Workerspam
Prince
- Joined
- Aug 22, 2016
- Messages
- 331
Just finished a Emperor/Standard Planet Simulator map/Standard speed game on the hot fixed version with Carthage; turn 272-ish culture victory. Very enjoyable game; the VP experience just keeps getting better.
I used a favorable start (alone on an island with 3 CSs, enough room to settle 11 good cities, and connected via shallow waters to a large continent with 5 of the others civs) to develop a powerful infrastructure and finished the game 8 techs and 5 policies ahead of my closest rivals. I went Progress/Fealty/Rationalism/Freedom and Goddess of Fertility/Holy Law/Inspiration/Mandirs/Pacifism/Glory of God.
A few notes:
Diplomacy: Felt very rewarding. I think I played the diplomatic game about as well as I ever have and it paid off. Rome was my only immediate neighbor and ended up being my primary rival in overall power, finishing the game with 20 cities. I avoided accepting any early friendships as the continental powers sorted themselves out, both to avoid being pulled into disputes I didn't want and reserve the right to war with Rome if they started to get that run-away look (a distinct possibility early on). Once things got settled I allied myself with the Rome/India/Portugal grouping (India/Portugal warred with each other but didn't seem to mind Rome and I befriending their rival; power has it's privileges). I remained on friendly terms with Babylon and Byzantium but never accepted their offers of Friendship; this ensured I remained on good terms with the rest. Eventually I discovered the other continent with the Celts and Morocco; I was on friendly terms with that pair for most of the game even as they warred with various factions on the main continent. Late in the game the Celts declared what was largely a bloodless war and Morocco grew guarded as I neared victory.
Trade routes:
The balance between city economic power and route distance feels like it's in a good place. I didn't feel like I had to trade from isolated outposts to off-set distance modifiers. More that some of my stronger cities could be more lucrative for certain trade destinations than my strongest city.
Happiness:
I finished the game with 138 happiness with 42 of that from Pacifism. I had well developed cities with almost all relevant happiness reduction buildings in place. I still had unhappiness sources; maybe 31 from urbanization and another 25 from mostly defense/illiteracy. But positive happiness more than made up for that; biggest sources after Pacifism were from Luxuries and local happiness (Castles from Fealty and Zoos). This is not a note to change anything about happiness, just an observation; if any empire was going to be swimming in happiness it was this one.
Ideologies:
I got there first and went Freedom. Morocco followed with Order. Rome opted for Autocracy. The game ended before the Ideological war could play out much further but I enjoyed seeing a healthy mix adopted. Social policy choices were similarly varied.
Stray observation:
Morocco adopted the Celt's religion. I discovered them too late to see how it was spread but it did not appear to be through war. Getting a religion with no pantheon is odd but it's better than no religion at all.
I used a favorable start (alone on an island with 3 CSs, enough room to settle 11 good cities, and connected via shallow waters to a large continent with 5 of the others civs) to develop a powerful infrastructure and finished the game 8 techs and 5 policies ahead of my closest rivals. I went Progress/Fealty/Rationalism/Freedom and Goddess of Fertility/Holy Law/Inspiration/Mandirs/Pacifism/Glory of God.
A few notes:
Diplomacy: Felt very rewarding. I think I played the diplomatic game about as well as I ever have and it paid off. Rome was my only immediate neighbor and ended up being my primary rival in overall power, finishing the game with 20 cities. I avoided accepting any early friendships as the continental powers sorted themselves out, both to avoid being pulled into disputes I didn't want and reserve the right to war with Rome if they started to get that run-away look (a distinct possibility early on). Once things got settled I allied myself with the Rome/India/Portugal grouping (India/Portugal warred with each other but didn't seem to mind Rome and I befriending their rival; power has it's privileges). I remained on friendly terms with Babylon and Byzantium but never accepted their offers of Friendship; this ensured I remained on good terms with the rest. Eventually I discovered the other continent with the Celts and Morocco; I was on friendly terms with that pair for most of the game even as they warred with various factions on the main continent. Late in the game the Celts declared what was largely a bloodless war and Morocco grew guarded as I neared victory.
Trade routes:
The balance between city economic power and route distance feels like it's in a good place. I didn't feel like I had to trade from isolated outposts to off-set distance modifiers. More that some of my stronger cities could be more lucrative for certain trade destinations than my strongest city.
Happiness:
I finished the game with 138 happiness with 42 of that from Pacifism. I had well developed cities with almost all relevant happiness reduction buildings in place. I still had unhappiness sources; maybe 31 from urbanization and another 25 from mostly defense/illiteracy. But positive happiness more than made up for that; biggest sources after Pacifism were from Luxuries and local happiness (Castles from Fealty and Zoos). This is not a note to change anything about happiness, just an observation; if any empire was going to be swimming in happiness it was this one.
Ideologies:
I got there first and went Freedom. Morocco followed with Order. Rome opted for Autocracy. The game ended before the Ideological war could play out much further but I enjoyed seeing a healthy mix adopted. Social policy choices were similarly varied.
Stray observation:
Morocco adopted the Celt's religion. I discovered them too late to see how it was spread but it did not appear to be through war. Getting a religion with no pantheon is odd but it's better than no religion at all.
