Originally posted by Megalou
. . .
Just like in the Baylonian settler story I was struck by your inginuity and unusual solution to the Greek problem. I was a bit surprised that your GOTM16 seemed so close though. You are obviously a much more experienced player than me and yet I was in full control for several centuries. Did you just play around to make the story more exciting or was it a semi-milked game?
Game time is always in short supply, so I want the best game possible. I try to play in the "sweet spot," where the game balance is best, where the level of complexity is highest, where the strength's of the game become most evident, and when a catapult might actually make a difference.
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam.
I have a catapult. Give me all the money, or I will fling an enormous rock at your head.
Generally, I handicap the game depending on the level and starting position. In
SPQR, no city packing, certainly would
try not to pack with Rome, but instead use spacious city placement to grab Luxuries and control land. The GOTM16 terrain was excellent and lent well to this sort of strategy. (The degree of spaciousness can be adjusted to level, terrain and personal ability, or how tough a game you want.)
Virtually every town in
SPQR had Moenia (City Walls), even Rome. Walls were crucial to defend against the Greek attack across the
Spina del Mondus, and were quite handy in the Impi Wars, to stretch the thin defense.
Didn't strip the Game Forest near Rome. Probably should have. They ended up wiped out by pollution anyway. Oh well.
Of course, never breaking agreements. This is a fair handicap. Justice must always struggle against injustice. Building is always harder than destroying. And the good guy wins only if he is very, very careful.
In
SPQR, Caesar led a World Alliance against the villainous Alexander -- The United Nations of Rome. If Alexander had not been greedy and attacked, he may have completed his Spaceship unhindered. (Caesar did have a couple of backup plans. Culture and Diplomatic Victories were possible. Besides, who knows. Maybe Alexander would have had an accident.
)
(WARNING: In the game Caesar created an MPP with every other Leader, but Alexander. Multiple MPP's can result in unexpected wars and ruined reputations due to conflicts between the other partners. Be careful with multiple MPP's. They must be used with consideration.)
Additional handicaps:
Using the City Governor most of the time. Not trying to catch an extra shield or two by constantly rearranging the Citizens. Using Worker automation progressively. Not constantly adjusting the tech slider. Not purposefully starving civilian populations.
Additional comment:
This is not to say that there aren't many other ways to play the game.
) and I loved it!
