Civ V Beta 1

[youralex]

217 turn - AD 1535
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Thanks to all I think 1500 is quite beatable. I had only 2 cultural CSs, and was about 10 turns short at the end because of it

View attachment Harun al-Rashid_0217 AD-1535.Civ5Save

View attachment Harun al-Rashid_Initial BC-4000.Civ5Save

Second of all: Cultured CS simply have too much of an impact atm. If you are doing a game with only 2-3 cultured CS there is no way you will be able to break the 1600 barrier.

By the way, I proved it wrong I used GAs instead (6). It's a good approach too.

 

[Ozbenno]

Better date but too many screwup towards the end. I got Freedom and Cristo in the late 1700s but didn't have enough culture to win until 1952. At least I made it a little harder for Ozbenno to beat my date.

I have to actually finish a game first

 

[iggymnrr]

@youralex
Nice game. Deal history is interesting: sold peace treaty to Bismarck ~turn 25, sold OB and Rome's gold ~turn 33, sold incense ~turn 50. Off hand it looks like a beeline to writing, pop mining (at least) from a hut, took out Rome early and stole a worker off Bismarck. Well done.

Edit: SP-wise it looks like, with 1000 GPPs, 4 in freedom and 4 somewhere else like 2 in tradition and 2 in patronage/piety.

 

[pagh80]

217 turn - AD 1535
______________________

Thanks to all I think 1500 is quite beatable. I had only 2 cultural CSs, and was about 10 turns shot at the end because of it

View attachment 268622

View attachment 268623




By the way, I proved it wrong I used GAs instead (6). It's a good approach too.

You sure proved me wrong. impressive.
I still believe with more cultured CSs you would have done even better.

 

[youralex]

@youralex
Nice game. Deal history is interesting: sold peace treaty to Bismarck ~turn 25, sold OB and Rome's gold ~turn 33, sold incense ~turn 50. Off hand it looks like a beeline to writing, pop mining (at least) from a hut, took out Rome early and stole a worker off Bismarck. Well done.

Edit: SP-wise it looks like, with 1000 GPPs, 4 in freedom and 4 somewhere else like 2 in tradition and 2 in patronage/piety.

Yes, actually good healthy financial situation is what differs this try from my other ones, traded and "robbed" AIs as much as I could and tried to build trading posts in puppet cities early. Therefore had about 50 gold per turn in the beggining, 100-150 in the middle and about 250 in the end. It allowed me to buy all buildings in the capitol right after a corresponding tech is available.
Was way too lucky with CSs mini-quests: allied 2 maritime and 1 cultural in the beggining just from capturing one barbarian encampment and then they all just asked for roads and luxuries mainly.

Popped half researched Pottery actually Got to Acoustics somewhere about turn 70, not a good result. Some here got there in 59 and 62

SPs: 2 tradition, 2 freedom, all (6) in patronage.

 

[iggymnrr]

^
It's more impressive than you think. 6 of the 13 puppets didn't come until near the end. I played it out until the end of the last golden age. Beakers soared from 570+ to 900+ and next happiness golden age (reason why I played it out) was at 750 so piety was not used early. If my math is correct only 8 SPs were used up and I can't imagine this setup being done without 2 in tradition, 2 in freedom, and 2 in patronage: 2 more are unknown to me. The GP out is phenomenal which argues for 2 more in freedom especially with not much science coming from CSs at the end. But if 9 SPs were used ... I'm lost.

Edit: I'm wondering if the 33% GP out from Hagia is enough, with puppets building friendly items 2 more SPs in order with FP and a golden age will also add to 8 SPs.

 

[iggymnrr]

Oops. Didn't notice in between post. So my math is way off. 10 SPs.
I've been trying out some writing first starts and can't make up my mind on buying worker and building library. They both take as long but the cash on worker is cheaper. Sometimes the library finishes before the cash is on hand sometimes not.

 

[titanvol]

won in 1919 ad, started alone w/ just 2 city states, one was cultural, settled 2nd coastal city & met rest of world. first ever game attempt learned lot of things as I went so im happy with my modest win

sorry nothing notable to add to the discussion

 

[erajah]

Yes, actually good healthy financial situation is what differs this try from my other ones, traded and "robbed" AIs as much as I could and tried to build trading posts in puppet cities early. Therefore had about 50 gold per turn in the beggining, 100-150 in the middle and about 250 in the end. It allowed me to buy all buildings in the capitol right after a corresponding tech is available.
Was way too lucky with CSs mini-quests: allied 2 maritime and 1 cultural in the beggining just from capturing one barbarian encampment and then they all just asked for roads and luxuries mainly.

Popped half researched Pottery actually Got to Acoustics somewhere about turn 70, not a good result. Some here got there in 59 and 62

SPs: 2 tradition, 2 freedom, all (6) in patronage.

Wow very nice! I'm surprised you managed to get all that culture so quickly. Comparing notes to the game where I'm two turns slower but had 8 cultural CS, I was generating 230 culture at turn 135, and 280 at turn 150 when I finished Hermitage, which I thought was monstrous. I'm wondering if I put too much emphasis on research, and should be popping more GA's than GS's. Did you remember how many GP's (and which type) you popped, as well as when you finished Christ Redentor? I think we both started Utopia Project around the same date (I might've been ahead a turn or two), but your capital is a production monster, and is clearly evident by the sheer number of wonders you have.

 

[Kamino]

2 games played.

Diplo win in the first.
I built UN for the 1 cultural point. As all 15 CS were my allies, I won.

Conquest in the second.
I was looting everything to speed things and I conquered the last capitale by mistake.

Anyway, the endgame is so boring (1' between turns on a Q6600 4Go RAM) that it was hard for me to stay focus.

 

[MrWashington]

Cultural Victory in 2026 (Turn 453) with a score of 1068.

I founded two cities and largely kept to myself diplomatically. I was actually lucky to survive to win because when I won, Russia controlled the majority of my continent and the Iroquois controlled the entire other one.

I do not claim to be a good CiV player, but I have fun and expect to participate in more HOF games.

 

[Haggbart]

1925AD

Founded 3 cities. Took a capital and made it a puppet to get my hand on some extra luxuries. Probably should've taken more cities and made puppets, I had a lot of money most of the time. For once I struggled to find enough cultural city states, but plenty of maritime... Probably could've optimized specialists better in my cities, I simply forgot it. Didn't run artists until late in the game.
I may or may not try one more time.

 

[Drakbak]

1920 AD. A small improvement over my earlier submission. However, through the process, I saw where vast improvements can be made. I didn't have marble, so wonders took way too long to build. I conquered too quickly, so I had major happiness issues through most of the middle part of the game. Ended up needing to blow a ton of culture points before CRedentor just to make things manageable again.

Overall, things really started clicking for me by the end of the game. My next attempt I'm hoping will be much better.

 

[youralex]

Wow very nice! I'm surprised you managed to get all that culture so quickly. Comparing notes to the game where I'm two turns slower but had 8 cultural CS, I was generating 230 culture at turn 135, and 280 at turn 150 when I finished Hermitage, which I thought was monstrous. I'm wondering if I put too much emphasis on research, and should be popping more GA's than GS's. Did you remember how many GP's (and which type) you popped, as well as when you finished Christ Redentor? I think we both started Utopia Project around the same date (I might've been ahead a turn or two), but your capital is a production monster, and is clearly evident by the sheer number of wonders you have.

As I remember all GPs that I got from capital were GAs There was one GS in the beggining rushed by library, one GS from a puppet city, GG and GM from CSs. I had 6 "cultural hexes" near my capital and 2 GAs parked. In fact in this try I intentionally decided to emphasize culture because in previous ones I was always ahead in research but slow in SP points in the end.
I started to culturize hexes near my capital early because I understood that I did't get two much cultural CSs (there were two). Actually I was pretty surprised by the amount of culture I was receiving. I built Hermitage pretty early and had couple of puppet cities with a wonder (three puppet cities brought me 15+ SP points per turn each).
Puppet cities with a wonder I think were a key to success because they get Constitution bonus for culture. So it is good to capture early some puppet cities with a wonder built. I didn't plan this, just turned out good for me I took Moscow and was heading for Saint-Petersburg when it built the Colossus So while I was capturing their capital, Saint-Petersburg was building a wonder... stupid AI

Finished Christ Redentor around turn 197. I didn't have GE so I had to build without it Actually it is not a big deal because I was short on SP points anyway.
Built Utopia in 10 turns.

 

[mikeydlaw]

Managed a win in 1660AD. Probably the best map I have had with 7 cutlural CS's. Only 4 maratimes though, 2 of which I only found near the end of the game.

The CS's were all over the place, 6 were on separate islands to the two main continents and 1 I never found. I tried to find it after I had won the game but was taking too long between turns. Could have possibly been an 8th cultural CS. Caravels would have come in handy, pity militaristic CS's don't gift ships, at least I have never received one.

My capital wasn't really the production power house that is needed to do a really impressive time, it took 15 turns to build Utopia and prior to getting Hydro production wasn't great. Also due to where the AI placed it's cities most of my cities were not connected via trade routes till the very end so cash flow was not as good as I would have liked.

I also built Pyramids which I notice most people don't build from reading this thread, and did the CS slingshot as my captial had no food but a lof of river tiles. Also due to only being able to ally with two Maratime CS's early on meant my captial was a bit slow to grow while running my scientist specialists.

I had a perfect start taking the Egyptian and Persian captials about as fast as was possible then a Military CS. All three cities were within about 10 hexs to my captial. I also still had the Germans and Romans to trade with however they both went to war with me just as I started training my horseman. I was pretty much "warring" the whole game, seems like the best tactic.

This will probably be my last attempt unless I can find a really good start. Marble, lots of hills (14+), lots of river tiles, and lots of food. Wouldn't mind trying a coastal start as well.

 

[Ozbenno]

I have finally finished my first game of civ v!!!

1901 finish which puts me ahead of Denniz, just have to see how Methos does!!

Had CR built in mid 1700s but only had enough culture to finish 3 trees. I never actually discovered any cultural CSs, 3 maritime and 1 military were all I found.

May try this again...

Will attach saves Monday

 

[Drakbak]

third attempt yielded a better time for me. 1876 AD, turn 308. Did a lot of things better than last time, but still a lot to improve on.

 

[Yannarosh]

Ok here is my first gauntlet participation ever. Have to say good job on all the posters here. Reading your posts was really helpful.

First game I went with a 2 city approach and scored 1680 (sadly I didnt have very good research strategy and made lots of blunders)

Then trying with 1 city and more solid strategy I managed to score a 1620 victory at turn 234.

Even though my capital seemed very nice at first (3 river sugars, 2 river wheats, marble, coastal) I later realised that it wasnt that good at all because it lacked production, had no horses and many desert tiles. That also made me go aristocracy first and then patronage. I have to admit though that I was able to buy everything in my city pretty fast and make lots of deals with other AIs.

My map had 5 cultured CS if I'm not mistaken, 1 got conquered early by an AI in the other continent and I liberated near the end. I was generally very unlucky with CS and didn't get any logical quest (connect a road, connect a luxury) during the whole game. Only got 2 quests to kill barb camps if I 'm not mistaken.

I followed what seems to be the optimal research path (beeline Acoustics->Horses->beeline Astronomy->Biology) with the help of many great scientists which I had constantly produced. I stopped great scientist production when I produced my great scientist that would unlock Telegraph-Radio and I think that was a mistake because I never actually got to Solar Plant.

Also, I managed my golden ages as well as I could. Did everything possible to hit the first one after Chichen Itza (selling, even pillaging my luxuries), then after hitting the 2nd from happy faces, which came pretty fast, I was in a golden age the entire game.

I tried to avoid doing cheesy deals with the AIs like giving GPT for a big sum and then attacking, or the research agreement thingy for 2 reasons. Firstly I simply dont like that kind of deals and secondly I feared it would make the remaining AIs on the other continent, which held 3-4 luxuries I couldnt access otherwise, not willing to make deals with me.



What really seems to be the key in getting a <1600 victory is rolling a semi-big continent with close AI spawns that enables you to go puppet AIs at turns ~30-40 (a lucky scout->archer ruin seems like a huge boost in that direction). If you roll a huge continent like I did with AIs very far from you and each other and do the more feasible ~100 turn conquering with 3-4 horsemen you are pretty much playing behind the whole game. The reason is -apart from missing the research contribution- that the time you puppet the last AIs on your continent coincides with the time the lower research path unlocks on your way to Telegraph-Radio. From then on the puppets start building worthless buildings with a build order like monument->colloseum (rarely temple)->baracks->armory->military academy etc.

I feel like giving it another shot since I believe I can do a bit better but the thought of having to roll a map with so many little key things really puts me off. I think I ll go try the 2nd challenge instead

here are the saves

 

[DrakenKin]

The reason is -apart from missing the research contribution- that the time you puppet the last AIs on your continent coincides with the time the lower research path unlocks on your way to Telegraph-Radio. From then on the puppets start building worthless buildings with a build order like monument->colloseum (rarely temple)->baracks->armory->military academy etc.

Good observation.

But I am more interested in the details behind your 1680 game with 2 cities. I didn't think you could finish in the 1600s with more than 1 city at all.

 

[Yannarosh]

Unfortunately I don't have the save (I knew I could do better when it ended and wanted to put a good time on the forums here) but I can tell you a few things I remember from that game.

The 2nd city spot was absolutely godlike with something like 4-5 gems or gold on hills, marble, horses (which was important because my capital didnt have horses), some river and mountain close (build Machu Pichu and Observatory). The city was a gold machine and had very good production but not enough food. Eventually I started sharing wonders between that city and my capital and thought it worked quite well eventhough the 2nd city had like 9 population at the end of the game it built them pretty fast. The conquest starts at the same point around turn 90-100 because I built 1 horseman from each city and then bought 2.

I can tell you for sure that with 2 cities 1600s are feasible cause I played very bad and did 1680. And frankly I'm not a very good player. Lost some turns due to hesitation (should I build the 2nd city or not), let a barb archer pillage most of my capital tiles before city bombardment killed him around turn 50-60 (which was hilarious btw), I forgot to use GS for Biology for some turns, micromanaged city tiles poorly, wasn't putting people in the buildings to produce GS, didnt get aluminium in my continent and many more little things that characterize a first try and probably cost 10-20 turns or more by the end The strategy though remains pretty much the same. You might encounter some happiness problems if you delay Forbiden Palace for too long and you might never see a 2nd happy face golden age. At least thats what happened to me.

There has to be some critical point where an uber 2nd city offsets the culture penalty. But it must be very difficult to determine. Even though a statistician myself I hate theorycrafting in games

Maybe the people that did the really good <1600 dates and set the strategies down with one city can give it a go with 2 cities.

Hope I helped.