Brennus Deityheart

[Fippy]

Looking for a new Deity map, i found this one looks nice enuf to share.
Fits those more who (mild spoiler you would find out after 20 turns latest anyways)

Spoiler :

like a little island for your own feeling but it's not isolated, contact with Mao early on another landmass

Start screenie

Spoiler :

Not bad i would say.
It's fairly balanced, not too much but also not annoying few goodies.
(am at turn 40 currently)

Brennus gets not many games here i think, i consider him slightly above average.
Starting techs can be annoying (thou here you can tech AH first thanks to hunting),
but Traits are nice.

Well, let's see if you guys like maps like this one ~~

 

[Sun Tzu Wu]

Nice Leader, especially Spiritual trait, and a nice start. Should be interesting.

Lots of Great Person bulbing options to surpass the AIs in the technological race. With Stone, should be able to complete The Pyramids early, if desired.

I hope you don't mind if I lurk here. I'm unlikely to have time to play, though it is tempting.

 

[Fippy]

Lurking is more than welcome of course

 

[Arvoreniad]

I'm not quite good enough for this level, but I may as well give it a go and learn something.

AH first looks a must, I think I'll move up to the NW with the scout.

 

[Lain]

Talk about opener doesn't have to go in spoilers I think? Scout 2N and see if settle on plains hill can be justified, but 90% SIP I think.

Will definitely play this, can open save too. When I tried to open your "Funny Couples Game" some days ago I got this: "Mods\BAT Mod 4.1\ is an invalid mod directory, ignoring" and then it doesn't really load. Any solution for this? Team game seems fun after all the stress in the last few days with Deity.

But Brennus is loading fine so will play a few turns soon.

 

[lymond]

Any solution for this? .

Yeah...install BAT..great mod (it's BUG/BULL plus shinies)

Yep..little bit of tough call on PH settle as the cow will marry nicely with the pig for a huge BBQ, but if scout reveals something nice NE then it could work out well.

"Freedom!"

 

[Arvoreniad]

Played up to turn 85. Looks quite an interesting game.

Spoiler :

Quite a nice island, particularly with the 3 silver to the SE, and not too hard to fogbust either. Room for 8 cities in total I think.

I reckon I have two paths from here, depending on what other AI are nearby (I've just sent a workboat out to scout). Being Protective, Mao isn't the easiest of conquest targets, but I could feasibly ferry some trebs or cuirs over there, if I can get them early enough to be effective.

On the other hand, with a Spiritual leader on a decent-sized island, might cultural be a good victory option? I have little experience with it but it seems a definite possibility. I guess the main issues would be the availability of marble and religion.

In the short term, I'll probably switch tech to Masonry (which I should have got way earlier) and see if I can get some failgold out of the Mids, I imagine it's too late to build them on deity now. After that it's probably a choice between Aesthetics and Alphabet/Math -> Currency.

Any advice would be much appreciated, I'm a bit out of my depth on deity.

 

[Lain]

So I played first 50 turns Lincoln tomorrow.

Spoiler :

Scout didn't reveal anything special, so I just SIP.



AH first seems obvious, Scout fortified on desert hill to fogbust my 2nd city spot. Nothing more annoying than barb city. With land shape like that I have to assume isolation and don't want to waste hammers on 6 Axes or so.



Mining after AH, Wheel would come a bit too early. Mining also makes Masonry cheaper and I will definitely build some stone stuff, even if it is just for failgold. Brennus with this land makes for a rather slow start and whenever I have a start like this, I try to use failgold (even without ressource) as a rope to pull me out of the early tech hole.

Great Lighthouse seems unlikely, so Pyramids is a valid option of course.

Found horsies in the vicinity. I decide to go for spot with closest marker as my second city. Too greedy for archery. That decision might cost me the game some turns later . Always go archery or learn to fogbust properly (though nothing I could have done about that one archer)

Why not settle 2W instead? Would be cheaper, but 1) no food first ring, 2) possibly ruin fish stuff in the north and 3) I want to make it my future capital with Oxford so long-term perspective counts for something here. But it's highly debatable as so many things in this game, that's why we love it so much



Scout is dancing with the archer, don't want to lose that guy.



The Wheel after Mining, build settler at size 4 after getting out 3 warriors.



I have 2 warriors fortified in the forest over the river. Hoping for evil barbarians to attack and die. Masonry after The Wheel.



Turn 35 I meet Mao's workboat. He is on the island, hm? Great Lighthouse would be so nice, but oh well.





Barb warrior is not attacking... instead, he stops me from roading horsies.





Still stupid delay. Why didn't I go Archery or settle closer? Capital builds worker after settler to help with pasture and quarry soon.



Barb warrior + archer are going for my scout. I sacrifice my scout to win some time and settle Vienne, starting on pasture immediately.





Barb archer coming for my capital too, currently defended by 1 warrior (retreated there), but I can get out some more quickly. Chariot soon.



Barb warrior takes out my warrior in Vienne at 9%. Only 1 left now... Barb archer coming, too.



Win this battle or game over. Well, I wouldn't retire actually, but continue even if Vienna falls. But it would be slightly unconvenient to say the least.



At least my capital should be secure.



Warrior in Vienna wins his battle (Archer had 41% chance). Warrior in capital dies, one left there ... but the barb archer is badly injured and fails next turn.



Chariot is out now and the mighty Celtic empire is still alive. Easy, almost nothing happened...



Bronze Working next, will chop everything I can for maximum failgold and for Pyramids in capital.



Capital gets out another settler, then start on Pyramids.



Vienne builds Great Wall for failgold, I don't want it. Worker finishes grassland mine. Other worker at capital roads a forest and will connect 3rd city.



Where will 3rd city go? I'm open to suggestions, but I'm thinking 1SW of the wheat. Though I don't have Agriculture yet (and won't for a while), so actually Silver in first ring might be smarter. Boost research a bit.

Island should be reasonably fogbusted now. Barb spear would suck a bit. Apparently Mao is alone aswell (spypoints)



Further plans? Get to writing and run rep scientists soon, I hope . Farm 3-4 GS and bulb Optics/Astro by 600 AD. Then go visit China to talk about Democracy... oh wait, this isn't the Lincoln game. Maybe teach him how to build Duns then? After all, knowledge on how to build walls is learned from enemies, not friends... /Sid

Mao struggling with barbs aswell? Only 3 cities.

3rd city where?

 

[Arvoreniad]

Spoiler Lain :

I think the silver in the first ring is the best way to go, gets the commerce and the +1 happy online faster. I hadn't thought at all to use failgold to boost my economy - rookie error I guess. I may still have time to get the Mids or at least some substantial failgold.

My opening was comparable, which gives me some hope of doing ok.

 

[Lain]

@Arvoreniad

Spoiler :

Yes, think I will go with silver in first ring. Can work wheat + 2x silver eventually. Will check your game too when I reach Turn ~90 or so

Charismatic is great in situations like this though. Can skip Monarchy which saves a lot of beakers. Maybe Mao has some happiness for trade and it will be okay.

Early Astro seems key here.

 

[Arvoreniad]

@Lain

Spoiler :

Thanks, I'd appreciate some advice. It's possible there might be more AI beyond Mao, but that would be very fortunate. I usually play continents/pangaea - what sort of bulb path is needed to get to astronomy quickly?

 

[Fippy]

Wow @Lain, your reports are always exciting why is that
Cannot read yours yet i fear, Arvo.

Yup i used BAT for the team game, stopped doing that now thou.
I can still use Bull and get better graphics (or different, depends how you like them ofc) without, https://sourceforge.net/projects/civ4bull/
Readme is very detailed, i did set up with option #1 (not a mod that must be loaded, but will affect all forums game which is veeery nice) and you still have all options available now in BUG settings ig (workers stop chopping 1 turn before, etc).

 

[Fippy]

I did

Spoiler :

SIP too, for cows. Had some barb troubles too, and settled closer here

Spoiler :

Plan was 1 turn into settler in Bib, then chariot after both workers built the road next turn.
And another warrior from 2nd city, lost one.
Scout fog busting corner, that was nice.

I was thinking that i probably should settle the river city on coast soon near Mao, he could sail over there if he gets an early galley too. Must play on a bit
Made a small mistake with techs, wheel before mining and would have been better other way round. Masonry for quarry, with Pyras in mind too.

 

[Lain]

@Arvoreniad

Spoiler :

I will have to study the smartest bulb order myself, not having done this in a while. How I am planning to do it:

- Skip academy. I feel it's a luxury that can't be afforded (no marble, no philosophical leader... and it's not like there is a great capital with 3x gold and floodplains, otherwise I might reconsider)
- Avoid Civil Service (otherwise you will bulb Paper and after that, Education)
- Possibly avoid Meditation aswell, since I might want Code of Laws via Priesthood (Caste System), but not necessarily do I want Philosophy (if the religion is gone, it won't do much good... otherwise, it can speed up the process of course)
- Mathematics, Alphabet, Calendar, Iron Working and Metal Casting have to be researched manually
- After that, Machinery/Optics/Astronomy can be bulbed. That requires 4 GS. It's not impossible to have 4 GS at, say, 600 AD. At least Optics should be in by then, Astro can come a few turns later since you won't meet everyone right away anyway.
- I will avoid things like Currency aswell. Very expensive tech. To make up for that, my empire will stay small (for example, I won't settle that crabs for a while unless I get the Pyramids)... maybe 4-5 cities by 1 AD. Live on failgold and small expenses

- Aesthetics -> Literature (Great Library, National Epic) can be inserted, but no need here
- Monarchy is often needed, but can be skipped here aswell

I learned a lot about this from Shakabrade's playthrough in a map I posted recently. http://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/immortal-isolation-desperation.599018/ (3rd bottom post + save upload)
His tech path can be studied here I think. I will review it aswell when considering my approach here.

 

[Arvoreniad]

@Lain

Spoiler :

Thanks, that's very enlightening, I will be soon getting a GS in my own game and need to make these decisions. I'll have a look at Shakabrade's game.

 

[Lain]

@Fippy

Spoiler :

On any other day I would have settled 2nd city right there, too. Somehow I felt really brave today though. Had a bit of luck of course, but losing warrior at 10% is somewhat unlucky in the first place. Hope I can make a nice capital there later . Yes, coast will be my 4th city. Though if Mao really settles there I would probably declare war. They don't bring many troops usually, maybe 1 Axeman.

I already saw Mao galley actually... hmmm. Maybe skip silver and go straight for coast first? But expensive city and I don't have Fishing or Pottery.

Any long-term plans yet?

 

[Fippy]

Yup

Spoiler :

for Pyras, waiting for BW currently my 2 workers can only road until then Oo
Getting 2 was good earlier thou, hmm and need some tgw failgold. Bad starting techs hurting a bit now

Long term

Spoiler :

Astro or attack on Mao, think there are not many other options.
It's a bit why i made the spoiler in opening post, you have to like sea stuff quiet a bit for island maps.

 

[Fippy]

Turn 50, those maps can be funny

Spoiler :

Lost chariot with barb archer at 0.1 left, but had warrior close..now they moved on far enuf south to fogbust everything. Still building tgw failgold, i hope i can afford the expensive Mao city first with that gold.
Roading towards future cities BW finally will be a relief.

Spoiler :

 

[Fippy]

Bed time, but update for turn 60 before

Spoiler :

Spoiler :

tgw failgold really helped, got Agri finally and can now tech fishing.
Want this city 4th, will be good with Pyras

Spoiler :

Not too tempted by silver currently, cos of food problems there and no happy problems.

Something i really like doing with stone, preparing settler 3 pop whip in Bib

Spoiler :

and while not building Pyras, another city can do that for gold (and not much else to build)

Spoiler :

Might count hammers so i whip when i can finish Pyras with overflow + chop.

I think probably pottery next, granaries are always nice (and makes writing cheaper).
Mao has Axes, saw that in diplo..not great, we cannot see if he plots in semi-iso.
Some early diplo building, he can have horsies too then

Spoiler :

Another point worth mentioning on islands, coast fog busting against galleys:

Spoiler :

 

[Arvoreniad]

@Fippy

Spoiler :

Looks good so far, Mids should be a strong play here - what turn does it usually go on deity?

I've never thought to fogbust coast tiles... learned something there.