20k Fastest Finish

[Tacit_Exit]

Well, after getting a 1455 20k victory with the Chinese (Deity,Standard,Huge Pangea) in a game where I hadn't started with that goal (didn't build a Temple 'til late BCs), I decided to try a game with the specific goal of an early 20k.

I chose a small map, so my supa dupa Wonder city would have a greater effect on my civs teching, to counter the tradeoffs in empire development I'd have to make to get all that culture in one city; also to make early war a more viable prospect.

Picked Deity level again, as I figured the rapid tech rate would allow access to new culture opportunities faster, and If I was gonna beat the AI to early Wonders, they'd have to be done REALLY early. Also the AI would send more troops to war so more leader opps.

Since leaders are essential to getting early Wonders on Deity, and I wanted to be able to buld a temple in my Capital straight off the bat for an early culture boost, I decided on Mil/Rel as preferred Tribe traits. Settled with Japan, as they would allow me to see those Horsies right away and get some Chariot action early in preparation for Horseback Riding upgrades (speed and survivability made me choose Horsies for my preferred Leader generators).

Also chose Raging Barbarians to increase opportunities for non-wartime promotions.

One major speed bump I encountered was that I expected to be able to go min. science after getting the Great Lib., but the damn AIs went snail on research at the start of the Middle and I had to start researching full bore towards obseleting the GL to get Cathedrals/Universities once I realised it was taking too long.

Anyhoo, ended up getting all wonders except the Oracle (after using first leader for Army and second to rush Heroic Epic; maybe a bad move). I really want to crack the 1400ad barrier but, any advice on game settings/Tribe selection would be appreciated.

 

[DaveMcW]

Congrats! I think you are the first to go for a HoF-style 20k, so you should be the one giving advice.

China and Japan are both excellent 20k civs. Germany would also be a good choice, if you are having trouble pushing the tech rate.

I assume you are using 1.29f to get the suicidal barb huts?

You might want to play with 60% water, to increase production later in the game.

Another thing to try is to build the Oracle and Pyramids before Heroic Epic. Then you can use the time between the 2nd and 4th leader to save 200 shields and build the Heroic Epic by hand.

 

[Tacit_Exit]

Originally posted by DaveMcW
Congrats! I think you are the first to go for a HoF-style 20k, so you should be the one giving advice.

Originally posted by DaveMcW
I assume you are using 1.29f to get the suicidal barb huts?

Not sure what you mean by 'suicidal barb huts'. I used PTW 1.27f.

Originally posted by DaveMcW
You might want to play with 60% water, to increase production later in the game.?

True. I chose a small pangea to increase chance of starting by the sea, but given the number of starts I rejected anyway, a lesser % water would just mean a few more restarts. Funny how it didn't turn out to be much of a 'pangea'

Originally posted by DaveMcW
Another thing to try is to build the Oracle and Pyramids before Heroic Epic. Then you can use the time between the 2nd and 4th leader to save 200 shields and build the Heroic Epic by hand.

I agonised over that first leader for ~48 hours before deciding to 'invest in the future' by making an army. Then when the 2nd leader came along the Chinese weren't going to give me peace for a while, so since I was going to have to use elites in combat anyway (the chinese were coming on pretty strong), I figured I'd use the leader on the heroic epic and cross fingers it would pay of real quick! I think my odds of getting four leaders before the Oracle is built on Deity are pretty slim but. I'll try to engineer my first war so I can get peace after the first three leaders next time, and hand build HE while I get a few more barracks towns ready for the next war/slew of Wonders.