Fastest to Giant Death Robots

[ccubed]

In 3 or 4 games now I have never gotten to the Giant Death Robots because I've either won early, or have lost interest in the game. But I'd like to get GDRs and have some fun; I just don't want to keep hitting next turn on some of my games to get the tech. I've only been playing on Normal Speed settings, so that may or may not factor in.

What's the earliest some of you have gotten to GDRs and what strats did you employ to get there? Also, any screenshots of them destroying vastly outdated enemies would be funny.

 

[ShaqFu]

I haven't had the chance to use them myself, but a Great Scientist-heavy Babylon would likely be the best path for it.

Looking at the tech tree, you can start ignoring techs after Electricity, since the two paths split for a while after then. Yes, that means The Giant Death Robot doesn't require Robotics.

 

[qyll]

I got it at around turn 300 (out of 500) after conquering and puppet stating 2 entire continents for the research.

 

[Jellly]

You can also set the setting on the game to start on future era if you want to use them?

 

[PieceOfMind]

I haven't had the chance to use them myself, but a Great Scientist-heavy Babylon would likely be the best path for it.

I might just try that today. And let me take this opportunity to put in a shameless plug for my mod - Hammurabi of Babylon. Those of you without the deluxe edition DLC can still try out this strategy.

 

[Callonia]

Change the starting era to industrial, you'll get to play with giant death robots after a bit of time xD

 

[Thry]

GDRs aren't that good. They get damaged quickly, require 1 uranium to build ( the strategic resource seed on maps is borked at the moment), and do 40% less damage against cities.

 

[Aldor]

Don't know about the fastest way to get them, but here's a saved game in which you can try them out. Played with only time victory enabled (to get that achievement), its 2 turns before end but you can then choose "one more turn" to play on I think

The robots are pretty fun to use, although of course in this game you don't have any real opponents I've got one robot out, its sitting near Argos.

 

[pi-r8]

Save up all (or almost all) great scientists, while running max scientist specialists in all cities. Sign research agreements with everyone. Build porcelain tower, and oxford university. Use social policies in rationalism, and take scientific revolution (but save it for the end). Save up as much gold as you can during the industrial era, and then after finishing combustion you can take 9 free techs and instantly buy several GDRs.

It's the best way to make war in the modern era. I've done this on deity as India with only 4 cities (plus one puppet) by 1800 AD.

 

[Nunya]

GDRs aren't that good. They get damaged quickly, require 1 uranium to build ( the strategic resource seed on maps is borked at the moment), and do 40% less damage against cities.

With the 40% penalty they still have 90 Strength against cities, which is better than a Mechanised Infantry with the Siege promotion. A GDR in open ground also still has a higher Strength than a Mechanised infantry on rough terrain. I'm also pretty sure that "no defensive bonuses" only applies to the basic 25% bonus from terrain and not other bonuses they might get on defence (like from promotions and Great Generals).

Their only downsides are the already mentioned reliance on Uranium and the slower movement compared to Modern Armor and Mechanised Infantry.

 

[Thry]

It doesn't matter that they have 90 strength. The reason they seem OP to the general public is because the AI has no idea how to fight a war competently.

 

[ignite]

I've attached a saved game at turn 400. I'm not sure if I have Giant Death Robots yet in it, but by the end of the game around turn 500+, I had four of them (and by end of the game I mean when I got bored, because I'd already won domination earlier). GDRs obliterate anything and everything. The only thing that really damages them is super high combat strength cities (60-70). Even so, they can move after they fire, and if the AI you've fought against has roads built, there 3 moves become so much more, enough so that you can get in, lay waste, and get out. Even with the penalty to attacking cities, they destroy them in 1-2 turns easily.

It's a fun save actually -- all my units have massive amounts of experience, and you can actually win via domination, culture, or science. Choice is yours!

 

[Thry]

Your units don't use enemy roads, FYI. Works the same way as in Civ IV.

 

[Eejit]

Looking at the tech tree, you can start ignoring techs after Electricity, since the two paths split for a while after then. Yes, that means The Giant Death Robot doesn't require Robotics.

Hah, classic

 

[King Jason]

What's fun is when your city-state allies gift you GDRs... I had 4 in one game but didn't build any of them. Dublin was the pioneer of robotic technology, it seemed.

 

[ignite]

Your units don't use enemy roads, FYI. Works the same way as in Civ IV.

They do if you raze all the cities ;-P

 

[firecat318]

I got the GDR at about turn 330 with just 5 cities, but I was producing 560+ science per turn. I didn't go the cheap way either and split the tree at electricity or whatever it is.