G-Major 11

[KMadCandy]

umm, a close call is like an almost-tie at the end of a race. you win, but only by a little bit. the second place finish is very close to the first place winner.

if it had taken infantry#14 a few more turns for his third city to reach legendary, khan likely would have won during those turns. as long as do you win, that's all that matters, the fact that it was a close call doesn't count. but it sure makes me nervous while it's happening, until it's over and i know for sure that i won the race!

i love the differences in languages. often someone will ask me what a phrase means and i have to stop to think about how to define it. there are things i say all the time without a specific definition in my head, that was one of them. it helps me learn more about my own native language, i like that and it also makes me laugh to notice my habits that way. i never notice them on my own, because of course they're such automatic habits!

 

[Harbourboy]

How much warfare are people engaging in in this game so far? Do you still do a rush to knock back a neighbour, or is it cultural expansion all the way?

 

[WastinTime]

Culture all the way for me. I think the neighbors are too far away.

 

[Infantry#14]

How much warfare are people engaging in in this game so far? Do you still do a rush to knock back a neighbour, or is it cultural expansion all the way?

I build 3 initial cities, took out an opponet and 5 of his cities, build one more, and then culturely steal one more (although I didnt need this)

 

[kovacsflo]

How much warfare are people engaging in in this game so far? Do you still do a rush to knock back a neighbour, or is it cultural expansion all the way?

I could imagine only one reason why I would attack an enemy in cultural game: lack of religion.

Otherwise cultural expansion in the middle of a pangea map made me possible to weaken 4-5 civs, 2 cities joined to me at the end of the game.

In monarch opponents can help you a lot to discover liberalism and mercantilism earlier, why should we stop them doing that?

 

[Harbourboy]

I am just wondering how people can possibly get cultural victory so early. In 1300 AD, my cities have about 1,000 culture at most. No way could I get to 75,000 within the next 200 years.

Anyway, I am glad that I am on the right track with my mostly peaceful expansion so far (on my 4th attempt). I have no World Wonders though. Is that a usually major problem?

 

[Ozbenno]

In culture games at this level it is fairly usual to not have many (or any) wonders. I will attempt Parthenon, Sisitine Chapel and Statue of Liberty only and not be destroyed if all fail. The culture will overwhemingly come from specialists and religious multiplier buildings (cathedrals and the like).

 

[Harbourboy]

Surely the people who have finished in the 16th century have done so without Statue of Liberty? How can this possibly be built at Monarch level before this time (or if before, then early enough to have any impact)?

I have already missed Parthenon and Sistine Chapel.

Are specialists better than commerce then? I was using the religious multiplier buildings to multiply all my Financial trait commerce from Towns. What's the point in me being Financial if I am going to build farms for specialists instead of cottages?

Or are you talking about Great Artists from a separate city to be added / bombed on your culture cities?

The problem with this Epic Large game is that they take longer so it is much more difficult to fit in multiple attempts if you stuff up.

 

[Ozbenno]

Surely the people who have finished in the 16th century have done so without Statue of Liberty? How can this possibly be built at Monarch level before this time (or if before, then early enough to have any impact)?

Statue of Liberty is possible (not easy though in 16th century. Culture is a streamlined research tree, there are many tech paths you never need to go through.

Are specialists better than commerce then? I was using the religious multiplier buildings to multiply all my Financial trait commerce from Towns. What's the point in me being Financial if I am going to build farms for specialists instead of cottages?

If you're financial then cottages are, of course, the way to go but with mercantilism and SoL you still get two free artists. If you're philosphical a SE might be better off.

 

[Methos]

Surely the people who have finished in the 16th century have done so without Statue of Liberty?

Why even tech that far?

Culture is a streamlined research tree, there are many tech paths you never need to go through.

Such as the one that leads to SoL.

I'm currently around 275 AD and unless I can trade for some of my techs, I only have approx. 49 turns left to research. Hopefully I can finish this one in a reasonable time (like this week).

 

[Ozbenno]

I usually tech to Liberalism or Printing Press if I'm financial)and then switch off. I hopefully can trade up to Constitution and then flick research on to get to Democracy. Universal Sufferage is great as you can use it to buy whatever culture buildings you are lacking.

If I can win without having Democracy all the better but usually it ends up quicker to get it.

 

[Methos]

I usually tech to Liberalism or Printing Press if I'm financial)and then switch off.

I agree. I like to take PP with Liberalism.

Universal Sufferage is great as you can use it to buy whatever culture buildings you are lacking.

Again, I agree, though I don't like to research it. I tend to go for the Pyramids early for Representation and US.

If I can win without having Democracy all the better but usually it ends up quicker to get it.

I've tried before going to MM, but don't like having research turned on so long. I'm not for sure if I'm really saving any time by switching research off so soon, but it feels like it. I'm not sure if I've ever gone for Demo when aiming for a culture victory.

 

[Harbourboy]

Hmm, I must be doing something badly wrong then. I have never managed to get cultural victory, on any level, before about 1980 AD at the very earliest.

What if you are Financial AND Philosophical? Which takes precedence in terms of cottages versus farms in the three cultural cities?

Also, is the Highlands map any harder than any other map for this purpose? My first three attempts were on Highlands but it was a nightmare. I am now trying Fractal and it all seems much easier.

In your games, are you getting much culture in the early years, or does it all come in a big heap at the end when you get your three cathedrals up? To put it more specifically, how much of your 75,000 culture is coming in the last 50 turns?

 

[Infantry#14]

In your games, are you getting much culture in the early years, or does it all come in a big heap at the end when you get your three cathedrals up? To put it more specifically, how much of your 75,000 culture is coming in the last 50 turns?

For me, all 3 of my cities were producing 700+ culture per turn in the last 50 turns. Each only have 2 catedrals, about 4 wonder (national+ world), cultural buildings, 6 artists (caste system), 100% gold -> culture. Sorry I dont know their the base culture.

 

[Harbourboy]

Hmmm, 6 artists.... Maybe that is what I am doing wrong. I have never ever had 6 artists in a city.

 

[Ozbenno]

I wouldn't use Highlands map as it is very big and hard to get trade routes (for religion spread) going. I would use Inland Sea, Pangea, Fractal, Lakes or Continents

 

[Bindamel]

1860, with Saladin, Continents, tropical for more grasslands to farm, various non-industrious, non-spiritual opponents, CivIV Vanilla.

My fastest cultural win ever, and only my third monarch win ever. (1 diplo, 1 other cultural) My first win ever using a specialist economy. (SE)

Three tech huts early, Mining, Fishing, Hunting. Baby Techs, but everything helps early.

Had Julius Caesar, Cyrus, and Peter on my continent. Founded Polytheism, Judaism, and Confucianism (Oracle), one each in my three legendary cities. I got Confucianism to my Roman friend right away, and he became my best friend for life. Cyrus got Theology first, and spread Christianity to Peter.

I declared on Cyrus in a false war in 1124 AD to gain points with Rome. Peter declared on me in 1472, and sent in mostly Horse Archers. They were turned away by Praets, thanks to my good friend Julius who for the very cheap price of Theology, went to war with Peter in 1478. I never saw more than a passing glance of Peter's troops again, but i saw a lot of Praets and Horse Archers marching through my lands toward Peter's. I made peace with Peter in 1628, and could have been sooner, but I missed the message that JC had made peace with him.

Shortly after that, I finished the Statue of Liberty. From the time I got democracy (1592), I flipped between US and Representation as needed to rush buy.

Liberalism, in 1466, brought Constitution.

I ended up with 11 or 12 Great Artists, 4 or 5 Great Prophets, and 4 Great Scientists (Philosophy/Taoism, Compass, Paper, part of Education). The Education GS was particularly well timed as he brought me down to two turns for Education the year he was born.

I thought I only had 17 Great People total, but I know I made all four of my shrines, and had at least 11 artists and 4 scientists. Hmm, oh well. I think I had a prophet sleeping at the end as well for a possible Golden Age.

What held me back the most was not beelining, and developing my other cities more than necessary. There were a lot of jungles to clear, as well. I'm no 16th century player yet, but after losing the last major (on points to Ghandi, no less!), I'm happy.

 

[KMadCandy]

Also, is the Highlands map any harder than any other map for this purpose? My first three attempts were on Highlands but it was a nightmare. I am now trying Fractal and it all seems much easier.

In your games, are you getting much culture in the early years, or does it all come in a big heap at the end when you get your three cathedrals up? To put it more specifically, how much of your 75,000 culture is coming in the last 50 turns?

i am not an expert by any means!!

a lot of the culture in my big 3 cities comes at the end of the game. i'm not sure the dividing line in turns for "more than half comes after X" point. it comes in a big heap due to getting cathedrals up and turning up the culture slider. then add in the culture bombs i've saved up to use at the very end.

i generally tech only to PP. i like to pick peaceful opponents and i'm pretty good at managing diplomacy so military techs are not a concern. altho i prefer to buy cathedrals, if i don't have the pyramids and can't work out trades for pre-reqs, i can't motivate myself to tech all the way to democracy. if i get the prereqs in trades (or in "this might be of use to you"/"can you spare this for a friend" handouts) then i research demo. i've never built SoL and never gotten even close to the techs to build eiffel/hollywood/etc.

edit: i missed your post earlier, Bindamel

1860, with Saladin, Continents, tropical for more grasslands to farm, various non-industrious, non-spiritual opponents, CivIV Vanilla.

My fastest cultural win ever, and only my third monarch win ever. (1 diplo, 1 other cultural) My first win ever using a specialist economy. (SE)
...
What held me back the most was not beelining, and developing my other cities more than necessary. There were a lot of jungles to clear, as well. I'm no 16th century player yet, but after losing the last major (on points to Ghandi, no less!), I'm happy.

that is fantastic! major grats . you have so many reasons to be happy! i understand wanting to think about "what held you back" so that you can improve, but take a moment to celebrate just how well you did. first win ever with SE, third on monarch, fastest cultural, and during a major gauntlet ... that's amazingly incredibly awesome i think.

and, i see this is only your 3rd post, welcome to CFC!

 

[ruff_hi]

... then add in the culture bombs i've saved up to use at the very end.

This process might not be ideal. If you are fairly sure which your 3 big cities are, settler an Artist early will generate more culture over time than the 6000 bomb. You need to do the maths and make some sort of allowance for turns remaining.

The downside of early settling of Artists is that you might put one in the wrong city or (as in my current game), your selected culture city might be a target for AI aggression. I have a nasty stack of macemen coming in and threating one of my cities.

 

[KMadCandy]

This process might not be ideal. If you are fairly sure which your 3 big cities are, settler an Artist early will generate more culture over time than the 6000 bomb. You need to do the maths and make some sort of allowance for turns remaining.

The downside of early settling of Artists is that you might put one in the wrong city or (as in my current game), your selected culture city might be a target for AI aggression. I have a nasty stack of macemen coming in and threating one of my cities.

oops right, i didn't specify that only some i save, i sometimes settle early ones if i know it's early enough and i know a city is one of the big 3. like you said "If you are fairly sure which your 3 big cities are", i was surprised when i started playing cultural that sometimes a different city than the one i'd planned for my third worked out better at the end. i pick really really peaceful opponents that get along with each other and with me. i do build some military. altho i've often mined bronze/iron to get the hammers, but not roaded it for quite a long time, to keep the ability to build cheap warriors , and am not ashamed to restart if i do hear out-of-the-blue trumpets of war.