COTM11 Pre-game discussion

[Jason Fliegel]

i just want to bring this topic up again since no one answered it yet due to its insignificance. but i am quite worried about it.

To get Construction, you have to sidetrack through Mathematics and Iron Working -- add in the fact that you've got to research Ceremonial Burial (assuming you're going for a 20K victory), and I'm not sure how likely a successful Philosophy slingshot to Construction would be. I'm banking on having enough contacts to be able to trade for Construction. But even if I have to research it myself, Construction will definitely be a priority.

 

[Abegweit]

i just want to bring this topic up again since no one answered it yet due to its insignificance. but i am quite worried about it.

I kinda answered that question in post 75.

If I were going for [20k], I would move the worker to the mountain and then decide whether the capital goes nne and the wonder town se or vice-versa. From what I see here, capital to the north seems better unless we spot something good. Water maybe? Research order: CB-Writing-CoL-Philo-Republic-Literature. Then you have a decision. Do you research the right side of the tree for happy wonders or the left for aqueducts? Depends partly on how useful the AI has been, I suppose.

By this time, the AI should have researched Masonry, Iron Working and Mysticism for you. If you are lucky, Math will be out there too. It's probably too much to hope for Construction or Polytheism from a Regent AI so you will have to get them yourself. But you should be in your GA by this time, so it shouldn't be too great a problem to do it. The build order is probably: Temple-Colossus-Great Library-Library-Aqueduct. I think you could squeeze another wonder in after the Colossus, either the Pyramids (a great choice for a pangea) or the Oracle (cheaper).

An alternate plan, which is especially attractive if the the AI has been decent enough to learn Math by the time you know Philosophy, would be to research Construction before Literature. So the build order becomes Temple-Colossus-Some Wonder-Aqueduct-Library. Then you can really pump out Wonders during your GA Don't neglect the possibility of building MoM either, especially if it times well (coming in just after your revolt). If you do (and you have enough money), both the Aqueduct and Library can be cash-rushed.

 

[Karasu]

More entrails. Shall I go open??

Noooo....

Lord, please give me strength to resist the temptation.

Well, no. I mean, no AI Pikes for predator.
And, as far as I can remember, the cow is sitting on a BG.

But you'll be able to check it all very soon

 

[Abegweit]

No pikes either? You keep stompin' on all my paranoid theories.

I am really looking forward to seeing it. Hope Alan gets it out by midnight UK time. That means a good evening of civ for all us EST denizens.

 

[Karasu]

No pikes either? You keep stompin' on all my paranoid theories.

no, no pikes to fuel your paranoid theories... it's Mech Infantries, in fact

 

[eldar]

Hmm, COTM9 was released at 3.30am GMT on Feb 1st !!

 

[AlanH]

Your point being? ...... I work programmers' hours

 

[eldar]

I work normal office hours. I play Civ on programmers' hours.....

 

[A'AbarachAmadan]

Well, assuming the cow is on a BG as implied and that the game forest is not, which can't be checked till I chop, I tried to determine how I want to start.

I'm definately going for Diplo or Spaceship as I want to try something different again from my regular romp across the enemy. Both seem interesting in the fact that the AI won't really help me in research after the AA since this is Regent.

Start move: Worker N, most likely settle N/NE, but will have to see what the worker sees. Potentially a little less corruption and by timing my granary better than moving SE I can (mostly) make up for the lost food and really only lose one turn. (Note: If I was to do 20K I would settler SE.) My second city will share the game/cow and also build a granary if we are not isolated.

Research: Pottery, Republic Slingshot, then Literature & Map Making, order to be determined after I get Republic.

AA Wonders: Really considering that big bronze thing and MoM. Don't know if I want to waste shields on them, though. Of course, if we are isolated the Lighthouse may be an option. Hopefully it won't be as useless as the last time I built it.

Building: Harbors, Aquaducts and Libraries seem important for me. This is abnormal as I almost never build Libraries since I usually stop research after I get to Chivalry. I saw the ill effects when I didn't build them when I needed to get to Navigation.

Resources & Luxuries: Wondering how this will affect us. Did Karasu leave us with nothing nearby? I have flashbacks to a 20 turn galley ride to Horses north of other civs.

In any case, I always love the surprises of the COTM games.

 

[DaveMcW]

Bonus grassland cow? I've always wanted to play a game with one of those! Although without freshwater it's not nearly as fun (no benefit for improving it under despotism).

I think building the forbidden palace a central location will be more efficient than a palace jump. The FP provides the same distance corruption benefits, and OCN corruption will not be a problem since there's no room for extra cities on the peninsula.

 

[Methos]

I think building the forbidden palace a central location will be more efficient than a palace jump. The FP provides the same distance corruption benefits, and OCN corruption will not be a problem since there's no room for extra cities on the peninsula.

I was under the impression that in C3C the FP didn't offer the same benefits towards corruption as the palace? I believe (please imform me if I am wrong) is the FP provides a higher OCN and the city with the FP has lesser corruption.

 

[Megalou]

I won't move the worker to the mountain. Worker NW will reveal nearly as much, looking across the water. Building Seoul to the NE will also leave the possibility of fresh water open, with or without scouting. I will go for the tight build and aim for some early agression. (I always say that but end up preparing and preparing...) If it's a small island I'll milk this baby

 

[Tubby Rower]

If going for Diplo, How do you determine who can be voted for and which civ the Ai will vote for? I might try diplo this time since domination is just about inevitable.

 

[denyd]

TR: The vote is between the builder of the UN and the guy with the most land and people (usually the score leader). Who they vote for depends a lot on the history between the candidates and the voters. What is the typical way to assure the vote goes for you is to figure out who the largest AI is and sign MPP's with everyone else. Then a turn or 2 before the UN finishes, declare war on Mr Big. When he attacks you, all the other AI will declare on him and when the vote comes up they will never vote for someone they are at war with.

 

[Tubby Rower]

Ok. Now I just have to wait for eldar to post my starting moves

 

[eldar]

Not quite true: the vote is between the 2 Civs with the highest population, and optionally the Civ that built the UN if it's not one of those two. I'm not sure what the deciding factor is - if there is one - when more than 1 Civ has the same population, though I guess "having built the UN" would be one of them.

Ok. Now I just have to wait for eldar to post my starting moves

I bet you're wondering just what happened to my GOTM41 after my analysis there.... Moderator Action: Not here, thanks

 

[AlanH]

Once the UN is built, the civ that owns it is asked then and every 11 turns afterwards whether s/he wants to call a vote. If the owner calls a vote s/he is a candidate. At least one other civ is a candidate, chosen by maximum population, I think. Any other civ with over 25% of total land area or 25% of world population is also a candidate.

The AI will vote according to some pretty complicated rules that Bamspeedy worked out. You need to read his article in the War Academy. Basically, you can get them to vote for you by being nice to them, by bribery, and/or by allying with them against your election opponent(s) using alliances or MPPs.

 

[denyd]

Does anyone know the reason for the occaisional 3-way votes that occur?

 

[eldar]

Does anyone know the reason for the occaisional 3-way votes that occur?

See Alan's post above... it's a better explanation than mine.

 

[AlanH]

I just said - UN owner (not necessarily the builder ) plus anyone with 25% of land or pop. You can have a small UN owner plus two major civs, and I guess it's theoretically possible to have a fourth candidate.