I've played this on Deity and Immortal and Emperor and Noble levels. I am unable to spread the AP religion fast enough to get a victory in the BC years. Once I get to about 500AD, its just a matter of time before I'll get a crash to desktop as I scroll around the map screen. Large maps suck. (Huge is even worse, and I don't think I'll even bother trying the two huge challenges on anything above settler, and even then not sure I can win in time).
If anyone has some tips on how to win this one quickly, I'm interested.
I've toyed with the idea of playing it like a conquest game, just build up diplo by shared wars and kill off a lot of AI to make a simpler diplo situation. Think it could work? Probably not on Immortal with my skill level...
Another strategy I'm thinking could be useful is to hold off finishing the AP completion until most of the religion spreading is done... that way Hatty (or others) won't be as likely to mess up your plans by self-spreading it.
Of course, I obviously need to focus more on exploring, as I usually haven't even found where all the AI live until well into the AD years. Did I mention that Large maps suck?
I'd hate to drop down to settler level just to get this one done... I mean, yeah, its still a challenge to complete before a CTD occurs, but that's not really the kind of challenge that interests me.
I can't help much with Crash to Desktop issues, since I don't have them. I'd guess that your computer doesn't have enough memory (either main memory or graphics memory). Which operating system are you using? I suspect that Vista and 7 are more stable than older Microsoft operating systems. No doubt you are using the lowest screen resolution that your system and BtS will support and have turned off all videos and any other BtS bells, whistles and gongs (select the most basic graphics and audio settings).
How to Win Game #5:
The Start:
You should start with 2 or more Gems and Gold Tiles, preferably riverside. You must have enough Food to grow and support all your Mines. Your start should ideally start with 12+ Forests in the BFC and Ring 3 combined. Settle on a Plains Hill.
Barbarians:
Do not select Raging Barbarians. Even if one builds The Great Wall, it will be very difficult to get Missionaries to their target City without heavy escort. It's better to select Barbarians.
I would try building several Warriors to fog bust about 3 Tiles from one's Cultural Boundary all the way around, except where an AI Civ's Culture already exists.
To deal with Barbarians that still get through, a Barracks might be advisable. A Dun would make the Capital very secure +50% Defense plus free Guerrilla I promotions for all units that are permitted that promotion (basically Archers, so don't build it for the free Guerrilla I unless you can trade for Archery).
An early The Great Wall might be worthwhile, especially if one has Stone.
Try to trade for Iron Working as early as possible. If Iron is found inside one's Culture, connect it and you will be able to build Gallic Warrior who get free Guerrilla I with or without a Dun. A Gallic Warrior with Guerilla II can move 2 Tiles through any Hill; great for hilly starting locations. Immediately promote a Gallic Warrior to Guerilla II and block any Barbarian's path by placing it on a Hill (preferably Forested). Even Barbarian Axeman will die trying to attack a Guerilla II Gallic Warrior on a Hill. Promote the Gallic Warrior to Combat 1 and Shock to provide further defense against Axemen and to kill unpromoted Swordsman on the Flat.
Research path:
Bronze Working -> Polytheism -> Priesthood -> build The Oracle -> Masonry -> Monotheism -> Writing -> complete The Oracle -> Theology -> Mathematics -> trade for Alphabet -> Code of Laws -> Civil Service -> Paper
The Apostolic Palace:
Spread the future TAP Religion to first five Civs, those most likely to vote for one's DV.
Do not complete The Apostolic Palace, until one is certain that the TAP Reliiogn can be spread to the remaining three Civs the turn before the the TAP Resolution is due. For Normal speed that would be 9 turns (TAP resolution cycle -1) after TAP is completed. These last three Civs are those who probably will not vote for one's DV and one has 1P or 2P Cities targeted for TAP Religion within these three AI Civ's Culture.
Favorite Civics:
Note that Favorite Civics will be one easy way to get Votes from some of the AI Civs:
Code:
Asoka: Free Religion (not viable to complete Liberalism)
Charlemagne: Vassalage (could possibly complete Feudalism in time, but bonus will be low)
Gandhi: Universal Suffrage (not viable to complete Democracy)
Hatshepsut: Organized Religion
Isabella: Theocracy
Mansa Musa: Free Market (not viable to complete Economics)
Saladin: Theocracy
Suryarman II: Organized Religion
Only Organized Religion and Theocracy Favorite Civics are really viable, and since they are both Religious Civics, one must pick one or the other for the Diplomatic bonus. Thus only 2 of 8 AI Civs can be made Pleased via Favorite Civics and of the two pairs, Saladin/Isabella and Hatshepsut/Suryarman II, the latter two will usually not like each other much, making additional Diplomacy with either one difficult. One solution would be added a few AI Civs with viable Favorite Civics like Wang Kon (Caste System), Joao II (Hereditary Rule), Ramesses II (Organized Religion) and maybe Hammurabi (Bureaucracy). However, for each AI Leader added, one must build an additional TAP Religion Missionary and get him to an AI Leader's City safely.
Diplomacy:
Throughout the entire Game, one must be planning how to get at least +8 Diplomacy with every AI Civ, if possible. The turn before the first TAP resolution (hopefully DV), one has a final chance to improve one's Diplomacy with all AI Civs. In all cases be wary of any Civ's Worst Enemy. In order to get at least +8 Diplomacy with most AI Civs, one may have to insult those AI Civs' Worst Enemy, effectively given up on the Civ's Worst Enemy, since the negative Diplomacy will almost certainly put one below +8 Diplomacy with their Worst Enemy. These Worst Enemy AI Civs are the one's to spread the TAP Religion to their smallest City (1P or 2P) the turn before the first TAP resolution is scheduled.
Warning: Make sure that no Civ has a TAP Religion Population of 75% or more. With eight AI Civs, this should be easy, but watch Hatshepsut and Mansa Musa, since they can sometimes quickly increase their TAP Religion Population rapidly by settling up to three TAP Religion Missionaries in their Cities within the same turn or so.
Good luck with the DV Vote:
Cast your vote and pray for no sudden Population changes that would adversely affect the DV resolution result.
Sun Tzu Wu