Solo Empire, Pyramids, and Republic (1600 BC – 1300 BC / 2560 BC)


If I may step out of the fictional narrative mode I’ve been using for a few weeks now, I have to say that it’s a shame these two games are my first Civ games in somewhere between 6 months and a year. Unfortunately, I didn’t listen to my brain for the first half dozen or so turns in which I wondered what in the world this Chinese-specfic building the “Paper Maker” was. Although, in my recollection, Civ IV also had the Cho Ku Nu for the Chinese Unit, it had Pagodas or some other either cultural or happiness producing building. It was only after being annoyed for Civ V not allowing me to see what it does while loading (I thought one of the older Civ games did allow you to hover over the special units and buildings to see what they do) that I went onto the Civ V Wikia during my lunch break. To quote the Bluth family, “I’ve made a huge mistake.” It’s meant to give the Chinese a huge early science boost that would help me not only combat the fact that I’m up in the arid north, but also would help me get a head start on Wonders. (I never have problems with Wonders when I’m only playing with AI, but my brothers often make it to the Wonders before me) Luckily for me, the game in which I have the biggest challenge – Dan and Dave – is also the slowest-going. So I’ve wasted less turns doing the wrong thing in that game than I have in the game with Dave.

I also played a game as the Indians and got to a Science Victory.

Solo Game - My Small Empire
Solo Game – My Small Empire since Gandhi has more unhappiness per city
Solo Game - My Capitol - Notice the many Wonders
Solo Game – My Capitol – Notice the many Wonders
Solo Game - Space Race Victory
Solo Game – Space Race Victory

Well, back to the fun stuff!

Civ5 - Against Dave - John The Baptist
Civ5 – Against Dave – John The Baptist

The Glorious Chinese Empire came across a religious community among some ruins who was telling of a a coming Great Prophet. We were not sure what to make of this, but our Wise Empress decided it would be a good thing to allow them to spread talk of this Great Prophet throughout the land.

Civ5 - Against Dave - Meeting Spain
Civ5 – Against Dave – Meeting Spain

We then met a strangely dressed queen of the Spanish. Surely another collection of cities that will soon come to see the wisdom of following our Empress.

Civ5 - Against Dave - Attacking more barbarians
Civ5 – Against Dave – Attacking more barbarians

Barbarians once again attempted to harass our citizens, but we repelled them. We will soon have to deal with these barbarian encampments. We have just been too busy bringing more of the world under the dominion of our Empress.

Civ5 - Against Dave - Completed Pyramids
Civ5 – Against Dave – Completed Pyramids

After many centuries of work, our laborers have completed construction of a Great Pyramid. We will bury our greatest citizens there. The years of work allowed us to have a collection of citizens that were amazing at working and will now help us build public works projects like mines and farms.

Civ5 - Against Dave - Adopting Collective Rule
Civ5 – Against Dave – Adopting Collective Rule

Finally, we adopted Collective Rule as our advisers told us this would increase the number of citizens that would want to help found new cities.

Civ5 - Against Dan and Dave - Adopting Republic
Civ5 – Against Dan and Dave – Adopting Republic

In the alternative universe  Chinese Empire, Republic was adopted. We also saw King Dan passing by. We shall have to make sure they do not do too much spying.