Part of the campaign:

Welcome back to Groundhog Day! Sorry for the delay—it took me a long time to film this round, in part because it took a long time, but also due to working. (But the company just shut down and I was laid off, so that means more time for AI games I guess?) Anyway, let's dive right into it!

The second cities are mostly founded (except for Konbaung. I'm not sure they ever settled). Fillmore has decided to pre-emptively eliminate himself by settling on the opposite side of Burundi.

The first war is Wallachia vs. the Vikings, but they're really too far apart to damage each other much.

Nepal attacks Córdoba, and Tulaytulah looks virtually indefensible. In other news, apparently there's already been a war between Bohemia and Leon, and it's already over.

Ragnar, having long since grown bored with Wallachia, decides to take on a much easier target: poor Millard Fillmore.

Sulu launches a surprisingly well-constituted attack against Venezuela. Valencia is fortified with walls, but lacks defensive terrain or defensive units.

Nepal finally captures and razes Tulaytulah. Meanwhile, it seems Venezuela is trying to lock down the entire west coast with questionable desert cities.

Unsurprisingly, Sulu captures Valencia, and Chavez is unable to do anything to reverse its loss.

Japan attacks Rapa Nui, perhaps in a bid to connect Tokyo with the rest of Oda's territory. Hotu Matua looks totally unprepared.

The Vikings finally take Washington, although it seems they've been forced to snipe the city after Poland did most of the actual damage. Amazingly, however, New Orleans is still standing, so Fillmore isn't out yet.

Japan takes Mataveri, uniting the empire. Leon might want to do the same, though.

Oops, I didn't see that one coming. Poland captures New Orleans with a single spearman after Benin tried and failed for years to take the city. Millard Fillmore of America is eliminated in 21st place.

And now it's time for the turn 100 stats. In military manpower it's a close race all the way down, but Wallachia, the Shoshone, and Poland currently make up the top three.

The Shoshone have a decent lead in crop yield, thanks to having lots of land in some of the best flat farmland on the map.

And the Vikings so far lead in production, with Poland and Japan tied for second.

Anyway, returning to the action, we can see that Japan has again attacked Rapa Nui, and Nepal has declared war on Córdoba in the background.

Hotu Matua makes peace with Japan by giving away Hanga Piko. I find this move... questionable.

Scotland builds the great wall. Given how many neighbours are crammed in around them, I think they'll need it.

Hm, I didn't see it turning out this way. Japan has declared war on Leon, but Alfonso is already taking the opportunity to try to unite his disjointed empire. Oda Nobunaga will need to pull off a feat of strategic mastery to hang on to Tokyo.

Unfortunately, he's a civ AI not Sun Tzu, and Leon easily captures the city.

Burundi declares war on Poland! New Orleans is basically a free city at this point.

It takes just four turns for Burundi to beat down the walls of New Orleans. I'd consider the war a resounding success and end it at this point, since I don't think Cambarantana can push into Poland proper.

Damn, he should have listened to my advice. Poland has captured Gitega, turning the war into a draw rather than a win for Burundi.

But Benin is at war with Poland, and Ewuare swoops in to take the city!

Oh wow, I had no idea this was even happening. Out of nowhere, the Massagetae take Shwebo, eliminating Alaungpaya of Konbaung in 20th place.

Haha, wow. This just keeps getting messier. Burundi has given away New Orleans to Songhai in a peace treaty...

Nepal attacks Córdoba a third time. With Córdoba itself already under pressure from the Shoshone, Prithvi Narayan might have a real chance to take it this time.

Weiming Yuanhao is a subscriber to the philosophy of "go big or go home," so the Tanguts attack their strongest neighbour: Japan.

Sure enough, Nepal is able to capture Córdoba, eliminated Abd-ar-Rahman III of Córdoba in 19th place.

And it's curtains for Poland, I think, as Wallachia and the Vikings both declare war on an exhausted Casimir.

Oh wow, I don't think I expected Weiming Yuanhao's gamble to backfire THAT badly. Japan has absolutely crushed the Tangut defenses, taking Xiazhou!

KAPOW! Out of absolutely nowhere, Wallachia lands a killing blow against Rapa Nui, capturing Hanga Roa and eliminating Hotu Matua in 18th place!

But Vlad loses out on Warsaw, which is instead captured by the Massagetae.

Songhai attacks Burundi again, and it seems like Bujumbura itself might be in danger.

And the Massagetae also take Krakow, eliminating Casimir III of Poland in 17th place.

Tomyris immediately turns her wrath on Benin. I can't decide if it's a good move to try to take out Benin early, or a bad idea because Benin has such a powerful ability to turn wars around out of nowhere.

But first, the very late turn 200 stats. Japan has a large-ish lead in military manpower, while Wallachia is pretty comfortable in second too.

The Shoshone are beginning to pull ahead in technologies.

And Japan has the most production, but not much more than the Massagetae and Benin, who are exactly tied for second.

Anyway, back on the ground, it looks like Tomyris has an early lead against Benin with the capture of Gitega.

Meanwhile, Songhai captures Bujumbura, leaving Cambarantana with a single island city.

Oh shit, Ewuare has an ace up his sleeve! With some help from his city-attacking UA, he blitzes Shwebo, taking out a major Massagetae production centre.

James VI basically takes himself out of the game by giving away Glasgow to Nepal. Smart move.

I think this is it for the Massagetae! Already exhausted from the fight against Benin, there's no way Tomyris can defend against a two-pronged attack from Wallachia and Songhai as well.

Vlad starts off by taking Warsaw, the city he tried and failed to take all those years ago.

Meanwhile, it appears Maurya has captured Lagos from Benin. How interesting.

Benin sweeps in and takes Oxus, splitting the Massagetae in half.

Ewuare also retakes Gitega!

And Krakow...

But Wallachia gets the capital, Jaxartes. Only the island city of Aral remains.

Benin seems to have recaptured Lagos, securing the city for now.

Wallachia and Songhai team up again, this time against the Vikings. This seems like a bit of a dangerous move, actually; Ragnar is not to be messed with.

Time for the turn 300 stats! Nepal and Benin are almost perfectly tied for first place in military, while Wallachia and Japan are almost as close in the race for second.

The Shoshone tech lead has decreased from two techs to one as Leon also begins to pull away from the pack.

And Benin is pulling way ahead in production. Nepal and the Vikings are almost tied for second. These stats really suggest that it's anyone's game at this point.

Nepal declares war on a beleaguered Scotland in an attempt to unite Glasgow to the main empire. But Prithvi Narayan will have to be quick to get there before the Shoshone do.

And he fails! Pocatello captures Edinburgh, eliminating James VI of Scotland in 16th place, and acquiring the great wall.

Oh man, this is a big one. Japan has declared war on Wallachia! We're going to see some real bloodshed here, I'm afraid.

While Japan presses hard against Wallachia's western flank, Vlad quickly takes the Japanese exclave of Hanga Piko.

In exchange, Oda Nobunaga captured Craiova and begins to move on the critical Hanga Roa canal.

Indeed, Hanga Roa soon falls. Can Japan move onto the eastern continent?

They can! Oda Nobunaga has gone straight for the kill, taking Targoviste itself!

In response, Nepal declares war on Japan, but their only avenue of attack is through Glasgow. The city will be hard for Prithvi Narayan to defend.

Wallachia has retaken Targoviste, but in the meantime Japan has pushed troops over the isthmus, taking Turnu.

Four more civilizations declare war on Wallachia, including Benin. Vlad manages to make peace with Japan, but I don't think he can withstand even Benin by itself.

Now with no other distractions, Oda Nobunaga is able to focus on Nepal. As a result, Japan easily takes Glasgow.

Four civs declares war on Benin, but the only really notable on is the Vikings.

Obviously this doesn't stop Benin from dismantling Wallachia, beginning with Jaxartes.

Warsaw soon falls as well.

However, this opens up an opportunity for the Vikings, who manages to take Warsaw for themselves.

Nepal attacks Venezuela, which seems like a good move in the long run, even though a large Venezuelan fleet is immediately threatening Lalitpur.

Venezuela takes Lalitpur, but the Nepalese navy is coming to the rescue, and Barquisimeto is on the ropes.

And Nepal takes both Lalitpur and Barquisimeto!

Oda Nobunaga makes a bold move and attacks the Shoshone. Pocatello has superior tech and the great wall, which will make this a real uphill battle for Japan.

Although Oda will have Nepal on his side, thanks to a fairly stupid move by Pocatello.

Benin makes peace with the Vikings, receiving Reykjavik. (Warsaw was recaptured a while ago.)

Ewuare decides to finally finish off the Massaegetae. About time, I say!

Nepal continues to destroy Venezuela, taking the twin cities of Maracaibo and Maracay.

Another island rump state is about to be finished off as Songhai attacks Burundi.

But first, Benin takes Aral, eliminating Tomyris of the Massagetae in 15th place.

And later that very same turn, Songhai captures and razes Muyinga, eliminating Cambarantana of Burundi in 14th place.

A stray Shoshone unit somehow manages to take Maracay. Don't even ask, I have no idea how this happened.

The Vikings attack a seriously weakened Wallachia. At last, Ragnar seems to have his opportunity to wipe the floor with his southern neighbour.

Nepal retakes Maracay, only to lose it to Sulu. At least this makes sense, because Sulu has a navy. The Shoshone don't even have any coastal cities...

Campulung quickly falls to the Viking tide.

The Shoshone manage to take Maracaibo. Their vastly superior tech is definitely helping them here.

Nevertheless, Japan is able to storm Edinburgh, acquiring the great wall! One of Pocatello's main defenses is gone—can he hold out?

No! Pocatello makes peace with Oda Nobunaga and gives away Te Moak!

The Vikings manage to land a serious blow against Nepal by taking Pokhara.

And the Shoshone take Maracay again, at least for now.

Songhai declares war on its quiet southern neighbour Maurya. Ashoka is still at war with Benin, too. He might not make it through this.

But first, the turn 400 stats. Japan and Benin are neck in neck in military manpower, and no one else is close.

The Shoshone have recovered their science lead and extended it to three techs. Japan is all the way down in 10th, three techs behind Benin and six techs behind the Shoshone (who they just routed in a war).

Benin has by far the most production, however. Japan is loser to the #3 Vikings than to #1.

Meanwhile, it seems that Nepal has totally recovered Pokhara.

Benin captures Pataliputra with an overwhelming naval attack!

And Songhai takes Sarnath, eliminating Ashoka of Maurya in 13th place.

The Vikings capture Targoviste! Finally, Ragnar's goal in the very first war of the round has been achieved.

But it doesn't last long. Vlad recaptures Targoviste, then makes peace with the Vikings by giving away Arges.

Nepal attacks the Shoshone to reclaim those two lost cities. With no way to send reinforcements, Pocatello will have a hard time defending them.

Maracay is the first to fall; Maracaibo will surely follow.

On the eastern continent, Benin has captured Hanga Piko, leaving Wallachia with a single ravaged city.

And Nepal takes Maracaibo, leaving the Shoshone with just one city.

Bohemia makes peace with Japan and gives away Plzen. Nice.

Weiming Yuanhao realizes that he only lost one city last time he declared war on Japan, and he still has another one. So he declares war on Japan again.

19 turns later, Japan takes Xinqing, eliminating Weiming Yuanhao of the Tanguts in 12th place.

Benin declares war on the Vikings! This will be an interesting war, because although the two civs have rough tech parity, they also both have a front line city that the other will quickly capture.

Indeed, it does not take long for Ragnar to recapture Reykjavik.

The Vikings are also at war with Songhai, so Ragnar continues on, taking Taghaza.

But Benin captures Arges, the former Wallachian exclave.

And before we know it, it's already turn 500. Japan has widened its lead in soldiers, while the Vikings have also been beefing up significantly.

The Shoshone, Vikings, and Leon are now all tied for first place in technologies. Benin is now one tech behind the leaders, and Japan is now behind by four.

Benin's production has very nearly doubled, but so has Japan's. Benin's lead remains large, however.

And back on the battlefield, we see that Japan has declared war on the Shoshone again! Although Oda Nobunaga should ultimately triumph, Pocatello will have an easy time capturing Plzen first.

Indeed, the Shoshone quickly capture the undefended Japanese city, even as their capital takes heavy damage.

Meanwhile in the eastern archipelago, Songhai has retaken Taghaza and is putting a scratch or two on Reykjavik. The Vikings seem to have conjured a strong and advanced navy, however, so this might not last.

Japan takes Moson Kahni, and the two sides peace out. Note that the Shoshone, despite being left with one 8-pop city in resistance, are the first to invent artillery.

The Vikings finally decide to finish off Wallachia. Vlad can't wriggle away this time; he's surely finished.

Oh shit, what the hell! Japan has made perhaps its boldest move yet, launch a surprise attack on Benin! Ewuare has noticeably better tech, so it's not clear who will come out ahead here.

Before that war can go anywhere, however, the Vikings take Targoviste. Vlad III of Wallachia is eliminated in 11th place.

Japan manages to strike early against Benin, taking Hanga Piko, but I don't see how Oda could hold the city.

Oh, I guess that's one way. Oda immediately makes peace with Benin, ending the war while he's ahead.

Japan and Benin then team up against Leon, which everyone knows is the real threat to global stability.

Benin kicks off the war by taking Oviedo.

Hilariously, Hugo Chavez decides that this is the perfect time to declare war on Japan.

That same turn, Sulu captures Plzen, eliminating Pocatello of the Shoshone in 10th place.

Bohemia, Sulu, and the Vikings all join the coalition against Japan. Ragnar decides that this is the perfect time to also attack Songhai, although I guess he can afford to do that since he has an eastern and western navy that can't interact.

None of this stops Oda Nobunaga from capturing Leon.

...Or from retaking Tokyo, for that matter. With the return of this long lost city, Alfonso of Leon is eliminated in 9th place.

Japan then strikes at the Vikings, taking Targoviste!

Oda also fights back against Sulu, capturing Plzen.

And against Bohemia, taking Litomerice!

And then Japan takes Prague as well, eliminating Vaclav II of Bohemia in 8th place.

Four turns later, Songhai captures Caracas, eliminating Hugo Chavez of Venezuela in 7th place.

But, as you might have noticed on the previous slide, Japan now faces a serious DOW from Benin. Ewuare now has artillery and a much larger army, so Oda Nobunaga will need to pull off something incredible to hold the line here.

He does at least manage to take Oviedo, to make up for the inevitable capture of Hanga Piko.

Indeed, Benin quickly takes Hanga Piko and Targoviste.

In the west, Japan is still fighting, taking Valencia from Sulu.

Benin cuts and and captures Hanga Roa!

Japan makes peace with Sulu and receives Dungun and Maimbung. Perhaps these units can now be redirected to fight Benin.

A brief interjection for the turn 600 stats. Benin has a huge lead in soldiers, while Nepal has actually surpassed Japan entirely.

Nepal and Benin are also tied for the lead in technologies. Japan lags by three.

But Japan does lead in manufactured goods now. Benin has actually fallen by about 12 hammers since turn 500, while Japan has nearly doubled.

Benin sends a few naval units down into the corner to take Maimbung and Dungun.

But Dungun flips back to Japan and then to the Vikings.

Back at the canal, Japan is holding the line so far, flipping Hanga Roa and briefly recapturing Hanga Piko, even as Benin rolls out more and more advanced troops.

The Vikings declare war on Songhai for a third time, and this time I don't see how Askia can possibly defend against this.

Suddenly, Nepal attacks Japan! Tech wise, they're pretty similar, except Nepal has modern infantry and Japan doesn't. Prithvi Narayan seems to have an early advantage, but if Oda Nobunaga makes peace with Benin, Nepal won't stand up to the full might of Japan.

...Oh. Benin retakes Hanga Piko and then makes peace with Japan. Although the war was a resounding success for Benin, Japan's superpower status was never in doubt, and they remain very strong.

Nepal kicks off the war by capturing Kagoshima, but Japanese forces are already approaching.

First, the Japanese navy takes Pokhara.

Meanwhile, the Viking navy has taken both Taghaza and Bujumbura.

The naval invasion along Nepal's coast continues with the capture of Bharatpur.

And the Vikings also keep advancing, taking New Orleans.

Jenne is also captured. If the Vikings completely conquer Songhai, they will have a truly remarkable oceanic empire.

Japan has recaptured Kagoshima and has now pushed all the way to Córdoba. Nepal is starting to fall apart.

The Vikings take Tombouctou. They're closing in on the capital now...

Meanwhile, Japanese units are swarming everywhere, and Kathmandu has flipped.

And Kathmandu falls for good this time, along with Lalitpur and Maracaibo.

Then Nepal makes peace with Japan and gives away Maracay. Prithvi Narayan will live on as the leader of a city-state.

Oda then decides to get rid of this annoying Songhai city in the middle of his west coast.

And just like that, Caracas belongs to Japan.

The Vikings take Gao, but they appear to have pretty much exhausted their forces. Sarnath should hold for now.

Time for the turn 700 stats! Benin has a paratrooper carpet that is boosting their solider count to astronomical levels. Japan isn't weak either, though.

Benin has the tech lead now, while Japan lags by five technologies.

But Japan has the undisputed lead in production, probably because the eastern continent is split between two major powers. If not for that, they'd be about even.

Songhai has recaptured Gao, but then Askia gives away Sarnath in a peace treaty with Japan.

And the Vikings retakes Gao, eliminating Askia of Songhai in 6th place.

Japan wins the international games by a huge margin. Could this be a sign?

31 turns after the elimination of Songhai, Japan rolls over in its sleep and squishes Nepal. Prithvi Narayan of Nepal is eliminated in 5th place.

On turn 750, because turns are taking forever and the map is almost entirely carpeted, I declare world war.

Benin immediately takes Bauang, eliminating Jamalul Kiram I of Sulu in 4th place.

Meanwhile, Japan launches a naval attack and takes Hanga Piko.

Japan also builds the international space station by a significant margin.

Benin begins to eat through Viking territory, taking Gao.

All the Beninese units in Japanese territory manage to take Plzen, but the "peacekeeper" force is quickly being picked off by the Japanese home guard.

Japan also retakes Hanga Roa.

Benin pushes against the Vikings on all fronts, taking Bujumbura and dropping Washington to red.

Tombouctou and Sarnath have also both fallen.

Benin then strikes back in the west, taking Targoviste, Hanga Piko, Hanga Roa, and Craiova.

Washington and New Orleans are captured on the following turn.

Meanwhile, an enormous division of Japanese tanks has completely destroyed the Beninese army in their territory and has retaken Plzen.

Japan soon takes Bauang and Maimbung as well, driving Benin off of the southwest coast.

Finally, the world's fair is held, and of course Japan wins by a mile.

Oda has also begun pushing back on the eastern front, retaking Craiova and Hanga Roa and capturing Targoviste.

And Benin has taken Birka and Jenne from the Vikings.

Taghaza and Campulung soon follow.

Japan is now throwing a huge force toward the canal zine. Hanga Piko has been captured again and Turnu is in danger.

Turnu and Arges both fall as Japan makes a massive incursion onto the eastern continent!

Japan also takes Trondheim, the Viking capital.

But Benin strikes back, retaking Arges, Turnu, Targoviste, and Hanga Piko.

On the following turn, Japan retakes all four of those cities AND captures Jaxartes.

Benin retakes Jaxartes and captures Stockholm from the Vikings, but loses Campulung to Japan. Ragnar has momentarily recovered his capital.

Japan retakes Trondheim and Jaxartes, while Benin captures Reykjavik and Copenhagen.

Bergen is nuked off the map. There's tons of fallout everywhere. But otherwise nothing has changed in the past 9 turns.

It's turn 800, so here's the last round of stats. Japan now has the largest military, after routing Benin's large overseas force.

Benin still leads in science by five techs; no civ has finished the tech tree.

And Japan leads in production by over 1,000 hammers. Given that soldier lead and the production lead, you'd think Japan would be destroying Benin, but Ewuare is putting up one hell of a fight.

Indeed, Benin has taken Campulung and Trondheim.

And then Benin takes Oslo, eliminating Ragnar of the Vikings in third place. Side note: my god, that is a lot of fallout.

The two sides make peace, so I restart the war. Craiova and Turnu have been nuked off the map.

Eight turns later: Benin has taken Jaxartes and Arges but lost Campulung.

A further nine turns: Japan has taken Arges, Jaxartes, and Trondheim but lost Campulung.

Nine turns later, the only difference now is that Japan has taken Campulung.

23 more turns and Benin has retaken Arges. That's it.

Another 12 turns and Benin has actually made a real push, retaking Trondheim, Campulung, Targoviste, Jaxartes, and Arges.

18 more turns and... Japan has taken Targoviste.

Two turns after that, the two sides make peace, and I restart the war.

Benin starts off by taking Targoviste and Kobe within five turns.

After that, Izumi also falls.

But Japan retakes Izumi, Kobe, and Targoviste. It is now turn 900, meaning that the world war has raged for 150 turns. I've had to restart it twice. I think I've seen the writing on the wall: this is a stalemate. As such I've decided to end it here, with each civ getting half a point. The score now stands as follows:



Sulu: 1.5

Benin: 1

The Vikings: 1

Leon: 1

Venezuela: 1

The Shoshone: 0.5

Konbaung: 0.5

Japan: 0.5



Thanks for reading, and I'll have more within a couple weeks! See you all soon!

