SoI Domination Challenge

[Jusos2108]

The challenge is simple: achieve domination victory with any civ in SoI. Earliest victories are listed together with the highest scores, so every civ can have two records. Of course they can be from the same game. The minimum version used is currently 1.0, but this may change in the future.

The challenge is specific for normal speed and Sultan difficulty. Screenshots for victory and score are required.

Check out earlier domination victories and tips in here.



Achieved Domination Victories:

Earliest winning date​

Highest score​

Byzantine 1108, 91233 (waynex)

Abbasids 1117, 46365 (SanJose)

Makuria 1346, 10406 (Jusos2108)

Ajmer 1285, 16564 (waynex)

Ajmer 1289, 17328 (Jusos2108)​

Malwa 1302, 13734 (Jusos2108)

Samanids 1150, 28570 (SanJose)

Samanids 1168, 30998 (Jusos2108)​

Armenia 1199, 41966 (SanJose)

Yemen 1340, 22268 (Jusos2108)

Gujarat 1344, 11092 (Jusos2108)

Ghaznavids 1190, 58024 (SanJose)

Fatimids 1276, 28589 (Jusos2108)

Georgia 1404, 11130 (Jusos2108)

Sindh 1294, 26572 (Jusos2108)

Seljuks 1217, 89296 (SanJose)

Rum 1334, 39964 (SanJose)

Khwarezmia 1207, 117363 (SanJose)

Principality of Antioch 1400, 14742 (SanJose)

Kingdom of Jerusalem 1360, 20562 (SanJose)

Ghorids 1381, 30434 (SanJose)

Oman 1572, 10008 (Jusos2108)

Ayyubids 1386, 56686 (Jusos2108)

Mamluks 1428, 59933 (Jusos2108)

Ottomans 1558, 43935 (Jusos2108)

Timurids 1527, 35779 (SanJose)

Ak Kouynlu 1584, 7440 (Jusos2108)

Safavids 1585, 116119 (Jusos2108)

Mughals 1660, 6745 (Jusos2108)


Leaderboards:

Quickest victories:

1. 14 Jusos2108
2. 11 SanJose
3. 2 waynex

Highest score

1. 16 Jusos2108
2. 10 SanJose
3. 1 waynex

 

[Power_of_Beer]

The most recent update brought some changes to the Crusader states. There are now more units tied to the Catholic companies: Hospitalier units start with Medic I, which means medic II is only one promotion away, without the need to research medicine - very helpful. Templar units are not that useful, only the powerful Templar Knight with str 8, though it's restricted to 1 unit.
Antiochia's UU is now a Lancer with +50% experience gain. It's neat, because one can get to Combat V pretty fast, and later upgrade them to Heavy Lancers. I also attached my first GG for a total of +150% EP gained - he had Combat V, Flanking III and Morale but unfortunately died while defending the stack vs Mamluks. The UP pretty useless after the first turns, I somehow never get any free units from crusades. UB provides some stability, though I don't know the numbers.

I started the game defensively. Only conquered Cyprus and northern Lebanon, wich doesn't flip any more. I left Armenia (never touched anything in Anatolia) and Zengids alone, after I repelled them (Abbasids collapsed them later). After 1170 it was clear that the Ayyubids won't show up and I slowly began to take all of the Levant from the Fatimids, as well as Medina. They collapsed, and the Royal Mamluks were beaten with some suicide catapults. Conquered Egypt and Iraq, paused expansion and developed it, beat Ak Koyunlu, and vassalized Georgia & later Savafids. The rest of the land was conquered in Iran&Nubia.

World in 1200:

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1500:

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Core of the Empire:

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Constantine score again :

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[Jusos2108]

Nice one, so you had only two vassals?

Can you post a link to your other game so that everybody just stumbling on this thread finds it, thanks.

 

[Power_of_Beer]

Makuria domination can be found here.

Yes, it was only two vassals. I almost never get peaceful vassals from other religions - they quickly get furious because I always massacre foreign religions for better stability.

 

[Power_of_Beer]

I completely forgot the religious victory (shouldn't have conquered Kufah) and won it some years before domination, so I cannot post a score or replay. I'll take the 2nd place if someone wins in the same year .

Victory:

Spoiler :

Anyway, I had a somewhat lucky start. I started the Spiral Minaret in Sana'a immediately and finished it in 985, which is rather late. I also got a lvl 7 Camel Archer pretty early, who conquered Medina, which became my military centre for a long time. After conquering Mekka & building Al-Azhar I was able to slowly become tech leader. The Sufi Order also helped greatly, with all the incence. The Ayyubids spawned, and I fought some wars together with Saladin, against the crusaders and Mamluks.

Mamluk invasion army:

Spoiler :

Conquering Egypt greatly improved my economy and stability. Ayyubids collapsed after I assassinated their heir 5 times. I also founded Gwadar pretty early - indeed an awesome city spot and a perfect bridgehead to conquer Iran.

1378:

Spoiler :

Vassals were Ak Koyunlu and Safavids, most of the Land I conquered in Africa and Iran. The Portuguese surprised me a bit, their carracks spawned just before the shores of Yemen - I was barely able to hold the cities with lots of drafting. Like in the other games, I only researched for Heavy Lancers, Administrative Reforms and Syncretism. My initial civic switch was to Empire, Organized Religion and Vassalage, later Agrarianism + Slavery.

Final map:

Spoiler :

Power Graph:

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[Power_of_Beer]

It was time for a more relaxed game with Abbasids. Starting from the very beginning as the most advanced civ with a superb core in the middle of the map, is lots of fun.

Quickly conquered Mekka with 2 mounted mercenaries, later Jerusalem for 2/3 UHV and Medina. Only Shiraz, Gwadar, Kerman, Antioch and a city between Jerusalem & Medina were my other cities until the Mongols. Built all wonders except the Hindu one. I more or less beelined Cavalry Tactics and Blast Furnace, and my Heavy Lancers swept the crusaders into the Mediterranean.

1150:

Spoiler :

Peace vassalized Yemen, Oman, Ghorids and Rum. Khwarezmia vassalized when the Mongols punded them, and they managed to survive, flipping all of their former cities. Next beeline was Heavy Armor, for Heavy Cavalry. From ~1200 onward I had most cities with foundries pumping out Heavy Cavalry. Mongols had no chance, and after 1250 I quickly conquered Iran, Armenia/Georgia and lower Egypt. Culture slider at 80% + free religion meant very quick border pops.

1250:

Spoiler :

Core:

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Power Graph:

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Shah Ismail, 11706 points.

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[Power_of_Beer]

This was the hardest game so far concerning stability. In the end I was collapsing despite being in a Golden Age, mostly because nobody wanted to vassalize.

This was the city placement of my core:

Spoiler :

I founded Bagaran (Military pump) and Stepanakert (National Epic) as my first two cities. A hired HA merc + the Javelinman from the start pillaged and captured workers from Rebel cities. Seljuk Barbs were countered with some UUs which proved very useful the whole game (together with the UB). Lots of trading was done with the Byzantines, and I beelined Cavalry Tactics. Georgia was crippled by culture.

The Abbasids became super powerful and declared war on me shortly before 1250. I could defeat their stack with lots of HHAs. However they lost no cities to the Mongols at all, but had only few units left. Baghdad was a jackpot (all wonders great peoples from the Abbasids):

Spoiler :

After that, it was mopping up Iraq, Iran and Rum lands. The Fatimids were also very advanced but had no Iron, so they were easily defeated. The Mamluks spawned later, however, and I had to fight them. Cairo was also pretty neat:

Spoiler :

In the end I fought Khanate of Bukhara, who luckily vassalized. Some more junk cities in the middle of nowhere gave me the required land.

1200:

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1350:

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1500:

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4280 points:

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[Power_of_Beer]

The late starting civs depend a lot on the starting situation. The situation in my game was OK, with most cities having improved surroundings and infrastructure. Didn't found the capital on spot (it's the most crappy capital spot one can think of), instead Rakka in Jazira became my capital. Switched to Sunni, and adopted civics to the different situations (UP = no anarchy). A lot of trading was done:

Spoiler :

Ayyubids were alive and super strong, just like the Mamluks, Oman and Ghaznavids (stable and very advanced):

Spoiler :

Most cities were building Trebuchets in the beginning to capture Iraq. There I pillaged all cottages/hamlets/villages with the Turkoman Raiders (more gold with Raider promotion), as I went for agrarianism anyway. This funded a decent army of mounted mercenaries, who conquered most of Iraq and Esfahan/Yazd. After defeating the Safavids I went on to the rest of Iran and Omani cities, who I vassalized. Ayyubids collapsed after fighting the Ottomans for a long time (they even captured Constantinople). This allowed me to quickly grab their lands (Levant, Hejaz), including some neat wonders (Shalimar Gardens, Bride of 33 Arches). Timurids and Khanate of Bukhara were the other targets, which was basically enough for the requirements. In the end I also attacked the Ottomans:

Spoiler :

Only lost 3 units in that fight . In the end I was close to collapsing (-91).

World in 1500:

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1550:

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1580:

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Power Graph:

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3699 points:

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[Jusos2108]

I have updated the list!

I would like to play a game were the Ayyubids are a true power, since usually they collapse or even never exist..

 

[Power_of_Beer]

A nice and detailed Conquest Succession game can be found here. I imitated some tactices used there, mainly bulbing Religious Philosophy and building the House of Wisdom. Though I spread Islam to Constantinople, where many important wonders were built:

Spoiler :

Tech path was LDT, Engineering, then Cataphracts against the Seljuks. 1 Merc HA went to Abbasid lands and pillaged every single improvement there and did some worker stealing. They didn't attack him once. I also let Khan Krum conquer Kallipolis, which was disbanded later after culture flipping it. Seljuk flip was refused, and Gergia, Armenia, KoJ and Makuria peace vassalized. Conquered most of Iraq, and teched to Heavy Lancers before the Mongols showed up. After that, I already had hordes of Heavy Lancers, and conquered Lower Egypt, vassalized Fatimids, who surprisingly didn't collapse after that (they went shaky). Ottoman flip was refused, and most of Iran was conquered.

World in 1100:

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1250:

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Suleiman, 21289 pts. Probably due to the high relative population & many vassals (Only had half of the points despite winning earlier as the Abbasids).

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[youtien]

I did Khrewazmid in 1338 in 0.5.0, with 26693 pts, but my PrtSc failed to catch the picture and I updated to 0.5.1, so now I have only savefile...

Khrewazmid is easy to have a early domination and keep stable. With their vast land and Shahanshah title, one can win domination before their UHV.


Yesterday I did Ghaznavid in 1360, with Hinduism(for the title to have all Hindustan become border province), this one is tougher, I had to deal with independence and win before Timurids spawn(1370), but still not too hard. I still couldn't catch picture so here is savefile (0.5.1)...

 

[youtien]

Here are the savefiles. Anyone has won with Hindu civs?

 

[Jusos2108]

I will try a hindu civ first.

 

[Power_of_Beer]

This game turned out to be a bit rough. The Seljuks didn't collapse for a long time, so I couldn't conquer Iran in the usual fast fashion. Instead a lot of siege was necessary, just like in Anatolia which I also conquered. Vassals were Sindh and Makuria.

Spoiler :

8915 points:

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[Power_of_Beer]

The Seljuks had already collapsed at the start, allowing me to take Herat. I also conquered Ghazna with the starting army, which collapsed the Ghaznavids. Grabbed the rest of their core + Lahore and halted expansion for some time. Ghazna had the relic for +2 EP, and a settled GG. With the Minaret of Jam, it produced some high quality military. I developed all cities and teched Guilds and Finery Forge. Byzantines were, as always, decent trading partners:

Spoiler :

Always worth a visit. After building up an army of Muhajids/Trebuchets and defending against the Mongols, I conquered Punjab, Sindh, vassalized Ajmer, conquered Gujarat, then Bahami Sultanate. After I got Cavalry Tactics, expansion into Iran started. Later Gujarat respawned, but I got the land soon after.
This event is very nice. It comes along in many games and is always worth saving some money for:

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World in 1200 and in the end:

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17193 pts:

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[Jusos2108]

I razed Chittor from start and captured Bundi. Soon after I took out Ajmer, who had only one city. Sindh declared war on me and they went down with ease before 1100. Then I took out last rival Malwa an claimed the Vikramaditya (more or less) -title. I waited for Delhi to (re)spawn and conviniently they declared war on me just when I was about to attack and I took Dilli, Multan, Lahore and Peshawar+Castle Building for peace.

Then I slowly conquered some of the remants of Ghaznavids. When I got Taj Mahal and used my GPs for 48 turn Golden Age, I unleashed my troops to Persia and Iraq. I quickly crabbed everything that was indy and then declared war on Ak Kouynly, took couple of their cities and capitulated them. Last act was to take Damascus and culture bomb it. That was enough to win before the Mughals spawned.

The Middle East in 1100, 1300, 1400, 1500 and 1515:

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Winning shots:

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My core empire:

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Other pics:

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[Power_of_Beer]

New version, new hunger for domination . Since i failed with Malwa in the past (too much stability issues) i tried them again. I tried to figure out some better city spots on resources, but really, i didn't find any in the eastern half. Most of the cities are preplaced anyway. Peshawar would be better 1E, but it would have to be squatted. I think it only influences civs in the Caucasus&Egypt.

Anyway, despite the peaceful theme of Malwa this game was a constant bloodshed. In the beginning, I captured the independent worker with the starting swordsman and declared war on Ajmer, to stop them from developing. Capital only build military after a granary, research was Botany, Machinery, Literature. After defeating Ajmer, the rich lands of northern Hindustan were captured: Delhi, Lahore, Multan. Then conquered Gujarat, then Sindh. Then Ghaznavids, then Ghorids . My economy really started to suffer and research was pretty bad despite having Kutlug Timur and Al Azar. But it doesn't matter since one only really needs Cavalry Tactics. Stability however was always top, +100 and above.
After the Mongols most of Iran was conquered, as well as southern India. That was enough for the land requirements (29%).

Development of the Middle East:

Spoiler :

Some statistics and points:

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[youtien]

Ottoman domination is too easy so I did it in Caliph difficulty, 33% of the land. Was intended for UHV, but stability hurts.

OMG event: Hinduism in Nobatia!

 

[youtien]

Rush Abbasids from start and it is piece of cake. Found capital on horse, Manazkert on pig, it saves you so much time!

 

[Power_of_Beer]

Nice, did the Abbasids respawn after you conquered them?

I agree that the Ottomans are pretty easy once you get Anatolia under control. The AI, however, is mostly unable to do anything in my games. Byzantines mostly stay alive and Ottomans a minor force.