Even though my game is currently at 980ad, I should start the write-up before the beginning and elaborate on the previously posted settings:
Emperor-With a milk run, the higher the difficulty level, the more point potential is available. This much is obvious. My previous milk run (last year) was on Monarch, and while I didn't finish it, that level now bores me. I've tried Demigod and Deity recently, and decided that Emperor was the fitting "step-up" for a fun run before I do a more serious game.
Yes, I'm going to milk this one for every point I can, but it is basically a practice game for a more focused, massive milk effort to follow later.
Huge Map-milking any other mapsize seems heresy, but that's just me.
Pangaea (minimal water)-way more fun than continents or archipelago, one of which will probably get used for the next milk campaign.
Warm/Wet/5 billion-standard milk terrain settings.
SGL's enabled-I was planning on going for one (see below).
Culture-link off-adds a miniscule amount of spice (variation) to one Mapfinder start after another.
Least Agressive-I don't like to fight until I'm ready. I also don't like building defensive units. A few happiness warriors and exploratory units, sure, but mostly Settlers and Workers early on.
No barbs-Just by virtue of my playing, the game is assured the presence of one egotistical brutal barbarian. Others need not show up.
Me: Aztecs-An agricultural civilization was a no-brainer. The militaristic attribute isn't itself a big convincer for me, but on a huge map, the unit promotions and slight uptick in MGL's could be useful. What really appealed to me about the Aztecs were the starting techs and the UU. While I didn't plan on doing lots of combat with Jags, they're a nicely bargained exploratory unit, and picking off a stray warrior or spearman came allow for precision GA timing.
Opponents: Greece, France, Persia, Byzantines, Korea, Carthage, Ottomans, Mongols
The common theme? No one with Ceremonial Burial, and very few with Warrior Code, but several with Masonry and the Scientific attribute. The initial plan was to vet maps for two 4-turn pumps, get a Ceremonial Burial SGL, then trade CB and WC for Masonry and rush the Pyramids.
It would also give me a small lead in getting towards the Temple of Artemis (especially with a prebuild). The techs also put me in good footing towards Monarchy, which I like decidedly better than Republic since they trashed it.
And so Mapfinder ran and ran, and I started going from 4000bc to 4000bc, jumping from world to world like a transdimensional grasshopper, searching for an SGL, searching for a planet to call mine.
Anyone want to guess how many 4000bc's I manually played before I got one?
