PH11: Hypermegaglobalnet

[pholkhero]

With Fox09 down to a mop-up op, RotQM5.5 dying, and several other games close to the bitter end, I wanted to catch people before they left for any sort of holiday vacation with a couple new games, so I’m posting now.

PH11: Hypermegaglobalnet
:
“Fifteen!? For this beard?!?”

Okay so PH10 focused on priests, and *tried* for a true AP win. This SG is going with merchants, and more particularly, the CONGLUMO-HYDRA! Yup, the main aim is to found all 7 corporations [no, not in one city, so there’s no need to flame] ~

Oh yeah, and we can’t run any specialists but merchants either. There’s also some other merchant/trader-related variant rules, so read on . . .

Leader: An American, of course!

Rivals: 5 Random (Mehmed, QSH, Pericles, Boudica, Kublai Khan)
Difficulty: Monarch
Map: Continents (6)
Size: Standard
Speed: Normal
Victory Conditions: All Enabled

Variant Rules:
* Merchant Economy: We must have an SE, and only run Merchant specialists. NO COTTAGES!
* We must found all 7 corporations. (We’ll need 2 scientists, 2 Engineers, 2 Merchants and an Artist. Yup, and still can only run Merchants!)
* Merchant-enabling and trade route-related bldgs and techs (yes, techs this time) must be prioritized over others.
* We are to be a maritime empire. We must circumnavigate the globe first. We must complete any sea- or trade-related quests we are given by the Almighty RNGod, and Astronomy must be a priority (a Liberalism sling is good )
* If we trade away a tech to one civilization, we must trade it to ALL civilizations, for whatever profit we can make (not for nothing, though better to keep it than give it away!).
* Once Currency is in, we must trade away any extra resources we have (luxury, health, strategic) for any profit (not for nothing!). We should renegotiate our trades for more money at the end of every turnset if we can ( even for only 1 gp). WE CAN NEVER CANCEL OUR DEALS WITH ANYBODY!
* We must be able to run a sustainable, 100% science rate w/a profit at the end of the game.
* Always Peace

Roster
pholkhero
ozbenno
pawelo
r_rolo
Kodii
Conroe

Also featuring: Rex Tyrannus >> honorary alternate; grab it whenever you can ACTUALLY play

The Start and Opening Thoughts:


So, as we can only run Merchants, we’re going to need to get ourselves 2 GEs, 2 GSs and a GA. We can aim to get the free Great People with three techs (Fusion, Physics, and Music, respectively), but we’ll still need another GE and GS. So, we shall have one production city dedicated to each that will build as many GE or GS world and national wonders as they can in order to get GPPs for them. The Pyramids will be a GREAT early wonder to grab in our capital or 2nd city. Wherever it goes, that city should become our Engineer city, too

The victory we’re looking for is up in the air. Diplo is probably out as we’ll be trading with everyone, Conquest and Dom is out with the Always Peace variant. So, it looks to be a race to the stars here.

 

[r_rolo1]

I was going to post to grab a spot when I realized I was already in ... Checking in

Space looks the best way..... but we'll need some junk cities to put the competidors of Sushi and mining .....

A list of the which wonders produce which GP now would be nice....

 

[Ozbenno]

Checking in. Diplo may be possible but probably is out. We're going to get some decent +ves for trading.

Nice starting spot. Setling in place gives us the plains hill for extra production, 4 flood plains for cottages and 4 more mining hills.

 

[r_rolo1]

Nice starting spot. Setling in place gives us the plains hill for extra production, 4 flood plains for cottages and 4 more mining hills.

Someone needs to read again the rules......

 

[pholkhero]

A list of the which wonders produce which GP now would be nice....

I have to find the sheet of paper i wrote them all down on

4 flood plains for cottages and 4 more mining hills.

geez, first post and already blowing the variant

 

[Ozbenno]

Didn't notice that. In that case we need to make a determined rush to Code of Laws for Caste System and Pyramids for Representation (and GE points). This will be our main means of research.

I also wouldn't necessarily count on the GE from Fusion as that is late game, we may need two GEs from specialists, so need a city with Pyramids, Hanging Gardens and a forge at least. I would scout around find a decent production city close by and this can be city #2, starting on Pyramids nearly straight away.

 

[Kodii]

Okay so PH09 focused on priests, and *tried* for a true AP win.

Pholk has been making mistakes left, right and centre as well

I don't think I have yet been blessed with the opportunity to play in the (in)famous Pholk series, so if you'll have me, I'll jump straight into the deep end.

 

[Conroe]

This game reminds me of one by ChrTh back in the day. That was before corporations, of course, but still a fun game. Sign me up, please!

We're going to get some decent +ves for trading.

What is a "+ves", decent or otherwise?

 

[Quotey]

Next up:Kind Engineer economy. Must build wonders and then give away the city.

A +ve is a Positive. And a -ve would be a negative.

 

[Ozbenno]

What is a "+ves", decent or otherwise?

Yeah, as Quotey said "positives". With the variant we should get +4 diplo for trading and +2 for resources with every civ, so diplo could be an option if there is a religious block but the negatives for trading with our worst enemy are going to be there as well.

 

[Jet]

Lurker's Comment

cottages

geez, first post and already blowing the variant

GEs from specialists

geez, second post and still blowing the variant like Monica Lewinsky.

I agree with Oz that relying on the Fusion GE before an AI founds the last corp is iffy. It's either too risky, or it means the game is too easy overall. If you buy that, that leaves:

• Artist from Music - reasonable to call a "must have"
• Scientist from Physics - likewise
• 1 Scientist - requires a city with the Great Library + maybe Sankore + maybe other wonders, and careful management and moderation of your GPPs empire-wide
• 2 Engineers - requires a city with Pyramids + Hanging Gardens + maybe other wonders, and very careful management and moderation of your GPPs empire-wide

You also have an early game challenge: you'll probably need either Alphabet or Currency to get your research going, but you also need to do an Always Peace land grab, and you can't run scientists or cottages. Maybe you can get there just off resources, rivers, and early trade routes, but I don't know.

I'd suggest that you allow yourselves to run regular citizen specialists - either just until Currency or Alphabet, or maybe for the whole game. With the Pyramids, that would get you to Alphabet (for example) and still let you do a land grab. EDIT: but if you don't, that's cool too. Challenge = good , and I don't really know how hard it would be.

 

[Ozbenno]

I'm struggling this morning aren't I?

I have perused my 3rd post and I'm pleased to say I don't think I broke a variant with it.

 

[Ozbenno]

Well in an attempt to redeem myself, here are the wonders that give GE and GS points (assuming we get the GA from Music). I haven't included any really late wonders.

GE - Pyramids, Hanging Gardens, Hagia Sophia, Ironworks, Cristo Redentor
GS - Great Library, University of Sankore, Oxford University

I think the two GEs are going to be the hardest to get. The Great Library overpowers the GP pool, so we will likely get 2 GSs (so if we miss Physics we can componsate). It may be worth throwing in National Epic in our GE city and maybe Parthenon somewhere else. As Jet said, it is going to take some MMing of GP points and luck to get the 2 GEs.

 

[pholkhero]

Next up:Kind Engineer economy. Must build wonders and then give away the city.

A +ve is a Positive. And a -ve would be a negative.

Nah ~ the engineer game is way up the pike ~ but no gifting cities though And thanks for telling ME what those +ves and -ves are, too

I don't think I have yet been blessed with the opportunity to play in the (in)famous Pholk series, so if you'll have me, I'll jump straight into the deep end.

This game reminds me of one by ChrTh back in the day. That was before corporations, of course, but still a fun game. Sign me up, please!

Both in, and the roster's full. Also, thanks to Kodii for pointing out that i, too, am suffering from too much egg-nog

I'd suggest that you allow yourselves to run regular citizen specialists - either just until Currency or Alphabet, or maybe for the whole game.

that might not be a bad idea. what do others think??

i think ABCs would be good for building research, and of course Currency for markets and merchants, and then on to Code of Laws. of course, masonry fairly early for the pyramids.

Let's put together a solid plan together and see where that takes us.

I say settle in place (or even 1 S to use that extra plains hill), and go worker first to farm those FPs and then Mining > Masonry > BW or BW > Masonry.

 

[Ozbenno]

i think ABCs would be good for building research, and of course Currency for markets and merchants, and then on to Code of Laws. of course, masonry fairly early for the pyramids.

With everyone having their own continent, we're not really going to have many trading partners, so even though it allows to build research I'd hold off Alphabet until after Currency, which I'd hold off until after Code of Laws. I'd go for the Pyramids in a second city almost straight away. Caste System with Representation is the way to go for us.

I say settle in place (or even 1 S to use that extra plains hill), and go worker first to farm those FPs and then Mining > Masonry > BW or BW > Masonry.

Settling on a plains hill gives your city an extra base hammer, we should definately settle in place.

 

[pawelo]

Last one in - thank God I booked my spot on DM forum

Oz, for your first post.

Definitely settle in place - the extra hammer. Also, the original BFC is overpowered so there surely is something near here.

It will definitely be a challange to get the Lib slingshot when isolated without the cottages...

Masonry and CoL are must for reasons cited before.

Looking forward to a nice game and, hopefully, a win
Btw, PH-10 isn't entirely lost

 

[TriviAl]

Curses!

Wish I'd checked the forums last night as this one looks like a barrel of fun!

Ah well - you snooze, you lose.


Good luck with this one - I'll be eagerly lurking it!

 

[Ad Hoc]

Double Curses,

PH could you post the starting save then i can play a little shadow game

 

[Conroe]

So a "ve" is a diplo point? That would not have been my first guess.

You also have an early game challenge: you'll probably need either Alphabet or Currency to get your research going, but you also need to do an Always Peace land grab, and you can't run scientists or cottages. Maybe you can get there just off resources, rivers, and early trade routes, but I don't know.

Well, with 6 continents in the game, there should be some coastline somewhere. The Great Lighthouse would be a useful wonder to supplement our research. Of course, that starting screenshot doesn't appear to give any hint of the sea ...

I would also assume that we all have our own continent. Thus the always peace land grab should be no big deal.

that [Jet's citizen specialist idea] might not be a bad idea. what do others think??

I vote yes ...

I would scout around find a decent production city close by and this can be city #2, starting on Pyramids nearly straight away.

Our capital looks like it might be a production powerhouse. I think I'd rather start the Pyramids there. Then use our 2nd city for some early happiness resource (gems or something) or possibly a coastal production city. Kinda depends on the map, I guess ...

 

[pholkhero]

It will definitely be a challange to get the Lib slingshot when isolated without the cottages...

on the one hand, the AIs will be similarly isolated, but on the other, w/6 continents, we may be able to reach one or more w/triremes by chance (or the AIs will )

Good luck with this one - I'll be eagerly lurking it!

Double Curses,

hey ~ i'm going to be starting up a couple more new games in the not-so-distant future (one w/Charlemagne [yes really Charlemange Ozbenno!! ] and another Great Person-centered game: Men in Tights ~ i'll let your imagination fill in the details of that one) ~ let me know, though, and i'll reserve a spot (or two) for you'se guys.

So a "ve" is a diplo point?

no, the +="positi", the -="negati" ~ thus the "-ve" is just the endings ~ though isn't "+-ves" more work than "boni"??

also, good points all around ~ w/always peace we'll only need to worry about defending against barbs at the outset. I"m also tempted to see how the AI reacts to "All Peace," ie, does it build units much?? too unfair to them to put on Agg AI??

I, too, thought maybe the pyramids could go here after a first settler.

I say settle in place, and go worker first to farm those FPs and then Mining > Masonry > BW or BW > Masonry.

and so, uh, is this good?

and the save for those who want to shadow us. of couse, no spoilers please ~ not even the "omg, i just got Lib > Industrialism in 1500 ad by doing x, y and z" kind