Newcomers are as usual always welcome. Just be advised that HOF Beta Rules (http://hof.civfanatics.net/civ4/rules.php) do apply, in addition to these settings.

Difficulty: Noble
Mapsize: Standard
Starting Era: Ancient
Speed: Epic
Submitted on or before: April 24th.
Victory Condition: Conquest (though all victory conditions must be enabled)
Map Type: Archipelago
Opponents: Rome, Greece, Eygpt, Persia, Mali, Spain, and one other.
Patch: 1.52


The earliest finish date wins, with score as a tiebreaker.

I apologise for the stupid question, but can the HOF mod be used. I read somewhere that no mods are allowed in the HOF games.

Cheers.

I apologise for the stupid question, but can the HOF mod be used. I read somewhere that no mods are allowed in the HOF games.

Cheers.
Not a stupid quesiton. HOF mod is the only approved mod. You are welcome to use it.

Ahh. Now this I will play.

- Bill

Questions:

Do we turn off all other victory conditions?

Can we use any Landmass type? or is that Archipelago too?

[QUOTE=Denniz]Not a stupid quesiton. HOF mod is the only approved mod. You are welcome to use it.[/QUOTThanks Denniz for the confirmation...:)

Do we turn off all other victory conditions?
No. HOF entries must have all victory conditions enabled or they don't qualify for the tables.

Can we use any Landmass type? or is that Archipelago too?
Landmass type is at player's discretion, so long as the continents option is set to Archipelago.

I was getting bored with the game but this has my interest. You should get a lot more participation in this gauntlet.

Good luck everyone.

Archipelago? I have no idea how to win this?

I suggest using ships ;-)

I have a question, may my civ be Rome, even if one of my oponents is Rome too?

I suggest using ships ;-)

Good suggestion:lol: but if there's any one tile cities :crazyeye: I can't win with only ships, I need a bunch of amphibious units.

I have a question, may my civ be Rome, even if one of my oponents is Rome too?

I think repeated leaders are not allowed.

I suggest using ships ;-):lol:

I have a question, may my civ be Rome, even if one of my oponents is Rome too?Just be advised that HOF Beta Rules do apply... Sorry, but that would be a no.

Opponents: Rome, Greece, Eygpt, Persia, Mali, Spain, and one other.
[/list]

What is meant by the other civ? Random or my choice?

What is meant by the other civ? Random or my choice?
Your choice, so long as there are no repeated leaders.

i ll try that too.:)

fits my prefered civ like a charm.

dumb me dumb me

dumb me dumb me
:confused: :confused:

Good to see you in IV, btw.

This looks interesting. I'm not particularly good at island maps, so this should be a learning experience.

Quick question: I assume that the official win will be given to the highest score and not the earliest finish, right?

Quick question: I assume that the official win will be given to the highest score and not the earliest finish, right?
No, it is fastest finish.

omg fastest win there?

*restarts*

anyone want to share his results/estimations for a first place?

im having a run I concider good right now, and it might take me till 1600 to win, maybe even longer.

I haven't played island maps much so I don't have the experience to get a quick win right now. Going to have to play around. If you can finish by 1600 you should be doing rather well in my opinion. I think I am going to restart, I messed up my tech paths pretty good. If I finish my game out I would say I would finish around 1750-1800.

I have very little experience with conquest. It's fun for a change, but I can't guess how long it takes to clean up everyone. I got Astronomy in 370 AD. Seems like to you can't win until you get that unless low sea level allows you to get around in a galley. I thought High Seas would mean less cities to conquer, so I played High. Again, I don't know anything about fast conquest.

I didn't use a financial leader, so how does the 370 compare? anyone want to share?

Also, anyone want to share which landmass they chose and why?

Archipelago, continents , for takeout one AI early :)
But I'v failed six games in a row....incredible...maybe other settings (tropical) are wrong

I don't know how 370 compares, I will check my logs later. I have been trying to build up a little bit and get a decent economic base so I can out tech the AI to gunpowder units. However this may not be the best solution at all. I just don't know if swordsmen/macemen will be able to take them all out before they get gunpowder. We'll see.

I tried snaky continents first. My reasoning was that it would give me enough landmass to build up several cities and would also give me atleast 1 AI I could hit before I got to astronomy. Not to mention the added resources. However this created the problem of the AI having a TON of cities, meaning longer to take them out. My current attempt is with tiny islands, high sea level. This is resulting in a lot fewer cities to take out but it creates its own problems. The main problem is that I can't move my units to a single boarding point to board them on ships, so that takes several turns to get around. I haven't played archipelago yet, we'll see if that is a nice medium.

I do think that I am going to abandon my expansion/teching phase. I usually tend to always do too much in the gauntlets and don't go minimalistic enough.

HOF Staff: can we add additional leaders to the list or is 7 the limit?

HOF Staff: can we add additional leaders to the list or is 7 the limit?
Yes, you can add. 7 is the minimum limit. As no maximum was stated, the current HOF rules allow however many the game will let you have. :)

With Tiny Islands, I'd think you must use Rocky to have any decent production. I used Rocky with continents even.

Continents only gave me one AI I could reach b4 Astronomy. Unless low sea improves that count, continents are not the way to go. Mine was even too big for me to settle. I'd say the extra land/cities I need to conquer are going to hurt my fast finish.

On tiny islands I actually settled on a plains hill and had 2 more in my cross so production in my capital wasn't bad. I'll try rocky next time I gen a map. I really wish there was a way to play OCC until I started attacking and then turn it off :P

I may try playing OCC once though. Will take a really nice start to be able to do it though.

I usually try all these OCC, but I don't see how OCC is going to help you this time. The best advantage is Oxford without all those Universities, but I have no intention of ever getting Education. Then there's the "more than 2 national wonders" advantage, but I don't see myself building more than 2. It seems OCC has no chance this time.

Played as qin on archipelago continents high sea level. I settled only seven but good cities, pumped reserch but got astronomy in about 700 AD, optic in 300. Bejin was 300 beakers without Oxford, but conquest took a very long time, couse two opponents reached astronomy in the last 20 turns and I hadn't horses in the start continent.

Finally a simple n0000000000b question: do you usually write a micro spoiler or share a "random" information about your games?

Finally a simple n0000000000b question: do you usually write a micro spoiler or share a "random" information about your games?
If you're inquiring about HOF policy regarding writeups, there really is none other than encouragement. You can write as much or as little as you like, although we do run these to be as educational/enlightening as they are entertaining.

It really depends on the person. A lot of the players in the gauntlets will write up their entire strategies in the thread to help others learn. Especially when there are a lot of finishes around the same time. That way readers can see the little improvements each person makes so they can put them all together. There are some people that find a really nice strat that finish really well that prefer to keep it to themselves until after the gauntlet is over. There's nothing wrong with that, just a competitive thing.

Once I find a strat that gives me a nice finish I will post it up.

I usually share random bits, especially this early. I wouldn't want to spoil the fun of figuring things out for yourself. I also find that posting good finishes will discourage some players.

My first attempt is complete. I realize now that it doesn't take that long to conquer everyone. Domination is much harder because you have to control so much land. It only took 10 - 20 turns to kill of each civ after Astronomy. I didn't even attack anyone until then.

I think my victory year was pretty good, so I'm not gonna scare anyone off with it. I will share some random bits though.

I played Napolean for the UU. Musketeers are nice, but over half of the conquest is done with swordsman. The extra movement point of the musketeers saved me about 10 turns or so. Napolean was great fun for a change of pace, but I don't think he's the best choice. Faster tech is the key once again. Unless those low sea level maps allow you to get around in a galley. I just assumed they don't.


I got stone, so I figured I'd put Napolean's industrial trait to use and get the Pyramids early. I also got the G. Lighthouse (naturally), but that was it for wonders.

Even though I ran 2 scientists in 2 cities, I never generated a Great Scientist, so I didn't get the Academy.

Wastin: What landmass did you use and did you use high sea level? Also, how many cities did you create yourself and how many did you end up keeping/razing?

I am thinking tiny islands with high sea level is the way to go, but it leaves me without very much land to develop my initial cities on. I was only able to create 3 in my last game. I have been keeping cities when I first start conquering and then start razing about half the way through the conquest.

wow :)

for me it lasts 122 turns from my 1st attack, but 162!!! from astronomy ( I ended with modern navy, 24 turns for last 3 civs).

I made an huge mistake, didn't build a galley fleet before.
I'll have to cut at least 40 turns :)
Thx for the tips.

Unless those low sea level maps allow you to get around in a galley. I just assumed they don't.
Well, I have only played one archipelago map in the past, and it was low sea level and I was able to circumnavigate the world in a workboat, so I'd say you can get most places with a galley.

I played snaky continents, high seas. There were a lot of resources (stone even), but it was too much land. I only settled half of mine. I had 4 cities with decent beakers and hammers and then a 5th city stayed at size 1 but it had 7 hammers.

Like I said, I didn't capture any cities until after astronomy. I kept the first 6 cities, but should have only kept 4 of those. Then I kept one more in the next war. And two in the following war. And others to heal the troops here and there. My last 3 civs were all on the same contintent so it was really just one big civ. Each civ was only about 4-6 cities.

Those last 3 had a few longbowmen (they finally got feudalism). My Musketeers were in full force by then. They will never get gunpowder and didn't get optics (much less Astronomy).

Regarding low seas:
I'd be willing to bet someone would be located in unreachable territory, so you still need Astronomy to win the game. If someone generates a map that can reach everyone, they will win. I think I'll try this next. At least get some conquering in before Astronomy.

ok, 50 turns cutted. Probably in this kind of map victory comes 30 turns earlier.
Usually I don't play this kind of map: 1400 AD is good or not for you master of HOF? :)

I think 1000 AD will be possible with Astronomy required, but 1400 sound like a great start. Who'd you play? What landmass? any highlights?

I suppose something ridiculous like 1 AD could happen if you get a map where Astronomy is not needed. I hope this is not the case. The whole point of an island map is to avoid the same old early rush tactic.

1000 AD? that is very impressive. I need to start playing more minimalistic.

Meant that will be very impressive, don't think you have hit it yet Wastin :p

I did NOT finish in 1400 AD :D it's a simple question for setting a affortable goal :D :D

The map is your map: archipelago, continents, rocky (room for seven or eight cities with some good overlapping).

I think I'm following a wrong strategy, couse I can't reach astronomy in 170/180 turns, only in 210, maybe couse I'm very poor of resources.
Two clams there make a big difference :|
BTW I didn't make an early rush, I was all alone in my continent.
Strategy in maybe too obvious: stonhenge, Oracle and Pyramids in 600/400 BC, great lighthouse, GL, and straight for optc and astronomy, shut down reaserch for 5/8 turns, so banking nationalism, golden age, military tradition,research chemistry, research dropped to 60/50 % and useless techs. I ended with 3000 idiot coins (no timing at all, I could switch for universal suffrage and buy ten units but I was scared about happyness...no comment :) )

P.S. 108 turns of war, about 16 turns per civ

You don't need Stonehenge or the GL. You don't really have the amount of cities needed to take advantage of Stonehenge vs the turns it takes to build it. You aren't researching enough to need the GL and having ot tech literature is wasted turns. You can trade for it later if you want to build the heroic epic.

I don't build the Oracle because you have to tech all the religious techs yourself (I don't tech alphabet early like most games). Time spent teching those techs doesn't really make up for the time saved on the free tech and you could miss it.

I don't build the pyramids because it takes way too many turns. If I had stone I may go for it but I guess they are optional.

Build units early, galleys and any melee unit. You can use your extra cash to upgrade them to modern units. I would go with galleys myself.

What's the word on v1.61. Can we upgrade if we want to and still qualify for HOF?

What's the word on v1.61. Can we upgrade if we want to and still qualify for HOF?
Not yet. (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=166941);)

What's the word on v1.61. Can we upgrade if we want to and still qualify for HOF?
Not yet. (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=166941);)Also, since the patch changes some aspects of game play. This Gauntlet is only valid for V1.52 games.

This was my first ever try at a Gaunlet. I finished in 1490 ad playing as Washington on Snaky Continents. I chose Ghandi as my last opponent.

Washington was a mistake because I never got the chance to take advantage of his UU. I was lucky enough to eliminate on my continent the Romans, Indians, Greeks, Persians, and Egyptians (in that order). The Spanish and Mali had to wait until I discovered Astronomy - which I delayed way to long by going after Military Tradition.

I'll try again and try to shave 200 years off my score.

My first attempt at a gauntlet...

First to circumnavigate in 1225BC
CS Slingshot in 920BC
Academy in 620BC
Astronomy in 500AD
Conquest in 800AD

I played small islands at low sea level with the Inca. The start location had two food resources, a lake and four (count 'em) gold hills. :crazyeye:

First attempt - 1853 finish.

I played as Elizabeth on a Tiny Islands map, the biggest problem was the lack of production, especially in the beginning. I failed to build every early wonder except the Great Library. However, I circumnavigated the map very early with a couple of workboats sent in opposite directions.

I started the conquest very late, after I got Redcoats. I think it can be started a lot earlier, the AI cities are almost defenseless. 3 Redcoats and 3 Cats could capture virtually any enemy city, usually protected by a few longbowmen. I faced riflemen only very late, when I got myself artillery, marines, and tanks.

No navy resistance either. A Galley destroyed one of my fishing boats, and on the next turn it was killed by my Destroyer.

Next time I'll try to start conquest with macemen/cats.

Great finish HighDesert. I was afraid that low sea was going to make it too easy to kill most if not all civs before Astronomy. How many were unreachable by galley?

All of the opponents were accessible by galley.

I think the 800AD win is definitely beatable. I had horrible luck with the RNG on an attempt at a Quechua rush. (I had successfully done a rush on a trial run.) Then my first two Macemen (87%) lost. I got a little off goal with research; the Galleons are definitely a big help and should have come sooner. And I didn't get developed enough before doing some things that could have waited. As well lost a core town to a sneak attack. UGH!

Gold hills seem to cover a lot of errors...

I was hoping the Island Conquest game would be interesting. Sad to see it's just another Quechua rush. Should have been high sea level. :mad: At least I got to try some conquest for a change. On the bright side...I can upgrade to 1.61 now and pass on this gauntlet.

Why did you even bother getting Astronomy? Once you get Macemen, just turn on the cash and upgrade your Quechua. Or better, just stop after Iron Working and win with swordsman. :( Not at all what I was hoping for.

You can rig up 'Archipelago' so you'll have a very good shot at having a map that can be circumnavigated with Sailing. The best time will undoubtably be one of these.

As far as I know, the only map type that out-and-out enforces the Astronomy limitation is Custom_Continents. No matter how close the landmasses get, there is always a canal of ocean tiles in-between. However, this can sometimes be bridged with strategic city building.

Perhaps a better option would be a Conquest on one of the Earth scenarios. Your choice of civs.

- Bill

You can rig up 'Archipelago' so you'll have a very good shot at having a map that can be circumnavigated with Sailing.How so?

---

Its not that difficult.

Maptype: Archipelago
Setting: Archipelago
Sea Level: Low

I rolled up a bunch of maps to test this, checking the open pathways with the world builder. Sometimes the paths to certain landmasses are very long (but can be shortened considerably with clever city placement), but they almost always exist.

- Bill

It's going better: 1250 AD, archipelago continents rocky, no oracle (pyramids and stonehenge again)
My research was VERY slow, early war and two opponents out on anno domini. 50 turns for completing the game from astronomy.
I'll try small islands :)
My real gap is research :|
GG High Desert! :)

I did one Incan rush just to try it. Now I can turn it over to the people who enjoy the ancient era conquests. I did Arch. landmass instead of tiny islands. Low sea.

480 AD conquest.

The Quechuas weren't that useful. I had Iron in no time. I can't think of any of the civs available that would be better though.

I just researched Iron working, sailing, and then Construction. I never learned another tech after that. Just built Elephants, swordsmen, galleys and catapults. Tiny islands would make it easier to get around. My map was like a maze. The good thing about Arch. over islands is I had 4 civs on one continent. Three (including me) were on my continent. An then one all by himself. I'd say Tiny islands is the way to go, but maybe you're really gambling on whether the galleys can get around to everyone.

Never generated a GP, so no Academy. No wonders. No buildings (except barracks). Oh, i did build one obelisk (whoopie!) so my borders would expand.
I built 2 settlers.

One exciting thing about the game is that my cash was running out fast. In a few turns I would have had to kill off some military (or go into anarchy)

I should have mentioned this last night, but we're sticking with 1.52 for this Gauntlet even though 1.61 is out.

Reading Wastintimes report and the fact that this is 1.52, I'm skipping this BG. The idea was interesting though...

Beta Gauntlet IX results:
Congratulations to Wastin Time (http://hof.civfanatics.net/civ4/game_info.php?show=general&entryID=1606), Sormr (http://hof.civfanatics.net/civ4/game_info.php?show=general&entryID=1570) and storvik (http://hof.civfanatics.net/civ4/game_info.php?show=general&entryID=1570) for finishing first, second and third.