Gentle Deity Challenge

[Betruger]

Since I failed miserably as Charlemagne in ABCF's deity challenge, I decided to start my own game using (believe it or not) a random leader.
Everyone's welcome to play and post, but please use spoiler tags.

The settings are:
Fractal/Normal game speed
all options standard, using play now



And the leader is: Hatty!
That's one of the best, if not best, leader in the game imo. Spiritual is just so very useful through the whole game, and creative is enormously helping in the begining, to get cities up and running fast.
On top of that, we have a great UU, which easily takes care of barbarians and even allows to capture barb cities with decent odds, if there's a need for it.

Now, why I say this game is gentle version of deity challenge? Simple: I've played it to the end already and won, therefore it must be easy It's only my second deity win (first one was on continents map using Willem).

Victory shot:

Spoiler :

Why I think this map was easier than usual:

Spoiler :

-Lots of room to expand. Lots.
-And what a great land it is. Floodplains, gold, ivory, horses etc.
-Isabella founding almost all religions, which lead to...
-...almost every major civ was Hindu (Charlie was the founder) -> easy diplomacy
-Backward Lincoln on his nice continent. Easy war target.
-Great leader.

If there is interest, I could put up some kind of report in the near future, but I'm afraid it won't be so detailed, as I have not taken many screenshots playing this (I started it as a personal game, I only came here to boast after I won )

Long story short:

Spoiler :

Expanded peacefully to 7 cities, one was captured from barbs using 8 war chariots.
Having marble meant Great Library, but somebody denied me of it in 500 BC.
So I skipped literature until later, grabbing currency instead (noone had it when I started reseraching it, everyone had it 1 turn before i finished )
Bulbed Philo, 1xEducation, 1xLiberalism, took Nationalism and built the Taj with the help of the marble.
Generated a GM, took free GM from Economics, used them to get ~4000 gold for deficit research. Destination-> Rifling.
Plan was to use Cavalry to overwhelm HRE, but he just teched too fast with all that land, so I invaded America (galleons + cavalary).
Here's an amusing shot of Super Cavalary:


I took half of Lincoln's continent (6 cities).
Then I invaided backward Spain. Eliminated them from the game.
After that it was cruise control. Charlie was tech leader, but I was only 1 or 2 techs behind.
I was headed to Internet and preparing an invasion force to finish off Americans, when Willem built UN and I won through diplo (3 most powerful civs were friendly to me for half the game).
I was glad it happened, as it saved me the tedium of building spaceship. I didn't really feel like attacking Charlie, who was a good friend throughout the game. Especially since he had like a gazillion of troops.

Beating deity sure feels good

 

[DMOC]

Wow, everyone seems to like playing as Hatshepsut lately.

If I have time (I doubt it) I could give this a shot. I didn't check the spoilers for this reason.

 

[Betruger]

She's just a great leader, though in this game the leader was randomly chosen (honest )

I hope someone would find time, as I'm really curious how would different approaches work here.

 

[PaulusIII]

I'd like to try but really can't handle Deity yet. I'm by now at a level where I can barely win Immortal.

 

[mystyfly]

I don't see why this challenge hasn't attracted more players. I accidentally found it a few days ago and gave it a shot. It really not a very tough game for deity. I believe there are lots of players that are in a similar position like me; beating immortal but failing on deity. This game helps me get used to dealing with the deity AIs while giving me a good chance of winning.

If this post (thread revival...) attracts some players I would make a writeup (I'm currently around 1000AD).

I suggest all players hoping to win on deity (for a change) to play this game. Thank you Betruger for sharing this And thanks for getting hatty (randomly I know ), imo too one of the stronges leaders on deity.

 

[Dirk1302]

I will probably play it. Depends a bit on how soon Earthlings Huge map challenge comes online and which level he chooses. Hadn't seen this challenge before either. Leader is great and the start seems ok too. For people who'd like to play a relatively easy deity game i'd also suggest the Gilga game in USun's dual deity challenge (don't know about the Pacal game there).

 

[SnowlyWhite]

still have to play the gilga one in USun's thread...

 

[Earthling]

Can anyone tell me if Cyrus is on the map? (even if it's a spoiler I want to know). If so I'll play it just to kill him, if not I'll still see if I have the time... however have some other games going on.

So here's the story:

I've absolutely hated Cyrus from vanilla civ4, and Hatty when she's with him as well. Cyrus always seems to be a powerhouse AI, even when it doesn't make sense (like when you'd think Asoka or Mansa would be the main rival in the endgame). Both of them expand like crazy, almost more than any other AI, and never seem to draw enough heat from the warmongers to take them down. But on top of all that, this is what is absolutely infuriating: literally every game I can recall that had the two of them together in it sees Hatty become Cyrus' vassal, and not through war either. And it continues to this very day, evil AI lovers from 4000 BC vanilla to 2050 AD BtS...

 

[Bleys]

I don't see why this challenge hasn't attracted more players.

I think there was another Hatty Deity game around this time that got more attention. I seem to remember Rusten taking Biology from Lib in a Hatty game, but it obviously wasnt this one.

 

[mystyfly]

I have a few saves from dirk with "easy" deity games. One of them is with hatty I'm quite sure (I started playing that one too but am far from finished... there was that uber-runaway-zara )...

Anyway, all I can say, my game is alot different that betruger's. What a difference religion makes...

 

[Dirk1302]

, i think you relate to the first "ultimate deity" challenge i posted. While we had prime land ourselves Zara was strong in that game, i conquered a lot of land in that game but was glad to win a diplo in the end since i was heavily out teched by Zara. I think the Gilga game i mentioned is easier.

 

[Sleepless]

Another one who missed this thread. Downloading now and will give it a go.

I'm sure Dirk didn't really mean the last Gilga game was easy (must be because I managed to win it).

The Zara game, was that the one with Hattie starting with the fish etc.

P.S Anyone know how to change the name in game. I don't really want to be known as Spazzmaticus.

 

[mystyfly]

@Sleepless: ESC > Your Details. There you can change any name related to your civ/leader (you can change, I think, the Civilization Adjective, so when looking at the culture on a plot it says 100% Sleepless's or so ).

@Dirk: I really should finish that game too tough. Was planning on attacking zara but when he reached rifling the turn before me I stopped playing. Can attack darius > pacal/monty > biz tough, they're a bit behind I find early HE incredibly strong . Oh, and this start had no fish but 3 clams in BFC.

I think this game here is easier than gilga as you don't have many problems with barbs and are not in danger of overexpanding. While you have less land, you certainly have good land with lots of resources.

Seems like a good idea to revive the thread Will post a writeup tomorrow. Now it's time to kick some deity butt

 

[Honkoid]

She's just a great leader, though in this game the leader was randomly chosen (honest )

Yes, of course!
That's why your name is Betru[e]ger
Just kidding

 

[Sleepless]

@Sleepless: ESC > Your Details. There you can change any name related to your civ/leader (you can change, I think, the Civilization Adjective, so when looking at the culture on a plot it says 100% Sleepless's or so ).

:

Thanks mystyfly.

 

[Dirk1302]

@Mystyfly, Sleepless

About Gilga game, don't read if you don't know yet how the map looks.

Spoiler :

The reason i found the Gilga game so easy was just because you could overexpand at will, once you get to currency you break even on every city you build because of trade routes.I just had 18 cities, 15 very good ~ 1200 AD. Settled it all peacefully, relations were no problem in that game. With so many cities and the enormous capital you just reach 1k average research average between 1000-1500 ad enough to outresearch even deities. So you reach critical wonders/corps first just sailing home. In the Hatty game i at least had to fight, not enough land to go peaceful there with Zara around.

 

[Sleepless]

@Mystyfly, Sleepless

About Gilga game, don't read if you don't know yet how the map looks.

Spoiler :

The reason i found the Gilga game so easy was just because you could overexpand at will, once you get to currency you break even on every city you build because of trade routes.I just had 18 cities, 15 very good ~ 1200 AD. Settled it all peacefully, relations were no problem in that game. With so many cities and the enormous capital you just reach 1k average research average between 1000-1500 ad enough to outresearch even deities. So you reach critical wonders/corps first just sailing home. In the Hatty game i at least had to fight, not enough land to go peaceful there with Zara around.

@Dirk1302 regarding Gilga game

Spoiler :

I agree for a deity game it was relatively easy but for me no deity game is easy. I suffered a lot with the barbs early on. Then having to deal with a runaway Justinian who had everyone bar me and Stalin as vassals. I've learned to have a healthy regard for nukes from that game. I put a screenshot of a healthy stack Justinian was sending at me at the end of that game. I'd already destroyed another big stack just before that. But most importantly for me that was my first deity win so don't mind if it was to easy they all count.

 

[Dirk1302]

@Sleepless

Spoiler :

I read indeed that the barbs can make more trouble than they did in my game. With so many room it doesn't matter too much imo if you're a little later with getting all the cities online as long as you can get them all. You'll catch up eventually and with trade it usually brings you to the same spot 1500 AD. I didn't get the chance to trade too much because i was just ahead too much.

But i do agree that a runaway Justin would have made my game much more difficult. He wasn't that far behind in my game, with some successful wars he would have been bigger, could have lead to a different game indeed.

Congrats on the win.

 

[mystyfly]

Oi, you to, also playing that game? There is a thread about the gilga game you know

@honkoid: Somehow, this was my first reaction too But honestly, I don't care...

I played a bit further, now at 1100AD. Just broke the 1k-mark beakerwise (now that I turn off research temporarily ). I'm afraid you'll have to wait for the report until I'm done, the game is in the bag (tough one never knows on deity, they say ).

 

[Sleepless]

Short report - 1000BC

Spoiler :

I started by moving the warrior 1NW to see what the land looked like and spotting a plains forested deer decided to settle on the wine. First hut popped a scout then some gold from the rest I found. I've had the pleasure of meeting Charlie/Isa Buddhists and Sal/Wil Hindus. Met Sal/Wil by their boats so looks like I will become a buddhist as well. The other alternative is to build the S. Paya (if I can) with gold and plenty of forests to chop in Thebes I should get it very quickly then take FR. (edit or stay in NSR would prefer FR though).

No real problem with barbs although they have settled a city in an awkward place. Hopefully I will be able to take it first. Just need to build some military.

Tech wise no-one has Alpha yet. Hopefully they haven't done the same as me and teched Aesth with the plan to trade for it.

Current lands.



I wanted to settle a city by the ivory first but Charlie is coming down from the North so just settled Ele to help block him. If I can take the barb city and settle a city NW of the ivory I will have some reasonable land to work with/backfill. Now all I have to do is avoid being attacked.