are now dead; only two Indian regiments have fallen.  It's time to play his trump card.  Elite Greek Knights ready for battle in the south.

The Elite Knights are battle-hardened veterans, victors at Kolhapur.  They have fought the Indians, and are more than ready to avenge the loss of other Greeks.  They charge towards Delhi mercilessly.

No less determined are the Indian defenders.  These pikemen have held off two lines of Greeks, are qualified veterans, and would not think of surrender.  Though the initial hit of the Greek horsemen knocks a few off their feet, they recover.  But they cannot hold off the Elite Knights forever, and the knights narrowly defeat them.  The Knights return to the Greek base badly bruised but victorious again.

By this point, both sides have suffered enormous casualties.  Eight regiments have fallen, and neither side has many more.  But neither side will surrender.  Another regiment of Greek infantry storms the city.

At last it seems the Indian pikemen have run out of luck.  The Greek infantry are only mildly scratched in the battle, and most return safely.

India's king now calls on the only Elephant Brigade in the city to step forth.  These troops were badly injured earlier as they fought troops outside the city, and no more elephants have yet been trained.  But they must defend the city.  A high priest blesses them, and they go off to war.

Only one regiment of Greek troops has not fought yet.  Greece's general gives them the signal to attack.  They charge the city, and are temporarily disoriented by the elephants.  Recovering, they are able to defeat the few that made it to Delhi.  But the battle is not won.  India still has one regiment of Longbowmen in the city.  Delhi still stands.

The Greek general has not given up on the battle yet.  Searching the camp, he finds two more regiments who will attack the city.  One is a hoplite unit, which, though injured earlier by elephants, is the only one that can really defend the camp.  The other is the medieval infantry regiment that earlier defeated a charge of Ancient Cavalry.  Now elite, they are only at 40% strenght, but are the best hope.  The general orders them in.

Inside the city, the Indian king is surprised to see more Greek troops attacking.  Although his scouts' figures indicated there should be more Greek troops, there certainly wouldn't be many, and he expected they would keep some for defending their camp should they need to retreat back across the bay.  But none of that mattered now.  The fact was, the Greeks had more troops, and they were sending them in.  The King had little choice now.  He headed to the front lines and loaded a musket.  The longbowmen must hold the city, and he would personally help them.

As the Greek troops near the city, the longbowmen fire mercilessly.  Here and there, their arrows hit their targets.  But many infantry survive, and they go into a sprint as they get close to the city.  Desperation abounds on both sides.  The longbowmen drop their bows and hastily pick up whatever weapons lay nearby.  The king draws his sword from the hilt.  In the background, city leaders struggle to clear the streets of desperate civilians as the royal family struggles to evacuate.  The Greeks have won.  The longbows stand no chance in hand-to-hand combat.  The King slays multiple soldiers as they converge on him, but ultimately is surrounded and forced to surrender at swordpoint.  Delhi has fallen.

Part Nine - A Long, Hard Campaign

1430 AD - After the Battle of Delhi, my hoplite brigade moves into Delhi in an attempt to defend it.  The Elite Knights retreat to safety on the boats offshore.  Again it is a waiting game.

1435 AD - Indian longbowmen appear outside the Delhi city limits to both the north and south, but none come near the city itself.  It looks like the Greek hold will be secure.  The troops hurry inside to recover.

1440 AD - Delhi has deposed the Greek leadership!  All the Greek troops are lost.  Already Indian troops were converging.  It could be a long war.

Adrianople, in the Byzantine Empire, completes Leonardo's Workshop.

1445 AD - Seven Greek troops land outside Delhi.  This is now a war of vengeance.

India attacks the newly landed troops with longbows and ancient cavalry.  The first fail, but the latter succeed.

The Spanish city of Barcelona, on Kamchatka, completes Magellan's voyage.  Wow.  They are uber-advanced to have that already!

1450 AD - Greek troops again storm Delhi.  Two medieval infantry fall to musket volleys, but a Knight then succeeds in the attack.  The city is razed to the ground. 

No more revolts from this city.  A settler is already being trained in Malaysia to rebuild the city as Greek.  The Indian workers in what used to be Delhi are escorted into galleys, from whence they will be brought to Greece to bolster our workforce.

1455 AD - India lands a large number of troops, including War Elephants, near Herakleia.  If they think that'll convince us to make peace, they're sorely mistaken.  They also send a settler south from Bombay (see map above - north of Delhi) in an attempt to found a new city.  Yeah, right.

Arnhem completes the first library in the empire.  Yay!  At last we have a repository for our scrolls!

The total tonnage of troops India has landed is quite high, led by two groups of War Elephants and including Ancient Cavalry, longbowmen, and pikemen.  I have two hoplites and a Trebuchet fortified inside Herakleia.  A medieval infantry of mine attacks the first elephant.  He makes little progress, and a Knight makes little more against the second.  Looks like we're playing defense.  Pretty soon, though, our reinforcements will overwhelm the Indian troops.

Back in India, the Indian effort to rebuild Delhi as thier own fails miserably.  Two more workers are loaded onto our galleys.

1460 AD - Herakleia has fallen.  One ancient cavalry was turned back, but the defense ultimately failed.  It shall not remain Indian for long, however.

Persia demands Gems.  I refuse.  If they want to come halfway across the world to fight me, be my guest.

They don't start a march halfway across the world.

We finish researching Theology, and the people become unhappy as The Oracle becomes obsolete.  Sorry, guys, I had to research it sometime!

1465 AD - I bought the Byzantine territory map for 35 gold and contact with the Japanese.  They have a few cities way far out, but the map below shows the heartland of their empire:

The Aztecs complete JS Bach's Cathedral in their city of Tlacopan, and Copernicus's Observatory is finished in Seoul, Korea.  Looks like I'm about out of wonders for this age.

In India, my Knights have finished pillaging roads so as to cut off southern India from northern India.  It looks much better now, don't you think?

My attack to retake Herakleia begins this turn with a complete defeat, but continues with a medieval infantry defeating a pikemen.  I have no further troops ready to attack now, but will be out in force next turn!

1470 AD - Good news from the western front.  Roman Legions and Knights are charging towards Gergovia in the Holy Land.  It is well-guarded with muskets, but eventually Rome ought to succeed.

A medieval infantry of mine retakes Herakleia, along with the trebuchet and two workers that India took when they occupied the city.  Rome has just landed a pikeman by the city to help out, but the help is no longer needed.  Oh well.

I sink an Indian ship that was near Groningen (in Malaysia).  I suspect they were trying to sneak-attack me with a war elephant and ancient cavalry, because those units went missing near Herakleia.

Already the pillaging of roads is paying off.  Indian troops have already entered the wastelands.  Another settler is captured before he can create a city.  Soon we'll have hundreds of Indian workers!

1475 AD - I'm running dangerously low on troops in India.  Fortunately, we're able to land reinforcements this turn.  :whew smilie:

1480 AD - Excellent news from the west!  Gergovia has revolted and joined the Celts!  India is now almost certainly in decline, and Roman troops will soon be arriving in native Indian land, where they have not been for centuries.

1485 AD - Again I see an Indian settler moving in to reclaim the land around Delhi.  This time, however, I have a settler there.    I build a city on the former city of Delhi, and christen it Ephesus.

1490 AD - Reinforcements arrive just in time again for Ephesus.  I had been down to one Knight :(.

Near Utrecht, a worker has finally finished a Fortress and Barricade to help my Hoplite turn back the tide of any especailly sucessful invasion.  The screenshot below highlights the barricade and shows the reinforcement train of troops heading north.

1495 - India again attacks Ephesus and is repelled.  I decide to hurry walls in order to bolster the defence.

I meet America for the first time, and we agree to exchange territory maps.  America controls most of the eastern United States as well as a good chunk of modern-day eastern Canada.

Rome brings Zululand into the war against India in a military alliance.  I'm not sure they'll arrive in time to help, but more allies is good.  Then they bring Germany into the war.  Germany is definetely close enough to help - they're on the front lines.    However, they are militarily weak.  They do not yet have Feudalism, and lack iron.  I suspect their hope is to gain a city or two from the war, as well as favor from Rome, while India is in free fall.  The shot below illustrates how close to India Germany is.

Near Ephesus, I defeat the War Elephant and Ancient Cavalry outside the city the city with trebuchets, a Knight, and an offensive hoplite.  Reinforcements land amphibiously and cannot attack, but give a much-needed increase of numbers.  In the Bay of Bengal, I sink an Indian galley after losing one myself.

1500 AD - We discover Education.  I will now focus our research on Banking.

Ephesus has completed its walls.  Barracks will come next, and then it will be fit to be the base for all our Indian operations.

Carthage declares war on me!  They mean to take Leiden! 

All I can really do is hope my hoplite hold out.  Alas, they kill just one knight.  Leiden is lost.

Rome cancels the alliance and horses for silks deal, though they stay in the war.  Not too many more Knights for me.

1510 AD - Ephesus completes its barracks.  Troops are loading onto ships by Herakleia.  I might FINALLY be close to advancing in this war.

1520 AD - What do you know!  Sure enough, the Germans somehow managed to pull off the capture of Bangalore with Archers.  It's a sweet day for them, and with Bangalore they now have horses.  If they ever get some technology, their Middle East nation could become powerful.

Once again, Greece is on the offensive in India.  Nine Greek troops stand ready to assault the city of - suprise! - Lahore, after being dropped off by galleys.  Lahore will be easier to capture than Madras, as it is not on hills.  It also will completely isolate Madras for when we do attack it.

1525 AD - The Battle of Lahore begins.  No muskets defend this city.  A Greek Medieval Infantry defeats a Pikeman before I even remember I can bombard with my Trebuchet.  It successfully bombards, and a Longbowman then attacks and defeats the last of the city guard.  This wasn't a very hard battle.  The city is burned to a crisp.  No more revolts.  The settler I brought along founds the city of Thessalonica to the northwest of Lahore, allowing the Wheat resource below Lahore to be used.  Four Indian workers begin reconnecting the Wheat, while my Knights head north towards Madras.  They will be joined by troops heading south from Ephesus.

1535 AD - India and Zululand make peace.  I doubt any Zulu troops actually made it to India.

1540 AD - We finish researching Banking.  Our scientists begin work on Economics.

As the noose tightens on Madras, a Musketman leaves the city.  We are puzzled. 

1545 AD - Madras comes under attack.  First come volleys from four trebuchets, raining down on the city.  The defenders avoid most of the barrage.  Then comes an infantry charge.  It fails.  Miserably.  We don't even send in the cavalry.  Rather, we switch to Siege mode.  We will starve the city out.

The musketman who left Madras tries to attack an injured Hoplite, and fails.  At least we have a victory there.

1550 AD - Orleans (see map at end of this part for location) completes our first university.  Australia is really helping our science and economy a lot.

Good news.  Madras is already starving.  Four more turns to go in the siege.

1555 - I find the Sumerian homeland on the isle of Greenland.  Hey, we've got 31 players here, someone has to start there!

1565 - The siege is now in full operation. 

1570 AD - Again the attack on Madras begins.  It has been starved down to size 6, and could be further if we wanted to.  I suspect India has Metallurgy, as there have been no Ancient Cavalry attacking, but we'll see.  They offer me Gunpowder for piece, but I've waited too long for this city.  Charge!

My trebuchets do little damage, but it's a start.  An Elite Longbowman leads the charge, against an Elite Musketman.  The longbowman pulls off a narrow victory, and already we're doing better than in the previous attack.  A Medieval Infantry then attacks from the east.  He does not do much damage.  Another longbowman picks up the attack, now facing pikemen.  Again a narrow victory is achieved.  A Knight charges from the southeast to finish the job.  He fails.  Then a Knight from the northeast is forced to retreat.  Finally, a Knight from the north defeats the last musketmen.  Madras falls.  This city I will keep.  The Statue of Zeus is valuable to me.  The city resembles, and is, a war zone, but will recover, probably quickly.

At this point, we call in our cartographers and statisticians.  It is time to analyze the state of the Greek world.  The Old World map below shows the extent of our empire:

We also now have some knowledge of the New World.  However, as is indicated below, there is still much we do not know.

The Greek population is now the second-highest in the world, at 6,460,000.  Our land area has reached 61,300 square miles (about 160,000 square kilometers), and our manufacturing is the highest in the world at over 200 megatons.  Our GNP, just shy of 400 million, ranks fourth in the world, still a big improvement over where we used to be.  Literacy has soared to 20% from the 3% it was 140 years ago, although that still puts us 24th of 29 nations.  Perhaps most exciting, we are for the first time in the top half of the score card.

The weary Greek troops turn north.  There are more cities to conquer.

Part Ten

1570 AD - The Greek troops have just conquered the city of Madras in southwestern India, and with it, the Statue of Zeus.  The Greeks are painfully aware of the consequences of city revolts, and thus decide the two longbow units should remain outside the city, ready to rain down a storm of arrows on any revolters.  Meanwhile, troops head northwest towards the city of Calcutta. 

It is a coastal city with wheat, and like all the cities in India, a gem to control.  In all likelihood, a siege will be necessary here as well.

The city of Lyons, in Australia near present-day Canberra, begins building Forbidden Palace as a pre-start for Smith's Trading Company.  It is the most productive city in the Empire, and with only seven civilizations having started the wonder, we have a very low chance of completing it.

1580 AD - We're losing money again.  Too many troops.  Fortunately, there's a sure-fire way to save money:  switch to Despotism.  It would save us the 52 GPT in army support cost.  But it'd significantly decrement productivity in Australia, where we need banks quickly to sustain us.  Blasted double-edged swords.  It's the anarchy that's the real killer...who wants 7 turns of anarchy, even if Despotism would be better?

My troops nearing Calcutta see a Roman Knight to the north of the city, with the ground pillaged.  Allies have come.

Our ships move into position off the coast.  The naval siege is in full effect, and the land one soon will be.  Calcutta won't last too much longer.  A settler is heading over already.

Rome's Knight attacks, and does 2 damage to the musketman.  He then retreats.  At least I am able to see there is just one musketman in the city.

1585 AD - We discover Economics.  I direct research towards Astronomy.  We'd rather not have Gunpowder for awhile.  Cheap hoplites for the win!

Calcutta is starving.  Five more turns and it'll be time to attack.

1590 - Remember that war with Carthage that cost us Leiden?  Well, a Carthaginian galley just appear near Middelburg, our city on Japan.  It is much more well-equipped to withstand a siege than Leiden, having two hoplites (one veteran), and a wall.  But, as Carthage is willing to make peace now, we agree to it.  They'll receive payback for taking Leiden some day.

My trebuchets enjoy an unusually high rate of success bombarding Calcutta, which tempts me to attack it now.  I refrain.  It would probably result in more misery.  If Rome wants to attack, go for it, but we'll desist.  Our besieging force is growing stronger every turn, no point in rushing to a foolish attack early.

Seeing as how I have a few extra hoplites arriving in Ephesus, I send some north to begin an early siege on Bombay.  See?  I told you loads of cheap hoplites were better than a few expensive and marginally more effective musketmen.

1595 - Rome has weakened the garrison in Calcutta.  As my trebuchets continue to hit every time, I decide to attack before the siege is complete.  The decision pays off, as I only lose one regiment in the assault.  The city is razed, and my settler moves in.  A new Greek city will be founded next turn.

I notice that I'm not getting any gold from these cities.  India is broke.  Pity, as I'm low on gold myself.

My Knight scouting in the north spots a previously unknown city, Karachi, in the hills to in far northwestern India. 

I'm not going to bother trying to capture it for awhile.  Jaipur and Bombay are worth trying for, but Karachi...not now.  Let Rome or Germany try it if they want.

An Indian archer successfully defends against a Roman Knight.  I think somebody told them they're a defensive unit in CivIV...

1600 AD - Civil disorder has intensified in Ephesus, and the mob has destroyed the walls.  Whoops.  I think what keeps happening is that military units unload there at the beginning of every turn, so it looks like it'll be happy when I check, but then they leave and the city is unhappy.  This time I check at the beginning of my turn, and the citizens do look unhappy.

Still no cavalry from the Statue of Zeus, and I've had it for six turns.  I'm starting to think there might be a bug?  It could be that it doesn't produce units when there's resistance, in which case I should get one soon.  I'm suspecting, though, that unit production got switched off permanently when India researched Metallurgy, and now I won't get any .

The city of Rhodes is built on the site of Calcutta.  The Colossus will not be moved.

We've already got a pretty good siege going on Jaipur.  Population ought to start falling next turn.

1605 AD - Zululand rejoins our alliance.  Maybe they can take the city of Indus on Madagascar?  I check and notice the German city of Frankfurt on Indus has fallen.  Perhaps Zululand really will be of help.

1610 AD - Still the same population in Jaipur.  Their granary must've been filled to the brim.  In any case, 10 years of siege certainly breaks any records I'm aware of!

Excess hoplites are already beginning a siege on Bombay to the west.  We currently have 61 hoplites 32 medieval infantry, and 17 galleys  in our army, which totals 138 units.

1615 AD - The siege at Jaipur is finally showing results.

1620 AD - I do some massive map trading.  I get the Celtic, American, Russian, Scandinavian, Aztec, English, Spanish, Egyptian, Persian, and Maya territory maps - in summary, everyone who has Navigation.  The Maya even teach me the last turn worth of Astronomy in their deal.  Persia takes the award for most spread-out empire - they have at least four seperate areas of two or more cities, all on the Eurasian landmass.  One of these consists of three cities that used to be Indian.  There is no doubt now that Perisa was my most effective ally in this war.

I then turn around and sell everyone the completed map, so that I have a small profit from all the trades.  Essentially, I've given everyone the territory map of everyone who has Navigation.  Espionage departments would be fuming right now if they'd been invented.

Back on the war front, my trebuchets have been enjoying success bombarding Jaipur.  I thus order an attack.  A medieval infantry leads the charge well against pikemen, and already the feel of victory is in the air.  A group of longbows achieves similar success.  A medieval infantry attacks successfully after that, but then a longbowman falls to the musketmen.  They soon fall, however, and the city is ours - or the site of it, anyways.  I'm not usually a razer, but India has revolted too often.

Germany is attacking a musketman defending a size eight city on a hill with horsemen.  I know that's all the better they have, but they might as well be trying to knock down a wall with a feather.

1625 AD - Eretria is founded on the site of Jaipur.

1630 AD - I buy the Scandinavian world map for 497 gold.  Wow.  A lot of new information.  Most importantly, Hawaii is half-Spanish, half-Aztec.  That actually is relevant, because it tells us who is advanced in maritime technology.  There aren't really a whole lot of surprises.  South America is pretty evenly divided up.  In North America, it looks like the Maya, Americans, and Carthaginians all ganged up on the Arabs.  The map also includes Portugal, my immediate neighbor.  Wonder why I might be interested in that map?

In Madagascar, Zululand has taken Frankfurt from the Indians.  An even bigger blow is soon to be dealt to India in Bombay.  We are going to attack.  The city falls fairly easily, and this one we keep.  Karachi is now the only Indian city remaining on the subcontinent.  I now send Knights charging towards Karachi, and send in an emissary.  At this point, we can still exert a lot of influence on them, and get a lot from the peace treaty.  The final deal consists of us giving India 14 gold per turn and one gold lump sum, and them giving us Printing Press, Music Theory, Navigation, and their World Map.  It's a fair deal.  I could have gotten their city of Punjab on  a 1 by 1 island, but no technologies, instead, but I figured eventually I'll be able to blow it away with Marines anyway, so this one was better.

Now that we have a very up-to-date and complete world map, it's time to show the current state of the world.  The map will be divided into two images.  The first is the New World.  National capitals are indicated with stars.  Much of it has not been seen before, and will now be uncovered for the first time:

And now the Old World...

Our conquest of India is now complete.  The Zulu will take Indus on Madagascar, the Romans and Germans will struggle to take Karachi, the new capital, in India, and Punjab will last until someone gets Marines or the Vikings decide to take it.  India has no real hope of regaining their power and prestige.

For us, this means peace, for the first time in 1250 years.  It is a bit of a foreign concept to us.  Conquest has become a time-honored tradition.  And it has worked well.  Peace treaties keep us from falling too far behind technologically.  But therein lays the problem.  We still are behind technologically.  We are not seriously competing for wonders.  Our economy is weak for our size.  We have to figure that after Nationalism, wars are going to start and spread faster than wildfire, and someone else will become powerful.  It is time to take the steps needed to ensure we can compete economically and technologically with the most advanced and developed civilizations in the world.