Community Challange, Denmark, Epic-Immortal

[Der_Zorn_gottes]

For what it's worth, I had no problems with the save and full VP suite.

(This is the description of the second playthrough - I abandoned the first one after I got literally lost in the woods).

I tried my regular three archer rush on the nearest neighbour, but neither the gamespeed nor the terrain (wooded and hilly) were favourable for this aproach. In the end I ended in a long war of attrition against China (and often Japan, too). Still, this is not the worst thing for a Authiroty civ. Once I got catapults, I could finally take Bejing. Japan could then do only little against my elite forces. At this time, I had Jelling stones and Berserkers. The rest of the game was only logistics.
Looking back, I think the most efficient way for this map is to found two cities, beeline towards Berserkers and go to town.

Conquests:

Bejing - 210
Kyoto - 243
Venice - 273
Attilas Court - 315
Moson Kahni - 333
Vienna, Moskow - 346
Berlin - 351
Rome - 358

Policies:
Autorothy - 6
Progress - 6
Exploration - 6
Rationalism - 2 (I filled 3 trees before industrial, so I could not open a Ideology, he!)
Autocracy - 5

Religion:
God of War
Hero Worship
Scholarship
Pagodas
Thites
Crusader spirt
I was drowning in faith. I lost track how many prophets spawned. In the end I counted 9 sites, plus the two for founding and enhancing makes at least 11.

 

[Valvts]

avl8 Make sure you download the 30/9 version from the appropriate 30/9 forum thread, last time I check the sticky page didnt update to this version, so this may be the problem.

Der_Zor Well played! We had similar gameplay and city placement, I am too dominating.

It seems like this game the AI wasnt that strong, as no one of them really pick up a pace as it usually happens. Also it didnt rush wonders!

 

[Zares]

I was doing well in the game from this save.

Japan declared a war at me very early, we still had warriors and archers. I had a spearman from ruins so I captured city that they founded very close to me (on the coast, right of my capitol), then the second city was captured after long battles between the city that I captured first and the second one, where I was going to capture. They had 4-5 archer units standing deep in forest, on hills, far from the coast. It was a bit challenging to take them down (and unlucky, I left them with 1 hp 4 times).
In the meantime China declared war at Japan.

After I captured the second city, China and Japan made peace and China declared war at me (I was wondering why, they were friendly to me, we fought with the same enemy, we denounced Japan, we were trade partners, etc.). Then I made 2 dromons and trireme and captured their capitol very easly. In the same time I captured 1 Chinese city (settled close to my city on the island, left of my capitol) and then second one (settled north of my city on island) with ships.

I think, if they don't offer me a nice peace offer, I'll have all continent for me, when I have Berserkers.

Mongols are terrifying me, they have 25 techs, while me, Japan and China have about 12-15.

But I'm not sure, if I end this game. I think I need a long break in playing Civ

Generally the slower the gamepace the easier the game gets. For example back in vanilla People didn't count marathon deity wins as deity wins. The slower gamepace gives more value to unitcontrol which the AI have always been lacking in.

I don't agree. On standard/quick I was always able to build army super fast, so the enemy fails with his attack. It somewhat bored me in MP, so I rarely play with my buddies, because they don't want to play anything slower than standard. In the most cases it was like this: army is coming to me, 10-30 turns to prepare (depends on distances), I have about 6 cities, most of them produce units in 1-2 turns, so I can produce enough to defend the enemy's attack (and I can still buy units [better would be some kind of system like in JFD's CiD, where you have to gain slaves by clearing encampments, killing civilians, etc., then buy units by paying with slaves, then these slaves are weaker - 50% hp and slower XP. Or at least make hurry production to units instead of instant buying])
On epic speed is different - it rewards for thinking and punishes for errors. Because there is less/no this 1 turn to produce anything.

And generally according wars in SP - IMO AIs should get some unique promotions (like f.e. increased strength while defending [because AI likes to attack units even if they are fortified...and can't rush without loosing most of hp and then retreat]) and free siege units with 3/3 movement, when they are preparing for "sneak attack".

And I think there are too many strategic resources, especially horses, even on sparse setting. I know that this is not good place to talk about this, but there are so many horses, that it often comes to knight wars and with human thinking vs stupid AI it's very easy to flank them and execute. And in vanilla there isn't any counter to knights, in VP there is tercio, but comes later than knight.

There are so many things that I hate in Civ, that I'm gradually loosing hope in Firaxis, Civ VI and next ones. Only VP team and other modders has kept me in playing Civ 1600 hours (without them I think I'd quit after about 200). But still, even modders can't fix all Firaxis stupid ideas and bugs. I really wanna have hope that Civ VI will be better and modders will only polish and add some things instead of making big overhaul.

 

[avl8]

avl8 Make sure you download the 30/9 version from the appropriate 30/9 forum thread, last time I check the sticky page didnt update to this version, so this may be the problem.

Thanks!

I downloaded fresh version 30/9 before downloading the save. I have every DLC for Civ 5.

Before loading the save ingame I check required mods for it. It says : we need first 5 mods from VP suite, not required are overhaul balance module for EU (6), community events module (7).

If I load the savegame from single player menu, Its just crashes the game.
If I load the savegame from Mods menu, the whole VP suite on its just crashes the game.
And If I load the savegame from Mods menu turning off (6) and (7) mods from VP, it starts the game. But I have default diplomacy screens, extra happiness, no happiness in city-screen, some tooltips are broken, etc etc.

 

[Galbias]

Doing this meant veering from my usual Wonder path -- all I have is Stonehenge. For my enhanced religion, I have Council of Elders paired with Inspiration (science+culture), followed by Sainthood (same) and Cooperation (even more of the same). These aren't the most obvious choices for fighting, but they'll keep me current throughout the game. Besides...

in my recent experience, Stonehenge is about the only Wonder you can consistently get on Immortal. Though occasionally the AI will let one slip through the cracks and you can grab it (actually had this happen with LToP once)

 

[Valvts]

avl8 Here is my Mods folder, version 30/9. Also make sure you clear the cache

Galbias Stupidly enough, in this game, I managed to grab tremendous amount of Wonders. I think Pyramid and Great Library is much possible if you rush the techs, use quick buy, and drink luck tea!

 

[avl8]

avl8 Here is my Mods folder, version 30/9. Also make sure you clear the cache

Nice, I have these plus (7) Community Events. I also delete previous version of the Mod AND cache as its mentioned in the PDF VP installation guide.
Can you please check what mods are required to play this challenge initial save file?

For me its just mods 1-5

 

[Valvts]

I used these 6 when created the save, never touched it afterwards. Just the regular VP+EUI installation!
Make sure you put the save at ModedSaves/single.

 

[vyyt]

For me its just mods 1-5

Aren't you subscribed to the Civ4 Diplo mod, More Luxuries or anything using the Whowards Various DLL Components on Steam? If yes, unsubscribe (you can favorite the mods, so that you find them again later). Then delete everything on the MODs folder, clear cache and ModUserData and then reinstall VP from the autoinstaller.

What you are describing is sometimes happening when you have an older version of a mod with same ID somewhere in the MODs folder or in cache.

 

[avl8]

Aren't you subscribed to the Civ4 Diplo mod, More Luxuries or anything using the Whowards Various DLL Components on Steam? If yes, unsubscribe (you can favorite the mods, so that you find them again later). Then delete everything on the MODs folder, clear cache and ModUserData and then reinstall VP from the autoinstaller.

What you are describing is sometimes happening when you have an older version of a mod with same ID somewhere in the MODs folder or in cache.

Thanks!

Ive checked my mods, have no mods with the same name or older version. I also delete MOD folder everytime I install VP new version.
I also havent installed civ 4 on my PC.
Ive put OP's savegame into Modded single game directory.

When OP made a savegame he used 6 out of 7 VP mods. Somehow I see only 5 out of 7 when I load the save.
Thats the puzzle. Probably on my side... Don't know how to solve it...

 

[IcyAngel]

I think exotic options like Raging Barbarians should be left off in challenges. It strongly handicaps all but a single playstyle (Authority, big early game army for infinite science + culture from barbs, early conquering...).

 

[Txurce]

I think exotic options like Raging Barbarians should be left off in challenges. It strongly handicaps all but a single playstyle (Authority, big early game army for infinite science + culture from barbs, early conquering...).

I hear you, but don't think it applies so much to a game with Denmark.

 

[avl8]

Turn on barbarians and you get less challenge than turning it off.

Also by playing Denmark you reduce amount of challenge by alot. Its just an easy mode civ with simple and narrow tactics.
For example, winning with China or Portugal is way more challenging than "get Stones, get Zerkers, go conquer the world".

 

[Valvts]

I agree this game happened to be quite easy. I actually didnt think Denmark were that good.
I might open another challenge with the newer version.
On Deity though, with non-combat civ.
Interested?