Mediterranean AI - Part 1: Forward Settles and Regrets

Hello hello hello! Welcome to part 1 of the Mediterranean AI game, I'm u/porkpot and I'll be your host. The game was supposed to have historical eras on, where production was the same but research times were increased, however the game would not launch with this, so it was ditched.

The votes are in, and out of 17 votes, there isn't a lot of agreement. Two nations got the coveted 2 votes, the Romans and the Visigoths. Other nations to get a single vote include: Croatia, Bavaria, Venice, France, Carthage, the Ayyubids, Israel, Cyprus, the Kurds, Georgia, the Golden Horde, and Albania.

Anyway, on to the game!

Turn 2, and already the Turks are up to some hijinks. They found a pantheon that grants them faith for kills within 5 tiles of one of their cities. The Byzantines and Hittites spread out and explore their surroundings.

Turn 5, and the first second cities are starting to appear. Its really weird typing that out... Anyway, we start with the Alans, founding Maghas towards the Caucasian Mountains. Georgia, the Golden Horde, and the Hetmanate send their settlers off to new and foreign locations.

The Trypillians and Romanians settle cities towards the Moldovans, while the Cumans send their settler towards Moldova. If Moldova is successfully blocked off, it could spell trouble for them later down the line. The Trypillians also found a pantheon, the AI favourite of Goddess of Protection.

Towards the Red Sea you can see the Rashiduns, Israelites, Nubians, and Egyptians have all founded second cities. The Nabataeans should probably hurry up.

Near Iberia the Spanish and Touareg successfully found second cities. The Umayyads and Moroccans appear to want to settle the same spot, and Portugal sends their settler towards Spain and Cordoba.

To the east, the Algerians, Carthaginians, and Vandals settle their second cities. It looks like the Vandals and Numidians are looking to box Hannibal into a corner with their settles/future settles.

Near Anatolia the Hitties, Umayyads (2), Abbasids, and Kurds settle second cities. The Umayyads are playing a risky game, forward settling the Kurds and Abbasids.

More second cities, the Guanches, Ptolemies, and the Ayyubids. I'm a bit sad that there is no canal spot for Dvin, but on the plus side they did settle it one tile off from our original settler.

Libya, the Berbers, and the Garamantes settle their second cities.

This part has a lot of showing second cities.

Portugal, the Visigoths, the Iberians, and the Asturians settle theirs.

France, Luxembourg, Venice, and Bavaria as well. The Lombard settler appears to be on a trek to somewhere escorted by a Longbeard, the Lombard warrior replacement with +3 sight and siege I. Holy cow, Liutprand should take advantage of those and take some dubiously located second cities.

Rome, Serbia, Croatia, and Albania settle successfully. Bosnia looks ready to settle.

Sparta, Byzantine, and Turkey successfully settle.

Too bad the Byzantines can't spell Adrien correctly.

Bulgaria, the Cumans, and Moldova settle their seconds. Moldova appears to have had little choice but separate their cities, their capital is nicely boxed in. If their neighbours strike quickly they could take advantage of that and eliminate them.

In Iberia another pantheon is founded, granting extra food for camps. The Cordobans have settle their second city towards Portugal. This is likely to fuel future conflicts.

The Middle East civs spread out, Phoenecia and Iraq settle. Cyprus has people sailing, which is good as it means they recognise that they have sailing. Iraq founds a pantheon based on wonders, and apparently I forgot to note what the Israelites worship for theirs. Phoenecia also has their Great Merchant replacement, the Tyrian Merchant:

Replaces the Great Merchant. In addition to the normal Great Merchant abilities, the Tyrian Merchant can establish Commercial Outposts in City States, earning you Tyrian Dye; a luxury resource.

Turkey founds Sunni Islam, and the game's first wonder is built: The Pyramids, rightfully built in Egypt/the Old Kingdom. Nubia has their archer replacement, the Apendemak archer. It starts with Siege I and has an extra movement when next to a river.

The Trypillians found the... Bird Figure Cult as their religion. Well... As far as names go, it is the most original I have yet seen. Their unique worker replacement earns them faith whenever it completes construction on an improvement, which helps explain their early religion.

The Umayyads (v2) are the first to settle a third city, with Al-Quds, while others have yet to settle their second. The Kurds have interesting city names, which will be fixed once they stop founding cities. You can see their UA at work by looking at their trade caravan. Their units take damage while in enemy territory to generate golden age points.

What! Turn 25 already? Well, lets look at who has money.

And then who doesn't have nearly as much.

Nabataea founds a pantheon, crowding this area even more with possible future religions. They aim for money and border growth.

Sparta has 3 cities, while the Bulgarians and Albanians are building up their militaries.

If you're wondering what those icons are, I have have the Civ Names by Policy mod running, so in the beginning most of those say something similar to "The Lombard Tribe is now known as the Lombard Despotate".

Moldova founds a pantheon right next to the Bird Figure Cult. They'll have to hurry to found a religion and spread it if they want to overcome the Cult's influence. Also, Romania looks set to settle a third city while the Trypillians already have.

Rome founds a third city, while the Swiss and Burgundians have two. The Lombards have another settler but have yet to settle their first. They wandered around where Cumae is but didn't bother to settle.

Hungary founds a pantheon looking for culture. The Moldovans have even more competition for their pantheon.

Roger has built the Great Library in Sicily, but doesn't appear to be doing much else. I'm pretty sure he hasn't moved his settler, and neither has Victor Emanuel of Sardinia. Those two both have optics, so its interesting that they're sitting so idly.

More third cities in Morocco, though the Umayyads (1) have taken a risky decision in forward settling the Moroccans. Looks like the Moroccans won the battle for the second city.

Iraq goes balls to the wall and forward settles both Israel and the Nabataeans, while the Abbasids head south. The Nabataeans have their Zabonah UUs, which are scouts that earn gold and XP from discovering others' cities.

The Visigoths are eager to settle cities, and settle on the other side of the Pyrenees from their capital, while the Iberians look set to follow their example. They currently have 3 settlers available.

The Kurds have completed Stonehenge, but I'm fairly certain all pantheons that are able to be founded have. Bit of a waste really. Their neighbours the Umayyads have catapults, and the Georgians are settling southwards.

Philip has constructed the Temple of Artemis, while the Iberians settle to the north of the Pyrenees. It looks like the Visigoths are sending another settler towards Iberia.

Apparently I was wrong about how many pantheons are available, as the Garamantes found the best pantheon for their location: desert folklore. This should help them found a religion if they hurry.

Oh snap! Its the first war of the game on turn 34! Tvrtko's Bosnia has declared war on Tomislav's Croatia! Bosnia has the better army, but the terrain between the two countries is full of hills which will slow their advance.

Wow was I ever wrong about pantheons, the Umayyads found one based on science for city connections. They have several of their swordsman replacements, the Azd'Uman Warrior. It doesn't require iron and capturing a city with it grants the city a free mosque.

The Golden Horde is boxed in by the Alans and Georgia, and the Hetmanate is closing off Ukraine from easy land access while also constructing a port. Well done!

The Ayyubids are being blocked off from the coast, as the Ptolemies settle towards them. All that remains is the Nile delta and less desirable tiles to the south.

The Kurds use Stonehenge to its fullest and found a pantheon that is good for growing. The Umayyads have a distressingly large army, at least if you're not them. The Phoenicians found Sidon in a rather defensible spot, while the Kurds found Batman!

Here come the Israelites, who have founded Judaism. They also have a settler looking to forward settle the Iraqis.

The Umayyads and the Numidians declare war on the Touareg, likely due to their settling 4 cities in a crowded area. The Numidians appear to have successfully boxed off the Algerians from expansion, but if you look in the bottom right the Algerians have two settlers heading southeast.

In Bavaria, Ludwig constructs the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus. The Bosnian advance on Zagreb is slow, but at least they're advancing. The Croatians decide to settle a mountain retreat.

The Bird Figure Cult is enhanced as this area of the Balkans grows more and more crowded.

At the same time, Sunni Islam is enhanced by the Turks. Come on Cyprus, embark a settler or something, but move your units! Phoenicia looks ready to steal a prime settling spot.

Who doesn't like weird borders, right? 3 of the 5 Visigothic cities are in Iberia, while the Iberians are sending settlers into France... Whatever man, border gore means war. You can see the Iberian UI, the Oppidum, which grants +1 Culture and +25% defense to units on that tile. Units also ignore terrain cost when passing through those tiles.

A large view of the Adriatic Sea, as we see that the Bosnians are still having trouble attacking Croatia. At least Rome is doing well I suppose.

Back to Anatolia to witness the first turn of the Umayyad-Hittite War. The Hittite army isn't very big, though the Umayyads don't seem to have a concrete goal to aim for yet.

Leonidas has built the Temple of Zeus for increased Leg Day efficiency.

We return to the Adriatic to witness peace between Bosnia and Croatia. At least Tvrko tried, I guess.

Indibilis has gotten tired of Leovigild's bullshit, and has assembled a huge coalition against him, bringing with him the French, Cordobans, and Spanish. Leovigild had best build a military quickly, otherwise he'll be easy spoils for his opponents.

Iraq has founded Nestorianism in Rutba. They'll have to fight the Jews for religious dominance in the area.

The Iberians have decided to take the fight to Narbo, while the Spanish are heading towards Barcino. In the north, Toledo is being approached by French forces.

One turn's difference, and Narbo is already at half health. The Bosnians should send military advisors to see how to damage a city properly.

The Rashiduns, led by Umar and not Harun al-Rashid (because, you know, the Rashiduns led by a Rashid would make too much sense), declare war on the Nabataeans. The Rashidun have a slightly larger army, so the Nabataeans will have to play skillfully to repulse them.

Narbo falls to red, and to celebrate the Portuguese found Catholicism.

Moldova also celebrates by founding Eastern Orthodoxy. Their military is looking decently sized.

What, even more celebrations? The Garamantes found Amanaiism. Their Plumed Nomad scout replacement have double movement on desert and don't cost maintenance, but aren't especially strong. They should probably build a military.

Bostra takes damage from the organised Rashidun army. The Nabataean military hides behind Bostra, but they should probably be before it.

Ben Gurion's Israel completes the Terracotta Army. Too bad he only gained a scout and a warrior from the wonder.

In Iberia, Narbo has fallen to the Iberians, and the Spanish have gathered their forces for an attack on Barcino. The French have fallen back from Toledo.

Now for the main attraction: a second coalition war! The Bulgarians have convinced the Cumans, Moldovans, and Serbians to attack the Romanians. If the Moldovans play their cards well they could link up their empire while eliminating a large enemy, as the Romanian army looks pretty small. They'll have to build reinforcements if they want to survive a concentrated attack by their neighbours.

We return to the Caucasus as the Alans are the first to reach 5 cities that they founded, while Iberia has captured some cities to get themselves up to 5. If they hurry, they could take over the Golden Horde with but the fleetest of resistance.

Kidal starts to take damage from the Umayyads, though Touareg reinforcements are inbound.

Sparta has their UU, the Hoplite. They're better on the offense than spearmen, and defend better when alone. The Bulgarians also have their UU, the Shtitonostzi, a spearman replacement that has an additional movement and is more effective against infantry.

The Rashidun take Bostra, as the Nabataeans nonchalantly found Eboda one tile off from anywhere useful. At least it would make a decent Petra city if they manage to build it there.

Remember those Algerian settlers from a while ago? They've founded their cities to the south of the Vandals. Hopefully they don't take offense and take them over.

Kidal is back to full health, not that it was that damaged to begin with. The Moroccans, cheekily, found Casablanca to the south of the Umayyad capital.

Barcino falls to half health under relentless Spanish attacks. The Iberians appear to be resting on their laurels after taking Narbo.

The Bulgarian, Cuman, and Moldovan armies move towards the Romanians. No damage to cities yet, but it shouldn't take long.

The Umayyad army has finally settled on Nesa as their first target. Now all they need to do is do some damage to the city.

In Iberia, the Portuguese have decided to get in on the action and declare war on the Cordobans. They could probably take Tulaytulah with little effort, but instead go directly for Cordoba. Too bad the Cordoban military will make it a bit tough for them.

The first damage of the Coalition-Romanian war occurs, as Timisoara is taken to yellow by the Bulgarians.

Luxembourg is the first civ to found 3 cities in this region. Well, that's unsurprising as it wasn't likely to be the Swiss or Burgundians. Lombardy is still only at 1 city.

Barcino is somehow still Visigothic, while Tulaytulah starts to take damage from the Portuguese.

The Egyptians and Sicilians lead the science race. Egypt likely due to their large population, Sicily due to the Great Library.

While the Portuguese and Nubians trail behind.

The Nabataeans flip Bostra, as the Ayyubids settle the Nile delta.

The Phoenicians forward settle the Abbasids, and still haven't settled in Anatolia. The Abbasids should probably take Sarepta over, as it isn't defended.

Targoviste is taking damage from the attacking Moldovans, who have built a surprisingly large army since war was declared. The Cuman army is similarly sized, so the Romanians will have a lot of problems defending themselves.

Barcino falls to the Spanish as the Visigoths regroup around Toledo with their UU, the Gardingo. It replaces the horseman and provides culture when it is promoted. If it is present when a city is founded, it can gain a level and can settle cities when it gets to level 4.

We'll end this part here, as too much of a good thing can be bad for you. Here's a poll to see who you think will win: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeEXH5i0ZPOAf3oOnU4ajFNBPlh0I3rkAzyzvhLcvKqxRQhTA/viewform

Thanks for reading!

Score stats, with a graph, how nice.

The Romans are the only ones to have a larger military value than that of our sub. Good on them.

The Hetmanate and Egypt are rather populous, but can they translate that population into a lead of some sort?

Down at the bottom of the population chart we have some desert civs, island civs, and civs that are at war.

Last slide, production for the top 13 civs. Thanks for reading!