News: GOTM39 Pre-game Discussion

[Monnet]

After what just happened to me in BOTM14 (sorry, can't tell...yet), I'm in the mood for Conquest, even though I have not ever tried it yet. Hellwitch makes it sound so easy! And at Noble, I should be able to have a fleeting chance at least.

Having said that, I will probably change my mind the moment the scout climbs that hill in turn 1. And 20 times afterwards, as usual.

As I write, I'm also thinking: what if that barb city (if that is what it is) is completely sealed off and we cannot get to it? For Conquest, do we need to obliterate all rivals + all barbs, or just all rivals?

What am I going to do all Saturday, jesusin? I can only look at the starting screenshot for so long, you know.

 

[azzaman333]

Barbarians don't need to be killed to win via Conquest.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

And, I think I want to try for Pyramids. If I do the ‘mids, then by researching Masonry I think that knocks out the CS sling-thing.

OY!! Since you're making such a big thing about being a noob, you could at least try not to pick up the bad habit of the experts - ie. using those unintelligable abbreviations like 'mids' that they try to confuse everyone else with

But to answer your question, masonry does not knock out the CS slingshot if you are using the Oracle for it. It might well do if you want to use a great prophet for the slingshot, but I can't remember the details. Personally I gave up trying to use prophets for slingshots long ago: Decided the restrictions on what techs you have to avoid learning are too awkward other than for very specialized situations, and prophets have other uses anyway.

And since we’re getting Poly, at Noble level, how ‘bout the Parthenon? - Wow, with Philo leader and the Great Lib (GL) – which would seem to be a priority-- we’d have an awesome GP production city somewhere {on a glacier or ice-field} .

Parthenon isn't actually as useful with a philosophical leader, because the +50% GPP rate from the parthenon is calculated as a % of the original rate, not as a % of the enhanced-philosophical rate. With a non-philosophical leader, the parthenon ups your GPP rate from 100% (of base rate) to 150%. With a philosophical leader, it ups it from 200% to 250%, which isn't really that much of a proportionate increase.

Me thinks I might need help making a choice in paths… If you wanted the Parth, ‘mids, Oracle, and GL on Noble, I assume that’s possible (?) And as a Philo leader, an early Writing tech (to run a couple of Scientists whose GPPs are doubled), seems logical.

IS that way too much to ask?

It's doable but might not be worthwhile after all the expansion you'd have to forego to build all of them. Personally, I'll probably build a couple of those wonders, according to whether stone or marble is available, and whether two good production city sites are available (one for units, one for wonders).

 

[Conquistador 63]

One last comment before game starts...

At any rate I'm going exploring. I see no reason to change my usual habit of going for space, so with that gameplan I really don't fancy a capital with 4 mountains and two glaciers in the fat cross.

Good idea. I can think of at least one person who'll thank you for it - that guy who presents that nice little grid on the Results and Congrats post-game thread. He was very disappointed when everyone settled in place on jesusin's first map (GOTM37) - what's his name again?

 

[DynamicSpirit]

Good idea. I can think of at least one person who'll thank you for it - that guy who presents that nice little grid on the Results and Congrats post-game thread. He was very disappointed when everyone settled in place on jesusin's first map (GOTM37) - what's his name again?

I think this is the point where I really ought to say something like 'sod off mate'. But then we'd probably get sidetracked into some discussion of whether I'm allowed to use a word like 'mate' or summat.

 

[haphazard1]

Given the unusual features of what we can see in the screenshot, and the ominous hints about mystery and cold, I am not choosing a victory condition yet. I think some early exploration efforts are going to be a high priority, to learn a bit more about the map, those barbs (assuming that is a barb border), and what kind of land we have available.

If we are extremely short on good land, early military to take some better territory may be unavoidable. Seizing key chokepoints may also be necessary. But if there is room for a couple decent cities, getting our empire established and teching ahead of the noble-level AIs will probably pay off better in the medium term. Even if it just allows for an easier military expansion later.

Need more information. Is it February yet?

 

[smitsk00]

Someone tell me if this might be possible? Could that barb city (and yes, I do think that it is a city) be intended to be a late start AI? If it is sealed off as well, would this not put an effective time limit for an early conquest victory unless you culture flip the city?

Furthermore:

Another possibility which occurs to me is that the barb city is sealed off from the rest of the world with mountains/ice and has the only source of some strategic resource. Note the river from our starting location to the barb city, which would probably connect a city founded where the settler is located to the barb city.

Perhaps also a lone source of Coal?

 

[hellwitch]

You make it all sound so easy! (And when my troops go on strike and start disappearing into the forests I'll wonder just waht part of your strategy I got wrong)

Well. Its not so easy but it works even on diety.

 

[PutCashIn]

100% Barbarian tiles quickly become 100% Put's tiles, thankyouverymuch.

Is that a mountain is see 2xNW?

 

[Adama]

Well. Its not so easy but it works even on diety.

Thanks to everyone for input to my questions.

@HellWitch: I am still learning, and am not very good at early warmongering; you do of course make it sound easy; I am definitely going to war earlier in some upcoming games when it seems appropriate.

Although I guess we all know it should be easier, in practice it truly is an art more than a science, executed by some of our forum players with experience and adeptness at this game that leaves the rest of us amazed when we see high six-figure scores that you are able to achieve!

Good luck to everyone...
Adama

 

[MrCiv]

Windows: This game MUST be played in Civilization 4 (NOT Warlords or BTS), patched to version 1.74, and with the HOF mod version 1.74.003 installed. You can download the HOF mod here. Players using Windows Vista are encouraged to read the notes on Vista fixes here.

It is not possible installing this patch, however I was successful installing the previous patch on my comp. Message is: "no civ 4 is found on this computer".

Can you help me to fix my windows or civ4?

 

[pnp_dredd]

Have you tried uninstalling and re-installing Civ4?

 

[bestje]

is civ4 installed in the default location?

 

[jesusin]

MrCiv, did you change anything regarding the game since you last patched it?
Have you tried downloading the patch again?

 

[MrCiv]

is civ4 installed in the default location?

No. But gamefiles are stored in my documents as usual. Re-installed also. Does it matter that 1.74 is not from official site? The last patch worked..

 

[MrCiv]

MrCiv, did you change anything regarding the game since you last patched it?
Have you tried downloading the patch again?

No. I tried GOTM 38 and put in one file as requested but replaced with original and civ4 works great in scenario and default game files but not with games the requires 1.74.
Think 1.74 has been downloaded at least twice.

Since 1.69 version could be installed, how can it be that civ 4 is not found on my comp?

 

[Jove]

It may not be the same problem, but when I re-installed I had problems with the un-install. Then, un-installed, used CC cleaner and reset the registry, then re-installed, and everything worked normally, including the patches.

 

[Adonias]

You need the BTS civgamecore. If you have BTS, install it, and patch with the latest update. Otherwise, try this link:

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=6443007&postcount=15

 

[JeebusGreen]

Well, I'm not going to speculate too much until I can see at least a few more tiles around here.

I am curious if there is actually a hard border of ice to the north that runs directly east-west, since if there is not then a city might be able to take pigs and less mountains/ice if he settles 1NW.

So:

Scout - 1W to the hill. Depending on what he sees, possible move my settler N... then everything is open after that!

Good luck all!

 

[metalmadt]

Hard choice between settling on place to get the pig or moving south to fast culture-flip the barbarian city. As there are pleny of space for farm around there, I'll probably goes for the the culture flip and hope for a second food ressource somewhere around. The extra tile lost isn't a problem as it won't grow full on a mid-term specialist economy.

Extra question for those who have been doing xOTM for a long time.

How do you set your goal. I mean, in first view, for what we know about the game, cultural and conquest seem the easiest way to win this game. Space race and domination will probably be the harder way round as not a lot a place for good city. So hw do you choose your winning objective?? Should I go space or domination because there will be fewer people and I have more chance to win an award?

I won't win any award as I will play Adventurer for this one 'cause the bonus is soooo big I cannot not be tempting. Well, good game all, first time I will play an xOTM BEFORE reading the mid-game thread and game submit thread. Playing those after you have been a good preparation I think.

One more question, what does mean mids and CS sling.

I figure out Caste system sling or Civil service sling and pyramid but I can't be less sure.