Karl's early domination attempts

[Karl_t_great]

Well, I had my share of the huge map for a while, and decided to go for something "fast and easy" this time. Since my only dominations submissions are on sid (can't beat Moonsinger there), I desided to go for small warlord. Besides I never submitted a BC victory, and my Machiavelli lagged #1 in dom.

I decided to go with celt -- which I had grown attached to in my histo game.Opponents: Germans, Russians,English (No AA uu:s, not indrustirious/agricaltural). Map 80%W panagea. Picked my maps with low domination limit.

Attempts so far:
1. 516 tile DL -- 210 BC
2. XXX tile DL -- 30 BC
3. 488 tile DL -- 10 BC
4. 550 tile DL -- 250 BC (awesome 5 cow start)
5. 501 tile DL -- 470 BC
6. 493 tile DL -- 450 BC

Lessons learned:
- First attempts I concetrated too much to sciece (hoping for lucky SGL, I've only had one so far in the game #3). I still do some which I expect to get first, but after iron I save my money for upgrades.

- my opening sequence has envolved to granary(chopped)-w-w-S-S....., giving a 6 pop first setteler - which seems good for warlord.

- roads are essential for the settelers to spread, I build a single vain to the direction of expansion.

- Optimal attack time seems to be when AI starts to get to Your expansions way ... only if I am ready at that time. Even at warlord there is no peacefull way, each AI manages to gain 5-10 % of terratory before my attack.

- Building military mostly by upgrades, if a city can build a GS it can (and shuold) build a setteler instead. I set up a single barracs at a certral, connected location, and let the unconnected cities nearby feed the warriors.

- Not terminating the AI at once, I've learned to wait until the AI town grows or gains culture before taking it, on this level flipping seems no issue.

- At first I planned to use my (possible) SGL for pyramids, but in reality ToA seems a better choise, I only build 1-2 granaries anyway.

Breaking the 500 BC target seems harder than I expected -- Still think it is doable even whitout the extreamly lucky 1 st round SGL.

My plans for next attemps (please be free to comment !):
- change the map to wet->arid, increased age to gain in road building & movement.
- choice of civ: migth try Irq, or aztecs (agri + 2mp AA UU) -- though still feel celts are best for the job (if You can deal with the UPG cost).

- opponents:
- might try all agri -- to get more cities from AI or
- all exp - to make contact with me (the ruskies were actually helpfull to contact me so I could trade for bronce, and work towartd iron).
- narrow the initial tech span to improve my changes for SGL.

Now I keep the mapfinder running and try not make those stupid mistakes , and get extramly lucky of course.
... to be continued

 

[zerksees]

If you can get the AI out of despotism the cities will be easier to take, since they can't pop rush the population down to 1, which is problematic at the lower levels.

 

[Karl_t_great]

If you can get the AI out of despotism the cities will be easier to take, since they can't pop rush the population down to 1, which is problematic at the lower levels.

And they can't have as many defenders -- played a test game, researching mona and donating everyone, and suprised myself with 470 BC data, even I did not play it for real and the mona stuff delayd collecting my army upgrade cash badly.

Now I only have to figure the most economic way to reseach it....THX for the hint.

 

[Karl_t_great]

I altered the mapf setup for a bit dryer and older world, and fine tuned the opponents to Arabs, Spain and Netherlands.
Due to the drying mapfinder was giving me somewhat lower yeild - as i expected a cow +river start.

#9 503 dom, 490 BC, score 5411 (made #1, submitted but not satisfied)
#10 498 dom, 230 BC (screwed....)
#11 501 dom, 670 BC score 5774

The attempt 11 was finally the lucky one, a OK start loc (2cow, game, FP, forest to chop), one SGL (I choose Artemis). This time I built 2 additional setter fabs, and few more workers, little less military.
R&D: first -->iron then --> monachy, donated mona to everyone and started providing. The attack phase started 1100 bc, and I took down the arabs & spainish (down to 1 at end) when I hit the dom. I had some delay when I tried to attack with insufficient troops.

Comparing to previous games the effect of setup changes was minor, the major success factors were the location at the center of the panagea (short expansion & attack path) and of course the Artemis which really made the difference.

Now I am below 500 BC, which satisfies my pride, and moving up to another slot, whatever it migth be.
Still the game was far from perfect (includiging 1 turn riot in early game), and leaves me wondering whether 1000 bc (13 turns less) is achievable. Take a perfect map with 450 dom, exellent start, 1-2 SGL, and no mistakes....?