BOTM 80 Final Spoiler - Game Submitted or Abandoned

[DynamicSpirit]

BOTM 80 Final Spoiler

[img=right]http://gotm.civfanatics.net/civ4games/images/botm80civ.jpg[/img]

This is the thread to discuss how your entire game went.

Did you win? Did Argentina make friends with Germany in the end? Or did you try to eliminate Jorchen Löw's team? Did you succeed (remember, a mention for the earliest in-game date that anyone manages that).

Reading Requirements

Stop! If you are participating in BOTM 80 (Sabella - Can You Beat Germany?), then you MUST NOT read this thread unless EITHER

• You have submitted your entry, OR
• You have abandoned your game and will not submit.

Posting Restrictions
Do not post any savegame file from the game until after the competition has closed (Aug 16). Discussions and screenshots are fine but not actual games.

 

[whb]

Well this one went a little curiously. Some time after Karl Marx declared on me, someone else got the AP and made their first vote "declare war on Jochim Low" . The world duly voted for it and everyone except Jochim, Karl, and the "peaceful Germans" were my bosom buddies for the rest of the game.

Karl was too after I vassalled him (out of the slight fear that he might otherwise capitulate to the English and they might declare on me).

Jochim was taken out by his two neighbours some time in the rennaissance, so I figure it probably doesn't really count since I didn't do it.

I beelined the UN to see if I could take advantage of everyone that counted liking me, but they said "yeah, we like you, but not that much". Still, it meant I got all the late happy wonders etc.

So, then we decided to take the world game to another world. Football has landed on Alpha Centaurii.

Toughest part was the maintenance costs -- I was running quite a low tax rate for some time. The Amercians tried a run for culture (ah, typical American cultural imperialism) but weren't fast enough.

PS. The leaders obviously seem to be something about adopted homelands / influence -- Einstein moving to the US, Karl Marx influence on Russian politics, Prince Albert being Queen Vicky's squeeze, Arnie also going to the US (but isn't he Austrian?), etc. Not sure why the choice of those particular German/nation combinations though (or why 3 Germanies).

 

[nocho]

A routine cultural attempt resulting in a 1595AD win. Should've been quicker if I hadn't been beaten to the mids and MoM by a couple of turns, didn't pay enough attention there. Ample fail cash relieved it a bit at the time, but all in all serious setbacks. Also unlucky at the end with great people emergence. Got 2 great people I couldn't use at low odds and then had to burn a great artist for the 3 GP GA. Oh well.

Funny map. Turned into a Jew-fest, with everybody hating Joachim Low the buddhist who in the end also turned Jew, while Nicole kept a hindu centre. Various AP votes, but the block was happily divided between both options, so that was never really a threat.

 

[c00per]

I did some stupid things with my chariots, continued on doing stupid things until 1500 AD when I noticed that I'm dead last in score list and that I have only 3 cities (yes, really). I was ready to abandon this fail game, but thought that there's still some hope to achieve cultural victory.

So around the same turn nocho achieved his victory, I started to go for one At one time I thought that I'm done for because that fat btch Merkel had 3 cities with 7 turns left till legendary status and there was nothing I could do to stop her. But then Einstein came to the rescue, took one of those almost legendary cities and saved my ass

Btw, I've never really thought about it, but AIs never actually try to stop you from achieving victory, do they? Any of the AI could have rolled over my rifles with their tanks in a couple of turns when I was close to achieving 3x50k, but they didn't. I'm glad they didn't, but I think that hardcore players would be disappointed. Or does this change on Deity?

 

[MarleysGh0st]

After my slow start in the BC era, I presumed I was going to lose a space race to one of the AIs, probably Prince Albert, who had the lead in score. I went to war against Karl in 620, finally conquering him in 1310 (with some late help from Einstein, who captured one city to create a central American pocket with a captured barb city).

After that, I had to concentrate on building my economy and production. Joachim, who was already at war with Nicole, attacked me (with a single archer!) but had nothing to follow it up. Joachim would also fight wars with Arnold and Albert, without success.

By 1655, my score has crept up to first place. I'm still behind in tech, but I begin to think that a campaign for domination might work before Prince Albert can get to space. I found Mining, Inc. in 1715, which helps my production.

I declare war on Einstein in 1806 to capture those two central cities. Joachim capitulates to Einstein in 1810, then I make peace with both of them in 1818.

In 1826 I declare war on Arnold. He's conquered by 1862, but not before Nicole tries an amphibious attack against one of the cities I've captured from Arnold. She fails and quickly makes peace.

In 1864, I declare war on Einstein and Joachim. They're both conquered by 1902. Mining, Inc. had expanded across my civilization; with the extra resources I've captured, these corporate branches are contributing to a huge lead in production. I begin to reposition my units for an attack on Prince Albert, which will eliminate the threat of his space ship and put me close to the Domination limit...

And Angela Merkel wins a Cultural Victory in 1905.

I hadn't even been paying attention to the cultural reports.

 

[PattonTwo]

I actually won this game which was an accomplishment all by itself for me!

As usual my early war attempt turned into a war shortly after 1AD. I attacked Russia in 200 AD and it took me until 1200 AD to finish them off.

I was able to successfully vassal the Natives along the way and started my war against the UK in 1600 AD. I had foolishly asked my vassal the Natives to stop trading with the UK and didn't think about that removing the Open Borders treaty which stranded a 12 unit UK stack in one of my cities. When I DOW on the UK I get what I thought was bad luck and the AI moves the UK stack back towards me when I thought it should have moved the UK closer to where they were which would have been more favorable for me. Clearly I don't know how that process works.

The UK war goes well and I'm close to vassaling them when they get Redcoats and Cavalry. I have to quickly make peace and build back up and don't vassal them until the mid 1800s. By this time it's clear I'll win and I proceed to vassal the remaining civs ignoring the peaceful Germans in the secure ocean middle only to find after vassaling everyone else that I have to attack them.

Final victory via domination comes in 1909. It should have come 10 turns sooner but Nicole won a "stop the war" vote with the AP 1 turn before I would have captured the necessary city. I foolishly didn't vote to ignore the resolution assuming Nicole wouldn't be able to win the vote with every other civ being my vassal. That was frustrating.

Anyway a fun game as always and a happy victory for me. Thanks!

 

[Conquistador 63]

After a few months hiatus, which seemed like ages to me, I finally managed to submit a completed game.

I got very rusty from this inactivity. I was able to eliminate Marx in 880AD, and had a nice letfover army to proceed towards Arnold next, but he and everyone else but Joachim was in the AP religion (Judaism) so I decided to avoid the AP nonsense (stop wars etc.). Changed plans and geared towards a more civilized UN victory which was achieved on the first possible vote in 1515AD.



I tried to eliminate Joachim on the way, and even captured his capital and another city, but he vassalized to Einstein with one city left before I could manage to finish him.

Thanks for the game, DynamicSpirit!

 

[Minou]

This was my first BOTM in a long time, and I am ashamed to say I resigned. However, the scenario was very enjoyable so thanks to the mapmaker.

Things went very well in the BC years, and I had the Red and White capitals captured and churning out Horse Archers for an attempt at an early Green kill. One stack went from the North and a second went from the South. Because the South army was ahead of schedule, I took a detour to ferry a few troops into the center and take out the small Purple empire around 300AD.

War against the Green Army started off with some bad combat luck in the north, causing my Horse Archer stack to need to retreat after burning one city. In the South, things went more smoothly. Unfortunately the Orange empire quickly joined the war, did nothing noticeable for a number of turns, and then Vassaled Green empire. This of course ended my war, and it was impossible to handle both armies with my remaining units.

Several turns later my slow moving Catapults finally made it to the front in a long line, and I decided to attack the Blue Empire which had just built the AP and controlled the votes. Burned one city but then ran into a bunch of Pikemen. When my beloved Woodsman III Quecha and long-surviving Chariot died by getting hit out of the fog (should have been more careful moving them around), I decided to call it quits. At this point I possibly could have pulled things together to win in a very long game unless Blue won a AP victory, but would not have had enough time.

Overall the Chariot start was very enjoyable and made the first 1000 years much more entertaining.

 

[WastinTime]

Challenger, Culture, 1220AD

I started with a warrior/chariot rush on my 'nearest' neighbor. I got an early 2nd capital, but turned out to be a huge maintenance cost and no trade rts, no happiness connected, etc.

I didn't war with anyone else, so only I had ~9 cities.
I'm surprised no one came after me.

 

[sossos]

I played a 7:1 game with 7 nations united against the peaceful German in the middle. At the first half, I got 5 goals with the decisive one to vassal the green around 160 turns.

Unfortunately I didn't notice the special award to eliminate green, though 160+ turns is too late.

I just conquered one by one clockwise with a goal to win a diplomatic victory, but I don't know whether it's a good way to win the game diplomatically. Will any one show me a fantastic peaceful way to win a diplomatic one by 160 turns? I don't know how to make it.

Finally I got diplomatic victory at T192, just like a conquest game plus united nation built.

 

[sossos]

Challenger, Culture, 1220AD

I started with a warrior/chariot rush on my 'nearest' neighbor. I got an early 2nd capital, but turned out to be a huge maintenance cost and no trade rts, no happiness connected, etc.

I didn't war with anyone else, so only I had ~9 cities.
I'm surprised no one came after me.

I rarely play culture games, but I think T182 should be a wonderful result.

 

[sossos]

This was my first BOTM in a long time, and I am ashamed to say I resigned. However, the scenario was very enjoyable so thanks to the mapmaker.

Things went very well in the BC years, and I had the Red and White capitals captured and churning out Horse Archers for an attempt at an early Green kill. One stack went from the North and a second went from the South. Because the South army was ahead of schedule, I took a detour to ferry a few troops into the center and take out the small Purple empire around 300AD.

War against the Green Army started off with some bad combat luck in the north, causing my Horse Archer stack to need to retreat after burning one city. In the South, things went more smoothly. Unfortunately the Orange empire quickly joined the war, did nothing noticeable for a number of turns, and then Vassaled Green empire. This of course ended my war, and it was impossible to handle both armies with my remaining units.

Several turns later my slow moving Catapults finally made it to the front in a long line, and I decided to attack the Blue Empire which had just built the AP and controlled the votes. Burned one city but then ran into a bunch of Pikemen. When my beloved Woodsman III Quecha and long-surviving Chariot died by getting hit out of the fog (should have been more careful moving them around), I decided to call it quits. At this point I possibly could have pulled things together to win in a very long game unless Blue won a AP victory, but would not have had enough time.

Overall the Chariot start was very enjoyable and made the first 1000 years much more entertaining.

What a pity!You did very well in the first half.

 

[sossos]

After a few months hiatus, which seemed like ages to me, I finally managed to submit a completed game.

I got very rusty from this inactivity. I was able to eliminate Marx in 880AD, and had a nice letfover army to proceed towards Arnold next, but he and everyone else but Joachim was in the AP religion (Judaism) so I decided to avoid the AP nonsense (stop wars etc.). Changed plans and geared towards a more civilized UN victory which was achieved on the first possible vote in 1515AD.

View attachment 380478

I tried to eliminate Joachim on the way, and even captured his capital and another city, but he vassalized to Einstein with one city left before I could manage to finish him.

Thanks for the game, DynamicSpirit!

I'll check how you made these AIs friendly to you, which seems impossible for me.

 

[WastinTime]

I rarely play culture games, but I think T182 should be a wonderful result.

THx. But don't give me too much credit. I used espionage entirely

 

[sossos]

After my slow start in the BC era, I presumed I was going to lose a space race to one of the AIs, probably Prince Albert, who had the lead in score. I went to war against Karl in 620, finally conquering him in 1310 (with some late help from Einstein, who captured one city to create a central American pocket with a captured barb city).

After that, I had to concentrate on building my economy and production. Joachim, who was already at war with Nicole, attacked me (with a single archer!) but had nothing to follow it up. Joachim would also fight wars with Arnold and Albert, without success.

By 1655, my score has crept up to first place. I'm still behind in tech, but I begin to think that a campaign for domination might work before Prince Albert can get to space. I found Mining, Inc. in 1715, which helps my production.

I declare war on Einstein in 1806 to capture those two central cities. Joachim capitulates to Einstein in 1810, then I make peace with both of them in 1818.

In 1826 I declare war on Arnold. He's conquered by 1862, but not before Nicole tries an amphibious attack against one of the cities I've captured from Arnold. She fails and quickly makes peace.

In 1864, I declare war on Einstein and Joachim. They're both conquered by 1902. Mining, Inc. had expanded across my civilization; with the extra resources I've captured, these corporate branches are contributing to a huge lead in production. I begin to reposition my units for an attack on Prince Albert, which will eliminate the threat of his space ship and put me close to the Domination limit...

And Angela Merkel wins a Cultural Victory in 1905.

I hadn't even been paying attention to the cultural reports.

Oh dear.

 

[nocho]

THx. But don't give me too much credit. I used espionage entirely

Ah, that makes my traditional attempt feel at least slightly less crappy.

Still, all credits to you. I wonder though, how much EP do you need to generate for an espionage/cultural victory and how do you generate them? Do you rely entirely on commerce, or also on espionage buildings, that is courthouses, great wall for GSpies etc? I would assume in the given time frame you can't first tech all the way to jails, security bureaus and intelligence agencies... Where and when do you cut of research? Do you steal techs too, or save all the EP for culture missions?

Might have to try this one day.

 

[Deckhand]

Did you win? - No, ran out of time
Did Argentina make friends with Germany in the end? no
1740 Team Germany breaks free of America and America becomes my vassal.
1745 Team Germany offers to become my vassal. No way! My goal this game is to eliminate Jorchen Löw.
Or did you try to eliminate Jorchen Löw's team? Yes. 1765 Success. Did you succeed (remember, a mention for the earliest in-game date that anyone manages that). from my First Spoiler:

Hope for a pre-1800AD conquest victory.

Well, I got a pre-1800 Team Germany conquest.

Typical path for me: start the game soon enough, then neglect it for a while (too much time spent reading SGOTM threads), try to complete it in the last 2-3 days and can't quite do it. 1.5 hours left when Germany destroyed. No way I can conquer England, Germany, and Peaceful Germany in that time.

 

[TalladegaKnight]

I played a 7:1 game with 7 nations united against the peaceful German in the middle. At the first half, I got 5 goals with the decisive one to vassal the green around 160 turns.

Unfortunately I didn't notice the special award to eliminate green, though 160+ turns is too late.

I just conquered one by one clockwise with a goal to win a diplomatic victory, but I don't know whether it's a good way to win the game diplomatically. Will any one show me a fantastic peaceful way to win a diplomatic one by 160 turns? I don't know how to make it.

Finally I got diplomatic victory at T192, just like a conquest game plus united nation built.

Turn 192 diplo victory is really great! You would get 3rd in the HOF with that date and these settings. You played it exactly right here.

Peaceful diplo victories really need the spiritual trait to get that date. Give in to demands, run the AI's favorite civic, run the AI's religion, and start a dogpile war towards the end with your UN opponent to get the votes peacefully. If you are the largest nation just give the UN city to whomever you want to be your opponent. It's really hard to get a totally peaceful diplo victory especially at the higher levels.

 

[TalladegaKnight]

I lost my initial chariots trying to steal workers from Brennus. I figured I would HA him, but the turn I got HAs he showed up with a stack and got my cap first. Did not feel like going on from here. Ugly, ugly game.

 

[WastinTime]

Ah, that makes my traditional attempt feel at least slightly less crappy.

Still, all credits to you. I wonder though, how much EP do you need to generate for an espionage/cultural victory and how do you generate them? Do you rely entirely on commerce, or also on espionage buildings, that is courthouses, great wall for GSpies etc? I would assume in the given time frame you can't first tech all the way to jails, security bureaus and intelligence agencies... Where and when do you cut of research? Do you steal techs too, or save all the EP for culture missions?

Might have to try this one day.

No one has worked out the perfect strategy yet. This time I tried going all the way to constitution and jails. I got a lot of great spies. You only need about 30,000 espionage points to get 150,000 culture