GOTM 40 Pre-Game Discussion

[Tomoyo]

What are people going to do with their hoplites? They aren't really attack specialists, so what are some tricks to getting them into the mix to start a GA? Or do you avoid that in order to put off the GA until you have more towns

Most likely I'll go send them to attack some random backwards civ in the Modern Age, after I've bombarded their units to one hp. I'll be tryin' for Space, and will avoid The Colossus because I definately want some science wonders.

 

[Gato Loco]

(nominally) Continents? Sounds suspicious. Then again maybe I'm just paranoid from playing COTM 9. Something tells me this is a map edited to maximize the agony caused by those raging barbs. The Greeks are nice, though. Phalanx barbs. I'd probably go NW then place another fishing city on the peninsula. Until I know what the surrounding terrain looks like I'd rather build fairly tightly.

 

[Denniz]

What are people going to do with their hoplites? They aren't really attack specialists, so what are some tricks to getting them into the mix to start a GA? Or do you avoid that in order to put off the GA until you have more towns?

The conventional wisdom about defenders is: don't build them, build offensive units instead. The offensive units count more toward power thereby detering the AI. And you need them to expand your territory to the domination limit as quickly as possible to score well. I might build one later when I'm ready for a GA. (You can always build your UU until you have your GA.)

Also, the last thing you want is an early GA when you are still in despotism. When you want it depends on your vic condition. Compare the impact of a GA when you have a single underdeveloped core vs. later when you have two fully developed cores. No question which is better.

You definately what to check out some of the spoiler threads (especially the QSC [pre-1000BC turns] write-ups) and the War Academy articles.

 

[davidcrazy]

finally the gotm 40 is coming... have been waiting ever since i finished my gotm 39 25 days ago.

 

[ionimplant]

Compare the impact of a GA when you have a single underdeveloped core vs. later when you have two fully developed cores. No question which is better.

but since early game has a larger impace on the future game and your score, as long as GA is not wasted in despotism, early but timely GA may also be good, right?

(nominally) Continents, 70% Ocean. what does nominally mean here? we're on an island?

 

[AlanH]

The biggest problem with an early GA is not the date but the government, often coupled with lack of tile development. In despotism you can lose the benefit of a lot of the extra shields and gold that would be produced becuse they are the third gold or shield on the tile.

 

[Tone]

Compare the impact of a GA when you have a single underdeveloped core vs. later when you have two fully developed cores. No question which is better.

but since early game has a larger impace on the future game and your score, as long as GA is not wasted in despotism, early but timely GA may also be good, right?

For what it's worth I agree with this, as long as you have a reasonably well developed infrastructure to take advantage of the shield and commerce bonus. If your citizens are working too many undeveloped tiles, the GA is 'wasted'.

(nominally) Continents, 70% Ocean. what does nominally mean here? we're on an island?.

I suggest that it means that it is different from the usual (predictable)continents set-up of two main land masses with around 50% of the civs on each of them. Will ainwood be drawn on this? What I am confident of is that it will be difficult to plan early strategy until knowledge of the map develops. I enjoy this type of game.

 

[MeteorPunch]

Quick question about Hoplite - it is upgradeable, even though Civpedia doesn't say?

 

[ainwood]

Quick question about Hoplite - it is upgradeable, even though Civpedia doesn't say?

Yes. It upgrades to a musketman.

 

[Xerol]

Most likely I'll go send them to attack some random backwards civ in the Modern Age, after I've bombarded their units to one hp. I'll be tryin' for Space, and will avoid The Colossus because I definately want some science wonders.

Even if you bombard them down to 1hp, I doubt any AI is going to still have muskets around in the modern age, and the hoplite's 1 attack isn't going to fare too well vs. a redlined rifleman. I'd say find an AI that's running around with cavalries(I've seen it happen a LOT in the MA on regent) and fortify a stack on a mountain. Defensive wins do count towards a golden age, and given the stats, that's probably how you're going to have to trigger it, especially after the early Middle Ages.

 

[Tomoyo]

Ack. I'll try and get one with the Internet or something then. Or maybe I'll get lucky and find a spearman.

 

[MOTH]

In my just completed GOTM39 Japan with their 2 tile city had warriors that would venture out once in a while to try and gete my undefended cities. In fact while I was not paying much attention researching and building my last spaceship part they captured one of my cities with a warrior. I then quickly stepped on them with a Panzer. This was just a couple turns from the end of the game. The arabs meanwhile had spearmen defending their 1 tile city.

The point being, if you sandbox one or two of your opponents it might be possible to have something weak that you can attack late in the game.

 

[MeteorPunch]

How can a early GA be avoided? Do barbarian attacks trigger GA? Will people wait to build Hoplites?

 

[Tone]

How can a early GA be avoided?

Don't build hoplites and be careful about which wonders you build. In the recent zulu game, I didn't build any Impi when fighting the Persians. I took them out with a quick archer strike before they could get iron connected and used a couple of warriors to soak up any persians attacks. I then built a couple when I wanted my GA and attacked Carthage.

Do barbarian attacks trigger GA?

No!

Will people wait to build Hoplites?

I don't know about anyone else but I'll see what the opposition is, where they are and what resources they have. I doubt that I'll build any early on though. I rarely build spears, so I can't imagine building hoplites until I am ready to spark a GA.

 

[Redbad]

Does any of you foggazers have any idea if there is something special about the tile N-NW.? I see a suspicious colouration.

 

[MeteorPunch]

Looks like plains...

 

[MOTH]

Does any of you foggazers have any idea if there is something special about the tile N-NW.? I see a suspicious colouration.

I saw the same color distortion. I'm fairly certain that this just a river bend or tributary giving this color. I say there is a small chance it is bonos of some sort, but being on plains it is of limited usefullness.

 

[AlanH]

In GOTM 21 I didn't build hoplites until very late on, then I only built a few as cheap units to upgrade through rifles to infantry to MI. That was in the early days, of course, when I used to build units with more defence than attack points . I don't recall how I triggered my GA. I'll have to go back and read my spoilers

 

[Niklas]

@ainwood: Will you reveal the number of rival civs?

 

[ionimplant]

i'm a big fan of puttomg as many cities around my capitol as possible so that there can be more productive cities in the early stage when food isn't a problem. it seems moving NW is the only choice. i can suqeeze one city to enjoy the two fish.