Score and Demographics

[Smote]

90% of online civ games end in a "score victory"

A score victory is defined as a victory in which all other players leave, because they are intimidated by the leading player's score or literacy/manufactured goods demographic.

This happens very frequently, and causes most multiplayer games to have an anticlimactic ending, where every player gives up without even being attacked.


There is an easy fix for this, which would greatly improve multiplayer. Allow an option that disables showing score, or the demographics screen. This would prevent players from easily assessing how well they are doing, and give them more hope, true or not. This means that they will try harder and the game is more fun for everyone.

 

[Tabarnak]

I don't understand. A big empire with twice the score can be destroyed if he's not properly defended, and from only one ennemy. Two people can ally and try to destroy him or weaken him.

In fact, score is irelevant in most cases about army and military tech size. Population, land and wonders give the highest rate, but they don't help to defend.

 

[Smote]

I agree with your assessment. And yet, I've seen this effect many times. People usually just quit if you get a large score.

The demographics screen can also be used to see if someone is going to rush you, so you have about 10 turns notice to build up if they begin to. Just watch if the leader's military spikes 10-15k and if he is your neighbor, you will get attacked soon. Where did all the mystery go?

 

[Tabarnak]

Well i wrote an article about keeping #soldiers low to let other players busy at doing something else than military stuff. Pre-building units and mass upgrade are the keys.

In 2-3 turns an army of 25 000 soldiers can jump to 60 000 in no time, making no room for the opponent to build an army(or getting a military key tech for mass upgrade).

Speed is the essence of everything in this game.

 

[Smote]

Yeah, optimally you could probably make 15 troops in 3 turns with 5 cities, without purchasing. 30 troops in 3 turns with 5 cities with purchasing.

It is powerful for a large surprise invasion. A road to your enemy is probably key as well, so they have even less time to respond, with the higher movement troops created last to synchronize arrival times.

However, I still view that this is annoying and war should not have to be carried out this way. You should be able to build up troops secretly, rather than having to "pre-build" then finish later. The need to pre-build is mostly due to the demographics screen ruining most forms of secrecy.

To truly optimize, the far away cities should have their troops done a few turns before the closer cities, so that all arrive at the same time, maybe even with a few unit purchases in the close cities to make the invasion truly ridiculous.

And it has to be Persia with a golden age

 

[Deussu]

Oh, I so wish to throw that stupid score display away. It annoys me endlessly to always be aware WHO built the Great Library... and any early wonder for that matter...

 

[swordspider]

90% of online civ games end in a "score victory"

You clearly have played the wrong online players because 90% of my games end in me conquesting every other online player to death. Besides, if you are that far ahead and everyone quits, then you won. What's the difference if you win in 1000AD or 2000AD, you won.

 

[swordspider]

Well i wrote an article about keeping #soldiers low to let other players busy at doing something else than military stuff. Pre-building units and mass upgrade are the keys.

In 2-3 turns an army of 25 000 soldiers can jump to 60 000 in no time, making no room for the opponent to build an army(or getting a military key tech for mass upgrade).

Speed is the essence of everything in this game.

This is a decent tactic either way. I like to build warriors and leave them all over my borders to make an unknowing attacker think he has me licked. As soon as I sense an attack (or when they start building at my borders) *poof* they are swordsmen and one turn later *poof* they are longswordsmen. Then I have their entire army at my doorstep, I attack and annihilate, and then invade their territory instead. It is quite fun actually.

 

[Smote]

Conquest, pshaw, what a tactic for uncultured barbarians.

Its hard to find good opponents. The only ones I've played against are Tabarnak and Ermak. I've never seen you before, I think, what is your username?