Like in Carthago, here is part of my 'diary':
70 AD Jan: prelude
Lutetia looks strange and daunting to me. I have never built palaces before, and never before a city of 10000 people. Also the intro mentioned to prepare for early invasions.
That yellow area in the middle - is that really enough to feed 10000 people?
No fish, and every one knows that you cannot live from imports.
So all farms got to go into the middle. The entire eastern corner looks impenetrable. Is there a gap in between the rocks somewhere?
Well, the wolves should be welled in. That is an easy start. Ugh! 5 groups of wolves. That last one already was on the run, so I needed lots of wells to contain them.
Mediolanum looks like the best city to start trading with, it will buy both furniture and weapons.
I will start building some furniture industry near the entrance, comes in easy for caravans and make for a fast start. Than a brugle block of small casa somewhere in the centre.
I feel satisfied if at the end of year 1 I have 1 block of 500 people, a block of furniture industry working, first export made, and a fortress filling with javelin auxiliaries.
69 AD Jan: Act 1, scene 1:
Pop 452/10000; Cult 0/45, Prosp 6/50, Peace 2/50, Favor 48/40. Cash 1977, income 750.
All aims have been attained. I exported 5 furniture, and have 8 furniture workshops up and running. I got a fortress filling up with javelineers.
Mars got angry, and there is a small revolt of locals in the NNE. I should have built temples.
68AD: Jan Act I, scene 1 cont’d
Pop 655/10000 Cult 30/45; Prosp 12/50; Peace 3/50; Favor 46/40. Cash 1816, income 2250.
Venus struck twice. The revolt of locals was surpressed, but they released a pack of wolves and that was too much for the exhausted soldiers. Striking down the last wolf, they fled in panic. 69AD was a disaster year. I really should have build temples for all 5 gods, instead of just for mars and mercury. OK, they will get them this year.
Other things to do in 68: either a new housing block or a second export. I hesitate about the latter: Weapons would be the most economic, as the trade route is already open and they sell for the highest price. Pottery is cheaper and needs a second trade route. But iron mines can only be build on the eastern edge, which is far from my furniture area in the west near the entrance point and my housing block in the centre. Such a widely distributed city would be hard to defend.
67AD: Jan Act I, scene 2
Pop 1139/10000 Cult 21/45; Prosp 19/50; Peace 7/50; Favor 44/40. Cash 953, income 2250.
The first expansion: I started to build a second industry area of pottery near my housing block. To my horror I discovered a free pack of wolves where I thought my soldiers had killed them all. As soon as my 2nd industry block is working, I want to start a second housing block. I hesitate between the trusty brugle block and the new block Claudia pointed out.
Well, I certainly made a couple of mistakes, I should have had double exports and inhabitants by now. RSC's strategy is no doubt superior.
Future reports will be shorter.
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[Omnium harum gentium virtute praecipui Batavi non multum ex ripa]