SGOTM 08 - Geezers

[Misotu]

Yup, autosaves is set to every turn in my config.

OK, this makes it a lot clearer. Totally understand about reloads etc etc, I just wasn't sure how often I could save progress and then reload - but from what you are saying, there are no restrictions in that respect as long as there is no replaying element.

Crystal clear

 

[markh]

Excellent.

One more thing, if you are not the turnplayer you can also download the save and check everything. You can check on possible trades, unit moves, etc. You just aren't allowed to execute a move, trade, etc.

 

[Misotu]

Oh, ok. So other people can look at the starting position and then discuss strategy on that basis. That makes it a lot easier, especially since I've never done a screen shot & don't know how to do it (although I'm sure it's pretty simple with a bit of guidance .)

So basically, when it's my turn, I open the save, work out what I think I might do, close the save again and then post my thoughts for discussion?

 

[Harbourboy]

Yeah - it's all pretty simple. Even I can understand it.

Except how to win, that is.

 

[Sam_Yeager]

My suggestions : Settling depends a bit on what the scout reveals. However I think it is a decent site. A lot of food, gold and much wood for chopping. I would move the scout 1NW, 1SW to reveal the last tiles for the BFC if we settle in place. Bronze Working I would research first while building a worker.

Thoroughly agree with doing some scouting before deciding where to settle. I don't mind going first and putting up with a stop/go turnset. One point that we will need to bear in mind is whether we will want to build any wonders where marble helps (Oracle?) as it may be a long way round for a galley.

Perhaps we should consider whether we are beelining any particular wonder before choosing our first tech. The Great Wall might be advantageous as gets rid of the barb worry, raises our power rating and is good for spy points. Mind you Fishing might be a good first tech as it gets us early food together with some and WBs can be used for exploring as well.

 

[AgedOne]

So basically, when it's my turn, I open the save, work out what I think I might do, close the save again and then post my thoughts for discussion?

Hi Misotu, and welcome to this prestigious team (This is going to be our SGOTM. I can feel it in my bones)

I guess the way it works out in practice is something like this (assuming you were following me):

AgedOne: finishes his turnset, uploads save and posts turnset notes.
Various Geezers (including Misotu): download the save and look at the current position. They all post comments about what's going on, how AgedOne got us into this position, suggest plans etc.
Misotu: posts stating officially that you've 'got it', and when you intend to play.
Misotu: Having taken into account any wishes of the various Geezers who posted, posts a brief plan for the turnset. Probably gives the team a bit of time for any final comments.
Misotu: Plays the turnset, eradicates Alexander, builds a wonder or two.
Misotu: Finishes the turnset, uploads the save to the server. Posts turnset notes.
And round we go again...

It has been known for the person playing the turnset to ask for advice without even saving and coming out of the game . . . though I must confess the last time I tried that I found no other Geezers on line

I've never done a screen shot & don't know how to do it (although I'm sure it's pretty simple with a bit of guidance .)

You can take a screenshot just by pressing the Print Screen key. BTS understands that and places a (full screen) jpeg into the My Games\Beyond The Sword\ScreenShots folder. It names them something inscrutable like Civ4ScreenShot0005, so you have to decide which one is which.

Then there's a couple of ways of including the jpeg with your post. The one I normally use is as an attachment (the paperclip icon above the post you're writing). There's also Insert Image, but be warned that it will include the image full-size in your post. Not always what you wanted!

 

[markh]

I don't mind going first and putting up with a stop/go turnset. One point that we will need to bear in mind is whether we will want to build any wonders where marble helps (Oracle?) as it may be a long way round for a galley.

We still have three late risers to check in. I've pmed them now.

Basically we would need a city at the marble to get it online. This takes too long. We have enough trees for chopping + we can build any wonder we want. I guess this is one of Gyathaars evil resource playcements.

 

[erikthecelt]

Back from the West Coast and checking in.

Let's move the scout to the either the gold hill or 1 sw of the settler.

I agree with the comments about conquest/dom style of victory. The challenges in this game will be:
1. Encouraging AI to build wonders for us.
2. The order in which we remove AI from the builders queue.
3. Calculating when to end the game.

On early wonders, I favour Great Lighthouse, Oracle, Colosus.

Welcome to the team Misotu. I'm very glad you accepted the invite.

 

[Sam_Yeager]

Basically we would need a city at the marble to get it online.

Are you sure about this? Wouldn't quarrying it and having Sailing be enough to bring it online?

EDIT: I experimented with the test save and it looks like you're right. Scratch that idea then.

 

[Harbourboy]

I am in favour of going for the Oracle, given that it is the wonder that is of no practical use once captured. So we might as well build that one, so we get the double whammy of the free tech and the wonder points. This might mean going for Great Wall as well, if our power might be a bit lacking from following the less military route to Oracle.

 

[erikthecelt]

Are you sure about this? Wouldn't quarrying it and having Sailing be enough to bring it online?

EDIT: I experimented with the test save and it looks like you're right. Scratch that idea then.

You must have a city on the island with a road or a city right on top.

 

[erikthecelt]

I am in favour of going for the Oracle, given that it is the wonder that is of no practical use once captured. So we might as well build that one, so we get the double whammy of the free tech and the wonder points. This might mean going for Great Wall as well, if our power might be a bit lacking from following the less military route to Oracle.

We will have lots of power, that should not be an issue.

The tech path for Sury is tricky. If we go fishing, BW, masonry, sailing, myst, poly, priest, writing, alpha we do not benefit from the cows. If we want to use the cows we need to insert AH into the mix somewhere.

Strategy wise, do we want to make the best use of available squares and forget the wonder path?

 

[The-Hawk]

Sorry, just checking in. I'm getting hammered at work a bit, probably won't get my head into this until the weekend. This does look like a pretty cool challenge, lots of major strategic decisions to be made.

I guess the new member orders the second round?

Looks like Misotu is gonna fit right in! Welcome, nice to add a player of your quality to the Geezers.

 

[Thrallia]

sorry for checking in so late...tons of schoolwork...I didn't even realize what day of the month it was

As far as where we settle...I'd actually prefer to settle in place. It looks like we are on one of the smalls in the big & small, and we're in a good location to have lots of production, good commerce, and good food(gold, 2 food resources, 6 hills, tons of forests) Not to mention the ability to build the Moai Statues.

I think we want to go for a domination/conquest hybrid, just as Sam does...but I think we want/need to cap it off in the late middle ages. By that point, the wonders available are quick to build if we have a great production city, but industrial and later age wonders take way too long to be worth hanging around for.

So we want to focus on quick research and lots of production, I don't think GP will be as important as in past games, because the majority of wonders are not accessible via GS lightbulbing(although there are a good number of them through GE and GA bulbing...)

 

[erikthecelt]

The save is available.

Let's start talking scout move - East or West?

I think east to the gold hill.

 

[Sam_Yeager]

Let's start talking scout move - East or West?

I think east to the gold hill.

Why? We have a blue circle to the west in the preview pic. Mind you, I notice it seems to be absent if I select the settler from the initial save. Misleading preview pic? Surely not.

That aside I would be interested in hearing your reasoning. It looks like we would have access to both bodies of water if we settled the gold but we would forego the initial food bonus form the clams.

 

[AgedOne]

I would also prefer the scout move to the gold hill.
As well as showing us more of our surroundings generally, it might give some indication as to whether we are connected to the bit of land with the marble on.

It will actually take something quite special to make us settle anywhere except the spot we are already on.

 

[erikthecelt]

Why?

That aside I would be interested in hearing your reasoning. It looks like we would have access to both bodies of water if we settled the gold but we would forego the initial food bonus form the clams.

Settling the cows would give access to both clams and fish, settling the gold would put the fish outside the BFC.

I am more curious about the east, the west looks like trees, meaning no extra resources, the east looks like plains, therefore it's possible resources. From the hill we a couple of extra squares, I would move the settler 2W if we find stone would fall into the BFC along with the fish and gold.

@Aged-One - the marble looks like a 2 square island.

 

[Harbourboy]

How much scouting before settling?

 

[Sam_Yeager]

Settling the cows would give access to both clams and fish, settling the gold would put the fish outside the BFC.

Good point about settling the cows. We keep the food from fish and clams and forego the quarry on marble island. Seems like a reasonable tradeoff.

I am more curious about the east, the west looks like trees, meaning no extra resources, the east looks like plains, therefore it's possible resources. From the hill we a couple of extra squares, I would move the settler 2W if we find stone would fall into the BFC along with the fish and gold.

Thanks for the explanation of your reasoning. Exploring E initially certainly makes more sense. I presume 2W is a typo?