Progress Report 1300

Hi Patrician jr.
Congratulations.
On one weekend 2 months to play is good and fast.
You are Speedy Gonzales.
I had at Sept 30 only a CV of 3,8 M , 48 573 inhabitants and only 10 ships.
Respect to this achievement.

Replayed results as at 12/31/1300

CV 14.9M
population 57,570
ships 146
businesses 271

Lagging the pack; hopefully a hare and tortise story.

I was very dissatisfied with the initial clean run. I forswore arbitrage in it, played straight. I stopped just after hitting Lord Mayor. All offices were in, all Med and America ports discovered, and population good increase, CV would have finished about 5 million. But it was not good enough. I did an initial trial of a black sail game, up to July 2nd. All offices built, CV at 4 million with 2 million cash. I had looted five cities, with another 19 to go and averaging 300k apiece, that would have been another 5 to 6 million in cash and goods. Call me an idiot ... ... but it is just too easy on the black sails pathway. I like the challenge. I took a break for several weeks to think it out.

So ....

I have restarted a clean run. Obviously, I need to compromise to keep reasonably up in development. So, I will do the loan thing eventually, and will run arbitrage here and there. Yeah, I am dumb but I want to enjoy myself along the way. And so on the 19th of July I have six trade offices, enrolled in four guilds, have a dozen captains and twenty ships, ten of which are level three crayers (yeah, there is a trick involved, of course) and my America discovery ship is due back August 24th. I have Edinburgh shipyards busy to boost the quality of the pirate captures. CV is over a half million, promotions are regular. The foundation is good. And I promise, no more restarts.

Up to late August finally, offices are up to ten, CV to 1.2 million. Twenty businesses, more being constructed. Bricks are pretty short, holding things back. Five guilds. 24 captains, 34 ships, more in construction. I sold several ships at auction.

America is discovered, and three crayers are off exploring with cargos of wine. Five Med cities discovered, three more due in next week. All cities will be discovered by the 31st of December.

I am debating a move to another city for an earlier mayoral election. Still playing white dove style.

Still enjoying the game. Past mid September now, moved September 11th. Hopefully it is not an ominous date meaning a disaster; purely a strategic decision, what I pay now should be very beneficial in 1301 and beyond. Trade activity is picking up, profits are good. As if they wouldn't be on these settings. We always played at Patrician level of difficulty before, maximum for everything. The Med and America were better markets in comparison at Patrician level. The pirates are pushovers, grabbed two holks, undamaged, with the same ship, back to back avenge my brother missions same day. Eight Med cities tagged, the last four are pending. As soon as the cash is sufficient, the Med will be drained of wine. Thirsty Indians await!

Still playing, pure as the driven snow. October 1st, 1300 113 businesses are running, more are in construction. Twenty something at this point. There would have been more, but I am pretty much sticking with blocks of six which means wasting some building materials. Despite carefull planning though, some areas don't take six in a section. All trade offices are either finished or under construction. CV is a paltry 4.5 million, with over 1.3 million in cash. It would be higher if I gave out any loans. I haven't. It is also depressed because a lot is off the map, on expeditions. Several hundred thousand, in fact. Ships number 58, more being built. Am I alone in thinking the pirate ships are mostly junk? I am building in 8 different shipyards. In any event, all the Med cities are tagged, America is discovered, and is actively being explored for villages. I believe there are just three of them in this game?

Population is just over 52,500 so far. I was Patrician in September, and have been first on the list for mayor in my adopted home of Lagoda since I moved. I joined several more guilds. The wall expansions were voted in in Lagoda, Danzig and in Oslo.

The AI cheats, by the way. It builds businesses even though most markets have nearly nothing in the way of bricks.

Hanseatic economic policies include reduction of taxation to 5%, and cheap basic goods. Next post will be year end stats.

Ah, the contortions this contest forces upon us! But at last I am done with 1300. 229 businesses, two more complete today too but they don't get added in until the 1st of January. Population 57565, with my hometown of Lagoda the largest so far at 3660. Its second wall is halfway home. CV, with desperate measures, is down to 401 less than 6.5 million. I sent nearly 2 million off the map to achieve it, and disabled some of the moneymakers ... but that is the way it is set up.

46 captains, 77 ships. I have held back to keep CV down. Similarly, I have given no loans at all.

On other aspects, Aalborg is looking good. An endless row is begun, housing is in place, and I have placed the repair yard, the church, and a school, as well as a few fisheries. The wall of course is all up. 888 souls call it home; fast forwarding, it is recognized April 25th of 1301. The rest of the Hanse is coming along. I need more grain, more beer, more cattle and leather and wool, but timber is almost satisfactory now. Fish is tight, but coming along. Lots of blocks of six are in place. The groundwork is coming along. No autoroutes yet, though.

The Med is thoroughly explored. America has 3 tribes located.

And no piracy. A slow start ... but 1301 should be better.