Game settings

Difficulty: Monarch
Civilization: India
Leader: Asoka
World Size: Standard
Opponents: 6
Map Script: Archipelago
Landmass Type: Tiny Islands
Climate: Temperate
Rules: Variant
Victory: All enabled

For a list of all the variant rules see the RBCiv homepage or click here.

So, this would be my first Epic. Not only that, but it would also be my first game on Monarch level. Add to this that I haven't even tried Prince yet and still lose every now and then on Noble... In other words... this is going to be tough.

Rather than get depressed over my expected imminent defeat, I've decided to take on the challenge, try my best and have fun while doing so. Losing is often the best way to get better as long as you learn from your mistakes. This game should teach me a few things. Considering the trade aspect in the rules I've decided to take it a step further. I'll be focusing massively on the economic techs in the game. I'll be the Master Merchant, always having an eye on the profits. Nothing matters more than good relations with the customers. No wars if it can be avoided and no religion either. I'll be trying to get to free religion instead so that I won't get too many tensions with potential clients. All this of course adds up to the fact that diplomatic will be the obvious way to win.

Going the economic way means that some techs and wonders will get high priority. Apart from the worker techs I'm going to try to get a hold of Alphabet, Astronomy, Banking etc. Techs which open up trade possibilities and which increases the output of traderoutes and improvements. Wonders giving such bonii or Great Merchant points would also get high priority.

Having to find customers and gems would also necessitate a lot of exploration, so ships and scouts will be necessary. Well, all plans only survive until they make contact with the enemy, so most likely I'll have to adapt as the game progresses.

Finally, before I start I'd like to take a minute to thank the people behind RBCiv for the positive influences they've had on my approach to Civing. While everybody deserves respect I'd like to reserve a special mention and thanks to Sirian for preparing most of these Epics, Sullla for getting me so hooked on Civ4 that I had to get a new PC (thanks to his walkthrough) as well as Dwip for his writing style which has had a massive influence on me.

You call this a starting position?
Right, this starting location was definately interesting. Lots of water and plenty of hills, but little to give any kind of commerce at first. If I wanted to have any income I'd need to get the metals online and get some traderoutes going. With this in mind I started out researching Fishing followed by Hunting and Animal Husbandry (to utilise the cattle) and then Sailing.

I put a lot of focus on getting some galleys out in order to find good city sites, but also to meet my neighbours and possibly get the avigation bonus. I decided on trying to grab a far away island first of as it had both gems and copper, both resources which would be highly valuable for my small nation of merchants. My second city, Bombay, was founded far to the east in 985BC.

Little did I know at the time, but I was just about to meet my first rival and the game was about to heat up.