Minor Gauntlet Three

[superslug]

Two changes have been made to the Gauntlet challenge. First, we're no longer doing "live time" updates in regards to leaders. Second, settings are now chosen by the staff.

And now for what you'll be doing for the next two weeks:
Victory: Culture-20K
Difficulty: Emperor
Mapsize: Standard

 

[Denniz]

First, we're no longer doing "live time" updates in regards to leaders.

Does this just mean you are not going to be updating the thread with leader info or are we not supposed to post our dates until after the end date?

 

[superslug]

Does this just mean you are not going to be updating the thread with leader info or are we not supposed to post our dates until after the end date?

We're not going to be updating the thread largely because everyone's been posting their dates. The game write-ups I think are the true benefit of these Gauntlets as even lurkers can garnish some wisdom and improvement in skill for the particular circumstances.

I suspect that in a great many cases, the leader will still be known (via a report), but it allows for the outside possibility that someone sneaks in the best game without it being publically known. That I think adds a little more suspense and fun to the updates.

The only possible complication is that a staff player would have inside knowledge of what date has to be beat, but if a staff member has the lead date, that will get posted so that we're all on "even" footing.

Having said that, I've got a Mapfinder to run.

 

[MeteorPunch]

I think you should have to show your date (assuming it beats the date before you). That's what made the other threads interesting, the updated competition. Whether it's a "rule" or not, I dunno, but I think players should post updates.

 

[superslug]

Whether it's a "rule" or not, I dunno, but I think players should post updates.

Not an official rule, but I certainly think that the competitions are downright meaningless without posting about them.

What I've been having trouble with on this particular Gauntlet is choosing which Civ to use. Babylon seems like the obvious choice, but I have more fun thinking outside the box, even though it rarely gets me anywhere.

 

[Pentium]

Peaceful one! Thank you, staff!

Thinking out of the box, will I be able to compete using Zulus?

 

[Tone]

What I've been having trouble with on this particular Gauntlet is choosing which Civ to use. Babylon seems like the obvious choice, but I have more fun thinking outside the box, even though it rarely gets me anywhere.

Yes. DaveMcW certainly displayed the power of that in his late entry to minor1. I really don't see how the Babylonians can be beat though. I once tried a PtW militaristic game in the hunt for GLs but a couple of early SGLs really sets you up in C3C and the extra AA wonders (particularly SoZ; 4cpt for just 200 shields) are are real bonus. I'll give it some thought as I can't actually find the time to play right now but I guess I'll be going for boring Babylon.

When I get around to playing I will post game details though. I like the target to aim for.

 

[Pentium]

OK, I got 1778 (I wanted 1776, to honor some people over some sea ).

I chose Babylon (doh!), because of the starting techs (early Colossus and Temple).

I didn't have Ivory (yeah, I didn't use MapFinder), so no SoZ. But I was quite lucky with RNG, I got a SGL just after I build Colossus and rushed Pyramids with him, and 2 SGL's later in the game. Also, my free techs were very good; Mono, Medicine (I wanted SP here) and Fission.

It beats current #1 score, but I don't think it will be tough to beat considering Tone's 1475 on Monarch.

 

[Denniz]

1740AD is not the best date possible, but that's what I got on my first attempt.

I am having trouble finding the kind of map I want. So I played one with a little too much coast. I am also struggling with which Civs to play against. I choose a couple scientific civs this time. I am going to try one without next, if I can get MF to give me the kind of map I want.

The only real interesting thing in the game was when Korea send around 70 units across the border. It was a mix of Cav and Inf mostly. The were maybe half dozen obsolete units. Lots of conscription and prolificatic spending of my 7000g+ treasury saw them off without loss except for a half dozen pillaged squares. (There were serious assults on my furs city to the north and my capitol.)

All I had to work with was Inf, arty, and some ACs.

I only got 2 SGL and both of those came in the early IA. I used them to build the UN and SETI. I never got a MGL but that maybe because I was sitting on my two SGLs during the whole war.

Final Demographics:

 

[Denniz]

I think this one will tougher to beat.

I almost tossed this one out. I moved to the BG and settled there once I saw it was coastal.

Barbarians: NONE.
Climate: NORMAL.
LandForm: ARCHIPELAGO.
Map Size: STANDARD.
Ocean Coverage: 80%.
Temperature: TEMPERATE.
World Age: 5 BILLION YEARS.
Aggression: Less Aggressive.

PLAYERS:
Babylon (Human player)
Greece
Korea
Hittites
India

My starting builts were warrior, worker, temple, settler, colossus. It turned out I was on an island of my own. Even with the slow start due to 20K, I was able to settle most of the island, including 3 Ivory, 3 Silks, 1 horse, and 2 Iron.

My research was Masonry, Alpha, Writing, Lit, CoL, Philo, Republic (free). With two Sci civs, I was cafeful not to trade Writing until someone already knew it. This time I didn't gift anyone a bunch of techs to advance them into the next age. I waited until they were down to their last tech and I needed to renew some lux or gpt deal. So, I didn't gain much research help as I could have.

My MA research was to head for Bach and then Shakespeare. Then Astronomy, Eco and Nav before doing the bottom. By that time, a couple civs where up to the MA. I picked up engineering and gunpowder.

Once I got Navigation, I sent out ships and settlers to grab some of the isolated, unclaimed islands. My first game, reminded me of the importance of grabbing as much territory as possible for those late game resources. I picked up oil, aluminium and uranium that way. I was a little slow on one island and picked the wrong spot, just missing rubber. I tried roading it for the Hitties but they traded it away, so I never got any.

Luckily, I didn't need it. The other civs were always half an age behind me. The only aggression I faced was from India with MI and Cav parties landing occasionally. They were easily dispatched with Arty, Knight/Cav and the odd Rifleman.

My IA research was Steam, Ind, Corp, then to RP and ToE. I researched Refining and Steal and timed ToE to grab Atomic Theory and Electronics. Avoiding a wonder gab in the IA is pretty tough on Emperor.

My free techs were Fuedalism, Nationalism, and Fission.

I reached 20K in 1550AD! I don't doubt someone will be able to post an impossibly better date, but they are going to have to work at it.

I had tremendous SGL luck! I got 2 in the AA and 2 in early the MA. I had a lot of tough decisions due to timing. Whether to rush a half built wonder or wait. It may not be correct, I always chose to delay. It seems to me that long term, tossing out a couple hundred shields isn't worth getting that one wonder's culture a little earlier. I also chose to delay building the GLib, which I could have built instead of Pryaminds, but that would have given me despotic GA. Luckily, the SGL came along and let me make up some of that.

Here are my cultural builds:

 

[Tone]

I found some time to play a game. 1575AD. Close but not close enough! Although it's not a leading game, I thought that some of you might want a few details

settings:
Similar to yours, Denniz, but I went for pangea rather than 'pelago. I'm not sure yet whether it is better to have knowledge of your opponants earlier or not. My rivals were Spain, Egypt, France and India. I don't think that this combination was a good choice so I've generated some more saves with some non religious civs.

The start looked promising. I decided to move the settler NW to improve mid-term production. I ended up with a metro that fell just short of 100 shields/turn until I got an offshore platform.

starting builds:
warrior, temple, settler, worker, Colossus.

SGLs
One AA and one early MA for Writing and Theology respectively. I used the first for the Pyramids and the second for Sistine. I already had 150 shields in the bin when I rushed Sistine. The plan was to get a cheaper wonder before Education came along but a cascade left me with only Sistine or Sun Tzu and I did not want to delay my University. I got a third one for Synthetic Fibres but this is far too late too have much of an impact! I also rushed Heroic Epic with my second MGL-I got two in close succession.

On reflection I feel I should have made a more aggressive start to try for an army. Heroic Epic is great value but I didn't cause my neighbours any concern until I got tanks

CAII record of culture builds, ordered by amount of culture generated:

 

[superslug]

1575BC.

AD? Good game regardless.

 

[Tone]

Whoops!

Just for the record my culture for Babylon city in 1575BC was 308

 

[Denniz]

...I went for pangea rather than 'pelago. I'm not sure yet whether it is better to have knowledge of your opponants earlier or not.

I tried a couple pangaea maps early on. I didn't like the speed of early research. I lost too many early wonders to the AI to continue. (My first map was all Sci civs and goody huts. What a disaster! )

I have been generating maps without Sci civs but so far nothing promising.

 

[Tone]

I managed to complete another attempt. 1555AD so you're still safe, Denniz.

I kept most settings the same but my rivals this time were China, Rome, Carthage and France.

Two SGLs for a late Pyramids build and Sistine. I had ivory for SoZ but I wimped out on the very early wars and then when I did get around to taking on China in the Middle Ages I had no luck with getting an MGL. It was only when Rome sent in stacks of infantry, cavs, knights, crusaders and other assorted units (around 80 in total)that I had enough attempts to generate an MGL and get a victorious army. I've attached the cultural build list again but beware, I'm going to give this gauntlet another go this weekend

 

[Denniz]

After trying Arch and Pangaea maps I decided to give continents a try. (Greece, India, Arabia, Hittites) I found a good start.

Unforetunately, the neighborhood was a little poor, so I got off to a slow start, missing ToA among other things. Pretty good leader luck. I played the military card to try to make up the gap but too little to late.

I go about 50 more maps built up, so maybe I can find another good one. Got to keep trying. Tone came too close and DaveMcW hasn't been heard from yet.

 

[Tone]

Got to keep trying. Tone came too close and DaveMcW hasn't been heard from yet.

I was expecting a few others to be pushing the dates back as well. This thread is just too quiet but maybe it's the lull before the storm

 

[Tone]

Well I threatened another attempt but a lack of SGLs held me back! Worst than the last attempt, I finished in 1565AD but if I'd got more than one SGL I surely would have pushed the 1550AD target. My one SGL was used to rush the Pyramids but then I researched about another 55 techs without any additional SGLs.

As it was better than my first attempt I've submitted it anyway.

 

[Tone]

I think this one will tougher to beat.

Too tough in the time we had! Well done, Denniz.

 

[Denniz]

Thanks, Tone. I was finding it tough to beat myself. I was sure someone would come up with a better date. I guess it's better to be lucky than good.