The President Reports - 840 AD

[cavebear]

My fellow Citizens -

I speak to you in disappointment and dismay. I speak in sadness and anger. I speak of betrayal and failure.

Our former President left us with a hollow shell of an empire, poised on civil disorder and bankruptcy, and set up for failure. I say that with a heavy heart, for whatever former President Hydey thinks of me for running against him for President, I respect him and like him.

Upon taking up the reins of Government, I discovered numerous problems, most of which could *not* be corrected immediately, and yet should have been obvious to the former President in his last few turns of play. Cities of 2-3 population, with only one Military, were building Caravans instead of Temples. or additional Military. Many Caravans had been traded with other of our own cities that produce (to this day) 0 trade. Cities fell into Civil Disorder immediately upon starting my first turn.

The first few years were very difficult. Mayors were chased from several cities by howling starving and unhappy Citizens. Many cities were committed to Caravans 2/3 complete (so prohibitively expensive to convert) when they had neither Temples nor Units to keep them happy.

There were dark days at first, and the land was overrun by a plague of hornets before painful corrections were made over the course of several turns.

And I have to say something that will not gain me approval or favor from certain Ministers. I was not advised of these impending problems in any of the reports I received. I accept much of the blame personally; I *should* have examined the "State of New Apolytonia" myself, in detail, more carefully before beginning my administration. I will not make that mistake again, however. I will be meeting with the Cabinet to assure that the important details are attended to in the future.

Still, there is good news. The problems have been (or are nearly) corrected. Some exploratory units were called back to cities where required to quell disorder, a jackpot in gold from trade helped to solve some other awkward situations. We are well into recovery. We will not only survive but we will thrive. From a difficult start, we will solidify our position, expand our trade frontiers, and succeed of all other Civs.

The details of the years from 680 to 840 AD will follow immediately.

[cavebear]

The Tale of the years

680AD to 840 AD

680 - Adjusted Workers in Leon and Cordoba

700 - Celts get GW. Took Warrior from Chinese territory to avoid war and returned him to Trireme. Trireme is headed for Beijing to drop off Coal Caravan. Start Triremes in Vigo and Cadiz, Diplomats in Pamplona and Sarragossa. Re-homed Horse to Leon. Explored new territory.

720 - Built "Freeport" near Canton (as required to by poll). It is unhappy from the start. Valladolid is also unhappy; induced hunger to avoid 2nd unhappy Citizen. Explored.

740 - Freeport goes into Civil Disorder. There are no options to prevent it; can't build Temple, can't built military unit; can't change Worker to Elvis because it causes hunger and there is no stored food units yet. Avila and Leon go into Civil Disorder also! Make adjustments in those cities. In accordance with Trade instructions, move Demanded Caravans to pickup points for trade with Chinese.

760 - Coal Caravan arrives in Beijing; 270 gold and advance of 5 tech turns (of 12?). Continued exploring. Established new city of Oblida; there were Settlers building a road to a spot near a whale, so I decided that was the intent. Using the revenue from the trade with Beijing, bought Temples for Granada and Leon and a Warrior for Oblida to prevent disorder.

780 - Discover Banking! Tech choices are Astronomy, Construction, and Philosophy. In accordance with Sciernce poll, chose Philosophy. Built a Warrior in Freeport to prevent disorder when re-homed Horse goes exploring again.

800 - Chinese and Japanese sign alliance against us. Explore. Adjust Workers wherever possible to take advantage of local resources and existing infrastructure.

820 - Rushbuilt Vigo Trireme for 38 gold; there is a poll imperative to trade first with the Chinese for demanded goods before accumulating Caravans for Wonders in Capitol City. The faster that is done, the better, and at low cost. Continue exploring and watching cities slowly build Caravans, Temples, etc.

840 - Japanese become a Republic. Completed some Temples and Military Units in several cities to prevent further civil disorder. Explored. Launched 2 Triremes.

[cavebear]

Powergraph 840AD

[cavebear]

Defense 840AD

[cavebear]

Foreign 840AD

[cavebear]

Science 840AD

[cavebear]

Demographics 840AD

[cavebear]

Cities 840AD

[cavebear]

CAPITOL 840AD

Note the zero trading routes...

[cavebear]

City Obladi 840AD

[cavebear]

City Freeport 840AD

[JCP]

Originally posted by cavebear
disappointment and dismay ... sadness and anger ... betrayal and failure.

What severe words !
I think it was wellknown that the Hydey reign has one aim : to restore an expansion which was necessary during the first phase of our civ.
That implied a not very careful policy indeed, and delayed the stabilization of our civilization, by a finer micromanagement than Hydey was not able to make in his context.
I early noted our deficit in temples, which made illusory a fast switch to the republic.

In any case, such a situation needs a clever leader : the first turns of the CaveBear's mandate show a re-establishment in good way! The difficult choice of our new Prez was good !
A black point remaining : our scientific progress will be slow during several years.

[mrboo123]

Good job, Your making us a better civ.

[atawa]

Originally posted by cavebear
And I have to say something that will not gain me approval or favor from certain Ministers. I was not advised of these impending problems in any of the reports I received.

I thought in my report I urged you to stop building new city's for now untill we have build up our existing ones to withstand republic.