My first OCC - a cautionary tale

[Supernaut]

Having finally acquired a new system on Saturday, I decided to give this OCC thing a try. And I got my arse <IMG SRC="http://forums.civfanatics.com/ubb/spanking.gif" border=0> I started on a small island so only got two special squares, which probably didn't help, but I fell way behind in the tech race right from the start. I was nowhere near Astronomy by the time Copernicus' had been built, and I hadn't even got the mfg plant by the time the Zulus landed on AC (1988). Was this just because of the lack of specials and early contact? I couldn't find anyone till I'd got mapmaking, and then only the Sioux were in range. The Egyptians landed on my island early on but only wanted to make war.

Another prob with the OCC - you can only have three trade routes and these get filled up early on, so how can you use trade to boost science?

This was actually the second start that I played on - the first time I started a game I had one of my best ever starting line ups - 4 techs and 2 settlers, but again on a small island with few specials - by the time I'd explored the island it was after 3000BC, so I decided to try again. Wish I'd stuck with that and played it normally, as I've never done Diety before <IMG SRC="http://forums.civfanatics.com/ubb/frown.gif" border=0>

Still, I might try the barbarian game next <IMG SRC="http://forums.civfanatics.com/ubb/smile.gif" border=0>

Edit: Spelling (DOH!)

[This message has been edited by Supernaut (edited July 03, 2001).]

 

[Clubber]

Can someone please tell me what "OCC" stands for?
Thank You.

 

[Smash]

One City Challenge-win by spaceship with 1,and only ever 1 city.

You have to be flexible.You can win with no specials but obviously 4 is what you want.
Now in that game you recognized fairly early you were on an island and isolated.So,early on you need to go for Map Making,a trireme and a unit and off you go.It seems small at the time but contacting and trading is very important.
Also,in this situation,you may consider building Marco Polo's Embassy.

You get your 3 routes up ASAP.Then build commodities when they become available,otherwise you are storing up food freights/caravans in between rushbuilding infastructure as it becomes available or is needed.
I often bribe foreign caravans and send them back(making sure they are supported)

Run deficits to maximize science.Both food and gold if neccessary.

I recommend you use one of the fortnight saves at Paul's site for a good starting location.You aren't learning a thing or having much fun if you spend half the early game just looking for a spot.Get a grasp for how it works and then you will be able to win with pretty much any start.

It has been done with a size 1 city.Yes thats right..SIZE 1

 

[Andu Indorin]

Originally posted by Supernaut:
Another prob with the OCC - you can only have three trade routes and these get filled up early on, so how can you use trade to boost science?

One of these days, I've got to try the OCC challenge (to improve my mid-game); but to clarify Smash's post on Trade and "boosting science":

From Smash: You get your 3 routes up ASAP. Then build commodities when they become available, -- because you always get a one-time boost to science when establishing a new trade route --; otherwise store up food freights/caravans in between rushbuilding infastructure as it becomes available or is needed.

I often bribe foreign caravans and send them back (making sure they are supported) (i.e, after bribing them, "resupport them from your One City" and send them back out for home city for the one-time boost to science.).

Italics be me

{SMASH: drunk'en ex-editor at work!

Hope you don't mind.

)

 

[Supernaut]

Originally posted by Smash:
It has been done with a size 1 city.Yes thats right..SIZE 1

No it hasn't. I refuse to believe it is possible to beat the AI at any level with just one citizen. Unless there are some really serious differences between TOT (which I play) and the version this person was playing.

Thanks for the tips though. I shall give it another go. Since I play TOT I can't download the saved games, so I shall have to keep plugging away. I think for my next game I'll just start where I am unless I can see a better place nearby.

The bribing camels trick is a really neat one - I shall definitely be using that! Probably in the normal game as well!

 

[Andu Indorin]

Supernaut:

The following two links should be of interest, insofar as OCC has developed something of a community of its own:

Paul's Original OCC Strategy Guide

and
Fortnight OCC

This way, you may be able to start with the same set-up as everyone else; and so compare your progress with the experts on this style of play.



[This message has been edited by Andu Indorin (edited July 04, 2001).]

 

[starlifter]

posted July 04, 2001 06:43 AM
quote:

Originally posted by Smash:
It has been done with a size 1 city.Yes thats right..SIZE 1

----------------
By Supernaut:

No it hasn't. I refuse to believe it is possible to beat the AI at any level with just one citizen.

I've read the timeline of the dude that did it with size one. Personally, I've done it at size 4 a couple weeks ago. Never tried anything less than size 4, but with 4 specials, size 4 was (suprisingly) pretty easy to land a SS in the mid-1800s.

Some adjustments in "normal" thinking are required, but it actaully helps normal games to play the OCC, IMHO.

BTW, successful OCC games pretty much have to be played on a smaller map, because the cost of science becomes too great on large maps. Plus, contact with other civs is generally more difficult (Marco Polo is good to have!), as is getting good trade routes going.

 

[Smash]

Large maps have been landed pre 1500AD.

 

[Surf Wax America]

Well, what level are we talking about here? I've accomplished this on king, large map with the Babylonians by 1950 a.d. You have to get quite lucky in the beginning, and build plenty of wonders (colossus, great library are by far the most important in the beginning). Of course, every time I've attempted this on emperor or deity, its been extremely difficult. I'm sure it could be done though.

 

[Smash]

deity level of course.

the wonder list is short
Collosus
Cope's
Sir Isaac
Shake's
Apollo

anything else is optional including Darwin's but usually a good idea to build it as the dumb ai always takes Genetic Engineering and Theology ;(

The GL is generally a huge waste of resources.I incorporate the occ science city into normal games as well and since then I have no use for the GL at all.Only in MP games now.

OCC is an easy way to win by spaceship on deity.Probably the easiest as 1 city is easy to manage.


check out Paul's OCC site

It has an extensive strategy guide and numerous comparison games complete with player logs and milestone tables.

[This message has been edited by Smash (edited September 02, 2001).]

 

[Achinz]

Yes, you really do learn a lot about the strategy of winning by landing AC playing OCC. As Smash has mentioned, it is imperative to apply the strategy compiled at Paul's site. It is the distillation of the wisdom and efforts through the many years since OCC has been played (mainly through the Apolyton forums).

Edit: typographical errors or I can't type.

 

[Philosopher12]

What if you have only 1 settler? Paul's strategy is for a person who starts with TWO settlers! on the only game I managed to get the ideal site I had only ONE settler! This is very annoying!

 

[Smash]

Paul's comparison games were all done on deity and you always get 2.I think there was one "scenario" where there was only one.Sometimes it is beneficial to use the 2nd to "join city".

you then have 3 choices really.

1.Build one..duh ...with 1 city,a size 1 city will not disband if it builds a settler so do it ASAP.It will require food support however.

2.aggressively tip huts and get a nomad.Without a NON settler on the board,you approx 2/3 more likely to receive one than without.You will get one...almost always..hopefully not a 1000 miles away from the city.

3.bribe one from the AI..kinda expensive though.

 

[TimTheEnchanter]

Deity=2 settlers always. I haven't tried an OCC game on a lower level, but I wonder if Deity might in some ways make OCC even easier. Hmmmm.....

First, You always get that Non-supported settler. Then, consider the extra costs: To handle disorder you need to garrison a few warriors early, and you probably need to have a temple to handle size 5. Once you get republic you maybe need a couple percent more luxuries. Once you get Shakespeare's Theatre you don't care about happiness anymore.

But remember that in OCC you don't do things the same as a normal expand-conquer game. In OCC, the AI is your friend so the cheats they get don't really hurt you! It's ok if they have research cheats because then they are quicker to research things you can trade for. It's ok if they have production cheats so they can improve and grow faster (so they can research faster and their cities provide more trade in your trade routes). You aren't planning to fight many wars with them anyway, so extra production for them isn't such a disadvantage. Letting them get bigger and more advanced means they are more likely to have gold to give you in gifts.

Maybe deity isn't actually an advantage, but it's not as much of a disadvantage as it is in other styles of play.