Civ 3 GOTM 7 *Spoilers* Thread

[DaSilva]

Originally posted by Chieftess
Well, it's over. Loss by SpaceShip. Don't know who built it (probably Rome). They were in 2nd all the way (in the histograph), but shot up a good 1,000 points in the end. Plus, Russia (#1) was attacked by Persia and Rome, and lost most of their southern cities.

Exact same thing happened to me including the year Rome launched the space shuttle

This was my first game at this level and was I not prepared for it. I was surprised I lasted as long as I did with everyone extorting me for what little I had. Miles behind in techs, the most advanced unit i built was a swordsman and the only thing I could use that had any leverage with the other civs was my gems (until the japanese wanted them for nothing as well)

I went south with my scout first finding 6 huts ( 2 empty, 2 techs, 1 warrior, 1 map ) which turned out to be completely useless as the first civ I met (Russians) had the techs I had.

In the end it just turned out to be a matter of survival. I lost 2 cities in a war with Japan (including 1 when I sued for peace) and 3 culture flipped (2 to Persians and 1 to Rome). My capital got cut off from the rest of the my lands due to Russian settlers. I only seen the middle of the world map. I havent a clue what the rest of the world looked like (except for the Romans territory map which I got for my gems late on)

Did I learn anything?

Dunno

 

[Sullla]

TD 4 27: NEVER refuse AI demands on Deity! They will track you down and make you pay; you see how once one declares war on you, they get military alliances with everyone else... and you're toast.

How to avoid demands? Have nothing for them to demand from you: keep gold low, go max science all the way, follow the AIs on tech, and trade wisely. If you have a gems surplus, trade it immediately because they will demand it otherwise. As soon as the 20 turns are up, trade again for more tech.

I'd like to mention that in my game the Germans are sending a large army against either the Romans or English; I've been shadowing them for 30 turns now with my scouts keeping track. By the time they get there, the archers and warriors will be hopelessly out-teched though I am really hoping for all-out AI warfare soon to slow them down a bit.

 

[DaSilva]

What was also strange about my game was that I was able to catch Bismarck and Ceasar placing spies in my capital. Bismarck spy was placed when I was still in depotism.

Dunno what they thought they were gonna learn from me. Maybe they wanted to halt production of my spearman in 1385 which would have been detrimental to all their tanks and modern infantry

 

[cracker]

I'm up to 700 AD and still alive (weak, whimpy, and isolated but still alive).

I would rate this as official Iroquis water torture.

No water, no gold bonus from rivers, no iron, no sputter. (bet there's no coal either if I make it that far, but coal without iron is just a landmark.)

I ended up hitting 12 goody huts total. Its a good time to point out that the random number generator can make these Diety level games severly mismatched particularly when the start position is a severe mismatch for the attributed of the civ. 12 huts yielded 7 maps of friendly no man's land, 4 deserted villages and a 25 cent bucket-o-gold. Lots of work for relatively nothing.

Couldn't get anyone to trade me anything for about 2000 years. They were much more intent on demanding crippling tribute.

Met everyone but egypt, still not sure where cleo is but that is unlikely to effect anything.

In 540 AD, finally got grass in front of my stone hut while 7 russian infantry stood on a mountain nearby and watched my spearman drink salty water to celebrate.

I am trading at every opportunity to stay a float, get about 4 or 5 extra coins per turn by trading my highly advanced world map for 1 coins from each civ. That's all they will give without being insulted. No GA, no GLs, No wonders, No techs, No joy in mudville.

Germany just sent a stack of 8 settlers trooping through my tiny territory with 40 or 50 escorts of various classes from swordsmen and pikes all the way up to longbowmen, knights, and riflemen. Not sure where they were going. They acted like the Borg.

Can't say I'm learning anything other than, the CIV3 game design for Diety level is very much dependent on the RNG. Sometimes you get the bear and sometime the bear gets you. With the designed in factors to give the AI's a 70% cost advantage in every area, its hard to imagine a scenario where more than 1 in 16 or 1 in 32 players would truly enjoy playing in this scenario.

I want to reiterate that total random generation at diety level for the GOTM is inappropriate. Using those settings with a preset civ, only one out of 64 map games will represent a truly enjoyable gaming experience. The start postion and random luck in the first turns dominates the game instead of any reflection of player ability.

 

[wohmongarinf00l]

this map is the worst map i have ever played. i will probably not submit my game in protest but here's the story.

i moved the first scout south. build queue scout/warrior/settler.

i don't build any infrastructure at first at these high levels cos they are useless so i now have 7 cities, it's 1300bc and 15 warriors poised to be upgraded to swordsmen to strike the russians before they get musketmen. i thought i could maybe squeeze some alliances with the germans, persians or romans but what do u know? no iron!

i could have lived with the crappy start position right next to the russians with their prime steppes...with cows, wheats, rivers and beeaaautiful land.....but i cannot live without iron! by the time i hook up the horses my MWs will be useless.

the russians are now building sun tzus, nobody has built the great library and the germans are crawling around planting cities in my tiny little neck of the woods.

without iron, i am toast! i will tell you all how i lost.
my 2 scouts are doing their part to slow things down by pillaging any improvements outside cultural borders. the stack of 10 immortals jumps around wondering what happened.




just for the record, this was the least enjoyable GOTM of them all and the map is really disappointing. oh what a difference some iron makes.

 

[troilus]

Well, to finish. I guess I wasn’t doing so awful, since I had 12 cities, which included the oil, gems, and silks below our peninsula, and the iron to the west (and one city on the peninsula west of that). I think Iwas too busy spreading down to get the land west in time. I was able to get by peacefully for a while, trading everything constantly to a-get stuff with it and not lose it to extortions, and b-keep my neighbors friendly with me (per-turn trades keep things peaceful!). I was around 4 techs from modern when war broke out, and I was able to trigger a GA (my mountie got a cossack!), but four turns into the war the Russians won a space victory (1445 ad). I was actually able to defend successfully against the russians (who knows how long that would have lasted), I think getting to replaceable parts is of key importance—that is worth any mad rush of tech trading. Stretching down to the silks helped with that, a lot.

Well, good luck, all else.

 

[Ronald]

This was my first attempt on deity level:

The good news: I survived
The bad news: I never had the slightest chance to come even close to a win

Everybody else (besides the Germany, they were wiped out by Russia ) was in modern age (How do they do that ) and I was close to research gunpowder when there was a vote at the UN in 1335 AD.

Glorious victory for Russia

I am really curious who will win this GOTM! My highest regards for everyone who comes close.
I am lppking forward to reading success stories and the strategies which worked for this game.

Hopefully we get some easier map next time

Ronald

 

[Ribannah]

Originally posted by Chieftess
And, what's worse? It's only 1700 BC, and the Egyptians JUST COMPLETED the Colossus!!!!!. [/B]

You think THAT is bad? In my game, Berlin completed the PYRAMIDS in 1870 BC! Russia got the ORACLE in 1675 BC.

The good news is that we were allowed to finish the Colossus in 1575 BC, starting the Iroquois Golden Age.

Needless to say that we're still dead last, even in culture although we built temples asap in all our cities.

 

[Pelman]

This is my first game on anything over Regent.
I am at 320 AD.
The Romans are way ahead of anyone(1495). I have an edge on Russia (639-609).
I was able to get the Gems on the Southern region of our continent. The Persians almost got them, but my conscript warrior took out his warrior, and I used my two new workers for bringing in the Gems. I also built a city on the land bridge to protect myself.
I have fought three short wars. The first was against the Persians after I took out their warrior. They sent another settler over and actually established a city, but I managed to destroy it.
I fought the Germans for a short time. I don't remember why, but they asked for peace when I had two units outside their city which is between me and Russia.
I also picked a fight with Russia when Mother Russia built a city to steal my horses! I am not sure why she sued for peace, but she gave me three techs and all her money, and two workers. Wow!...I think.
Now I have iron in one of my cities. I just need to get a harbor built so I can make little swordsmen.
uh. oh.
There are about...8 immortals and a pikeman coming my way.
I guess Xerxes is still furious about those settlers. What a grouch.

 

[Paradõsis]

I ended my game earlier today, and the finish frustrated me a bit. I don't mean how this particular game ended, but just the Civ3 ending in general (I've never lost by space race -- I didn't even know how I had lost until I went out and looked at the hall of fame, all I knew was that it was 1395AD and that I had suffered a humiliating defeat). Oh well, least I survived to the end and broke the thousand point barrier...

 

[Baron LaCroix]

I had a pretty good plan I thought. I got 10 or so huts that worked out to my favor, a few techs (Bronze Working on my first hut! Also got Wheel, Warrior Code, and Polythiesm) and 2 settlers.
I pretty much concentrated on settler production and through trading I was able to stay up technology-wise until about 1000 BC, after that I just saved money and tried to trade. The bottom of the southern penninsula was all mine and the area to the north with the silks on up to starting postion I controlled. I had no wars what-so-ever, no GA either.
I only built Temple, Marketplace, Harbor in my citiesfor the most part. I finished in 5th place, which wasnt bad for me, with a score of 1690. Not bad for my first completed Diety game.
Persia ended up winning after they built the UN in 1130 AD. They aligned themselves with everybody to take on Rome, who was in 2nd place just about the whole game and had what seemed the best area.

 

[Cartouche Bee]

Well my first shot at deity. When I saw the start it reminded me vaguely of the last emperor game we played for GOTM. Since at this level the AI has a big advantage I decided on a plan to 'cherry pick' building sites and explore as much as possible. The plan has paid off so far. It's 360 AD and I just took the lead on points. I have the lead in land area but my lead in power is on paper only cause my military is still from the ancient times and we are just about to go to the industrial era. I have been able to bluff in negotiations but if a real war breaks out I will be in big trouble. If I can win it looks like it will have to be diplomatic or by culture.

Cartouche Bee

 

[TD 4 27]

TD 4 27: NEVER refuse AI demands on Deity! They will track you down and make you pay; you see how once one declares war on you, they get military alliances with everyone else... and you're toast.

I figured it would happen. I knew my chances of survival were slim so I had fun with it. I'm a long way from being able to win a Diety game...I'm finally "graduating" to Regent.

Losing in the GOTM so early lets me get ready for the next tourney game...and play a random game or two in the process.

 

[Chieftess]

Originally posted by DaSilva
Dunno what they thought they were gonna learn from me. Maybe they wanted to halt production of my spearman in 1385 which would have been detrimental to all their tanks and modern infantry

Stranger things have happened - take a look at my sig.

It also seems that if you declare war, your units have a lesser chance of winning than if the enemy declares war. (Conscript riflemen sure are deceiving with 1 HP left...)

 

[Genuis]

The only good thing I've done so far is a huge trade in which I caught up to all of the other civs in tech, only to fall back behind again a few turns later...

Still, spotting the English warrior across the ocean was crucial. I traded contact with all the civs on my continent for some techs and a world map, which I then traded to all of the other civs for even more techs and a bit of gold. In all I think I got around 7-8 techs out of that deal and the ones that followed because of it.

My problem with goody - huts: They are all abandoned!!! Out of more than 10 huts, I got Warrior Code, 1 "surrounding-area" map and the rest were deserted villages. But I don't reload and cheat, so at least I can live with the satisfaction that I played fair.

At around 700 B.C., my empire spans 3 peninsulas with 8 cities. All the other empires are at least 20 cities, but they are having all sorts of wars. I am just trying to remain neutral and cranking settlers to claim as much land as I can. I might try to win by diplomacy on this one, since I probably can't do it by military might. Actually, I've only finished 1 of the previous 6 GOTM, so the chances of me actually winning this one are slim to none.

Well, good luck to all, and have fun. I look forward to seeing how you all did.

 

[Lawrence]

Unbelieveable, I won!!

My first try on Deity turned out to be VICTORY!!

And it is a victory by Space Race, I would never imagine I can keep up with the computers in the modern time even though I had such a luck on Great Library.

Last time I stopped by 310 AD when I got to industrial, but still a small and poor country, I will start here.

Looking around I know that I would never be able to wage another war now. Although I had 15+ MWs which can be upgraded to Cavs 'theoretically', I have neither the money nor saltpeter to upgrade even one of them. When I set science percentage to 0%, I could get only 40 gold per turn(how miserable I am!).

The world is not peaceful, war is a constant threat to everybody. Most wars are fought between a Western(Rome, Japan, England) and an Eastern(Germany, Persia, Egypt) country, as the AI was stupid enough, they always take the land route and walk all the way through my territory. Hence a constant sight in my country was an Egyptian force of 15 units faces a Roman force of 15 units and they just fight beside the Iroquois city Oil Springs! As I didn't have any ROP agreements with any of them, these armies took a really long time to traverse Iroquois land, I guess this slowed down the AIs' steps greatly, and that might be the reason I was able to win.

Back to Salamanca. Before 800 AD I was busy developing my economy and population, the science percentage was always 0% and the money was used to hurry granarys and harbors. The AI distorted several times for money and territory map, they got satisfied, so no one punished me, that was great since my defensive force consisted of only spearmen, I haven't got any Iron or Saltpeter or Nationalism.

At about 800 AD I decided that I have to start to catch up. In the 450 years before the AI didn't developed too many technologies, and during the course England and Egypt was lagged behind. So through some clever trading and diligent researching I was able to make the gap smaller. In late industrial the Germans became the target of mighty Persians and Romans and also falled behind, so I managed to get Atomic Theory, Electronics and Motorized Trans from them, researched Radio I became the fifth to come to the modern age.

The Germans at this time was unable to keep the Persians outside their borders and several German cities were destroyed. Their capital, Berlin, got many good wonders. Namely, Pyramids, Smith, and Bach. Eager to have those, I signed a ROP with the Germans and soon declared war after getting my tanks next to Berlin. Every civ immediately turned 'Gracious' to me in the sight of my 'righteous' invasion to the 'evil' Germany. While I got the real profit from this war when my forces captured Berlin just that turn.

The Germans was soon extinguished along with the poor Russians. Now Persia made a choice that made me win. They started an attack at the Romans! With Japanese and English soon joined the force, Rome didn't even bother to start a vote when they built the UN. Hence I got time to research those Spaceship-related techs. The three most advanced civ(Rome, Persia, Japan) dragged in a World War, they could not match me in research. At last, when their Modern Armors were firing at each other, the Iroquois Ship launched, to their biggest dismay.

 

[dikwhit]

Lawrence... congrats..... its nice to know someone, regardless of skill level won this damn map.Ok lets get my ugly little overview outta the way.lets see where to start.OK i know, the damn AI, Sun tzus... 600 bc thats just wrong.I couldnt keep up w/ the AI in techs, had no assets, or power to throw around therefore, no middle ages til the middle ages 800 ad. The russians felt pity for my little 3rd world nation and as a result hit industrial in 1050.Everyone else was tighter with their techs than a preachers daughter with her...... well you know. I did manage to put about 18 cities on my tiny little peninsula and survive war free ril the 1400's, then the romans (i assume) or the russians(biggest) launched that silly spaceshuttle and left me sucking butt with a whole 8xx points.
Again... to all the victorious... relish it enjoy it and bask in the warm glow of victory, you earned it

 

[Lawrence]

Thanks for the congrats. I am really enjoying this victory.

But I've noticed something strange in my game. I have seen posts in this thread which mentioned 1485, 1395 and other dates. My victory date is at least 200 years later than the latest of those dates. I don't know why the AI was so slow in my game. Maybe they took too long time in traversing my land. Here's a screen shot of my land in 430 AD.

Every time the AI war against each other, they will traverse the purple-colored long isthmus, from the choke point to the blue Germany. That is really slow!!

 

[Iver-P]

My second GOTM.
My first Post to the Forum.

950 AD
About 700 points - Everyone say Wow
Just made a major mistake: I refused to give tribute to Japan. They seemed so far away... But when they declared war, they pulled Five other Civs into war against me!

Had to give away several cities to make peace. Now I only have three cities left. Still need to make peace with Japan.

Not having much fun right now.

Details later.

 

[jimtess]

I have been lucky so far in that Rome and Russia both let me join them in Alliance against England and Germany. Used Rome's railroads to get my 5 Knights to England and take 3 cities. I tried hard to fill in the rest of England as Rome burned everything except Nottingham which was closest to Rome and had Copernicus, but got beat to some and one of them flipped to Japan!

But I needed to catch up in techs so when England was left to 1 city left I took all their techs and hoped they would be killed next turn. Russia got mad at me though. Rome still loves me and I have an expensive MPP with them but I am worried Russia will still attack. They have a ton of MechInf dancing around my border. I am just trying to learn Physics and keep the Russians preoccupied, my hope is that Rome will join an alliance against Egypt or Japan and Russia will join in with us, but this is a fantasy.

I almost actually completed Smiths Trading, the AI didn't seem to want it,until I was 2 turns away.

Iron popped up in Salamanca which was nice but none of the AI needs it.

Peace!