The Oz-Man
Enter: The VAIKE!
The Nobles' Club series started out as a way for Noble-level (and below) players to improve their game. Most of the original participants now play at much higher levels, so this has become a way for advanced players to help others learn to play better. You can play your own game at any level and with any mod, but it would be nice to comment on the games of other players and give them advice.
Our next leader is Gilgamesh of the Sumerian Empire, whom we last played in NC CII. The Sumerians start with Agriculture and The Wheel, a very nice pair of first-tier techs that will assure your early worker will have something to do.
Finally, a cut and paste of our standard doctrine:
The WB-saves are attached (zipped; they are bigger than standard saves). To play, simply download and unzip it into your BTS/Saves/WorldBuilder folder. Start the game, and load your favorite MOD (if you use one, if not, check out the BUG MOD), select "Play Scenario", and look for "NC 110 Saladin Noble" (or Monarch, etc., for higher levels). You can play with your favorite MOD at the Level and Speed of your choice. From Quick-Warlord to Marathon-Deity, all are welcome! We stuck with the name "Nobles Club" because it has a cool ring to it.
Our next leader is Gilgamesh of the Sumerian Empire, whom we last played in NC CII. The Sumerians start with Agriculture and The Wheel, a very nice pair of first-tier techs that will assure your early worker will have something to do.
- Traits: Gilgamesh is Creative and Protective. He gets free border pops thanks to +2 culture as well as a few cheap buildings (including Libraries). Creative has the nice benefit of making cities viable quicker, with second-ring food a more attractive option. Protective gives Drill and City Garrison promotions as well as cheap Walls and Castles--it's a little less useful on Noble, but higher-level players treasure it.
- The UB: The Ziggurat, a Courthouse available at Priesthood that's 75% cheaper. It probably comes a bit earlier than you might need it, but it offers an early option to pay for REXing and a chance to rack up early espionage points if that's more your speed.
- The UU: The Vulture, an Axeman that trades 25% strength vs. melee units (25% instead of 50%) for an extra point of strength. I love these guys--they're the best axe-rushing unit in the game and will smite barbs for a long time.
Spoiler map details :
Finally, a cut and paste of our standard doctrine:
There are no hard and fast rules here: fun and learning are our primary goals, but we do suggest that you update your progress at various points in the game, using the Spoiler feature of the boards. You can post as often as you like; here's one suggestion:
- 4000 BC (starting thoughts, no spoiler required for that discussion)
- 1000 BC or so (how you decided to progress up the early tech/build paths, which AIs you have met, where you're thinking of putting cities, etc)
- 500 AD or so (after establishing some cities and a possible plan of action)
- 1200 AD or so (mid-game, Lib race, wars or peace, or whichever happened or didn't, met other
continent if applicable, etc)- 1600 AD (or when you have decided on a course of action and a specific victory condition)
- End of game (Victory!!! or defeat, no shame in losing, especially if you tried a higher level. Learning is what we focus on, not fastest win or biggest empire)
This is just a guideline. If you're trying to improve your game, then posting more frequent updates, in as much detail as you can manage, is the best way to get suggestions from other players. If you come to what seems like a major decision and you want some advice, post an update, regardless of what game-year it is.
We also welcome players to ask for specific game advice, as we have a number or stronger players who lurk and help out with solid tips, and of course, we help each other. Replies to specific questions should also be in spoilers, with a simple "@" in front of the person the answer is directed towards.
Special Thanks go to Bleys and TMIT, who really made this series a great one, r_rolo1, mapmaker extraordinaire, for his maps in the early days of the series, and all of you for playing. Oh, and thanks to dalamb for organizing all of this; he leaves himself out of the standard doctrine, but darn it, he works hard and he deserves a nod here.
The WB-saves are attached (zipped; they are bigger than standard saves). To play, simply download and unzip it into your BTS/Saves/WorldBuilder folder. Start the game, and load your favorite MOD (if you use one, if not, check out the BUG MOD), select "Play Scenario", and look for "NC 110 Saladin Noble" (or Monarch, etc., for higher levels). You can play with your favorite MOD at the Level and Speed of your choice. From Quick-Warlord to Marathon-Deity, all are welcome! We stuck with the name "Nobles Club" because it has a cool ring to it.
Spoiler what's up with specific difficulties :
Spoiler huts and events :
!! No! I have no time!! I'm still playing NC CXXIX and Finnish Succession game and trying to focus on school all at once!! I'd still like to play this! Nooo! Sniff.. Thanks anyways for making the map Oz! I might play it a little later!
) I have decided to jump all the way to #130 now.
from city tile which is powerful and you get instant access to marble as soon as you research Masonry, without loosing turns quarrying it (6 I think + moving worker there + connecting it);
. And as it turns out - Settling the Marble will save 
on the first Worker. There goes my previously thoughts about settling-in-place... Nothing can defend wasting nine turns on the first worker... nothing...
