Civ4 GOTM51 First Spoiler - 1AD

[jesusin]

GOTM 51 First Spoiler

Reading Requirements

Stop! If you are participating in GOTM 51, then you MUST NOT read this thread unless EITHER

• You have reached at least 1 AD in your game, OR
• You have submitted your entry

Posting Restrictions

• Please do not disclose ANY events or information gained post 1 AD.
• Please do not reveal your final result if that happened after 1 AD.
• Please do not discuss the location of resources that may not show up before 1 AD (Iron is alright to discuss).

What victory condition are you after?
What was your plan?
Did everything go as expected?

 

[neilmeister]

Goal: Fastest diplo win
Plan: Tech like crazy with all those cottaged FP, the AI will not keep up for long at this difficulty.
Result: Trundling along nicely. Oracled CS in 450BC, built GL 370BC. 6 cities at 1ad.

 

[Dimy]

GOTM51 - Contender Save

My first GOTM since a very long time... good to be back

I settled one south from the starting location, not playing the religion game my first research priorities were Agriculture (Farm on the Corn) and Pottery to spam cottages on the flood plains. After that I went for Archery for defense and beelined for Iron Working followed by beeline to Code of Laws.

I didn't try to get any of the early wonders, but instead focused on building infrastructure with workers, expanding and building a little army of 3 swordfighters and an Axeman. After I explored the continent and meeting with our friends Monty, Hatty and Toku I figured Monty was too close for comfort and had to go first.

He had three cities when I declared on him in 940 BC, but with maintenance costs and poorly chosen locations in mind I decided to keep only the capital. I razed his two cities and then with a little luck I took his capital in 445 BC. One down, two to go! (on the starting island at least...)

Here's a part of my map in 445 BC:

In yellow are my actual established (and the captured Tenochtitlan) cities, in green are my planned future city sites and in RED are Hatty's cities.

As you can see Hatty was already getting on my nerves by putting a city on MY LAND! I also found she put another city up north from there a little later after this screenshot was taken.

I build a few more Swordman and together with my Veteran units from the Monty war I declared war on Hatty in 250 BC. The initial goal was to slow her down, not to completely annihiliate her... although the latter would be inevitable because I secretly decided I want the whole continent for myself.... but I'll need patience.

I've built a city on the western spot that crossed borders with Hatty's city just before I declared on her.

The war went well, I razed two of her cities just before 1AD and had my army ready to raze a third city (the one on the north coast).

What happened next is for the final spoiler

 

[adrianj]

GOTM51 - Contender Save

Lately I've been working on my military skills. So my aim for this game is a fast domination.

*** Session 1: 4000 BC -> 2230 BC ***

Scout moves 2NE to check on what I miss by moving the settler 2E - just floodplains up there, so I move the settler. I don't seem to gain resources, but I still have the corn at least, and some more hills.

First build is a worker, first tech is Agriculture.

Monty finds me in 3460 BC - I'm researching BW second, considering a rush. Copper is nice and close by, so definitely - Monty is doomed. Builds go Warrior -> Barracks (until size 4) -> worker (whipped) -> warrior -> barracks -> settler (whipped) -> axes.

I also meet Tokugawa down the southwest. He is even more annoying than Monty, and has nice green land.

St Petersburg is founded up the river 2S1E of the sheep in 2230 BC.

*** Session 2: 2230 BC -> 825 BC ***

Novgorod is founded in 1540 BC towards the west, claiming sheep, wine and horses. With these 3 cities I'll now move into axe production mode.

Techs through this period have gone AH -> Pottery -> Writing -> Alpha (1210 BC). Maybe I can get CS from the Oracle...

Monty even founds Judaism for me

I pick up Priesthood, and hope I can get the Oracle, despite the late start (1000 BC)...

I declare on Monty with 5 axes towards his holy city in 925 BC. It is mine 1 turn later. The Oracle is also mine, in 865 BC, taking Metal Casting.

*** Session 3: 825 BC -> 445 BC ***

I take peace with Monty in return for Polytheism. I'll come back with even more axes in 10 turns. Monty is dead in 445 BC.

Meanwhile I've settled another city to claim the stone in the northeast - which I've gifted to Hatty. I'm hoping she'll build the Pyramids for me.

*** Session 4: 445 BC -> 1 AD ***

With the demise of Monty, I'm left building my economy. I'm probably going to need Astronomy at least.

Unfortunately, Hatty failed to build the Pyramids for me, as they are built far away in 205 BC. Teching has been towards Civil Service, learnt in 175 BC.

Come 1 AD I'm 2 turns from learning Currency, having revolted to Bureaucracy, Hereditary Rule and Org. Rel. (Mono+Monarchy traded from Hatty). Hatty is friendly with me, so I'm planning on boosting her up quite big to tech for me. My targets at this stage are 1: Get to optics to find the other continent, 2: beeline Military Tradition and get Cossacks, 3: claim my own continent 4: tech Astro and claim the other continent. I'll probably take out Toku earlier than cossacks, we'll see.

 

[Mitchum]

Meanwhile I've settled another city to claim the stone in the northeast - which I've gifted to Hatty. I'm hoping she'll build the Pyramids for me.

Hmmm... Interesting strategy, but the stone won't help her if it's not connected to her capital, no?

 

[Mitchum]

GOTM 51 - Contender Save

I started this game with the tentative plan of:

1. Civil Service Slingshot
2. Build the Pryamids if we have stone
3. Eliminate all AI from "My" continent
4. Learn Optics early to meet the other continent
5. Beeline Astronomy and win via one of the military victory conditions

My tech path went Agriculture (for corn), Pottery (to cottage the flood plains), Mysticism, Bronze Working, Polytheism (founded Hinduism in 2410 BC ), Fishing, Writing, Priesthood, Masonry (for marble and stone), Code of Laws, Civil Service (from Oracle in in 985 BC).

My second and third cities were founded by the marble (for Oracle) and stone (for the Pyramids). I completed the Pyramids in 370 BC and switched to Representation right away to increase my happiness limit.

Rather than doing an axe rush, I was focused more on wonder building early on. However, I did manage to steal 2 or 3 workers from all of the civs on our continent, so I never had to build more than the initial worker.

By 1 AD, I've learned Machinery and my macemen are dominating the archers and warriors defending the AI cities. I plan to own our continent by the time I have Astronomy. I've also learned Optics and have 1 caravel heading east and another one heading west in search of the other continent and the circumnavigation bonus.

 

[adrianj]

Hmmm... Interesting strategy, but the stone won't help her if it's not connected to her capital, no?

Provided the stone is connected to my capital, and I have a trade route to Hatty, it is then connected to her capital when I gift it.

As you've shown, the best way to guarantee owning the pyramids is to build them yourself, but I guess the question always comes up "at what cost?".

My thinking was that I could better invest into expansion, peacefully at first (settlers/workers) and then later through Monty and Toku (military) and if Hatty built the Pyramids for me then I would get them anyway. Alas it wasn't to be.

 

[Mitchum]

Provided the stone is connected to my capital, and I have a trade route to Hatty, it is then connected to her capital when I gift it.

Agreed. I didn't have trade routes with the AI at 500 BC and assumed that you didn't either. You know what they say when you assume...

 

[Cactus Pete]

Agreed. I didn't have trade routes with the AI at 500 BC and assumed that you didn't either. You know what they say when you assume...

Don't believe the stone could have been gifted without a trade route.

Did you steal 2 or 3 workers from each civ by getting cease fires and then lying in wait for another worker to be sent to the same resource?

 

[overagg]

Meanwhile I've settled another city to claim the stone in the northeast - which I've gifted to Hatty. I'm hoping she'll build the Pyramids for me.
.

It will also help her build walls for you.

 

[Mitchum]

Don't believe the stone could have been gifted without a trade route.

The way I read the post, Adrianj gifted Hatty the whole city, not just the stone...

Did you steal 2 or 3 workers from each civ by getting cease fires and then lying in wait for another worker to be sent to the same resource?

Yes. I played the game over a week ago, but I do recall posting an axe outside of Hatty's capital near the horses. I captured 3 workers from her that way. It usually took more than 10 turns for her to build another worker, so I could have signed a peace treaty, but I did in fact sign multiple cease fires to keep my options open. I did the same thing with Toku and Monty as well.

Looking back at the game, I should have just focused on eliminating the AI on my continent quickly rather than playing cat and mouse for so many turns...

 

[adrianj]

The way I read the post, Adrianj gifted Hatty the whole city, not just the stone...

No, it was definitely just the stone, not the whole city.
Hatty building walls is a minor annoyance - it's not like she wouldn't build them anyway with or without the stone.

 

[overagg]

4000 BC - Founded 001 in place; Research: Agriculture, Bronze, Mysticism, Polytheism
3430 BC - Met Montezuma
2980 BC - Met Tokugawa
2650 BC - Met Hatsheput
2530 BC - Founded Hinduism in 001; Research: Archery, Animal Husbandry, Pottery, Masonry, Monotheism
2380 BC - Settled 002
1990 BC - Settled 003
1390 BC - Founded Judaism in 003; Research: Fishing, Writing, Monarchy, Iron Working, Meditation, Priesthood, Code of Laws
1270 BC - Settled 004
1090 BC - Adopt Hinduism
1060 BC - Adopt Organized Religion; Settled 005
910 BC - Open Borders w/ Hatsheput
475 BC - Confucianism founded 004; Research: Civil Service
415 BC - Reached half a million population; Hatsheput converts to Hinduism
400 BC - Settled 006
310 BC - Start construction of Pyramids in 001
295 BC - Stonehenge completed in 002; Tokugawa converts to Judaism
190 BC - Adopt Bureaucracy; Research: Sailing, Metal Casting, Horseback Riding, Alphabet, Literature
175 BC - Settled 007
160 BC - Montezuma converts to Confucianism
40 BC - One million population

As of 1 AD, no wars yet but Montezuma will declare war on someone sooner or later - anticipate either Egypt or Amazon. Amazon will need more space to expand, so Aztec might be at war soon regardless. Egypt is Friendly with Amazon so that might be a two front war for Aztec. Our 8th city will be founded very shortly as 004 has almost finished its Settler. 001 has almost finished the Pyramids. We have been concentrating on spreading out, an army focused on defense only and research. We have Horses and Iron, and a nice science jump ahead toward Guilds. A few knights should make short work of Aztec and perhaps move on to Tokugawa. There are no plans to bother friendly Egypt, but we will expect help in the wars for that friendship to continue.

 

[toller pretzl]

Contender, goal : fast cultural victory.

By 1 AD I had :
Built Legendary One in place. Built Marble City, Stone City.
Built Oracle (for CS), Stonehenge (for the heck), Pyramids, Parthenon, Hanging Gardens.
Founded Hinduism, Judaism, Confucianism, Christianity, Taoism.
Took the Great Artist from Music.
Took one city from Monty, razed another.

Now poised to attack Hatty, to get her capital (soon to be known as Legendary Two).

 

[Htadus]

? Me too.

Settled on PH 2 east. Learned aggriculture, Pottary, BW, Mystisism, Poly, Priesthood and writing. Built a worker first and then several warriors, worker and a settler to claim the Marble, copper and fish site to the south.

Built the Oracle in the second city and got CS. City 3 was near Aztec's with 4 FP's and sheep, City 4 was in the west to claim 2 wine and horses, and City 5 claimed stone hoping to get the Pyramids but that plan did not work. Capital did build the GLib and NE (Bad decision in the form of GA's with 80% GS probability) and run 2 Scientist for a while and has a late academy. Paper was available for a GS to bulb instead of Astro. Hummm Need to look at the GPeople preferance sheet again. I am guessing CS sling back fired.

I had a caraval heading west early but ended up finding a tundra land for a long time before finding others. Yes there are other AI out there. I am pretty sure I did not spoil anything with that statement.

Plan was to advance with 6 or seven cities and let AI build Cities for me but when Monti built the Mids around last century BC, I started assembling my cats and Maces. By 500 AD cutoff Monti is gone and Hatti had one city left with nearly dead archer. I razed one city of each for poor placement. 31 turns of slow warring mainly due to lack of roads.

Astro is almost done (Stupid Great Artist ) Cottages rule with Financial.

The plan is to do something like a Domination, Conquest or a very fast Diplo via near domination. Therefore the lushes land in the new world will be brought under Russian/Amazon rule. (Amazons were not rulers BTW)

So the plan is to go for Conquest if it can be done before mid 13th century, or domination by late 13th to mid 14th century, or UN. i think there is some sort of synergy here

I will play as if I am going for UN after Astro and Guilds. If the AI in my continenet is any indication then cats and Maces can handle the land accuisition.

 

[Htadus]

Contender, goal : fast cultural victory.

Now poised to attack Hatty, to get her capital (soon to be known as Legendary Two).

Do you think it is a good culture city? There are better culture sites than that near to the capital with about 6 FP's (and another bit farther with valubles you must have seen) with good cottagable land. Good luck.

 

[toller pretzl]

Do you think it is a good culture city?

Lots of food, lots of hammers. Admittedly bad cottage potential.

There are better culture sites than that near to the capital with about 6 FP's

That's interesting, I missed that. I'll have to check that out, maybe I dropped the ball on that one.

(and another bit farther with valubles you must have seen) with good cottagable land. Good luck.

Hmmm... do you mean the Japanese capital ?

 

[Jbourne]

That's interesting, I missed that. I'll have to check that out, maybe I dropped the ball on that one.

I did not see a 6 FP site but there was a 5 fp near the wine.

Hmmm... do you mean the Japanese capital ?

I bet it was the site with 2 gems and riverside grasslands with many hills also. But I do not remember seeing any food around that site. Japanese capital was good but had too many coastal tiles.

 

[toller pretzl]

Well, there was also a 5fp plus sheep site on the other side of the capital. Maybe settling those 2 sites early on as Legendaries 2 & 3 is optimal ?

 

[Htadus]

I did not see a 6 FP site but there was a 5 fp near the wine.

I bet it was the site with 2 gems and riverside grasslands with many hills also. But I do not remember seeing any food around that site. Japanese capital was good but had too many coastal tiles.

Lots of food, lots of hammers. Admittedly bad cottage potential.

That's interesting, I missed that. I'll have to check that out, maybe I dropped the ball on that one.

Hmmm... do you mean the Japanese capital ?

I may have been wrong about the number of fp's. But the Japanese city I am refering (at least in my game) had 2 gem hills, 1 dye, a 4 food callender resource, 2-3 riveside plains and the rest were grass land. Also another grassland gem.