In the country of the blind the one-eyed man is king. - Deciderius Erasmus
Originally all the stuff in this part was going to be in part I, but I decided to split part one, so the screenshots still have the white squares.
In this game, you can use money to expand your borders quickly. In the city screen, select "Buy Tile" and click on the one you want. This will expand your borders, which others can't cross unless you sign an Open Borders agreement.
2760 BC: This is an incredibly informal term, but to be honest I don't trust Montezuma as far as I can throw him. If I don't cut him off from the distance between Hamburg and Berlin he'll surely settle a city there. I have Hamburg buy a tile between our border and the sea.
This will keep Montezuma from crossing into our land unless we sign some kind of agreement, which I will agree to over my dead body. I'm sorry, I'm being quite informal today.
2720 BC: A barbarian wanders near Berlin from the north. I have Berlin bombard them.
2680 BC: Time to mop up an infestation. Berlin bombards the barbarians. My brave warriors sally forth and finish them off.
This relatively simple attack, I realize, is the German civilization's first fight. A milestone, I suppose.
2640 BC: My warrior returned home to Berlin. My citizens said we should have a feast for them. This would put a strain on our developing coffers, so I refuse. Unfortunately I am forced to put it up for a vote and it passes. So we held an extravagant feast today that wasted money and food. I can see the problems with this system already.
2600 BC: We finish The Wheel. My wise men work on Philosophy that we may add to the Great Library which we shall soon finish.
2520 BC: My workers finished their cow pasture. I have them mine some silver to make my citizens happier. They love their extravagances, apparently. Ugh.
2480 BC: I'm tired of waiting. I send the warrior in Hamburg to destroy the encampment, only to find the barbarians within severely weakened, and an Aztec Jaguar standing nearby! They wish to steal our plunder! Those Aztecs leeches!
2400 BC: We beat those Aztec bastards to the punch, and plundered the encampment.
Unfortunately I was not able to convince the barbarians inside to join us. As a sign of "goodwill" I give them to the Aztec Jaguars, so they may do whatever they wish to them. Probably sacrifice them to some god. Savages. In taking the encampment my men found a natural wonder. If we establish a city nearby and have our citizens work on it's tile, we get bonuses. Possibilities, possibilities.
2360 BC: The warrior returns home. The city of Hamburg is less extravagant and we do not hold some fanciful feast for them despite the fact their achievement was much more impressive. As a consolation their skills grow, and I give them an ability I call "Shock I" which means they fight better on open terrain (plains, deserts and the like).
2320 BC: The mine is finished, and the people of Berlin are delighted by the new metal. They want to use it for silly things, but I see practical opportunities. I can sell it to Darius so we can forge strong bonds of friendship, so I'll have an ally against Montezuma... but for now, I let my people enjoy their dalliances.
2206 BC: My wise men have finished the study of Philosophy. For their effort we enter a new age of development, the "Classical Era" as they call it.
I research a technology long overdue: Archery.
2160 BC: Joyous day! My men have finished the Great Library!
For their troubles, our scientific prowess is increased greatly, and my men can research a tech in no time at all! I have them research horseback riding.
I have visions of great warrior astride horses cutting down all who appose them and trampling all survivors! I can not overstate my happiness! Even if we fall (perish the thought) we will be remembered for at least one thing! Even I feel fanciful and silly today, and hold a great fast! Joyous day! Joyous day!
Ugh. This is written a bit later from the "great feast", and I realize how foolish I was. I slandered Gundislavus' memory with such fancies. Just because we have built one great monument does not mean my civilization will be remembered. Far from it. I must always continue to build and expand if I am to make my empire great, not have foolish feasts and flights of fancy. My empire is doing well so far
, but that will not last. My population will grow and become discontent and overrule me in votes and eventually rebel, just because it is human nature to do so. I must always rule my empire with an iron fist or I am no ruler at all. Sometimes I wish Gundislavus would come back alive and tell me what to do. But he is in the hands of the gods now. It is up to me to honor his memory and build a civilization that will stand the test of time.
