Kewlipo
Chieftain
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2015
- Messages
- 99
I don't know if anyone else has found a solution to the Babylon problem, but I finally did.
This one took me six tries (around nine if you count casual attempts beforehand) to figure out. I started to record different starts to min/max, and the final run I did something very surprising to succeed.
I realized after the fifth attempt that simple research and Ishtar Gate + Oracle timing would not accomplish the goal alone, so I resorted to a different strategy. I did not think it would even work until I started approaching the end of the game, then I started taking screenshots. (Included in this imgur album: https://imgur.com/a/ieoEhny)
I won't explain the images because they really come after the most difficult part, which is beating Greece to Mathematics and Writing.
First I will explain my initial strategy. There are a few different things I had to consider:
- Maximize use of tiles that have commerce, since that translates directly into research early.
- Food production to time population growth
- Production for wonders
- Great Person points
That's the discovery I made! The UHV is barely possible if you pump out a Great Prophet! You can see my strategy from the picture I sent, but here is how I did it in more user-friendly terms:
1) Settle on the spot at start, build a worker. I consistently tried waiting until there were two pops to build worker, but the strategy synergizes much better with a worker rush.
2) Research Mythology + Leverage with first bonus tech. Build a pasture on the sheep with the worker. Build a Ziggurat. As soon as it is finished, make one pop a priest.
3) Research Mining + Masonry. Flip to Slavery. Build a quarry on the marble.
4) Research Tanning + Smelting. Build a quarry on the stone. Start building a granary. Make sure the two pops are working the sheep and marble always, as the two and three commerce respectively heavily outweigh the extra hammer on the stone.
5) Research Sailing + Construction. Pause building the granary and instead build the Ishtar Gate. Build a mine with the worker. After the Ishtar Gate is done, with a few turns before Divination popped, I built a Militia just in case a barb chariot came at me.
6) Research Divination. Around now, the Ishtar Gate should be finished and you should be building the Oracle. Start researching Property.
7) Once the Ishtar gate is finished you should have about 4 pops. This is an extremely crucial point, so I recommend saving here in case you mess up. You need to make three (leave one working the marble tile) of your pops as specialists to get enough GP points. I didn't record exact numbers, but you need to place your specialists in a careful order to time the Oracle being built TWO turns before the Greek spawn (they spawn on turn 152 on Marathon) You need to have the three specialists working as a priest, scientist, and statesmen for around 4-5 turns until a GP will spawn on turn 150 if only two specialists are working. Then have two specialists (one returns to work the sheep) work as a scientist and priest until Property is ensured to bulb on turn 150. After that, place two specialists as priests. Finally, you may need to move your specialist working the sheep to the mine (both have two commerce) to ensure Oracle will pop on turn 151.
8) You have to delay Oracle popping until after you research Property and the GP spawns, so continue building a granary if you finish early and have one turn left.
9) Use the (hopefully Great Prophet, or you may have to restart) to bulb Ceremony and Calendar.
10) Build the Oracle on turn 151. Discover Arithmetics and Writing.
You did it! You beat the Greek spawn. From then on, you have to rush an Edubba, utilize a scientist specialist and focus on commerce to beat the Greeks to Contract. Afterwards, build military units and turtle.
That should be it!
I am thinking about doing this run again with pictures to make a more comprehensive guide. Let me know if you have any questions on the strat.
This one took me six tries (around nine if you count casual attempts beforehand) to figure out. I started to record different starts to min/max, and the final run I did something very surprising to succeed.
Spoiler Some fun and frustrating attempts :
I realized after the fifth attempt that simple research and Ishtar Gate + Oracle timing would not accomplish the goal alone, so I resorted to a different strategy. I did not think it would even work until I started approaching the end of the game, then I started taking screenshots. (Included in this imgur album: https://imgur.com/a/ieoEhny)
I won't explain the images because they really come after the most difficult part, which is beating Greece to Mathematics and Writing.
First I will explain my initial strategy. There are a few different things I had to consider:
- Maximize use of tiles that have commerce, since that translates directly into research early.
- Food production to time population growth
- Production for wonders
- Great Person points
That's the discovery I made! The UHV is barely possible if you pump out a Great Prophet! You can see my strategy from the picture I sent, but here is how I did it in more user-friendly terms:
1) Settle on the spot at start, build a worker. I consistently tried waiting until there were two pops to build worker, but the strategy synergizes much better with a worker rush.
2) Research Mythology + Leverage with first bonus tech. Build a pasture on the sheep with the worker. Build a Ziggurat. As soon as it is finished, make one pop a priest.
3) Research Mining + Masonry. Flip to Slavery. Build a quarry on the marble.
4) Research Tanning + Smelting. Build a quarry on the stone. Start building a granary. Make sure the two pops are working the sheep and marble always, as the two and three commerce respectively heavily outweigh the extra hammer on the stone.
5) Research Sailing + Construction. Pause building the granary and instead build the Ishtar Gate. Build a mine with the worker. After the Ishtar Gate is done, with a few turns before Divination popped, I built a Militia just in case a barb chariot came at me.
6) Research Divination. Around now, the Ishtar Gate should be finished and you should be building the Oracle. Start researching Property.
7) Once the Ishtar gate is finished you should have about 4 pops. This is an extremely crucial point, so I recommend saving here in case you mess up. You need to make three (leave one working the marble tile) of your pops as specialists to get enough GP points. I didn't record exact numbers, but you need to place your specialists in a careful order to time the Oracle being built TWO turns before the Greek spawn (they spawn on turn 152 on Marathon) You need to have the three specialists working as a priest, scientist, and statesmen for around 4-5 turns until a GP will spawn on turn 150 if only two specialists are working. Then have two specialists (one returns to work the sheep) work as a scientist and priest until Property is ensured to bulb on turn 150. After that, place two specialists as priests. Finally, you may need to move your specialist working the sheep to the mine (both have two commerce) to ensure Oracle will pop on turn 151.
8) You have to delay Oracle popping until after you research Property and the GP spawns, so continue building a granary if you finish early and have one turn left.
9) Use the (hopefully Great Prophet, or you may have to restart) to bulb Ceremony and Calendar.
10) Build the Oracle on turn 151. Discover Arithmetics and Writing.
You did it! You beat the Greek spawn. From then on, you have to rush an Edubba, utilize a scientist specialist and focus on commerce to beat the Greeks to Contract. Afterwards, build military units and turtle.
That should be it!
Spoiler Let's go!!!!!!!!!!! :
I am thinking about doing this run again with pictures to make a more comprehensive guide. Let me know if you have any questions on the strat.
. Dunno if there is another possibility to get enough points for Great prophet in time...
