News: COTM 98 Pre-game Discussion

[AlanH]

COTM98 - Byzantines
[img=right]http://gotm.civfanatics.net/games/images/cotm98civ.jpg[/img]

mad-baxbrings you the Byzantines for July. Theodora awaits your expert guidance to victory.

The Bosphorous is the narrow stretch of water that both separates Europe from Asia, and connects the Mediterranean to the Black Sea. Straddling this strategic channel is the city of Istanbul, which as Constantinople formed the center of the Byzantine empire.

This empire was born from Greek beginnings and a crumbling Roman Empire, but grew despite almost continuous warring with the extremely aggressive neighbours and raging barbarians. There were spectacular victories and equally crushing losses, including in one instance to the Bulgarian leader Khan Krum, who is said to have fashioned a drinking cup from Emperor Nikopheros' skull. Wars were also fought against Persia, Arabia (the Saracens), France (the Normans), Russia and the Ottomans who finally breached the city walls and took Constantinople on 29th May 1453.

The Byzantine empire endured periods of Bubonic Plague which decimated their armies, and killed hundreds of thousands of civilians, and they also built one of the most famous religious buildings on earth - the Haghia Sophia, which stands in Istanbul to this day.

This scenario takes a few liberties with Byzantine history, but hopefully many of the elements are there for you as you re-write that history. The Bulgars are played by the Mongol tribe, but the Keshik has been replaced by the fictional "Mounted Vandal" unique unit which replaces the horseman instead of the knight. I have not provided a civilopeadia text file for this unit as it is completely made up, and it will never be seen again.

This intro should be read carefully, as it does contain clues to the scenario and the player should not be too hasty in making assumptions - particularly in the early game.

Your starting save will be available here on July 13th, and submissions will close on August 24th.

Game Parameters:

Civilization: Byzantines - Theodora
Unique Unit: Dromon
Difficulty: Monarch
Map Size: 100 x 100 (standard)
Map Type: Continents
Opponents: 9 pre-selected

Everything else you can discover for yourself.

Here is the starting position. Click it for the bigger picture:



Good luck, and let's hear about your experiences in the Spoilers.

 

[templar_x]

the UU is the "swiss guard"? again, and then again, not? what kind of unit is this, and with which tech does it come?
t_x

 

[mad-bax]

No - the UU is not the Swiss Guard. This is a cut and paste typo into a standard script file the staff uses. It was the first time I used the script and I missed it. Hopefully Alan will fix it for me (again). I'll try and be more careful.

The Byzantine unique unit is the standard Dromon. The Bulgars UU is not the Keshik - I have changed it for game play reasons. The pedia has not been changed as I don't want to start getting into installing new files. I don't have the time to support this, and frankly, I'm not clever enough. However, the pedia does pick out some information from the scenario file, which IIRC describes it incorrectly as a knight replacement when it is in fact replace horseman, but does give the correct stats.

Play the game - all will become clear.

 

[AlanH]

Sorry about that - I did put an exclamation mark beside it, but it was a rush job

 

[Everkane]

I wish I had time to play this COTM, I haven't played Civ III since forever.

Only for not being a full off-topic post, I'd go for 1 NE for the river + coast bonus since it's byzans.

(Is that a whale?)

Good luck for all!

 

[Megalou]

(Is that a whale?)

NE,NE,N might be a fish - since a coast tile. There can be no whale on coast.

I agree with the move to NE. We'll lose the wheat but without the river and the ability to grow beyond size 6 I guesstimate that there will be no chance for a 4 turn settler factory on the start position anyway - even if there is wheat on one of the flood plains.

My first move will be worker east and then probably settler NE.

Quick curragh to cross the Bosphorus strait, if there is one. Very interesting game description!

Good luck indeed.

 

[Garvarg]

First thoughts are we get to choose between a city with wheat or a city on the river so no aqueduct needed. May send the worker s/w first. Looks like a delta over there, maybe I can have both.

 

[Everkane]

NE,NE,N might be a fish - since a coast tile. There can be no whale on coast.

Good luck indeed.

Yes, a fish, not a whale

First thoughts are we get to choose between a city with wheat or a city on the river so no aqueduct needed. May send the worker s/w first. Looks like a delta over there, maybe I can have both.

You may actually be right, although you are gonna lose a few turns to find out.