GOTM 140 Spoiler

[Ali Ardavan]

It is rare that I get to play a game shortly after it is posted. But in this case, not having a game for Dec and Jan meant that my earlier games were already finished.

Noticing very early on that purple is in I am very likely going for a space victory.

The very early years were remarkable for bad hut luck: Horseback riding, empty, 50g, warrior code. These delayed Monarchy past -1000.

I ran into Carthaginians soon and tried to appease them with tech gifts. That worked for a while, but then they turned against me and I had some serious losses to them: 2 units and a city. Fortunately the city was already size 2 so it was not razed and can be bribed back.

I porobably have to eliminate Carthaginians from the game.

 

[Ali Ardavan]

Date Notes
-4000 Settler moves SE.
-3950 Rivals are Celt, Aztec, Indian. Persepolis founded on forest. Warrior started.
-3900 -> Bronze. Carthaginians are also in. There is one key civ hole for the weakest civ.
-3800 Warrior produced. Settler started.
-3750 The other two specials are wheat and grassy Silk.
-3700 Horseback riding from hut.
-3350 Empty hut.
-3300 Size 1 settler produced.
-3200 50g from hut.
-3150 Pasargadae founded.
-2850 Bronze -> Alphabet.
-2650 Warrior Code from hut. What an awful hut luck.
-2550 Susa founded.
-2300 Alphabet -> Code of Laws.
-2100 Arbela founded on the lake.

Status at -2000
Population: 0.06M; Cities: 4; Techs: 4; Government: Despotism
Gold: 13; Cost: 0; Trade routes: 0D0F;
Wonders:
Units: 2 warriors
Goals: Monarchy, Trade
Celt: no contact
Aztec: no contact
Carthaginian: no contact
Indian: no contact

-1750 Antioch founded.
-1700 Laws -> Burial.
-1400 Tarsus founded.
-1350 Gordium founded.
-1250 Burial -> Monarchy.
-1200 Advanced tribe founds Bactra.

Status at -1000
Population: 0.1M; Cities: 8; Techs: 6; Government: Despotism
Gold: 9; Cost: 0; Trade routes: 0D0F;
Wonders:
Units: 3 settlers, 2 warriors
Goals: Monarchy, Trade
Celt: no contact
Aztec: no contact
Carthaginian: no contact
Indian: no contact

-0950 Advanced tribe founds Sidon. Warrior runs into Carthaginian elephant and gives them Bronze for peace. My power is already Supreme.
-0925 Monarchy -> Currency. Monarchy established. T3L0S7.
-0875 Tyre and Sardis founded.
-0800 Samaria and Hamadan founded.
-0775 Currency -> Mapmaking. Alphabet, Monarchy -> Carthaginian (5) -> Iron working. They also have wheel and Polytheism.
-0750 Ergili founded.
-0650 Mapmaking -> Trade. Cathaginian horseman by defenseless Tyre.
-0625 Dariush Kabir founded. First Trireme produced.
-0575 Carthaginians sneak attack and kill 2 units: a warrior and an archer. Tyre is spared. Kish is founded as the first offshore city on island 8.
-0550 Fresh settler in Tyre survives Carthaginian horse and turns vet.
-0525 Trade -> Writing.
-0500 Carthaginian take defenseless Bactra and Mapmaking.

Status at -0500
Population: 0.34M; Cities: 15; Techs: 11; Government: Monarchy
Gold: 4; Cost: 0; Trade routes: 0D0F;
Wonders:
Units: 6 settlers, 1 warriors, 1 Legion, 1 Trireme
Goals: Conquest of Carthaginians, Marco, Colossus
Celt: no contact
Aztec: no contact
Carthaginian: no embassy
Indian: no contact

 

[Major Advantage]

I started right after the game was posted, so I am already quite far into it. With the game being on king-level, I didn't consider monarchy to be necessary. Without much need for martial law Early Republic might work too/better.

-3950 ... Persepolis founded on forest.

Ok, I see the point (size-1-settler), but I really favour the option to start with a river-city producing 3 beakers, hence double the science output.

-4000: Persepolis founded at starting location, work rivered-forest for warrior & s1-settler
-3950 begin Alph (not sure about mon or rep)
-3800 Warrior explores west
-3750 Alph->Laws
-3700 Warrior pops hut (AT) and founds Pasargadae
-3300 Laws -> Writing
-3250 Empty hut, 50g from hut
-3150 Susa founded
-2900 Writing -> Bronze, HBR from hut
-2550 Arbela founded
-2500 Antioch
-2450 Chariot from hut
-2400 Bronze->Lit.
-2300 Tarsus founded

Stats at -2000
pop.: 80k; cities: 6; techs: 5; gov: Desp, gold: 30, cost per turn: 0
units: 1 settler, 1 dip, 3 fighting units
wonders: -

AI: no contact

plan: Republic, trade, Marco; expand; there is a 4-special-site in the north that might suit as SSC

-1950 Lit.->Rep.; Burial from hut
-1900 Gordium founded
-1800 Advanced Tribe (Bactra) at 25,49, and a barb horse from the hut east of it
(Barb horses ignores dip and heads for Bactra)
-1750 Sidon founded
-1700 Chariot kills barb horse
-1650 Neares city info tells me the dip is near Utica
-1550 Currency from hut, Tyre founded
-1450 Republic (Revolt&Establish)->Trade
-1400 AT(Sardis)
(Carthage Elephant encounters dip, refuse paying 50g, war and dip killed)
-1350 Samaria founded, some gold spent
-1250 Hail Carths, give Bronze, peace, they offer poly, denied
-1200 Trade->Mapmaking
-1100 Hamadan founded
-1050 Ergili founded

Stats at -1000
pop.: 280k; cities: 14; techs: 10; gov: Rep, gold: 34, cost per turn: 0
units: 4 settler, 0 dip, 4 fighting units, 1 van
wonders: -

AI:
Carth: ? cities, ? techs, ?, peace

plan: build Marco soon, expansion, wonders

 

[Ali Ardavan]

Ok, I see the point (size-1-settler), but I really favour the option to start with a river-city producing 3 beakers, hence double the science output.

If all I wanted was a size 1 settler I would have gone for the rivered forest like you did. Not seeing any other good city sites in the near vicinity I wanted a 4 and not a 2 special site for my future science city. The two gained specials (wheat and rivered grassy silk) will be quite valuable in the mid and late game. My dumb mistake was picking Bronze for my first tech which only makes sense in the absence of huts. My awful early hut luck however has been the biggest culprit in my poor results so far.

 

[Major Advantage]

If all I wanted was a size 1 settler I would have gone for the rivered forest like you did. Not seeing any other good city sites in the near vicinity I wanted a 4 and not a 2 special site for my future science city. The two gained specials (wheat and rivered grassy silk) will be quite valuable in the mid and late game. My dumb mistake was picking Bronze for my first tech which only makes sense in the absence of huts. My awful early hut luck however has been the biggest culprit in my poor results so far.

Maybe I am a little too picky (?) regarding the choice of SSC-locations. There are 4 specials, but only 2 trade-specials, a lot of rivers, but also plains and forests. Plus a forest city to begin with. With all that in mind I decided to choose building more cities making use of the river.
Have you considered going for republic instead of monarchy? I did not regret my choice but I'm not sure if it was the best.

My next 1000 years:

-975 Hm, there might be a great SSC-site at 37,59: gems, whale, hidden silk and plenty of rivers. Far away from home and close to Carths though...
-925 two turns until Marco's, science gets cancelled completely, rather waste 20% Lux than a tech discovery
(Celts begin Pyramids)
-875 Marco built in Susa
Aztecs: get Mapmaking, Seafaring, peace, maps
Celts: Get Masonry, peace, maps
India: Get Mysticism, peace, maps, gift some techs as key-civving
Carth: maps
Don't care for pottery, poly, ironw. and warrior code now
No need for LH to trade with Carth & India. Wonders to go for: Pyramids, Michelangelo, Leonardo, SSC-wonders
Eureka founded at possible SSC-site
-850 Researching Math
-800 Math->Philo; Ghulaman, Zohak founded
-725 Barb Archer near Pasargadae! That's bad no defender nearby... Prepare bribe-back; Istakhr founded
(Pasa lost, and 1 warrior in the wild, 1 van quickly put into wonder in Persepolis)
-700 Pasa bribed back for 52g, get Archer with it
-650 Philo->Construction->University; get wheel from celts, poly from Carth
-625 Jinjan founded
-600 Borazjan founded, first trade: 104g for offshore hides
-575 1st riots by riot factor, 80g for more offshore hides, Pyramids will be done in 2 turns ... unless... hail Aztecs, get poetry, switch to HG
-525 Univ.->Medicine; HG built, Herat founded
-450 Celts begin Colossus; Dakyanus, Bampur founded
(Another Barb Archer outside Pasargadae)
-325 Med.->Mono, switch to Elephant in Persepolis
-300 wine(d)150g, hides(d) 136g
-250 Mono -> Engineering; Barb Archer dies during attack, Ele hunts down leader for 100g, get Engin. & Ironw. from Carths
-225 Researching Bridge
-200 Pyramids built in Pasargadae
-175 Eureka market place
-150 Eureka Colossus
-125 Bridge -> Chem; dye(d) 192g
-100 Raise Lux to 20 to avoid riots, still 3 turns until Michelangelo
-25 Michealangelo built
+1 Chem->Sanitation

Stats at +1
pop.: 2.08M; cities: 23; techs: 27; gov: Rep, gold: 35, cost per turn: 1 Trade routes: 0D6F
units: 14 settler, 3 dip, 6 fighting units, 12 van, 1 boat
wonders: Marco's, HG, Pyramids, Colossus, Michelangelo

AI: 2-5 cities, enthusiastic, peace

plan: build SSC wonders, extend trade, build shipchains, expand overseas.

 

[That Scott Dude]

Gosh -- I didn't know I was supposed to take notes!

-4000: Started game.
+1950: Finished game.

 

[That Scott Dude]

Wow. I checked my score, and I see now how much importance there is to ending the game as early as possible. Ending the game in 1950 yielded a GOTM score of 95.6. If I had ended it in 1750, my GOTM score would have been a whopping 25,248!!! The scoring formula exponentially weighted in favor of winning the game as quickly as possible. This seems a little crazy to me since it effectively eliminates gameplay in the modern era. GOTM players are really only playing part of the game.

I am not accustomed to playing in a manner that ends my game so quickly. Between now and the next GOTM, the task in front of me is clear: to hone my strategies and learn how to play Civ 2 in a way that ends the game as early as possible. Any advice?

 

[Major Advantage]

Welcome Dude!

Gosh -- I didn't know I was supposed to take notes!

Well, you are not supposed/obliged to do so, but if you do, you can compare your game to others and you might receive some helpful comments on how to improve your game. (A lot of the people around here enjoy to talk and to philosophize about this game and there are hardly any occasions for that in RL )

I am not accustomed to playing in a manner that ends my game so quickly. Between now and the next GOTM, the task in front of me is clear: to hone my strategies and learn how to play Civ 2 in a way that ends the game as early as possible. Any advice?

It is not just about earliness, it's about efficiency. You build up score by game score (population+wonders+spaceship) and the score is cut down by time. The key for the gold star is to build up score-points, finish the game and do not spend to many game turns on doing so. But there also is the green star (earliest finish) and the blue star (highest game score) to be won.

 

[Ali Ardavan]

Wow. I checked my score, and I see now how much importance there is to ending the game as early as possible. Ending the game in 1950 yielded a GOTM score of 95.6. If I had ended it in 1750, my GOTM score would have been a whopping 25,248!!! The scoring formula exponentially weighted in favor of winning the game as quickly as possible.

You got the concept right but you are doing the arithmetic wrong. You lose just under 2% of your score per turn. Assuming you do not improve your raw Civ2 score at all, this translates into a half-life of around 40 turns. (Every 40 turns your GOTM score is half as much as it was at the beginning.) 1750 to 1950 is 150 turns which translates roughly into a factor of 16 (2^4). 95.6 times 16 is less than 1600 not over 25000.

See http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=406106&postcount=37
for more details.

The reasons for this score formula are two: one is practicality and the other is the challenge value. Civ2 games can get extremely time consuming in later years. Once you have a modern empire of 150+ cities each turn takes well over an hour. To play all the way to or close to the end (2020) in a month would require playing hours every night. At that point it is not a game anymore; it is a half time job approaching a full time one. The second reason is the challenge value. Once you are the dominant power increasing your score by increasing your population is hardly a challenge for an experienced player. Anyone can do it. Not having speed factored in would mean that to score big you have to keep going till 2020 monotonously increasing your population (the only thing left to do past a certain point). This is a lot of time spent for very little challenge.

This seems a little crazy to me since it effectively eliminates gameplay in the modern era. GOTM players are really only playing part of the game.

Not true. If you look at the archives you will see many landing finishes. To launch a space ship you must get deep into the modern era. What we do not often see, however, is modern warfare in regular GOTMs. Conquest players typically finish the rivals off before Industrialization. Landing players typically avoid warfare via diplomacy and try not to let rivals acquire modern military techs. That is part of the reason we play special maps and scenarios on a fairly regular basis. GOTM 138 was such a scenario designed by one of the regulars around here (Prof. Garfield) and gave us a good dose of modern warfare with an emphasis on naval warfare.

 

[That Scott Dude]

You got the concept right but you are doing the arithmetic wrong.

I meant to say 1500 AD -- the 200th turn. And I think you're right about my arithmetic. But the fact remains: even though I got 273% in the game, my GOTM score is going to end up being pathetically low!

The reasons for this score formula are two: one is practicality and the other is the challenge value.

I can understand this. I finished the game but the amount of time I put in to get to 1950 AD was more than my wife was happy with (of course, I didn't have to cram it all into 5 days, but I was enjoying myself)!

Conquest players typically finish the rivals off before Industrialization. Landing players typically avoid warfare via diplomacy and try not to let rivals acquire modern military techs.

Apparently, I have a lot to learn in order to master those abilities. Thankfully, there is this great forum and all the resources here. And watch out -- I'll be practicing!

 

[haleewud]

Gosh -- I didn't know I was supposed to take notes!

-4000: Started game.
+1950: Finished game.

Don't worry about it. When I first joined and played my first GOTM, I didn't take notes either. Of course, now I think I have gone off the deep end. I write down everything that happens in the game. Every Partial Rush Build, every attack, etc. Of course, nobody really wants to see every little detail, so I have to edit it down to the important facts before posting.

So good luck in the future and welcome.

 

[haleewud]

-4000 to +1

-4000 Persepolis founded
-3950 Start Alphabet
-3600 Alphabet -> Ceremonial Burial
-3350 Settler (size 1)
-3300 Pasargadae founded
-3200 CB -> Bronze Working
-3050 Hut -> Horse

stats at -3000:
pop.: .04M; cities: 2; techs: 2, gov: Despotism, gold: 24; trade routes: 0D0F; cost/turn:0
units: Warrior, Horsemen
wonders: None
Footprint: 2 cities in Persia

Celts: No Contact
Aztecs: No Contact
Carthaginians: No Contact
Indians: No Contact


-2850 Persepolis Settler, BW -> Code of Laws (36), Hut -> 50g
-2750 Susa founded
-2450 CoL -> Monarchy (55)
-2300 Pasargadae and Persepolis settlers

stats at -2000:
pop.: .09M; cities: 3; techs: 4, gov: Despotism, gold: 125; trade routes: 0D0F; cost/turn:0
units: 2 Settlers, 1 Warrior, 1 Horseman
wonders: None
Footprint: 3 cities in Persia

Celts: No Contact
Aztecs: No Contact
Carthaginians: No Contact
Indians: No Contact


-1950 T/L/S = 6/3/1 (to delay Monarchy - tech cost is now 50)
-1900 Susa Settler, T/L/S = 6/2/2
-1850 Monarchy -> Currency (), REVOLUTION, Monarchy established, T/L/S = 3/0/7
-1750 Persepolis Settler
-1650 Pasargadae Settler, Hut -> Barb Horse, Kill Barb Horse, Arbela founded
-1600 Hut -> Archer
-1500 Antioch founded
-1350 Currency -> Trade (84), Susa Settler
-1200 Indians destroyed by Celts, Persepolis Settler, Tarsus founded
-1150 Gordium founded
-1050 Pasargadae Settler, Hut -> Horse
-1000 Trade -> Map Making (104)

stats at -1000:
pop.: .17M; cities: 7; techs: 7, gov: Monarchy, gold: 199; trade routes: 0D0F; cost/turn:0
units: 4 Settlers, 1 Warrior, 1 Archer, 2 Horsemen
wonders: None
Footprint: 7 cities In Azteca

Celts: No Contact
Aztecs: No Contact
Carthaginians: No Contact
Indians: Destroyed


-950 Bactra founded, Hut -> 50g, Hut -> 50g
-925 Meet Carthaginians, I am Supreme
-900 Susa produces first food caravan
-850 Map Making -> Writing, Arbela food
-825 Tarsus Settler, Antioch Settler
-800 Celts begin Colossus
-775 Persepolis Food
-750 Sidon Founded
-725 Writing -> Mysticism
-675 Gordium Settler, Arbela food, Pasargadae food, 4 food vans to Pasargadae
-650 Pasargadae builds Colossusl Celts switch to LH, Tyre founded, Sardis founded (first non-Persia settlement)
-625 Samaria founded
-600 Mysticism -> Literacy (165)
-550 Bactra Settler, Susa Food
-525 Gordium Dip, Tarsus Wine, Antioch Dye, Persepolis Food, Carths demand 100g, no, War, Kill Carth warrior 4 food vans to Persepolis
-500 Arbela Hides, Persepolis build MPE, bribe Carth Horse for 60, Kill Carth Legion(+Archer)
Contact Aztecs (3), Give Trade, Peace, Trade Monarchy for Literacy, gice currency, maps
Contact Celts (5), Trade Literacy for Iron Working, Peace, maps
Contact Sioux (2), Give Map Making, Peace, Give Literacy + BW, maps
Tech cost now 208

stats at -500:
pop.: .62M; cities: 12; techs: 14, gov: Monarchy, gold: 71; trade routes: 0D0F; cost/turn:0
units: 3 Settler, 1 Warrior, 1 Archer, 3 Horseman, 1 Trireme, 1 Diplomat, 2 Caravans
wonders: Colossus, MPE
Footprint: 11 cities in Persia, 1 on 8

Celts: 5 Cities, 9 Tech, 347 Gold. Peace, Despotism
Aztecs: 3 Cities, 12 Tech, 118 Gold. Peace, Despotism
Carthaginians: 3 Cities, 9 Tech, 341 Gold. War, Despotism
Indians: Destroyed
Sioux: 2 Cities, 8 Tech, 73 Gold. Peace, Despotism

-475 start Philosophy, Pasa Food, Kill Carth warrior, T/L/S = 7/3/0 (to delay Philo/Republic)
-450 Sidon settlers, Kill Carth warrior, Trade with Aztecs IW for Pottery (224), T/L/S = 0/3/7
-425 Philo -> Republic -> Medicine (272), Revolution, Republic established, Hamadan founded, T/L/S = 0/4/6
-350 Susa Hides, Bribe Caralis for ? (83+Polytheism+Warrior), tech cost to 306, Contact Carths, CF, Peace, Give Map Making, exchange Maps, Antioch Dye to Little Big Horn 160, T/L/S = 0/5/5
-325 Medicine -> Monotheism (342), Samaria Settler, Tarsus Wine to LBH 170
-300 Celts nearly done with LH, they develop Masonry and switch to GL
-275 Tarsus Food, Arbela Food, Pasa Food, Perse Food, Monotheism -> Seafaring (380)
-250 Sardis Spice, Susa Food
-225 Susa builds HG, Aztecs change to GL
-200 Arbela Hides to LBH 176
-175 Seafaring -> Banking (560)
-150 Sioux develop Republic, Tyre Settler
-125 Hamadan Settle, Gordium Salt, Pasa Hides, Perse Silk, Sardis Spice to Antioch 228
-100 Tarsus Beads, Susas Food, Trade with Sioux Philo -> Masonry (588)
-75 Sioux Govt overthrown, Celts nealr done with GL, Sardis Dye, Arbela Food, Ergili founded
-50 Sioux Republic established, Cardiff builds GL, Antioch settlers, Arbela builds LH, Aztecs to Oracle, Give Republic to Celts and Carths
-25 Banking -> Construction (616), Sidon Silver, Susa Copper, Susa Hides to LBH 272
+1 Aztecs develop Republic, Tarsus Beads to Wounded Knee 200

stats at +1:
pop.: 1.82M; cities: 15; techs: 21, gov: Republic, gold: 636; trade routes: 2D5F; cost/turn:0
units: 6 Settler, 2 Warrior, 1 Archer, 3 Horseman, 1 Elephant, 3 Trireme, 1 Diplomat, 6 Caravans
wonders: HG, Colossus, LH, MPE
Footprint: 14 cities in Persia, 1 on 8

Celts: 6 Cities, 11 Tech, 445 Gold. Peace, Despotism, GL
Aztecs: 3 Cities, 15 Tech, 194 Gold. Peace, Monarchy
Carthaginians: 3 Cities, 12 Tech, 400 Gold. Peace, Despotism
Indians: Destroyed
Sioux: 3 Cities, 11 Tech, 167 Gold. Peace, Republic

 

[Ali Ardavan]

-0400 Carthaginians put a legion next to Dariush Kabir. Currency -> Carthaginian -> peace.
-0375 Zohak founded. T7L0S3
-0350 Writing -> Mysticism. Istakhr founded.
-0250 Jinjan founded.
-0175 Persepolis builds Colossus, the first wonder of the world. Carthaginians switch to Lighthouse. Borazjan and Herat founded.
-0150 Dezful founded on island 4.
-0125 Marco built.
Writing, Trade, Monarchy -> Indian (2) -> Mysticism, Pottery, Polytheism, peace, maps
Writing, mapmaking -> Celt (4) -> Wheel, peace, maps, 0g
Writing, Trade, Monarchy -> Aztec (3) -> Math, Seafaring, peace, maps
-0100 -> Astronomy. Bactra bribed for 117g. Got 69g and 3 soldiers. Carthaginians declare war. 4 Carthaginian units killed.
-0075 2 more Carthaginian units killed. Bampur founded.
-0025 Carthaginian kill my legion. Tureng Tepe founded.
+0001 Shush founded.

Status at +1
Population: 0.91M; Cities: 25; Techs: 18; Government: Monarchy
Gold: 42; Cost: 0; Trade routes: 0D0F;
Wonders: Colossus, Marco
Units: 6 settlers, 10 warriors, 3 Phalanx, 1 Archer, 1 Legion, 1 Horse, 1 Elephant, 3 Trireme, 2 Diplomat, 3 vans
Goals: Bribing or capturing Carthaginian Malaca, Expansion in Southern Persia, Trade with Celts and Indians, Hanging Gardens
Footprint: 22 cities in Persia, 1 on island 8, 2 on continent 4
Celt: 6 cities, 15 techs ; War with Indians
Aztec: 3 cities, 13 techs ;
Carthaginian: 5 cities, 13 techs ; War with me
Indian: 3 cities, 14 techs ; War with Celts

 

[scozzy0]

-3950 Persepolis founded on forest. Warriors started
-3900 Start Bronze Working
-3800 Warrior produced. Settler started
-3700 Hut > Nomads
-3500 Hut > 50 gold
-3450 BW > Alphabet
-3400 Hut > Alphabet > Writing (Thought I would try to research-whore to Republic rather than go for Monarchy)
-3250 Settlers produced > Begin Colossus
-3200 Hut > Elephant
-3150 Pasargadae founded. Warrior started
-3000 Hut > Advanced Tribe > Susa founded. Warriors started

 

[Mirmydon]

Gosh -- I didn't know I was supposed to take notes!

I totally forgot to take notes after 1535 and they're not really precise... I also forgot to make intermediate saves... Only got the one before I finish.

Finished with a score of 1741, biggest spaceship launched in 1812 and landed in 1823, so if I make no mistakes it's the turn 293 and my GOTM score should be 182.064.

Here's what I've got :
-4000 : Persépolis founded
-3100 : Pasargades founded
-2600 : Suse founded
-2050 : Arbela founded
- 1950 : Antioche founded
- 1600 : Tarse Founded
- 1450 : Monarchy
-1300 : first hut => horseman
-1150 : hut => 50 gold, hut => archer
-1050 : Gordion founded
-950 : Bactres founded
-900 : hut => archer
-650 : Sidon founded
-625 : hut => warrior code, Tyr founded
-500 : Sardes founded
-450 : hut => 50 gold, Tamarie founded
-425 : hut => chariot
- 400 : hut => barbarians
-375 : Hamadhan founded

+80 : Ergili founded
+180 : Dariush Kabir founded (maybe a mistake, it was very near the Carthaginians and I knew it but with whale and gems special and lots of river I thought it could be a perfect place for SSC but too late, and later the Carthaginians captured it, I bribed it back later, but don't know when... )
+280 : trade techs with Indians (don't know which one...), exchange maps with Indians, tribute from Carthaginians => 50 gold (so at that point it's sure I've built MPE in Persepolis...)
+300 : Ghulaman founded
+360 : Zohak founded
+460 : Istakhr founded (first overseas colony, on island 8)
+580 : Jinjan founded overseas (on island 4) was captured by barbarians and razed by the Celts
+600 : barbarian chief caught for 100 gold
+740 : Borajzan founded overseas on island 2
+760 : Herat founded overseas on island 9 (was captured by barbarians, bribed it back)
+ 860 : Republic
Only from here did I begin the WLTCD and WLTPD growth...
[...]
+1535 : hut => advanced tribe => Dakyanus founded on island 2
+1822 : Altin tepe, Behistoum, Bampur, Kandahar, Tureng Tepe, Merv founded with unoccupied engineers

I also captured a Carthaginian city, Gades, near Ergili. It happened when I was building my spaceship because they used it as airbase for bombers...

I did get two Future Technologies but was disappointed by the Carthaginians as they ended world peace two turns before my spaceship landed so I must have lost 18 or 21 points, not much but still...

I built 23 Wow, AI civs only beat me to Hanging Gardens (didn't have Pottery at that time so built Oracle instead), Great Wall, Theater of Shakespeare (the only real disappointment, I wanted it for Persepolis which was my SSC), Women's Suffrage. I was happy to let them fight for King Richard's Crusade.

A bit disappointed as I didn't trade very well, not enough overseas cities, no shipchains so I did few really interesting deliveries, most of them was to Borajzan and Dakyanus on island 2. I was focused on expansion, growth and WoW, and as usual I must have built too much city improvements... So I only managed a few times to get one-turn techs.

Voilà !

 

[zenon]

I managed to get my good old 2.42 running again and discovered that GOTM is still active. This must be a record
When the starting screen popped up it felt like coming home after a long break. I wanted to play an early landing game again and had fun playing the last week. I chose to play the game without popping huts. I made it to 1 AD yesterday. Here is my log:

GOTM 140
BC
4000 Persepolis founded
3750 Alphabet
3350 size1 settler
3300 Pasargade
3200 Code of Laws
2850 Bronce Working
2750 Susa
2450 Ceremonial Burial
2400 Susa, Arbela
2300 Antioch
2100 Monarchy
2050 Gov. -> Monarchy
1650 Currency, Tarsus, Gordium
1500 Bactra
1450 Sidon
1400 Tyre
1300 Trade, -> gold 70 science 30
1200 Sardis
975 Samaria
925 Hamadan (13th)
825 MPE, Ergili (14th), only 4 AIs in the game, Celts trade for Cartography, maps, Aztecs trade for Writing, Mystizism
775 Literacy, -> gold 30 science 70
725 Carthaginians, give techs, peace, maps
700 Aztecs, trade for Ceramics, maps, Indians, give techs, maps
625 Gov-> Republic
A little early, but difficult to say if waiting 4 or 8 turns would be better
600 dye to Delhi 144g, Carthaginians trade for Masonry
575 Philosophy, Medicine,
550 Dariush Kabir (15th), gems to Delhi 203g
525 Mathematics, Isthmus (16th)
This city is a colony between Indians and Celts. Thanks to the traded maps I discovered this site. It will hopefully allow a ship chain to the Aztecs in the later game.
500 silk to Delhi 216g
475 Hanging Gardens in Pasargade
Pasargade will be my SSC. With 2 silk, 7 river tiles and ocean access it is an acceptable site
450 Astronomy, dye to Delhi 92g
425 Republic established
400 dye to Delhi 100g
375 Carthaginians, trade for Polytheism
350 Construction, dye to Bombay 300g
300 Monotheism
275 Hides to Delhi 108g, dye to Delhi 72g
200 Banking, dye to Cardiff 184g, wine to Cardiff 368g
175 University, Michelangelos, SSC size 8, silk to Delhi 288g, gems 240g, trade for The Wheel
150 Theory of Gravity
125 SSC Aqueduct, dye to Bombay, 224g
100 Colossus, Engineering
75 Barbarians defeated near Dariush, hides to Delhi 96g
50 silk to Delhi 252g
25 Shakespeares, Sanitation, hides to Cardiff 296g, trade for Seafaring
AD
1 SSC size 12
stats: 16 cities, 28 techs,
units: 10 settlers, 1 warrior, 1 crusader, 7 triremes
wonders: MPE, HG, Michelangelos, Colossus, Shakespeares

 

[Inkerman]

zenon writes

I managed to get my good old 2.42 running again and discovered that GOTM is still active. This must be a record

Eight years since your last post, might well be a record.

Great to have you back posting, may this relative newcomer say. Must be something special about Civ2 - in my two years here the forum has enthusiastically also welcomed surprise contributions from other returning gurus (I can think of starlifter and grigor at least.) It is a good game isn't it?

I thought I might try early conquest, but decided that after a bit of a break a more familiar spaceship plan would suit me better. Looks like I was not alone in this approach from the postings I find here... I put the reported AD1 stats in a table with my own added:

            Major    haleewud    Ali      zenon    Inkerman  
cities        23        15        25        16        24
techs         27        21        18        28        19
govt          rep       rep       mon       rep       rep(just)
cost/turn      1         0         0         1+        6
trade       0D6F      2D5F         -       13F?     3D3F
settlers      14         6         6        10         6
army           6         7        17         2        19
trireme        1         3         3         7         7
dips           3         1         2                   5
vans          12         6         3                   6
Wonders        5         4         2         5         3

Looks like Ali is fully justified in bemoaning his start, and there's more military for me, as usual.

I put overlapping cities down early on, but after that I am building fewer and giving each more room, and planning to put more into city improvements than I would in a 7-player Emperor/Deity game. I may also drain a marsh here and there - I know it all doesn't make strict sense. The general plan is for two large cities: the capital founded in the starting square and an SSC at (19,29). I am taking a similar wonder plan to others except for omitting Hanging Gardens.

 

[Ali Ardavan]

Thanks Inkerman for the summary. It is highly unusual for me to have built more cities than anyone else. Looks like we are all going for landing. I am looking forward to the rest of this.

 

[Inkerman]

...in which Inkerman gets a bit behind others in the discovery of Trade and starting work on an SSC.

4000- Found Persepolis. Start CB. Aiming size 1 trick.
3750- Discover CB -> Alphabet.
3300- Discover Alphabet -> Writing. Build settler.
3250- Found Pasargadae (37,31) - close to Persepolis and on a grassed shield, but by sea and on river.
3050- Weeds grow in an old village on the west coast.
3000- Pop hut - mercenary chariot.
2900- Discover Writing -> CoL.
2850- Chariot finds Nomads.
2800- Nomads found Susa (37,19).
2650- Arbela founded (30,26) - it has a gold mine.
2550- Discover CoL -> Monarchy.

2250- Found Antioch (40,28).
2200- Discover Monarchy -> Mapmaking.
Hut - another mercenary chariot.
2100- Revolution.
2050- Become Monarchy.
2000- Pop hut -50g, pop hut -50g.
1900- Pop hut - weeds.
1800- Discover Mapmaking -> Bronze Working. Hut - 50g.
1600- Found Tarsus (27,27). Pop hut -25g. Pop hut -50g.
1550- Meet Carthaginians, give mapmaking, monarchy and alphabet to get map swap. We are supreme and spotless.

1500- Carthags fight barbs, and ignore demand for tribute. Persepolis builds Library.
1450- Carthags brag about Feudalism.
1400- Discover BronzeWorking -> Currency. Found Gordium on Island #8.
Meet Celts, give mapmaking and writing to swap maps.
1300- Found Bactra (38,24).
1200- Persepolis builds Temple.
1100- Discover Currency -> Horseback Riding.
Swap BW to Carthags for Horseback Riding.
1050- ...start on Trade.
1000- Found Sidon and Tyre in homeland, and Sardis halfway towards Carthags.

Summary: 11 cities, 9 techs.
(Major Advantage: 14 cities, 10 techs incl Trade, and already a Republic;
zenon: 11 cities, 7 techs incl Trade;
haleewud: 7 cities, 7 techs incl Trade;
Ali Ardavan: 8 cities, 6 techs.)

SSC
Inkerman - looking to (19,29) Dariush Kabir, not yet founded.
Major Advantage - looking to (37,59) Eureka! not yet founded.
Ali Ardavan - (35, 29) first city built.
zenon - probably (37,31) - second city built.
haleewud - (edited) (37,31) - also second city built.

Coming next: the 1000BC - 1AD stage. Is Major Advantage correct in thinking that maybe he is being too picky about SSC location? In which case so is Inkerman! Will we see zenon and haleewud race ahead on SSC and Trade?

 

[Inkerman]

We know already what happened, this is how I got there.

925- Discover Trade -> Polytheism. Found Samaria.
900- Found Hamadan.
800- Discover Polytheism -> Literacy.
725- Found Ergili on Celtic continent #4.
650- Found Dariush Kabir to be SSC.
625- Van, Gordium-Persepolis, Salt, for 40g.
Van, Pasargadae-Sidon, Hides, for 20g.
600- Discover Literacy -> Mysticism.
550- Van, Arbela-Sardis, Hides, for 32g.

500- Stats: 15 cities, 12 techs.

450- Found Ghulaman and Zohak on our continent.
375- Discover Mysticism -> Philosophy. Found Istakhr on north tip in drained marsh.
325- Two barb appearances. Aztecs start Pyramids. Persepolis completes Marco Polo.

Emissary Indians, give Literacy, Trade, make peace, swap maps.
Emissary Aztecs, give Literacy, Trade, Monarchy, make peace, swap maps.

275- Van, Persepolis-Bombay(Indian), Hides, for 104g.
Found Jinjan on continent #4.
250- Discover Philosophy -> Monotheism -> Republic.
Van, Arbela-Delhi(Indian), Gems for 202g.
Found Borazjan - gives Pasargadae a red person at size 4 with a garrison.
Celts and Indians swap techs.
225- Discover Republic -> Banking. No Revolution although OEDO year.
Found Herat.
200- Found Dakyanus.
175- Found Bampur on landmass #16.
150- Carthags develop Chivalry.
125- Complete Temple in Dariush Kabir.
100- Dariush Kabir completes Colossus.
Indians develop Iron Working.
75- Persepolis builds Michaelangelo.
50- Revolution
25- Become Republic - aim to grow population.
AD1- Indians start Pyramids.
Celts (2) approach, and we give Republic.
Aztecs develop Republic.
Discover Banking -> Medicine.
Lots of WLTC.
Pop hut - Masonry.
Give Republic to Indians (5).
Swap Philosophy to Aztecs(4) for Seafaring.
Give Republic to Carthags (3).
Found Tureng Tepe.

Population: 65 (1.3m) in 24 cities (largest is size 5). 19 techs with 6 more in the wider world.

Particularly striking from the other logs, to me at least, is zenon's SSC already being size 12, and the resulting rate of discoveries.