While the general Hall of Fame is an ongoing competition, we like to run time-definite competitions between updates that we call Gauntlets. Standard Hall of Fame rules (*) still apply, but any games meeting the settings will be counted towards the Gauntlet.

(*) Please read the >> HOF rules << (http://hof.civfanatics.net/civ4/rules.php) BEFORE playing!


Settings:

Victory Condition: Space Race (though all victory conditions must be enabled)
Difficulty: Monarch
Starting Era: Ancient
Map Size: Standard
Map Type: Terra
Speed: Epic
Civ: Any
Opponents: Any
Version: 1.61.011 or 2.08.004
Date: May 25th to June 24th
The earliest finish date wins, with score as a tiebreaker.

I don't think I've ever won a Monarch space race before.

Interesting that both Major and Minor have the same settings just different winning conditions. When do the AI usually launch on Monarch/Epic? I'm guessing before 1900 which will probably prevent me from winning for sure.

Settings:

Date: 25th of May to the 9th of June
Is this right? I thought majors ran for 4 weeks.

Is this right? I thought majors ran for 4 weeks.

Whoops, fixed.

Nice settings! Except for Monarch, this is pretty similar to what I'd normally play, so I can play as usual and submit for the gauntlet! :)

Nice settings! Except for Monarch, this is pretty similar to what I'd normally play, so I can play as usual and submit for the gauntlet! :)I guess that would depend on whether you want win the gauntlet and how good your normal playing style finishes relative the competition. :mischief:

Interesting that both Major and Minor have the same settings just different winning conditions. When do the AI usually launch on Monarch/Epic? I'm guessing before 1900 which will probably prevent me from winning for sure.

No chance they'd launch before 1900. In the Prince Time victory gauntlet (major 10) AI civs that were completely left alone to work at their best pace could barely launch before 2050. Monarch isn't that big of a jump up.

I'm finding it quite tough. I just treat the gauntlets as a normal game (not trying to come first or anything) so I have barbs on, they are a lot worse on Monarch. Plus I get beat to wonders on this level when I got them before on Prince.

Well, I've got 3 weeks to practice anyway...

I'm also playing random leaders for myself and my opponents. If I get a financial civ I'm going for the space race. If I get a civ with an early UU, I am going for conquest.

I still haven't played all the civs yet I don't think, that's why I'm playing random leaders still. I've never been Rome yet!

At least if I do win a game then that will check me my first Monarch win, first Terra HOF win, and if I get a conquest it will be my first one of those for the HOF too. (EDIT: And first HOF epic speed game too. The only other epic game I have played to completion was this months WOTM).

You are doing it the same many other beginners did.
Please reconsider, you make this game harder than necessary.
Picking the circumstances the way you can win fastest also means it'll get easier most of the time.
It'd make only sense for your first game, to get a feeling for the AI and the speed.

Last night I decided to give this one a go, but not in a serious way. I decided to try an OCC just for the fun of it, as Bismarck. My starting position had five clam and one fish. Landwise I only had three tiles; two grass hills and a grass horse. As expected I took the lead and left the AI behind in research. Also as expected I didn't have any of the metal resources, nor did I have coal or aluminum! That rather shocked me. I figured I'd have at least one of them.

I still had a decent chance to winning until Gandhi built the UN. He kept doing the civics votes meaning I was losing all the civics that mattered. Representation rather sucked due to all my merged great people and specialist, but the one that hurt the most was losing Bureacracy. By this time I was a couple parts behind and with the civics changes I'm fairly certain I can't win.

In the end I was running nine specialist with around thirteen merged GP's (artist x2,engineer x4, merchant, scientist x6), plus the Academy. I had just finished Ecology and was about to build the Recycling Bin so I could boost my specialists even more, but oh well.

BTW, I've never seen this before, but I put so much cultural pressure on Catherine's capitol it went into a German revolt! I didn't think you could do that.

Odd start, but very interesting and a lot of fun!

Hello, all. I am a newbie to this forum, but have been playing various iterations of Civ since 2000 (when my best friend got me hooked on Civ II Test of Time).

I nearly pulled an all-nighter and finished the G-Major 12 game, and submitted it early this a.m. (My second game submitted to this forum.) I picked Elizabeth as the best bet for a space race victory, and managed a launch by 1934. I am sure some of you hard-cores won't have any trouble beating that, given some of the launch dates I see on the Hall of Fame. But I do not see going back and trying to do it faster now -- been there, done that.

Monarch is tough -- I used to play that level all the time, but it has become much more difficult since the last patch, so I have largely been relegated back to Prince. The AI starts with too many cheating advantages -- hopefully that will change with BTS.

I had several "false starts" with different maps, but could never get a third city built before the AI took most of the land around me, and I did not want to devote resources to an early war -- wanted to build early wonders instead, to maximize use of Elizabeth's philosophical strengths and crank out the great leaders. I finally resigned myself to only have two cities to start with, crank on the research, beat everybody else to Astronomy by a long shot (via Liberalism feebie), and completely conquered the barbarian cities and settled most of the "americas" in the terra map before the other civs had the chance. (Go England!) This approach let me build my empire to the extent necessary to keep the research pace up in the later game. I even brought over a great artist to set off a culture bomb in one of those cities to take over as much land as possible. (And my strong culture at home finally took over enough land to make room for a half-way decent third city on the starting continent.)

While I had more than my fair share of "bad luck," I also had some good luck too. I was beat out to Hinduism by three turns, so I continued on to find Judaism. For some strange reason, Judaism spread out like wildfire to all of the other civs, and they started converting, notwithstanding the other religions already founded. At one point, all but one civ was converted to Judaism. So everybody was pretty friendly to me, and I did not go to war with any of the civs (except the barbarians in the americas) during the entire game. (Well, I declared war on one when another civ asked me, but did not actually fight.) The Temple of Solomon yielded a lot of gold, and with only two cities early on, I was able to keep research cranked to 100% and still build up over 2000 gold over time until I started taking over the americas. Elizabeth's financial strength, together with the Great Library, the Oracle (used to obtain Metal Working), and extra gold from Colossus, helped me keep ahead of the research curve early on with only two cities -- something I am not usually able to do at Monarch level early on. (I was also helped by my unusually friendly relationship with most of the AI civs, who were more willing to trade tech with me.)

Now I will try the Conquest challenge with the Incas -- should be cathartic after all that peaceful building. Go Quechas!

Hello, all. I am a newbie to this forum, but have been playing various iterations of Civ since 2000 (when my best friend got me hooked on Civ II Test of Time).

Welcome to the HOF and CFC! :band:

Looking forward to watching you climb your way up the charts!

I even brought over a great artist to set off a culture bomb in one of those cities to take over as much land as possible.

that's really a great idea! i've never thought about that on a terra map, or read anyone else suggest it.

grats on your win :) and welcome to HoF and CFC!

Last night I decided to give this one a go, but not in a serious way. I decided to try an OCC just for the fun of it, as Bismarck.

I still had a decent chance to winning until Gandhi built the UN. He kept doing



Hehee, most important in OCC game is that you really get UN votes to yourself. That means you have to build it yourself. It doesn't matter who builds it, theyll anyway switch some of the civics so that OCC is hosed. Beelining to mass media isnt too bad as computers are just around the corner then and 1 engineer, well its well placed. And then you can also get resources with PA!

Ive thought of trying some deity map with occ % PA to get spacerace before future starts but seems quite worky and risky... Too many nice gauntlets all the time going...

-Dracandross

I had probably the most absurd Terra Map I have ever seen. No civ had room for more than 2 cities except for Brennus who was blocking off a peninsular with his capital, and Saladin who had 2/3 cities in the ice. In addition, there was another continent within galley distance that had only 1 city on it by the time I got to Astronomy. And the 'new world' had the most unusual shape.

Well, I played as the Inca, and took 2 AI capitals before focusing on research. Madrid and Cuzco were fuly cottaged out, whilst Delhi was building wonders (and despite having over 60% control of 1 foreign city and over 70% of another, only 1 riot occurred). Founded Christianity and tried to spread it, but no one wanted to convert. Eventually as I was learning Chemistry Cyrus got jealous of my tech lead and attacked me with 20 war elephants and macemen so I quit.

Ok, I just submitted 1811 (Warlords) as Huayna against 9 non-protective and non-creative opponents, and no barbs.

I picked up a vassal, and didn't read the fine print (masters can't cancel the deal). Does anyone know how to delicately drive Mansa away:p -- I needed some resourses for a war, but I'm all done now.

The only ways to get rid of a vassal you don't want anymore are:
1) Demand a resource he refuses to give you, and sometimes this will end the vassalage and put you back at war
2) Help him grow to either half your land or half your population
3) Get into a war and get him destroyed...he'll leave your vassalage when he's got half the land he had when he became your vassal.

beccnoa i'm not sure why mansa staying a vassal is a bad thing, of course i'm not watching your game. he's the best vassal i've ever had. several games i've fought him early with the main purpose of the war to get him as my vassal and use him until game over. if he's left with enough land he can actually help you tech when you direct his research to backfill things you don't want to bother with, and he's very easy to get back to friendly so that he'll trade you those techs.

you can't cancel the deal just by clicking a button, thrallia's suggestions are good at trying to get out being his master. i'm used to good suggestions from thrallia :). you might want to try to play it out manipulating him to be an advantage for you. if that might apply to your game at all, it's a thought.

Before the v2.08 patch, I somehow vassalized Stalin after taking just two of his 10 cities...I then managed to get over 500 gpt from him by the time he had been my vassal for 50 turns...thanks to him, I had a worldspanning empire and 100% science along with over a 150 gpt surplus :D That's the only game I've ever had enough cash to actually sabotage stuff during one of my games. Since the patch, since the AI can now do deficit spending you won't ever get that kind of a value from a vassal...but it was nice while it lasted :)

I generally use my vassals now to have them research stuff I don't want to bother with, to help distract anyone I'm at war with, and to gain some extra resources and votes for diplo wins.

Hello
I think mapfinder is useless in this gaunlet (terra map) as after some tries it was not able to regenerate for me.
Do you have the same problem

My first try, 1688AD. I messed up big time - I forgot to get the free GE for rushing the Space Elevator. I also expanded too much which crippled my research.

My first try, 1688AD. I messed up big time - I forgot to get the free GE for rushing the Space Elevator. I also expanded too much which crippled my research.

Dam I would be extremely happy if, when I messed up I would still get a 1688AD finish:)

What are the important things to to concentrate on to get an early finish? And what civ are you using?

Hello
I think mapfinder is useless in this gaunlet (terra map) as after some tries it was not able to regenerate for me.
Do you have the same problemTry Low sea levels and the minimum opponents. I save the initial game to load and restart MF when it stops so I don't have to go back through custom games. I can usually 40-50 regens before some civ is in contact with another.

Try Low sea levels and the minimum opponents. I save the initial game to load and restart MF when it stops so I don't have to go back through custom games. I can usually 40-50 regens before some civ is in contact with another.

i keep meaning to ask if that's okay but never did. i guess it's ok! :)

i keep meaning to ask if that's okay but never did. i guess it's ok! :)Yeah, Dianthus fixed it so that loading a save previous used to start MF won't regenerate the same maps like it used to do. Besides I almost never play the first game the comes up when starting via custom games. Might as well get some use out of it. :)

Dam I would be extremely happy if, when I messed up I would still get a 1688AD finish

Same here. I do not understand how it is possible to research the techs required in that short a time. Do you have some special patch that I don't know of that magically accelerates research? Even the cheating AI can't research that fast!

What are the important things to to concentrate on to get an early finish? And what civ are you using?

Well, I used the Inca on the high sea Terra map against 10 AIs (the maximum number of AIs allowed for standard map). Of course, no barbs. First order of business, captured four workers from the 4 nearest civs. Second order of business, assimilated the four nearest AI capitals. By around 1000BC, I have 5 striving cities (my capital plus the 4 capitals from the AIs). Hooked up stone, rushed Pyramid, Oracle sling-shot to CS, Liberalism sling-shot to Democracy for Status of Liberty, then 100% research to the end. That was pretty it. See attachment for the log of my game:

Same here. I do not understand how it is possible to research the techs required in that short a time.

Build a lot of cottages and build them early. I also build courthouse, library, university, market, and bank in most of cities.

Do you have some special patch that I don't know of that magically accelerates research? Even the cheating AI can't research that fast!
Very funny!:lol: My research was actually quite slow in comparing to some of the spaceship games posted on the current HOF. I will have to study their games to see if I can find a way to speed up my research.

assimilated the four nearest AI capitals.

You say that so casually. It would take me most of the game to achieve that one small feat.

My first try, 1688AD.

I thought I was doing great with an 1814 finish. That's way better than my previous best of 1890. I used Augustus and once I had iron nearby the game was afoot in earnest. I went south and captured Peter's 2 cities, then moved east and captured Victoria's cities, another jog to the southeast to capture Frederick's cities, including Berlin with it's 4 seafood. During this warring, I didn't try for the pyramids, which the AI built in 900 AD . I did manage to build Colossus and both GL's since my high sea level map had archipelago characteristics. I was so far ahead in research that I delayed liberalism until 1436 and chose Assembly Line. I never did research democracy, I didn't want to waste turns for a tech not required for space. I ended up with 19 cities (too many?), including 2 in the new world for 4 health resources. My other opponents were Ragnar, Saladin and Mehmed II; all chosen at random and standard barbs.

You say that so casually. It would take me most of the game to achieve that one small feat.

It's actually fairly easy with the Inca. First, rush four warriors while your capital still at size one and send them out to steal the four workers. Second, use those 4 warriors to pillage and prevent each of the AIs from developing. Now, you would have all the time on the world to grow your capital. When you are ready, rush three more warriors over to capture their city. Note: 3 warriors + your original one would give you a stack of 4 warriors against at least 5 archers defenders. Since 4 against at least 5 won't work, you need to lure the rest of them out of their city. Now, you would have 4 against 2 which is pretty much a sure thing (unless you are unlucky, of course). After this, just match your elite warriors against the other 3 civs. You should be able to assimilate all 4 of them before 1000BC.

PS: When I say "warrior", I'm referring to the Incan warriors. What was their name again? Quechua, I think.

I never did research democracy, I didn't want to waste turns for a tech not required for space.

With the status of Liberty, I would get a free specialist in each of my city. I think the extra specialists would pay off in the long run as scientists or engineers.

OK, this all sounds so blissfully easy. I will give this relaxing cruise of a game a go after I have struggled through G-Minor 19. It should be easy to win by 1680 AD with all this great advice.

Although I refuse to use the Incans. This must be possible with another leader.....

The only problem with another leader is that you need to hook up resources to use their UU (which takes valuable time), whereas with Incan you get Quechua from the start.

Well, I used the Inca on the high sea Terra map against 10 AIs

Good choice! But I think that medium or low sea will be more adecquate to a space victory.

It seems to me that Inca is an univesal leader for allmost all types of victories in warlords.

Build a lot of cottages and build them early. I also build courthouse, library, university, market, and bank in most of cities..

Why did you biuld bank if you run research 100% all the game?

My first try, 1688AD. I messed up big time - I forgot to get the free GE for rushing the Space Elevator. I also expanded too much which crippled my research.

How many cities do you have in the game, and how do you lure the archers out of the city?

Try Low sea levels and the minimum opponents. I save the initial game to load and restart MF when it stops so I don't have to go back through custom games. I can usually 40-50 regens before some civ is in contact with another.

The you were lucky, I used the sam setting and te number of regen were only 0-10

Good choice! But I think that medium or low sea will be more adecquate to a space victory.

Yes, I was thinking about that too. My current game is on Medium sea.

It seems to me that Inca is an univesal leader for allmost all types of victories in warlords.

I play with the other leaders for fun, but if I want to be on the top 10 slots for this gauntlet, I think the the Inca is the best choice.

Why did you biuld bank if you run research 100% all the game?

May be that why I was a little slow on my research. Note: my game was about a century slower than other spaceship games on the HOF. I still have a lot to learn about the space program.

How many cities do you have in the game, and how do you lure the archers out of the city?

I have at least 9 cities. As for luring out the archers, read what I posted at the beginning of in G-Minor 19 (for example, see post #9 of http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=223936 )

I have at least 9 cities. As for luring out the archers, read what I posted at the beginning of in G-Minor 19 (for example, see post #9 of http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=223936 )

Thank you it was useful. Is it a better tactics to bulid 4 warrior and kill the archers, the attack the other civ?

Democracy is a key tech for a fast space race victory. You have to run emancipation ASAP, and universal sufferage at the end when making ship parts.
I like to try to get my research up to ~3000beakers/turn by the time I'm into the heavy space techs.
This gauntlet will be slower than the HOF games because epic is not as good as marathon for a fast date.
My first try was 1630ish, but the middle of the game was a muddle:crazyeye: . I may try again with barbs on so there are cities to conquer on the new continent.:)

I submitted what I thought was Major 11 last month only to find my name not on the list (and thus not on the QM list) because I played with 2.08.003 instead of .004. Well, today, I played and submitted Major 12 (with the proper mod) and my name is on the list with a finish date of 1851 (currently 5th).

Thank you it was useful. Is it a better tactics to bulid 4 warrior and kill the archers, the attack the other civ?

The AI really isn't any smarter in Warlords; they really just behave different than Vanilla; therefore, require newer tactics. As for the reason of going to war against multiple civs at the same time, we are really just buying time and preventing them from hooking up copper, horse, and iron.

I got this unusual map generating starts in vanilla on medium sea level. Ive never killed a civ on turn 1 before.

I got 1746 on my third attempt following Moonsinger's advises. I captured 3 capitals by 1500BC, then I took 4-th after Construction, then two more during medieval wars around 1100-1200 AD.

The most important thing is early commerce, such as gold, gems or furs. This time I had furs on a forested hill/plains. :)

I made a serious mistake building Stonehenge, Oracle, GL, and National Epic in one city, so I was getting Prophets and Artists instead of Scientists all along.

A question to mods: I forgot to save a session once, and to continue the game I had to reload from an autosave about 2 turns earlier. It happened somewhere around 1320 AD. Is my game still acceptable? Well, I submitted it anyway.

Why did you biuld bank if you run research 100% all the game?
I don't think it's possible to run 100% research all the game. I usually approach 80% by the time to build Apollo, and after I build the Wall Street in the shrine city, trade resources for gpt, etc.

To build Wall Street you need at least 6 banks.

I don't think it's possible to run 100% research all the game.
It depends on leaders and maps. Choose finanshial leader and high commerce map and you will not know how to spend all your many!)))

A question to mods: I forgot to save a session once, and to continue the game I had to reload from an autosave about 2 turns earlier. It happened somewhere around 1320 AD. Is my game still acceptable?
That's a very understandable error you made.

On the other hand, we on the staff are virtually merciless in regards to replayed turns as we don't discriminate between errors, lapses in attention and outright cheating. So no, your game is not acceptable. :(

Just so you know, the HOF mod does have an option that can be enabled for creating a save upon exit. Activating this feature will probably help you avoid this situation in the future. ;)

Just so you know, the HOF mod does have an option that can be enabled for creating a save upon exit. Activating this feature will probably help you avoid this situation in the future. ;)
Thanks, I'll keep that in mind.

It depends on leaders and maps. Choose finanshial leader and high commerce map and you will not know how to spend all your many!)))
Well, even with financial (Huayna) and high-commerce maps at 100% research all your commerce goes to research. You need a non-commerce source of gpt such as religious shrines, merchant specialists, and building income to pay maintenance. This is the part where WS is quite useful.

Just finished my second game: 1721 AD. Built the Pyramid, but forgot to use it. Got CS but forgot to use it. Got Liberalism but forgot to switch to free religion. Basically, I did everything wrong this time.:blush:

Could someone refresh me on how to do a CS slingshot? It's been so long since I tried to do it, but I think I might be able to do so with this position:

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k286/playshogi/Civ4ScreenShot0028-1.jpg

You've gotta love the Inca! Even though I only have 2 cities whereas in Moonsinger's 1685 game, she had 4. I'm a little chicken, since I wait until I have 5 quechua in position before I pounce. I also use my settler as a scout, which is why Cuzco is so close to Istanbul.

3rd try 1664 Inca
I killed 4 of my enemies but i was almost bankrupted at the beginning of the games. I missed oracle and pyramid (I had to capture it).
Later I was attacked by Fridrich but I was able to destroy and capture his cities (1/1).
I think it is very hard to find the balance on capturing cities and razing them.
Moonsinger what is oyur tactich hoe many cities do you caputure.

PS.: I had a C. who was able to hel while mooving (20%) - great help.

Well, to run 100% on research you need not financial civ, but rather a steady non-commerce source of money. If your science multipliers to commerce are greater than cash multipliers, you should be willing to get as much commerce into science as possible - therefore you get your money elsewhere at 1:1 ratio with science. Examples - merchants, producing gold and building a holy shrine.

Well, to run 100% on research you need not financial civ, but rather a steady non-commerce source of money. If your science multipliers to commerce are greater than cash multipliers, you should be willing to get as much commerce into science as possible - therefore you get your money elsewhere at 1:1 ratio with science. Examples - merchants, producing gold and building a holy shrine.

Great merchant isa good idea I used 2 of them in my game to have money. Holy schrine is only good at the beg. of the game.

I just submitted my first attempt. A relatively poor date of 1875 AD. The best I could do was 80% through the last half of the game.

I had a good start with Inca and 4 gold hills. I took out Peter real easy but my second target Washington was on a hill with 40% culture. It took too long to capture his cities. I got Stonehenge, CS slingshot and pyramids but I never declared a state religion which cost me a lot of income from Confucianism holy shrine.

After that I had around 1/3 of the starting continent. When I got riflemen I used them to push Fredrick back by one set of cities which got me closer to half the continent. Beyond that he was a great buffer from the rest of the civs. Most of my cities ran research the last quarter of the game. Anybody know if I would have been better off running wealth?

Shrine give you money even if it isn't your state religion - you can have income from several shrines at a time.

As I've written, usually it's more efficient to produce wealth, at least untill banks or even Wall Street. And then later Observatories and Laboratories kick in.

Shrine give you money even if it isn't your state religion - you can have income from several shrines at a time.That's good to know, I think I had two of them.

As I've written, usually it's more efficient to produce wealth, at least untill banks or even Wall Street. And then later Observatories and Laboratories kick in.Most of the time I had produced everything available for research before producing research. Although, in some of the smaller cities I didn't build Banks once I had enough to build Wall Street in the Capitol. How does one figure out the breakeven point.

Well, I calculate the breakeven point by whether I estimate the number of turn to be reasonable for the investment to pay out. Just divide production cost of bank (= # of coins you lose by not producing money) by expected effect of bank, gold per turn, and you get the number of turns. Of course, it should be less than the number of turns left until victory. Also it should take your priorities int account - if you need much money soon to research, and then during culture of part-production or whatever phase you need none, then you might abandon some profitable projects. And of course, money now is more valuable than money later - you can introduce a discount you assume fair.
For science amplifiers it is a bit more complex - you compare extra science with extra science you could've gotten if produced wealth instead of building - it ususally is more than you could get by just producing research.

Well, since my FIRST Major was disallowed (stupid.03), I got THIS one in! Sitting in 12th with a sad 1904 AD that SHOULD have been a lot shorter if I wasn't an idiot. Never set foor on the New World, but did take 3 early capitals to jump start production. Problem was I was at negative income and science for too many turns. Maybe will try again to try to improve, but at least got the amjor under my belt!

Hmm I'll keep trying but keep getting battered at Monarch. I do OK, crushing a neighbour and then starting a war against someone else, then Monty declares on me, I am fighting on two fronts, and just as I about to finish them off Hannibal goes and declares on me too, and invades with Knights while I am researching education. I think I need to prioritise engineering more than going for liberalism.

I am trying to submit a game, but it throws a bunch of errors.

Holy schrine is only good at the beg. of the game.
It's good all along. Some 20gpt modified by Market/Grocer/Bank/WS will pay nearly half of your late game expenses.

I am trying to submit a game, but it throws a bunch of errors.

:hmm: Please save your submissions, as you said, it appears the site is having trouble again.

You should be able to submit again. :)

You should be able to submit again. :)
Thanks, this time it worked.

I am improving a little bit - 1724 finish. :)

First attempt with this major. Stick w/ the awesome incans. Picked 10 opponents (is this max or 9 opponents?) Took out 3 capitals and and total capture 5 cities. So far I can afford them at 60% because of a lot of cottages. Right now is 295 BC and eveyone is relatively advance (at least for this level). Hanibal may become a threat, since he has horse and has horsebackriding and most my units are axeman. About tobuild pyramid in 10 turns. Hopefully this is a good start.

Picked 10 opponents (is this max or 9 opponents?)

Maximum is 10 opponents is correct.

I think it is very hard to find the balance on capturing cities and razing them.
Moonsinger what is oyur tactich hoe many cities do you caputure.

Unless there are gold/silver/gem within my capital, I usually go for Potery before mining. By having a couple of cottages in each city, I can support up to 6 starter cities and still have money left over for research.

Unless there are gold/silver/gem within my capital, I usually go for Potery before mining. By having a couple of cottages in each city, I can support up to 6 starter cities and still have money left over for research.


So the key are cottages the more cottages the more cities you can take from AI.

Question for those who know about the Terra map type. Its about 1000AD and I have 12 cities on the homeland and I'm exploring the new world. 12 cities seems about right for a good spaceship launch. I'm aiming for early 1800s but as I'm just researching Nationalism, seems a bit optimistic, so I don't want to have to settle the New World if I don't have to, which leads me to my question.....

What are the resourse balance issues. ie, are there any resources solely found on the new world. In my map gems appears the case but I've never played on Terra before so I don't know if that's just this map.

Question for those who know about the Terra map type. Its about 1000AD and I have 12 cities on the homeland and I'm exploring the new world. 12 cities seems about right for a good spaceship launch. I'm aiming for early 1800s but as I'm just researching Nationalism, seems a bit optimistic, so I don't want to have to settle the New World if I don't have to, which leads me to my question.....

What are the resourse balance issues. ie, are there any resources solely found on the new world. In my map gems appears the case but I've never played on Terra before so I don't know if that's just this map.I had coal, aluminum, oil, uranium, etc. in my 1/3 of the old world, so you should be okay.

What are the resourse balance issues. ie, are there any resources solely found on the new world. In my map gems appears the case but I've never played on Terra before so I don't know if that's just this map.
Usually you have all of them in the Old World in great abundance, but just in case send a Caravel with an Explorer to the New World, and have a Settler with a Galleon ready. Like if by any chance you don't find coal, you can quickly grab it in the New World.

Thanks for the heads up. :)

I did indeed send an explorer over to the Old World and had all the huts to myself, popped Astronomy and Music. :D

Ended up with only one city there the entire game, one of mine that had two gems and elephants so could pay for itself.

Wrapped it up around 1850 which isn't great but I was using Napolean to fill in a blank QM spot and he's not entirely suited. Strangely, my only friend the entire game was Montezuma. I went to war against or was declared upon by all the others, and ended up with at least one of their cities apiece. :goodjob:

If the land is good, usually you're better off by founding more cities. Space race is a rather long run, they will pay off from 1200 to 1800 AD several times.

I think that pig, corn, spice, sugar and dye are only found in the New World. So, if you can afford to settle in the New World, the extra health, and happy is useful, but the barbs counter-attack is relentless. Bring infantry.

Mh, if you want to go to the New World, why do you play with barbs?
You have to invest so much in a colony, I doubt you'll get it back.

3rd try 1664 Inca
I killed 4 of my enemies but i was almost bankrupted at the beginning of the games. I missed oracle and pyramid (I had to capture it).
Later I was attacked by Fridrich but I was able to destroy and capture his cities (1/1).
I think it is very hard to find the balance on capturing cities and razing them.
Moonsinger what is oyur tactich hoe many cities do you caputure.

PS.: I had a C. who was able to hel while mooving (20%) - great help.
It looks like I have the same date. I still think the new world can be manipulated a bit more, i tried popping Modern Techs but I merely got gold. What is the cut off for not being able to get a tech from a hut?

My bottleneck this game was production, and having a city in the new world earlier would have meant I could chop out the last part immediately, thus saving 10 turns here.

Mh, if you want to go to the New World, why do you play with barbs?
You have to invest so much in a colony, I doubt you'll get it back.

You are right. The next game--no barbs. Barbs are fun, but are a big handicap for fast finishes when competing with those who turn them off.

Tsk there should be seperate HOFs then for barb players. No barbs on a Terra map is just rubbish. They have banjos!!!!

No barbs just feels like cheating to me, especially on a Terra map.

1616:)
I'll do no better, I think.
Attacked no one after 500BC
Instead went to the new world big time, 7cities, all the good spots. Ran state property so it didn't cost to much.
For those who don't like a warring strat, it can work.
Now I think I'll try to see if I can get Moonsingers strat to work in the minor.

I alwasy have all the resources requires for spaceship in old worlld (uranium, aluminium, coal)

What is the cut off for not being able to get a tech from a hut?

If you mean a date - I did not hear about any limitations.

If you mean a tech - Astronomy is the highest tech from huts. But it looks unreal in non-reload games.

In reload tournaments I was able to get astronomy from a hut approximate in 400AD.

PS I'll join to this gauntlet next week.

If you mean a date - I did not hear about any limitations.

If you mean a tech - Astronomy is the highest tech from huts. But it looks unreal in non-reload games.

In reload tournaments I was able to get astronomy from a hut approximate in 400AD.

PS I'll join to this gauntlet next week.
Indeed, I mean techs.

I have been playing with Vanilla, but Warlords is probably conducive to a better space date, if you can eliminate the same 4 or 5 enemies quickly.

I have been playing with Vanilla, but Warlords is probably conducive to a better space date, if you can eliminate the same 4 or 5 enemies quickly.Is that the recommended strategy?

In my two completed games, I have only eliminated 2 and maybe damaged another to allow for enough room to found enough quality cities. The remaining civs have usually provided a some of help with cash and techs.

i tried popping Modern Techs but I merely got gold. What is the cut off for not being able to get a tech from a hut?As stated, there is no cutoff date. There are usually just no huts left in the late game. As for the techs themselves, there is a flag in the XML TechInfo's file that determines whether the tech can be popped from a hut.

Here is the list of techs for 161. Don't have Warlords, but I would assume that the list wouldn't be too terribly different.
AGRICULTURE
ANIMAL_HUSBANDRY
ARCHERY
ASTRONOMY
BRONZE_WORKING
CALENDAR
COMPASS
CONSTRUCTION
CURRENCY
DRAMA
FISHING
HORSEBACK_RIDING
HUNTING
IRON_WORKING
LITERATURE
MASONRY
MATHEMATICS
METAL_CASTING
MINING
MONARCHY
MUSIC
MYSTICISM
POTTERY
PRIESTHOOD
SAILING
THE_WHEEL
WRITING

Is that the recommended strategy?

In my two completed games, I have only eliminated 2 and maybe damaged another to allow for enough room to found enough quality cities. The remaining civs have usually provided a some of help with cash and techs.
Dunno what the recommended strategy is, I usually try to get 12 cities by 1000 BC if I can afford them (gold and gems several places). Pop rush granaries at size 4, and try to get Oxford finished by 1 AD. Im going to try to rush Statue of Liberty as soon as possible next time I get around to trying a game. Coupled with Mercantilism and Representation the specialists should bring in 300-500 beakers/gold if enough cities are around.

With warlords I figure great generals will help a bit, as well as the build research/wealth deal, and the extra wonders, not to mention the UB and the better traits.

As stated, there is no cutoff date. There are usually just no huts left in the late game. As for the techs themselves, there is a flag in the XML TechInfo's file that determines whether the tech can be popped from a hut.

Here is the list of techs for 161. Don't have Warlords, but I would assume that the list wouldn't be too terribly different.
AGRICULTURE
ANIMAL_HUSBANDRY
ARCHERY
ASTRONOMY
BRONZE_WORKING
CALENDAR
COMPASS
CONSTRUCTION
CURRENCY
DRAMA
FISHING
HORSEBACK_RIDING
HUNTING
IRON_WORKING
LITERATURE
MASONRY
MATHEMATICS
METAL_CASTING
MINING
MONARCHY
MUSIC
MYSTICISM
POTTERY
PRIESTHOOD
SAILING
THE_WHEEL
WRITING
Thanks for the info C! Warlords looks to be the same. Only Music and Astronomy look to be somewhat useful for a new world hut popping operation.

Only Music and Astronomy look to be somewhat useful for a new world hut popping operation.Haven't played Terra map in a while, but don't you need Astronomy to get to the new world?

Nevermind! Thanks, ParadigmShifter! Forgot about that one ...

I was going to post that, but then I remembered that explorers and scouts can go on caravels, so you only need optics.

EDIT: And turn off barbs too.

Yep, I got an explorer over there on a caravel and popped both Music and Astronomy.

1670 so far.

After the energy sapping drama of G Minor 19, I have just kicked off my first attempt at G Major 12. I am going to try and follow Moonsinger's advice as much as possible, so as a learning experience, I will be using the mozzarella Incans.

After the energy sapping drama of G Minor 19, I have just kicked off my first attempt at G Major 12. I am going to try and follow Moonsinger's advice as much as possible, so as a learning experience, I will be using the mozzarella Incans.

After 3 games, I'm currently near the bottom of the list. So far, almost everyone on this thread has beaten me. They are getting 12 cities by 1000BC and Oxford by 1AD??? I don't even have 12 cities or Oxford by 1000AD in my last run. At this time, I'm just going to wait for the next HOF Update (which should be today) so I can steal their ideas.:blush:

After 3 games, I'm currently near the bottom of the list. So far, almost everyone on this thread has beaten me.
Now that the update is done, you're in fifth place on the actual HOF table, less than a century behind the leader and ahead of fifteen of the twenty participants. :goodjob:

My first try was OK. I haven't played it to end due computer crash. :cry: I'll stop seeing the movies, that's the second crash by a wonder move. I think I was going to win. I had the tech lead, lot of production and all resources. I was going to start to build the Space Elevator. The date would not be good anyway. I was already past 1700 AD.

I played with the Incas and tried (again) a Quechua rush. I took two capitals fast, I failed to take the third because it was on a hill. I just gave up the war, and went to the builder phase. I had only 6 cities in the old continent. I built the Pyramids, Great Library and Great Lighthouse. I was the first to Liberalism and took Astronomy as free tech. I was the first to the new continent, I built cities on all best spots.

I made a lot of mistakes and lost a lot of :hammers:. At least now I have a clearer strategy on my mind. I never tried a Space Race on Monarch before.

I haven't quite managed to quechua camp four civs but am doing OK with 3. Problem is I now have no cash because of the unit supply cost for all these quechuas. How do you get around that? I don't have pottery yet but can only run at 20% science.

I haven't quite managed to quechua camp four civs but am doing OK with 3. Problem is I now have no cash because of the unit supply cost for all these quechuas. How do you get around that? I don't have pottery yet but can only run at 20% science.
Try a starting location with a gold mine.

Research Pottery before Bronze Working.

For the first two or three civs, don't declare war immediately. Bring a stack of 3-4 units, and attack at once. If the city is on a hill, then park a Quechua 2 tiles away, and move the rest to capture another civ.

You only need parked Quechuas near 1 or 2 neighbors just to prevent them from expanding toward your land.

After BW in your newly captured cities whip immediately Quechuas/Terraces down to size 1 and prevent them from growing (by working mines or building Workers) until you build some cottages around.

Hmm, this quechua rush is working OK, but still nowhere near as efficiently as Moonsinger sets out. When I park a quechua 2 squares from a city, one of three things happen:
- Ramesses sends out one archer at a time that can be easily killed, but there are still 5 left in the city
- Roosevelt sends out 3 archers at a time that kill my parked quechua
- Shaka just accumulates more and more archers and has about 10 sitting in his city

So the idea of taking out 4 capitals before 1,000 BC is not working (can't see how this can be done without an economy-crippling stack of 12 quechuas), but quechua parking definitely holds those three civs back and they languish at the bottom of the table (instead of me).

Not much help for dealing with Catherine though, who, safely out of range of pesky quechuas, is miles ahead of everyone.

Hmm, this quechua rush is working OK, but still nowhere near as efficiently as Moonsinger sets out. When I park a quechua 2 squares from a city, one of three things happen:
- Ramesses sends out one archer at a time that can be easily killed, but there are still 5 left in the city
- Roosevelt sends out 3 archers at a time that kill my parked quechua
- Shaka just accumulates more and more archers and has about 10 sitting in his city

So the idea of taking out 4 capitals before 1,000 BC is not working (can't see how this can be done without an economy-crippling stack of 12 quechuas), but quechua parking definitely holds those three civs back and they languish at the bottom of the table (instead of me).

Not much help for dealing with Catherine though, who, safely out of range of pesky quechuas, is miles ahead of everyone.
Move your initial settler to a plains hill by a nearby AI (or in better cases, 2 AI). Send your initial quechua to wait for the first produced quechua from your city. Send em in at the same time prior to 3500 BCish and there should only be one archer if the AI is working a 3 food tile, which you want anyways, since this city will be a settler factory for you. Attack at 18.3% odds, and one of 3 things will happen: 1) you win with the first, making an archer killer out of this quechua; 2) you lose with the first, but the second is victorious; or 3) both lose (then you find a new map). Once you have 4 quechua in place, attack the second AI.

With any luck you can kill 3-4 AIs, and keep building settlers/workers/terraces. Once your research has dropped to 20%, focus on growth, cottages, and infrastructure. If the AI gets into building archers like crazy, make peace with them. Its not really worth the trouble (in Warlords). Not counting military police, your army shouldnt be over 6 quechuas.

your army shouldnt be over 6 quechuas.

Oops! I have 9 quechuas and 3 axemen! No wonder I have no money.

I usually build 4 quechua and together with the original attack the first AI. You get the city about 3000BC, already at size 4 with improved squares. Attacking 5 vs. 2 is almost a sure win, too. I'll even wait a turn or two before attacking if its worker is close to finishing an improvement, or I see a workboat in the city.

How do you take a city with 4 quechua? By the time I have 4 quechua parked at 4 civs, then made another 3 to attack a city, the city will have 5 archers in it and I have no money left.

How do you take a city with 4 quechua? By the time I have 4 quechua parked at 4 civs, then made another 3 to attack a city, the city will have 5 archers in it and I have no money left.
Do not declare war prior to attacking. The AI will be busy building city improvements/Settlers, but not Archers. If you approach the city from the diagonal square, you'll attack on the next turn, so the AI won't have more than 2 Archers.

If it's your first war, you can take a risk of attacking with only 3 Quechuas. Most likely two of them die, but the third one survives, on the next turn gets promoted (healed half of the damage), and attacks again the only remaining damaged Archer. The odds can vary from something like 40% to 70%.

The whole point of parking Quechuas is to prevent AI from improving land around the city. They'll be busy building Archers for a while, but then start coming out of city, like to build a new one. Once they do, you simply need another Quechua to park near their new city.

If you still want the city, move your parked Quechua away for 5-6 turns. The AI will send all but 2 Archers away from the city. If you manage to intercept them with your approaching stack of Quechuas, you'll get some promos. In any case, wait enough to let the Archers go away, then attack the city guarded by only 2 or 3 remaining Archers.

You don't have to declare war on everybody, of course, since this is Space Race, not Conquest. It's a lot better to capture 3 or 4 capitals by 2000BC, and park Quechuas near 1 or 2 close neighbors, then start building the economy etc.

Hmm, this quechua rush is working OK, but still nowhere near as efficiently as Moonsinger sets out. When I park a quechua 2 squares from a city, one of three things happen:
- Ramesses sends out one archer at a time that can be easily killed, but there are still 5 left in the city
- Roosevelt sends out 3 archers at a time that kill my parked quechua
- Shaka just accumulates more and more archers and has about 10 sitting in his city

So the idea of taking out 4 capitals before 1,000 BC is not working (can't see how this can be done without an economy-crippling stack of 12 quechuas), but quechua parking definitely holds those three civs back and they languish at the bottom of the table (instead of me).

Not much help for dealing with Catherine though, who, safely out of range of pesky quechuas, is miles ahead of everyone.

What I like to do is steal workers with my first quechuas, while I'm building more, then leave. If it is a peaceful AI and you don't go anywhere near the city ( don't light up any of their territory), when you come back with your 5-6 quechues army the AI only has 2-3 archers, it's built another worker, and you get to improve your land with a free worker, almost from the beginning of the game.

Thanks for all the quechua rush tips. I will try them out next time. For now, what are the tips for closing out the space race?

I am in 1670 AD and just about to research artillery. The competition is:
- Catherine - miles ahead on score and power, but only one tech ahead in science
- Napoleon - 3rd in score, but 2nd in power and tech.
- Wang Kon - 4th in everything

This is the best technology progress I have ever made in a Monarch game, perhaps testimony to the power of good city placement (I have 4 capitals out of 9 cities).

It should be possible to beat Catherine into space from here, but it would also be easy to stuff up. What are the main things I need to do right over the next 150 turns or so?

Make sure to have aluminium before you start building Apollo/SS Parts. This means Industrialism needs to be researched.

Whatever buildings aren't building SS parts/ forges/ factories/ observatories/ laboratories should be set on research

How fast do you expand? It's 190 BC and I have 6 cities. My worst science slider was 10%, now if I want to run without defict, it's about 40%. After killing three AI with my Quechuas, and taking four cities, I decided to stop for a while. I stop building military because of the costs, and started to build infrastructure and wonders. I got the Pyramid, the Great Library and the Partheon. I lost the run for the Oracle, the Great Lighthouse and the Temple of Artemis. Representation and the money from the lost wonders (800-900 gold) kept my research going at good speed.

Anyone struggling getting the Inca to work, I suggest playing as Augustus. You can plow through the AI very easily until they get Feudalism, and the Cre-Org traits are very good for going to space.

Thanks for all the quechua rush tips. I will try them out next time. For now, what are the tips for closing out the space race?

I am in 1670 AD and just about to research artillery. The competition is:
- Catherine - miles ahead on score and power, but only one tech ahead in science
- Napoleon - 3rd in score, but 2nd in power and tech.
- Wang Kon - 4th in everything

This is the best technology progress I have ever made in a Monarch game, perhaps testimony to the power of good city placement (I have 4 capitals out of 9 cities).

It should be possible to beat Catherine into space from here, but it would also be easy to stuff up. What are the main things I need to do right over the next 150 turns or so?

First, don't sweet it if the AIs are slightly ahead in techs, you can still beat them to launch. The key techs are Assem Line - you need to have a factory and a coal plant in the city that builds the Apollo, get them in there before you start on the Apollo. Plus you need factories and coal plants in all parts building cities. Second computers - you need labs for the tech boast, and the 50% on space parts.
Once you have satall and robotics for the space elevator, go for fusion then dump the GE on the elevator. If possible run Universal Suff, the extra hammer/town adds up. If you have any GPs save them for near the end start your golden age once you are building the Engine, which is the heaviest part.
Catherine always attacks me, I would make units when ever you can. Coal and aluminuim, are very useful, but they are not worth a war unless it's is an easy one - you are far better to get them through trade if you can.
If I have cities to spare I run wealth, it allows you to run at a higher sci %, and so a cities gold is run through all of the science multipliers (lib,uni,ob,lab). But I only do that when I don't think I'm going to be attacked.

Good luck, :goodjob: ........... you need it with Catherine:p

Thanks to all your advice, I just managed to squeak home in 1930AD. The hardest part was timing everything to end at about the same time (a bit like a cultural victory). I stuffed it up and ended up having to wait 14 turns while the Stasis Chamber completed. Meanwhile, my gallant spy revealed that Catherine only had 10 turns left on her Chamber! So I stashed up cash for a couple of turns and then held my breath while the spy attempted to sabotage her production. Luckily it worked, otherwise Catherine's armies would have crushed me in one turn.

So, a first for me - a gauntlet won on the very first attempt. :woohoo:

So, a first for me - a gauntlet won on the very first attempt. :woohoo:

Congratulations and great job! :clap:

Thanks for all the advice. The main things I did right to secure this win were:
- using Incans (they are far too powerful, really)
- effectively knocking three civs out of the game right at the start by disrupting their capitals
- avoiding war with the other two big players by having all three us on Judaism for the whole game
- getting Pyramids and Great Library for the research boost to win Liberalism race
- beelining for Rocketry
- settling lots of Great People for a long running science and hammer boost
- running Bureacracy to make capital a science and hammer titan
- being first to New World and popping all the huts (although didn't get anything good)
- turning lots of cities to Research to get those last crucial space techs
- having a precious spy who could sabotage Catherine's production to buy us some breathing space at the finish line.

Although this is far from optimal compared to the rest of you pros, this is easily the most competent I have ever felt at Monarch level. I wonder how much of this had to do with using the Incans?

I have tried a couple of new techniques that I think work well. I had a couple of games around 1630 and finally settled on the going straight to computers route. I also go on a second conquering spree about maces/cats/knights (so long as the AI only has archers) to take over all of the delicious grassland the AI hoards until I get about 45-50% land. This still leaves room for a couple of cities in the new world to chop out the last two parts (build them about 300-750 AD so they can grow and build factories/plants/labs to get the most out of the chopped hammers). All in all I finished in 1565. Building the Great Library early is a big help, but it is hard to garner the Oracle if you do. I missed the Oracle in this game, but it would be nice to use it for Education. I also thought maybe an early golden age to build Oxford earlier would be useful but havent tried that out.

Is the Oracle really that important? Beelining alphabet means you can trade for the free tech the AI gets.

having trouble with this one. tried as elizabeth and got pretty far, wasnt tech leader, tried settling the new world, but it was full of barbs with the same tech as me (laugh). the second time mongolia declared war on me, they tore me apart with about 20-30 offensive units.

Just tried to build the Hanging Gardens in my capital, whipped it to shave off the last 4 turns, and was still beat to it. :gripe:

Just tried to build the Hanging Gardens in my capital, whipped it to shave off the last 4 turns, and was still beat to it. :gripe:Is it possible that you missed the message that it had been built the previous turn?

Production happens at the end of the turn, after you press enter. So if you whipped it, you should have gotten it. The only way you wouldn't have (that I know of) is if it was built the previous turn.

having trouble with this one. tried as elizabeth and got pretty far, wasnt tech leader, tried settling the new world, but it was full of barbs with the same tech as me (laugh). the second time mongolia declared war on me, they tore me apart with about 20-30 offensive units.Try it without the barbs. Also, you can pick your opponents, so try using some of the more peaceful ones.

Also one important thing is to go for astronomy and not trade it for a while. Before you get to it prepare about 5 settlers and workers ready to rush on the new world and take best of it before anyone gets there. Also remember to turn on PA, if you are going to hit the top spots you'll be alot ahead of AI but more power can never hurt!

hm...I might try this if I get time. Shouldn't take too long for me to either screw it up or win.

I did fairly well in...Major 11? or was it 10...the one that was a warlords space race...my bottleneck there, I thought, was production. I shoudl be able to get more production here, and faster research due to smarter AI.

Is the Oracle really that important? Beelining alphabet means you can trade for the free tech the AI gets.

I think - yes! There was only one corn in my start position and 4 flood plains(- I have no time to find best position).
I got alphabet before 2000BC, CivServ by Oracle in 14xxBC - very good accelerator. 7 cities before 1000BC. Then I built all wonders, except GraetWall and AW, before 400BC. - so I choose anther way than leader (AAA with 1616AD - as I know). Now I am at 5AD. Time will show: is my way rigth or wrong.

PS I forgot to mention: am playing in warlords by Inca, as usually))

This still leaves room for a couple of cities in the new world to chop out the last two parts (build them about 300-750 AD so they can grow and build factories/plants/labs to get the most out of the chopped hammers).

Are you sure about that? I thought that space ship part can't be rushed. Even the Great Engineer can't rush it either. The hammers from chopping the forests can't be used for the spaceship parts. Please confirm! Anyone who know the answer to this, please confirm or way or the other. Thanks!

Are you sure about that? I thought that space ship part can't be rushed. Even the Great Engineer can't rush it either. The hammers from chopping the forests can't be used for the spaceship parts. Please confirm! Anyone who know the answer to this, please confirm or way or the other. Thanks!

You can chop out SS parts and Apollo as well, you just can't whip/buy them.

Are you sure about that? I thought that space ship part can't be rushed. Even the Great Engineer can't rush it either. The hammers from chopping the forests can't be used for the spaceship parts. Please confirm! Anyone who know the answer to this, please confirm or way or the other. Thanks!
Yep you can chop em all out. Even better set the thing on wealth or research and chop every forest out to have it all banked for when you need it, so that the workers can go on to do other things.

Thank you to both!:) I didn't know about that.

Yep you can chop em all out. Even better set the thing on wealth or research and chop every forest out to have it all banked for when you need it, so that the workers can go on to do other things.

I'd prefer prechopping, so I get the bonus health from forests as long as possible.

I'd prefer prechopping, so I get the bonus health from forests as long as possible.
Prechopping would involve having 20+ workers to finish the 2 cities within 3-4 turns or however long Genetics->Ecology takes. Your new world cities are only about size 10 and shouldnt have any health problems. Most of the forests should be lumbermilled and then prechopped though of course. Setting to wealth/research is worker efficient and also the lazy way :).

Whee, got 1873AD for finish date... good thing the AI sucks at colonizing the new world and didnt grab the aluminum source there until fairly late in the game... My source was under the 2nd city I founded, hehe...

It was crazy when I discovered liberalism, it felt like this huge tech burst, because from a hut in the new world, an explorer popped astronomy (!!!!)... Never seen this before.... No barbs = very nice & relaxing new world. (as opposed to being greeted by angry stacks of macemen running for your newly founded cities)

I'v finished my game... only 16 century. I have made too much mistakes as usually)) Game is submitted, but not accepted for the present. So I do not know its place.

Here is my capital few steps before Alpa...))
http://forums.civfanatics.com/uploads/87269/capital_m12.jpg

I got 1574. I did not bother with the New World this time, in fact, I did not build any single naval unit, just captured most of the Old World. I had 7 AI capitals and enough forests to chop out the last parts.

I started a game last night. I should be able to find some time this week, so I might be able to grab that elusive Major win that I need for Quattromaster. I doubt I'll end up high on the list though, I'll just be aiming for winning the game. I've picked Elizabeth, for the financial trait and the ability to spawn a lot of Great Scientists. I have a nice amount of flood plains available, so I should be able to generate some serious science.... We'll see...

Hannibal 1843AD!!!

I know this is not a great date for most of you guys, but being my first win I'm quite excited. I never finish my games for various reasons, but I was bound and determined to see the stars or go down fighting this time. Game gave me the "Augustus Ceaser" title, don't know how easy it is to get that.

Here's a recap:

I found the game quite fun, I got some breaks and some not so breaks. I started out on the land mass that looked like a light bulb attached to the continent sharing with Hatty. This land mass finally supported 7 cities and the eighth in the pennusula area. So once I took Hatty down I had a good defensible position. I had to chop my way out of the jungle, so I think that slowed me down a bit. I finished off Hatty with a 9 man CR2 and CR3 axeman army. Teching went good, most of the start of the game I stayed even with the AI, although I was selling techs dirt cheap, but that allowed me to run 100% science for a long time with a negative gpt (like -30ish). The treasury also got helped out by me whipping the last 4 turns of the Hanging Gardens and still getting beat out! By the time I got ready for my next war, the UU was pretty much obsolete, I wound up building one the entire game which became my MASH unit. lol I figured I would shoot and get an early medieval army to take on my next neighbor, HC. So, I wanted to keep around 400 or 500 gold in treasury to upgrade 4 CR3 axemen I had to macemen, so I started lowering the science slider. I never went below 60% with positive gpt the whole game, but preparing for this war really put me behind on the tech board. The war with Hatty only produced one worker when I thought I would get more, so I had to backtrack to produce several workers to get out of the jungle. This happen about the same time as the second war preparations, so this is what I was talking about as far it slowing me down. Well, by the time I attacked I found out that not only was I not at the begining of the medieval era or at least the rest of the world (I noticed one of Cyrus's calvry run past one of cities that had my religion in it), that the rest of the world was in the middle of the Renasance. My SoD consisted of 4 CR3 maceman, 11 CR1 trebs, and 2 groups of mace,xbow,pike,cat for defense.
HC's first city had pike, 2 longbow; second city had 2 calvry, 4 longbow, 1 pike; 3rd city had 1 grenadier, 1 musket, 3 longbowmen. I was like, holy crap, how did I get so far behind. I knew I was going to get slaughtered, but I was bound and determined I was going to finish this game. I took 3 cities and capulated HC with 2 cities. I got a good break here, another 20 turns and my army would have been mince meat. I settled in for a long infastructure building period and developing alliances. During this time out of my 10 opponents, 2 really started getting big even compared to the rest of the AI, Alexander and Cyrus. Luckily they had different religions, and even though it took along time, Alex finally attacked Cyrus. I was just getting ready to bribe Alex to stop trading with Cyrus when he attacked. I think I woke up my neighbor when he attacked. lol During this time I had beelined to assembly line and had started building a few infrantry hoping that I could catch my next target on an era leap. So, I let them go at it while i put my finishing touches on my army. They took this one city from one another 2 or 3 times. Both of their power graphs took a dive and when they equalled mine, I attacked Cyrus with a infantry/treb SoD. My gambit paid off, as they were still in the Renasance and I went through him like a hot knife through butter. Took 4 cities and left him to the wolves. That was about the time a took the lead in the tech board and never looked back. In retrospect, even though it did help my game by picking so many opponents, it also hampered me. They were not able to build these huge empires, but once I got the lead, they couldn't keep up. So probably like the last 10 or 15 techs that were must haves, I had to reserch myself and didn't have any trading partners just because they were that far behind me. I saw some SAM infantry hitting the field right toward the end. I finally popped a GP in 1838 to build my shrine, just 5 turns from launch. lol Although, I did capture a shrine from HC that helped me out the second half of the game. One thing that helped me out alot, I had tons of resources, I never been so happy and healthy.

Thanks for reading

Good work, Maydrock, especially as you used an unconventional leader. Anything other than Huayna Capac is refreshing!

Good work, Maydrock, especially as you used an unconventional leader. Anything other than Huayna Capac is refreshing!

I agree! And ... any game you win is a good game.

1625 AD and still near the bottom of the list. Oh well, I will have to try again.

1625 AD and still near the bottom of the list.

really? I believe you mean: "I am still not first!" ;)

PS 1625 - good result!

1625 AD and still near the bottom of the list. Oh well, I will have to try again.

Well my 1850s is just below the middle, so I'll swap if you want :lol:

Yeah, there have been some lowish scores in this gauntlet. Even some that are later than mine!

really? I believe you mean: "I am still not first!" ;)

PS 1625 - good result!

Have I ever lie to you? I stand correctly as I said "near the bottom of the list". Since I didn't lie and you don't believe that you hearing is the truth, by deductive reasoning, this means: we weren't talking about the same list.

Now, what list I was referring to? The HOF list of course. Since there are 10 slots on the HOF list (1 is the best, 10 is the last, and 5 is the middle), anywhere above 10 and below 5 is considered as near the bottom of the list.;)

I'm sorry! There are no questions to you now!))) Oz made the same mistake as me.

PS I think that you need another game settings to achieve the top slot. I mean game speed and map. As for me, I'll choose marathon and inland sea.

Hy Guys!

Please sombody confirm that next monday (25/06/2007) I will still have chanche to upload for this gauntlet as in that cas I am goint to play on this Sunday as well.

Hy Guys!

Please sombody confirm that next monday (25/06/2007) I will still have chanche to upload for this gauntlet as in that cas I am goint to play on this Sunday as well.

Yes, you should be okay. The gauntlets don't end until we do the updates and they typically occur at night. Still, I wouldn't push your luck too much. ;)

Yay, my first Gmajor (and first Monarch win!) I got 1993AD with Qin Shi Huang in a peaceful game. :woohoo:

My last run ended in 1601 AD - very bad planning on building the last two parts. Now, I know it can be done by mid 15xxAD because I was done with my research by mid 15th century.

I got 1835AD. Not outstanding, but more annoyingly just a few turns off my own target time (I was going for 2/3 turns = 440 and ended with turn 445).

I warred all the other civs until Gandhi was left with an island tundra city without food resources :lol:
Again, I need to disband more cities. It's heartbreaking, but I need to let good cities go too, cause the Manitenance per city is just killing me.

I prob won't have time to finish the second minor :( Still, the first minor and the major were good fun :)

My first GMajor and my first Monarch space win as well - 1815. I was surprised it showed up in the top 10. Lots of ways to improve! but no more time for this major. :sad:

I got 1835AD. Not outstanding, but more annoyingly just a few turns off my own target time (I was going for 2/3 turns = 440 and ended with turn 445).

I warred all the other civs until Gandhi was left with an island tundra city without food resources :lol:
Again, I need to disband more cities. It's heartbreaking, but I need to let good cities go too, cause the Manitenance per city is just killing me.

I prob won't have time to finish the second minor :( Still, the first minor and the major were good fun :)With all those extra workers I start cottaging everywhere to get some income when my economy starts to crash. Usually, I hit 0 gold and 20% science and take that as a sign to switch my ecomony. It cuts the flow of units and conquered cities but that's about the time you have to start looking at more powerful units anyway.

Of course, you have to research the techs before it falls apart. ;)
My first GMajor and my first Monarch space win as well - 1815. I was surprised it showed up in the top 10. Lots of ways to improve! but no more time for this major. :sad:Congratulations! :clap: It always nice to check off a few QM requirements with one game. :D

ok, I got my SpaceShip launch at 1746 AD. Just wondering how ppl can finish researching and launch in the 16xx AD. I had about 10 cities and I kept at almost 100% research after researching economics. My reseach rate was just not that fast, the greatest beaker I acquire per turn is about 2400, and it takes at least 5-8 turns to research modern tech. I launch my spaceship about 12 turns after fusion, the last tech for the SS part.

ok, I got my SpaceShip launch at 1746 AD. Just wondering how ppl can finish researching and launch in the 16xx AD. I had about 10 cities and I kept at almost 100% research after researching economics. My reseach rate was just not that fast, the greatest beaker I acquire per turn is about 2400, and it takes at least 5-8 turns to research modern tech. I launch my spaceship about 12 turns after fusion, the last tech for the SS part.
Well, I had 18 cities in my 1574 AD game, and IIRC I was at 70% research after Economics. After Factories I simply set a few cities to build wealth, the rest - research, and raised the slider to 100%. In the end I was making ~5000 beakers per turn (Future Tech in 4-5 turns). I finished my last part 2 turns after researching the last tech. I miscalculated a bit, and should have finished 1 turn earlier.

Just wondering how ppl can finish researching and launch in the 16xx AD. I had about 10 cities and I kept at almost 100% research after researching economics.

10 cities - it is a very small amount of cities for cosmic win.

Look at my cities (I used more than 20 cities for current map):

http://forums.civfanatics.com/uploads/87269/cities_m12.jpg

wow, your capital is producing 835 beakers per turn, no wonder you launch so fast.

I also see that you are building the heroic epic...

wow, your capital is producing 835 beakers per turn, no wonder you launch so fast.
... in the middle of a Golden Age. :)

But seriously, it's not the capital you should be looking at, it's the rest of the cities. The capital can be set up to produce 500-600 beakers during the Renaissance era. That's the rest of the cities which are important in the end. If you have 10 cities producing an average of 150 bpt each, that's one thing.

If you have 20 such cities, that's a different thing. Of course, to make them work you should start very early, sometimes going as low as 20-30% research, and rush to Democracy/Emancipation.

I like to get Democracy with Liberalism, then switch immediately to Emancipation, Free Religion, and Free Speech. This time I got it in 695 AD.

I did a lot mistakes playing this game. One of them: very slow expansion. My research did not fall below 50%. In this game I got Computers by Liberalism.
AI did not help me at all. All tech I studied unassisted. - It's one of reasons why I did not finish my game before 1500AD.
At 5AD my research was 6xx bulbs, at 1000AD it was 2000 bulbs.

"I also see that you are building the heroic epic..." - forget it! It is a joke - there was no reasons to do smthing else.

In this game I got Computers by Liberalism.
But was it worth to delay Liberalism for that long?

No Liberalism means no Free Religion for +10% research, but more importantly, no Free Speech benefit of +2 commerce from Towns. Also, civic upkeep difference, which with that # of cities is something like 15 gpt less compared to Bureaucracy.

But was it worth to delay Liberalism for that long?

No Liberalism means no Free Religion for +10% research, but more importantly, no Free Speech benefit of +2 commerce from Towns.

unfortunately there is no opportunity to replay my game in another style :D

I used orgreligion and slavery to accelerate usefull buildings. As I played through cottages - there was no enough hammers in my cities.

PS 2 Infantry#14
You can look at my capital screenshot - it was posted one or two pages previously in this topic.

I used orgreligion and slavery to accelerate usefull buildings. As I played through cottages - there was no enough hammers in my cities.
Well, I do exactly the same thing. :)

But what I'm trying to tell. Suppose you get Computers (like 10 turns worth of research) with Liberalism (2 turns), this way saving yourself 8 turns. However to get to Computers you need a long line of techs Astronomy -> SM -> Physics -> Electricity -> Radio, which is by itself like 30 turns or something.

Now if you get Something with Liberalism early, like Astronomy (5 turns), you save only 3 turns, but you get Liberalism's own benefit like 25 turns earlier.

I myself usually do not rush to Scientific Method, because it cancels GL and Monasteries. Now, a monastery for +10% research is worth only 60 hammers, and 3 monasteries worth 180 hammers for +30% research is better than a lab for +25% research worth 250 hammers.

For this reason I really like to research Assembly Line and Railroad before SM, and only then rush to Computers after Physics and Biology.

In this game I also made some serious mistakes, but it was all about conquests, not teching. :) Like I captured one of the capitals with 12 floodplains 1000 years later than I should. I was struggling to build a library in this city around 1000AD while running Representation/Emancipation (no rush option.)

Just checked the civic upkeep in my 1070 AD save.
If I run Bureaucracy + Org.Rel (both High upkeep), I'm paying 158 gpt. If I run Free Speech + Free Rel. (both Low Upkeep), it's only 121 gpt., which means I'd have to go down to 60% research from my present 70% w. +14 gold positive, if under Bureaucracy/Org.Rel.

Well, I do exactly the same thing. :)

But what I'm trying to tell. Suppose you get Computers (like 10 turns worth of research) with Liberalism (2 turns), this way saving yourself 8 turns. However to get to Computers you need a long line of techs Astronomy -> SM -> Physics -> Electricity -> Radio, which is by itself like 30 turns or something.

Now if you get Something with Liberalism early, like Astronomy (5 turns), you save only 3 turns, but you get Liberalism's own benefit like 25 turns earlier.

I myself usually do not rush to Scientific Method, because it cancels GL and Monasteries. Now, a monastery for +10% research is worth only 60 hammers, and 3 monasteries worth 180 hammers for +30% research is better than a lab for +25% research worth 250 hammers.

For this reason I really like to research Assembly Line and Railroad before SM, and only then rush to Computers after Physics and Biology.

In this game I also made some serious mistakes, but it was all about conquests, not teching. :) Like I captured one of the capitals with 12 floodplains 1000 years later than I should. I was struggling to build a library in this city around 1000AD while running Representation/Emancipation (no rush option.)

All your reasons are acceptable. As I was playing there were another reasons.

For example:
I researched all posibble tech before Asronomy and SM exept DR))) I am too late research Asrtonomy as I was waiting for AI research at least Compass to exchange with me. It was causa mortis...

does somebody know when the next update takes palce?

So is it possible to upload tommorow (26.06) morning for major 12 or not?

I would really appriciate a fast answer as I don't know whether I can play this gauntlet tonight or NOT?

does somebody know when the next update takes palce?

It will more than likely be tonight, though nothings set in stone.

Since HOF isn't working at the moment, is there any other way to submit a game before the deadline? Thanks.

Since HOF isn't working at the moment, is there any other way to submit a game before the deadline? Thanks.
The update is about 24 hours away, so just submit when the site comes back up.

Now to figure out why it's down...:(

The update is about 24 hours away, so just submit when the site comes back up.

Now to figure out why it's down...:(
Thanks! It's up now, but I keep getting the following errors:

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Thank you for submitting Moonsinger AD-1577.CivWarlordsSave.
Submitted: 2007-06-25 22:33:54

PS: Yes, I finally finished one by 1577AD. This probably is my last game with Civ4. I'm moving on to Space Empires V.

This probably is my last game with Civ4. I'm moving on to Space Empires V.
BTS should be legal for the HOF before the end of the year. We'll see you then.:mischief:

Yes, I finally finished one by 1577AD. This probably is my last game with Civ4. I'm moving on to Space Empires V.

Congrats! It's a worth game! Your game is very close to the best results in this gauntlet. As update is keeping off I think your game may be included.

PS it's a great pity to lose such strong opponent as you! Good luck!:)

Congrats! It's a worth game! Your game is very close to the best results in this gauntlet. As update is keeping off I think your game may be included.

Thanks! Yes, it's included. Congrats to all for trying and especially those that get it done before 1600 AD.:goodjob::hatsoff:

hmm.. there is no update so far.. my first result is beaten today.. :sad:
(it was submitted about 10 days ago).

is it possible to play another game for this gauntlet? :lol:

Who knows when the update will really occur? :confused:

Wow, I'm still in the top half of results for the gauntlet. I'm really quite shocked.

Who knows when the update will really occur? :confused:
The recent server outage as well as my last two R/L days made a slight mess of things. An update tonight is very likely.

The recent server outage as well as my last two R/L days made a slight mess of things. An update tonight is very likely.

It will be good! Make update faster,pls! I fear that my game will be moved down to the bottom of the gauntlet table... :D

hmm.. there is no update so far.. my first result is beaten today.. :sad:
(it was submitted about 10 days ago).

is it possible to play another game for this gauntlet? :lol:

Who knows when the update will really occur? :confused:
I was planning on playing another but being out of town and hectic work has made it impossible to start on another game. Any chance we can push the update back til Sunday or are people clamoring for a new gauntlet?

Killercane, I guess I am clamouring for a new gauntlet. I finished these two ages ago and am now twiddling my thumbs waiting for GOTM 20, SGOTM5, and new gauntlets to start. I'm in a sort of void between games, so need something to get going on!

Hmm, that does sound a bit sad. Maybe I should get a life instead. :)

I like the idea of pushing back the update till Sunday. I'd play one or two myself.

No, lets get a new one out there.

New one, for sure.

G-Major 12 (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=223937) has concluded. AAA took first place with a 1535 AD finish, Gosha190 with a 1541 AD, and killercane took third with a 1565 AD finish.

Full results (http://hof.civfanatics.net/civ4/gauntlet.php?show=major&gauntlet=47&submit=Go)

:woohoo: I finished in the top half without using the Inca!

Top 3 games compare:
http://hof.civfanatics.net/civ4/game_info.php?entryID=7956%7C7854&show=&addEntry=Add&addEntryChoice=7802

GPT - the main parameter of a cosmic game. It shows research speed:

http://hof.civfanatics.net/civ4/game_info.php?entryID=7956%7C7854%7C7802&show=histogram&addEntryChoice=7859&histogramType=GPT&changeHistogramType=Go

It looks like not adopting an early Emancipation was the biggest factor for me.

Update on results:
I hate to admit it, but I missed a valid submission before the update: kovacsflo has a retroactive win that came in at #7.