I get another artist in 1700 AD. He will sit around waiting for a mission.
I build the Statue of Liberty in 1735 AD.
I pop a scientist in 1800 AD, and he starts a golden age. My artist found his mission.
The location of the nearest possible oils is annoying. It looks like Novgorod will need to pump out culture like crazy.
I pop a prophet in 1844 AD. I don't thing this game will last long enough to collect 3 people for another GA, so I merge him into the future home of Wall Street - Pyongyang.
I complete the Pentagon in 1858 AD.
I entered the modern era in 1862 AD.
I complete Broadway in 1872 AD.
I complete the UN in 1890 AD. Time to find out if I can win the preferred victory type.
I pop a GE that lets me build Eiffel Tower in 1892 AD.
I get my first negative surprise, when Mao turns out to be my opponent for diplomatic victory. I was expecting Napoleon. Mao managed to sneak ahead with just 4 points of pop recently. I do get Elizabeth's vote for secretary general.
I complete Rock and Roll in 1900 AD.
I followed up with Broadway in 1904 AD.
Diplomacy is so tough in Civ4. I signed a DP with France getting his vote, just to lose England's vote.
When Napoleon goes to first place again in population, I then get stuck with Mao voting for Napoleon. It is looking like it will have to be back door domination.
I have already starting building an artillery SoD anticipating this. However, I am waiting until the last possible moment to do this.
I don't want to take the 30 point penalty for percentage of population going above 31.
I swap to Communism to get the civics bonus with China.
I pop an artist that culture bombs Novgorod to try and get the oil tile. This drops the oil tile to 46% Chinese. It should be mine shortly.
I have zero use for pushing science ahead, yet I popped a GS in 1932 AD. I simply merge him into Seoul.
The value of GP is dropping as often happens late game. Late game an extra golden age, or a GE to rush a wonder is the only real use for GP.
I finally have to give in and do something to break the DP between China and France.
I pay Napoleon to go to war with America in 1958 AD. I get screwed when the very first turn after the declaration England asks for help vs. France.
I was hoping to get a least one vote before this happened, as I will now take a hit from China diplomatically including the cancelled DP.
Bombers and artillery vs. rifles and machine guns is absurd.
My recent artist bombs my new city to get it out of resistance.
I get the GE from fusion in a game where I don't see much value in research.
I can get Mao to declare war on Roosevelt, but this doesn't help me.
I sign peace with Napoleon in 1970 AD and then get Elizabeth to do the same.
I burn the GE to speed up Three Gorges Dam, and complete it in 1976 AD.
I get Napoleon to sign peace with America in 1975 AD when I see that I might win with Elizabeth now number one in population.
That turns out false, as I gain Mao's vote, but lost Napoleons.
I have no choice but to start the war cycle up again, and concede winning with less the 31% of the vote. I declare war on America.
This ends my goal versus America, and I am just waiting to sign peace.
I get another artist that bombs Philadelphia.
I sign peace with America in 1990 AD leaving him just one city with a single defender.
Napoleon continues to abstain in 1992, so I declare war on him to win via the back door.
I never realized a prophet would help research future tech.
I sign peace with Napoleon in 2004 AD. Two turns later Elizabeth declares on Napoleon without me asking.
The marathon finally ends. If I had know Elizabeth would turn on Nappy, then I would have delayed the UN vote to get rid of some negative points.
The game claims I spent 15 hours playing, but it felt way more then that. I know that several hours of those were dead time such as a phone call in the middle of playing the game. I can't figure out why this game felt like a marathon.
The final score was:
100 - Victory
020 - Diplomatic victory with more then 31% of the pop
008 - Relationship modifiers
128 - Final score
I'll be lucky to get into the middle of the pack. If I had rushed to communism for the civics bonus with Mao, I suspect my score would have been a lot better as I wouldn't have needed some of the wars to finish the game with a victory.