REGENT TO MONARCH and BEYOND?

[PRIMEMOVER]

Soliciting stories, examples, etc. of when you knew it was time to jump levels (i.e. from Warlord to Regent, etc.) and how many games should be played in how many different scenarios at a certain level before one "graduates" to the next level.

For me, I've played three games at Regent (all with five opponents), winning two of them (by histograph victory) each time my score has improved (2000 to 2700)...not great, but I beat the AI!!

I've begun a fourth game (large map, eight opponents) at Regent...in which I'm currently a close third place. I've found that I've mastered the concept of city building and utilizing workers efficiently to keep pace with the AI when it comes to production and overall military strength (CHINA ALL THE WAY BABY!) and in some instances, just crush the AI when it looked like they had numerical superiority!!

I guess I need some opinions on what kind of a test or tests should one have to pass before venturing up a notch?

I want to hang with the big boys and get comfortable enough to take a crack at some GOTMs:soldier:

 

[AlanH]

I played just a couple of games at the low levels and then jumped right into the deep end with GOTM 20. I believe Cracker's GOTM scenarios, at least the ones I've tried, are more winnable at the higher levels than random games are, because he gives you room to breathe during the early stages. This gives you a real chance to practice all the great schemes/scams you can learn by browsing the timelines of the stars in the GOTM and SG forums.

After one or two games at Chieftain/Warlord just to get the game mechanics clear, I'd recommend jumping to Monarch and beyond using the old GOTM starting files and comparing progress at each spoiler level. You learn much more about empire building and trading and effective warfare at the higher levels, with a good starting position and with good examples to learn from.

But maybe that's just me?

 

[AdrianE]

I'll echo AlanH's comments and then add some:

I played a tutorial mode game on Chieftan and then jumped to Regent. Then I played conquest level GOTM21 (Greece) and open GOTM 22 (Vikings). I started GOTM23 but dropped it (no time) and then played 5-6 (France) again open class.

Read everything in the war academy. The info in here is worth a 2 or 3 level jump in difficulty. Learn how to trade effectively. Learn how to manage a settler factory. Suicide Galleys can make you rich. Micromanage your workers. Then jump staight in to GOTM. Play it at conquest level your first time.

Adrian

 

[PRIMEMOVER]

Thanks Adrian...

I completely agree with the war academy/articles point...that's how I was able to jump to Regent after only a few games at Chieftain/Warlord levels...the stuff on city building is super critical and highly effective in being able to hang at higher levels!

Can you enlighten me as to the "suicide galleys"...I've never heard of that one!

Also...how do I jump into a GOTM? Never done that before, but I'm eager to!

 

[dojoboy]

Originally posted by PRIMEMOVER


Can you enlighten me as to the "suicide galleys"...I've never heard of that one!

Also...how do I jump into a GOTM? Never done that before, but I'm eager to!

Suicide galleys are just galleys that are sent on suicide missions to try and discover other civs (on different landmasses) in the early game before navigation and magnetism are discovered. A galley in open waters has a 50% (I think its 50%) chance of survival each turn left in deep waters (anything other than coastal waters).

Check out AlanH's GOTM Mac Installer thread in the above Mac Tournament sub-forum and go to CFC's GOTM introduction page.

 

[AdrianE]

Suicide galleys

Basically you build galleys and send them out into the ocean to see what they can find. Expect to lose many as they sink in the interturn.

However if they survive and get contacts with other civs on other landmasses you can make a killing on the trading. Techs that your continent knows can be sold to the other continent at monopoly prices and vice versa. You can be the sole tech broker between continents for centuries. Eventually you can also sell all the other civs contacts with each other.

A galley costs you 30 shields but can be worth thousands of gold and an entire age worth of techs.

Check out the preturn speculation for GOTM 20 and the ancient age spoiler for GOTM 20 for good discussion of the topic and examples.

Adrian