BAM1 - The Mongolian Gauntlet

[Bam-Bam]

OK folks, time for my first SG. I have toyed with several concepts, but recent discussions about bugs, exploits, and the like have pushed me in this direction.

I cannot claim pride of authorship in this concept, it is a repeat of Sirian's (and others') concept from Realms Beyond Civilization Epic 12, The Gauntlet. For more information on the original, look here.
This one managed to humble a few players accustomed to winning deity games.

The basics follow:

* No purchasing workers. No workers through diplomacy by any means, including peace.
* No upgrading units. Ever. You build a unit, it remains that type of unit "for life".
* You may not pillage your own lands. (Includes no disconnecting your own resources).
* No trading away of your last unit of any given resource. You must keep one for yourself.
* No scrolling through cities during the production phase, "between turns".
* No prebuilding of any kind. No placeholders. Ever. You are NOT allowed to change projects. Or rather, if you change city projects from one to another, you MUST wipe out any shields stored in the box by first changing to Wealth, which will erase all but one shield, then (and only then) may you assign a city to a new item.
*No merging of workers or settlers into cities.


There is no restriction on changing projects when the shield storage box is empty (because a project has just completed, or if the city has been running wealth while "waiting" for a new option to come available). Note that forced labor or cash rushbuys are still allowed, as is disbanding units in cities (with the accompanying shield conversion); but you are not allowed to rush a cheap item from zero storage, change to wealth and retain one shield, then rush a large item on the same turn (to shortcut the double cost of rushing from zero). Only one rush per city per turn, for this game.

Difficulty: Deity
Civilization: Mongols
World Size: Standard
Opponents: Seven Random
Terrain: Continents, 70% water, rugged
Climate: Cold
Barbarians: Roaming
Rules: Standard
Victory: Any

Nota Bene: I have modified the Keshik so it treats both mountains AND hills as grassland.

As far as other rules--avoid all RB exploits. Also, avoid the RCP strategy, let's build cities without trying to expose the mathematics of the Civ3 rank corruption calculator. To avoid the rank corruption bug--we will keep our palace where it starts.

Who is up for the challenge?

- Bam-Bam


EDIT: Here is the starting location

Signed up:

Bam-Bam
Sirian
Hotrod
6thGenTexan
Urugharakh
JMB (out until October 3)

 

[Sirian]

Sleep Deprived have to stick together. I'm in for some punishment. (Hey, where have I heard that before? For that matter, this game concept sounds vaguely familiar too.)

Could be my last SG pre-Conquests.


- Sirian

 

[LKendter]

No purchasing workers. No workers through diplomacy by any means, including peace.

Question only - not a signup.
How about capturing them? Is that valid?
That question came to mind the second I read the rules.

Is leader rushing valid? I would guess so.

 

[Sirian]

Good god, man. 5000 posts, Lee? And I thought I was bad.

Yes, capturing workers is allowed. Leader rushing is allowed.

This concept will be especially painful in an SG format, though. There won't be any such thing as a casual veto.


- Sirian

 

[Bam-Bam]

I was hoping to pull you into this one, Sirian. Glad to have you aboard.

I have to test out the mod I made to the Keshik before I can post a start screenie. Of course, there is also the matter of finding a few more sick souls to join in the fun.

 

[hotrod0823]

Okay bring it on!

 

[LKendter]

Originally posted by Sirian
Good god, man. 5000 posts, Lee? And I thought I was bad.

Yes, capturing workers is allowed. Leader rushing is allowed.

- Sirian

Well at least 1000 of those post are probably - got it, or who is up next.
I am still barely on the top 25 posters list.


Looks like the best worker source is to capture a city a rush foreign workers every other turn I now prefer that over starvation.

 

[6thGenTexan]

I've got room for another. I've fallen way behind on Epic 36 and it does not look like I will come close to finishing it.

6gntxn

 

[Sirian]

Sorry to hear that, Tex. Still five weeks left, sure you can't make it? Even if you had to hurry through some turns with all everything turned off? My report's going to have over 400 screenshots and take up about fifty pages. The ultimate Civ3 experience.

- Sirian

 

[Bam-Bam]

Ok. Hotrod and Texan, you are in. That makes four so far--shooting for five or six brave souls....sure you are not up for it, Lee?

OT--Epic 36--hmm--30% of the way through---55 screenies taken so far. Certainly will not use them all, but it will be a monster report. Probably another of my trademark 11th hour finishes, as well.

 

[Rubberjello]

I'm not a brave soul! Not to put a fine point on it, I'm actually a bloody coward!
I must say that I really like the restrictions and settings you've drawn up, Bam-Bam, but I feel I'm not ready for a Diety Game WITH all the restrictions. Emporer level, sure!

So good luck to you all, and I will be lurking on this thread with cowardly gusto!

 

[Bam-Bam]

I have tested the Keshik mods with success.

EDIT: Start not suitable for sane players

A start will be posted Tuesday. Save will be posted when we have a full roster. We can then discuss player order and general strategy.

 

[hotrod0823]

One easy quesition? The palace can't be moved at all or just by abandoning. NO leader rushing a palace?

Edit: What exactly is the corruption rank bug?

 

[Sirian]

Whoa! What a start. I've got a strategy suggestion. "HEAD SOUTH". Or north, if we're on the south end of the minimap. No way can we win from THAT start position. MUST... FLY... TOWARD... THE... LIGHT...

Even Epic 12 had some game and a couple of grass in range of the capital. Another strategic possibility: roll a new map. If Bam's not in for that plan, DO NOT SETTLE until you see the green of their grass. Doesn't matter how many turns it takes, either. If Karakorum is founded in 3100BC, that's better than living and dying as stone age popsicles.

I mean, seriously. When I signed up for a "cool game" I was thinking not but I'm in for a pound anyway, it seems.

Could... get... ugly...


- Sirian

 

[Urugharakh]

As the only player with a Epic 12 victory I can't refuse.
With Epic 36 just finished and my way towards a huge report there should be time for this one.

Oh, and I fully agree with Sirians coments on the starting position.

 

[Bam-Bam]

Welcome aboard Urugharakh!

Sorry about the start--sleep deprivation and football woes made me miss that we have NO FOOD for this start.

Yeah--I just looked again. WHOA that is a bit too harsh--even for the crowd we have signed up. It took me about ten rolls just to get a cold start with fresh water, and I was happy that I could see a lux. Ah well--I want a challenge--not just instant death. Consider that a wake-up call....yeah, that's it.

New start to be posted when I get home. Now let us never speak of this again.

@ Hotrod--no palace moves. A description of the corruption rank bug can be found here. I cannot think of a simple method to combat this other than not allowing a palace move. Not allowing a palace move also seems to fit into the spirit of this game.

 

[JMB]

Hey Bam-Bam,

I would be interested in playing, but I won't be able to play until after the third of October. So, if you'll have me (and don't mind me missing the first round of two), I'd be interested...

JMB

EDIT: BTW, I'd love to see the start that everyone was saying about...

 

[Bam-Bam]

Welcome JMB! I have added you to the roster.

That's it! The team is formed. I have edited it into the first post, but here it is as a reminder. This can also be the notional rotation, unless someone has an objection. I'll even take the first twenty with Sirian following me .

Roster:
Bam-Bam
Sirian
Hotrod
6thGenTexan
Urugharakh
JMB (out until October 3)

We'll see where we are when JMB is available to play--I may seed him in at a different spot in the rotation.

And for those who did not see where we are NOT taking the game, here is the sleep-deprived, depressed Raider fan ugly start (SDDRFUS in Sirian/Charis abbreviation-speak)

Yeah--let's not go there. A slightly more friendly start will be up this evening. I am not in a hurry to get moving on the game--since I still have over 70% of Epic 36 to complete, so I will likely not play my turns until Wednesday evening. That leaves some time for discussion about the game...


Oh--and one more thing (TM): Opponents in the game will be random.
- Bam-Bam

 

[Sirian]

The most memorable game I had prior to starting the Epics was Apolyton Tournament Game Four, with an icy start worse than that one. The key to success was to MOVE, NOT SETTLE. Moved six tiles south to the edge of the tundra, pulled in some grass and a game, and had enough food to make a go of it. I'd vote for heading toward the equator and only giving up on what could be a legendary situation if we can't find any food by 3500BC. And if we do find food, settle in the tundra, right on the edge of the grass (to redeem one extra tundra tile and waste the minimum amount of time).

I mean, what the heck. Right? How bad can it be?


- Sirian

 

[Bam-Bam]

Sirian,

You really are a sick one.

I'll give the original start a go this evening. I have a decent alternative in case this one doesn't work out. It is only slightly better--with a game and some grass in sight.