PCIX: Saladin

[CivIVMonger]

I'm in.

Thoughts: Probably settle in place after moving the warrior 1S.

Question: Is this PC IX or XIV (the thread title and save game say two different things)?

@ CivIVMonger - Thanks for putting this together, and posting it on Christmas day no less.

I believe I posted this one on Christmas eve? Nonetheless it wouldn't get many plays on the day I posted it so I hear 'ya!
Yeah sorry about the save, When I make these, I cover the World Map with my hand during the WB save part so I can play blind. Sometimes that makes me have to type the save with 1 hand & I mess up usually.

I'm glad my series is fun to a handfull of players. There are alot of Prince players and no series so I decided to make one. A lot of things have changed for the better but I am glad that it is appreciated. Thanks..

 

[GrayInvisible]

Prince/Epic 1220 AD

Spoiler :

I'm in a really awful position in this game.

After my first update I realized the other empires were going to pull ahead of me, and that someone needed to be knocked down. Rome was too powerful, and Hatty was friendly with me, so I decided to attack Pericles. He had a power slightly lower than mine (before military buildup of course), and two holy cities. I set my cities to start building Axes, and was able to take Corinth, Athens, and Sparta. Athens and Sparta were the Hindu and Buddhist holy cities, respectively, however neither were shrined .

My economy was starting to suffer, and I really needed the shrine income. I set two priest specialists in my capital to get the Great Priest ready, and fast. Meanwhile I consolidated my gains, and improved the land around my newly captured cities. Pericles settled some cities to my right. I started to rebuild some of my army to finally restrict him to a crappy tundra city on the end of the continent, when I realized I was quite behind in tech.

I beelined for paper so I could trade it (which helped me a little, now I'm going for education in the game currently, which will hopefully be a nice trade chip.), and continued to build my army in the cities that had most of their required infrastructure already built. I figured if I took Alex's cities I could get a good tech out of him.

I took Alex's cities with moderate losses, and tried to get some techs out of him. All I could get was Theology and some money . I'm significantly behind in tech, as you'll see in the screenshots. What's worse is that Hatshepsut and now Pericles are Vassals of Rome , which is much stronger than me in soldiers and tech.

One of the big mistakes I made early on was intending my capital to be production based when it had so many grassland tiles. I've read that you should specialize the cities you build, so I tried it out. I'd figure I wait until I get the improvements that can add production to grassland and plains tiles. This was quite stupid of me. It would have been better to have cottaged my grassland tiles, and make the city a production/commerce city (I think. Correct me if I'm wrong, I'm just starting to try and improve my game, so I have a lot to learn).

I still think I can turn it around, but it will be tough.

 

[L-Plate Ruler]

Prince/Normal 1 AD

Spoiler :

In the end I didn't settle in place, I moved SE. Set about producing a few warriors to scout out the land and pop goodie huts (3x gold, 1x scout). Animals killed all of my units before long which was annoying, but not before I'd met Perciles and scouted his city for rush potential.

Met the AI in... Perciles 3440 BC, Hatty 3280 BC and Caesar 2760 BC. I can't think of three more... harmonous... neighbours to share this Island with

I settled the second city near the horses to the north (have been favoring chariot rushes of late), getting both horses and putting my staging city closer to the victim, Perciles. A third city was founded but the goal of this was to continue producing workers and settlers while the other two helped in the war effort through whipping and chopping. It didn't really, no hammers, but it'll produce some commerce so

Summary of events up until Greece was no more...

Turn 1/500 (3960 BC) Mecca founded
Turn 2/500 (3920 BC) Research begun: Agriculture (8 Turns)
Turn 10/500 (3600 BC) Research begun: Mining (7 Turns)
Turn 14/500 (3440 BC) Contact made: Greek Empire
Turn 17/500 (3320 BC) Research begun: Animal Husbandry (12 Turns), Contact made: Egyptian Empire
Turn 29/500 (2840 BC) Research begun: Bronze Working (14 Turns)
Turn 30/500 (2800 BC) Contact made: Roman Empire
Turn 38/500 (2480 BC) Medina founded
Turn 43/500 (2280 BC) Research begun: Pottery (8 Turns)
Turn 50/500 (2000 BC) Research begun: Hunting (4 Turns)
Turn 54/500 (1840 BC) Research begun: Archery (5 Turns)
Turn 56/500 (1760 BC) Damascus founded
Turn 58/500 (1680 BC) Research begun: Horseback Riding (17 Turns)
Turn 74/500 (1040 BC) Research begun: Writing (7 Turns)
Turn 76/500 (975 BC) PC XIV Saladin (Arabia) declares war on Pericles (Greece)
Turn 87/500 (700 BC) Research begun: Masonry (9 Turns)
Turn 89/500 (650 BC) Greek Empire has been eliminated

During the war on Perciles I destroyed his copper mine, but that didn't seem to stop him producing more Phalanx which was very annoying But I did get his capital and three workers so not a bad day out.

My standing army is getting a good workout, there is a continual stream of barbarians coming from all directions.

Going Forward:

Intention is to settle a nice little commerce city SE of the capital, on those dyes and rice. Then get at least two of the 'production' cities I've labelled to the NE. Reducing the amount of land Hatty and Caesar have to play in is second on my list to becoming financially better off (cottages).

Still need to explore to the west. I don't know who is there or how big the land mass is. One early objective is to produce a couple of work boats and scout the coast line.

In the future Hatty and Caesar will fall to my Camel Archers, because I just don't like them and if I have to live next door for another 2000 years I'll go nuts

Objective: Domination victory.

What I learned so far:

1. Take more horses if you're rushing Perciles, his Phalanx hurts.
2. Think a bit more before rushing to settle early cities. A lame duck (few hammers) can hurt early productivity.

My empire to date, with optimistic dot mapping in place...

 

[L-Plate Ruler]

I believe I posted this one on Christmas eve?

Ah yes, I have the forum set to local time so that explains it

 

[disturbed1]

Sorry i haven't posted an update. I bought Star Wars KotOR2 with my gift cards from xmas and haven't gotten around to playing the next update. i'll try to get it in tonight.

 

[BigTime]

Sorry i haven't posted an update. I bought Star Wars KotOR2 with my gift cards from xmas and haven't gotten around to playing the next update. i'll try to get it in tonight.

Awesome game.

 

[Groogaroo]

Hmmm... I'm getting stuck in my bad habits again.

1310ad - Emporer/Epic

Spoiler :

Well I'm still trying to get by here with no war, got caught in builder mode for a while, after initial expansion I stalled a little and have fallen behind in power (as usual). Eventually managed to get 10 cities (have space for one more) but teching speed amongst the AI seems slow and is slowing me down also . Relations on this continent are all good everyone is either Freindly or Pleased with each other so hopefully peace will hold for some time to come.

The economy is my biggest problem at the moment it's taken me too long to settle some of the cottage cities and they will take a while before they become useful, right now they're just dragging down my good cities and making it hard to tech at a decent pace.

Just won the librace for printing press, not sure where I'm going with this game yet, probably space as usual


Empire

Techs

Diplo

Power

 

[disturbed1]

Awesome game.

It really is.

To 10 AD - Epic/Prince

Spoiler :

Tech Path – IW – Alphabet – Currency – Monarchy
Build Paths:
- Mecca – Pyramids – Barracks – Swordsman(x5) – Oracle – Swordsman(x3) – Archer – Spy – Market
- Medina – Madrassa – Settler – Walls – Archer – Buddhist Temple (whipped) – Worker(x2) - Lighthouse
- Damascus – Barracks – Swordsman – Axeman(x6) – Market
- Baghdad – Warrior – Granary (interrupted to whip Monument) – Archer – Courthouse
- Najran (335 BC) – Monument – Courthouse
- Knossos (50BC) – Courthouse
975BC – Iron Working completed, begin work on Alphabet, Iron found in capital.
950BC – Pyramids failed in Mecca, begin preparations for war with Greece.
650BC – Buddhism spreads to Damascus, Adopt Buddhism.
525BC – Alphabet completed, begin work on Currency. Trade around for filler techs.
335BC – Najran founded.
290BC – Oracle completed, CoL selected. Confucianism founded in Baghdad. Open borders with Pericles to spread Confucianism.
140BC – Currency completed, begin work on Monarchy, troops sent to greek border.
65BC – Declare War on Pericles.
50BC – Knossos Captured, decided to keep.
10AD – Saved.

Thoughts:
- There was a barbarian problem at the start of the round coming from Jute, which lead to the construction of walls in Medina.
- I honestly didn't expect to finish the oracle. i was really just looking for a way to keep my science slider up to get to currency. The choice for CoL was for courthouses of course, i'm not ready yet to use caste system.
- The spy i built in Mecca is sitting in Corinth right now. There are a bunch of phalanxes in there (5 or 6 if i remember correctly)
- There is 1 turn left in Monarchy, after that i'm gonna go with construction for catapults.
- I'm thinking of taking the cities on the outside of the Greek empire (the old Barb city and the other one), before hitting his core of Corinth, Sparta and Athens.
- After I'm finished with Pericles i expect to go after Hatshepsut, then maybe after Caesar after his praets go obsolete.
- The horses in Corinth successfully switched to the horses in Baghdad, so I have horses now.
- Everyone is teching so slowly, even at my current terrible pace im still ahead of the others.

Screenshots:

Najran Founded^

^Oracle Built

A bunch of Trades^

Knossos Captured^

Map of the world at 10AD with updated Dotmap^

Tech Situation at 10AD^

 

[CivIVMonger]

Awesome game.

Knights of the Old Republic is one of the best RPGs ever. I never got around to the second one, how is it compared to the first?

 

[BigTime]

Knights of the Old Republic is one of the best RPGs ever. I never got around to the second one, how is it compared to the first?

Just like any sequel, it has more "stuff". More force powers, more techniques, you know. The first one still is a classic, but I like how the 2nd incorporates and builds around the plot of the first, while still having a plot of its own. The 2nd is more complex, but I would say the first is still better. It's still a matter of perference. Both of them still have the sucky opening though

 

[CivIVMonger]

Just like any sequel, it has more "stuff". More force powers, more techniques, you know. The first one still is a classic, but I like how the 2nd incorporates and builds around the plot of the first, while still having a plot of its own. The 2nd is more complex, but I would say the first is still better. It's still a matter of perference. Both of them still have the sucky opening though

I don't see what is so sucky about the opening...? I still think the idea that you are trying to kill Reven when it turns out you actually are him. I have no clue what this has to do with Saladin or Civ IV in general, but whatever...

 

[BigTime]

I don't see what is so sucky about the opening...? I still think the idea that you are trying to kill Reven when it turns out you actually are him. I have no clue what this has to do with Saladin or Civ IV in general, but whatever...

I mean the Peragus colony opening part. It sucks IMO. It's so repetitive and monotonous.

 

[GrayInvisible]

I really liked KOTOR 1. I've played it multiple times. KOTOR 2 is pretty good, but for some reason I lost interest halfway through the game.

 

[CivIVMonger]

I mean the Peragus colony opening part. It sucks IMO. It's so repetitive and monotonous.

Well the game just wouldn't work if you just jumped in and started killing people! I don't like how long the begining takes but other than that it's fine.

 

[BigTime]

Well the game just wouldn't work if you just jumped in and started killing people! I don't like how long the begining takes but other than that it's fine.

Yeah. But for people who have already played KOTR 1 its a PITA.

 

[CivIVMonger]

Kinda... You still need the slow start or it is off balance.

I think the topic needs to change or a moderator will stop us.

 

[BigTime]

Kinda... You still need the slow start or it is off balance.

I think the topic needs to change or a moderator will stop us.

For me it's too slow. Anyway..... that Saladin game sure was fun

 

[GrayInvisible]

With this game, I decided to just be a cheater and reload an earlier save, as I was in a horrible position

Spoiler :

In the failed game, Rome was pulling ahead. Athens was about to flip back to Greece. I beelined Steel to get Cannons early, and started building catapults to upgrade. After I got the tech, I threw everything at Egypt, as their cities were very good. I was able to take a few of the better ones, but Rome sent their army in, and my stack started to falter.

Since I knew I was just reloading and playing for fun, I tried a few different strategies. I rushed greece with chariots before they could hook up their bronze, and was able to take Athens and Sparta. Two great city spots. At this point I diverged.

First, I tried taking out Egypt to steal whatever wonders were in the capital, and gain a foothold on the land. I was able to dispose of Egypt, but Rome came for me. I held them off for awhile, but I was stagnating economically, and Roman Cities were filling a good portion of the empty space on the map.

I reloaded back to before I attacked Egypt, and tried to attack Rome. I whipped as many chariots as possible, and attacked. I was able to take two of his cities, however while we were fighting, Egypt was able to expand significantly.

On the save I'm playing now, I reloaded back to after I took Greece out, and expanded peacefully. I put down a good amount of cities. My economy crashed, but I was able to get out of it. I now lead in tech and production, however I don't have many units.

 

[KaytieKat]

Hi

Giving this one a try

Prince, Marathon, 1 ad.

Spoiler :

I settle in place, tech ag, work on second warrior to grow while my first warrior scouts around. Soon:

He spots Peri. Soon after that:

Peri finds out why it sucks starting with a scout on marathon hehe.

After peri's untimely demise I keep scouting and get some nice deals from the goodyhuts including hunting and AH. I soon find Augie who:

Seemed a little more concerned whith wonderhogging than grabbing huts :/. I always think it kinda funny how AI's LOVE to leave goodyhuts just sitting RIGHT outside their borders for me to grab. And Augie is gonna regret letting me have this hut cuz it popped HBR which meant:

I was gonna get all Ghengis on Hattie.

Then Augie.

Then Im all by myself now hehe

Here is my empire at this point:

Not even close to 12 cities . And my economy tanking BIGTIME as I limp on trying to get currency. After Currency I will go for IW so I can clear jungles and get some cottage cities going and HOPE Im not TOO backwards techwise by time I meet the other AI's.

So thats it at this point. No plan yet on what or how or even IF for victory yet but hopefully I will get better idea as I settle out landmass and meet the other AI's. Wish me luck

Kaytie

 

[Groogaroo]

@Kaytie

Spoiler :

Once again you've claimed your continent before 1ad, nice! Once you settle and get your economy going you'll be laughing.

I miss prince

my games taken a turn for the worse

1640ad - Empore/Epic

Spoiler :

Everything seemed to be going okay, getting on well with my neighbours, managed to keep up in tech just about. After Lib I teched through chemistry > Scientific Method > Physics and currently on Electricity, traded around freely to catch up and for gold to keep my slider high. The tech situation...

Suddenly my game ends...

Ragnar picks off one of my coastal cities, to be honest they are all lightly defended and I only have a handful of muskets and then axes & chariots across my empire. Ragnar also has dumped a stack of siege outside another of my coastal cities so I can't see how I can stop him taking several cities at this stage.

It's my own fault for trying to play peacefully and neglecting military. I don't really have anyway to defend myself here!

Hmmm... I'm thinking of dropping back down to Monarch and re-evaluating the way I play.