CTIV-9: The Academians

[ChrTh]

Took a long look at the save today. Some thoughts:

1) Don't invade Nappy. Right now he's HC's opponent but is friendly with him; if it's HC versus someone else (including us), HC wins a Diplo Vote. So we don't want to hurt his population. Or build UN.

2) Please turn off worker automation, I don't want our woods cut down.

3) It is going to be verrrrry close. I think it's just us versus HC, and HC can research techs faster than us (see the GNP screen). Fortunately the AI will research non-essential techs in a space race, but that might not be enough. We should be running 100% for the remainder of the game if possible; if we need money, trade low-end techs to the other Civs for cash. Forget military builds after we deal with Nappy's Navy, every city should be building and every specialist should be a Scientist if a Spaceship Part isn't being built. Next GP we should start a Golden Age.

 

[ChrTh]

ROSTER
ChrTh
Ruff_Hi
Maquis -- Built 3 Gorges!
Scowler -- UP!
GreyFox -- On Deck!
JesusOnEez

 

[Scowler]

Our cities have been reduced to open sewers by the loss of our nets. Now the French armada is threatening to starve the ports on the west side of the continent. Battleships are under construction but it will take little while before they are ready.

On the east coast things are less worrying. There is only a single destroyer / frigate combo and that is dealt with right away on the inherited turn. The destroyer is destroyed, doing collateral damage to the frigate, which will be finished off next turn without risk.

I don't particularly agree with ChrTh's suggestion to use only scientist specialists. By this late stage of the game their effect is minimal and I would rather use merchants, which will soften the financial blow of researching at 100%. Setting cities on research is another matter, but this too is considered on an individual basis - I preferred to run wealth in a couple instead.

But this is looking ahead to later in the turnset. With turn 1 comes the news that HC has completed the Eiffel Tower. The Venerable Bede judges us the second most advanced civ (no prizes for guessing who is number one).

We complete our final Casing in 1942, and the following year Mansa polishes off the second and third of his. Nice to know that we are ahead of him, at least.

Next, FDR drops by to ask for help against the Incas. Request denied of course, but to soften the blow I sell him Democracy for 300g. HC doesn't like this much, but remains Pleased nonetheless; I doubt he will attack us anytime soon.

We get a pleasant surprise in 1945 when we discover a new source of silver near Francis Bacon. Even better, it is ready-mined:

1946 is a busy year. Robotics is done and our researchers start on Satellites. HC completes Thrusters, and also Rock n Roll (annoyingly, we had 2 turns left on this, but at least we got 785g to help us continue at 100% science). Mansa has now built Casing No. 4. I set up Space Elevator in Ptah and Docking Bay in Zu.

The rest of the turnset was pretty dull, consisting mainly of mopping up the remaining French destroyers and MM'ing our cities to get the most out of food and research. Mansa wanted us to help him against Alex, but obviously I sent him away with a flea in his ear.

Altogether we destroyed 10 of Nappy's ships - all that were in the area. We lost two battleships in the process. There has been no sign yet of any further assaults upon the homeland, but Nappy is still refusing to talk so there has been no opportunity to call a cease-fire thus far.

Even though they didn't directly attack our cities, the enemy destroyers did immense damage - firstly by tearing up our nets, and then by blockading the ports and starving the population. The nets have now been replaced and the cities are growing once more, but it will take time to regain the lost pop points and replace the numerous specialists that were in place before.

Note to GreyFox: I have deliberately left Socrates to starve so that it can focus on specialists. Why? Because it is the nearest to popping a GP (currently due in 6 turns, though you will probably have to fire a specialist if you don't want the city to lost a pop point); more importantly, getting a GP here will guarantee us a Golden Age since it can't produce another Great Artist.

Other points of interest:
- Satellites is due in 2
- Space Elevator due in 8
- Docking bay due in 13
- There are 100 turns left!

~ Save ~

 

[ChrTh]

Nice job beating up Nappy's boats.

We don't need Wealth ... trade Radio to Mansa for his treasury (3250) and fire the merchants and switch from Wealth to Research. Doing so gets us to ~4600 at -140/turn (approx), which means we can run 100% for 33 turns before worrying about cash again.

Time to Research:
Satellites (2)
Fiber Optics (8)
Ecology (6)
Fission (6)
Refrigeration (4)
Genetics (7)
Fusion (10)

...which is 43 turns, not counting a Golden Age.

Keep that 43 turns in mind. There's no reason for Ptah to build the Thrusters, let it do the heavy lifting for the other components, and do research when there are none to build.

I think I would head for Fusion next because it'll take the longest to build its part. Ecology is probably a good bet for last since it's the quickest.

Zu Chongzhi is slowly growing (but will have health problems when it finally does grow), hiring an Engineer will save a turn on the Docking Bay.

 

[ruff_hi]

Funny things that I saw on the way to the office ...

don't trade with Mansa

... from a few pages ago, and seemingly repeated adnausium, but then ...

trade Radio to Mansa for his treasury (3250)

 

[GreyFox]

Got it, playing.

-- andthisisutterrubbishtosatisfysomeforumrules

--

 

[ChrTh]

Funny things that I saw on the way to the office ...

... from a few pages ago, and seemingly repeated adnausium, but then ...

One of the definitions of intelligence is the ability to change one's mind when confronted with new evidence (insert joke about the lack of intelligence in the Off-Topic forum here).

The situation has changed drastically ... Mansa is not a threat because Mansa does not have our production or research skills--once we're ahead, we're ahead for good. HC, on the other hand, can and will leapfrog us. We're in a Space Race where the opponent can casually conquer America while still beating the pants off of us.

 

[ruff_hi]

ChrTh - didn't say it was wrong or anything, just noted it as something 'funny'. So, can we now trade with HC too?

 

[ChrTh]

ChrTh - didn't say it was wrong or anything, just noted it as something 'funny'. So, can we now trade with HC too?

I thought hard about it. The Pro is that it'll help us research faster. The Con is that we'll only trade HC Space Race techs because that's all we're researching, and that'll help him because of the AI scattershot research methods...I think the hope is that he'll be busy researching Composites while we research Ecology and thus can finish our spaceship part faster.

I'm thinking NO, but anyone else have ideas?

 

[GreyFox]

Sorry guys, computer loading problem, way too slow .... will have to play this tomorrow.

 

[GreyFox]

Ladies and gentlemen, barring any unforeseen circumstances, this shall be my last lecture. As such, you can expect lots of different bits from every conceiveable topic, without any cohesion whatsoever.

First off, money. We need money. To substain our 100% science, we need money. And what's the sngle most expensive resources that can be sold for any amount of money?

Right, Oil. Think about that, the decayed remnants of the corpse of long extinct animal can be so damned valuable.

Heh, I like that, for once, we are selling oil the other way round.

There are more ways to get money ... and one of the most ancient ways is to simplty rob it.

Look, Alex is about to bite the dust, might as well gain something there, eh? And sure enough, he was gone next turn.

Now, with Alex gone, that means Mansa should have slightly more gold from the capture of the city. Let's ring him up again, and get more money from him, shall we?

Woo ... money, tons of them!

Money is not the only thing we can get from Mansa, we could also steal something else ...

Thats right, forest. Chopped away that forest ... and we get 40hammers, shaving off one turn for the laboratory in Socrates. And to make us feel even happier, the tile was later claimed back ... without the forest

Note that Mansa is connecting his source of oil. SO don't cancel the oil trade on our part. Note also the death of Rossy. The world is now so much more peaceful without the Americans. And speaking of peace, we have signed peace with the little corporeal ...

... but not before I sink more of his ships with some units in it:

Now that peace has returned to this planet, our engineers having no other gossips and war rumours to divert their attention from, focussed their attention to real work, and produced us the Jack's Beanstalk:

They also gave us a Great Engineer.

Geez!!! Fascism??? Can't you at least learn us something more useful, like Fission, Fiber Optics, or Fusion? Damned. Golden Age it is then, but I will leave that to next player. Suggest triggering the golden age later, after learning Fusion when P'tah start building the Engine.

Why? Because apart from the engine, there is also the Stasis, which require Refrigeration + Genetics. So, its better that we get the gold age speed up for reaching this two techs and the production of the hardest part (Engine), rather than now.

Here is the space race situation.

We should still make it before HC, unless HC decides to declare war on us. Might want to consider signing a defensive pact with Mansa to deter that, or somehow bribe HC into war with Nappy (or the other way round).

Lastly, WTH is the sign "Ruff Woz ere" doing??? You think you the only one who know how to plant a sign, eh??? SO you like signs, eh????

Very well, I'll give you signs. Lots of them.

And, my signs are actually useful (unlike some other sign). Note the two forests that can be chopped. Whoever that build a lumbermill there must be seriously smoking. Save the chop for the last ship part.

Also, to hurry research along, I've temporarily halted the production of all 3 thrusters, signs planted accordingly. Reason is simple: the important thing is to launch the LAST ship part fastest, not launch each part fastest. To do that, we need to research the last tech that enables the last part (Ecology). So, I would suggest these cities returning back to building the thrusters only when the golden age is triggered (i.e. after Fusion is researched).

>>> The Save (1960) <<<

Edit: added autolog for a more chronological read

Spoiler autolog :

Turn 360 (1950 AD)
Galileo Galilei grows to 16

IBT:
Taoism spreads to Athens (Greek Empire)
Taoism spreads to Athens (Malinese Empire)
Greek Empire eliminated

Turn 361 (1951 AD)
Learn Satellites

IBT:

Turn 362 (1952 AD)
Start research on Fiber Optics
While attacking, Battleship defeats (2.00/40) French Destroyer
While attacking, Battleship defeats (28.80/40) French Transport

IBT:

Turn 363 (1953 AD)
Battleship promoted to Combat I

IBT:

Turn 364 (1954 AD)
Euclid finishes Laboratory
Alhazen grows to 17

IBT:

Turn 365 (1955 AD)
Francis Bacon finishes Laboratory
Galileo Galilei grows to 17

IBT:

Turn 366 (1956 AD)
Euclid grows to 11

IBT:

Turn 367 (1957 AD)
Ptah finishes The Space Elevator
Socrates finishes Laboratory
Isambard Kingdom Brunel (Engineer) (Great Engineer) born in Socrates

IBT:

Turn 368 (1958 AD)
Learn Fiber Optics
Francis Bacon grows to 10
Alhazen's borders expand

IBT:
American Empire eliminated

Turn 369 (1959 AD)
Start research on Fission

IBT:

Turn 370 (1960 AD)

 

[ChrTh]

Nice work there, GreyFox ... although my head was starting to hurt by the end. If I'm reading you right, you want us to do Fusion after Fission, right?

JesusOnEez, you might want to read the write-up four or five times before playing

ROSTER
ChrTh -- On Deck
Ruff_Hi
Maquis
Scowler
GreyFox -- Last Lesson?!?
JesusOnEez -- UP!

 

[GreyFox]

Right, I'll suggest Fusion after Fission.

Spoiler :

The order I'll suggest:
- Fission (4 turns)
- Fusion (8 turns)
- Start Golden Age, build Engine, Resume Thrusters, join GE from Fusion in P'tah
- Refrigeration (4 turns or less -- golden age)
- Genetics (7 turns or less -- golden age)
- Build Stasis
- Ecology (6 turns)
- Build Life Support

edit: decide to put a spoiler tag around this, since next few players may not appreciate me playing the remaining turns for them

 

[ChrTh]

JesusOnEez is OOP through today, it appears, so let's see if I can play tonight in a swap.

 

[GreyFox]

You sure you wanna swap? You won't get to enjoy the Golden Age if you do (that is assuming you agree to my suggested trigger point of the golden age)

 

[ChrTh]

Ok, I figure I can handle the boring part so I play pretty quickly

Turn 0 -- 1960 AD

US vs HC (this will happen every turn)
We have Fiber Optics

Turn 1 -- 1961 AD

US vs HC
We have Fiber Optics
HC just researched Mass Media

Turn 2 -- 1962 AD

Zu Chongzhi: Docking Bay > Research

US vs HC
No change

Turn 3 -- 1963 AD



US vs HC
No change

Turn 4 -- 1964 AD

The peace treaty ends with Napoleon.

Fission > Fusion. Due in 7.

Ptah completes Cockpit, starts Research, Fusion now due in 6.

US vs HC
We're now up Fiber Optics and Fission

Turn 5 -- 1965 AD



US vs HC
HC now has Fiber Optics

Turn 6 -- 1966 AD



US vs HC
We're up Fission

Turn 7 -- 1967 AD



Bulgar has been captured by the Incan Empire!!

HC completes Hollywood.

US vs HC
No change

Turn 8 -- 1968 AD



US vs HC
No change

Turn 9 -- 1969 AD

Nappy would like Open Borders. I decline.

US vs HC
HC now has Fission. We're even-tech.

Turn 10 -- 1970 AD

Fusion comes in, we get an extra Great Engineer.

Ok, I'm stopping here. I think GreyFox's idea of a Golden Age here, an Engineer merged with Ptah, and starting the Engine in Ptah is a good one, but I don't want to commit us without discussion. Take a look at the save and let me know what y'all think.

http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads12/CTIV-9_AD-1970.Civ4SavedGame

 

[Scowler]

Ladies and gentlemen, barring any unforeseen circumstances, this shall be my last lecture. As such, you can expect lots of different bits from every conceiveable topic, without any cohesion whatsoever.

And a very impressive and gratefully received lecture it was too! Thank you!

 

[Scowler]

I think GreyFox's idea of a Golden Age here, an Engineer merged with Ptah, and starting the Engine in Ptah is a good one

This may be a silly question with an obvious answer, but so be it. If you have three Great People of different types available and only need two to spark a Golden Age, how do you determine which 2 GPs are used? Is it random unless you actively select two of them as a group?

 

[ChrTh]

This may be a silly question with an obvious answer, but so be it. If you have three Great People of different types available and only need two to spark a Golden Age, how do you determine which 2 GPs are used? Is it random unless you actively select two of them as a group?

You can multi-select GP like you can do with troops. However, we have 2 Great Engineers, so only one will be selected (to go along with the Artist). We can always merge one Engineer to Ptah first.

 

[Scowler]

Thanks. I suspected as much and the question had bugged me for some time but I never got round to actually testing it myself. The situation here reminded me.