News: GOTM74 Pre-Game Discussion

[civ_steve]

GOTM 74 Pre-Game Discussion

This will be a Small Pangaea map, played at Monarch. I'll add a week to the contest so players who wrap up their COTM43 Polynesia game in the final hours will have a little time to try this one, if they like. Note that there are 2 minor civs in the game - they start with extra Settlers, but can't build anymore.

Civilization: Aztecs
Rivals: 5 (+2 minor civs)
Barbarians: Roaming
Difficulty: Monarch
Land Form: Pangaea, 60% ocean, Small map.
Geology: 5 billion years old, Normal, Wet

Conquest-Class Bonuses:

1. Start with 2 Bonus Archers
2. Start with an extra 50 Gold
3. Start with knowledge of Wheel

Predator-Class Challenges:

1. Start without Ceremonial Burial
2. Minor AI get 2 Pikes, Normal AI get 1 Pike, all AI get 2 Bonus Unit Support
3. Normal AI modded to build Offensive Units and Growth Often

A reminder: do not post any game information to this thread after you have downloaded the save file. Absolutely no spoiler information for this or any GOTM is to be posted in this thread!

 

[AutomatedTeller]

wow. I was gonna suggest a predator conquest with only jags... but pikes make such a thing tough.

once you go predator, you can't go back, right?

 

[Niklas]

once you go predator, you can't go back, right?

Right.

I think a Jag rush could have good chances anyway, you only need a few more of them..

 

[PaperBeetle]

Predator forever! . (wasn't that Darkness's sig?)

Punchy start. I feel greedy for fog-gazing, but there is something NNW. Possibly the base of an incense pot.

 

[Chamnix]

wow. I was gonna suggest a predator conquest with only jags... but pikes make such a thing tough.

I was thinking that's the way I will play regardless - is the tenth shield in the capital corrupt on small Monarch? If not, then we get 10 spt at size 4 in our Golden Age and at size 5 in any case. If you can produce them at that rate, who needs anything besides jags?

 

[megistatos]

Punchy start. I feel greedy for fog-gazing, but there is something NNW. Possibly the base of an incense pot.

I'll second that- sure does look like desert with incense.

Methinks it's time to consider playing predator . It will be harder(dur!) but then I'll know how I compare to the best players on an even playingfield.

For some reason 100K(or 80K?) is calling out to me. A nice peaceful building game .

 

[PaperBeetle]

Yes, I believe the 10th shield is corrupt on a small map. And in PtW, cultural victory requires 100k regardless of map size.

 

[Elear]

TBD (suggestions?)

Take away the settler, wait, no, that won't work.

How about you give the minor AIs free walls in each city they build? Additionally, since Predator starts without CB, it only makes sense that the major AIs should know this. And..I'll shut up.

-Elear

 

[AutomatedTeller]

well, a way to do it is make jags 15 shields, like conquests does, but that's just mean.

 

[Chamnix]

How about you give the minor AIs free walls in each city they build?

well, a way to do it is make jags 15 shields, like conquests does, but that's just mean.

These are both just mean . I remember the good old days when the Predator adjustments were sort of a "mixed curse" - things like giving the AI extra unit support or an extra worker, so that in theory the AI would be stronger, but a good player could conceivably take advantage of the AI's bonuses and actually win the game faster on Predator than he could on Open.

Personally, I think on a map that seems to call for a jag rush strategy, giving each AI pikemen is plenty .

 

[Marsden]

Predator forever! . (wasn't that Darkness's sig?)

Punchy start. I feel greedy for fog-gazing, but there is something NNW. Possibly the base of an incense pot.

I can't believe I can see it, most of the time I can't see anything, but that is the back leg of another moo cow. I'd bet my entire career of fog gazing on it, which is basically nothing since this is the first time I think I've actually found something.

 

[AutomatedTeller]

An extra worker would be good, too.

Frankly, I think 2 pikes is enough to make it tough on jag rushes!!

plus, of course, the near certainty of greece and carthage and maybe rome being next door neighbors...

 

[Marsden]

plus, of course, the near certainty of greece and carthage and maybe rome being next door neighbors...

Aren't they always

 

[civ_steve]

...
How about you give the minor AIs free walls in each city they build? Additionally, since Predator starts without CB, it only makes sense that the major AIs should know this. And..I'll shut up.

-Elear

Free Walls ... nah, to tough. Free CB to all AI ... actually helps the Predator player, as any free Techs do if the Predator plays a Tech game.

well, a way to do it is make jags 15 shields, like conquests does, but that's just mean.

hmm ... could make the Jag require Iron? I'll be sure to provide a nearby source (20 moves away is nearby, right? ); just another thing to do before starting the rush.

These are both just mean . I remember the good old days when the Predator adjustments were sort of a "mixed curse" - things like giving the AI extra unit support or an extra worker, so that in theory the AI would be stronger, but a good player could conceivably take advantage of the AI's bonuses and actually win the game faster on Predator than he could on Open.

Personally, I think on a map that seems to call for a jag rush strategy, giving each AI pikemen is plenty .

Yes, and the outcry that the Predator challenges were actually benefits was somewhat loud. So in general I try to put in place Predator challenges that are a small handicap no matter what skill level the player is at.

Jag rush strategy is pretty obvious and easy for Open and Predator, so I'll back off a bit on the Pikemen - the 2 minor AI's get 2 Pikes, the remaining AI's get 1 Pike.

Another possible challenge is to remove the Religious trait - no 1 turn Anarchy and no half priced religious buildings.

 

[megistatos]

Another possible challenge is to remove the Religious trait - no 1 turn Anarchy and no half priced religious buildings.

Please no, anything but that.

Making jags need iron does sound interesting though.

@Marsden- I hope you're right about that cow, though personally I wouldn't risk anything on it.

 

[Chamnix]

Yes, and the outcry that the Predator challenges were actually benefits was somewhat loud.

Well, sure, but that's when I was playing Open . Now that I'm playing Predator they should be benefits .

 

[AutomatedTeller]

I'd rather the AI get more pikes!!!

 

[denyd]

How about not making the Jags available until Bronze Working? That'll delay building the first one for about 20 turns. Having Greece, Germany & Carthage (and maybe Rome) as neighbors is also a nice challenge. To really up the ante you could convert those pikes to Swiss Mercenaries

 

[Niklas]

I really think the predator handicaps should be handicaps, where's the fun otherwise?

I think pikes with the AIs is definitely challenge enough, but if you want to cripple us more I think taking away the Militaristic advantage is more suitable than removing Religious, which only hurts certain kinds of games that aren't obviously tied to jag rushes.

 

[PaperBeetle]

I'm sticking with the incense theory. Because moos don't stand on deserts