COTM 18 - First Spoiler - Ancient Age, Contacts
- Thread starter Karasu
- Start date
killercane
Deity
I dont think so, there was a thread about it some time ago, maybe by DenyD I think. This would be a good game for such an attempt though.
DaveMcW
Deity
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2002
- Messages
- 6,489
To win a SS medal, you have to sacrifice research speed and play a domination-milking game until launch. The only example I can remember is the GOTM19 Quick Game by Sir Pleb and Aeson. Interesting that it is also the Ottomans.
I'm not sure if that is true. I experimented whether it's better to leave the AI alone for trading or kill then self research, and I found trading is better. I played a tiny cheiftan map (lowest tech costs, but no AI help except from scientfic ones) and I reached the middle ages around 700 BC, and was researching each tech at about 4 turns a piece. In this COTM I reached the MA at 1025 BC with a techrate many times that size.
Genghis069
Chieftain
...and here is where I come back to Earth from my first Emperor XOTM victory.
QSC: 10 towns, 25 pop., missing one contact and 5 required AA techs. ~3100
I make back a little ground when Literature is a monopoly tech. I finally reach MA in 290 BC.
AA stats
--------
19 towns, 54 pop.
10 spearmen, 9 swordsmen, 6 archers, 7 warriors, 6 workers, 1 settler
QSC: 10 towns, 25 pop., missing one contact and 5 required AA techs. ~3100
I make back a little ground when Literature is a monopoly tech. I finally reach MA in 290 BC.
AA stats
--------
19 towns, 54 pop.
10 spearmen, 9 swordsmen, 6 archers, 7 warriors, 6 workers, 1 settler
Twonky
King
I used my template I had posted in the pregame discussion and was hoping for fast expansion. Meeting a chinese warrior in 3200bc gave me a nasty shock: it could have walked right into my undefended capital destroying the Timurids, but -phew- it didn´t.
After mastering Pottery I gambled for a Wheel-monopoly, which I missed by a single turn only.
Even worse, I couldn´t find anybody who could trade me the Alphabet, so I self researched that and went for Philo after getting a monopoly on Writing. Not having CoL, I did the famous Construction-slingshot in 1525bc 
. I reached the MA as the first in 1275bc and drew Monotheism as freebie. Not very helpful for the MilTrad beeline.
I didn´t gift anyone into the next era (because I´m a coward).
The build order for the capital was worker-warrior-granary and settlers (11 until 1275bc). Unfortunately, I discovered the second fp-wheat rather late, so only my fifth town was placed there.
I do know my qsc-results are slightly beyond the limits of this spoiler, but I guess it is not really spoilerish to give them anyway:
17 towns with 36 citizens, 2 settlers, 14 workers and 10 warriors.
I could get the first-tier MA-techs, but am only halfway through researching Republic.
After mastering Pottery I gambled for a Wheel-monopoly, which I missed by a single turn only.
Even worse, I couldn´t find anybody who could trade me the Alphabet, so I self researched that and went for Philo after getting a monopoly on Writing. Not having CoL, I did the famous Construction-slingshot in 1525bc . I reached the MA as the first in 1275bc and drew Monotheism as freebie. Not very helpful for the MilTrad beeline. I didn´t gift anyone into the next era (because I´m a coward).
The build order for the capital was worker-warrior-granary and settlers (11 until 1275bc). Unfortunately, I discovered the second fp-wheat rather late, so only my fifth town was placed there.
I do know my qsc-results are slightly beyond the limits of this spoiler, but I guess it is not really spoilerish to give them anyway:
17 towns with 36 citizens, 2 settlers, 14 workers and 10 warriors.
I could get the first-tier MA-techs, but am only halfway through researching Republic.
C3C 1.22 Open
I am not sure if it is feasible to win 20k game on Deity. However, as I have found nice high productive area on the east from Samarquand, I decided to try it. I did not start 4-turn settler farm and instead I built warrior-worker-settler and begin 8-turn settler and/or 4-turn worker factory. The expansion was slower with this approach, but I have made everything the best for my 20k city. I have contacted Korea quit soon and was able to get Alphabet from them (even when there was just 4 turns remaining). Then I research 100% for Writing and Philosophy to get Literature. I waited a little bit before trading it out to ensure I will build Great Library first. And I did it!! All my early workers helped to increase production rate in 20k city and after it reached the size of 7, few workers joined the city to get to size 10 (not more because of happiness). The Library was build in 3 turns after The Great Library, so I did not pop rush it and started The Hanging Gardens. I have got Currency in 975BC, which took me to the MA. I had 0% on research so earned some money to cash rush. I hope to get the Republic soon to revolt.
The Byzantines were met some time later, but this will fall into 2nd spoiler.
There was no war in Timurids country, but Chinese are preparing invasion to the northwest Russian towns. I am little bit afraid if they really go for Russia and not plan to take some of my cities. Let’s see next time.
Major achievements:
Techs:
3400BC Alphabet (Korea)
2670BC Ceremonial Burial (India)
2670BC Pottery (India)
2630BC Warrior Code (Korea)
2470BC Iron Working (China)
2470BC The Wheel (India)
2110BC Writing (self researched)
1870BC Mysticism (Russia)
1725BC Philosophy (self research)
1725BC Literature (free tech)
1400BC The Code of Laws (Large trades)
1400BC Map Making (Large trades)
1400BC Polytheism (Large trades)
1400BC Mathematics (Large trades)
1400BC Horseback riding (Large trades)
1150BC Monarchy (GLib)
1150BC Construction (GLib)
975BC Currency (GLib)
Cities:
4000BC Samarqand
3050BC Shakrisabz
2590BC Bokhara
2110BC Khiva
1625BC Fergana
1525BC Merv
1275BC Tashkent
1175BC Kabul
1125BC Urgench
110BC Herat
1025BC Kandahar
Contacts:
3000BC Korea
2670BC India
2590BC Russia
2470BC China
1700BC Arabia
1175BC Persia
Wonders:
1175BC The Great Library
QSC statistics:
10 town + 1 city + 1 colony
24 citizens
1 Temple
1 Library
The Great Library wonder
8 workers
5 warriors
My 20k city (Sharkisabz) has 181c and 13cpt
The Hanging Gardens to be finished in 14 turns (if anarchy will not enter during that time)
Currency will be received from GL next turn, I hope for The Republic soon
6 contacts, 3 embassies
1118 gold (+36 gpt)
QSC score: 6581
I am not sure if it is feasible to win 20k game on Deity. However, as I have found nice high productive area on the east from Samarquand, I decided to try it. I did not start 4-turn settler farm and instead I built warrior-worker-settler and begin 8-turn settler and/or 4-turn worker factory. The expansion was slower with this approach, but I have made everything the best for my 20k city. I have contacted Korea quit soon and was able to get Alphabet from them (even when there was just 4 turns remaining). Then I research 100% for Writing and Philosophy to get Literature. I waited a little bit before trading it out to ensure I will build Great Library first. And I did it!! All my early workers helped to increase production rate in 20k city and after it reached the size of 7, few workers joined the city to get to size 10 (not more because of happiness). The Library was build in 3 turns after The Great Library, so I did not pop rush it and started The Hanging Gardens. I have got Currency in 975BC, which took me to the MA. I had 0% on research so earned some money to cash rush. I hope to get the Republic soon to revolt.
The Byzantines were met some time later, but this will fall into 2nd spoiler.
There was no war in Timurids country, but Chinese are preparing invasion to the northwest Russian towns. I am little bit afraid if they really go for Russia and not plan to take some of my cities. Let’s see next time.
Major achievements:
Techs:
3400BC Alphabet (Korea)
2670BC Ceremonial Burial (India)
2670BC Pottery (India)
2630BC Warrior Code (Korea)
2470BC Iron Working (China)
2470BC The Wheel (India)
2110BC Writing (self researched)
1870BC Mysticism (Russia)
1725BC Philosophy (self research)
1725BC Literature (free tech)
1400BC The Code of Laws (Large trades)
1400BC Map Making (Large trades)
1400BC Polytheism (Large trades)
1400BC Mathematics (Large trades)
1400BC Horseback riding (Large trades)
1150BC Monarchy (GLib)
1150BC Construction (GLib)
975BC Currency (GLib)
Cities:
4000BC Samarqand
3050BC Shakrisabz
2590BC Bokhara
2110BC Khiva
1625BC Fergana
1525BC Merv
1275BC Tashkent
1175BC Kabul
1125BC Urgench
110BC Herat
1025BC Kandahar
Contacts:
3000BC Korea
2670BC India
2590BC Russia
2470BC China
1700BC Arabia
1175BC Persia
Wonders:
1175BC The Great Library
QSC statistics:
10 town + 1 city + 1 colony
24 citizens
1 Temple
1 Library
The Great Library wonder
8 workers
5 warriors
My 20k city (Sharkisabz) has 181c and 13cpt
The Hanging Gardens to be finished in 14 turns (if anarchy will not enter during that time)
Currency will be received from GL next turn, I hope for The Republic soon
6 contacts, 3 embassies
1118 gold (+36 gpt)
QSC score: 6581
azzaman333
meh
Genghis069 said:
That is a perfect description of what happened to me. I've picked up some iron, and i'm hoping that i can attack the koreans, who are the 2nd weakest. ATM in my game, China is warring with russia, arabs and india. It makes me very uncomfortable when wave after wave of troops go though my land, or right next to it.
Predator, going for 20K.
I founded my capital 1SE of the start, because the start didn't look very promising for a nice 20K site and i thought that i might need the gold hill for the 20K city. This move came out to be a pure waste as my first warrior found a great 20K spot near the cow.
Build order in the capital was warrior, settler, 6 workers (mixed with several warriors), granary, settlers. Workers improved tiles around 20K and 5 joined the city when it grew to size 7. That way i had production in the 20K maxed-out in 1700BC.
This sacrifice led to horrible QSC stats: only 4 towns (20 citizens total, 12 of them busy building useless stuff
), 1 settler and 3 workers.I researched Alphabet, CB, Mysticism (unfortunately no trade was possible and i had to go these techs to build temple and the Oracle), Writing, Philosophy, Currency (free), Philosophy, started Literature. I entered MA in 900BC by trading polytheism and got Engineering. I didn't gift AI civs to slow them down and break the cascades. Only India entered MA (all other civs avoided polytheism in my game which helped a lot because there was no 500 shield cascades after indians completed ToA).
As i said before I had max production in the 20K city by 1700BC. I built temple, the Oracle, MoM and have more then 200 shields invested into a prebuild. I haven't decided what to do now: i have an opportunity to trade for Monarchy and then i am guaranteed to get HG and the GLib (nobody knows Lit and by gifting i can make sure all AIs follow feudalism->invention->gunpowder path), but this will most likely give me a despotic GA and might delay cash-rushing of lib, cathedral and colosseum. I am also considering building Leo's in another city to help me take over the world later
and to break wonder cascades in the early MA.Obormot,
I thought I performed well to build my 20k city, but you are a lot better!! May be I had to join more workers earlier like you did it. I concentrated too much to expansion and commerce as well and I did not want to move slider more to lux because of adding workers.
I thought I performed well to build my 20k city, but you are a lot better!! May be I had to join more workers earlier like you did it. I concentrated too much to expansion and commerce as well and I did not want to move slider more to lux because of adding workers.
To get a good 20K date you should sacrifuce everything for the 20K city. I had only 2 cities for most of the QSC period to get maximum production ASAP. I was running 40% lux for some time, but later it dropped to 10-20% because wonders provide happy faces. But anyway, i may have a good lead now, but i am in a hole expansion-wise (worst QSC of all players) and this may hurt me later as my research may be slower. Also i may have a lot of trouble and maybe even loose the game by conquest if any of my neighbouis decides to declare war before i find time to build some units.
7Losses
Chieftain
I'm not sure if its the game or just my install but I seem to be having many crashes with this particular COTM. It seems to happen most often when I hit F3 (So many in fact that i've started hitting F1 and selecting the advisor icon on the left).
It was also happening at the start when I tried to contact Arabia.
Is anyone else having any technical troubles with this COTM?
Oh yeah, how are you going with the game GOTM-AI?
I assume that you will get the #1 spot due to all your research and build bonuses
It was also happening at the start when I tried to contact Arabia.
Is anyone else having any technical troubles with this COTM?
Oh yeah, how are you going with the game GOTM-AI?
I assume that you will get the #1 spot due to all your research and build bonuses
I watched GOTM-AI start this and reach MT. Then I though it would be a Sipahi bloodfeast...
but man -is this AI dumb. It's got a beautiful starting position, Deity-level bonuses and arguably the strongest UU...
and I've never seen so many Sipahi butchered by Immortals!
Not sure there is enough time to finish this one, but GOTM-AI should be able to give you at least the AA and MA spoilers -worst case, it will just retire.
but man -is this AI dumb. It's got a beautiful starting position, Deity-level bonuses and arguably the strongest UU...
and I've never seen so many Sipahi butchered by Immortals!
Not sure there is enough time to finish this one, but GOTM-AI should be able to give you at least the AA and MA spoilers -worst case, it will just retire.
azzaman333
meh
As i cant find a better place for this, how should i go about a war i'm planning. I want to attack Korea, and ATM i have an average military compared to them. problem is, my army is made up of swords and maces, while the Koreans might have Muskets. What should i do to attack them, and hopefully gain a bit of territory and experience?
azzaman333
meh
azzaman333 said:
I was conquered shortly after i started the war, so its not much use to me anymore.
Couldn't pass this one up as the Ottomans are one of my favorite civs to play. I did the math for that first city and figured starting with a worker and then granary will beat out settler first at about the 3rd settler build (12 turns) so I went with that. All the while hoping the AI does enough exploring to find me.
I started with Pottery and then on to Philosophy, hoping for a free tech, but as I neared completion I still didn't have anything that would open up a more expensive tech. Getting Construction, Currency, Poly or Monarchy would give me a good bit of trading leverage later in the game. Finally when I had about 3 turns left to research I met someone that needed Writing and was able to trade for Math, opening up the possiblity of getting Currency as my free tech which I ended up going with. Maybe about 1400 BC I noticed that India had Polytheism and Korea Construction, I did some trading to advance to MA and getting Feudalism. I gifted the other science civs into MA and they all got Engineering, which while not as good as it could be doesn't really affect my plans much as I am going straight for Military Tradition.
At 1000 BC I had about 18 cities and was about a fifth of the way researching Invention with minimum science. I plan to prebuild for the Workshop as that will be heavily used for the Sipahi. No new governments yet.
There was one nail biting episode about 1700 BC when a stack of Chinese archers appeared at my borders and proceeded to step into my land an approach my second city. There wasn't much I could do at that point having nothing more than a few warriors and none of them close I just advanced turns hoping for the best. They proceeded to walk past my undefended city and continue through my territory. I was hoping they were just moving to a far away war, and it turned out to be correct. I've since joined China against Russia when they asked, since Russia was the game leader, and I gifted them to MA I figured they could be knocked down a peg or two and help me out. Also an agressive enemy China next door is not a good thing.
I started with Pottery and then on to Philosophy, hoping for a free tech, but as I neared completion I still didn't have anything that would open up a more expensive tech. Getting Construction, Currency, Poly or Monarchy would give me a good bit of trading leverage later in the game. Finally when I had about 3 turns left to research I met someone that needed Writing and was able to trade for Math, opening up the possiblity of getting Currency as my free tech which I ended up going with. Maybe about 1400 BC I noticed that India had Polytheism and Korea Construction, I did some trading to advance to MA and getting Feudalism. I gifted the other science civs into MA and they all got Engineering, which while not as good as it could be doesn't really affect my plans much as I am going straight for Military Tradition.
At 1000 BC I had about 18 cities and was about a fifth of the way researching Invention with minimum science. I plan to prebuild for the Workshop as that will be heavily used for the Sipahi. No new governments yet.
There was one nail biting episode about 1700 BC when a stack of Chinese archers appeared at my borders and proceeded to step into my land an approach my second city. There wasn't much I could do at that point having nothing more than a few warriors and none of them close I just advanced turns hoping for the best. They proceeded to walk past my undefended city and continue through my territory. I was hoping they were just moving to a far away war, and it turned out to be correct. I've since joined China against Russia when they asked, since Russia was the game leader, and I gifted them to MA I figured they could be knocked down a peg or two and help me out. Also an agressive enemy China next door is not a good thing.
Open
Ancient Age
I went for fast expansion with the initial build order: worker, warrior, granary.
The next 2 cities were founded by cow and the 2nd wheat. They built granaries to set up additional settler farms (5 turn SW, 4.5 turn NE).
Contacts
3200 - China
2470 - Korea
2030 - Arabia
1830 - India
1600 - Russia
1525 - Persia
Technology (approx. dates)
3400 - Pottery
2550 - Alphabet
1870 - Trade Korea 11g for Writing (research 1 turn left)
Iron Work (China) and Warrior Code and Ceremonial Burial (Arabia) for Writing
1830 - Mysticism (India) for Writing
1575 - Philosophy, free Literature
Horseback Riding (India) for Philosophy
1200 - Currency
Construction and Polytheism (Arabia), Code of Laws (Russia) for Currency
Get free Feudalism, gift AI into MA, get Mono + Engr
QSC
20 towns
3 settlers
11 workers
12 warriors
3 granaries
4 libraries
9 turns 'til Republic
My towns are fairly spread out since I tried to cover a lot of territory. I'm happy with the expansion, but the distant towns aren't productive. I also probably sacrificed some tech. If I were to replay (after reading other posts), I may have gone for republic instead of currency.
Ancient Age
I went for fast expansion with the initial build order: worker, warrior, granary.
The next 2 cities were founded by cow and the 2nd wheat. They built granaries to set up additional settler farms (5 turn SW, 4.5 turn NE).
Contacts
3200 - China
2470 - Korea
2030 - Arabia
1830 - India
1600 - Russia
1525 - Persia
Technology (approx. dates)
3400 - Pottery
2550 - Alphabet
1870 - Trade Korea 11g for Writing (research 1 turn left)
Iron Work (China) and Warrior Code and Ceremonial Burial (Arabia) for Writing
1830 - Mysticism (India) for Writing
1575 - Philosophy, free Literature
Horseback Riding (India) for Philosophy
1200 - Currency
Construction and Polytheism (Arabia), Code of Laws (Russia) for Currency
Get free Feudalism, gift AI into MA, get Mono + Engr
QSC
20 towns
3 settlers
11 workers
12 warriors
3 granaries
4 libraries
9 turns 'til Republic
My towns are fairly spread out since I tried to cover a lot of territory. I'm happy with the expansion, but the distant towns aren't productive. I also probably sacrificed some tech. If I were to replay (after reading other posts), I may have gone for republic instead of currency.
DJMGator13
Still breathing
I settled in place and built a warrior before starting on a barrack. This was used as a prebuild for a granary. I ignored military units and concentrated on workers and settlers for the rest of the AA, which did not last long. I did not achieve the slingshot but I was the first to Philosophy and received a free tech.
Id give my QSC stats but that occurred in the Middle Ages as I achieved that mark in 1200BC and received Feudalism.
So I end the AA with only 11 cities, 1 settler, 12 workers and 3 warriors. Ive built 2 granaries and 1 library, with a pop of 23.
Heres a look at my city placement.
Id give my QSC stats but that occurred in the Middle Ages
as I achieved that mark in 1200BC and received Feudalism. So I end the AA with only 11 cities, 1 settler, 12 workers and 3 warriors. Ive built 2 granaries and 1 library, with a pop of 23.
Heres a look at my city placement.
Wow! What a fast ride!! Strategies: find AI, get Settler Factory going, expand to desirable terrain, catch up and push Tech research, keep out of war with AI.
Founded the Capital in place, on the Gold Hills. I figured that having NO techs means I needed as much research as I could get, ASAP. Started on Pottery, to build Granary, and get the Settler Factory going. 2 eventual Luxuries and 2 eventual Warrior MPs would mean no Luxury Tax, and I could get a 4,4,5,5 SF with no research penalty. That was later.
Builds: 2 Warriors, 1 Worker (lots of Work to do!), Granary, Settlers. Warriors headed East and West, initially.
Contacts:
Korea first, 3100 BC. No trade possible; my lonely Pottery wasn't worth much.
China next, 2950 BC. Ah, ha! Mao matched Korea's Techs. All of a sudden my Pottery was monopoly status, and gained me Masonry from China, and with 7 Gold, Alphabet from Korea. I was already several turns into researching Alphabet. I chose Math next.
Russia, 1 turn later; 2900 BC. Katherine didn't know Alphabet. Traded Alpha for BronzeWorking and Warrior Code. I was caught up except for the Wheel.
India, 3 turns later in 2750 BC. My first AI knowing Ceremonial Burial! Traded Masonry for CB. Traded CB to China for the Wheel, to Korea for his 27 Gold. Gave CB to Katherine; that pleased her immensely!
Arabia, didn't write down. First AI I was definitely ahead in Techs with. Gave him a Tech to make him polite.
2150 BC. With 2 turns to go, see that Korea has learned Math! Trade him 2 gpt and most of my Gold to get it. With Math I'm able to trade around picking up Mysticism, IronWorking and all of the Gold from the other civs. No One has learned Writing, so I start on it.
Persia, 1830 BC. What great timing! 2 other civs had just learned Writing the turn before, and I had 4 turns left. The GPT cost was too high in my opinion. I find Persia, and he has Writing! AND is missing several other Techs. I trade Persia Myst and Math for Writing, and Korea Writing for HBRiding and some Gold. Tech Even. Decide to (gulp) learn Code of Laws next.
1500 BC. I did learn Code of Laws, uniquely. Only other Techs learned were Map-Making (first), and then Polytheism. I start on Philosophy, needing only 6 more turns!
1350 BC. I learn Philosophy, and get a Free Republic!
Currency and Construction were learned in the interim, and I still have a unique Code-of-Laws. I trade around, entering the MidAges (gaining a free Mono). Russia also got Mono, Korea Engineering and Persia Feudalism. Mono and Rep got Eng from Korea, and Mono, Rep and Eng got Feud from Persia. 
Most of the AI are Polite with me, which is a good start to keeping them off my back. I plan to pick a backwards AI to create a Target, and keep the other AI off my back by using MA's to keep my allies occupied. Probably pursue a fast research game to Diplomacy or Space Ship (preferred). My military is pretty shabby right now, and half of them are out trying to find the Byzantines. That will change in the Middle Ages.
