NC XXI: Rangar

[Ai Shizuka]

Part III, monarch/epic, 1300 - 1630:

Spoiler :

banking - economics - constitution - mil trad (Ham) - ppress (Charlie) - democracy - gunpowder - chemistry - drama (Pacal) - astro - sci meth - communism - researching physics


1300 - Pacal bribed out of war vs Montezuma with Music.

1305 - Finally my maps realize it and I get my circumnav bonus.

1325 - Met Shaka, another caveman. He's still missing stuff like currency and CoL.

1340 - Next AI is Justinian. God, is he pathetic. Two cities left and same tech level as Shaka.

1345 - Free GM from economics.

1355 - Montezuma DoW Pacal. Are you ********, Monte? I've just captured half of your empire and about to re-declare.

1370 - Finally met the mongolians. Leader is Kubilai, with a big 14 cities empire, but totally backward.

1390 - 1950 gold trade mission in Babylon.

1395 - DoW Montezuma again and Tlateloco captured.

1400 - Texcoco captured.

1440 - Tlaxcala.

1460 - Tlacopan.

1480 - Mutal captured and Montezuma is dead. Mutal is a major letdown, only granary is still intact.

1485 - Smart boy Pacal realizes what's going to happen very soon. Well, why not. Shaves some 10 turns of war:

And Mutal liberated to Pacal.

1490 - Last AI is Washington. Small empire, but teching decently. Compared to the other AIs at least.

1555 - Another trade mission in Babylon for 1950 gold. I've decided this is a SP game, so no Sushi.

1590 - DoW Washington and suddenly I find myself at war with my pal Hammurabi. Looks like they have a def pact and I didn't check. Oh well, I don't get diplo penalties with Hamm, beside DoW vs friend.

1595 - Washington captured. ToA and Apostolic Palace inside, nice surprise. Frigates bomb culture down to 0 and CR berserkers attack with very good odds vs longbows. I'll have some nasty amphibious CR rifles in the future:

1625 - Boston captured and it's enough for Washington:

Probably Victoria's next, followed by Hatshepsut. Then I'll upgrade my berserkers to rifles at some point, to attack the big dogs.

 

[michmbk]

Part 2 - monarch epic 715 to 1766. Only a matter of time now - this is a big map, so this is going a bit slow.

Spoiler :

I left off about 7 turns from lib. I’ll take it to 1 turn, and then divert. No sense rushing it since I’m miles ahead. So I divert toward economics. Circumnav bonus through maps, and some kindness to my BFF Charlie:

So now my ships go even farther thanks to the trading post. I then take the barb city up on the NE coast.

Saw Charlie start bringing some units this way, so didn’t want to lose it. He and Pericles are my closest neighbors, and they’re pleased and friendly. Think I’ll be amassing a force for Monty soon enough. First diversion was to economics for this:

I settle him in Nidaros as well – 18 gold per turn once the bank is finished - I was too lazy honestly to send him on a trade mission. All of a sudden, though, I realize Charlie is getting big, and teching really well. He’s not making a run at lib, but he’s getting ahead of me in military techs. Not much of a worry since we’re friendly, I just need to watch him in case he goes toward lib. Meanwhile, teching towards steel – my goal is steel for lib at least. Charlie is also settling all those crappy hills between all my coastal cities, which doesn’t really concern me – they’ll be super slow growing.

I decide in the meantime it’s time to start annoying Monty. He doesn’t have feudalism, so berserkers against archers – sure. I DOW him, and land 2 berserkers on his horsie island with a city defended by 2 archers. Someone of course trades him feudalism, and he upgrades immediately, but, it doesn’t matter - CRII berserker against just-recently upgraded longbow:

I now have horsies. That’s all I wanted, so I’ll take peace.

Pacal can tech education, so I’m watching him a bit. I decide it’s time to take lib. No one had education yet, so I debated whether or not to try for perhaps a lib-assembly line slingshot, but decided this was a decent slingshot:

I tech to sci method, bulb most of printing press, finish that, and then finally decide to head to physics, which means giving up my astro colossus edge. That’s ok, because I have plenty of research anyway with all my trade route abuse. Meanwhile, I figure it’s time to annoy Monty again, because he DOW’ed someone else. What better time to hit him than when his stack is elsewhere?

Quick city:

And how beautiful is this – a holy city with 24 gold per turn - Monty, thank you for spreading religion for me.

Meanwhile, for some unknown reason, Justinian decided to do this:

With caravels and galleys? Ok. I was almost done with Monty, so I finish Monty off:

And since I’m early on in a golden age, switch to slavery, whip a couple muskets, and beat down Justin’s galleys, trebs and cats. He quickly realized the error of his ways.

Tech awhile to continue my edge, and hit artillery. Time to go after Pacal. My production stinks, and the only land oil tile I see near me was claimed by one of Charlie’s cities –should have blocked him better. But I have such a tech lead that I’ll just keep beating down all these weak civs. Pacal, here I come:

This was pretty quick – 2 turn capitulation. Charlie then switches into free religion and drops to cautious. So that seals his fate – couple that with the oil that’s rightfully mine and he’s going to pay. Artillery and rifles, when he still hasn’t teched replaceable parts or chem. Not good for him. Of course, he gets Pericles to dogpile on me when I DOW him, so suddenly my formerly pleased and friendly friends are both at war with me. I quickly take the two Charlie cities I wanted, that were causing cultural problems, I get oil as a result, and happily take peace from him - a 4 turn war with him. I’ll get him later.

Now Pericles, despite having rifles, will feel the wrath of my artillery. I raze his city on the lower peninsula near me that was also claiming oil, and then ask him for peace – he gives me 200 gold plus 10 per turn. He’ll think twice about dogpiling me – now I can get back to Charlie once 10 turns ends. A quick 5 turn war with Charlie – take 2 of his cities, and then again take peace for a bunch of gold. He just got rifling, so I might as well take 10 turns to reestablish my tech edge, and I use those turns to make all my ships transports and destroyers.

Wait about 10-12 turns, and back at it. He took awhile to capitulate, but I got infantry halfway through, at which point he got beat down pretty good. I took his 2 nice shiny wonder cities, and finally, he gave in:

What was weird after I got infantry was that a couple backward civs started demanding tribute techs - steel, rifling...I refused and demanded gold from them instead, and they gave in. Tribute techs annoy me when I'm miles ahead in tech. Meanwhile, Charlie can have his wonders back – even though Notre Dame would have been useful, I’m about to cut off the tech slider, so culture can manage unhappiness. I’m now heading right to Pericles, the only one teching anywhere near me. No sense wasting time. He doesn’t have tanks, and I’m about to – he also doesn’t have that many cities. This is where I cut off for the game. Empire at this point:

As you can see, I’m in the black at 80% tech and 20+ cities - trade route abuse plus 3 settled merchants in Nidaros (although I still haven't built Wall Street - no need to at this point). Now have two vassals, and am going after Pericles next. Once I hit industrialism, I’ll probably turn off the tech slider – no need for it at that point. After Pericles, it’ll be tanks against everyone else’s rifles – not pretty. Just a matter of time now.

 

[Lemon Merchant]

Part 1 4000 BC to 1000 AD - Prince, Epic speed

Spoiler :

Wow. What a map. No copper anywhere and horses 600 miles away.

I settled 1 SW to take advantage of the seafood right away. I beelined to Bronze Working. Lots more goody huts on Prince! I popped 4 scouts and some money and Archery. First time for that. I explored everything and I was sure I had joined the Lonely Hearts Club until I found Charlie to the NW in a great choke point. I blew the choke as my settler and axeman got destroyed by a barb archer. Before I could whip another one, Charlie had spammed 3 cities beyond the choke point.

I haven't really bothered with any wonders except for the Great Lighthouse. I've got 4 really good cities and some necessary weak ones to grab the horses etc. The problem is the horses are so tired by the time they get to the rest of my territory because of the GREAT DISTANCE from anything else, they have to rest for 5 turns.

I'm now number 3 on the scoreboard, the economy is going well, and I'm keeping up tech-wise. I got Liberalism and grabbed Nationalism with it. I managed to whore myself for Astronomy and I bulbed SM. (I want Tanks!) I'm working on Chemistry at the moment for Frigates, because I'm going Monty hunting before he comes for me. I'm going to get Gunpowder soon, too, and I'll have a dual front war with Monty and Charlie. I'm going to get Charlie back to the choke point and beyond, I hope. He's too powerful at the moment, and he's going to be a problem if I don't do something right away.

My power is good, and I have a decent army, but I'm about to switch to Nationhood and draft a bigger one. I'm already spamming units in 3 cities. Then it's time to crush my foes under my 3 inch heel.

Screenies to follow.

 

[Anomander Rake]

Update

Spoiler :

This is a very frustrating map for me - tons and tons of hills means it's very slow to move anyone anywhere.

It's all very hard to decide where to put my cities so I cheated and looked at everyone else's. The first two grow OK, but after that they grow so slowly - either they have one food source and can only work a few tiles, OR they have no fricking hammers and take 120 turns to build a granary!

I missed out on the great wall and got spammed by Barbarians - good XP for defence - crap expenditure to have to build twice as many archers + 10 axe men to defend my improvements.

Research out of the window and I had to spend all my hut cash on upgrading.

That's really slowed this attempt down.

I am going to start again and if that fails that's it. I already feel I have cheated enough by trying it 4 times!

 

[Ai Shizuka]

Part IV, monarch/epic, 1630 - 1780:

Spoiler :

I always play standard maps and enjoying this game so far. Not sure if it's easier or harder than standard maps, I guess it evens out. Sadly my pc is made of failure and turns are already taking a lot of time. I'll end this, because it's a fun game, but I don't think I'll play more large maps in the future.

techs: physics - rep parts - rifling - steel - steam power - divine right (Washington) - railroad - combustion - corporation - al - biology (Vicky) - fascism - mil science (Pericles)

1630 - First turn of this round, Kubilai declares war, probably bribed by Hammurabi.

1650 - Stupid Charles beats me to Physics. Should have researched Physics before Communism. My capital still doesn't have an academy. Oh well, it's still producing some 300 bpt at the end of this round.

1655 - War vs Hammurabi was not planned (forgot to check defensive pacts before attacking Washington), but while we are at it:

1665 - And some cash for peace. He's pleased again now:

1675 - Still at war with Kubilai and he captures a city of my vassal Pacal. Poor Pacal.

1700 - Couldn't care less about Pacal's troubles. Vicky's next on the viking list:

1702 - Fatboy finally talks to me:

1708 - Hastings captured and Vicky's done:

London and Hastings gifted right back.

1732 - My berserkers, now sporting some more civilized outfits and shiny boomsticks, ready to attack Egypt:

Amphibious CR rifles attack with ridiculous odds and capture Heliopolis in the same turn.

I get a Great Eng in Tenochtitlan. Will rush the Pentagon.
And my last GM gets 1950 gold somewhere.

1734 - I don't even need to capture a second egyptian city. Just killing a few defenders:

And Heliopolis liberated to Hatty.

1738 - Shaka declares war vs Hammurabi and his vassal Justi. Hammu bribes Kubilai vs Shaka. Accidentally, war vs Egypt is over and my rifles are still hanging around:

Dogpiling time!

I'd never attacked Shaka on my own with that tiny army. He's lagging a couple eras behind, but some 60 knights are more than enough to wipe my rifles. But his monster stack are probably on the opposite front and I can strike right at his core.
Ondini is captured in the first turn of war.

1740 - Bulawayo captured.

1742 - Nobamba captured.

1746 - Shaka captures TWO byzantine cities in the same turn. What about defending yourself?

Same turn, I raze Thessalonica (captured by Shaka millennia ago). Not enough units to defend the captured cities.

1748 - Shaka captures another byzantine city.

1754 - And super Hatty captures a zulu city on her landmass. Go Hatty, finally a vassal following my directions.

1760 - KwaDukuza razed.

1762 - Shaka captured TWO more byzantine cities and finally signs peace with Hamm+Justi.

1764 - uMgungundlovu and Pyramids. God, Shaka with Police State available right from the start. Luckily he was not my neighbor.

1768 - Nongoma captured.

1770 - Ulundi captured with a secondary cavalry stack.

1774 - Shaka counter-attacks with a small stack of outdated garbage and finally gives up:

No cities gifted back this time. I've captured a nice chunk of Zululand for myself:

Viking posse at the end of the round:

Next target is Kubilai, but my power ratio with him says 0.6 at this point. Not pretty. I'll attack with my amphibious rifles (soon to be infantry) on his western coast and with a stack of cavalry through Hammurabi's empire. Vicky's doing well, so she'll do some damage on the SE front.

Hamm and Charlie somehow are just a couple techs behind, so I'll wait for tanks to attack them.

 

[KaytieKat]

Hi

Noble, Marathon, 1390 AD

Spoiler :

This map is HARD. I havent played a techtonic mappy since NC rosy cuz I usually get creamed on em and I figured fact that this is huge map AND was created for monarch level that it would be so it no surprise that it been really hard to get anything going.

after setting close to wheat I started on second scout then workboat while teching AG, Mining, BW, AH then Masonry

My two scouts got two other scouts from goody huts so they explored good zise chunk of map all the way east past Peri and all the way west until they got blocked by Kubby. ALong the way they got TONS of hut--that one reason I like doing scout first when I play a civ that start with hunting. No techs but by time they were through I had over 1300 gold in bank enuff to to stay at 100% research slider for a LOOOOONG time.

I saw the choke point to block out BK so my very first settler and and second warrior scooted ALL the way up there to found uppsy daisy or whatever it called here:

that DID block off big chunk of land. So after that fist settler I chopped GW then built a another warrior and settler while teching sailing then myst, poly, preisthood

After second settler done and sailing done rest of trees were used to chop GLH, second city chopped Oracle after priesthood was done. MC was taken for Oracle tech and and after 3rd settler then a forge it built Collosus to try and get some kind of GLH/Col economy thingy going.

But by this time bank scouts all built up was running out so I had to drop slider a bit. I also havent gotten another shiny since :/. Most I been able to do was found buddhism by tech CoL. Most of time has been spent setting out my land and falling behind in tech. While meeting all the AI's I missed by after scouts got blocked by Kubla.

By 1390 AD I lost map race TRYING to keep up in tech with a DISMAL bpt. Only good thing ha sbeen for most part neighbors up north like me while crazy ppl down south--Monty, Pacal, and Shaka all hate hattie more than me so been picking on her the mst. Vicky and Kubby been warring off and on whole game so they havent been bothering me. Justinian hates but he so far away he havent been a problem.

The big leaders at this point are BK and Hammy but they both like me so I havent been worried about them cept for fact I am struggling to keep up in tech. I DID get lib race one but I took SOOOOOO long to do it that MOST of techs you usually pick for a lib win like Nat and Astronomy were already teched through by other AI's by time I got lib done. THEN I kinda hurt myself. I picked Astronomy as freebie tech which obsoleted the col WHICH dropped by bpt by 80 which considering at that time I was BARELY getting 300 bpt is LOTS

So really at this point I am just trying to stay above water. Building a strong military to keep the AI's off my back and HOPE at some point I can make a move on SOMEBODY.

Here is my empire:

LOTS of cities but most of them sucky half of them arent even more than 5 pop yet and it 1390AD

Demos:

Sucky economy, sucky hammers, pretty much sucky everything. I know I do have leads in lots oif stuff but even where I do have leads it JUST barely.

Power:

Kubby keeps going up and down cuz he keeps fighting with Vicky all the time. I managed to get a tiny lead at this point but its not HUGE and some AI's like hammy and bk have more modern units :/

Tech sitch:

BK and Hammy have Mil Trad and chem on me . Luckily though they both like me so I dont have to worry about them backstabbing me. BUT if I am going to make a move at SOME point I am going to have to at least go after BK which could be a PAIN.

Diplo Sitch:

Chritianity is the big religion and the ap religion and luckily all my cities have it so I have big block of votes but while I AM single biggest block it not more than all the other blocks combined so I dont control the AP so it could be a problem if I dont watch it.

Like I said the two biggest AI's both like me and everybody else either is pleased of if they not pleased they hate somebody worse. The only ppl who really hate me are Justy and Shaka but justy is VERY far away and while shaka hates me he HATES hattie and been attacking her off and on all game.

Monty's charm school classes must be paying off since he ONLY the worst enemy of 5 civs and not everybody hehe. But he and Pacal like Shaka all like to pick on hattie so they hate her more and been leaving me alone.

Now at this point I have NOOO clue what I am gonna do. I am just barely treading water it feels like while other civs just race on through. I know I have to make a move at SOME point but just not sure sure how. I could go east after Monty and Pacal--they ARE still kinda backwards but it means going over seas which I SUCK at even with a navy leader like Rags . Plus they ARE kinda backwards going after them WONT take care of civs I NEED to worry bout--BK and Hammy. Going after them is gonna be HARD but at least it overland PLUS they BOTH have TONS of christian cities which would help me get strangle hold on AP plus going up that way means I can take care of Peri too while I am at it. ANd Between BK and Peri they been hogging MOST of wonders. I think their two cap's have like 80% of all wonders built so far between them so taking their land and cities with all the shinies could put me in VERY nice postion. So while I AM leaning to going after BK then Peri and then maybe hammy next I am not sure if I can. I think I am gonna NEED to at some point to be able to win but at least at this point my empire in such a mess if I make a move now I am gonna get WHOMPED so right now it just trying to get my empire together and hope at some point I am strong enuff to make a move b4 it too late :/.

Well I guess thats it at this point. Wisch me luck I AM gonna need LOTS of it.

Kaytie

 

[Ai Shizuka]

Final part, monarch/epic, 1780 - 1894:

Spoiler :

1786 - Hamm drops to cautious and is friendly with Kubilai, wich isn't the biggest viking fan. Diplo situation isn't 100% safe anymore.

1794 - I actually build a wonder. Could have built the SoL and pretty much every single radio/mass media wonder, but tanks are a better investment:

1848 - Pericles breaks free from Charles. I decide to take small Pericles first, while building more tanks for the big guys.

1852 - DoW Pericles. Berserkers from the sea, tanks from the SW:

Athens and Argos captured in the first turn of war.

1853 - Knossos captured.

1855 - Corinth captured.

1856 - He thinks about it for an extra turn and finally is ready:

Greek cities liberated. I'm about to attack Charles and can't be bothered to defend them.

1864 - DoW Charlie. Attacking with amphibious infantry from the north and 3 mini-stacks of tanks from the S. First turn of war is a disaster for Charles: he lose Mainz and Augsburg on the northern coast, Brandenburg and Heidelberg in the southern hills.

1865 - Lubeck razed (S) and Nuremberg captured (N).

1866 - Poor Charles is done after 2 turns of war:

Northern cities liberated, but I keep the southern ones.

1869 - KK and Hammurabi sign a defensive pact. Oh well, my next move is quite obvious at this point.

1878 - I don't care about their defensive crap, ready to attack:

A dozen bombers stationed stationed in Charles' cities and the good old amphibious stack is ready on the N coast (can see the white dot in the mini-map).

And the world erupt in flames. Me and my vassals vs Hamm, KK and Justi:

Speaking of vassals, they are directed to different city targets.
First turn of war, first city captured by berserkers (they are infantry at this point, but still berserkers at heart):

A dozen destroyers/transports are destroyed in Dur Kurigalzu.

1879 - Charles is joining the party with a respectable stack:

And the first mongolian city, Anasazi, is captured.

1880 - Carib (Ham) captured.

1882 - Washington captures his target, a mongolian city down to the SE.

1883 - And Shaka does his job as well, capturing a Byzantine city. Justinian at this point doesn't trust his master anymore and breaks free.

1884 - But offers his vassalization to Kubilai. Idiot.

Kubilai captures an english city and Borsippa (Ham) is captured by the vikings.

1885 - KK has a lot of cities and will take a while to capitulate, so plan B is ready:

Nicomedia (Justi) captured by the amphibious stack.
And Opis (Ham) captured by tanks.

1886 - Everyone loves me, so I'm the UN secretary.
Mari (Ham) captured and I put an end to Justinian's misery:

1887 - Shaka captures a northern mongol city.
Nippur and Shushan captured, and Hammurabi gives up:

Ashur turns out to be this garbage, gifted right back:

1889 - Kubilai recaptures that city lost to the americans.

1891 - Mandalgovi captured by berserkers.

1892 - Old Sarai by tanks.

1893 - Hammurabi apparently doesn't care about his former BFF Kubilai and captures Samarqand.
UN resolutions pop up and I call the diplo win.

1894 - Next turn:

World at the end:

Demographics:

Stats:

Power:

Score:

Ragnar takes care of his vassals. Proof, even Shaka was warming up at the end:

Techs:

Ironworks and HE:

Weird combo in the bureaucracy capital. Oxford and West Point:

Enjoyed a lot the large map but the last turns was PAINFUL.

 

[michmbk]

Monarch Epic 1766 to 1883 - domination victory

Spoiler :

Relatively quick writeup – short story is warmongering everywhere to dominate the world. When I left off, Charlie had given up, and Pericles was hopefully receiving last rites, because I was on his doorstep ready to greet him with ideally a quick and painfree capitulation, for his sake. First things first:

It’s tank time. Guess I’ll try for fascism for the great general, then cut tech slider in favor of culture. I don’t need more than tanks to finish the world. First turn, one city:

It doesn’t take long – a turn or two later:

Now off to the rest of the world. One final civic switch to police state, vassalage and theocracy. First up, Hammurabi – this should be quick – my infantry takes his first two cities, and tanks are coming for Babylon:

Night night Hammy - I think we may keep Babylon – 54 gold per turn is not one to give back. That’s enough for him. Next up, Kublai:

This causes war horns everywhere! He and Justy had a defensive pact, so it’s me and my three vassals against the two of them. Unfortunately, Kublai has not yet teched replaceable parts. Not a good outcome for him. He sure waits awhile, but after I take his capital, it’s all over. I’m not giving it back on principle, either. I’ll just build culture in it for awhile.

Next on the list, I thought was going to be Justinian, but then I get this random event:

I decide to spend 100 gold to piss Vicky off – no point being nice to anyone now, and she DOWs me!!! With my 4 vassals, she DOWs me, so the ships are off to pay her a visit:

London sure is a nice city, I think I’ll keep it too. Nice also to take it with no casualties – CRIII tanks against infantry are good odds. She’s a stubborn old bag though – can’t believe after I take 3 of her 5 cities, she still won’t capitulate. Finally, she loses her 4th out of 5, and gives up.

Meanwhile, I built Eiffel Tower just because - figured all these flipped cities building culture would have an easier time expanding borders. So now it’s time for Justy to say goodnight – we’ve been at war too long. And this seriously takes forever. Finally:

And Washington:

Now just rush buying everything and building culture to get the last 2% of land I need. Also, just DOWed Suleiman and Shaka for a mass war – me and all my vassals against those two. Finally, hit 54% of land for this:

My computer finally was beat down by that huge map, so it skipped and failed to print screen, but my final score was 80k. Pretty good overall, but realistically, this ended up being a snap with GLH and Colossus – so easy to abuse the coastal cities. The fact that I never dipped below 60% research despite expanding to 12 cities by 500 AD tells how easy this was with those two wonders. Any coastal city was almost instantly profitable, and the cities across the ocean just a bit made for some serious trade route abuse. I wish we were all connected though, because it got pretty annoying at the end beating up Justin when I had to ferry all my tanks and artillery back and forth from our continent to the other.

 

[djvandrake]

OK, I started 2 days later than most but I'm amazed people are already finished. I'm a tad slow. I think I'd better read TMIT's guide to quick games.

Prince - Epic speed.

4000 BC to 85 AD

edit: Added the dotmaps for planned city placement.

Spoiler :

I settled in place and poked around a bit. I started building warriors in hopes of a close-ish neighbor for an uber-early rush. No such luck. So I got eaten by lions instead. Next scout goes out and meets more of the neighbors.

Tech path was:

Animal Husbandry
Sailing
Agriculture (Popped from hut)
Writing (Popped from hut) <== Yeah! Are you blinking kidding me? Woohoo!
Archery
Mining
Bronze Working (No copper in sight, anywhere. )
Masonry
The Wheel
Pottery
Mysticism
Iron Working
Metal Casting
Alphabet
Aesthetics
Polytheism

First wonder priority in Nidaros was the Great Lighthouse.

And then the Colossus

I put about 20 turns into the Pyramids before going to the Colossus so when pericles built the mids I got a big bucket of gold. I've been running 80-90% slider all game and popped a great merchant. I settled him in Nidaros.

Here's the state of things:

The top priority now is to build 5-6 more cities in the land to the north before Charlemegne fills it all up, and to expore a bit off the coast to the souteast. Maybe settle across the waves near that fish. Need to poke around a bit more. I'm spolied for so much land to the northwest.

And to the North.

City planning dot-map is coming soon.

I also need to get Polytheism asap and then trade around to backfill my techs. I need monarchy asap as the is killing me. Nidaros could be size 12-14 by now if I could get to HR.

Not sure who my first target will be. Maybe Monty if he's close but he's pleased with me right now. Kahn seems to be the biggest of the bunch, and Hammy is going to have his hands full dealing with him.

edit: Here's my planned city placement. I'd better get cracking if I want to get most of these sites as I'm Charlamegne is already moving south.

To the due north:

And to the Northwest:

Thoughts?

 

[Anexus]

Prince/Epic Speed

Decided to give prince a try, but turned out the map felt like Noble difficulty to me because of the map.

Spoiler :

I didn't take many screenshots, so it'll be a quick rundown of what I did.

I popped Mysticism and the Wheel at the beginning, which made teching pretty easy at the start. I didn't find a neighbor for so long that I thought I was on an island by myself. So I didn't worry so much about expanding asap. Seeing the terrain, it looked like the Great Lighthouse might be a boon. I also didn't really want to deal with barbs.

So after getting some workers and settling 2 cities, built the great wall and the great lighthouse in my starting city. Built Moai in Uppsala for a nice production city.

Due to all the hills, it was tough finding a spot for a good commerce city. My capitol ending up being a hybrid commercer/production city. I made a couple commerce cities up north near the calendar resources and that river.


-Charles didn't expand towards me at all, nor did Pericles really. This allowed me to have the entire peninsula to myself. with the exception of one Greek city. Wasn't a big deal. I never ended up taking that city.

-Egyptian Empire was destroyed by Barbarians in 65 BC. Didn't get a chance to even meet hatty.

-Once I got zerkers, first war would end up being against Monty. he settled on those islands south of my capitol I took those, along with Teotihuacan. He capitulated. I kept the island cities for the commerce, gifted back Teo.

-Justinian was stomped out by Shaka. Pacal expanding on all those peninsulas/islands and became rather large without Egypt there.

-Charlemagne hates Pericles. They war a lot. Charles takes Athens, Pericles, who I've been friendly with is kind enough to become my vassal. I make peace with Charles a few turns later as I don't really want to conduct a landwar just yet.

-Kublai Khan wars with Hammurabi, Hammy enventually becomes his vassal.

-Shaka colonizes the land south of him. Gilgamesh is born.

-My strategy after making Monty my vassal was building up my economy and securing the tech lead. I was basically tech leader when I got Liberalism. In my production cities, I just kept building Berserkers so I could upgrade them later (amphibious ftw). In a few coastal cities I was building up a fleet of Galleons and frigates.

-As soon as I teched Assembly line, it was time to use my army. I upgraded all my frigates/zerkers/galleons to destroyers/infantry/transports respectively and went on a war spree. I was making about 500 gpt at 50% tech rate. I went down to 0% for about 1500 gpt to upgrade my army.

-First victim was Washington. Took Boston, Philly, and Washington in 2 turns using my uber amphibious infantry with 0 casualties. He capitulates.

-Rinse, repeat against Vicky a few turns later. London, Nottingham, and a English capture barbarian city are my easy victims. She capitulates.

-Meanwhile I tech to Industrialization for tanks. I am also building an army of cannons in one town. I send all my cannons and tanks to my northwestern city to prepare for my assault against Charles.

-I gift back the American and English cities and send my army towards pacal's lands. By this time, he is huge having all the land in the southwestern part of the map, including Thebes which had kindly taken from the barbarians.

-He was pretty backwards tech wise because he was so large. I took the entire isthmus east of Monty. I took over one small island, but I left the long skinny islands/peninsulas alone. He capitulates. I gift back the cities on the small island, but I keep the cities on the isthmus (very western and eastern parts of the map).

-The cities are kinda junk, but I need to keep pacal small so he won't break free. I decide to colonize, and the Chinese are born, led by Qin Shi Huang. He gifts a city to Pacal, but manages to do ok with the rest of the cities. I leave my army/fleet in Chinese territory for later use. I'm still large enough that pacal won't break free.

-Once I tech artillery, I upgrade my cannons, and strike charlemagne. Destroyers aren't much help against his main cities as they are all inland, so artillery provides the bombardment. He goes down easy. I take out his northwestern coastal cities, eliminating him from the continent. He capitulats, although I probably should have just destroyed him. Oh well, he's an island nation in the frigid arctic I don't gift back any cities, except for one... to Pericles. He's been a nice vassal so I thought I'd help him out a bit.

-The main eastern landmass is now controlled almost entirely by me and Pericles. hammurabi is to my west, and Kublai is to my southwest. Each have a city on that continent, and they would be my last victims.

-Gather big army, blah blah blah. Send my fleet/infantry from Chinese waters toward Kublai's western cities. I take three of them out, but Kublai gets one back. I send in bombers to the capture cities to bombard the city he took back. I slowly retake that city with my infantry.

-On the northern front, I take out all of Hammy's cities, banishing him to shaka's continent. I take out all of Kublai's cities north of the mountain chain.

-Hammurabi breaks free from Kublai. Kublai capitulates after taking out the northern/northwestern parts of the continent.

-I get UN victory in 1886 while Hammy has one city left.

Here is what the map looks like at the end. I think I lucked out with the AI deciding not to expand to their southeast right away. This allowed me to settle a pretty large area. Having nice, chokepoint, allowed me to focus defense in a couple places and I could build up my economy and settle cities at the pace I wanted. Monty had to be taken out earlier rather than later because he was so close to my capitol. Getting him to capitulate created a nice buffer between me and pacal. Charlie and Pericles were so busy duking it out, that neither could afford to war against me. At one point, I think almost the entire world was at war with Charlie. This meant my northwestern flank was pretty weak, so nobody could really threaten me most of the game.

I was rather amused that justinian and Hatty were taken out relatively early. Never really interacted with either civ.

Again, I apologize for lack of screnshots.

 

[KaytieKat]

Hi

Noble, Marathon 1784 AD

Spoiler :

I decided best move was to go after BK then Peri. They had nice land, nice cities and some very helpful shinies, and they were closest nieghbors so going after them wwouldnt be TOO hard I was hoping.

I spent LOTS of turns building up, I teched riflinf and then steel for better units. While I was teching rifling I was building LOTS of zerkers and giving em CR promotions with plan to upgrade em all to rifles as soon as I teched it.

After I finished getting techs I needed and then upgrading units to rifles and cav and then geting a decent amount of cannon:

I DOW BK and make a move on his cap.

And my boys get SPiral, Sistine and shrin to biggest religion on planet

They then proceed to take everyone of BK's cities on the land mass and then:

BK wouldnt givbe up Mil Sci no matter what. He did offer that city but it was a rinky dink city he took off of Pacal and it was right by Pac's capitol so I didnt want to have to deal with it so took it out of the deal.

Not sure WHAT BK was thinking--as SOON as I attacked he switched to teching Mil Sci which WAS smart since I was attacking with rifles and he must of traded for it after he put a few beakers into it cuz he got it done fast BUT he doesnt build a SINGLE gren he just keeps building cav in all his cities :/. EVEN with bonus of protective he spams cavs intead of grens and rifles.

Oh wells his being stupid help me out so I wont complain hehe. After I cap BK I make my move on peri --which I HAD to at this point cuz a cpl of cities I took from BK were getting pressed hard by Peri's culture and were already going to revolts cuz of it.

So my guys take a city then they get to his cap and take athens and get:

Chickin and Hage already obsolete by that point, but we still get Uni of Snakore and fighting irish footbal so it still helpful--just wish that &%*&&^ Angry what wasnt there I HATE that wonder grrr.

Along the way we also get hindu holy shrine which Peri must have been spamming BIG time cuz it getting almsot as much gold as church of nativity

Only BAD deal was Peri got Versaille built too and city that has it is VERY close to uppsy where I built fp so that wonder doesnt help as much as if Hammy or Kubby or someone had built it.

And after were cleared peri off the landmass:

He wouldnt give up artie no matter what but I still cap him and then take his silk

And thats where I am at now. AL already done and sushi now on board which is another reason I picked Peri he got LOTS of seafood around his cities so that should help my cities deal with lack of food once sushi gets going in all of them.

Thans to two new shrines from BK and Peri and Uni of snakore and Sprial I FINALLY have a decent bpt going too. While most cities getting factories up and then healthy buildings after as needed I am teching towards industrialism.

Here is my empire at this point:

The east:

and west:

Most of my cities still pretty rinky dink but hopefully sushi will help and I have a gp about to pop soon and am keeping fingers crossed that it will be a GE and if it is then I can get Mining Inc going too and that with sushi can help turn rinky dink cities into nice cities fast

Demographics:

Things are getting better. My militray size is increasing but still wouldnt be biggest if a cpl of the bigger AI's teamed up and dogpiled on me--luckily they all hate each other so fight among themsleves and been leaving me alone. Hopefully it will stay that way.

Tech sitch:

The AI's have commie, radio and artie on me at this point so I am still behind but I USUALLY end up being slow to those techs anyways just cuz I STILL think getting the techs on up to AL more important but now that I have them and hammers and beakers starting to get better I can catch up and pull ahead soon.

Vic conditions:

Still LONG ways off from any kind of win. Not sure WHAT next move gonna be.

I am leaning VERY much to go after washington. Georgie built SoL and ever eince then I been eyeing his cap thinking how NICE it would be to get that shiny. And since then:

He just been making taking his cap look yummier hehe.

ONLY things that have been saving him is A: he too far away to go after by land so I need to do a naval attack which I HATE and avoid if I can and TWO he have a def pact with hammy who not only is pretty much my only friend going but hammy no weenie at this point only Justy is bigger army and he pretty technologiclly advanced so war with him could be ugly.

But FRANKLY hammy been getting on my nerves. He has techs I dont have and I have techs he dont have but will he trade? NOOOOOO. He wouldnt even trade electricity even AFTER broadway was built and AFTER several ai already had it--he still held on tighter than britney spears to a shot glass. But that wouldnt be bad enough but while he wouldnt give up HIS techs he been having NERVE to come by over and over BEGGING for MY techs for FREE grrrrrrrrrrrrr. If he were convient spot to attack HE would be next but way map is there is a city of Kubby blocking me BUT after that one mongol city it ALL hammy cities. So if Iit would mean war with BOTH to get hammy and while Kubby not THAT adavnced he IS pretty big so war with him not very appealing. But samy that keep me from hammy also keep hammy from me so I think I will just send a few garrison troops to protect my chokepoint city closest to hammy--see if I cant make sure Kubby wont keep his open borders with hammy and then attack washington.

Going that way will keep hammy off my back and taking washingtons cities will give me path to going after Vicky then Kubby THEN I can hit hammy from two side

The other AI's like justy hattie and shaka two far away to be convenioent for attacking. Monty close but he learned the hardway it not nice to pick on girls after onagain off again attacks on hattie he is now her lapdog. Pacal just has like 2 cities so he not even worth the trbl besides I WANT those shines hehe.

AP no longer an issue cuz with all of my cities plus ones I took from peri and BK I now control it. BUT UN probably not that far off since lots of civs have radio already so I am gonna want a bigger pop soon.

So my plan at this point is tech to industrialism-- meantime build some transports and get some destroyers going. Make sure choke point city and seafood all guarded then go say Hi to washington and after he all settled go after vicky. Then at that point I will check the situation and see where I should go from there. Wish me luck

Kaytie

 

[KaytieKat]

Hi

Noble Marathon 1818 AD

Spoiler :

Just a lil mini update.

Georgie seems to WANT me to take him out cuz FIRST he builds statue of liberty which already made me start looking at his cap and picturing it as suburb of Kaytieland THEN he builds broadway and R&R there. So I am like sheesh ok I will go get you.

I guess Georgie is impatiant for me to go slap him around cuz even while I am building up:

He builds eiffel. I am like jeeze louise georgie Im comming as fast as I can. You dont have to keep prettying up your cap you had me at Rock and Roll but if you insist in meantime why dont you try and rush buy christo for me or something hehe.

Only thing at this point really slowing me down is to I building my last cpl of units to fill up all slots on my transports and also to up grade along my borders with Hammy and on my coast just cuz that stupid def pact georgie got going with hamy is still a lil worrisome.

But georgie ever the accomadating fellow suddlenly joins Hattie on war with shaka. And I dbl check:

Yep Georgie DoWing on Shaka killed his def pact with hammy. So since georgie seems so INSISTENT I come and take his empire:

The boys load up and now on their way. So dont blame ME for picking him. He been BEGGING me now all game teasing me with the shinys all in ONE city. So it would just be plain rude at this point if I didnt go take em hehe

After I take Georgie out hopefully flight will be done and I can airlift some garrison troops and other reinforcements then go after Vicky. Wish me luck

Kaytie

 

[Anomander Rake]

Woe is me - the Game decided to go pear-shaped during a decent attempt!

It started with a couple of leaders contacting me to ask for Open Borders; but there was no option to click yes or no or negotiate! I had to press ESC and then re-contact them to ask them f for OB.

Irritating, but I could live with it.

However, then I get a demand to stop all my dealings with the vile *****.
This time I could see the options, and they changed to yellow when I hovered. However, there was no click through and ESC didn't work either.

Even minimizing the game and right-clicking to close it from the task bar didn't work. I had to CTRL-ALT-DEL and stop the process with the task manager!!



I tried another game as Elizabeth on a Fractal map and got the same thing.

I un-installed - deleted all files and folders, defragged and did a clean install yesterday evening. The 3.17 patch took a very long time to DL - Bloody Virgin and their Throttling.

I am going to have another go at this later in the week.

AR

 

[dalamb]

Is there an official description of what the Tectonics script does, as there is for many others in the 2005 Map Scripts Guide? There's a brief mention in the map scripts forum about trying to mimic plate tectonics (albeit without the volcanos along subduction zones, I imagine!).

I'd repeat the same question for any other scripts not in the guide, if I knew what they were!

The only time I've played Ragnar is on Archipelago, and the only larger-than-standard map was Earth 18 (and then just to practice warrior rush, so didn't play very long). So, I have some trepidation starting this one. I always bog down somewhere in the midst of a major war, so I don't expect to finish.

As to 4000 BC comments: I expect to settle in place unless the 1-step investigation open to the scout gives reveals something good enough to be worth trekking slowly over the mountains. If food is relatively scarce as I gathered from earlier comments, then two sources near the capital might be the best we can expect. I expect sailing would be a priority, since I imagine Tectonics means multiple land masses, some of which might be reachable via galley. If there's a lot of space between civs, then I suppose early war is out, which suits me fine.

Edit: with no intervening posts it seems reasonable to put checkpoint 1 here:

Spoiler 2350 BC :

I settled in place and built a workboat first, then worker, then 2nd workboat. I went for worker techs mining, bronze, AH, agriculture, wheel, and am almost done pottery. Since I can see land across the water, sailing is next; with no bronze nearby I think I have to go for iron working after that before writing.

My scout popped several gold plus archery before replacing himself with a popped warrior; shortly after, a bear got him. On this map a warrior might do nearly as well as a scout, except for the lesser chance of getting good stuff from huts. I met Charlemagne's scout, which may mean there are no more nearby huts to pop. Grumble, grumble - Protective opponent!

I've chopped a settler and am looking for where to send him, and don't see any especially good places to go.

Spoiler dotmap :

I'm aware I should try to expand towards the AI, so Red might not be the greatest 2nd city; yellow and dark blue gain some happiness resources. Dark blue interferes with light blue, which would get me marble. I regret not exploring the seacoast north of Nidaros, since seafood would make a decision easier. I think I'll put the second city on yellow, to get the gold, but will explore that territory SE across the water before building a second. The warrior explorer is near the southwest coast, a couple of squares from the wheat, so maybe he'll find something worthwhile in that direction.

 

[Anomander Rake]

@ dalamb

Spoiler :

Move your Yellow city 1 N to get Gold and Gems - 2 x Happiness more quickly than waiting for your 4th city.

The red city rocks - 3 food sources and lots of hills + coastal boost).

 

[dalamb]

@Anomander Rake:

Spoiler :

I think I put yellow where I did to leave room for one of the two blue cities, but I think you're right about wanting 2 happy resources early -- especially since I just got the Health Herbs event. As to red -- yes, it's a good city, but I just wondered if it were really the best choice for a 2nd city. In any case red and yellow seem to be the best first 2.

 

[Fierabras]

@dalamb

Spoiler :

Red is the best 2nd city. It grows very fast and helps you getting the 3rd and 4th city faster than starting with yellow as your 2nd city. Yellow is good. It nets you the grassland hill and better tiles in general than 1 tile north. Darkblue needs some consideration, explore the coast first.

 

[djvandrake]

This map has been a lot of fun so far.

I need some diplo advice if anyone feels inclined to give some. Please see inside the spolier.

I'm a bit behind for lack of playing time, but here's the state of things:

85 a.d. to 890 a.d.

Spoiler :

So I was happily teching along and launching full force into REX mode to claim all that land to the northwest. I went for Theology to run Theocracy and low and behold:

I found a religion. Funny how that happens when you didn't mean to, and when I'm gunning for one I seem to miss. I'll see if I can spread it around a touch later, but it's not a priority now. I get a visit from a little Egyptian work boat and meet Hatty. Then I explore around the coast east of Monty and find:

And then....

Oh.....joy! Monty, Pacal II and Shaka, the Shirtless Club of Annoyance is now complete! I don't know where Shaka or Hatty are yet because I recalled my galley to repel barbarians. But this sure is an interesting mix.

I was a little delayed, but I chopped out the Great Library in my capital.

And I met Washington soon thereafter. Here are my two best cities...

And you can see the score and religious standings there too.

The empire:

It doesn't show, but Pericles and Charle have filled in the far upper left. I did manage to block them out. I need to get to that spot with the ponies to the due north ASAP. I just destroyed a barb city up there and have a settler in work. I also need a settler after I destroy the barb city to the due west (I want the city one tile west.) Then I'll fill in 5 more spots behind that, and another off the coast. A lot of rexing to do but I haven't crashed the economy and have kept up in techs for the most part.

And the power graph.

Relations:

And the sitch in my far upper corner....

So here's where it gets interesting. I've been sharing a religion with Monty and putting up with his crap so that he'd bug someone else during my Rexing. It's worked since he attacked Pacal and I joined in just for the diplo bonus (even though I did nothing). Now that I think Monty will largely be manageable with my Navy, I need to re-evaluate my friends. My empire is a religious mess with just over half being Hindu, about 1/4 Christian, and 1/4 Buddhist. I'd hoped that my state religion (Christianity) would spread by itself but that's not working. The Hindu block is shaping up to be very powerful with Charlamegne, Pericles, Hammurabi, and Washington. Vicky founded Taoism and converted to that. The Christian block is Me, Khan, Monty, and Pacal. Not really good friends. So, I think I'll convert to Hindu even though it'll get Khan and Monty unhappy with me. But, I just see a bigger threat over land from Charle, Hammy, and Pericles than I do over water from Monty. Khan can't reach me (yet) because he's on the other side of Hammy and they hate each other.

So, whaddya think? Good idea? I don't always get on the right side to begin with.

 

[KaytieKat]

Hi

Noble, Marathon, 1895 AD

Spoiler :

Well the boys make it over to Georgie's cap and say hi:

A thx to free amphib promos they got starting out as zerks they attack from the boats and then:

Yay! more shinies

My guys press on the attack taking all of Georgies cities until we take em all but one which was protected by Vicky's border's.

Now, part of me is thinking I should just cap Georgie at this point and then go after Vicky. However it would mean letting Georgie share MY continent. And unfortunately for Georgie I DONT like to share . I have this philosophy, big brothers should share, baby sisters shouldnt have to . Now while this philosophy isnt popular with ALL my family I works for me .

So I since I have to go through Vicky to get to georgie, he has to wait a lil as I DoW on Vicky and start to take her cities.

Eventually I make it to Georgies last city, take it and he done like dinner. Vicky has a cppl cities left on the continent but I take em then and when she all they off with just a cpl cities on some islands:

With Georgie sleeping with the fishies and Vicky all capped it time for Kubby. I DoW on him and start taking his cities.

I have to give credit where credit is due. Kubby pretty backward but he has TONS and it look like he sends em ALL at once on my stack has it goes to his cap. I mean ALL they all outdated, trebs and keshicks and swords with some rifles and grens and cav. Normally not MUCH trbl for infantry and tanks and mg's but like I said there are TONS. The whole attack feels like it takes 10 minutes. By time it over, I get a GG to spawn about 15 units get promotions and EVERY unit in that stack is injured. But my boys are tuff and even tho they injured they press on and take Kubby's cap.

Kubby has a fairly good sized empire to it takes a lil while before I take all his cities on the land mass.

Meanwhile my cities are busy and my empire starts to get sorted and finally after what seems like FOREVER:

My cities FINALLY start building shinies . until this point excpet for pentagon we havent built a wonder since the BC's so if is NICE that were FINALLY starting to build a few of our own again .

The Crsico thingy was a VERY big deal too. My economy was starting to sort itself out but I KNEW some civic changes would be helpful BUT I didnt want to go into anarchy during a war. I TRIED waiting for gp's to come for a GA but I got to great prieasts in a row . But with thanks to that shiny:

I can do THREE anarchy free civic switches. I got to free speech, free religion and free market kind of a free theme there hehe.

Anyways its a HUGE effect. I am able to scoot the slider up a little and STILL make a profit but NOW I am getting over 5000 bpt .

With my economy looking up my guys keep busy taking over Kubby's cities and once all his cities on MY continent all taken and he just has a cpl left over on by Hattie:

And thats where I am at this point. All thats left is pushing hammy off the land mass and it will be ALL viking purple

Not sure how much of fuss Hammy will be since some AI's can be SOOO stubborn about moving off to another landmass and letting their old cities be my new cities . And while I been busy with Georgie, Vicky, and Kubby, Hammy has teched through industrialism so he have tanks and marines.

I STILL have a tech lead though so as soon as I save up enough for some mass upgrades I will go after him with modern armor and mechs. When/if Hammy all settled I am not sure what to do next. I checked victory conditions:

I'm not sure if Hammy controls 7% or not but even if he doesnt I should be VERY close to dom win once I control the whole continent.

Here are how graphs look at this point:

Thanks to civic switches and new cities starting to come online and get productive I am starting to build up some nice leads

Close ups of GNP:

Hammers:

Power:

Demographics:

My economy and hammers and power starting to come together now

Part of it been civic changes that gave a BIG boost but also we been living on:

Corp spam and by starting to get tons of land and tons of resources they starting to have BIG impact

They also help make my money city grow up very very nice

Well thats it at this point. I dont want to jinx myself but I am HOPING it all downhill now. Just take out hammy then if THAT doesnt send me over dom win threshhold I should literally only be one or two cities aaway so dom win looks most likely. Thats the plan anyways. wish me luck

Oh yesh and then there this. It not really anything to do with the game I just thought it was cute:

Awwww industrial barbies hehe

Kaytie

 

[dalamb]

I need some diplo advice if anyone feels inclined to give some.

Well, I'm not that great, but I'll give it a try...

Spoiler :

I went for Theology to run Theocracy and low and behold:... I found a religion. Funny how that happens when you didn't mean to, and when I'm gunning for one I seem to miss.

A few AIs seem to me to go for Theology fairly early, but I suspect it's fairly likely to get it first with the right opponents. At Noble I usually found Christianity if I bulb it with a Great Prophet from the Oracle or Stonehenge, and that takes long enough that a gung-ho AI might have taken it from me if it wanted to.

So here's where it gets interesting. ... I'd hoped that my state religion (Christianity) would spread by itself but that's not working.

I think religion won't spread to cities that already have one, unless someone sends a missionary.

I just see a bigger threat over land from Charle, Hammy, and Pericles than I do over water from Monty. Khan can't reach me (yet) because he's on the other side of Hammy and they hate each other.

IIRC there's a narrow water passage to Monty's continent; piling up some triremes ought to keep him/them at bay. But I've also heard people say Monty is easy to bribe to attack others; he's kill-crazy but techs slowly.