The Immortal Alphabetical Game #12 - Dido

[DanQuayle]

Carthage Carnage

Throughout the ages, Carthage (and later Tunisia) has been bullied/conquered/razed by numerous civilizations. Had one early war turned differently, its fate could have changed radically. It is now up to you to turn the tide and avenge Carthage! It is payback time!

For this task, you will get the help of the great Hannibal Barca



Hannibal excelled as a tactician. No battle in history is a finer sample of tactics than Cannae. But he was yet greater in logistics and strategy. No captain ever marched to and fro among so many armies of troops superior to his own numbers and material as fearlessly and skillfully as he. No man ever held his own so long or so ably against such odds. Constantly overmatched by better soldiers, led by generals always respectable, often of great ability, he yet defied all their efforts to drive him from Italy, for half a generation.
-Theodore Ayrault Dodge, military historian


Map Type and Settings

Spoiler :

Everything unstandard

Achievements

Spoiler :

General achievements
The Father of Strategy - Generate the Great General Hannibal during the game (1pt)
Phoenician Heritage - Settle only coastal cities during the entire game (2pt)
The Dido Special - Backstab one AI during the game (3pt)
Bloodthirst - Be at war with 3 civilizations at any point during the game (3pt)
Science Parity - Great Scientists must be either planted or bulbed within the next 3 turns following their birth (or no GS spawned at all) (5pt)


Bloc A
Exploration
Research Sailing and meet your neighbor at the North of Carthage before entering the Classical era (1pt)
Notice something 'special' about the map (1pt)
Do not build or purchase a library during the first two eras (1pt)


Bloc B (Read only once your have met your northern neighbor or have reached the Classical era)

Spoiler :

The Punic Wars
After assaulting Saguntum in Hispania (219 BC), Hannibal attacked Italy in 218 BC by leading the Iberians and three dozen elephants through the Alps. Although Hannibal surprised the Romans and thoroughly beat them on the battlefields of Italy, he lost his only siege engines and most of his elephants to the cold temperatures and icy mountain paths. In the end he could defeat the Romans in the field, but not in the strategically crucial city of Rome itself, thus leaving him unable to win the war. Hannibal never successfully received any significant reinforcements from Carthage. Despite his many pleas, Carthage only ever sent reinforcements successfully to Hispania. This lack of reinforcements prevented Hannibal from decisively ending the conflict by conquering Rome through force of arms.

Change Carthage's entire fate by winning the Second Punic War and sending the appropriate reinforcements from Carthage.

Escort a Great General to Iberia (1pt)
Train an army of at least 3 African Forest Elephants and one siege unit in Iberia (1pt)
Divert the Roman forces by sending them against Macedon (1pt)
Attack Rome from the North with said army (1pt)
Suicide a siege unit on the Alps (1pt)
Capture Rome (1pt) without siege units (+1pt) before the end of the Classical era (+1pt)
Eliminate Rome (2pt)

Beware of Rome's Legions, Ballistas (and Spearmen)

Bloc C (Read once you have met your southeastern neighbor or have reached the Medieval era)

Spoiler :

The Muslim Conquest
Between the second half of the 7th century and the early part of the 8th century

Attack Mecca with an army of at least 3 Galleass* (1pt)
Capture Mecca (1pt) with a Quinquereme* (+1pt) during the Medieval era (+1pt)

*Anachronistic, but we are dealing with an alternate timeline here
Beware of Arabia's Camel Archers

Bloc D (Read once you have met your southwestern neighbor or have reached the Medieval era)

Spoiler :

The Almohad Rule
The conquest of Tunisia in 1159–1160 by the Almohads

Capture Marrakech (1pt) during the Medieval era (+1pt)
Bonus: Capture both Mecca and Marrakech during the Medieval era (3pt)

Beware of Morocco's Kasbahs

Bloc E (Read once you have met all civilizations or have reached the Renaissance era)

Spoiler :

The Spanish Captures
Tunis in 1534 and later in 1573 by Don Juan of Austria

Capture Madrid (1pt) during the Renaissance era (+1pt)

Beware of Spain's Conquistadors and Tercios

Bloc F (Read once you have met all civilizations or have reached the Renaissance era)

Spoiler :

The Ottoman Conquest
The first Ottoman conquest of Tunis took place in 1534 under the command of Barbarossa Hayreddin Pasha, the younger brother of Oruç Reis, who was the Kapudan Pasha of the Ottoman Fleet during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent. However, it wasn't until the final Ottoman reconquest of Tunis from Spain in 1574 under Kapudan Pasha Uluç Ali Reis that the Ottomans permanently acquired the former Hafsid Tunisia, retaining it until 1881.

Capture Istanbul (1pt) during the Renaissance era (+1pt)
Bonus: Capture both Madrid and Istanbul during the Renaissance era (3pt)

Beware of the Ottoman's Janissaries and Sipahis

Bloc G (Read once you have met all civilizations or have reached the Industrial era)

Spoiler :

Mare Nostrum
When Augustus founded the Roman Empire, the Mediterranean sea began to be called Mare Nostrum (Latin: "Our sea") by the Romans. Their empire was centered on this sea and all the area was full of commerce and naval development. For the first time in history an entire sea (the Mediterranean) was free of piracy. For several centuries the Mediterranean was a "Roman Lake", surrounded on all sides by the empire. It was the only civilization to have complete control of the Mediterranean sea in history.
Now that Rome is eliminated (or seriously crippled), it is now up to you to accomplish that feat.

During the industrial era,
Rid the Mediterranean sea of any Barbarian presence (1pt)
Have at least 8 coastal cities on the Mediterranean sea (1pt)
Capture or ally (for at least 5 turns) all CS coastal on the Mediterranean sea (1pt)
Be the only civilization with coastal cities on the Mediterranean sea (2pt)

Bloc H (Read once you have met all civilizations or have reached the Modern era)

Spoiler :

The French Colonization
Tunisian international debt grew unmanageable. In 1869, Tunisia declared itself bankrupt and an international financial commission took control over its economy. This was the reason or pretext for French forces to establish a Protectorate in 1881. In 1881, using the pretext of a Tunisian incursion into Algeria, the French invaded with an army of about 36,000 and forced the Bey to agree to the terms of the 1881 Treaty of Bardo (Al Qasr as Sa'id).

Capture Paris (1pt) during the Modern era (+1pt)
Make a peace deal with France where you suck nearly all its GPT (1pt)
Cripple France economically even more by passing Embargo France on the World Congress (1pt)
Accumulate a bank of at least 5000 Gold during the Modern era (1pt)

Beware of France's Châteaux

Bloc I (Read once you have met all civilizations or have reached the Atomic era)

Spoiler :

WWII Tunisia Campaign
In 1942–1943, Tunisia was the scene of the Tunisia Campaign, a series of battles between the Axis and Allied forces. The battle opened with initial success by the German and Italian forces, but the massive supply and numerical superiority of the Allies led to the Axis's surrender on 13 May 1943.
As the new European superpower take the fight to Germany.

Capture Berlin (1pt) during the Atomic era (+1pt)

Beware of Germany's Panzers

Total 55 points

Starting location

Spoiler :

Credits

Spoiler :

stormtrooper412 - General help
mbbcam - map pack reference help
Wikipedia - History info

 

[stormtrooper412]

Man, I gotta hand it to you, that's some good work. If Firaxis had ideas like that where you really can give it your best shot to create alternative history, I'd definitely play it

 

[DanQuayle]

I just posted a new version of the map which shouldn't require map packs. Please confirm if it works as intended.

The new map has some slight differences to the previous one: slightly different resource placement and some different CS and CS placement. Otherwise, it should be identical.

 

[Redaxe]

This looks really interesting - nice start with the stone on the hill. Makes a nice early 4 turn quarry - perfect for getting those extra free hammers from every new citizen you grow.

 

[Nigel_Tufnel2]

The new save loaded - but I have 2 Settlers and 2 Warriors about 15 tiles apart... This game will be easy!

[edit - seriously, I assume the second group of units is a mistake?]

 

[stormtrooper412]

it's April Fools

 

[DanQuayle]

The new save loaded - but I have 2 Settlers and 2 Warriors about 15 tiles apart... This game will be easy!

[edit - seriously, I assume the second group of units is a mistake?]

Once you read Bloc B, it will hopefully make sense.

 

[TrelafTheWise]

THIS. IS. AWESOME.

Seriously, great job with the achievements here. Really amazing.

I'm a frequent lurker around here and don't post very often, but I had to say how excited I am for this one. One of the reasons that I've gotten intermittently sick of this game is that roleplaying and optimal play are so different. I can beat Deity if everything goes right, but I find that it really sucks the fun out of the game for me, so I usually play on Immortal/Emperor so I can really get immersed without falling hopelessly behind. This series, and this game in particular, have offered such a great variety of ways to play the game.

Anyway, thanks again DQ

 

[stormtrooper412]

yeah can't wait to shakedown by schedule so I can play these maps

 

[DanQuayle]

THIS. IS. AWESOME.

Seriously, great job with the achievements here. Really amazing.

I'm a frequent lurker around here and don't post very often, but I had to say how excited I am for this one. One of the reasons that I've gotten intermittently sick of this game is that roleplaying and optimal play are so different. I can beat Deity if everything goes right, but I find that it really sucks the fun out of the game for me, so I usually play on Immortal/Emperor so I can really get immersed without falling hopelessly behind. This series, and this game in particular, have offered such a great variety of ways to play the game.

Anyway, thanks again DQ

Thanks, positive feedback is always appreciated!

 

[stormtrooper412]

I think the biggest early game bottleneck would be the Libraries or lack thereof. We're expecting a "hack and slash fest from the get-go"

 

[DanQuayle]

I think the biggest early game bottleneck would be the Libraries or lack thereof. We're expecting a "hack and slash fest from the get-go"

Spoiler :

It also kind of compensates for the double expo right off the bat. I would say science is stronger in the early phase in this setup than in a standard game. It also gives you more time to capture Rome.

 

[stormtrooper412]

I guess. I can't really say before playing

 

[DanQuayle]

To anyone who has been through Bloc B

Spoiler :

Did you take Rome in time? How did it go?
Did anyone else see Rome go 6-city Liberty?

 

[Sclb]

To anyone who has been through Bloc B

Spoiler :

Did you take Rome in time? How did it go?
Did anyone else see Rome go 6-city Liberty?

Spoiler :

Achievement for B doesn't specify eliminating Rome during classical, so it's enough to take Rome itself. Also getting no library meant it might not happen until turn 100 which is enough time. It isn't difficult to use the 2 types of UU to take Rome and certainly landing CB reinforcements helps. Only my Elephants had to march through Alps, siege died there.

Rome had only 4 cities in my game. I was able to have a 6 city liberty start, so that possibly stopped Rome from expanding too much. Also Alex went very wide in my game and that also boxed Rome in, making it extremely easy to bribe him to war Rome.

 

[DanQuayle]

Spoiler :

Achievement for B doesn't specify eliminating Rome during classical, so it's enough to take Rome itself. Also getting no library meant it might not happen until turn 100 which is enough time. It isn't difficult to use the 2 types of UU to take Rome and certainly landing CB reinforcements helps. Only my Elephants had to march through Alps, siege died there.

Rome had only 4 cities in my game. I was able to have a 6 city liberty start, so that possibly stopped Rome from expanding too much. Also Alex went very wide in my game and that also boxed Rome in, making it extremely easy to bribe him to war Rome.

Spoiler :

Good to know that the game is unfolding as I wanted in your playthrough. In some of my test runs, Rome went 6 cities and one time only 2 cities. Since it was luck based, I removed the requirement to eliminate an AI during x era. Liberty AIs can go really wide on that map.

 

[Nigel_Tufnel2]

Wow, such a super-detailed concept, kuddos, DQ! I'm having problems with some of the achievements, much of it stemming from my derpy nature...

t115

Spoiler :

I have been fighting barbs non-stop, so after finishing Liberty and taking the Piety opener, I finally opened Honor (this is one map I think it's worth opening Honor very early, if for nothing but survival at times!). I recently opened Exploration, and will likely take 3 more there.

Spain built the GL, and then SoZ, why thank you! She only had Madrid, barbs were everywhere, pretty sure she lost at least one Settler. I DOW'd early, mainly to harrass and build up XP. Had 4 Archers, Warrior and a Spear, but mainly just fought barbs. A camp spawned next to the Pyrennes at least 3 times. My tech path was odd so no Elephants for a long time. I eventually sailed 3 more CB and a Settler to nab RoG and seal off the Med, so finally had enough juice to take Madrid t87, but it was tight as she had a lot of units. So blew some of those Achis, but I didn't look at the mid/late ones until recently - I'm still not sure if I've met all the civs, but thought I might have. (Thinking Cathy may be in the corner.)

No chance to get Rome during Classical without massive pillaging back home. I don't know how La Venta, Kathmandu, and Lhasa didn't fall - do barbs not capture CS? My GG went E with 3 CBs and a Spear to clear one camp, and got stuck there for half the game - just constant spawns everywhere. Again, early Honor would likely have made a big difference.

I will soon settle my 7th city (Madrid makes 8) 6 NE of my cap on the hill of the toe/Sicily. Not such a great spot, but will totally seal off both halves of the Med (don't want some t200 AI city there). I settled the FoY early and the coast above the 2 Gems as well. Recently settled above the Incense S of Athens as a forward base for the E Med and all those desert barbs, which now have Pikes - nasty!

I will be launching against Alex soon, I really do hate the smug SOB. So I will screw a bunch of those Achis as well, I assume. I am bribing him vs everyone, so I should keep good diplo. I'm not entirely sure I will even go DomV here, this is such a great builder/expansion map. The instant Harbors are sweet. (But I always say I won't DomV and then do!)

I was tempted to go for science city connections, but instead went God-King. No good faith pantheons, considered God of Sea, but was worried about AI rel pressure possible. What with all the Rel CS around, faith has been great. No idea how Mor hasn't founded! I took Tithe, Pagodas, Rel Community and Itin Preachers.

I went a little wonder-crazy - since Libraries were out, I bee-lined Engineering for the GW, and of course popped Writing very early, LOL. So many huts, half have been maps/camps, but I've had about 4 pop ruins and a number of upgrades. A poor Scarcher has made his way from Egypt almost to Germany - how he survived all those Levantian barbs is amazing.

GW 76, GrLh 86, Oracle 96, Djenne 113. Opened Medieval with Theology, thinking I was going for Compass, then realized how quickly I could get Currency and CivServ, so switched. I kind of forgot about NC... No screen cap as Steam won't let me upload for a couple days now...

 

[Redaxe]

Excellent map - perfect for fast expansion.

On the subject of the Honor opener I can report this

I started a game and played straight into Liberty. I was on track to unlock my 5th Policy on turn 59.

I decided to load back earlier on the same map and pick Honor opener immediately after the Liberty opener. After this I continued to fill out Liberty.
I had my 5th policy (4 in Liberty/1 in Honor) on turn 42.
So at this point Honor provided the 5th policy much earlier in time although the big issue is can it get the 6th policy (the 5th in Liberty) to catch up to the 5th policy in Liberty?


I was on track to unlock the 5th Liberty policy on turn 63 requiring a wait of 21 turns in total. However I'm earning 14 culture per turn (18 by the end) and with tonnes of extra honor from barbs I was able to unlock this policy on turn 57 (actually about 1 barb kill short of turn 56). So barb hunting took 6 turns off this last policy (off-course not counting the earlier policies - that is where it gets more muddled). But the key conclusion is that with the Honor Opener I was able to unlock Meritocracy at about the same time or 1-2 turns earlier than with a straight Liberty run.

The extra culture I accrued from barbs between turn 42 and 57 was 99 in total.

The cost of the policy initially was 305 culture but an extra city bumped this up to 325. So the extra culture from barbs provided about 30% of the culture towards the policy.
So over 15 turns the Honor opener provided an average of 6.6 culture per turn.
The tradition opener on the other hand would have provided just 3 per turn. Liberty with the 5 cities I had so far is giving me 5 culture per turn. So on that test Honor is winning hands down.

So at this point it's fairly reasonable to argue that the Honor opener has paid for itself. Now of course policies get increasingly more expensive as time goes on. However the most important is to be able to get your early policy tree unlocked asap - later policies are less important as you have less time to get the benefit from them. This information does suggest that on this map the Honor opener is not harming your social policy acquisitions and is probably helping a little - even if it leaves you one social policy behind.
Of course it should also be noted that the Honor policy makes your military a bit more resilient too and most importantly MUCH EASIER to do CS quests for clearing barb invasions. That's a harder benefit to quantify but often scouts can clear a barb camp with the Honor opener and bring a lot more rewards from CSs.

Lastly I'll note that map also supports having the Honor opener straight after Liberty or Tradition. You're given 2 starting cities on production rich ground - that means you can get your monuments going early - you'll also have extra scouts. You also have a large desert around and no close civs so there is plenty of room for barb camps to spawn in. Also with the raging barbs setting you'll get extra kills.

 

[Sclb]

On this map I actually opened Honor first, and even took one extra from honor to get the free GG to enable the mountain climbing very early. All the barbs made me finish liberty faster than usual.

 

[stormtrooper412]

Spoiler :

Managed to meet most of Classical achievements, however
Mecca is not reachable by sea!!! the only way is through Panama City and my ships can't go there