7OTM12 (Dec 2025) - Completion of Modern Age (end of game) Spoiler Thread

[Eyswein]

At the top of your post please post the following:
- Victory Condition Achieved (Note: Science was goal for 7OTM12)
- Final Total Turns in All Ages
- Recap of turns per age (turns in Antiquity, turns in Exploration, turns in Modern Age)



A few questions to consider:
- How did the new patch impact your game?
- What Legacy bonuses did you choose and why? What Civ did you choose & why? What other start up things did you do at the beginning of the Modern Age?
- What was your plan for achieving the Victory Condition? What are the major steps you planned to take? What events, if any, changed the plan in execution and to what new plan? Any interesting decision points?
- Early order for technology/civics? What did you later prioritize for technology/civics?
- How did the leader bonus and civ unique ability impact your plan/play, if at all?
- Did you settle more towns/cities in the Modern Age? What was your mix of towns vs cities?
- What were key production/purchase focuses?
- What government did you select? Which bonus did you chose most and why?
- Any other good info?
- How did you focus your use of influence for diplomacy?
- Any surprises/frustration/elations you ran into, how did you deal with it?
- Did you enjoy the game?

 

[Manpanzee]

37 + 42 + 95 = 174 turns

No golden age. With Early Industrialization available, I decided to take Lyceums + Science attribute, then use my wildcard point to enable taking both of the two-point Economic legacies.

Lotus Blossom + Corpus Juris Civilis mementos. Went with the extra social policy slot because I thought it might be fun leaning into the traditionmaxxing synergy. Unfortunately, I discovered after clicking through that Mexico's science tradition must have been nerfed at some point, because it doesn't do what the wiki claims it does. Going from "per settlement" to "per city" is a massive difference, and takes it from something that's maybe interesting to play around to something that's pretty irrelevant.

I was also dismayed to see that my map had zero Militaristic IPs, although there were at least two Scientific ones to avoid the full shutout. I have had the impression that there's some minimum number of independents, and that if enough are wiped out, then new ones will spawn in. Thus, I went on an IP-clearing rampage, wiping out all but the four that I was suze'ing myself. I did get one new one to spawn in, but only one, and not a relevant type. Sad. I hit Rocketry at turn 28 and clicked through for nine turns without any chops to speed it up.

I didn't use Lafayette's unique endeavor until the very end of the game, when it was not at all relevant. It seems significantly overcosted to me (3x a normal endeavor and 2x Himiko's unique endeavor). Still, the remainder of Lafayette's kit was solid enough.

I wouldn't mind seeing some Regroup games mixed in going forward. Like a lot of people, I've been playing on Continuity exclusively since that mode was introduced. However, over time it's become more and more clear to me how it contributes to trivializing post-Antiquity content and even has negative impacts within Antiquity (why bother with UBs or late-era buildings when "just spam Settlers" is an option?). The role that Regroup's restrictions played in the original vision for the game have become very apparent. I will be interested in seeing what the devs are cooking with the potential "collapse" mode, as I think silo-ing off eras as much as possible is probably the most reasonable solution for the game's ongoing balancing challenges.

 

[TalHawk]

Modern: 76, Exploration: 81, Ancient: 130, Total: 287
Fast for me, I'm usually a slow and methodical player.
Started with strong science, thanks to culture golden age, also generating large amounts of favour so quickly took over all IP on the map then had tones left over to dump into war with Ben after he foolishly declared on me at the end.

 

[Bleidraner]

51 + 39 + 90 = 180 turns

Well I could not get it done. I knew I needed to finish Modern in the 40s to have a shot at winning this one, but my poor culture and specially science coming out of Exploration meant I needed a great IP spawn, something like 2 science, 1 culture and 2-3 military. I only got two military and no science IPs, and 1 culture. I also had 1 Gold and 1 Diplo. Only 5 IPs spawned in spite of having plenty of space in the map. It is possible that this has to do with the 5 AIs wiped, not sure, there is some sort of logic to the IP spawn but I have not been able to figure it out.

I also missplayed the last 2-3 turns of Exploration, got distracted build/buying a UQ (that was a very bad mistake) and a couple of other buildings instead of spending my money in getting 2 more universities. Likely, my strategy to play it safe and go for Guildhall/Bazaar quarters for the "over 40" districts requirement in Exploration instead of focusing on science quarters was probably flawed. I got so excited about the possibility to be sub 40 in Exploration that did not really strategyze taking Modern into account.

My Modern was also not optimal I think. Mementos, Lotus Blossom and Science Attribute point. I chose to go with Lyceums and Golden Age Universities, which left me with no science attribute points, except the one from the memento. The rest of the legacies were the logical ones, I think, 1 economic attribute and one of the 2 point economic, 1 diplo and 2 cultural attribute points and 2 expansionist and one military for the settlement limit. My strategy was to open with the Mexican Civics to get asap to the Science Celebration and then straight to comunism. I pumped my capital Ciudad de Mexico, the old Cahokia I had conquered (I changed capitals and converted Yasodharapura) to become as productive as posible, 200+ hammers per turn, but even with that satellites+crewed space flight was 14 turns. I saved 4 turns dispersing the military IPs and another one getting some left over masteries, but I had nothing else in my arsenal. Culture was never the problem, science was, I only hit Rocketry on t42.

I made some mistakes in Modern that probably cost me a couple of turns, but the issue was Exploration of course. The fast finish there did not really allow me time to build my science infrastructure and I likely chose the wrong strategy regarding science quarters. In my desperation, during Modern I wiped one more AI, Machiavelli, as he had 3 decent settlements, but not even that managed to get my science up early enough.

In spite of all of those mistakes, this was one of the most fun GoTMs. Playing Sovereign allows strategies that are unlikely to work in Deity and the map and the AIs were good. Thank you so much GoTM staff, this is the most fun way to play civ 7 for me.

Finally, I saw some new players asking for tips and write ups that do not take so much knowledge for granted. And they are right. I am not even close to being the best player on this site, there is of course @Manpanzee who is a monster player and a bunch of others that are very very good, like @Ballcrusher @pmarc @GoblinMatron @ABigCivFan and others I forget right now, but If I have time over the next few days, I will go back to the Antiquity and Exploration threads and try to offer more details and advice on playing the GoTMs in a separate post, using this GoTM as an example.

EDIT: Ha I was reading @Ballcrusher 's post (what a phenomenal run Balcrusher!) and I realized I forgot to attach my save and screenshot. Here they are:

Spoiler t50 screenshot :

 

[Ballcrusher]

46 + 43 + 90 = 179 turns

I'm really happy with this run, even though I can see, that I can still cut off some turns in Exploration and Modern compared to the very best players here on GOTM.

I was lucky that 3 Military IP's spawned, which cut of some turns in the endgame production. There was 1 hostile Science IP, that I put a lot of influence into to suz quickly for extra science. I don't know if I should have saved the influence and just chosen the bonus to Projects instead. There was also a hostile Culture IP, that I didn't have enough influence to suz early, so I just dispersed it for a quick culture boost. But my culture was weak and I only got Socialism long after I had researched Flight and Aerodynamics. I started with some of the Mexican civics to get the Science celebration, which I still think is the right call, but I probably should have focused a bit more on Culture than I did.

Another choice that maybe was wrong was that I went with 9 towns with Urban Center to get a lot of science through Schoolhouses. But it took me a while to get them up and running, as I felt I needed the gold for many other things like warehouses and boosting my 3 cities. Maybe it would have been better to just go with as many Mine towns as possible.

I was happy with my Science yields and researched Rocketry at turn 37 (I don't know how Manpanzee could get it at turn 28. Very impressive!). After dispersing 3 Military IP's I had 9 turns of clicking end turn, as my production wasn't that great in my capital. My plan was to switch my capital back to my antiquity capital, but I could not choose that city for my capital in Modern. I hadn't noticed that two of the conquered capitals had more population, so I had to keep my capital from Exploration, which was ok, but not as great as my original capital.

All in all, I think this was my best GOTM so far. And GOTM is definately still my favorite way to play CIV7 as you can compare and learn a lot

Mementos:
Lotus Blossom
Science attribute

Legacies:
Golden Universities
Lyceum
2x Expansion attribute
1x Military attribute
2x Economy attribute
2X Diplomacy attribute
1x Culture attribute

Tech:
Academics (3), Electricity (7), Steam Engine (9), Military Science ( 11), Urbanization (13), Combustion (15), Flight (18), Industrialization (19), Mass Production (22), Radio (24), Armor (27), Mobilization (29), Aerodynamics (32), Rocketry (37)...

Civic:
Planes Politicos (4), Plan of Tuxtepec (8), Social Question (10), Planes Politicos2 (12), Modernization (15), Natural History (17), Political Theory (22), Communism (26), Centralism (31), Socialism (37)...

Spoiler End of modern :

 

[Manpanzee]

Something I did in this one that was maybe a bit different: While I grabbed Schoolhouse tech first, I next prioritized Mass Production, beelining that before either Electricity or Flight. The Tea Factory in the capital can be really valuable, and I had at least six Tea in this one.

In contrast, the Modern science buildings feel fairly low-impact relative to their cost nowadays. In fact, I loaded up my save to check, and I never even got a Laboratory in my capital at all!

I think the other major difference between my run and others is the Monastery spam I did in Exploration. I'm not really seeing them in other people's screenshots, while I got a ton of them down.

 

[Bleidraner]

Something I did in this one that was maybe a bit different: While I grabbed Schoolhouse tech first, I next prioritized Mass Production, beelining that before either Electricity or Flight. The Tea Factory in the capital can be really valuable, and I had at least six Tea in this one.

In contrast, the Modern science buildings feel fairly low-impact relative to their cost nowadays. In fact, I loaded up my save to check, and I never even got a Laboratory in my capital at all!

I think the other major difference between my run and others is the Monastery spam I did in Exploration. I'm not really seeing them in other people's screenshots, while I got a ton of them down.

But is it worth it? That 3% per Tea just applies to the city with that factory right? Thats gonna be what, 40-50 science?

Yes I saw your monastery spam in Exploration. That makes a real difference. I did not have any scientific IPs in Modern and only 1 in Explo, I tried to accelerate with Open Air Museums in my tropical settlements in Modern, but too little too late, it was not enough. I carried poor science since Antiquity and I paid the price in Modern.

Really well played, Manpanzee. Ballcrusher has also done a great run. And I think we have still a couple of good submissions left from other players. This is a fun GoTM.

I am afraid to even download the Krampus one. Killing 11 civs? With no legacies? Ooof.

 

[Bleidraner]

Another choice that maybe was wrong was that I went with 9 towns with Urban Center to get a lot of science through Schoolhouses. But it took me a while to get them up and running, as I felt I needed the gold for many other things like warehouses and boosting my 3 cities. Maybe it would have been better to just go with as many Mine towns as possible.

@Ballcrusher I did something similar, at least 6 Urban Centres in Modern as I was so far behind in science. I am not sure it was a bad idea. I completed it with open air museums, the only contructible I had with some science potential. Check out Manpanzee's comment above, I agree with him the main difference with your run was the Monasteries. By the way your 8 Unis coming out of Explo, very impressive, fantastic run.

 

[ValleTomate]

But is it worth it? That 3% per Tea just applies to the city with that factory right? Thats gonna be what, 40-50 science?

The Factory Ressorce yields all apply to your entire empire, 5 tea in your cap and 5 in another settlement gives +30% science in every settlement.

 

[Bleidraner]

The Factory Ressorce yields all apply to your entire empire, 5 tea in your cap and 5 in another settlement gives +30% science in every settlement.

Oh my God. I had 6 teas and a factory in the cap from pretty early on, but did not slot them in thinking production was more important! Thank you @ValleTomate . @Manpanzee you were right as usual.

 

[GoblinMatron]

First up, I misremembered what civ we should play and accidentally chose France instead of Mexico. I am sorry. Of course I chose the science government, so I did have an advantage in the early turns.

Turns: 31
total: 177 (101+45+31)

Mementos: Clipeus Virtutis (+1 Production in the Capital for every town), Diamond Throne (+1 Happiness per age on quarters)

LPs:militaristic (3): 1 exp attr, Land of Opportunity
cultural (3). Toshana golden age, 1 cultural attr
economic (3): Early industrialization, 1 eco attr
science (3+1): Lyceums, 2 science attr

I had a lot of urban centers to build Schools. Rome was my only City.
I only had 1 militaristic IP, no scientific.
I researched Rocketry on turn 22, then needed 9 turns for the projects.

Spoiler End of age :

 

[enKage]

I finished t61 with a combined score of 130+73 +61 = 264

I did not know what to expect from Mexico but it turns out to be a pretty decent civ, and for sure I will play it more later.
Mementos -> +1 policy card as it complements Mexico and +5%/+25% growth in cities with specialist, because my cities were small, maybe bonus hammer from towns in capital would make a better difference - final project took me 8 turns

I carried no monasteries from exploration, so I was kind of forced to choose golden universities

Tech was pretty smooth and fast, it seems like Lyceums and gold universities were enough (or it was partially because of future techs made in exploration), culture too, even though I did not went for factories, I had 2 science independents spawned, so I made some use of improvement, I made 4 revolucionaries to check what they give and they are not so great, however one was fantastic - giving 5 levels of general.

Nothing special about LaFayette, he is finally lvl10 and I don't plan to use him for quite a long time, I did not notice his uniqueness at all