Experiment 626's Solo TDG

[Eltrai]

Attacking ironless Korea might be a good idea, but you have to be aggressive. Send those cavalry and have them ride down your enemies. The best they can do are longbows and spears, you should crush them quickly. Really. Actually, you could stop with the muskets and just build up your cavalry, you should be able to crush them both with your current level of technology. The best the maya can come up with are pikemen and medieval infantry, maybe knights. You really should be able to take them out, you need confidence and a bit of ruthless determination.

You need General Grant, Lincoln!

Yes, kill off Korea and you will see how to take out the Mayans.

I still think you would be better off with a lot fewer defenders. There is no one on the cont. that is a real threat to you militarily. The arab and french cities will be dealt with soon but they are not holding anything that can hurt you. Korea and the Mayans are in no position to attack so havinge 40+ defenders is overkill. Replace them with more Cavs and you will quickly fly through your opponets.

The fast moving cavs will also be able to rush to anyplace that will need defense and kill off the attacking units. If you need to feel safe with them, position some around your country so they can get anywhere in a turn. With the addition of rails now you will be sitting pretty.

You have gotten better in each of the two wars you have fought, just remember that and look at how much better you are playing now vs. at the begining of the game.

You have done well, the first time over 1000 shows well for you.

Looking forward to the next set of turns.

 

[Experiment 626]

Thanks for the input! I'm going to load a different CD into my CD-Discman, and play the next Set of Turns.

See you in a while!

 

[Experiment 626]

Not enough happened in this Set of Turns for a full-blown Journal Entry, so I'll just hit the highlights.

During this Set of Turns, I Micromanaged my production, so not a single shield (well, close enough anyways) was wasted. That's hard!

1. I set the Research queue to Steam Power, Electricity, Replacement Parts, Medicine, and Scientific Method.
2. We learn Steam Power. Electricity is next. (And, yes, we DO have Coal in our territory.)
3. Our Workers begin building a skeletal Railroad just enough to connect each city. Once that is complete, our Units can travel anywhere in our Empire in a flash!
4. The last Pikeman is upgraded!
5. A Crusader begins building a Fortress on our only source of coal which is located just outside of Indianapolis.
6. Newton's University is finished in Philadelphia!
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. After the Crusader finishes building the Fortress, Donald and Daisy begin building a Barricade on the Coal.
8. A Musketman garrisons in the Fortress. Another will join him.

Here's the Info Screen:

And here is the savegame:

View attachment Exp626 of the Americans, 1450 AD.SAV


As always, your thoughts, comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Edit: I've looked at the savegame, and I believe that I have the only Coal deposit on our continent. There are two on the other continent (at least) with Arabia and France.

 

[AutomatedTeller]

good for railing city to city!!

It looks like you have your workers hanging around in stacks of 2 or 3 doing your railing - this may not be the most efficient way of doing it - I usually set them up so they can finish a tile a turn - I think that's 4 workers (because we are industrious until Rep parts, in which case 2 works fine, of course.

While I am a general, and as a general like a strong military - our military is choking our research right now - we could get electricity in 3 turns if we didn't have so many units - we've got 18 MI and 49 muskets - the MI are totally outclassed by the crusaders and the cavalry and I don't know that we need all the garrisons.

We could also get more research by trading for luxes - we could trade with joanies and smoke-jaguar's extra luxes, if we want.

That said - we are tops in score, tops in military, tops in tech - pretty much Lincoln controls the fate of this game - nothing I have said is anything but suggestions.

There is one thing I noticed: in Washington, we have a scientist, and we have unworked tiles. I am assuming this came from your micromanagement - but in the capitol, it is rarely more efficient to use a specialist if you have unworked tiles. In fact, Washington creates more science if that scientist works either a tile. Right now, wash is getting 47 science.

If we work a tile that gives 2 commerce, we lose 3 from the scientist, and gain 4 science! (2 commerce with both the library and the uni giving an extra 1) If we work a tile that gives 3 commerice, we end up with 50 beakers (3, with both the lib and the uni givin 1.5) It's not a big deal, of course...

 

[Tribute]

And great idea on using those crusaders to build forts. I always forget to do that....

 

[Eltrai]

good for railing city to city!!

While I am a general, and as a general like a strong military - our military is choking our research right now - we could get electricity in 3 turns if we didn't have so many units - we've got 18 MI and 49 muskets - the MI are totally outclassed by the crusaders and the cavalry and I don't know that we need all the garrisons.

I am in complete agreement. Ditch the MI, replace with 9 Cavs and then begin to replace at least half of the 49 muskets with Cavs. This will give you a great strike force to take over the rest of the cont. and with complete control of the cont. you have little need for the rest of the defensive units.

Rails everywhere will allow you to get anywhere in no time at all to use your offensive units to take out any trouble that maybe lurking.

I know that it is hard to make the move from defending everything to using more and more offensive units. (took me some time to get over it) But, you will see a great transformation in how easy you can win battles and your research will shoot up.

Something to think about Mr. Pres.

 

[Experiment 626]

During tomorrow's Set of Turns, I'm going to try make stacks of 4 Workers to Railroad more efficiently.

When I micromanage, I should turn all Entertainers into Scientists, right?

As always, I'll stop in here first tomorrow before playing.

Good night!

 

[Marsden]

Thanks for the input! I'm going to load a different CD into my CD-Discman, and play the next Set of Turns.

See you in a while!

A CD into the Discman is it? Well, next set of turns you should listen to Pantera or Manowar. I guarantee you won't have any more problems being aggressive enough. Get to it. Why are you still reading this, get going!

 

[CommandoBob]

During tomorrow's Set of Turns, I'm going to try make stacks of 4 Workers to Railroad more efficiently.

Probably the easiest way to this (not practical, but easiest) is to have all your good workers stacked in one place and all the slaves in another place. Once you learn Steam Power, start railing from that stack. This will naturally create stacks of 4 workers each if you stay on flatland. Do the same with the slaves. I would not combine the two. It makes it harder to calculate how many WT are in that stack. With stacks of 4, well, 4 WT. Eight slaves, 4 WT. But 2 workers and 4 slaves? Still 4WT, but the math is more complicated.

When I micromanage, I should turn all Entertainers into Scientists, right?

'All' is too big. 'Most' might be better, if you plan to increase science output. And changing clowns to geeks affects the happiness ratio of your cities, so in some places you may not be able to make the change.

 

[Experiment 626]

[RANT]

Today was my day off.

I get called into work.

My shift was supposed to be 12 Noon to 3PM.

At 3 PM, my boss asked (told) me to stay another half hour.

At 3:30 PM, he basically guilt-trips me into staying another half-hour.

Long story short (too late, I know!), I didn't get off work until 5:30 PM CDT.

As I'm leaving, my boss asked (told) me to come in 2 hours earlier tomorrow.

I am so off right now.

[/RANT]


[Back on Topic]

Anyways, to your posts:

Originally posted by AutomatedTeller:

I don't know that we need all the garrisons.

Once all of the cities are connected by Railroad, I'll start cutting back on the Defenses.


Originally posted by Tribute:

And great idea on using those crusaders to build forts. I always forget to do that....

I didn't know it either. During my turn, one of my Crusaders became active, and the mouse cursor just happened to be on the 'Build Fortress' button. I was amazed . . .


Originally posted by Marsden:

A CD into the Discman is it? Well, next set of turns you should listen to Pantera or Manowar. I guarantee you won't have any more problems being aggressive enough.

Sadly, I do not own any albums by those artists. When it's Wartime, I usually listen to Aerosmith or Black Sabbath. In peacetime . . . well, I'm a bit nervous about admitting this, but I the music from the 1980s, and have burned a few 'Best of the 80s' CDs in my time. If you think THAT choice of music is bad, I absolutely WON'T tell you what CD is currently in the Discman.

Why are you still reading this, get going!

I'm going! I'm going! Sheesh!

I'll play the next Set of Turns now (after changing the CD, of course ), but I'm not sure if I'll be able to post the Journal Entry and pics tonight or not.

I'm off! (Boy, is that the understatement of the millenia, or what?!!)

 

[AutomatedTeller]

Black Sabbath and Aerosmith... good tunes for war. Ozzy Osbourne or Ronnie James Dio?

 

[Experiment 626]

During this Set of Turns, MicroManagement abounded!

Here are the highlights:

1. I trade Horses to France for Dyes, and Printing Press to Maya for Incense.
2. I spend 192 Gold to rush Library in Santa Fe to ensure that the city doesn't culture flip.
3. Proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that I can be quite the idiot sometimes, I start disbanding Medieval Infantrys in WSH, instead of the outlying cities where it would cut 10 turns off of Production.
4. Arabia wants to trade Democracy for Magnetism. No thanks.
5. Korea wants to trade Territory maps. Again, no thanks.
6. Arabia and France have entered the Industrial Age. I just know that one of them will beat me to Theory of Evolution.
7. The last Medieval Infantry is disbanded.
8. We learn Electricity! Replacement Parts is next.
9. Mecca (Arabia) completes J. S. Bach's Cathedral.
10. I buy an Arabian Worker for 106 Gold.
11. Orleans (France) completes Shakespeare's Theater.
12. After checking with my Domestic Advisor to see which is my most productive city (other than WSH, of course), I switch production in SAL to Palace to pre-build Theory of Evolution.
13. Tours (France) completes Magellan's Voyage.
14. I buy a Mayan Worker for 112 Gold.

Here is a pic of our Military (6 Settlers are not shown in the pic):

Here is the Info Screen:

Here is the savegame:

View attachment Exp626 of the Americans, 1500 AD.SAV


Originally posted by AutomatedTeller:

Ozzy Osbourne or Ronnie James Dio?

Ozzy's the man!



As always, your thoughts, comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated.

 

[Marsden]

My only comment, right now, is, are we waiting to conquer our continent for some reason, or am I just totally out of the loop?

I have all 8 Sabbath with Ozzy and the 3 with Dio. The others, well lets just not mention them. I also have most of Dio and Ozzy with out Sabbath, too. Almost all excellent, with just a few duds, but that happens.

And don't feel bad, I listen to a lot of different things. My favorite is Rush, but I like a lot of metal and classic rock with a lot of southern rock, too.

And, I like Abba. Yes, I typed that. Actually, I like Yes, too.

Ok back on topic, I just thought of something. The horse is already out of the barn on this one but, those marginal MIs could have been upgraded to Guerillas with Replaceable parts. I would disband a few muskets for 15 sheilds and save some MI for upgrading (vets only). The guerilla is a fair defender and attacker, plus they have defensive bombard. Of course, upgrading our muskets to infantry is good, too. I still think that the combination of infantry and artillery is the most dangerous combination for attack and defense in the game. Make sure you upgrade those cannons! And build a few more now for upgrading later. You cant have too many guns.

 

[Experiment 626]

Originally posted by Marsden:

My only comment, right now, is, are we waiting to conquer our continent for some reason, or am I just totally out of the loop?

Umm . . . perhaps this quoted post will refresh your memory:

Originally posted by Marsden:

If you want to wait until you have the infantry and artillery for the next war, ok.

Those were your words, right?

And, I like Abba.

I DON'T BELIEVE IT! That is exactly the CD that was in my Discman! That's almost spooky! I bought the ABBA box set, and made a 'Best of' CD. It's 64 minutes and 42 seconds of pure ABBA magic! I'm listening to it right now. I like different kinds of music as well.

 

[AutomatedTeller]

If you have started a prebuild, there is no chance that they will beat you to it. They are many turns away from it, and they don;t use prebuilds, unless you lose it a wonder cascade. That would suck.

 

[Experiment 626]

Originally posted by Marsden:

those marginal MIs could have been upgraded to Guerillas with Replaceable parts. I would disband a few muskets for 15 sheilds and save some MI for upgrading (vets only).

Now you tell me!


Originally posted by AutomatedTeller:

wonder cascade

I'm not familiar with that term. Could you explain please? Your ever-so-humble grasshopper seeks enlightenment, Great Sensei!

 

[Marsden]

Yes, they are my words, notice the first word, IF. I didn't know that was now the plan. And, ok, as I said before.

I just want to restate, after waiting for the infantry and artillery you should not stop until you own the whole continent. No temporary peace or mercy to the enemies. I suggest keeping the Korean cities and razing the Mayan cities because of the cultural difference.


And, Abba was a good group. A lot of people wouldn't want to admit that or give them a chance to listen to because it is seen as... well I can't think of a way to express this. You know, not manly, kind of like only girls or certain men listen to it? There were a lot of copy cats that weren't good, plus the whole disco thing was kind of bad, and they got mixed in with it, but they really aren't disco. So, I'm posting about this too much aren't I.

 

[Marsden]

Now you tell me!

Also, you can upgrade all of those MIs to guerillas.

From post #336. That's when.

I'm not familiar with that term. Could you explain please? Your ever-so-humble grasshopper seeks enlightenment, Great Sensei!

A wonder cascade is when there are several wonders available to be built, one is completed and all others trying to build that one turn to the next, which could cause a cheaper wonder to be immediately built next turn, which causes all others building the second wonder to switch to another and so on.

There aren't too many wonders around so I don't predict any cascades, or palmolives.

 

[Experiment 626]

Originally posted by WARMASTER Marsden:

I just want to restate, after waiting for the infantry and artillery you should not stop until you own the whole continent. No temporary peace or mercy to the enemies.

Mercy is for the weak, right? I found out by using the Caravel that even if I do raze every Mayan city, the civ will survive. They found themselves an island off the coast of our continent. I hope that they're happy there, 'cause that's the only city they'll have left.

I suggest keeping the Korean cities

But, Great Sensei, if I keep the Korean cities, I'll have to stop at each conquest until the Resistance in that city has ended, won't I?

and razing the Mayan cities because of the cultural difference.

Damn straight! Yes sir!

And, Abba was a good group.

Yes, they were!

There were a lot of copy cats that weren't good

Do you remember a few years back there was a group by the name of A*Teens? They tried to build a career just by covering ABBA's songs! The 'Dancing Queen' Video was awesome. It was an homage to the movie 'The Breakfast Club' complete with the same actor that played the principal (or whatever) in the movie. It was very nicely done.

the whole disco thing was kind of bad, and they got mixed in with it, but they really aren't disco.

No, they weren't, and it's a shame that they were lumped in with it. ABBA was dance music, to be sure, but not Disco by a long shot.

So, I'm posting about this too much aren't I.

I think that we BOTH are. We may scare off AutomatedTeller and CommandoBob and Eltrai and Tribute if we keep this up!

Psst! If you want, I could give you the Tracklog of the 'Best of ABBA' CD that I burned, so you can make your own copy!

 

[Marsden]

But, Great Sensei, if I keep the Korean cities, I'll have to stop at each conquest until the Resistance in that city has ended, won't I?

No, but good question.

You do NOT have to pacify resistors, just let them go on resisting. Keep one (or two) cavalry in striking range in case of a flip, but otherwise leave them unoccupied. Let'em whine. Once you have obliterated their culture by destroying every last Korean city the flip chance is eliminated and then you can move in troops to put down the resistance. See?

I saw the Mayan city when I was preparing my slide show, I just didn't mention it because I didn't want to give too much away. BTW, I think it would be entirely worth it to build a few ships and destroy that city. Here is another thing about Civ3, culture stays. You seriously reduce the amount of culture per turn of the Maya by sacking their capital and destroying their great temple, yes. But you didn't erase that culture that was already created, it is still there and will remain until they are completely gone. And while that one city is still there, there remains a chance, however small, that one of our cities could "go Mayan" on us again. Better to destroy them utterly than leave a flea to irritate us. Plus it will give you a chance to practice naval operations!

Actually, I think you did yourself a diservice turning off the victory conditions because the culture points don't appear on the victory status screen because they aren't a valid toward victory even though they still count toward game play such as culture flipping. Culture should not be ignored. I think you learned that by now.