GOTM 51: Second Spoiler:

[Obormot]

Looking at retrospect, I can say, that Bottom Techs was unnecessary. Probably it was better to build banks after Navigation and Chivalry and finish game with Knights.

Yes, 600-700AD domination was definitely possible with knights, but i think that a safely played conquest required cavalry. In my game for example France had musketeers everywhere. Of course with luck even knights conquest was possible: AI could research the top branch only and/or all the saltpeter sources could be disconnected early enough to prevent musketeers (but nodody knew where the saltpeter is at the point when you needed to take the decision). Also killing everybody with knights was propanbly a little easier in the open class, but still cavalry was a safer way.

 

[Paul#42]

To “participate” in conflict I organize “suicide bridge”, when no trrops at risk and 1 Galley may gone.

I cannot believe there was something left for me to learn about ship-chaining...
Till I saw this I relied on a galey to survive one turn on the ocean

What do you think how many units I had left waiting several turns for finally a galley to survive on an ocean tile

Thanks for sharing this information...

To my own progress:
I waited with warfaring till I had MT and Astronomy.
I played sloppy. I reached IA and railroading through trading and discovered I had only 10 workers
That was not even enough to make my usual disconnect and connect game with Iron and Saltpeter I had enough money though: At some point I had ~5000g which was a new Middle Ages best for me

By the time I took part in war, Abe was defeated by Monti and Joan had Riflemen.
I founded some towns in former America. I allied with Monti to weaken both. But Monty was making short work of Joan and I had to hurry to get some of her towns by blocking Monty's forces and giving Joan chance to recover. My only leader placed my capital in some central french town. I had handbuilt FP in Toledo long ago.
I then placed cheap units on all of Monty's resources and commit rop-rape as soon as Joan was gone.
But Monty was a tough opponent, he had lots of cavs and some rifles, too (I did not) so my stacks were attacked often and successful.

But in the end, superior production came through and I managed a surprising nice Jason of 8116 with a Domination Victory in 1435.

I did not like this one too much as I was sinking several galleys before finally giving up the systematic crossing of units before astronomy. I should have put more stress on balancing those three rivals but I was so focused to catch up in tech by finally getting chemistry...

[Edits: spelling and expressions]

 

[Niklas]

I did a final rush for it, but with 6 minutes left to deadline I have to admit defeat. 3 weeks is simply to short for me.

I'm at 740 AD, France is gone and America down to one town. Aztecs are tough, but they have no iron (and no Gunpowder) so my superior numbers should wear them down in a few turns. It would have been a close call to beat Obormot's 850 AD conquest, but not impossible. Gah.

 

[Paul#42]

I did a final rush for it, but with 6 minutes left to deadline I have to admit defeat.

Why didn't you try playing those 30 minutes and have a try? Maybe the submission form is not so accurate or even defect and you could manage to sneak in?
I won't consider this as cheating...
Having gone so far I would at least try ...

You will complete it anyway, won't you?

 

[Kulko]

Hi all,

I know I am a bit late, but for my first GOTM I prefered a small map. I have no real expirience at Emperor so I went Conquest format, which was probably the smart thing to do, as things look a bit bleak now.

Ancient Age

I started with cities on the 3 gold hills and then settled the eastern part of Iberia, before running into the first babarians. This decision was probably already the end of the beginning, as I was missing out on the fertile west with the third luxury for far too long.

The second big mistake was not to focus on galleys harder, as it took me far too long to find the mainland. Nevertheless, the ancient age went well, as I was able to keep pace with the AIs and got most wonders I wanted (Colossus, Lighthouse). But due to not playing CIV3 for a while, I forgot to research for Literature and got beat to the GL.

Also due to that fatal eastward focus, I was sailing that way needing 4 turns to find the other continent bbefore sinking. from then on, I tried the proven rooute, sinking for another 400 years before finally meeting them at 400 AD.

Middle Ages

By now I had no idea how to beat all there Knights and MI with my poor archers, so I meekly sat around and traded hoping to stay ahead in Culture.
Meanwhile Monty beat Abe, building a huge empire, but loosing the tech race even to me. I stole a few techs from the french, to stay in loose contact, about 2-3 techs back, but falling behind in culture even more.

Industrial Age

I got my hand for a few turns on iron, build some ironclads and a basic railroad framework, while Monty turn on the cultural minded lady. Unfortunately his Tech disadvantage is to big by now, and he is loosing rapidely. I had luck with rubber (getting 1) but lost out on Oil again, so now I am building up a army of infantry.

I am now seeing clearly, that I need to stop France somehow, so I made a pact with America to build up some Army on the Mainland. She Might have Tanks by now, but a surprise attack on all her Ressources might stop her build up for a few turns, while getting hold of a port city.

Nevertheless I Assume, I will loose out to a domination Victory rather sooner than later. But still I think it was an ok Expirience for my first clash at emperor level.