News: GOTM 23 Pre-Game Discussion
- Thread starter ainwood
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Munro
Deity
Not a big fan of the Ring map type (and Noble sounds a bit too easy, even though I know we are really completing against other human players) - so I will probably give this one a miss. I haven't even started GOTM22 yet!
I've never used a ring map before so just tried generating a few to see what they're like. Intriguing - lots of mini-land masses around the edge of the map, all connected by strips of land to make a ring, and an icy area in the middle. Since eacy civ has its own mini-continent, we can expect neighbours to be a fair distance away. I also noticed that the central icy area is not reachable by galleys and is often very resource-rich. In particular it's the only place you'll find silver, furs or deer. Shame that noble level probably won't give enough happiness problems to require the fur/silver, otherwise it could be an interesting dash for astronomy to be the first to get those resources.
Looks an cool, different, map anyway, I'll look forward to this GOTM.
Looks an cool, different, map anyway, I'll look forward to this GOTM.
BLubmuz
HoF Quattromaster
If i'm not wrong the settler's starts on a DESERT hill, then settling in place will only prevent to irrigate the wheat after CS.
Of course:
1) i can be wrong
2) there can be some other reason to settle there (to reveal).
Hmm, it looks like a plain hill and it looks like two hammers on the map....
Of course:
1) i can be wrong
2) erm, i can be wrong
I'm with Erkon here. It looks to me like a plains-hill (which does give a reason for settling in-place: Getting first worker/settler out faster). I don't see how settling in-place can affect irrigation of the wheat: As far as I can see, whether you settle in-place or not, and assuming no irrigation path in the unexplored tiles to the west or east, the only way to get that wheat irrigated is by farming over the silk.
Mad Professor
Deity
Yes, I'm in the same boat - never played a map like this before. They really look fascinating. If nothing else comes out of this game for me, it will at least have introduced me to a different map form.
JungleIII
Master
Ainwood - do you know the Spanish Isabella WOTM13 game is loaded onto the server slot reserved for German GOTM23 with Frederick game at http://gotm.civfanatics.net/civ4games/index.php?month=40023 ??? 
Bet you thought that was funny, as I nearly downloaded it until I remembered I had already played that "for real" and not just a practice test map game!
I'll look for Frederick tomorrow...
Bet you thought that was funny, as I nearly downloaded it until I remembered I had already played that "for real" and not just a practice test map game!
I'll look for Frederick tomorrow...
BLubmuz, you bring up an interesting point: how should a start that is optimum for the first 100 turns compare to a start that is more targeted at the later stage of the game? The way I plan to play is very short sighted. I don't care at all for the consequences in the Civil Service stage (or later), but that's because I will target conquest. Now, if I had Culture, Spaceship or Diplomatic in mind, it would take more thinking to evaluate what role the capital will have (something that LC-the-peacemonger has to consider
). Still, in this case I would probably arrive at the same conclusion (regarding initial settle spot): building my first settler is absolute priority. Chopping the wood may not be that wise for the advanced victories though...
It is an interesting question, which I've never really settled on an answer to. Personally I'm erring towards the view that on higher levels you need to settle in an optimum location for the early game, just to make sure you get powerful enough not to get conquered, but on lower levels (monarch downwards), I seem to benefit more by emphasizing late-game commerce potential. For me, going for the space-race, that starting hill looks like an almost complete write-off: 6 unworkable tiles, plus three of only marginal benefit (unlighthousable lake and coast, and silk that will prob need to be farmed). Even on arid maps, I'm sure you can do a lot better than that. The only redeeming feature is that extra hammer allowing you to get the first worker and settler out quicker.
The main question for me, is do I move the scout SE, to explore max tiles on the first turn, or W, on the basis that the settler is probably going west, and having the scout miles from the settler is a bit silly if I'm looking for a spot to settle quickly. I'm erring towards taking the scout NW, and settler 2W on turn 1, but not fully decided.
The main question for me, is do I move the scout SE, to explore max tiles on the first turn, or W, on the basis that the settler is probably going west, and having the scout miles from the settler is a bit silly if I'm looking for a spot to settle quickly. I'm erring towards taking the scout NW, and settler 2W on turn 1, but not fully decided.
toller pretzl
A 1000 years of broccoli
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2004
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- 394
I would be interested to know why. It would probably help strategically to know what is bad about a ring-map. Or is your dislike purely for esthetic reasons ?
O.K. guys and gals... Here is a test game to try your starting position luck out on.
Should be an EASY one...
Remember a "Ring" map is all the continent is in a ring (more like a box) surrounding water in the middle, with iced islands in the center.
GOOD LUCK!!!
Thanks for the map. It didn't play out as I expected. Lots of room to expand and early rush seems unnecessary/impossible. The ring map is suitable for sending a warrior in each direction to steal a worker. There is no real hurry since the AI does not start with a worker, and they don't start with building one first either. Stealing an early worker will completely stall them
I'm thus leaning toward settle in place, build a worker, then two warriors, EDIT: then another worker, then the settlers. The scout will be used to escort the settlers.
An early conquest will require a lot of workers, both for chopping and for roading. It is probably possible to research to the Alphabet before the economy crashes
Mathematics and Calendar is probably suitable for lightbulbing. Horseback riding would be very nice too.The question that remains is when to stop building granaries and barracks in newly captured cities...
JungleIII
Master
After playing a test game with the test map, I can say this will be challenging. Not because it is a Noble game, BUT to see who can finish the earliest with the HIGHEST POINTS. I finished my Domination victory game in the 1700's and wonder about all those really good players out there if they will be able to finish in the 1600's (or earlier). I doubt too much earlier, as just the VAST distance all the way around the board makes it very hard to get to everyone (only two nations are left in the end - besides yourself). Sometimes it's nice to have a game at a level where one miss-step doesn't doom your chances of a win... 
and, this map just reminds us of the variety we have at our disposal to keep all levels of play interesting!
I settled in place (tried every possible combination for 1-5 turns, nothings better).
Made a scout to pop more goody huts, then two warriors, and I was then a size 3.
Then, Built a worker, Settler, and followed with mass colonization to build my power - economic base. Concentrated on building every power house building (barracks, Forges, Granary's, Library, etc - Courthouses later) and very little wasted time on units: until - Knights. Then, take over each adjacent neighbor with your massed army's of knights. Finish off with Cavalry with the next two further neighbors of our choice and it's a domination victory.
I concentrated only on the Tech's needed to accomplish this strategy (which does include your economy) and I'm sure, someone will do it much better.
Can't wait to see all the different approaches to winning this GOTM and due to the map size soooo spread out, this would also make a good diplomatic or space race win. 
By the way - I didn't do Oracle until 490BC, 134 turns into game. Hope the real game lets me wait that long so I can pop a really good/useful tech!
Game should be out in 8 hours, so looking forward to it!!!
and, this map just reminds us of the variety we have at our disposal to keep all levels of play interesting!I settled in place (tried every possible combination for 1-5 turns, nothings better).
Made a scout to pop more goody huts, then two warriors, and I was then a size 3.
Then, Built a worker, Settler, and followed with mass colonization to build my power - economic base. Concentrated on building every power house building (barracks, Forges, Granary's, Library, etc - Courthouses later) and very little wasted time on units: until - Knights. Then, take over each adjacent neighbor with your massed army's of knights. Finish off with Cavalry with the next two further neighbors of our choice and it's a domination victory.
I concentrated only on the Tech's needed to accomplish this strategy (which does include your economy) and I'm sure, someone will do it much better.
Can't wait to see all the different approaches to winning this GOTM and due to the map size soooo spread out, this would also make a good diplomatic or space race win. By the way - I didn't do Oracle until 490BC, 134 turns into game. Hope the real game lets me wait that long so I can pop a really good/useful tech!
Game should be out in 8 hours, so looking forward to it!!!
LowtherCastle
Deity
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- May 18, 2005
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- 23,750
I accept that challenge--Fastest Conquest. Loser gets the Wimp of the Week aWard.something that LC-the-peacemonger has to consider
Deal. Contender save. Fewest lost military units in case of identical victory date.
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Because it seems a bit... contrived. I prefer maps that are more like continents etc, where you don't really know in advance whether that bit of water to the south is a lake or an ocean; where you don't know where the neighbours are etc.
I like fractal & big & small.
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You can click on the pic to getter a larger version, from which it should be clear that it is a plains hill.
JungleIII
Master
O.K.... GAMES ON! Downloading now. 
By the way... NICE CASTLE picture!!
By the way... NICE CASTLE picture!!
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