pomthom
Drive & Reverb
The Nobles' Club series started out as a way for Noble-level (and below) players to improve their game. Most of the original participants now play at much higher levels, so this has become a way for advanced players to help others learn to play better. You can play your own game at any level and with any mod, but it would be nice to comment on the games of other players and give them advice.
Our next leader is Isabella of Spain, whom we last played in NC LXXIV. The Spanish start with Fishing and Mysticism.
--------------------------
--------------------------
Finally, a cut and paste of our standard doctrine:
There are no hard and fast rules here: fun and learning are our primary goals, but we do suggest that you update your progress at various points in the game, using the Spoiler feature of the boards. You can post as often as you like; here's one suggestion:
We also welcome players to ask for specific game advice, as we have a number or stronger players who lurk and help out with solid tips, and of course, we help each other. Replies to specific questions should also be in spoilers, with a simple "@" in front of the person the answer is directed towards.
The WB-saves are attached (zipped; they are bigger than standard saves). To play, simply download and unzip it into your BTS/Saves/WorldBuilder folder. Start the game, and load your favorite MOD (if you use one, if not, check out the BUG MOD), select "Play Scenario", and look for "NC 138 Isabella Noble" (or Monarch, etc., for higher levels)
You can play with your favorite MOD at the Level and Speed of your choice. From Quick-Warlord to Marathon-Deity, all are welcome! We stuck with the name "Nobles Club" because it has a cool ring to it.
Note: The standard saves have no huts and have events turned off. If you want tribal villages and random events, choose the saves with "Huts" in their names. If you want huts but no events, select the Huts saves and use Custom Scenario to turn on the option that suppresses events.
For players on Monarch or above, you should add archery as a tech for the barbarians (if you don't, the AI will capture their cities very early). This cannot be done in the WB save file and must be done in Worldbuilder as follows:
Our next leader is Isabella of Spain, whom we last played in NC LXXIV. The Spanish start with Fishing and Mysticism.
- Traits: Isabella is Expansive and Spiritual. EXP means faster granaries and harbours, faster worker production (+25%), and +2 in each city. SPI means no anarchy when switching civics or religions, which makes it easier to yield to AI demands (which you can reverse 5 turns later if you wish). It also makes temples cheaper, which can help with cultural victories where you want a lot of them to build +50% Cathedrals in your legendary cities.
- The UB: The Citadel, a Castle that gives +5XP to siege units built in the city. This can give a big boost to medieval-age warfare, and in the modern era might cause you to think hard about how soon to go for Economics (which obsoletes the bonus).
- The UU: The Conquistador, a Cuirassier with +50% versus melee units, and which gets defensive bonuses. In the Gunpowder era the bonus against melee might not be all that valuable, except against a technologically backward AI like Montezuma. Beelining Military Tradition might become attractive.
--------------------------
Spoiler map details :
Fractal, standard size.
Random opponents, no edits.
Random opponents, no edits.
--------------------------
Finally, a cut and paste of our standard doctrine:
There are no hard and fast rules here: fun and learning are our primary goals, but we do suggest that you update your progress at various points in the game, using the Spoiler feature of the boards. You can post as often as you like; here's one suggestion:
- 4000 BC (starting thoughts, no spoiler required for that discussion)
- 1000 BC or so (how you decided to progress up the early tech/build paths, which AIs you have met, where you're thinking of putting cities, etc)
- 500 AD or so (after establishing some cities and a possible plan of action)
- 1200 AD or so (mid-game, Lib race, wars or peace, or whichever happened or didn't, met other
- continent if applicable, etc)
- 1600 AD (or when you have decided on a course of action and a specific victory condition)
- End of game (Victory!!! or defeat, no shame in losing, especially if you tried a higher level. Learning is what we focus on, not fastest win or biggest empire)
We also welcome players to ask for specific game advice, as we have a number or stronger players who lurk and help out with solid tips, and of course, we help each other. Replies to specific questions should also be in spoilers, with a simple "@" in front of the person the answer is directed towards.
The WB-saves are attached (zipped; they are bigger than standard saves). To play, simply download and unzip it into your BTS/Saves/WorldBuilder folder. Start the game, and load your favorite MOD (if you use one, if not, check out the BUG MOD), select "Play Scenario", and look for "NC 138 Isabella Noble" (or Monarch, etc., for higher levels)
Spoiler what's up with specific difficulties :
In each scenario file you can select your level of difficulty, but that doesn't give the AI the right bonus techs by itself. Use the Noble save for all levels at and below Noble. The Monarch save gives all the AI Archery. Emperor adds Hunting; Immortal adds Agriculture; Deity adds The Wheel
Note: The standard saves have no huts and have events turned off. If you want tribal villages and random events, choose the saves with "Huts" in their names. If you want huts but no events, select the Huts saves and use Custom Scenario to turn on the option that suppresses events.
For players on Monarch or above, you should add archery as a tech for the barbarians (if you don't, the AI will capture their cities very early). This cannot be done in the WB save file and must be done in Worldbuilder as follows:
Spoiler how to add techs to the barbarians :
- Zoom in all the way so you can't see the rest of the map.
- Use the CTRL-W key (or the menu) to enter the worldbuilder. Avoid looking at the mini-map in the lower right corner.
- By default you're in "player" mode (look in the box in the upper right; the icon that looks like a person should be selected). You'll get a drop down menu labeled with your leader's name. Barbarians are at the bottom, so cover the rest of the list with your hand if you don't want to see who else is on the map. Select "Barbarians".
- Select the "Technologies" tab in the box on the left.
- Find Archery (the arrow head icon; 8th row, 3rd column from the right) and click it.
- Exit the worldbuilder.
- Zoom out again after the map fades, and start playing.