How to Java (Solved)

[Apple111111]

I whip out two Pendekars with starting money, then start building Borobudur.

I kill Malays and Sunda.

Japan builds Borobudur 840AD. Every time.

How do I win???

 

[Apple111111]

I try 3000BC start. Kushans build Borobudur 330AD.

???

 

[wcascade]

Agreed Japan often going for Borobudur is frustrating

 

[Apple111111]

Agreed Japan often going for Borobudur is frustrating

I think I’m getting somewhere, declarer on Japan and brought a war galley over, now they’re spamming war galleys instead of beelining Borobudur.

 

[wcascade]

I think I’m getting somewhere, declarer on Japan and brought a war galley over, now they’re spamming war galleys instead of beelining Borobudur.

Nice, never thought of that haha. Keep us updated on your figuring out how to Java

 

[Apple111111]

Nice, never thought of that haha. Keep us updated on your figuring out how to Java

Successfully built the Borobudur 940AD and made peace with Japan, hopefully the rest will work out from here, depends heavily on how soon Islam will spread.

 

[Apple111111]

Nice, never thought of that haha. Keep us updated on your figuring out how to Java

I figured out how to Java.

After building Borobudur, you can either use a Great Engineer to hurry Prambanan or just build it manually, which is what I did so I could safely hire priests. I spammed settlers to get to 12 cities, switched to Syncretism/Theocracy/Monarchy/Caste System (From slavery so I could steal Malay workers), and built mostly work boats, harbours, granaries and mandirs. I got the 12th city by 1160.

Not too long after, in 1210, I completed the 2nd UHV, well-ahead of time, thanks to Java's UP and the insane amount of food you get. Economy was mediocre, but not incredibly bad (It doesn't need to be good anyways.)

Islam popped up as early as 1260 for me, in my wondrous city of ?, so I immediately converted and used the three prophets I stored to insta-convert Java, Sumatra and Borneo, respectively, then I started spamming imams, and 10 turns later all of my country was converted. Obviously, I then spammed mosques, and built the great mosques. There was no need for me to switch to despotism, but it could be necessary if islam spreads 100 years later and you need to get stuff up quick, like what happened in my Malay game.

I had plenty of time to spare in the end, getting the goal done in 1480, which probably could've been 1400 if I was willing to use despotism.

I had some spare time in the end, so I conquered Mexico and vassalized the Incas, not because it was practical, but because it was funny

Ended up with 61,000 points. Could've been higher with despotism, but who cares? Colonial Java is cool.

 

[Apple111111]

And with that one done, I really don’t have many docs left to beat. China, India, Ethiopia, Byzantium, Turks, Japan, Spain, Aztecs, Prussia, and all the colonial civs (America, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Brazil, Canada)

China and India are honestly insane, especially India.

Ethiopia’s last goal looks like a slog, and last time I failed goal 2 as Rome collapsed before Byzantium could spawn, making it impossible to cross Byzantium.

Byzantium is crazy, having to re conquer south Italy and Carthage, reconquer Egypt from the Arabs, vassalise the Turks, fight the Moors and the consequent reconquista, then worst of all simultaneously put up with the Ottomans, Italians, Portuguese, Spain attacking, all while getting invaded by Mongols and suffering from the Black Death.

I don’t even know where to start on the Turks. This civ looks bonkers without marathon.

Japan is also wild, there are so many factors to manage here, and I don’t quite think I’ve figured out how to be optimal in the Modern/Digital era. I’ve won a science victory as them, but that’s only taught me just how crazy it’d be to do that while also conquer half of Asia and ruining your science for culture in the early game.

While most of Spain is manageable, the 30% goal is not. It’s absolutely crazy. I can get near 30% before the reformation, but the reformation drops it down to 20% at best, and there’s not enough time to convert Peru and India and Russia back to catholic, while having to fight half of Europe.

Aztecs are fine, but the population goal is just off achievable for me. Java seems to hit 23 pop sometimes and Korea always gets above 21, while 21 is the highest I can seem to get my capital to.

Prussia’s tech goal is insane, Prussia’s conquest goal is insane. Prussia Great People goal is perfectly manageable but is a big slap in the face to the other two.

America looks horribly intimating. That’s just a pseudo-world conquest… Might leave it to last.

Colombia also looks like a challenging conquest goal.

Canada looks gimmicky and needs some tight infrastructure goals. I dunno if it’s impossible though.

Brazil doesn’t look too bad, but the slave rng is a little concerning. Maybe I’d need to ship units to Africa to hunt slaves?

Argentina looks really tough, and from what I’ve heard, it really is. Getting an 1800s city to legendary culture is no small task.

Amongst the American civs, Mexico looks the most manageable and is probably what I’ll go for next.

Unless there are any other recommendations?

 

[wcascade]

Glad you figured out how to Java. Love seeing gameplay guides, feel free to drop a few more

 

[Tao paï paï]

Byzantium is crazy, having to re conquer south Italy and Carthage, reconquer Egypt from the Arabs, vassalise the Turks, fight the Moors and the consequent reconquista, then worst of all simultaneously put up with the Ottomans, Italians, Portuguese, Spain attacking, all while getting invaded by Mongols and suffering from the Black Death.

I disagree with this one, the only real difficulty to me is the Ottoman spawn with the jannissaries and their bonus against Heavy Cavalry.

Your cities are super developed at the start with land improved and the only thing you can build during years are military units, while all your opponents will spawn way after you.

I did it on Monarch but I think it’s doable on Paragon, city maintenance should hit hard but the land you'll find at spawn would be even more developped.

Seeing your post, I guess you achieved the malayan UHV, how did you manage the 14 happily ressources ? It seems highly luck dependent, needing the perfect situation at the perfect moment.

 

[Apple111111]

I disagree with this one, the only real difficulty to me is the Ottoman spawn with the jannissaries and their bonus against Heavy Cavalry.

Your cities are super developed at the start with land improved and the only thing you can build during years are military units, while all your opponents will spawn way after you.

I did it on Monarch but I think it’s doable on Paragon, city maintenance should hit hard but the land you'll find at spawn would be even more developped.

Seeing your post, I guess you achieved the malayan UHV, how did you manage the 14 happily ressources ? It seems highly luck dependent, needing the perfect situation at the perfect moment.

Malays was the one I won directly before Java, and yes, it is stupidly luck dependent. I got 8 resources at home, being the 7 in Indonesia and the silver in Australia, then I reset like 7 times until eventually I got a start where the Mongols had everything I needed, and contacted the Europeans for wine.

The game I won was very much an anomaly, as China collapsed after Mongol spawn, and it seemed that this resulted in all Chinese cities flipping to the Mongols. I don’t know what the conditions for this are, but I guess maybe Mongols have to take a city from China before they collapse.

Basically, the UHV relies more on the AI’s actions than your own. It’s incredibly stupid.

(Also, I forgot to mention that I haven’t beaten Russia or Arabs before in that last post. Arabs have an incredibly tough conquest goal, while I haven’t tried Russia due to how intimating it is.)

 

[HansFlemmenwerfer]

I whip out two Pendekars with starting money, then start building Borobudur.

I kill Malays and Sunda.

Japan builds Borobudur 840AD. Every time.

How do I win???

Instead of focusing on Pendekars right away, invest in economy and tech a bit more first. That way, you can build up stronger units later and have a better chance against Japan.

 

[Apple111111]

Instead of focusing on Pendekars right away, invest in economy and tech a bit more first. That way, you can build up stronger units later and have a better chance against Japan.

Nah, considering I won with this strategy I’m fairly confident it’s the plan. Sending 1 war galley to Japan is enough to distract them from building the Borobudur, at least until you can get it done.

4 Pendekars is enough to conquer Sunda and the poorly defended Malay cities so I’m confident it’s the best strategy possible. Delaying the Malay conquests any longer would weaken you in the long term.