BTS Roleplaying Challenge: Stalin

[Cam_H]

If any foreign minister begins to defend to the death a ‘peace conference’,
you can be sure his government has already placed its orders for new battleships and airplanes.
- Joseph Stalin​

I’m putting forward this BTS Roleplaying Challenge as an ‘open challenge’ for all and sundry to have a go at rather than a progressively played single game. Joseph Stalin is notably a Warlords leader, but this game is presented as a BtS save. I've outlined some ‘house rules’ that the player must self-impose which intend to lend to this dictator’s plan and management of the Soviet Union.

The target is straightforward – victory by Space Race – and we’re looking for fast wins. Wrapped in ‘spoiler’ tags participants are invited to post their saves, and importantly outline their strategies for the benefit of others.

The difficulty level is ‘moderate’ – Prince with Aggressive AI. Technological development may therefore be pretty slow for many players.

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As noted above, there are however some fairly stringent restrictions – only trading is allowed with Gandhi and Mao Zedong. Trading, including; Open Borders and conceding gifts, is strictly prohibited with ‘The Westerners’. Signing for Peace must be done with no ‘strings attached’; it must be only the Peace deal (i.e. no suing for Peace from either side, Stalin can not take vassals - friendly or otherwise). The United Nations may force trade arrangements on the player.

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Civic restrictions are also in play;

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The United Nations may force Russia into the ‘top tier’ civics, however otherwise these are prohibited. The Free Market civic is out. Once the player can switch into State Property, they must do so and stick with it unless forced into Environmentalism by the United Nations.

Stalin may never adopt a State Religion, nor shift out of Paganism unless forced into Free Religion by the United Nations.

Should the player be elected to the Secretary General position, they may at their discretion put forward resolutions that may run against the above rules. The player may also vote for resolutions in Apostolic Palace and/or United Nations that run against the above rules. That is, the player has total freedom with proposing resolutions or voting.

Update: Stalin may never found a new Corporation.

Please enjoy the game – I look forward to seeing some good wins and getting insight into successful strategies.

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[slobberinbear]

What a beautiful page, Cam. Your layout and design is wonderful. Great touch, great kitsch.

I also like how you've turned this into an open. I'll be giving it a go.

 

[mice]

Yes ! Cam is back. Looking forward to this one.

Edit , just noticed I have to play it myself (!). Oh well, here goes.

 

[Guardian_PL]

same goes for me! Heh, my first time with forum-posted games...

So if I understand correctly if Russia will become the head of United Nations player can start resolutions like Free Market with everyone etc? But if we are not, we can't vote for Free Market, because it's against rules?

Despite that I despise Stalin I treat this game as a story, like a book, which is entertaining and obviously not realistic. But it's fun, let's do it and sing Kalinka

 

[pigswill]

Hmmm. No mention of colonies of Marx-Leninist enlightenment arising phoenix-like from the ashes of the bourgois capitalist oppressors? What about the Warsaw Pact?

 

[TeraHammer]

Indeed, Stalin should be able to obtain vassals. East Europe...

 

[Jormungandr]

This is my first time both at Prince level (usually play Noble) and with aggressive AI, so this should be... interesting. This is the first 160 turns of my current game with the above rules. Find save up to this point attached below.

Spoiler :

Turn 20 - The Glorious Motherland has established contact with the honourable nations of India and China as well as the Westerners Churchill and Roosevelt. Moscow has finished constructing a warrior and will begin shortly on a great monument to the peoples, Stonehenge, once the nearby supply of stone and copper has been connected.

Turn 40 - A second city has been founded south-west of Moscow to take advantage of the copper. My advisors recommended calling it St. Petersburg, but they have been shot and it has been given the much better name of Leningrad. An archer has been provided for defence as workers improve the nearby land for the glory of the Motherland.

Turn 60 - Moscow has completed the great monument and now the borders of Leningrad have expanded appropriately. While Moscow prepares several brave defenders and a new settler, Leningrad convinces some peasants that working for the glory of the Motherland is perhaps in their best interests. Churchill's borders loom to the west; soon he will feel the bite of Russian weaponry!

Turn 80 - The Settler from Moscow has founded another fine city - Stalingrad! This city has been blessed with my name because it has stone near it - meaning more monuments! News reached our ears of the English starving; naturally the Motherland did not help as our food is ours alone. The scum Churchill also offered Open Borders which we refused as is due. With the Iron found near Moscow, Moscow has began construction of troops.

Here is a map of the Motherland:


Turn 100 - The evil English have demanded Iron Working from us. Never, I say! A Library has been constructed in Moscow - a necessary measure, I am meekly told, to ensure that we are not fighting with pitchforks against rifles. A Prophet has been born in Moscow. He has been stowed away in the slums of the city to act as an opiate. Evidently it has not worked as the city of Moscow has entered unrest and a farm was destroyed. As punishment I have instituted slavery. The preparations for war continue.

Turn 120 - Gandhi has agreed to trade us a myriad of minor technologies in exchange for mathematics. In much more important news, the great monument of Pyramids have been completed and my advisors inform me that enough political prisoners have been used from the Gulags that I can now formally declare myself leader for eternity - though said advisors insist I call it 'hereditary rule'. The city of Stalinogorsk now sits to the south-east, and our scientists tell us we now know enough to build catapults.

Turn 140 - WAR! Churchill pushing his borders intolerably close to the Motherland has gone too far. Our catapults and swordsmen bravely assault London, capturing the city with ease. Contact is finally made with Bismarck of Germany. Our sights are now turned to Nottingham in the north. Meanwhilst, London has been given the far superior name of Stalinabad.

Turn 160 - Word reaches our ears that Bismarck has declared war on De Gaulle. Good. That should keep them busy. Due to the ongoing conflict in England, the General Belisarius has reached greatness and now trains a promising young unit in the tactics of healing. A Scientist is also born in Moscow who serves to further the glory of the Motherland by founding the Moscow Academy of Sciences.

The English City of Nottingham falls to our catapults and is appropriately renamed Stalinsk. We grant Churchill peace - but only as a brief respite to recover our damaged land and economy. Meanwhilst, Roosevelt declares on DeGaulle.

Now is a time for rebuilding our forces and cities. The Motherland may be strong, but it isn't that strong. Churchill waits to the west, and Gandhi is becoming rather too strong for our liking directly to our east.

For the motherland....

 

[Strauss]

Sounds interesting enough. Will be giving this a go.

 

[madscientist]

Great idea for a challenge, especially setting it aLa 20th century leaders (OK, we understand Bismark).

Stalin I think is one of the most versatile leaders. The only Agressive leader that starts with mining makes him a good candidate for early and often war. Industrious makes him a production powerhouse, especially if he gets metal casting off the oracle early. And the UB is the best hands down for building the spaceship.

I would love to play it myself but, "We have enough on our hands right now"

 

[pigswill]

Can we have a shrine please? Lenin's Tomb perhaps? Who needs religion when you can still support revolutionary socialism by exploiting the ideological superstructure of the capitalist political economy.

 

[Plodder]

I like to read the discussion of where to settle, what to research, build, etc. This challenge may be more like GOTM.

Anyhow, I'll try to use SPOILER's.

Spoiler :

I settled in place, started researching Agriculture, started building a worker, and started the scout counterclockwise. The goody hut West was Bronze Working! The expanding border gave $83, the goody hut South gave a map, and the goody hut East gave $107. (I almost lost it to Gandhi).

So where to place St. Peter?

Spoiler :

My first impulse to put it NW adjacent to Wheat and Stone, and Deer and Furs in the BFC. Is that too much overlap with Moscow's BFC? 4 tiles.

Research?

Spoiler :

After Agriculture, I choose Mysticism. Why? First to build monuments (how else to expand cultural borders? Second, madscientist suggested Metalcasting from the Oracle. So go for the techs needed.

The other techs I considered were Wheel and Ironworking.

Stalin will have Stone early, not Marble. Maybe aim towards Stonehenge or Great Wall instead of Oracle?

Advice will be appreciated.

 

[Elandal]

Limiting quoted content so that spoiler tag isn't necessary:

The goody hut [...] was Bronze Working! [...] gave $83, [...] gave $107.

This is why I don't play with huts enabled at all anymore. Lucky with huts? Game plays one level easier than it's set. Unlucky (eg. initial scouting warrior braves a hut, pops angry barbs and dies)? Ready to reroll..
Note: I got BW from hut as well. Felt dirty for it

 

[slobberinbear]

I have concluded the task, comrades, though I am sure I will be bested.

Spoiler :

The strategy was straightforward. I axe rushed Gandhi, REXed to fill in the Russian/Indian territory, and teched up. There was a point in the game where I had a very large tech lead and could/should have attacked our western neighbor, Churchill.

Mao attacked me once but left me alone after I took one of his cities.

The biggest problem in the end game was dealing with the unhappiness from other nations' adoption of Emancipation. I ended up building theatres, colosseums, and the late-game happiness wonders to help, and ran culture at 20-30%. In Moscow, I had 10 unhappy faces from emancipation. Definitely a challenge.

I'd say I also didn't get the most out of state property. I didn't go bananas with workshops as I have seen others do. Definitely a weak part of my game.

Thanks for the fun challenge, Cam!

 

[Cam_H]

Thanks all for your replies and interest! I feared this thread may slip onto Page 2 without a reply.

What a beautiful page, Cam. Your layout and design is wonderful. Great touch, great kitsch.

I also like how you've turned this into an open. I'll be giving it a go.

Thanks 'SB' - I'm sure Mrs. Cam would have appreciated me doing some house tidying rather than drinking beer while fluffing around with graphics files, but greatness must come at a cost!

I felt that an open game would be good - especially if it was at a moderate level so 'moderate level players' would feel comfortable in participating, yet the 'upper echelon players' could still have a challenge by getting a fast win and showing how to navigate through the revised BtS modern era tech's.

So if I understand correctly if Russia will become the head of United Nations player can start resolutions like Free Market with everyone etc? But if we are not, we can't vote for Free Market, because it's against rules?

Nope - you can vote whichever way you want (although iirc you can't vote for Free Market!). I felt that The United Nations would provide an 'escape clause' for players who may have felt too 'oppressed' by the Civic restrictions, while I guess being mildy respectful of the Gorbachev-type reformation (if I can say that).

I was actually in two-minds about disallowing Representation and The Caste System, but chopping off the Specialist Economy playstyle seemed a bit too constritive, and the USSR prided itself on its great minds in the scientific and engineering fields ... and of course there's the Research Institute that gets a kicker from Representation. Furthermore, I didn't want to overcomplicate the already slightly complex retrictions.

I thought that tripping Domination may be a problem for some and pondered whether 'No razing' might add to that dilemma - but decided against it.

Hmmm. No mention of colonies of Marx-Leninist enlightenment arising phoenix-like from the ashes of the bourgois capitalist oppressors? What about the Warsaw Pact?

Indeed, Stalin should be able to obtain vassals. East Europe...

I 'ummed and arred' about that one (Victoria of the Holy Roman Empire was considered), and felt that having outcomes such as America vassalising to Russia was just too far from the 'roleplaying' intent. Kicked around a few different ideas, but threw the whole lot out with the blanket 'Stalin may not take vassals' ... that includes 'peaceful' vassals b.t.w.! I didn't tick/check the 'No Vassals' option, but thought about that too.

This is my first time both at Prince level (usually play Noble) and with aggressive AI, so this should be... interesting.

As noted above, I felt that this should be achievable for 'moderate level players', so I'm really pleased to see you giving it a go!

Great idea for a challenge, especially setting it aLa 20th century leaders (OK, we understand Bismark).

Stalin I think is one of the most versatile leaders. The only Aggressive leader that starts with mining makes him a good candidate for early and often war. Industrious makes him a production powerhouse, especially if he gets metal casting off the oracle early. And the UB is the best hands down for building the spaceship.

I would love to play it myself but, "We have enough on our hands right now"

'Yes' on Bismark ... as before, Victoria (who just squeezes into the Twentieth Century) with another tribe was my only other thought, other than omitting Germany.

Thanks for those good pointers on Stalin's traits and starting tech's.

Completely understand having enough "on your hands" - I fear I too will be in the same position soon myself.

Can we have a shrine please? Lenin's Tomb perhaps? Who needs religion when you can still support revolutionary socialism by exploiting the ideological superstructure of the capitalist political economy.

! Shrines are in. Holy cities are in.

Thanks again to you all for your input and participation, and well done slobberinbear on your win!

Credits: As an aside - this 'Cosmonaut' thought was 'pinched' from the GoTM team, the 'Roleplaying challenge' concept from slobberinbear.

 

[TRJS]

Having just finished my second BtS game as Wilhelm with a diplomatic Prince victory this game comes along at a nice time.

Great idea Cam.

 

[KMadCandy]

dude! if i can't trade with more than half the world, and i have to have enough land/resources to build a spaceship, that means i'd have to go to war at some point to get some land off the guys i can't trade with. waaaaaaaay above my level *giggle*. i'll watch tho

Who needs religion when you can still support revolutionary socialism by exploiting the ideological superstructure of the capitalist political economy.

that got my biggest giggle of the day!

 

[TRJS]

dude! if i can't trade with more than half the world, and i have to have enough land/resources to build a spaceship, that means i'd have to go to war at some point to get some land off the guys i can't trade with. waaaaaaaay above my level *giggle*. i'll watch tho QUOTE]

Hmm, I think I may struggle with this little problem also. Oh well, can't hurt to try.

 

[Guardian_PL]

Sorry, no screenshots, I'm at work
Game surely is FUN Once I got stone hooked I knew what to do, although by some strange twist of fate I missed Great Wall. Then I felt a lil tight so I killed Churchill, actually, he has one last city filled with archers so job nearly done. I saved Gandhi for trading and techs, but soon I'll go for those lovely holy cities and wonders. Ah, I also razed few American cities and kept one close to his capital with marble. I'll be visiting his lands too
As for warfare, I forgot how powerful Aggressive trait is. I mean, cheap barracks AND melee units with Combat I

Maybe I'll update progress in the evening, though I have cute Monarch game with two plain hills gold mines in Carthaginian fat cross, so I can play with Numidian Mercenaries

 

[Cam_H]

^ Again, good to hear of the participation.

Sorry - forgot to include an intended restriction in my post . Even though the push into State Property makes Corporations tough for Stalin to found, it's still a possibility. I've decided that in the interest of roleplaying, Russia can't found new Corporations. If anyone has got to this point and leveraged one (or more) then that's fine, but new players or players not yet at the appropriate technologies should be mindful of this new restriction.

 

[pigswill]

Cam. Im ok to play without free speech, free market, emancipation and free religion but I'm disappointed that we're not allowed US; that means no rush-buying which kind of nerfs the Kremlin which is the quintessential Russian wonder.

Played my first round (875bc).

Spoiler :

Settled one south of start to get elephants. Located copper to south west, rushed a settler in 2800 and Leningrad was founded one tile from copper (missing out on horses as I discovered later). Decided to axe-rush Churchill (totally forgetting he was protective ) but it worked out ok in the end. Built ten axes, lost five but by 875bc England is no more. Got four cities and Stonehenge, next grab stone city, consolidate a bit, probably tech towards construction and try to liberate the toiling masses from another imperialist capitalist warpig.