Hello fellow civilization players! The purpose of this thread is an open, single-player challenge centered around the Huge mapsize. This is one of many preferences that is quite split among our forum community, and I've found a dearth of strategy-related articles and games for it. Unfortunately I know that many civvers face trouble with larger maps because of computer limitations, and my sympathies go out to you. Many others already prefer these maps for their larger scale and epic feel of the game. But whether you routinely play Huge maps, or don't, I still welcome you to participate in this challenge. I'd also like to inform everyone that I could start off the post with the first save with some discussion of strategy and differences in the game for Huge maps if players would feel this is helpful; or if you're not familiar enough at all with them feel free to ask as we decide on how to get the game going.
The first introductory business is describing the type of settings intended for this challenge. As will be mentioned below, I have not fully decided on everything because I think the input of interested players will be necessary. However, some facts about the game will be obvious:
The game will be played in the latest BtS patch, 3.17 (I fully support whatever can be done compatibility wise with BUG and all, if there are any problems, we'll see when we get started). The challenge will be single player on a Huge Map, with default # of civs (11). Most custom settings I think should be default - huts, barbarians, vassals and the like.
Now, for the interesting parts. In line with the purpose of keeping this game a challenge, I'd like to warn everyone that the preferable game Difficulty is Deity. Immortal may also be doable if enough players strongly prefer this or we decide on some other more specific strategies or settings. I do not desire to exclude players of any level, of course, but I also don't want a game that is too much of a guaranteed win or loss. At the highest level it may be very likely that fewer will win if the map isn't so good; but losses can be just as entertaining and informative. Regardless, only one difficulty will be offered in the starting save - but please still feel free to play and compare strategies with everyone. At the very least, we could hope to gain experience for future Huge map games!
Likewise, the two other most important game settings (and those I'd be more willing to vary) are the Mapscript and Game Speed. The map will be a "world" map that is not a pangea, but beyond that I'm open to adjusting to players preferences. Continents, Tectonics, Fractal, Big and Small among standard maps and even scripts like PerfectWorld, which I've heard good things about, are doable. As far as speed goes, the only balanced choices I think are Epic and Normal, and I leave this open to everyone's preference again; I tend to find Epic most appropriate to Huge maps myself because of the time needed to move/explore.
Finally, I would also encourage anyone who has input on a choice of leader to speak up. I would be fine with going pretty much random; again I would really like to make a challenge for everyone, but also a game with possibilities that are acceptable to different people's playing styles.. So depending on settings/difficulty we do have a choice and I welcome good ideas. The best of all options in my opinion would be if someone could generate a game and play out the early turns (not revealing info) to ensure the game is reasonable once we have decided, and then otherwise anything goes. But I'm willing to take a shot in the dark too with everyone else if it comes to that.
Lastly, my proposed timeframe for this game is getting it started by the upcoming weekend. As I don't have much experience running such series I always welcome suggestions from those with more experience; however I don't think this game should be done with some variant like succession style; everyone is free to play out there own game. As always, I don't feel it's appropriate to be completely stringent in an open game with things like reloads if you face a loss but wanted to try out something else; the game will be challenging enough as it is. Given the nature of a Huge map I also would like to not rush people so be forewarned that posting on things too far into the game will probably be discouraged, at least for the first checkpoint of people's exploration/meeting civs.
One final thing, actually, is that I do have one proposal to toss out for players who may be too intimidated by the proposed challenge, difficulty and all.
Thanks in advance to all interested players!
Edit: For all interested players: the opening save is posted on the middle of page 2, or around post 25ish.
The first introductory business is describing the type of settings intended for this challenge. As will be mentioned below, I have not fully decided on everything because I think the input of interested players will be necessary. However, some facts about the game will be obvious:
The game will be played in the latest BtS patch, 3.17 (I fully support whatever can be done compatibility wise with BUG and all, if there are any problems, we'll see when we get started). The challenge will be single player on a Huge Map, with default # of civs (11). Most custom settings I think should be default - huts, barbarians, vassals and the like.
Now, for the interesting parts. In line with the purpose of keeping this game a challenge, I'd like to warn everyone that the preferable game Difficulty is Deity. Immortal may also be doable if enough players strongly prefer this or we decide on some other more specific strategies or settings. I do not desire to exclude players of any level, of course, but I also don't want a game that is too much of a guaranteed win or loss. At the highest level it may be very likely that fewer will win if the map isn't so good; but losses can be just as entertaining and informative. Regardless, only one difficulty will be offered in the starting save - but please still feel free to play and compare strategies with everyone. At the very least, we could hope to gain experience for future Huge map games!
Likewise, the two other most important game settings (and those I'd be more willing to vary) are the Mapscript and Game Speed. The map will be a "world" map that is not a pangea, but beyond that I'm open to adjusting to players preferences. Continents, Tectonics, Fractal, Big and Small among standard maps and even scripts like PerfectWorld, which I've heard good things about, are doable. As far as speed goes, the only balanced choices I think are Epic and Normal, and I leave this open to everyone's preference again; I tend to find Epic most appropriate to Huge maps myself because of the time needed to move/explore.
Finally, I would also encourage anyone who has input on a choice of leader to speak up. I would be fine with going pretty much random; again I would really like to make a challenge for everyone, but also a game with possibilities that are acceptable to different people's playing styles.. So depending on settings/difficulty we do have a choice and I welcome good ideas. The best of all options in my opinion would be if someone could generate a game and play out the early turns (not revealing info) to ensure the game is reasonable once we have decided, and then otherwise anything goes. But I'm willing to take a shot in the dark too with everyone else if it comes to that.
Lastly, my proposed timeframe for this game is getting it started by the upcoming weekend. As I don't have much experience running such series I always welcome suggestions from those with more experience; however I don't think this game should be done with some variant like succession style; everyone is free to play out there own game. As always, I don't feel it's appropriate to be completely stringent in an open game with things like reloads if you face a loss but wanted to try out something else; the game will be challenging enough as it is. Given the nature of a Huge map I also would like to not rush people so be forewarned that posting on things too far into the game will probably be discouraged, at least for the first checkpoint of people's exploration/meeting civs.
One final thing, actually, is that I do have one proposal to toss out for players who may be too intimidated by the proposed challenge, difficulty and all.
Spoiler :
Thanks in advance to all interested players!
Edit: For all interested players: the opening save is posted on the middle of page 2, or around post 25ish.
free to choose speed and level (i'd personally proberly take a stab at Marathon Monarch) ... how about starting with a fairly strightforward leader such as Hatty?
Hopefully I have time this weekend (I need to take a test on Saturday and prepare a presentation for Monday though). I am fine with both Normal and Epic.
(tbh I've got a test too tomorrow night, as always good luck to a fellow civver... but at the least I think I can get the game up Friday.)
