Analysis of my latest "First Game"

[Diamondeye]

Also posted in BtS forum Link

As many of you know, I have for some time had a poll about musketmen running on this forum, and several people reminded me that I had forgotten the french Unique Unit, the Musketeer. That made me think "Hmm, I have never tried to play as France before, maybe I should try that?"

Intro and Info about civ/leader

Spoiler :

I decided to give it a go and started my first game as Napoleon of the Franks.
-The Franks do infact have three leaders available, but as both De Gaulle and Louis XIV have the Industrious trait, which I don't like, I looked for mr. Bonaparte and found him to be Charismatic/Organized, two nice traits with lots of synergies. So Napoleon it was.
Quick runthrough, France starts with Agriculture and The Wheel, I think, and their UU is the Musketeer, a Musketman with an extra move. Their UB is the Salon, a Observatory that provides one free artist specialist.

Initial thoughts about traits, Uniques and victory type

Spoiler :

I chose a standard-size continents map with all victories except Time turned on, and Permanent Alliance on. I found myself on the southern (and best!) part of a continent that to the north held Mali and Celts (Brennus). They were parted by a small bay, but had borders south, along my northern borders. I was thinking of a conq/domi victory, although it'd be hard to achieve on a continents map, but I also had a stray thought about trying for my first real cultural win, fueled by my UB and some artists (and wonders, although I wasn't Industrious).

Resumé of game until Point Of No Return

Spoiler :

I settled aggressively, grabbing the entire southern half of our continent. I was leading in tech and knew that Brennus had no longbows yet, so I decided to kill him off. He was Hindu (founded himself), Mansa was Christian, I think. I founded Confucianism with the Oracle, but chose to remain without state religion. I attacked Brennus with swords and elephants, and a couple of axes and catties. He went down easily. I also razed a barb city north of him and resettled it. I hit 27-28% of world pop at one time. I switched to confucianism to highten my happycap and that resulted in Mansa stopped to trading techs with me. No matter, I was ahead of him and he couldn't help me. I was the most advanced nation in the world. I grabbed Optics and sent out some caravels, switched to Theocracy to secure myself from AP if it should show up. I ran Vassalage and Caste System and HR. I beelined Liberalism and grabbed Astro - providing me with my UB. I then aimed for gunpowder and thought of what way to go - conquest / domination fueled by my UU and my tech/land lead or a cultural victory fueled by my UB and the rather lot of wonders I had grabbed due to my techlead.

Decision and rest of game

Spoiler :

I chose the path of a cultural victory. I had only one coastal city to provide me with ships, and worst-case there are four religion-buddies over the ocean that helps each other. I stuck with HR/Vas/CS but changed to Merc for another free artist in each city, and later on I also built the Statue of Liberty for a third. I also had The Parthenon for a increase in artists. Despite of this hard work, I spawned two prophets, three scientists and a great spy, although the spy and one of the scientist was from "first to research..." awards. I also circumnavigated and found following rivals on the neighbooring continent: Justinian, founder of Judaism, Suleiman II, Jew, Huayna Capac, Founder of Buddhism, and Zara Yaqob, Jew aswell. One of the non-founders built the AP. I ran my research in a beeline for elec and nationalism, for Hermitage and Eiffel Tower. I got them both. My three culture cities were Paris, Lyons and Marseilles (which was founded relatively late but got Hermitage and some GAs). I won a cultural victory in 1883 for just below 20k points:

Post-game reviews and thoughts (You are welcome to discuss along in the thread )

Spoiler :

I didn't use my UU at all, though I had about 15 of them. I think I leveraged my traits okay, expanding alot and waging some early war to grab even more land. I abused my UB to the max to grab those Great Artists. I could have done a better game civic-wise, not changing into pacifism was maybe a bit stupid, as was not changing to Representation.
Things I've learned something about in this game:
La civilization Francaise: I used to think of France as a rather annoying AI nation. I agree I have only met De Gaulle once, but the two other AIs are always annoying. I aslo didn't count their civ for anything special, but it's actually rather nice, and Napoleon's traits are a huge boost.
Cultural Victory: As I said, my first real Cultural Victory. I still can't believe how somebody can grab it so early, but I was proud of pre-1900. Also learnt something about artist specialists, and how useful locking s to one kind of GPs can boost your game in a specific direction.
Caste System: I think it's the first time I play this civic at all, and it is definately a good match for both Slavery and Serfdom!
Espionage: I may not have told you so already, but I flipped two of Mansa's cities, due to my culturebombing of Marseilles. This was very much the work of my spies, influencing culture and starting revolts. I had a french revolt in one of his cities last 7 turns due to my overwhelming culture !

Nifty little detail about the Vassal Bug

Spoiler :

Justinian spawned Pericles as a vassal lategame, and get whose properties he grabbed? That's right, Brennus'. Me and Mansa got DoWed by him (and therefore Justinian aswell), and this was maybe the most nerveous 15 turns of my culture game. Also, at the end graph, Brennus wasn't on it at all - Pericles was, although the midgame must have been his dark age :

Please post feedback, questions, corrections, whatever you want!

-Diamondeye

 

[JBossch]

nice culture win. what difficulty was this on?

 

[Diamondeye]

nice culture win. what difficulty was this on?

Noble, I hate when the odds are biased for/against the AI

 

[Quotey]

What the hell was with Pericles' score?

 

[Diamondeye]

What the hell was with Pericles' score?

He was a colony and inherited Brennus' stats - including the score and state of war with me and Mansa...

 

[Refar]

Have you used Bhruics (i hope i got it right) patch ?. Because the description says something about "Bug where a colony overwirtes Players" has ben fixed.