Del62's HOF Attempts

[del62]

I am putting a thread together to detail my HOF Attempts

I first started with a byzatine small regent 20K which was not fast enough, so instead tried a tiny regent 20K finishing in 1585 (Nothing to write home about) but it put me 8th on the tiny regent 20K.

Here was the world as known in 3950AD (prior to changing any build options)

Spoiler :

My two opponents were the Germans and the Ottomans (I didnt really give this much thought) and the Germans had Ivory, I had some science leader luck in the ancient age, and managed to generate a number of military leaders throughout.

Here is the build order

Spoiler :

Palace 3950BC
Colossus 1990BC
Temple 1790BC
Pyramids 1750BC (leader)
Oracle 1075BC
MOM 800BC
Great Library 550BC
TOA 530BC (SGL rushed)
Great Wall 310BC
Libary 290BC
Cathedral 190BC
Collosseum 110BC
Knighs Templer 170AD
Systine 480AD
University 490AD
Shakes 680AD
Copernicus 810AD
Newtons 940AD
JS BAch 1100AD
Heroic Epic 1160AD
Military Academy 1180AD (Leader rushed I think)
Univerals Suffrage 1265AD
Smiths 1300AD
Wall Street 1305AD (Leader rushed)
Magellans 1330AD
TOE 1370AD
Battlefield Med 1375 (Leader rushed)
Leonardos 1410AD
Hoovers 1455AD
Seti 1460AD (SGL Rush)
Research Lab 1465AD
UN 1525
Apollo 1580AD

I think thats the complet list

Ur finished up like this

Spoiler :

With 157 Culture per turn.

I build the Knights Templar earlier that I should have done due to the lack of Iron and the ottomans declaring on me, I allied Germany against them and destroyed them, prior to the Germans conveniently deciding to attack me. The two wars allowed a number of ML.

In time I shall post more on my HOF attempts

 

[del62]

In my next HOF attempt I set of with the Celts on a standard pangea map (i cant remember percentages but probably 60% water) on emporor with 7 opponents the English, Russians, Germans, Ottomans, Americans, Indians and French.

The first attempt lacked Iron, which was found on attempt 2, allowing the use of Gallic Swords early, despite a complete lack of Military Leader, the Gallics struck through the heart of the American empire giving me a large are which I controlled,

The English were destroyed very early by the Germans in this game.

Here is the heart of my territory in the early stages of the American War (enjoying a despotic golden age)

Spoiler :

Spoiler :

By 10AD I had the largest area 17% but was a bit behind tech wise still researching republic whilst the AI between them had republic and bottom tier MA techs, (3 scientifics helped them)

Amazingly I was the only one with literature and while originally had no intention of building the Great Library, decided to build it (sometime between 10Ad and 130AD) which was completed by 400AD giving me tech parity.

By 820AD I was building railroads and in a war with the ottomans who had rifles.

At this time I decided on a 100K cultural victory,

During the war I had established a city in ottoman territory but decided on peace when a Ottoman UU turned up

Established city

Spoiler :

In 1180 I was ahead on culture but not by a lot, I ended up capturing a few Russian cities and then fighting the ottomans again destroying them and by using a mixture of cash rushing engineers, tight cities and the internet I achieved cultural victory in the 1700s

Not the classic 100K but a victory none the less and a place in the HOF

 

[del62]

Next up after a 100K Emperor Game came some light releif, with an amazing start position a Large Cheftein Conquest with max civs on came in in 90BC, having max civs on helped me to use built roads, things would have been quicker but the Zulus where on an Island

I mean just how much food do you want to start with

Spoiler :

Do you tend to get more food options on lower levels?

Anyway the game ended with loads of mounted warriors waiting to get onto speedily constructed boats to take out the zulus on final island

The light releif over next up was a huge demi-god diplomatic attempt (but I will save that for next time)

 

[Spoonwood]

AFAIK food doesn't differ with difficulty, it only depends on map settings.

 

[del62]

AFAIK food doesn't differ with difficulty, it only depends on map settings.

I wonder if it has more to do wiith the number of civs

 

[del62]

Next up came my demi-god attempt, I decided on diplomatic on a huge map having looked at the HOF tables, the worse I could do was 4th if I acheived it.

The Byzatines were chosen, no other science CIVs were allowed and an 80% water arpeligo was found, I was sharing an Island with the Arabs which meant wars which kinda slowed my tech pace, despite this I was beating back the arabs and learned a lot about fighting on this level and the huge AI statcks, finally I met the runaway CIV the Incas by which time they were ahead on tech and had destroyed the Americans. When they while I was at peace was them they declared war on me and threatened my outlying resources then I decided to start again.

The second attempt give me an Island to myself, I managed to get earlier contacts with everybody and the republic sling shot, the Great Library and the Great Lighthouse jumping me to the middle ages well ahead of everyone else, the powerful CIV was the Arabs but I managed to stay ahead of them in techs, I targeted navigation to get some luxury trades going then just essential techs to the modern ages, build the UN and enjoyed my first proper demi-God victory

(I had a previous victory on a small map with diplomocy (but I had twice reloaded) once on discovery of philosophy to get code of laws and republic slingshot and secondly on discovery of Astronomy to sell it before AI got it next turn), this had been a learning experience.

 

[Spoonwood]

Good to hear you've beaten demi-god Del. Drakan's deity builder article helped me a lot in winning at higher levels.

 

[del62]

Good to hear you've beaten demi-god Del. Drakan's deity builder article helped me a lot in winning at higher levels.

Thanks, I am currently trying to beat deity, I am trying a large pangea with the celts, unfotunatley I have no Iron and fell behind in the tech pace, though I did manage to build the Great Library (just) which has helped, but I am about to fall behind again I suspect.

The GL was not part of my original plan but no Iron is the problem, the cost to buy it is astronomical too. The mongols would not sell iron for even 55gpt.

 

[del62]

Next up on my Hall of fame attempts came two challenges, the monthly gauntlet was a standard warlord domination, as I needed bothe warlord and domination I put some effort into this, which left me with needing a spaceship and small and a monarch required to complete the three sets.

I had a few goes at the standard warlord domination, with the portugese, the incas (at least three times), the zulus and the iriqois

Of these tribes I think the incas proved my most succesful, with early hut popping, agriculture and an early golden age trigger I think they are well suited to low level dominantion on small maps

With the Iriqois I found myself coming short of my previous best so I turned it into a 100K

And on the small monarch spaceship front I went for the ottomans this went well with all science Civs and I was able with the aid of the well timed TOE get the last industrial age and 7 modern techs in one turn, especially satyfying.

From there on in it was just a matter of research and build except I had to road the lazy Germans second source of Uranium for them which entailed having to first send a Sipahi first followed by 2 workers after signing various rop agreements all the way across the pangea. The reasoning behind the Siphapi was to claim the spot so I would get first choice on the trade.

 

[del62]

Having at this point acheived the Octatholon (Bronze), Pentatholon and Machivelii, I set out to improve might ranking of 8 on tiny and regent

First there was a domination attempt with the Aztecs which came in at 7, not much improvement and then a tiny bbaylon 100K which came in at 5th, and I had with 2 reasonably early SGLs giving the Pyramids and Temple of Artemis, I started trying this as a republic, but eventually went to feudalism and learned a lot about using growth and part pop-rushing, I should have switched to feudalism much quicker and given that could have improved my date and probably my position in table

I had also started a large regent Histographic game with the Celts on Pangea, which I had bassically dominated by sometime around 1000AD and I had left one spanish city on an Island and attempted to improve my cities, I got a little bored and eventually after irrigating every where I let the auto workers clear pollution and the governor manage cities under communism, I am sure I could have done better myself but not that much better and would still be doing it next Christmas as it was it took me over 75 hours of play time.

So that gave me Quatermaster Status

I also put in a huge emperor 20K to improve my 20K with no leader luck (at least science leader), I did get one Military leader on possibly my first elite victory (but only one), giving me a relatively late finish date of 1834AD (enough for 4th place on the table)

My next submitted game, though not yet published once what I consider by best to date, but more of that later.

Before that game I started a large pangea deity game with the Celts aiming just to see what happens domination, conquest or 100K (after getting gallics and then wars), unfortunately I had no Iron despite a reasonable number of cities for deity and amazingly despite a late decision on it built the great library shifting me from well behind to parity in the middle ages (though I fear I will fall behind again), I have just about given up on this game though.

 

[del62]

I have a small 20K deity going on in late 1700s where I will finish in 14 turns, but the mongols look like they will beat me on dominantion, (why do they have to keep attacking the japanese), they have 68% of world map and 63% of pop, I have given the Japanese Replacable parts to keep them in, but it looks like my only hope is war with the mongols

 

[del62]

In the end I made it without war, gifting the Japanese replaceable parts and the fact they had rubber allowed them to hold out, I also think giving the third civ the zulus from the middle ages to electricity may have helped though I am not sure

It was a really interesting though short game which I will give more details on once accepted

 

[del62]

Next up I looked at the tables and looked at my domination games so far at the best was seventh, so the Large Emperor dommination looked sparse and with forth at 2049AD I thought surely I could beat that, so I decided to play with my favoured upper level warring CIV on a large 80% Pangea against the English, The French, The Portugese, The Americans, The Spanish and The Japanese.

I would play with no barbs and after rolling a reasonable start my startergy would be to target Iron Working and if I found Iron close I would play it through, which I did.

The first piece of good fortune was the English Declaring war just as I got my Iron hooked up, giving me an early test for my young gallics a golden age, an elite victory early in the war giving an MGL and the army that just about guarantees victory, on capturing London I decided my interest would be best served getting all but the new English Capital in peace deal, for now the English demise could wait.

Due to its position spain would be next so after a short period of peace and rearranging my gallics, I declared on spain brought the French in on my side and took the spanish out including their Ancient Cavalry.

Next the Americans who were the other side of the French to me declared on me after I refused one ot their demands, the French had built the TOA so I decided to pull the French in to a military alliance against the Americans and let them slug it out while I prepare to switch sides after 20 turns. During this period I may have destroyed the weak English I cant remamber exactly when.

After 20 turns I basically switched sides captured Paris with its TOA (by now I had Knights and Artillary support), and took most French cities. Once the French where wiped out I looked at the HOF tables and I realised a second position was possible but I had only about 40 or so turns to achieve this, luckily the Americans had no Iron (unlike the Portugese who would have been a possible option) and where the largest of the remaining civs, so after a short regroup I tried to get them to declare but they just left so annoying as I wanted to take there horsemen out in my territory as they retreated from there attempt at last French City.

I declared anyway, signed Portugese and Japanese in allaince and attacked, I captured most american cities and built some cities on Portugese Border and apces where I could find, I also blocked off Portugese and Japanese troops trying to get a the last weakened American cities, when I was planning an attack on last American city a domination victory in 620AD was recorded.

Looking back on it the important factors where the closeness of Iron and capturing Paris, without the latter or if the TOA had been build in Japan or Portugal the game would have took much longer.

 

[del62]

Next up after a gauntlet monarch large 20k, came my first deity victory a small 20K with Cathage on a Archipelego

There is my starting location

Spoiler :

Eventually coal was found in the hill and Iron in the Mpuntain allowing thw Iron Works

Here is 1750BC

Spoiler :

Spoiler :

At the time I had built the colossus, I got an SGL for code of laws, and the Mongols and Japanese evenually settled my Island, they also both decided to attck me not long after this on the same turn landing next to my capital, mu Numidian Merc saved me kicking of Golden Age, not long after this the Japanese met the mongols and were at war most of the game

The wonder builds

Collossus
MoM (I think)
GLib (from SGL)
SOZ
Sistine
JS BAch
Shakes
Copernicus
Univeral Suffrage (despite the mongols starting long befoer me, the fact they were building it in a not very productive city helped here)
Smiths (I think)
Scientific Method
and Hoover Dam


The mongols nearly won on domination but depite having 68% of land they only got 63% of pop

I was going to go for wall street but switched off research towards the end building military to fight the mongols if there poulation went up, thankfuky it didnt, at the time I basically gifted up the japanese to Replacable Parts to save them and thus my victory (they had rubber) which I thnk stalled the mongols final destruction of last japanese cities (I should have helped them up earlier I think)

Anyway my first deity victory came around 1800

 

[del62]

After my first deity victory, it was stepping down a level to large cheiftain with the Russians, all science CIVs and other commerical for Alphabet so on meeting a trade was possible, 2nd turn settler and SGL with code of laws with Pyramids giving me my a number one position on space launch finishing in 930AD.

Settings where Large, Wet, Temperate, 5 Billion with Sednetary Barbs and Pangea 60% Water

I pretty much popped my way through ancient age, but paused while researching code of laws, for republig sling shot, If I did it again I would go philosophy first hoping to pop code of laws while researching philosophy, thus giving earlier republic.

I had no help from the AI's except on gift ups, unfortunatley my first free tech was Chivalry, so I could have shaved a few turns of with theology, the second free tech was Sanitation, which may have helped.

I had a couple of wars, I took the Koreans out for a luxury and some space to develop in and fought the Iraqois for some cities to help development, the biggest challenge was getting a 4 turn tech pace with man managing cities.

 

[del62]

Next up I thought I would try a shot at huge regent conquest with the Iraqouis, trying to get a 2nd spot on the table, loaded with Japanese and took republic slingshot then wheel.

First attempt was going well until having cleaned out all civs I knew I could not find the last, so I gave up around 380AD having evem with the late build of lighthouse the Arabs never showed up, at this point navigation was 12 turns away.

On my second attempt I managed to meet all civs quite early, the arabs where on an Island which was the most accessible (off a penisular covered in jungle), but I managed to complete it in 150AD.

 

[del62]

My next attempt was a standard monarch spaceship with the English as part of the monthly challenge, which finished up in 1290AD, republic slinghshot, statrting as republic in 1400BC, Middle ages in 975BC.

I cant remember the date I entered the industrial age but I hit the modern age in 1010AD.

I had a late industrial war with the Byzatines to grab land, luxurues and oil, and a late golden age with smiths trading company on last two techs of industrial age entering the modern age in 1010AD, follwed by the most annoying gift up where 7 science civs got 2 techs between them, leaving me 2 TOE techs plus 7 I had to reseach myself, (I did manage to get each one in 4 turns), the AI was not much help, outside of the ancient age, of the required techs I got invention out of them other than the entering age ones).

 

[del62]

I have a very good warlord 100k game going on a standard map with Celts, I got an early SGL for masonry used on Pyramids, spammed out cities after reading up on both Nikodemus and Aigburths top scores took some tips from them. I am currently up to 410AD and have estimated win date of 690AD (if I can get it down to 660AD this will be second fastest cultural 100k, turns take a long time. Nikodemus date is beyond this game.

 

[del62]

Just finishd and submitted my standard warlord 100K game with a 640AD finish, I am pleased with this as it is second fastest 100K game,.

I only got the one SGL, however even without a second SGL it is beatable as with better play during republic phase I could have done better, (better growth and mm during this stage, the difficulty [edit - not so much difficult but part requiring patience] is man managing a lot of cities), once I went feudal then I spent about an hour per turn going through over 200 cities.

In the end I had 272 cities and was doing 2733 culture per turn.

I think for best 100K results on lower levels , the folllowing statergy is best

1. Decent start position (one cow on river, some luxuries nearby).
1. The celts should be used (the combination of Agricultural and Religous is to me the best traits).
2. sgl fishing on masonry should be used
3. Use pyramids for despotic golden age propelling towards republic, during this phase obviously concentrate on settlers and workers
4. set aside a city to pre-build TOA
5. Once you get repulic switch go currency then literature, try to trade for polytheis or research it to coincide with pre-build
5. core town to switch from settlers to markets and libraries, and buy settlers and research and trade and a leasurely pace.
6. Once core towns have markets you can use them for the statue of zeus, oracle and hangin gardens
7. In middle ages research monotheism, feudalism, engineering, invention and gunpowder
8. at a point switch from republic to feudalism (i switched at around 200 cities (which was around 10AD). I ended up with 272 cities and i am unsure as to whether a later switch to feudalism would have helped or an earlier swicth at the time of swicth I still only had 5 luxuris hooked up (despite being pangea 2 where on a seperate island with vikings who took ages to build a harbour).
9. Once in feudalism whip libaries, then cathedrals then colloseums. (Libraries are cheaper to upkeep). Build up as much cash as possible, you will need this for maintenance until your towns with coloseums can turn into tax farms.
10. When tax farrms are providing enough gold, fill in cities where you can in your core

in my game i actaually built Great Library as i couldnt see AI getting near education

edit

just adding 60% pangea with normal climate, warm and 5 billion years used with no barbs

 

[Pacioli]

Great job del62!!! I've submitted a few 100k games recently and none of them come anywhere close to 640AD. I'm humbled by your accomplishment.