Napoleonic Charm

[krc]

Just in case you'd like to try this at home, I have uploaded a copy of the save game from 1565 AD.

The challenge is simple: Given the current state of the French Empire, can you get a cultural victory (before you or anyone else achieves any kind of victory)?

 

[krc]

For any chance at a cultural victory, I expect that I will have to intervene militarily at some point to prevent someone else from winning. The most likely candidates are Darius (who looks to be going for his own cultural victory) and Harun al-Rashid (who may be going for science). But that means that the Iroquois will remain a thorn in my side; if I ship troops abroad, what would stop him from attacking me at home?

Spoiler :

The current situation has my troops stationed along the Iroquois border. I have a slight edge because I have just upgraded my trebuchets to cannons. But I'm trying to resist the glories of war, especially with rifling only about a dozen turns away. The better part of valor here it to wait and to upgrade my troops as far as possible. That way, when I have to take action (whether against the Iroquois or against another threat), I will be guaranteed of success.

 

[krc]

About 130 years have passed; it is now 1680 AD.

Spoiler :

I have completed the renaissance era technical advances and, as a result, have upgraded all of my infantry troops to rifleman and my knights to cavalry. The other scientific development of note is the discovery of steam power, which has made my cultural bonus obsolete.

Spoiler :

Along the Iroquois border, I must again resist the temptation to invade. I now have rifles and cannons facing muskets and pikes. But it's not clear what, if anything is to gained by going to war. I can again use the fact that dynamite is only a few turns away to convince myself to wait.

Spoiler :

It is really nice to have oodles of cash. Every time I get a report that a city-state is no longer allied to another player, I swoop in and claim it for myself. The most recent additions are Bucharest (no longer allied with the Iroquois) and Florence (no longer allied with Siam). In addition to ensuring that no one else can get a diplomatic victory, Florence brings an immediate infusion of culture. I have also used the cash to sign research agreements with China and Siam.

 

[DragonHead]

Crsuh teh iriqous after dynamite before building the UN!

 

[Omega124]

Colonize the other continiet, and let the Iroqouis live.

 

[clearmurky]

For the save, where do you save it on the computer?

 

[krc]

For the save, where do you save it on the computer?

On my computer, the saves are in
Documents\My Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 5\Saves\single

 

[krc]

Crsuh teh iriqous after dynamite before building the UN!

Crushing the Iroquois continues to be tempting... but I plan on keeping the UN as an insurance card. The goal now is a cultural victory, since the diplomatic one looks too easy.

 

[krc]

Colonize the other continiet, and let the Iroqouis live.

Most of the other continent is already occupied, although there is some land to the east of China where I might be able to put down a city. It's not clear what I would gain by that, however, since I can use the property belonging to allied city-states if I ever need to land troops over there.

 

[krc]

The glory of France requires that I make things harder for myself.

Spoiler :

Before deciding that a cultural victory was the path that would the most glory to the reign of Napoleon, I had constructed another settler. And there was an irresistible spot for a new city on the west coast. Grenoble will immediately start constructing a pointy-topped monument.

 

[krc]

Peace has lasted until 1790 AD.

Spoiler :

When Budapest became available, I paid the requisite gold to make them an ally. Not long after, they rewarded me with a cavalry unit.

Spoiler :

My marvelous scientists have pushed rapidly forward. With replaceable parts, I was able to upgrade my rifleman to foreign legionnaires. The discovery of electricity was followed by the development of telegraph and radio.

Spoiler :

Paris gave birth to another Great Engineer, and he accelerated progress toward Cristo Redentor, a wonder whose 25% reduction in the cost of new social policies will play a critical role in enhancing the cultural dominance of the French people.

 

[krc]

The discovery of electricity (and aluminum) has changed the situation with respect to the Iroquois.

Spoiler :

My continent has only three sources of aluminum. One is located on land controlled by my ally Ragusa; access to it, however, will have to wait until they get around to converting their farm into a mine. The second source is near Genesse River, on land controlled by the Iroquois, where they already have a mine in place.

Spoiler :

The third and final source of aluminum lies on unclaimed territory south of Gao, which is one of my puppet-controlled cities. If I want it quickly, I have a couple of choices. I could annex Gao, taking a hit to my happiness (which is already slightly negative), in order to purchase the tile. Or I could raise another settler and put down yet another city in one of the few regions of open territory anywhere in the world.
You might also note that the Iroquois have ignored my repeated warnings not to settle new cities near me. They have just settled Canandaigua Lake in my sphere of influence. If they plop another city in the gap south of Gao, they could grab the aluminum and keep it from me.

Spoiler :

Moreover, I can see two more Iroquois settlers heading down the east coast looking for more land to steal.

Spoiler :

As noted earlier, my troops are already in place along the Iroquois border. And everything has been upgraded to artillery and foreign legions.

Spoiler :

The time has come to crush the Iroquois.

 

[krc]

War!

Spoiler :

The front line of the Iroquois defenses (mostly muskets, with a few rifles and a lonely longswordsman) melts away quite quickly when assaulted by artillery and the French Foreign Legion.

Spoiler :

The current Iroquois capitol of Akwesasme is surrounded by French troops...

Spoiler :

...and swiftly becomes French territory. Osininka fell to French troops on the same turn.

 

[swmaniac]

Am I the only one getting photobucket Bandwidth Exceeding images when I open the spoilers?

EDIT: The problem seems to have ended now.

 

[clearmurky]

No. Only the first spoiler works for me.

 

[krc]

Am I the only one getting photobucket Bandwidth Exceeding images when I open the spoilers?

EDIT: The problem seems to have ended now.

Ah, the price of fame....

I went ahead and got ( at least temporarily) pro status.

 

[krc]

The third (and probably final) war with the Iroquois went largely as planned.

Spoiler :

Of course, even in the midst of war, culture plays an important role for the French people. Paris completed Cristo Redentor right on schedule in 1806.

Spoiler :

The city of Genesse River fell to French troops in the same year, providing immediate access to a source of aluminum.

Spoiler :

Also during that year, the borders of Gao expanded, bringing another source of aluminum under my control.

Spoiler :

In 1808, my scientists made another important discovery, and I started connecting Paris to my core cities by railroads. The impressionist painters should be traveling by rail out to the seaside at Troyes any day now. I'm sure that will do wonders for my cultural advancement.

Spoiler :

Another Iroquois city (Montreal) became French territory. This was followed in rapid succession by Grand River and Brantford.

Spoiler :

At this point, Hiawatha sued for peace. Since I had occupied the key strategic resources and reduced hm to a size where he would never again be a threat, I accepted (magnanimously, of course).

 

[tamasei]

LOL the lots in Montreal finally speaks French now.

 

[DragonHead]

You have crippled him!

 

[krc]

With the Iroquois wars having been finally concluded successfully, I have concentrated on developing French culture.

Spoiler :

Building the railroad to allow the impressionists to get easily to the sea to paint their masterpieces seems to have helped. Since we last reviewed our social policies, we have added Philanthropy in the patronage track, which means that our generous contributions to our city-state allies have a bigger impact. Thus, their own cultural exchanges will continue to benefit our civilization. We have also opened up the order track and adopted Socialism, with the goal of improving the happiness of our people. We are accumulating 214 culture points per turn; this rate appears rather slow, since it means that it will take about 19 turns to get our next social policy. We will clearly have to do better. Send out a decree: the beatings will stop when the morale (and culture) improves!

Spoiler :

The glorious French remain first in almost every category -- the only exception being my approval. Amend that decree: The beatings will stop when my approval rate improves!