Post making contest 5.0

This is update #233.

on a scale from 1 to 10 how well did civ 5 prepare you for this

At this point, I dunno, maybe a 4 or a 5? I'm comfortable with the whole city management shebang, from worker assignment to district construction, and I'm beginning to understand the various yields, but combat and diplomacy are still complete mysteries, the former especially...

YEAR FOUR COMMENTARY PART ONE

• okay so praying for winter effects is kinda like trying to guarantee the best worst case scenario because the game just suggested I might get -15 approval in all cities next winter and I would really much rather -10% health regen because that's not even a detriment at this point
  
• I managed to get dark green to agree to peace again. I've yet to try actually forcing factions into peace with me because the cyan yeti mice and this lot are the only two with whom I can make peace, and they're both quite willing to do so...
  
• (I do not understand the diplomacy system and am playing a faction whose recommended victory is the diplomatic victory)
  
• I put a wyvern in the queue. It's about time I got something that can actually fly...
  
• Right, this time I beelined the strategic resources required to build the third era wonder, and Hurricos is now a production powerhouse that can churn it out in six turns. Fingers crossed...
  
• I figured out that you can surround city districts with others to upgrade them and now Glimmer looks even more swish. And, um, more, erm, foreboding than I was expecting...
  
• OH MY GOODNESS THE ROADS OUT OF THE CITY HAVE LITTLE PILLARS EITHER SIDE OF THEM WITH CUTE DRAGON STATUES ON TOP
  
• And there's another legendary deed - I've made 4000 gold dust so far this game! I've spent absolutely none of it!
  
• I finally managed to stumble into another roving army to compelete my mainline quest and now it would like me to research eight technologies from the second era. I have already done that, so I'm guessing I'm a touch behind here...
  
• (...there are nine left, in case I need to notch 'em up again...)
  
• Nope okay just needed to tick another turn over - now I need to find somewhere to build a nursery... it looks like Glimmer's big enough, I'll just shove it in the queue...
  
• So the current competitive quest would like me to defeat a "guardian" roaming about in Jayain. That's a place only I can get at - it's the frozen wasteland to my north. I'm just on my way there to deliver some Palladian to the local Kazanji... maybe I should pick up some reinforcements on my way there?
  
• I GOT TO BUILD THE ALCHEMICAL INSITUTE WOOHOO WONDER WHORING AIN'T A DEAD ART YET
  
• is 1am a good time to learn how to design units yes or no
  
• WAIT SHITTING HELL THE YETI MICE JUST GOT MURDERED
  
• SWEET JESUS
  
• ORANGE NECROPHAGES YOU SCOUNDRELS THEY WERE MY ONLY FRIENDS
  
• oh shit sudden loud chanting that must mean I've reached the next era somehow
  
• okay "pixie blood" is a new luxury they are making this shit up as they go along
  
• So one of the legendary deeds for this era is to be the first to achieve an Empire Approval rating of 100. My lowest city approval rating is currently 71.9 and I have a wine booster available that says it'll add 30 approval per city. This seems very doable and finally gives me a hint as to what boosters are meant to be used for...
  
• EVERYBODY LOVES ME (within my borders)
  
• what is that
  
• why is there a big golden puddle in the middle of that major intersection
  
• there are spikes growing out of it and everyth- oh it's a new luxury
  
• I have no hyperium whatsoever. There goes the plan of beelining for the next set of strategics to get the fourth era wonder...
  
• oh huh there's some in the frozen wastes to my north - maybe it's time I expanded a bit more
  
• FUCKING HELL THE GUARDIAN IS HUGE
  
• LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT THING
  
• I just threw a random selection of upgraded equipment at the army of mine that's accidentally ended up standing next to it and now they are just going to dig in for a while. With any luck this won't end in tears...
  
• IT BUGGERED OFF THANK GOODNESS
  
• wait no now it's standing in front of the minor faction village that I'm trying to get at THIS IS NOT OKAY
  
• okay made it I've dropped of the delivery jolly good now I'm going to bed

End of message.