Hatty - Monarch Cookbook Mark II (IC concurrent)

[lymond]

Welcome to the Monarch Cookbook Mark II

The Monarch Cookbook is a concurrent succession game series to help readers learn how to play and win at Monarch level in Civilization 4: Beyond the Sword, v3.19.

Here is a link to the Emperor Cookbook Bullpen (yet unchanged) for more info on past games:

Emperor Cookbook Bullpen

Some of you may be familiar with the previous Emperor Cookbook games. We decided to raise the level of difficulty to Immortal because we are always playing from the best save and we were often over engineering saves to make them more of a challenge. Due to the newly increased difficulty of the cookbook series, Gumbolt and I decided to run a Monarch Cookbook to make this game more accessible to less experienced players. The Monarch Cookbook will used the same exact save as the Immortal Cookbook, but tailored to the Monarch difficulty level.

In a change to previous Cookbooks we will play rounds up to 1300ad. At this point we will either elect a method to complete game by or decide if another round is really needed.

The Cookbooks appear designed as a competition. However, they are more about the learning experience and gaining skills to reach the next level. Expect contributions and feedback from more experienced players than myself.

Our Monarch Cookbook game features Hatty. We will be playing at Monarch difficulty, Epic, with a standard sized map. Huts and events are disabled for this game, as they tend to make things more random.

Here is the info on our leader, her unique unit and building as well as our starting position and settings:




Our Fearless Leader:

Spoiler :

UU:

Spoiler :

UB:

Spoiler :

Starting position:

Spoiler :

Settings :

Spoiler :

========

prior rounds:

Spoiler :

Round one lasts from 4000 BC - 1500 BC.

Please play this Round and submit your Report into this thread by 22th August 2010 if possible. (We will generally try to follow the same timeline as the IC. Time frames may change once game is up and running)

Round 2 lasts from 1500 BC - 400 AD (100 turns - I think)

Please play this round and submit your report by Midnight EST on Sunday, August 29th, with voting to occur the subsequent couple of days.

Current Round:

Round 3 lasts from 400 AD - 1400AD

Please play this round and submit your report by Noon EST on Sunday, September 5th, with voting to occur the subsequent couple of days.


IMPORTANT : Please use spoilers if you want to discuss opening strategies prior to starting the round. Please don't view spoilers until after you have completed your round. This does you and others a disservice.

At the end of your Round, please remember to name your save with your name, game and Round # & game date (i.e. "MC2 Round 1 MyName BC-1500.CivBeyondSwordSave"). (And please don't forget to attach it to your Round report, either! ) Please also state your usual difficulty of play.

========

Roster:

YOU! - contributor, voter - our most important fixture, the readers who follow the threads and play along.

Same as the Immortal Cookbook, the Monarch Cookbook will use the 'best ball' system of selecting and playing saves. What this essentially means is that after we have completed each round, everyone will have a chance to vote on which save is in the best position. The winning save will be used for the next round.

If there is any player who is strong at Monarch+ level, it would be great to have you post your saves to show us how it's done. However, I request that any of you who realize your round was far superior remove your save from the voting. This rule is intended to ensure that the game doesn't get into a overly strong winning position after only a few rounds (because what fun is that? ).

Voting Rules:

1. You may NOT vote on your own save (but you are encouraged to state the strengths and weaknesses of your save).
2. For your vote to count as winning save you are expected to have voted for 3 other saves where possible. There is an element of fair play expected from those that vote and tactical voting is not allowed.
3. Only those who have posted a round may vote (those who are shadowing are always encouraged to express their opinion!)
4. Please don't vote on a save that has voluntarily been removed from the running by the person who submitted it.
5. At the end of each round you can vote on 3 saves for first, second and third place. I believe that these votes should be made publicly in order to allow for as much discussion as possible. I strongly encourage you to explain why you are voting for a particular save. This is one of the best ways to learn, and that's what this game is all about! If you feel uncomfortable voting publicly, PM me with your vote.

After a couple days for voting and discussion a winner will be declared and we will move on to the next round using the winners save.

Please note that although I am administering the Monarch Cookbook, I will be playing the Immortal version. This mean I will not be contributing directly until I have completed my round in the IC. Please do not view the IC thread until after a round is complete and, only then, the current round's discussion. It may be best to wait until the Cookbook's are finished before viewing across threads.


=======

A special shout out goes to Kossin who provided us with the map!

=======

And with that, let the Game begin...

========

Intrathread links (ToC): (note, the turn sets are subject to change, this is a tentative schedule to get this first round underway, we are still trying to find the best length for each round)

Round 0: The starting save (this post)
Round 1: 4000 BC - 1500 BC - complete
Round 2: 1500 BC - 400 AD- complete
Round 3: 400 AD - 1400 AD-In Progress
Round 4: upcoming, if necessary

 

[lymond]

I'd like to add additional note here regarding the Monarch level for those players interested in the Cookbook but have yet to try Monarch.

Ha...although we all struggled with Noble at one time in our CIV careers, Monarch is the first level where difficulty really starts to ramp up. Once you master this level, Noble will seem like the Settler level.

Monarch is the first difficulty level in which the AI (and barbs) start with archery. Therefore, early rushes are not the cakewalks they once were and need better planning and strategy. AIs get bonuses across the board which means the human needs more focus on overall strategy - including the tech path. Tech trading early plays an important role. In addition barbs in general are more difficult. They enter your borders earlier and in great number - and I believe this is the first level in which there are no freebies at the start. So spawnbusting is a nice ploy to utilize or learn if you haven't used it before.

With that said, the Cookbook is all about learning. Don't worry if you don't feel comfortable playing on Monarch yet. Hopefully, the Cookbook process will improve your comfort level at the end. We don't learn unless we try. So all are welcome to the Cookbook, but I recommend that you are at least comfortable on Noble and have played some Prince games.

 

[i_imperator]

I'm actually new monarch, just one my first game as NC Inca there last week, and i wouldn't mind giving this a try. I've got at least 3 other games to start first though,including the more recent NC game ;Welliam. I'd like to participate though.

 

[lymond]

I'm actually new monarch, just one my first game as NC Inca there last week, and i wouldn't mind giving this a try. I've got at least 3 other games to start first though,including the more recent NC game ;Welliam. I'd like to participate though.

Welcome, stevoh. No problem. Just note that you have a week to play the first round. The game will last for several weeks, but each round has a deadline.

 

[Amao]

Will there be on on Normal speed later?

 

[lymond]

Will there be on on Normal speed later?

As long as I've been associated with Cookbooks, they have been on Epic speed. Epic is a nicely balanced speed for the game and since each round is played over longer durations, it usually works out nicely for most, but I realize everyone has there own preferences.

Anyway, the speeds were discussed prior to kicking of the Cookbook again as possibly varying them from game to game, so I would not rule out a normal speed Cookbook.

(As a personal aside, while Epic is my general preference, I believe it is good to learn to play on all the different speeds. I do play all speeds especially with the HOF games and GOTMs.)

 

[vranasm]

My first round

Spoiler :

i settled 1N for getting more early production to capital (plains hill south of capital) and more land in capital.
I scouted around going north, north west, south seeing 4 more nice city spots. Then begun eastern expansion.
first I met Mansa Musa (that's great news, he is easily pleased and good trader if you manage to get tech on him).
next I met Shaka, well that is actually pretty bad, since he is known for his backstabs and overal psycho madness behavior. He spawned pretty close so I had to consider next course of action. Since we got horses in BFC the rush was very tempting!
After deep thinking I decided otherwise and went with peaceful expansion and preparing Oracle.

I settled cities in order wheat+sheep north of cap, wheat+rice+pigs+(copper) east, last but not least fish+marble to the west.
Next planned city is northern clam+silver (commerce+happy). Fish+clam south will be last settled city with the intent of early GP farm (3 specs after lighthouse)
capital should work as classic bureau cap.

Eastern city will probably be production center after some improvements.

at 1550BC Shaka went WHEOORN with demand for breaking trades with Asoka (he hates Asoka+MM more then us), I accepted...when Shaka comes, you just nod. it's a question who is the target, I already build 2 war chariots and hope that we will have enough time to strengthen eventually.

Tech path from beginning was AH->mining->Fishing->Pottery->BW->Writing->Myst->Poly->Maso->Pri (working now).

Capital has 3 forrests pre-chopped

well that's it... if there are more questions...just ask.

Future plans are settle 2 more cities, prod powerhouse will start build WCs for defense, after copper connected axes.
Techs after priesthood Monarchy for HR, Oracle->CoL probably and start on CS.
Build more workers at least 3-4 more.
Improve floods around capital for more commerce (pottery)

Survive Shaka war (I still hope that he will attack Asoka!)

 

[Invalice]

Registered to Civfanatics to take part in this.

By chance I was checking out this site while looking for tips. I used to play around the noble level maybe a year or so ago and I decided to play again in preparation for Civ V's release. I generally play on Marathon (helps with warmongering ) but I think this will be a nice learning opportunity. I am just beginning to take steps into Monarch so I'm sure this will be fun . I will post my save once I have completed it.

 

[Gumbolt]

Will probably watch to see how this goes. Should be interesting.

 

[lymond]

Welcome, Invalice and good luck!

 

[Invalice]

Here is my first round.

Spoiler :

Having trouble taking screenshots atm, they are not showing up in my screenshots folder in the installation directory. Running Windows 7 64bit.

Quick Summary

Start
Settled on spawn location and sent my initial warrior scouting SE after encountering Shaka's scout. Managed to meet another 3 Civ's with the initial scout.

Expansions
My first city was settled on the Incense SE of the starting location. I wanted to push towards Shaka and the other civs as much as possible before filling in the land behind my capital. Barbarians slowed my rate of expansion and I found myself having to build a few war chariots earlier on then what I would have liked. My third city was about to go down just NW of the capital escorted by a War Chariot.

Tech
I focused on technologies to improve my land (and water) surrounding my capital. After grabbing BW for slavery I grabbed writing and was in the process of researching Alphabet to enable tech trading. I was planning on then researching Aesthetics to trade the other Civs for the other Ancient-era techs.

 

[Cenan]

Normally i don't play on Monarch, still dealing with Noble/Prince, winning som, loosing some. The ferocity of the barbs and the maintenance really surprised me,
so I have probably made some really poor choices.
(first post, hooray)

Anyways here's my entry

Spoiler :

I settled 2N2W, since i dislike coastal starts, when i don't have fishing and it's not a priority. I met Shaka almost immediately, since i sent warrior eastwards.

Initial tech went AH->Mining->Bronze->Pottery->Writing

AH revealed ponies nearby, and Shaka's fate was sealed. I then proceeded to completely crash the economy by rushing him + a barb city that popped up on top of the incense. A spot i had already planned to settle soonish.

Another settler is on the way from Memphis, planned for the spot between the pigs and the wheat, for a GP farm.
Shaka's old cap is putting hammers in a barracks while it grows, with all those hills,
and nearly no food, it might do well as an early unit factory, once the economy is back on track.

I razed u-whatwasthename Shaka placed north of Ulundi, and opted to keep Nobamba, since it's not in a bad spot, and can run a few cottages even pre IW. It also blocks Charly, whose borders can be seen lurking just outside the fog southward.

Situation now is +2gpt @ 0% research (54 turns left on alpha). Due to me being a bonehead, there is also 192 flasks invested in Math. 145 gold in the bank though.
Nearly no infra built, other than a library in Thebes for a GS.

The world:


On a sidenote, I somehow managed to meet all the other civs during the rush war
on Shaka. Odd bunch for sure, but no real threats methink.
As far as i can tell, nobody has writing yet, since we're the only empire with OB
to everyone else, but i'm guessing Asoka and Mansa are close.

Edit: Forgot Save: View attachment MC2 Round 1 Cenan BC-1500.CivBeyondSwordSave

 

[Cenan]

Here is my first round.

Spoiler :

Having trouble taking screenshots atm, they are not showing up in my screenshots folder in the installation directory. Running Windows 7 64bit.

Screenies are saved in Documents->My Games->Beyond the Sword->Screenshots on Win7 x64

 

[learner gamer]

Thought I’d try the monarch cookbook after all – don't think I’m ready for the insanity that’s immortal just yet! Thanks for hosting lymond. Good to see some new entries BTW!

Report to 1500BC and save attached. My usual level is somewhere between monarch and emperor.

Spoiler :

Began by SIP and then worker > warrior (for garrison) > WB (for health). Early tech went AH > fishing > mining > BW. Once the starting warrior came across Shaka and AH popped horses, the next path was clear: barracks > war chariots. IMHO, these units are one of the better UUs in the game: the strength of an axe, double movement for quick wars...and all for the cost of a regular chariot. To aid the war effort, I stole Shaka’s starting worker who helped road in the pigs, mine a few hills and then road back to Shaka. Capital worked the pigs, clams, horses and two mines to accelerate WC builds and whipped when unhappiness threatened. The mad zulu was consigned to history in 2450BC when I razed uMgun, keeping just Ulundi.

Given how good the UU is, I decided to keep producing WCs – initially for fogbusting, but with the idea that, if another AI was rush-able, I might just nab them as well. When out of revolt, Ulundi aided the effort by building a barracks and more WCs. When I stumbled across Charlie, a stack of WCs therefore attacked and, even though he’s protective, autorazed Prague, and captured the Buddhist (capital) holy city of Aachen in 2100BC. Another AI bites the dust.

With exploration revealing Mansa and his skirmishers just next door, a more difficult choice now loomed. However, when scouting revealed a dearth of garrison units, more units were sent from Ulundi and Thebes to form two stacks. (Aachen meanwhile built Egypt’s first library to help the economy, whilst research post BW went pottery > writing > sailing... after a stupid detour for mysticism...guess who forgot Hatty was creative. ) The first stack razed Djenne and then moved onto reinforce the stack attacking Timbuktu, which was taken in 1750BC. At this point, with the economy sagging, Queen Hatty called off the WCs to consolidate the fledgling empire.

So, at 1500BC Egypt has four cities to its name, all of which are capitals. The main problem now of course is therefore maintenance. Will over-expansion be the death knell of Egypt? Well, to help out, I’ve researched meditation to give access to a monastery and missionaries (the latter for happiness), and will finish priesthood next turn for a run at The Oracle. This build will be helped if I manage to settle the NW fish / marble site, so I have the capital almost ready with a settler. Perhaps researching alphabet was the better way to go given the parlous state of the economy, but Hatty felt like gambling...and, in any case, alphabet and monarchy are open from The Oracle if it can be built in time. Just one other thing...aside from lucky (check out the chariot W of Thebes ), Hatty will now also need to be quite the diplomat when you see who’s right next door to Timbuktu...perhaps she has another use for a Buddhist missionary...or her best Egyptian garb?

 

[i_imperator]

I'll type up my round either tomorrow (more than likely) or tonight, i mightn't have the time coz i got my exam results and well.....clebrating..... u know the story

 

[Welsh_Insomniac]

I've been lurking for a while now and I finally thought I should actually sign up and take part in the community. Now, I'd like to first start off by saying that I usually play on noble, however last week I started pushing myself to move up the difficulty ladder so I have been 100% successful on Prince and 33% on Monarch.

Good luck everyone!

Spoiler :

Okay...

So I settled in place, research animal husbandry on the turn 0 and started building a worker. I used my warrior to explore the lands to my left and found a couple of nice city spots with sugar, fish, marble and sheep. As soon as the worker was done I went for a warrior to fortify his position. I was very pleased to see horse next to the capital so I hooked them up and then researched fishing to take advantage of the clam which will be essential for whipping those war charriots in place. Soon after I meet Shaka

After that I researched mining, and then bronze working to allow myself to whip and chop.

I place my second city down to the north east to set up for pig and copper border popping to steal some of shaka's cultural borders I start buildinbg Warrior -> Granary (after researching pottery next) -> Barracks.

I whip grannary in capital and then assemble a nice stack of war charriots on Shaka's capital borders. I took it in the turn but lost about half of my stack. Those IMPs are a pain I thought I had destroyed him but it seems that he has a city just south that I can take on the next turn.

Now I can already see one major problem with my game so far. I've whipped my capital far too much and it's going to be tough to get it going again. I guess I should go for Monarchy so I can get a lot of happiness?

Okay, I'm not really sure how I'm doing so I'd love some feedback, I don't play Monarch much but I'm starting to learn so if I do anything extremely stupid, please bare with me!

Okay so here's the situation as it stands.

My empire:

My capital (huge problem):

Domestic Screen:

Tech Tree:

 

[babybluepants]

@Welsh_Insomniac

Spoiler :

Yes, your capital looks awful. There was no need to whip at all. Had you just improved the two grass hills, you could be cranking out a chariot every 3t. And, you can boost that with chopping. Stealing a Shaka worker early on helps with all that, and slows him down significantly.

 

[Welsh_Insomniac]

@Welsh_Insomniac

Spoiler :

Yes, your capital looks awful. There was no need to whip at all. Had you just improved the two grass hills, you could be cranking out a chariot every 3t. And, you can boost that with chopping. Stealing a Shaka worker early on helps with all that, and slows him down significantly.

Yeah I can see that now Hmm... well, I guess I'll have to somehow make it out of this one... but I admit I'm seriously disadvantaged. To be honest, I'm not very familiar with whipping... but I thought it was an essential part of moving up to higher difficulties... and as you can see I haven't mastered it at all.

 

[learner gamer]

Just a quick note to advise that, after a little deliberation, I’ve decided to withdraw my save from voting for this round. Apologies to all but, having read through the OP (which saved me emailing lymond and asking for advice), I believe my early approach will likely make the next turn set very tedious...which is obviously not what the cookbook series is designed to be!

As I understand it, this means I also lose my vote at the conclusion of this round. If OK however lymond, I will cast a virtual 3-2-1 based on how I see the saves – even though those votes won’t be counted. Hopefully, it might just provide a few tips to those aspiring monarchs out there.

Going forward, I’ll either play through the next turn set from my 1500 BC save as a shadow to help others coming to terms with monarch, or pick up the winning save from this round and play the next round like everyone else. So, get playing everyone...and let’s see some more saves.

 

[i_imperator]

Well i think i got off to a good start Here's my round.

To 1500BC

Spoiler :

I decided to settle in place.

Builds:Worker>Warrior>Settler>Warrior>Barracks>Chariots (X8)

Yup, as soon as i realised that i had horses in my bfc and shaka was next to me, he had to die. I built a seccond city near the Corn/Rice/Pigs site. I also saw that shaka's worker was building a pasture, so i stole it!HeeHee!!

Tech: AH>Mining>BW>Fishing>Hunting>Archery(for barbs)>Pottery and writing.
AI's met.Shaka> 3875BC (Yay!)
Burger King(AKA charlemagne)> 3050BC

Asoka>2475BC
Julius>2075BC
Mansa> 2075BC
I dowed on shaka again once i had my war chariots ready, he had one impi in his cap but that didn't stop me.

I kept his cap. He managed to hook up copper for me at least! I also took his seccond city, so by 1500BC i had 4 cities.

Mansa was shaka worst enemy though and he is alot closer than i would have liked.My plan now is to fix the economy, fight the barbs off and expand.
MyEmpire at1500BC:

My Cap, i had to whip a chariot because of barb threats:

Shaka's Ex Cap, i have a feeling that this is going to be my HE city:

Score:

Power:

Demographics:

Top 5 Cities:

And the save: