Always War

[Earthling]

Just a post by a lurker, impressive play on the *first* game - but I do have a question -

Are you sure that you want to quit?


I presume somebody at least looked in worldbuilder then to see the state of the world; if not, I as a lurker might say that things don't look quite as easy for you as you were assuming. Of course it is Emperor, you'd probably still win (especially just going for space), but not without a challenge; with a new game you'll likely just be showing off the same ancient era gameplay that you were just getting passed in this one. Some observations, if you'll take my word, or were just curious (though, again, I suppose you could all look through WB too)- of course, if this has sparked any interest in continuing then it's best not to read:

Spoiler :

The AI seem to be getting along well with each other; some are stronger than others of course. But of particular note is the fact that there's an AI who has an almost 7 tech lead on you, and is in fact about to build the Statue of Zeus. Islam would also have been founded soon, shortly after you guys got Taoism if you keep on playing. The continent does in fact contain a couple of aggressive AI as well who might eventually put out solid military. True, there's not a single big AI over there, but it could be a very interesting game eventually

 

[PaulisKhan]

I might take the save and play it through single player over the weekend. I can do a writeup if people want to see how it goes.

 

[r_rolo1]

Well, I'm ok with that, PaulisKhan

 

[Duckweed]

@Earthling

I agree that this game won't be an easy walk against AIs in the other continent and I believe that we'll be backward on tech before we can digest our own continent.

There are several reasons that make team members lost interest to continue:

1. The 1st and major obstacle of AW game is the early part -- how do you deal with AIs in your own continent? And I always emphasize that too many AIs to be faced immediately could be a very hard opening, while in this game, we were against two AIs without metals.
2. AIs can't do well in intercontinent war. Without a huge empire, their invasions should be able to handled easily.
3. I did learn some tricks in "King of the hill game" -- trap cities and EP to deal with their invasions and steal to catch up on teching.
4. We'll have more than double of land than any AIs.

 

[Duckweed]

I wonder if it would not be sensible to wait a little with this patch thing going... we still don't know if 3.17 and 3.19 saves are both ways compatible and , for various reasons, I still need to keep 3.17 for using some mods ( Pitboss with 40 civs and SGOTM with HoF ).....

Anyone want to test the new patch for compatibility?

 

[PaulisKhan]

Well I played through most of the remainder of the game, I almost didn't post it because I'm ashamed about the number of noob mistakes, but here it is anyway.

The first thing that had to be done was bulbing Philo to secure ourselves a religion. The absence of diplomacy and religious drama is refreshing.

Without much effort on my part I assemble the troops that had been built by previous players and march on Zara

In the midst of the war a great prophet is born and the kong meow is built, money is always good.

Zara proves to be a pushover. I'm losing 1-2 catas per city at most.

I don't let the war slow our tech rate down and it doesn't take long for Liberalism to come in. Without knowing the tech situation on the other continent I decide to play it safe and just take nationalism

Nat+Sals capital. Unfortunately he teched Feudalism a turn or so before the war dec and upgrades most of his archers to longbows. With only two cities though I weigh the odds and decide it's worth burning through the last of our troops to take him out, despite the relatively poor odds.

Which we do. No siege left but the continent is ours.

 

[PaulisKhan]

Hi Mansa! Let's trade techs... oh right...
I'm pretty happy with my position at this stage because until this point we've been busy with war and we're still pretty much ahead.

For some reason I build Angkor Wat, no, I don't know why. I started mucking around about this stage.

Taj, this one is easier to explain.

With quite a few cities and two spare GE's, democracy has some obvious advantages

SoL + rep with this many cities was a significant boost to the tech rate. It's not my normal strategy but I'm just having fun now.
I also built mining inc for +8hpt in each city and I think I was making a bit of money from it too, State Property would have been better but whatever...

You can see here the effects of plenty of cottages and lots of land. Despite playing badly I'm pulling away very quickly in tech.
Yes, you're correct, I don't have polytheism... or literature... which means no HE in an always war game, and no NE in what would be a pretty decent GP farm... yes, I'm ********.

Now I take the war to the seas, I rarely tech combustion so early but the jump from frigates to destroyers is the largest discontinuity in combat strength in the game so I take advantage of it. Most of the rest of the game is me toying with the AI navies, got my first Blitz destroyer up and running before long for some real fun =D

Ceaser doesnt rate my war abilities so he decides to add to the challenge and declare on another AI too.

Pentagon, why not?

The source of my beakers. Oxford is in gems city, can't remember if I ever got around to shifting the capital (I intended to at one point in the game)

Hammers? yes please!

The extent of the tech disparity is pretty obvious. My computer was getting slow and I have so many other games of civ to play so I didn't bother finishing it but it was fun while it lasted =)

 

[Duckweed]

Great write up. Thanks.

 

[Dirk1302]

Yes, well played. So we were probably right stopping it.