No iron deposits within practical range. My neighbour Frederick does have access to iron, in one of his many small, poorly defended cities. I'm resarching construction/catapults, and building horse archers in the meantime. If I don't capture at least Berlin and Cologne, I'll be hemmed in forever. If I don't move soon, I won't be able to.
My German adventure went very well. I've seized Berlin, Munich and Cologne with minimal losses before signing a peace treaty. Frederick is a much better administrator than general, the cities are well-situated and nicely developed.
Freddy still has some small cities. I'm consolidating my gains and building up for the next round of expansion.
Freddy just got fingered. None of these cities are awesome, but they're all worth keeping.
I've been concentrating on my economy, researching like a madman, building improvements, having a great time. I even founded a religion. I've got a tech lead over everyone else, and my neighbours in particular. Life is good, but if I stay peaceful, the others will eventually catch up. I must expand once again, just to be safe.
I've just researched Cossacks. The military gap between myself and my neighbours may never be greater, I must attack either Alexander or Napolean immediately.
Alexander is such a basket case that he'll never be a threat. OTOH Paris has access to both coal and iron, I think I know where I'd like to build my Ironworks. I've got 3 stacks carving into French territory, hopefully I can crush Napolean in a single short campaign.
That was a very cheap war, except for the last 2 cities full of riflemen. I expect Mansa Musa gifted the French with some technology just to annoy me. At any rate, Napolean has been dynamited.
Alexander and Isabella have been squabbling for centuries. They keep whining to me about backing one or the other, as if I give a rat's ass about the 2 weakest surviving nations. I'm tired of it, and now that I'm done assimilating France, Isabella's territory is right on my doorstep.
The Cossacks are on the march, Isabella baby. That cute little pout won't save you now.
Well that was easy. I haven't killed a longbowman for centuries. Isabella is-a-borked.
I've had a wonderful time these last hundred years. Industrial revolution, massive technological change, building railways, new units, world wonders... And of course just when I'm enjoying myself military matters have reared their ugly head.
Cyrus and Mansa Musa are sharing technology, and building a huge army. They're several tech levels below me, but if they threw everything at me tomorrow, we'd probably be stalemated. I've gotta get back into the damn arms race, and waste a bunch of time creating and marshalling a vast army yet again. Sigh.
OK, I'm bored. If I have to build and maintain this gigantic millitary machine, I might as well get some fun out of it. My T34s have crossed into Persian territory, we'll see if Mansa Musa likes Cyrus enough to commit troops to help out.
This is sooo tedious. My forces are winning, but it takes a ridiculous amount of time to cross enemy territory, even with tanks. Meanwhile, his cavalry is darting around like the fucking road runner. I'm clearly out in front, Cyrus has lost half his army and 1/3 of his cities, but the turns are taking longer and longer.
I'm researching the UN right now, that would allow me to get a diplomatic victory fairly quickly. Hmm.
OK, fuck this. I've uninstalled Civ4 for the very last time. The endgame sucks, and the wargaming is fucking terrible. If anyone wants me, I'll be playing Combat Mission.
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