RPC-TNG: Pre-Game thread, Nikola Tesla: Mad Scientist or Supergenius

Well here is the PreGame thread for the next RPC-TNG.

Here we have the classic historical Mad Scientist, Nikola Tesla genius in radio, electricity, and magnetism yet perhaps best know for developing a fictional (or perhaps not fictional) Death-Ray which was a weapon so terrible that it would totally eliminate war!

SO I want some ideas on traits, civilizations, maps, rules!

What I do not want is Philosophical as the last 2 RPCs had that trait. Nor ORG.

Tesla was of Croatian decent, part of the Autrian Empire, later an American citizan.

Civilization: SO I figure the following Civilizations would be appropriate: Germany, Byzantium, Greece, Rome, Ottoman, America. I am leaning more towards Germany (UB and UU) or Greece (UB associated with radio). America I have to be really talked into as I just played Obama as Lincoln. Korea may also be a decent civilization as the UB seams most in line with Tesla. The Russians work also but I just played them.

Traits: I think financial is a definite as I plan to focus on technology (see rules below). AGG/CHA are out as I do not like these traits with Tesla although I do like PRO (being his deathray idea was a rather defensive invention). He was an Atheist so SPI is out. EXP or CRE may work also, and IMP seams a stretch.

Game idea: The idea is to be first to finish the tech tree at all costs and launch into space. Of course, there are

RULES!

1) Tech Brokering is off, gotta research the tech to trade it.

2) After alphabet Nikola MUST research only techs that are unknown. If all options are know he has a choice then. He also CANNOT trade any tech he has a monopoly on. Tech stealing via espionage is not allowed by Nikola.

3) He can only run Scientist Specialists, and every Great Scientist MUST build an academy. NO BULBING. Other Great People that pop are irrelevant and should be used for Golden Ages.

4) War is always an option, HOWEVER, Tesla is very unforgiving and will never trade with anyone after peace who declares war on him. In fact it turns into an Obsession to eliminate that rival by the end, and I mean ELIMINATE!

5) He MUST be the first to complete the tech tree, and it MUST be done before he lands the Space Ship.

6) Tesla was Compulsive/Obsessive and obsessed about the number 3. Therefore, he must expand in cities of three, thus 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 etc...... An odd number means either another settler or another AI city.

Map: Thinking of Big/Small so I have plenty of AIs to interact with although a Hemispheres map may be challenging.

Setting: Epic Speed and I think we shall bump this up to Emperor.

AS far as playing strategy I plan to focus heavily on cottages, adding scientist specialists as we see fit.

All teh above is just feeling out the settings! Advise away!

Seems suited for Wang Kon. University with extra science? Good. Weird rocket propelled catapult thing? Good. Financial? Good. Also gives you protective, which you mentioned. Other options could be Willem (creative). It doesn't really fit with his heritage, but seems suitable for all other options.

Germany's UU/UB definitely makes the most sense (to me). If you're going FIN, then FIN/IND (i.e., Huayna Cupac) might be good. Tesla would like to build a lot of world wonders, methinks.

If you don't want to go the unrestricted leader route, then I think that Wang Kon with his FIN/PRO and UU/UB could work, too.

From what I know of the guy historically I'd say Willem of Korea... just do a little hand waving and you have Tesla of Eastern Europe.

Edit - Would you have to change your technology choice if you are beaten to something? As in you are researching Gunpowder and then 3 turns from completion you find out that OtherCiv just finished it would you need to divert to something else if there is an unknown option available? I'd say no myself, just because that would be annoying to constantly look at and change.

How about FIN/IND (Huayna)? Wonderspamming seems to fit my picture of Tesla. I thought about the Observatory-based UB, French Salon, but the free artist doesn't fit; I think the Korean Seowon fits better, even if its bonus is cultural. OTOH the French start with Wheel and Agriculture, which means Pottery is immediately available if you want to start cottaging right away...

Can always go into a WB save and just change your starting technologies as well. Y leader, of X civilization, with A and B starting techs. While you are adding random leaders I don't see why the heck not.

I like FIN/IND actually, sort of one of the best combos there is. I would have to change the rule about Great People though, perhaps academies for Great Scientists, settle other GPs, still run scientist specialists. CRE/FIN is good for the fast libraries but does not exactly fit Tesla too well.

Changing starting techs makes things a littel too easy, I'll live with what the civilization has.

Germany and Korea sounds like the most logical choices right now.

have you ever played one of these with a mod ?
in the thomas war mod you can actually build the tesla peace ray world wonder

heres a picture and pedia discription of it

Brave Sir Robin said:

have you ever played one of these with a mod ?
in the thomas war mod you can actually build the tesla peace ray world wonder

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No I have not done Mods yet, and that may come in the distant future.

For now though I will stick with conventional BTS.

I'd like him CRE/IND. CRE for his inventions and IND for him being industrious as well as for the marvellous things he helped create.

I wouldn't say FIN was accurate for him, looking at how he was ripped off by Edison in that department.

I'd say FIN in this case wasn't so much "financial" as "able to get more out of the territory than most people"

dalamb said:

I'd say FIN in this case wasn't so much "financial" as "able to get more out of the territory than most people"

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Yes, this is why I chose FIN. Maximize that Scientific knowhow!

I'm coming back to the game after a multi-year law school-related break, and I came across your Lenin thread. I had a great time reading your thread and playing along (I waited too long to go after the deluded religious nut to the north), so I wanted to say thanks! I'm very much looking forward to participating from the beginning in this one.

I think Nyar makes a good point about Tesla's relative lack of business sense. Maybe we need Financial for game mechanics reasons (FIN => Commerce => Science), but if not then what about IND/PRO Qin? Maybe with Korea?

Edit: And you already addressed the FIN thing before I replied. Never mind me, carry on!

Ah curses, I should be more awake when I read posts

I don't like the rule about other great people. Prophets should be allowed to shrine; Engineers build wonders, Merchants go on trade routes and Artists culture bomb. Why would Tesla prevent or discourage any of those things or settling them? Even using non-scientists for breakthroughs on his research projects seems to be reasonable. If a Prophet could bring him the secrets of theology, it would free up his scientists for other important work.

I think Korea fits better for your purposes because of the UU and UB.

One nice addition could be that Tesla also had a phobia of women who had piercings. So, at least Vicky, Elizabeth and Izzy should scare him away if they happen to enter the game.

JTMacc99 said:

I don't like the rule about other great people. Prophets should be allowed to shrine; Engineers build wonders, Merchants go on trade routes and Artists culture bomb. Why would Tesla prevent or discourage any of those things or settling them? Even using non-scientists for breakthroughs on his research projects seems to be reasonable. If a Prophet could bring him the secrets of theology, it would free up his scientists for other important work.

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I am thinking Tesla will try and get predominantly Great Scientists. I see your point about the other GPs though, I'll think this over. I guess with Obsession over the tech tree freedom to use GPs the best way makes the most sense.

Right now I am thinking of FIN/ORG as either the Germans or Koreans. I don't like starting with Mysticism as Korea and may change that tech in WB although he would not have to waste time researching it.

I will likely post the save tonight and start the RPC MOnday.

Coincidentally, my family watched The Prestige last night, in which Tesla plays a brief but critical role. There was a comment by one of the characters about stage magic vs real wizardry.

dalamb said:

Coincidentally, my family watched The Prestige last night, in which Tesla plays a brief but critical role. There was a comment by one of the characters about stage magic vs real wizardry.

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off topic, I know, but that was a brilliant movie

I learned his electro-magnetic formula during a-level physics, and don't oherwise know much about him.

But it looks like he should only be allowed to build flying machines (Fight/bomber/gunship/etc) if his empire has a supply of pigs....