Korea Deity Playthrough

[Minh Le]

Hi guys.
Im back with another playthrough. This time I will move on to Standard Speed even though Im still not very familiar with it. However I've played a bunch of test games in the past few days so I think I could have a good chance of winning .

Spoiler Game Setup :

• VPP Ver. 12-18, no submod.
• Random Standard map (8 civs, 16 city states).
• Standard game speed, deity difficulty.
• No ruins, no tech trading, brokering...
• Everythings else are set as default.

Spoiler Thoughts about Korea :

Since Im not very familiar with the Standard Speed, I choose Korea to play this time. Korea is a very straight forward and strong civ with the UA giving strong advantage for the whole game. Basically I will just try to have as many specialists as possible to abuse the UA, and try to stay peaceful because Im not very confident with warmongering on Standard speed yet.

Here is the 1st part:

 

[randomnub]

Hi guys.

Hi. Do you mind to share the initial save? I'm suffering nerding addiction while waiting for the patch to be released, definitely not going to play a game from start to finish by then but I'd like to... play something...

 

[Minh Le]

Hi. Do you mind to share the initial save? I'm suffering nerd addition while waiting for the patch to be released, definitely not going to play a game from start to finish by then but I'd like to... play something...

Sure, here it is.

 

[randomnub]

Thanks. Knowing myself and seeing how you process quick, I suspect I'll be at turn 50 and you already started another playthrough when Gazebo will release January patch but I...must...move that settler on river Hopefully Korea is going to lose the coastal bias

 

[Minh Le]

Thanks. Knowing myself and seeing how you process quick, I suspect I'll be at turn 50 and you already started another playthrough when Gazebo will release January patch but I...must...move that settler on river Hopefully Korea is going to lose the coastal bias

Yeah, now thinking back about it I really should do it too. At the time I was over value the coastal city. Im still have much to learn.

 

[randomnub]

So... I checked the end of your video and I'm still behind you I guess it's safe to talk about possible spoilers though. How do you dare stop the video before opening the second policy tree, as if there was any other choice than Artistry?

At T133 now thinking how to enhance. Somebody on the other continent - possibly Harun, because I got notification it founded Islam - picked Inquisition but that still sounds like a super lame belief. Instead damn China (big runaway in my game as well, and friendly toward Zoroastrist Persia... founders everywhere ) took Iconography few turns ago so I'm not sure what belief suits a very small empire with no chance to spread. Maybe this would work? I don't know what beliefs you picked, videos need a summary of some sort

Spoiler :

Spoiler :

Spoiler :

 

[chicorbeef]

He picked Theocractic Rule/Inspiration.

 

[Minh Le]

Hi guys. Part 2 is up, hope you guys enjoy it.

So... I checked the end of your video and I'm still behind you I guess it's safe to talk about possible spoilers though. How do you dare stop the video before opening the second policy tree, as if there was any other choice than Artistry?

At T133 now thinking how to enhance. Somebody on the other continent - possibly Harun, because I got notification it founded Islam - picked Inquisition but that still sounds like a super lame belief. Instead damn China (big runaway in my game as well, and friendly toward Zoroastrist Persia... founders everywhere ) took Iconography few turns ago so I'm not sure what belief suits a very small empire with no chance to spread. Maybe this would work? I don't know what beliefs you picked, videos need a summary of some sort

Spoiler :

View attachment 514685

Spoiler :

View attachment 514686

Spoiler :

View attachment 514693

Haha yeah whatelse I can pick for Korea beside Artistry. Statecraft crossed my mind since I have a nice amount of citystates around and I lack strategic resources (iron), but Artistry is just too synergy, especially golden age is harder to get now.
As far as I can tell your game progress very differently than mine. In my game, the belief which gives 20% yield on golden age and mastery were both gone, so I decided to pick theocratic rule and inspiration. Persia is a non-found in my game so I decided to grab the opportunity and spreading to reform first then enhance later. The 2 last belief I picked exactly as you, mandir and prophecy, but it was because mendicancy was gone. If it was available, I would defenitely pick that, I had some very successful game with that belief .
You seem to be at a much better spot than I am. I wasnt able to get Artemis, and I was much farther behind China than you are, tech and policy wise.
What victory condition you would go for this game? I guess I only have science victory as a viable option since there is no way I can win Culture victory against a China with Way of the Pilgrim .... I just hope China wont win too fast now.
I ended this part at 3rd policy choice. Im considering Rationalism and Industry now. But I probably will pick Industry, because my cities seriously need more infrastructure now, and China get influence very fast, I need culture more than science now, and Industry gives me Broadway which is the best culture wonder in the game, and I really like it.

 

[Minh Le]

@randomnub oh and I noticed that you send production TRs to secondary cities while im sending food TRs from secondary cities to the capital . Do you think that makes a big performence difference or not?

 

[CrazyG]

I watched part 1. Its always great to get Hanging Gardens on deity.

You were asking about medieval build orders in the other thread, so I'll post an observation. National Monument and School of Philosophy are really good, and I would build them before a Seowon. It might feel like you waste the Seowon's earlier tech bonus, but I think waiting to build them is still the right choice.

I also would have tried to get the monopoly connected sooner. Overall, it seems to me that you are playing very well.

 

[randomnub]

Played ~50 more turns and I have a feeling China is going to snowball out of control in this game (she's already building the Louvre ). I know if she or Persia or heck anybody looks at me it's game over, so I'm playing very nice on the diplomatic table.
I think you're right Mendicancy would have been a fine enhancer here, checking my trade routes setup. I'll be honest, I forgot the era scaler on that and the yields seemed not worth bother . Anyway, after the first round of hammer routes to expansions (that were lagging behind with infrastructure) and a second round of food routes again to expansions (so that they have enough citizens to work guilds+scientist comfortably), I'm now redirecting them to the other AIs: to China for culture and positive diplomatic modifier, doesn't matter if it helps her influencing me because she already sends TRs to me; to the crippled France a single one from my capital to get a growth bonus thanks to my influence over Napo. Anyway Prophecy is really underwhelming, I picked that to help reform but it's hard when only bordering founders who loved to spread on me and a prophet spread of my own on a 12 city state only converts 6 of them. I'm "almost" ready to reform, but Morocco is chewing away followers from my nearby CSs with constant waves of missionaries and I've been at ~1 turn for the Celestial Throne for what feels an eternity.

Screenshot of me entering Industrial and taking a break, is it spoiler safe to check your video or you're already in Atomic+? With my next policy pick I'll complete Artistry, then I'm torn about the original plan (Rationalism) and the fallback one (Industry), also let see how the diplomatic game evolves, I am the host but not for long and then I'll be pretty much forced to follow whatever ideology Wu is going to pick. Btw I was happy of my city placement until... geez, look at Macau. And now SHE has territorial disputes with me.

Spoiler :

 

[Minh Le]

Part 3 is up. Hope you guys enjoy .

Played ~50 more turns and I have a feeling China is going to snowball out of control in this game (she's already building the Louvre ). I know if she or Persia or heck anybody looks at me it's game over, so I'm playing very nice on the diplomatic table.
I think you're right Mendicancy would have been a fine enhancer here, checking my trade routes setup. I'll be honest, I forgot the era scaler on that and the yields seemed not worth bother . Anyway, after the first round of hammer routes to expansions (that were lagging behind with infrastructure) and a second round of food routes again to expansions (so that they have enough citizens to work guilds+scientist comfortably), I'm now redirecting them to the other AIs: to China for culture and positive diplomatic modifier, doesn't matter if it helps her influencing me because she already sends TRs to me; to the crippled France a single one from my capital to get a growth bonus thanks to my influence over Napo. Anyway Prophecy is really underwhelming, I picked that to help reform but it's hard when only bordering founders who loved to spread on me and a prophet spread of my own on a 12 city state only converts 6 of them. I'm "almost" ready to reform, but Morocco is chewing away followers from my nearby CSs with constant waves of missionaries and I've been at ~1 turn for the Celestial Throne for what feels an eternity.

Screenshot of me entering Industrial and taking a break, is it spoiler safe to check your video or you're already in Atomic+? With my next policy pick I'll complete Artistry, then I'm torn about the original plan (Rationalism) and the fallback one (Industry), also let see how the diplomatic game evolves, I am the host but not for long and then I'll be pretty much forced to follow whatever ideology Wu is going to pick. Btw I was happy of my city placement until... geez, look at Macau. And now SHE has territorial disputes with me.

Spoiler :

View attachment 514870

Im in Modern era already so dont worry about spoiler. Im glad that you are playing the same game so I can compare different approachs. China seems snowball much harder in your game than in mine. At this point she basically had almost all the wonders .. your game seems really impossible. I was luckier. Morroco and Egypt did a good job grabbing wonders so China didnt have all the ****, also I was able to get the Lourve which is huge. Im in a very solid spot now and starting to gain momentum. I think the big different in our games is that Persia was a non-founder in my game. I have much more room to spread and reform and being able to reform quickly is actually very helpful. As for my experience, if you wasnt able to spread early and reform very quick, you should wait until modern and save 2 or 3 prophets to spread. The AI normally stop purchasing missionary by then, you could spread to a non-founder (they wont fight back) or city states to reform, but I dont know if its still helpful reforming so late. I also have Persia stand between me and China so I dont care if she attack me much, it would actually play in my favor if she declare war so her influent over me will be reduced. I think I got really lucky with this game and I have good chance of winning now.

 

[Minh Le]

Part 4 is up. Hope you guys enjoy it.

 

[Minh Le]

Part 5 is up. I got a little excited so I play more than normal .

I got the game in the bag now. With my Culture, Im sure China cannot influent me anymore. I only need to prevent Poland to win Diplo before I can win Science now, which is not very hard.

 

[Minh Le]

Part 6 is up. Hope you guys enjoy.

Persia finally realized how dangerous his neighbour is, but it was too late. I have science lead, and a really good gold income which can transfer into mass units purchase to fence off any kind of attack Persia can make now, and Im gonna go for some offensive as well. Victory becomes more and more clear.

 

[Minh Le]

Part 7 is up. Hope you guys enjoy it.

I pushed Persia army back and took their capital, but they wont accept to be my vassal. It doesnt matter, I was ahead far enough. All the free techs and scientists shoot me far ahead in tech. Im gonna have 4 more free techs from orders and CERN, so Im gonna have plenty of time to build spaceship parts. Victory is guaranteed now.

 

[Minh Le]

Hi guys. 2 final parts are up. I had a really enjoyable game. Standard sure is harder but it also more enjoyable.

Late game Korea is so strong. This game I picked Order mainly because of the wonder, but it worked. Most lv2 tenets were underwhelming but there are some useful lv1 tenets and the 2 lv3 tenets were really cool. +200% yield for ITR and 2 free techs are really good. If I was able to pick Medicancy, my ITRs could reach 300 yield.
It was a fun game. Thank you guys for watching .

 

[randomnub]

Gratz

Sorry for bailing out on the parallel game, I wanted for you to get all the glory am a busy sloth with no dedication. I have to say I also wasn't having much fun in this game, it felt like playing 4-city-trad vanilla civ once more : I played ~50 more turns before downloding the january patch and I could keep up in science over that crazy China but at the expense of neglecting all military (checking now the videos, around t200 I had ~25% higher / output than you but 0 military and one less city) and, while I wasn't getting attacked due to very cautious diplomatic game, it felt like AI was having pity of me the whole time and letting me play one more turn. Not that I think there was a different way to setup this game, with a tradition civ spawning on a peninsula bordered by CSs and next to Persia... you don't want to piss Persia early game.

We played really similar but games evolved so differently, and beside Persia becoming a founder, I feel I got screwed by China even more: she was attacked by France while she had a defensive pact with Persia (whyyyyy) and with an era advantage in Industrial she proceeded to eat all of France (5 cities in 14 turns) and then peacefully vassalized Darius. Ah right almost forgot the cheater, at 179 she built Taj+Porcellain+Sistine in 3 different cities, Louvre at 191 . In the aftermath I am not sure if me founding Seul on the river proved to be a good decision, compared to your city setup it let China found that crappy desert town that was already causing some border friction, maybe she would have declared in Atomic and finally rolled over me.

On the plus side, I guess yours and CrazyG's lets play got some attention from Gazebo and he noticed China UA being a lil broken, nerfbat incoming . Korea looks balanced instead, I guess it feels right for a late booming civ to be able to get away with a SV if left unmolested. I'm not sure the UB is in a good place though, the small bonus faith and small bonus for GWs look like afterthoughts and aren't really relevant/necessary, beside funneling Sejong into tradition even more.

 

[Minh Le]

Im sure my cities placement was not optimal. I just placed them in the best defensive locations and cover the most land possible to prevent AI settle in my back. Lacking a fresh water capital as tradition was really hurt. If the game progressed as yours, Im sure I couldnt win. China was much more tamed in my game.

 

[John.B.C]

I can't understand why u waited so long to build the oxford university. I thought it was a pretty important wonder due to the culture gained?