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Conquest 01: HITTITES!
Before you rush-off to download the save files, please take a moment to read the following important points!
The Game Of The Month Staff are pleased to present to you the first competition that supports the Conquest format. However, there are a few things that you should take note of, whether you are a seasoned Game-Of-The-Month player, or a newcomer looking to start now that we are supporting conquests.
This game is playable in Conquests only. There is no comparable PTW or Civ version!
When transitioning from Civ3 to Play The World, it was recognised that the actual game rules between the two variants were very few; the main changes were that new civilizations have been added. When we looked to support conquests, we evaluated the possibility of a similar undertaking: providing some download packs for civilizations equivalent to the C3C ones, and providing a map / starting save file that could be played on all three platforms with no real advantages or disadvantages for any platform. However, the ruleset for conquests has changed far to much for this to be a realistic goal. Addition of new terrain types, a changed tech tree, a completely different corruption model have made this impossible. Therefore we must keep these competitions separate.
You need Conquests patched to version 1.22f.
Since conquests has been released, it has gone through several different patches, each with minor and some with major tweaks to how the game is played. The most recent patch (1.22f) has a modified tech-tree over the previous patch, and a few other tweaks. Whilst we may have been able to make a version that could be played under 1.15f, we decided that the simplist method of ensuring a level playing field was to require everyone to play using patch version 1.22f.
If you do not have it, you can download and install it from here.
Games played in versions other than v1.22f will not be accepted!
Game Classes
If you have not played a GOTM recently (or at all), you may be somewhat confused by the different game classes available. Because people have different skill levels, we provide three different game classes to make the games more enjoyable to players of all skill levels. In all three classes, the maps are identical, however the player is given slight bonuses or handicap.
For the new players, we have (the unfortunately-named
) "Conquest" class games. In these games, the player is given a slight benefit over other players, in the form of some extra gold, some extra units or a combination of the two. Because of these aids, the final scores for 'conquests' class players are reduced by 15% in the final score, and conquest-class players are ineligable for 'fastest-finish' awards. Anyone who finishes in the top half (or so) of the field is expected to graduate to 'Open' class for subsequent games.
Most players play in the 'Open' class. In this game, there are usually no benefits or handicaps for the players.
For the top-players, we have the 'Predator' class. In these games, the player is given a slight disadvantage, often by such things as reducing the unit support costs for the computer players, or giving the computer players extra units / settlers. This is purely to make games played at lesser difficulty levels more enjoyable for the best players; they are not given any scoring bonuses for playing this class.
Scoring
Again, if you have not played a recent GOTM, you may be somewhat confused by the scoring system we use. It was recognised that the built-in scoring system in Civ provided a very uneven method of determining end-game bonuses for early wins: If you could not win the game by the very early ADs, the best way of getting the highest score was to 'milk' the game to 2050. A new scoring system was developed by Aeson which tries to make the scoring much fairer, and largely remove the need to milk the game. This system is called the 'Jason' system. As a simplified explanation, it tries to give you an end-game bonus for an early finish that is proportional to the score you would get if you milked the game right to the end. Further, the game takes account of the victory condition that you achieve in calculating the bonus. For example, it is easier to win by (say) domination at an early date than to win by Spaceship. The jason system tries to determine how the date that you achieve for your chosen victory condition compares against the 'best' date achievable for that condition. In theory, a 'perfect' domination victory should give you the same score as a later-finishing 'perfect' spaceship victory.
Exploits
The programming of the game was not perfect. As such, there are certain ways to 'exploit' this programming. Some are allowable inthe GOTM, some are not (for various reasons). A brief list is given at this link.
A note on cheating:
Unfortunately, we do from time to time find cases where people have cheated. We take a very dim view of this. If you are found to have cheated, the minimum you can expect is for your game to be removed; you may be excluded from all other games as well. 'Cheating' includes (but is not limited to) such things as using utility programs that change the game (for example Powerbar or Civ3 multitool), or reveal the map.
If you make a bad move, get a bad result, or forget to do something (like changing tax rates etc), then reload the game at an earlier point to play it differently, we also consider this cheating. You may only reload a game at the start of a new play session, and we strongly recommend that every time you play a session, that you play for a minimum of 30 minutes. You can reload if the game crashes. If your game is consistently crashing, then the onus is on you to contact one of the GOTM staff to explain the problems you are having.
Spoilers
Much of the fun for participants in the GOTM competitions is to read and post in the 'spoiler threads' in the GOTM forum. These are split-up into different phases of the game, typically the ancient age, then middle ages and the end-game. The first post in each spoiler will have the requirements that you must fulfil in order to read or post in that spoiler thread: Please make sure that you follow the guidelines! The first spoiler typically opens after about 5 days, and the next ones every 5 (or so) days after.
Submissions and results
When you have completed your game, you can submit it using this sexy submission form here. We aks that you complete a finished game! Unless you have received a conquest defeat, at the end of the game you go through the victory parade. Following this, you have the option of quitting or 'Lemme play a couple more turns!". If you choose the latter, you can then save the 'completed' game. Please make sure that this is the save you submit.
For more information about the future of the GOTM, please see the forum announcement.
To download the game, proceed to the Game announcement page.
Before you rush-off to download the save files, please take a moment to read the following important points!
The Game Of The Month Staff are pleased to present to you the first competition that supports the Conquest format. However, there are a few things that you should take note of, whether you are a seasoned Game-Of-The-Month player, or a newcomer looking to start now that we are supporting conquests.
This game is playable in Conquests only. There is no comparable PTW or Civ version!
When transitioning from Civ3 to Play The World, it was recognised that the actual game rules between the two variants were very few; the main changes were that new civilizations have been added. When we looked to support conquests, we evaluated the possibility of a similar undertaking: providing some download packs for civilizations equivalent to the C3C ones, and providing a map / starting save file that could be played on all three platforms with no real advantages or disadvantages for any platform. However, the ruleset for conquests has changed far to much for this to be a realistic goal. Addition of new terrain types, a changed tech tree, a completely different corruption model have made this impossible. Therefore we must keep these competitions separate.
You need Conquests patched to version 1.22f.
Since conquests has been released, it has gone through several different patches, each with minor and some with major tweaks to how the game is played. The most recent patch (1.22f) has a modified tech-tree over the previous patch, and a few other tweaks. Whilst we may have been able to make a version that could be played under 1.15f, we decided that the simplist method of ensuring a level playing field was to require everyone to play using patch version 1.22f.
If you do not have it, you can download and install it from here.
Games played in versions other than v1.22f will not be accepted!
Game Classes
If you have not played a GOTM recently (or at all), you may be somewhat confused by the different game classes available. Because people have different skill levels, we provide three different game classes to make the games more enjoyable to players of all skill levels. In all three classes, the maps are identical, however the player is given slight bonuses or handicap.
For the new players, we have (the unfortunately-named
) "Conquest" class games. In these games, the player is given a slight benefit over other players, in the form of some extra gold, some extra units or a combination of the two. Because of these aids, the final scores for 'conquests' class players are reduced by 15% in the final score, and conquest-class players are ineligable for 'fastest-finish' awards. Anyone who finishes in the top half (or so) of the field is expected to graduate to 'Open' class for subsequent games.Most players play in the 'Open' class. In this game, there are usually no benefits or handicaps for the players.
For the top-players, we have the 'Predator' class. In these games, the player is given a slight disadvantage, often by such things as reducing the unit support costs for the computer players, or giving the computer players extra units / settlers. This is purely to make games played at lesser difficulty levels more enjoyable for the best players; they are not given any scoring bonuses for playing this class.
Scoring
Again, if you have not played a recent GOTM, you may be somewhat confused by the scoring system we use. It was recognised that the built-in scoring system in Civ provided a very uneven method of determining end-game bonuses for early wins: If you could not win the game by the very early ADs, the best way of getting the highest score was to 'milk' the game to 2050. A new scoring system was developed by Aeson which tries to make the scoring much fairer, and largely remove the need to milk the game. This system is called the 'Jason' system. As a simplified explanation, it tries to give you an end-game bonus for an early finish that is proportional to the score you would get if you milked the game right to the end. Further, the game takes account of the victory condition that you achieve in calculating the bonus. For example, it is easier to win by (say) domination at an early date than to win by Spaceship. The jason system tries to determine how the date that you achieve for your chosen victory condition compares against the 'best' date achievable for that condition. In theory, a 'perfect' domination victory should give you the same score as a later-finishing 'perfect' spaceship victory.
Exploits
The programming of the game was not perfect. As such, there are certain ways to 'exploit' this programming. Some are allowable inthe GOTM, some are not (for various reasons). A brief list is given at this link.
A note on cheating:
Unfortunately, we do from time to time find cases where people have cheated. We take a very dim view of this. If you are found to have cheated, the minimum you can expect is for your game to be removed; you may be excluded from all other games as well. 'Cheating' includes (but is not limited to) such things as using utility programs that change the game (for example Powerbar or Civ3 multitool), or reveal the map.
If you make a bad move, get a bad result, or forget to do something (like changing tax rates etc), then reload the game at an earlier point to play it differently, we also consider this cheating. You may only reload a game at the start of a new play session, and we strongly recommend that every time you play a session, that you play for a minimum of 30 minutes. You can reload if the game crashes. If your game is consistently crashing, then the onus is on you to contact one of the GOTM staff to explain the problems you are having.
Spoilers
Much of the fun for participants in the GOTM competitions is to read and post in the 'spoiler threads' in the GOTM forum. These are split-up into different phases of the game, typically the ancient age, then middle ages and the end-game. The first post in each spoiler will have the requirements that you must fulfil in order to read or post in that spoiler thread: Please make sure that you follow the guidelines! The first spoiler typically opens after about 5 days, and the next ones every 5 (or so) days after.
Submissions and results
When you have completed your game, you can submit it using this sexy submission form here. We aks that you complete a finished game! Unless you have received a conquest defeat, at the end of the game you go through the victory parade. Following this, you have the option of quitting or 'Lemme play a couple more turns!". If you choose the latter, you can then save the 'completed' game. Please make sure that this is the save you submit.
For more information about the future of the GOTM, please see the forum announcement.
To download the game, proceed to the Game announcement page.
![IgrOK[SU]](https://civfanatics-data.community.forum/avatars/m/15/15078.jpg?1648073399){kind=avatar}
The vanilla guys will just have to invest a few ££. Hopefully a lot of people will join in as the long process of patching for a gotm was offputting and some players disliked the modded games.
