This game was played during the game testing of Peoples - Civilizations. The players tried different
strategies to assess how balanced they were.
Rome (red, aggressive): Expand, attack and conquer neighbors.
Babylonia (yellow, peaceful): Build cities and trade with neighbors.
Egypt (green, cultural): Spread monuments over the world.
Olmec (blue, economic): Build a strong economy.
Starting positions
The starting continents are by default separate but that may soon change.
The Egyptians start on the smallest continent so we'll see how that affects their gameplay.
The Olmecs have a future resource (coal) nearby, which may promote their industrious
strategy later on.
Civilization
Civics
Culture
Economy
Military
Religion
Science
Food
Commodities
Luxuries
Rome
0
0
0
1
0
0
-
-
-
Babylonia
1
0
0
0
0
0
-
-
-
Egypt
0
1
0
0
0
0
-
-
-
Olmec
0
0
1
0
0
0
-
-
-
Round 1
The game starts with a special round where 1 of the 2 starting tribes is moved, revealing a new
region, and a neutral tribe placed in the continent.
The Romans move to a commodity area and, since their continent now exceeds 2 areas, must reroll
until they discover an area already in play. This happens to be the Olmec continent.
They place their neutral tribe in a food area with the
intention of taking advantage of it with military force.
The Babylonians move to a food area. Since their continent doesn't exceed 2 regions yet, it may remain unconnected
to other areas in play and the die roll add a sea region to it.
They place their neutral tribe further away so it won't interfere with
its city building plans.
The Egyptians move to a luxury area. Their continent gets connected to a southern polar
region and they keep their neutral nearby, at a commodity,
with the intention of converting it later on. The largest Olmec-Roman distance remains 4 so any region
may be added to it. However, it happens to become a northern polar region and when placed there, it
also happens that the continent gets connected to the Egyptian continent. Three player continents
have now found their place on the world map.
Civilization
Civics
Culture
Economy
Military
Religion
Science
Food
Commodities
Luxuries
Rome
0
0
0
1
0
0
-
-
-
Babylonia
1
0
0
0
0
0
-
-
-
Egypt
0
1
0
0
0
0
-
-
-
Olmec
0
0
1
0
0
0
-
-
-
Round 2-4
All civilizations produce 1 food with their 1st tribe. With their 2nd tribe, the Romans and the
Olmecs produce 1 commodity to spend on development, the Babylonians produce a 2nd food,
and the Egyptians 1 luxury to spend on advances.
We already see the different strategic paths.
Romans:
Produce 1 cattle
Produce 1 timber
Revolution: Feed 2 tribes, save 1 timber
Babylonians:
Produce 1 grain
Produce 1 shellfish
Revolution: Feed 2 tribes, save 1 grain
Egyptians:
Produce 1 poultry
Produce 1 wine
Revolution: Feed 2 tribes, save 1 wine
Olmecs:
Produce 1 pulses
Produce 1 clay
Revolution: Feed 2 tribes, save 1 clay
Civilization
Civics
Culture
Economy
Military
Religion
Science
Food
Commodities
Luxuries
Rome
0
0
0
1
0
0
-
1 timber
-
Babylonia
1
0
0
0
0
0
1 grain
-
-
Egypt
0
1
0
0
0
0
-
-
1 wine
Olmec
0
0
1
0
0
0
-
1 clay
-
Round 5-7
The Romans and the Olmecs buy development cards; Slavery and Farming respectively. The Romans
are stronger than the Olmecs but an early war would be a waste of time. The Egyptians plan for both
culture and religion to boost their production while the Babylonians grow for quicker production.
Revolution: Feed 2 tribes, grow 1 tribe, save 1 grain
Egyptians:
Produce 1 poultry
Spread culture (Culture 0)
Revolution: Feed 2 tribes, save 1 wine, reset (Culture 1)
Olmecs:
Produce 1 pulses
Produce 1 clay
Revolution: Feed 2 tribes, buy Farming (-2 clay)
Civilization
Civics
Culture
Economy
Military
Religion
Science
Food
Commodities
Luxuries
Rome
0
0
0
1
0
0
-
-
-
Slavery
Babylonia
1
0
0
0
0
0
1 grain
-
-
Egypt
0
1
0
0
0
0
-
-
1 wine
Olmec
0
0
1
0
0
0
-
-
-
Farming
Round 8-10
We now see the different strategic patterns. The Romans use their Slavery card to enslave
the neutral tribe and immediately use the plundered grain to grow.
The Babylonians found their town and also grow a 4th tribe. They have no development or advance yet
but will now produce at a higher rate. The Egyptians are still on 2 tribes but can soon look forward to a
+1 bonus for both development and advance investments. The Olmecs have 3 tribes and is close to a
2nd development card but will they withstand the Romans if they attack?
The Roman and Olmec growth also reveals 2 new regions but mainly sea areas, making their
clash more imminent. The Babylonians exceed a distance of 4, forcing their continent to be connected
and it happens to be the Roman continent, although the sea separates them.
Revolution: Feed 2 tribes, grow 1 tribe, save 1 clay
Civilization
Civics
Culture
Economy
Military
Religion
Science
Food
Commodities
Luxuries
Rome
0
0
0
1
0
0
-
-
-
Slavery
Babylonia
1
0
0
0
0
0
-
-
-
Egypt
0
1
0
0
1
0
-
-
-
Olmec
0
0
1
0
0
0
-
1 clay
-
Farming
Round 11-15
The Romans focuses on growth and plan to advance against the Olmecs. However, with less tribes
the Olmecs launch their Revolution 1 round earlier and invest in a commander (one time military
action point) to defend against a Roman attack. The Romans decide to grow southwards instead to claim
as much as possible of the shared continent.
Meanwhile, the Babylonians invest in Farming to start growing (and pay only 1 commodity but to the Olmecs,
since they were the first to discover it). The Egyptians find themselves isolated on a small
land mass and focus on growth instead to prepare for spreading Religion.
Romans:
Produce 1 cattle
Produce 1 grain
Produce 1 fish
Produce 1 timber
Revolution: Feed 4 tribes, grow 1 tribe, save 1 timber
Babylonians:
Produce 1 grain+1 timber (Civics 0)
Produce 1 shellfish
Produce 1 timber
Revolution: Feed 4 tribes, buy Farming (-1 timber to Olmecs)
Produce 2 grain+1 timber
Egyptians:
Produce 1 poultry
Produce 1 grain
Revolution: Feed 2 tribes, grow 1 tribe
Produce 1 poultry
Produce 1 grain
Olmecs:
Produce 2 pulses
Produce 1 clay
Trade 1 poultry for 1 fur
Get 1 timber from Babylonians, Revolution: Feed 3 tribes, grow 1 tribe, buy Herding (-1 timber, -1 clay), buy commander (-1 clay), save 1 fur
Produce 2 pulses
Civilization
Civics
Culture
Economy
Military
Religion
Science
Food
Commodities
Luxuries
Rome
0
0
0
1
0
0
-
1 timber
-
Slavery
Babylonia
1
0
0
0
0
0
1 grain, 1 shellfish
2 timber
-
Farming
Egypt
0
1
0
0
1
0
1 poultry, 1 grain
-
-
Olmec
0
0
1
0
0
0
2 pulses
1 fur
Farming, Herding, 1 commander
Round 16-21
The Romans focus on producing for growth and development and invest in Mining.
The Babylonians invest in Law to be able to use Civics as Culture and vice versa.
The Egyptians finally spread Religion and will soon see how well their Culture/Religion strategy
pays off. The Olmecs' trade strategy pays off already this round as they now have access to 3
different luxuries.
Get 1 fur from Olmecs, spread Religion (Religion 0)
Produce 1 clay
Olmecs:
Produce 1 clay
Produce 2 poultry, trade 1 for tobacco
Produce 1 spices
Revolution: Feed 4 tribes, grow 1 tribe, buy Science 1 (-1 fur to Egyptians), save 1 tobacco, 1 clay
Produce 2 poultry
Produce 2 pulses
Civilization
Civics
Culture
Economy
Military
Religion
Science
Food
Commodities
Luxuries
Rome
0
0
0
1
0
0
-
-
1 wine
Slavery, Mining
Babylonia
1
0
0
0
0
0
2 grain, 1 shellfish
1 timber
1 dyes
Farming, Law
Egypt
0
1
0
0
1
1
1 grain, 1 poultry
1 clay
1 fur
Olmec
0
0
1
0
0
1
2 poultry, 2 pulses
1 clay
1 spices, 1 tobacco
Farming, Herding, 1 commander
Round 22-28
The Romans no longer grow and prepare an attack by acquiring a commander. Note that the Olmecs have too
many turns left to their next Revolution to prepare a defence. The Babylonians continue their settlement
building strategy by using Law to found a city (allows them to pay with Civics and Culture).
With both Culture and Religion, the Egyptians are now ready to expand and
do so by acquiring Theism and converting the nearby neutral tribe. The Olmecs prepare 2
strategic paths by founding a town and investing in Sailing to sail to new land.
However, the Roman imminent attack interrupt that and they hurry to produce along the border areas before
they get plundered.
Convert neutral tribe from distance (Religion 0, Science 1)
Olmecs:
Get 1 clay from Egyptians, produce 1 clay
Produce 2 poultry, trade 1 for fur
Produce 1 spices
Revolution: Feed 5 tribes, grow 1 tribe, buy Civics 1 (-1 tobacco to Babylonians), buy Sailing (-1 clay to Babylonians), save 1 clay, 1 poultry, 1 pulses
Found town
Produce 2 poultry
Produce 1 clay
Civilization
Civics
Culture
Economy
Military
Religion
Science
Food
Commodities
Luxuries
Rome
0
0
0
1
0
0
-
1 metal
1 wine
Slavery, Mining, Heroics, 1 commander
Babylonia
1
0
0
0
0
0
-
1 timber, 1 clay
1 tobacco
Farming, Law, Sailing
Egypt
0
1
0
0
2
1
-
-
1 fur
Herding, Theism
Olmec
1
0
1
0
0
1
3 poultry, 1 pulses
2 clay
1 fur
Farming, Herding, Sailing
Round 29-35
The Romans attack and enslave an Olmec tribe and reach 8 tribes. The Babylonians invest in Culture
and, since they have Law, use 1 Civics and 1 Culture to fully produce from the newly founded city.
They will now produce rapidly. The Egyptians fill the last productive space of their continent and
invest in Navigation to find new land while also founding their first settlement. The Olmecs don't
worry too much about the last tribe as they produce so much food elsewhere. They are also fortunate
to find new land when sailing westwards and can look forward to further growth. Note that their
town (2 tribes)+1 commander can only be attacked by a military strength of at least 3 so for the
moment they're safe from further Roman aggression.
Romans:
Attack and enslave Olmec tribe, plunder 1 poultry (-1 commander), get 1 commander and 1 architect
Produce 1 cattle
Produce 1 grain
Produce 1 fish
Produce 1 timber
Produce 1 metal
Get 1 clay from Egyptians, Revolution: Feed 7 tribes, grow 1 tribe, buy Roads (-1 timber to Babylonians), buy Herding (-1 clay) save 1 wine, 1 metal
The game now develops more rapidly as all civilizations reach Age 2 in a civilization trait.
The Romans use their roads to produce twice in a luxury area so that they can
invest in Military 2. They also get Sailing as "public domain", since it has been discovered by
3 civilizations. The Babylonians continue their grand city plans by investing in Civics 2 and
founding a metropolis. The
Egyptians seek new land instead of their crowded one but also increase their production through a
town and Cults (more commodities around Religion). The Olmecs continue their economy strategy with
Economy 2 to trade more each round.
Romans:
Produce metal
Produce 2 poultry
Produce wine
Produce 2 cattle
Produce metal
Produce fur
Produce fur
Produce fish
Get 1 fur from Olmecs, Revolution: Feed 8 tribes, grow 1 tribe, buy Military 2 (-2 fur, -1 wine), buy Civics (-1 wine), buy 1 commander (-1 timber), save 1 cattle, 1 metal, 1 fish
The Romans attack the Babylonians but also found a town to consolidate their empire. Their
aggressiveness triggers both the Babylonians and the Olmecs to invest in Military while
continuing their exploration of new land. The still isolated Egyptians pursue their
Culture/Religion strategy with level 2 in both as well as adding Monuments to their previously
acquired Cults, hence getting both extra luxuries and extra commodities.
Romans:
Attack and enslave Babylonian (Military 0, -1 commander), get commander, scientist, plunder 1 timber