RK11 - First Strike Strikes Back

Just to let you know my track record, I haven't won a succession game in a year. Of course I haven't been playing, but that's besides the point. I did lose count of the number of SG's I started, so 11 is an arbitrary number I picked to continue my "series".

The first game in my series was on Prince difficulty where only units with First Strike were allowed. Let's move it up to Monarch.

SETTINGS:
Difficulty: Monarch
Map: Donut (Standard Size)
Opponents: 7, randomly chosen
No Random Events
Pick Your Religion (enabled, just for fun and I like starting the game with Christianity or Islam... coz they came so late before)
Restricted Leaders (as in, nothing too good like "Churchill of the Native Americans")
Speed: Epic

REQUIRES ROSTER VOTE:
Civ/Leader: select any with Protective trait

my picks:
Wang Kon of Korea: Financial and Hwacha
Sitting Bull of Native America: Totem Pole
Churchill of England: Charismatic and Redcoats
Mao or Qin of China: Chu-Ko-Nu

VARIANT RULES:
1. Of all units, only siege, archery, guns and tanks allowed (these are the guys that can gain first strike). As well as noncombat and air units.
2. Unlike RK01, promotions are unrestricted, but may we suggest First Strike?
3. Must pick a Protective Leader (up to the group just who)

WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE, vs WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN NOW:
Back then, a Construction beeline meant a flood of archers and catapults. Then we went Feudalism, Engineering, Chemistry. Of course catapults have been weakened and can't kill defenders, and Grenadiers had been moved elsewhere, as well as Gunpowder units being able to gain the Drill promotion, so this game will be different.

***

I am looking for players who can beat Prince, at least. Succession games definitely bring out the best in people.

Roster moved to 5 posts below.

Well I guess the only appropriate way to welcome you back to CIV is by joining your SG so sign me up.

Feedback on the theme.

Monarch feels right to me and will make it a challenging but doable game - Pholkhero wouldn't approve as any of his games have to be nigh on impossible (Have a look at Men In Tights et al)

I would avoid Churchill and his redcoats as a beeline to rifles / overrun your enemies has become a fairly standard path in BTS and I would prefer something different.

So go for Sitting Bull (not the strongest leader so upping the challenge level) because how can you resist a genuinely different leader for your first BTS SG.

Cheers

Ralph

If you want me sign me in ( just put me in the end of the rooster... having some lack of time ATM ). EDIT : Gunpowder units can go to the drill line in BtS... are you considering it ( it doesn't look so ) )

If you ask me, Monarch is doable with this settings....

Sitting bull is the ultimate leader for First strikes, due to the UB ( crazy stuff.... ) ,but for opening the options a little I suggest two leaders:

- Tokugawa, but only if you accept Samurai and upgraded Samurai ( Samurai now have 2 FS and Drill I out of bat ). Besides that leveraging Toku can be pretty hard

- Wang kon ( have you ever tried Hwatcha + Longbow rush?... It is imensely powerful if you beeline Feudalism )

I would avoid churchill ( Ralph already said why ) and the chinese ( the Chu no ku rush is badly overpowered if you do it right )

after taking a stupid break from SGs and probably pissing off many by my continued absence, i would like to start again. sign me up (if you'll have me)

Ralph_Jackson said:

Monarch feels right to me and will make it a challenging but doable game - Pholkhero wouldn't approve as any of his games have to be nigh on impossible (Have a look at Men In Tights et al)

I would avoid Churchill and his redcoats as a beeline to rifles / overrun your enemies has become a fairly standard path in BTS and I would prefer something different.

Click to expand...

Thanks, Ralph.

I'm not that confident yet, so I'll try to avoid doing something just too crazy, yet. I DID have an unwinnable Monarch variant before, so it has happened already.

That's not exactly fairly standard to me. And besides, the problem with the Redcoat beeline is: what will you do before then? Heh heh. Churchill would've been fine by me; though that's a vote for Sitting Bull from you.

r_rolo1 said:

If you want me sign me in ( just put me in the end of the rooster... having some lack of time ATM ). EDIT : Gunpowder units can go to the drill line in BtS... are you considering it ( it doesn't look so ) )

Click to expand...

I did say "guns" were allowed, so we're fine there:


You're right, Samurai have 2 first strikes that changes everything. And they upgrade to guns too! I guess Toku could be considered too.

tycoonist said:

after taking a stupid break from SGs and probably pissing off many by my continued absence, i would like to start again. sign me up (if you'll have me)

Click to expand...

Sure. You are in! Welcome!

So guys, Once we settle on a leader, I'll start the game. Or do you want me to just roll a start then just "Worldbuilder" our leader if we change our minds...

Roster (looking for 4 or 5 volunteers!)
Robo Kai
Ralph Jackson
Tycoonist
negyvenketto
R. Rolo

EDIT: Moved Rolo to end of roster as requested.

***

We'll start the game soon. Any more takers?

Let's settle on a leader too. Sitting Bull seems to get the vote right now, though Tokugawa's Samurai and Korea seem fine too.

Turns: 40-30, then 20 until 0AD, then 15 until it gets hectic upon which switch to 10. Like Pholk's games, feel free to stop at an important event or go on until an important event (such as city capture or tech upgrade).

Strict 24 hrs got it, 48 hours to play.

I would like to join, too.
I also vote for Bull.

Great, welcome to the game!
I think 6 members are overkill so let's just start now. I'll roll the start shortly, since Sitting Bull seems to get the unanimous vote.

If there's something else I'm known for, it's for regenerating a map until I have a Hall of Fame-quality start.


Note that I had already moved the warrior.



Settle in place?

Is that a trick question?

I always feel kind of worried when I have this kind of starts.... When I get them it always seems that the land for a thousands miles is a barren wasteland worthy of being the scenario of Mad Max

It's not entirely a trick question, I mean... 1E of the current position isn't too bad, right?

Think of it this way. As the variant suggests...
1. We don't need Bronze. (of course the production bonus is nice)
2. We don't need Iron. (until tanks or something)

So those crabs... probably a replacement for Bronze or Iron deposits that the game didn't generate for us.

Think positive. Besides, the warrior will be going around, and pretty soon your fear of a post-apocalyptic world will be confirmed.

1E loses the river ( + levee acess ), so

We need iron for x-bows, cannons and frigates so we should search for iron in due time. But for now crabs are enough ( fear my mighty crabs )

Well since Rolo implied that there is just no chance anyone is gonna suggest alternate settling options, let's start the game!

4000 BC
Start workboat in capital.

3975 BC
Pick up 32 gold from a hut.
Decide to go AH, Hunting, Archery

3875 BC
Meet Gilgamesh of the Sumerians


3475 BC
Meet Stalin of the Russians
Come to think of it, I should've made the warrior explore the area AROUND OUR CAPITAL.
Also, AH was a definite because I didn't go worker first. Feh, whatever. At least we know we don't have any horses.



HOLD IT!!!
We could have a worker steal opportunity here... I press ENTER and...
Stalin hasn't moved his worker.

I stop here. Time for a vote and pass the turn to Ralph.
Steal a worker? (YES/NO)

Roster
Robo Kai (just played, YES to worker steal)
Ralph Jackson (up for 30 or until interesting event)
Tycoonist (on deck for 20)
negyvenketto
R. Rolo (YES to steal)

Steal worker

lurker's comment:

Pholkhero wouldn't approve as any of his games have to be nigh on impossible (Have a look at Men In Tights et al)

Click to expand...

and we still win, well, ALMOST half

( fear my mighty crabs )

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I knew a girl at university who said that ~ nevermind

Will have a quick peek and then cast my vote for worker steal.

& yes this is my got it...

Ralph

Well worker steal is already 60% of the votes, so that's already a YES!

Well I vote yes and as that makes 3 of us I guess it qualifies as a decision. Wont play for a few hours so Negy and Tycoonist have time to try and persuade me other wise.

Research Hunting - Archery & then?
First thought was Mysticism (for totem poles) but we are so Hammer poor prior to Broze Working



That I think post archery we need to go staright down the Mining BW path

Ralph

I think that's a good idea. We have a ton of spare firewood anyway, and the crabs/sheep will ensure a steady supply of people for Slavery.

Steal worker

4000 BC
Start workboat in capital.

Click to expand...

Where is that workboat? In Ralph's screenshot there is no fishing nets.
BW seems fine for me, too.