G-Major 104

[Firmlife]

Gratz everyone who finished (above me)!

And thanks Lymond for your response. Yes, in forums for other games I've usually seen the AI's referred to as computer opponents, or comps. I chose raging barbs because I was doing this as much for Quattro as for Guantlet, and on lower levels I never had so much trouble with the barbs.

I've been playing some Deity Religious games and am much more comfortable with AI manipulation and tech trading, in particular I see now how you can research many less techs than the AI but maintain parity, so I think if I were to do it again I'd be more comfortable ignoring the research slider, falling behind in tech, and having many fewer cities than the AI's.

Originally Posted by lymond

I'm actually playing 2 simultaneous games of this particular Guantlet as I try out a variation on a similar strategy.

This is something I know I don't do nearly enough of. I settle into a strategy and then just want to play it over and over again. I'm not very good at warfare before getting musketmen, and I think this is what makes me really nervous when I see the computers getting 10 cities to my five AND out-teching me. Playing HOF games has really forced me out of my habits and to learn new ways to play, new facets of the game. I never would have thought to run a specialist economy, for instance, but now I can manage it. I think my next lesson is going to be in doing axemen rushes.

Originally Posted by lymond

Anyway, as for Toku as a leader, I subscribe to the camp that you can win with any leader in any situation.

I think there's some truth to that, but I think he was a particularly bad leader for my first extended Immortal game. The only place where I'd say it is false is that before I used Mapfinder I saw some starts (I remember one start mired in the tundra, with space for only three cities on a Continents map, and two warmongers to my south) that I think would be impossible to manage.

I'd add that in addition to my other shortcomings, I chose a map (Continents) and a playstyle that limited my ability to do well in the Gauntlet in an effort to gain control to ensure I finished (and fill out some Quattro spaces).

Anyway, thanks for the help, definitely learning a lot!