Taras Bulba
gone
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2007
- Messages
- 1,442
NOTICE!!!!! If you open the save, you probably don't need to read the background at all!!!!! I just hope the attachment works ok
This is sort of a surprising past two days for me. I was playing the EFZI 2 game, and I was playing at a higher difficultly level then my usual not-mod playing difficulty. When I started a new game, I did a random huge map (roaming barbs) and I opened up the screen and saw I was playing at Emperor for that game (I usually play at regent where I have seem to be stuck for the last while)
Anyway, I thought it might be interesting to start an Emperor game just for fun, figuring I would do horrible and quit not long after the start. I select random civ with about 10 AI (as I worried about too much competition) I turned off Domination victory and cultural connection start and start the game. (note this is Civ III Complete) I start out as England on a tile that doesn't seem to be what I want, so I do something quite unorthodox and move from a river tile to a non-river tile, in order to keep the ocean connection for my capital, maximize river commerce bonus, and capitalize on the adjacent tiles (bonus grassland/resources etc...) I figured that outweighed the price of an Aqueduct (which I may have been wrong, but I seemed to fair ok. As I continued on, I seemed to be rather slow in keeping up with the AI tech wise (I never was the farthest behind, but usually about 4th)
I originally tried the Republic slingshot, but I failed because I needed to research Philosophy as soon as possible in order to make sure I got it, and then used philosophy to snag Map Making (in order to get galleys to spread farther) I found all the neighbors on my continent, and tried to maintain peace as I was expanding. Luckily, despite me falling behind the tech race, I did manage to grab Literature first which gave me the necessary boost in order to the the Great Library. My tech research was halted for the time being, and I rode the backs of the AI, which worried me, as I was on a continent with 4 other AI (I then realized I chose too few enemies). To shear dumb luck, I managed to send a successful suicide curragh (yes curragh) across the ocean (for 5 turns in dangerous waters!) to make contact with 3 more civilizations (which were relatively weak and being dominated by the powerhouse on that continent, the Inca).
As time progressed, I realized to my shock that no one had built the SoZ, so I grabbed that too, which helped my military out alot. However, once that was built, I reached a stop to my expansion, which was depressing, as I wasn't able to grab as much as I would've liked. However, I maintained my dominance over my continent as many tribes were warring as I built up my power. Defending myself against minor skirmishes and occasionally gaining a few cities, but mostly trying to maintain my neutrality for now, I did little but protect myself. I soon realized that with my huge economy from my lack of tech-research and being in a Republic, I could support a larger army. I started building knights, and attacked my neighbors, but was pushed back. I had to buy my way (with alot of my efforts) to Military Tradition, to then try and find some trading partner for gunpowder. It came later than I would've liked, but I got one, upgraded and quickly produced a massive invasion force and sent them in on a blitzkrieg into France. It was very successful. I lost only 4-5 Cavalry and conquered about 7-8ish cities (the rest of what they had) in about 5-6 turns. France was gone.
My next target, which was my neighbor to the north, was Japan. They had alot of territory that I wanted to expand into, and I wanted to only be facing enemies on 1 side. I tried to attack, but RIGHT as I attacked, they finally upgraded to musketmen, and my upper divisions blitzkrieg was halted, as I didn't have cannon to back it up, and my lower army was bogged down carring alot of cannon, and it then took (and wiped out) the blunt of the Japanese army. I settled for taking 1 "useless" city and one city connecting 2 gems, and the terms of peace came soon after, getting me another useless city. Those terms of peace were forced though, as the more threatening issue was to the south, the Chinese. They RoP raped me and tried to take 2 of my southern most French conquered cities, but my defenders held them off. Then the massive invasion force came in, and I barely got enough Cavalry in there in time and the cannon there in time to wipe out their force. The counter attack was swift and just. The Chinese are not currently a problem, and I'm still at war and conquering fast (perhaps too fast for my own good, as a new growing power loomed just beyond them... Spain)
HOWEVER... this is not where my problem occurs. Over in the other continent, the Inca have brought total destruction to their continent. They pushed the poor Portugese to a small useless one-city island, before declaring peace. The Mongols barely made peace before they were wiped out, but the Hitties were not as lucky. The Hitties died, and the Mayans were next. The Mayans, the second most powerful (and heavily aided by me granting techs/resources to them in order for their survival) lost several cities (and a source of gunpowder) to the Inca. The next logical step for the Inca was the Romans... the only ones left. The Romans were crushed.... utterly crushed. Despite me granting them about 9 techs, the Mayans trading them gunpowder, me trading them horses (they have Military Tradition) they still die a quick and horrible death. The only good thing about that death is the fact that I run in and place 1 city on that continent grabbing 2 sources of wines, a much needed luxury.
This is where my problem comes in. The Inca have gotten too powerful, but I have NO chance in beating them in open war and the only reason why I haven't been one of their targets is the fact I'm trading them about 3-4 luxuries for their gpt. Their rampage mustn't go unlooked though. The Mongols have no hope, and once the Inca declare war on them, they're gone. The Mayans have little to no chance too, and they are currently being re-attacked and losing more ground. The Inca are far surpassed me as the greatest nation on the Earth, however I have maintained a fair second place. To some CRAZY chance, I managed to jump ahead in the tech race, grabbing Medicine, Electricity, and Theory of Evolution before the AI (who grabed Nationalism, Steam Power, Industrialization, The Cooporation, Communism, Facism, and now Spain has Refining before me) but my charge to Theory of Evolution grabbed me the ToE wonder from a pre-build, jumping the gun all the way to Electronics. With my new techs, I got Nationalism and up to Cooporation (no Commy/Fascism) With a scientific leader I rushed Universal Suffrage (shocking, I know, since I can build Hoover Dam) in order to decrease war weariness in my horribly wear Republic (from China) and to steal it from Spain and the Inca, who both have more wonders than me (and Cuzco is more cultural than London) I am building Hoover Dam, and will almost definately get it before the AI, as they don't have Atomic Theory (to my knowledge) London will soon have the Great Library, SoZ, Smiths Trading Co. (forgot to mention I grabbed that too), Universal Suffrage, and Hoover Dam. (ToE went to a near-by core city from a Palace pre-build)
How might I come back against the Inca, or even regain the continent. Right now a cultural or diplomatic victory look impossible, as my culture is too much weaker for a come-back, and my relations are very poor with the few nations left. Space Race victory looks like the BEST option, as militarily I won't conquer Inca any time soon.
I know I need LOTS of more workers to build my new railroads, but my army cost was going WAY up, and when I reached my maximum expasion I had alot of workers, so I started joining them to cities to decrease units and increase city size for more metros. Now its haunting me with the newly conquered territories.
ANY help would be nice, right now I just don't want to LOSE this game if it isn't already lost. I was shocked I got this far soo well (or well for me) and I don't want it to end now that I am sort of grid-locked against the Inca
PS-I hope this attachment works
This is sort of a surprising past two days for me. I was playing the EFZI 2 game, and I was playing at a higher difficultly level then my usual not-mod playing difficulty. When I started a new game, I did a random huge map (roaming barbs) and I opened up the screen and saw I was playing at Emperor for that game (I usually play at regent where I have seem to be stuck for the last while)
Anyway, I thought it might be interesting to start an Emperor game just for fun, figuring I would do horrible and quit not long after the start. I select random civ with about 10 AI (as I worried about too much competition) I turned off Domination victory and cultural connection start and start the game. (note this is Civ III Complete) I start out as England on a tile that doesn't seem to be what I want, so I do something quite unorthodox and move from a river tile to a non-river tile, in order to keep the ocean connection for my capital, maximize river commerce bonus, and capitalize on the adjacent tiles (bonus grassland/resources etc...) I figured that outweighed the price of an Aqueduct (which I may have been wrong, but I seemed to fair ok. As I continued on, I seemed to be rather slow in keeping up with the AI tech wise (I never was the farthest behind, but usually about 4th)
I originally tried the Republic slingshot, but I failed because I needed to research Philosophy as soon as possible in order to make sure I got it, and then used philosophy to snag Map Making (in order to get galleys to spread farther) I found all the neighbors on my continent, and tried to maintain peace as I was expanding. Luckily, despite me falling behind the tech race, I did manage to grab Literature first which gave me the necessary boost in order to the the Great Library. My tech research was halted for the time being, and I rode the backs of the AI, which worried me, as I was on a continent with 4 other AI (I then realized I chose too few enemies). To shear dumb luck, I managed to send a successful suicide curragh (yes curragh) across the ocean (for 5 turns in dangerous waters!) to make contact with 3 more civilizations (which were relatively weak and being dominated by the powerhouse on that continent, the Inca).
As time progressed, I realized to my shock that no one had built the SoZ, so I grabbed that too, which helped my military out alot. However, once that was built, I reached a stop to my expansion, which was depressing, as I wasn't able to grab as much as I would've liked. However, I maintained my dominance over my continent as many tribes were warring as I built up my power. Defending myself against minor skirmishes and occasionally gaining a few cities, but mostly trying to maintain my neutrality for now, I did little but protect myself. I soon realized that with my huge economy from my lack of tech-research and being in a Republic, I could support a larger army. I started building knights, and attacked my neighbors, but was pushed back. I had to buy my way (with alot of my efforts) to Military Tradition, to then try and find some trading partner for gunpowder. It came later than I would've liked, but I got one, upgraded and quickly produced a massive invasion force and sent them in on a blitzkrieg into France. It was very successful. I lost only 4-5 Cavalry and conquered about 7-8ish cities (the rest of what they had) in about 5-6 turns. France was gone.
My next target, which was my neighbor to the north, was Japan. They had alot of territory that I wanted to expand into, and I wanted to only be facing enemies on 1 side. I tried to attack, but RIGHT as I attacked, they finally upgraded to musketmen, and my upper divisions blitzkrieg was halted, as I didn't have cannon to back it up, and my lower army was bogged down carring alot of cannon, and it then took (and wiped out) the blunt of the Japanese army. I settled for taking 1 "useless" city and one city connecting 2 gems, and the terms of peace came soon after, getting me another useless city. Those terms of peace were forced though, as the more threatening issue was to the south, the Chinese. They RoP raped me and tried to take 2 of my southern most French conquered cities, but my defenders held them off. Then the massive invasion force came in, and I barely got enough Cavalry in there in time and the cannon there in time to wipe out their force. The counter attack was swift and just. The Chinese are not currently a problem, and I'm still at war and conquering fast (perhaps too fast for my own good, as a new growing power loomed just beyond them... Spain)
HOWEVER... this is not where my problem occurs. Over in the other continent, the Inca have brought total destruction to their continent. They pushed the poor Portugese to a small useless one-city island, before declaring peace. The Mongols barely made peace before they were wiped out, but the Hitties were not as lucky. The Hitties died, and the Mayans were next. The Mayans, the second most powerful (and heavily aided by me granting techs/resources to them in order for their survival) lost several cities (and a source of gunpowder) to the Inca. The next logical step for the Inca was the Romans... the only ones left. The Romans were crushed.... utterly crushed. Despite me granting them about 9 techs, the Mayans trading them gunpowder, me trading them horses (they have Military Tradition) they still die a quick and horrible death. The only good thing about that death is the fact that I run in and place 1 city on that continent grabbing 2 sources of wines, a much needed luxury.
This is where my problem comes in. The Inca have gotten too powerful, but I have NO chance in beating them in open war and the only reason why I haven't been one of their targets is the fact I'm trading them about 3-4 luxuries for their gpt. Their rampage mustn't go unlooked though. The Mongols have no hope, and once the Inca declare war on them, they're gone. The Mayans have little to no chance too, and they are currently being re-attacked and losing more ground. The Inca are far surpassed me as the greatest nation on the Earth, however I have maintained a fair second place. To some CRAZY chance, I managed to jump ahead in the tech race, grabbing Medicine, Electricity, and Theory of Evolution before the AI (who grabed Nationalism, Steam Power, Industrialization, The Cooporation, Communism, Facism, and now Spain has Refining before me) but my charge to Theory of Evolution grabbed me the ToE wonder from a pre-build, jumping the gun all the way to Electronics. With my new techs, I got Nationalism and up to Cooporation (no Commy/Fascism) With a scientific leader I rushed Universal Suffrage (shocking, I know, since I can build Hoover Dam) in order to decrease war weariness in my horribly wear Republic (from China) and to steal it from Spain and the Inca, who both have more wonders than me (and Cuzco is more cultural than London) I am building Hoover Dam, and will almost definately get it before the AI, as they don't have Atomic Theory (to my knowledge) London will soon have the Great Library, SoZ, Smiths Trading Co. (forgot to mention I grabbed that too), Universal Suffrage, and Hoover Dam. (ToE went to a near-by core city from a Palace pre-build)
How might I come back against the Inca, or even regain the continent. Right now a cultural or diplomatic victory look impossible, as my culture is too much weaker for a come-back, and my relations are very poor with the few nations left. Space Race victory looks like the BEST option, as militarily I won't conquer Inca any time soon.
I know I need LOTS of more workers to build my new railroads, but my army cost was going WAY up, and when I reached my maximum expasion I had alot of workers, so I started joining them to cities to decrease units and increase city size for more metros. Now its haunting me with the newly conquered territories.
ANY help would be nice, right now I just don't want to LOSE this game if it isn't already lost. I was shocked I got this far soo well (or well for me) and I don't want it to end now that I am sort of grid-locked against the Inca
PS-I hope this attachment works