GOTM 114 -- First Spoiler to 1AD

[kcd_swede]

GOTM 114 - The Immortal Napoleon - First Spoiler

[img=right]http://gotm.civfanatics.net/civ4games/images/gotm114civ.jpg[/img]


Use this thread to tell us what happened in your game, up to 1AD! How did it go?
Had any wars?
Conquer any Civs?
Build any Wonders?
Any weird barbarian activity?



Stop! If you are participating in GOTM 114, then you MUST NOT read this thread unless EITHER

• You have reached at least 1 AD in your game, OR
• You have submitted your entry

Posting Restrictions

• Please do not disclose ANY events or information gained post 1 AD.
• Please do not reveal your final result if that happened after 1 AD.
• Please do not discuss the location of resources that may not show up before 1 AD. (Iron is OK, coal and oil are not)
• Please do not reveal names or locations of any civilization not accessible by galleys.
• Do not post any savegame file from the game. Discussions and screenshots are fine but not actual games

 

[PattonTwo]

I'll look forward to seeing how others are doing because I feel like I'm incredibly far behind.

I started towards optics but was distracted going for what seemed necessary techs (mining/BW, myst for oblisk) and fighting barbs. Thankfully no barb disasters but had to produce more and better units.

Happiness has been a problem with no resources. I made a major navigation mistake early on. Built my first ship and found the east side of the barb island. It was clearly an island and I noticed the civ to the southeast (china? - I'm not at the game) and so met them and then navigated clockwise around their continent then finished navigating clockwise around my continent. Finally after all that sailing I figured I'd get around to scouting the west side of the barb isle and was shocked to meet Russia. It turns out that those two civs hadn't met so it wouldn't have helped me get any tech trades.

By the time they met I had currency (before optics due to cashflow) but no one needed it (except Khan who wouldn't trade with me for unknown reasons). Have had zero tech trades and am about 8 techs behind everyone else. My only hope is my early game REXing will give me some catch up chances. I took the easier save so it's not quite so hopeless but I don't know if I'll win this game. I have 8 cities at this point.

I'm hoping to learn from some of the more successful games. =)

 

[Jastrow]

With no happy, and no high coin resources, I suspect everyone will be behind when meeting the AI (At least on the Immortal save). I certainly way.

I also had a bit of bad luck. On the very turn I made first contact, I had an AI (which I was sure had way more power than me) demand a tech. I gave it to him, not wanting to piss off my nearest neighbour (and also needed to open borders to be able to meet others), and as it turns out, that was the ONLY tech I had he did not. On the other hand, he had about 10 techs I did not.

On the plus side, I survived the barb onslaught (There was something weird about it, but commenting further could be spoilerish, so I will save it for the final spoiler.). I was a bit lucky there and one a few critical battles at OK, but not great (~70%) odds. The result is my rex is still rolling along nicely. I am at about 12 cities, but my economy is barely brekaing even at 10% research. I am closing in on COL, and will revolt to caste system in a few turns, which will allow me to run merchants to help the recovery. The questions is: am I too far behind, or can I still catch the AI? I am optimisitic that the rex will pay devidence and that I will catch them eventually, but only if I can keep the peace for long enough.

I dont have any notes at 1AD, and am further along than that now, so I dont want to say anything more detailed in this tread and risk spoilers.

 

[High King J.J.]

I am at about 12 cities

12 cities on immortal at 1AD. Yes, you are definitely not behind me.

I won't reveal the number of my few cities at 1AD, not that I remember it anymore anyway. It took some time to confirm we started alone. Barb border blocks all trade to the west. Immortal AI's are way ahead of mortal players. Barbs are not nice but it's not the complete massacre I expected.
Built the S-Henge. Was building the Pyras but got failure gold instead. Can't remember the dates of other wonders so can't say anything else.

 

[Minou]

Interesting game - I thought there would be two Civs per continent and also expected the pre-founded Barb city to be on the starting continent, so it took many turns of scouting for it to dawn on me that I was "alone". Actually, I wish we did start completely alone because Animals ate my first 3 Warriors and a Barb killed my 4th. Expansion was slowed by the Immortal maintenance costs and the constant Barb attacks. It took me a long time to send a boat out to explore and find the Barb island, and then start finding AIs (kind of thought Optics would be needed so I delayed the boat).

During the BC years I built Stonehenge, Pyramids, and GLH. Did not attempt Oracle. Representation happiness was really nice given the single Luxury resource available, and free border pops were useful. GLH is only OK, because I have yet to clear out the blockading Barb island for trade routes. In fact, those barbs have started building Axes so it may take me quite some time. Will be interesting to hear how early others took out the barbs.

At 1AD I have 8 cities and have contacted 5 AIs and just got Alphabet which gave me 4 techs and 120 gold, and will hopefully let me grab another 3-4 in trade next turn. I settled the first GP in desperate need of the gold and Rep beakers, and will use the second GP for Theology to get religion happiness if it is a Prophet since happiness is limiting. Not sure where to aim in terms of victory, but at Immortal I think I'll be satisfied just to hang on for any type of win.

 

[enKage]

What a nightmare o_O

I never play (OK, very very rarely) Vanilla, but the start looked so promising.... I suppose immortal on Vanilla = Deity BtS, right?

As soon as border popped, I noticed small island south, so it was sure to go GLH. But I didnt know, treades will be the same as on main land I was very very angry, because it was my 3rd city and was left without food at all, not bringing any additional commerce I expected.

My 2nd city went west, 1S from Sheep, so I could start workboat using capitol mine, so my exploration seems quite good.
I know the whole shore of southern island, and have OB with all AIs I met. But of course no benefit, becuse of barb city, also with southern continent.

Happiness and health is madness. I didnt expected I will turn unlucky leaving capitol with no defence at size 4. Now I know that on Vanilla civ there is no charismatic Nap. At least iIndustrious helped with GLH. (giving +2 commerce per city -_- , great).

Then came the worst: endless horde of barbs from the east (west I had fogbusted). And of course it came when I had nothing else than warriors. Archers were coming in pauirs and triplets, I hadnt have a chance of using stone even, as it was constantly pillaged by archers before their suicide on Paris.
Of course axes also came. Fighting shock warriors against axes is awesome.

When I finally got horses and 2 chariots, I could at least move barbs outside my borders. Now I have even 1 axe! Hah!

I hope Mongolia has similar problems with barbs

350 BC was a bless. Gold popped on capitol hill! I also finally conected dumbos, so my happy cap is even 6!!

----------

Now on 1 AD
7 cities, 5 mainland, 2 on islands
25 population (hah! even 2 scientists!)
5 AIs met, OB with everyone but of course no foreign routes -_-). I am glad with my exploration even though interior of my home continent s not known to me in eastern part)

Infra:
1 farm, 4 pastures, 1 camp, 5 cottages, 4 hamlets, 9 mines, 1 quarry, 3 nets, 4 workers
LHs, Obelisks, Granary x3, Barracks Libraries x2, GLH
Capitol: 31 base commerce on size 6 = 38 research. Barracks, LH, GLH, Gran, Libr

Techs: eficciency: 40%, 92 research on 100%, 15 turns tto Great merchant (I hope for no barn galley when I will send Trade Mission.
Known techs: whole 1stt tier, Masonry, BW, Sailing, Pottery, Writing, AH, HBR. Heading to maths, next construction to clean those barbs on island!

-------

I am not sure if I am patient enough to follow. One of the AIs with Mids and Oracle is sooooo ahead! Even much better than most of other AIs!

 

[c00per]

Had any wars?

Unlimited barb wars. For a period they were coming almost non stop, but nothing disastrous.

Conquer any Civs?

Not funny =/

Build any Wonders?

Stonehenge, Pyramids, lost TGL...

Any weird barbarian activity?

None at all. Except for that hills+100%+copper+iron combo monster thing. Like mainland barbs and immortal difficulty wasn't enough. Thanks a lot.

I was thinking of domination, but currently it seems like any victory will be good enough. I expanded like always very slowly, but this time it might have been the good thing. Meeting most of AIs quite early and trading some techs helped me to stay almost on par with AIs, so it doesn't seem hopeless yet.

The only thing I fear now is the always land hungry Russia with her crazy, murderous, treacherous and lying pos leader mr. P. Better prepare some units to kill that mf.

By the time they met I had currency (before optics due to cashflow) but no one needed it (except Khan who wouldn't trade with me for unknown reasons).

I guess it was similar situation to most players. In my game Khan had met only me and it stayed that way for a long long time after 1 AD. Thinking that he's the only one who has a certain tech, he wouldn't trade it with me - what a loser

 

[kcd_swede]

I guess it was similar situation to most players. In my game Khan had met only me and it stayed that way for a long long time after 1 AD. Thinking that he's the only one who has a certain tech, he wouldn't trade it with me - what a loser

In situations like that, it is advisable to get him to Friendly status, in which case he will be willing to trade the techs (he thinks) he has a monopoly on.

Share a religion, a fav civic, give a resource for 10+ turn, liberate a city or two to him, and give in to all his demands. BFF in no time.

BTW.you shouldn't really mention anything after 1AD in THIS thread.