SGOTM 12 - Xteam

[AlanH]

BtS SGOTM 12 - Atonement

Welcome to your BtS SGOTM 12 Team Thread. Please use it for all internal team communication, turn logs and discussions. Subscribe to it to receive notifications, and do not visit the other team threads for this game until you have finished. Please also subscribe to the Maintenance Thread for this game, where teams and staff may post non-spoiler information of general interest.

The heavens split open, heat poured over the innocents, earth spew lava in anguish, light shone over the earth for a short moment. Then darkness, despair, suffering, torment. And death. If the radiance of a thousand suns were to burst at once into the sky, that would be like the splendor of the mighty one. Stalin had now become Death, the destroyer of worlds. And the people of Russia turned against him in disgust. Civil war broke out and the once glorious civilization shattered as a second wave of nuclear fire rained upon the land. Mankind is thrown back to the stone age, with only small bands of isolated stragglers wandering the plains in search of city sites free from pollution. The vast knowledge collected over the centuries is all but lost, with only fragments left for use. As the last piece of modern communication equipment fails, shocking news reveals that the former enemy civilizations were not wiped out as believed. The survivors managed to reach pockets of relative low radiation to re-found their capitals. And guess what? They have not forgotten. Furthermore, rumors are that Stalin survived as well, and who knows what technology he has access to?...

The good news is that you have managed to retain the knowledge of Ecology. The bad news is that the opponents have most certainly retained advanced knowledge as well, perhaps even nuclear technology.

You are Catherine, the leader of the new Russian civilization. You have to start all over again. The earth is covered in pollution, and all other civilizations are at war with you. You must make Atonement by clearing up ALL fallout, getting rid of Stalin, making peace with ALL other civilizations, and evacuating the earth.

Thanks for this scenario go to Erkon.

Timetable
In order to avoid clashing with the release of Civ5, the game will start on September 17.

The completion deadline will be December 20.

Game Settings

The Start:


Click for a bigger image.

• Speed: Normal
• Difficulty: Emperor - but be warned. It may play a little higher that this
• Map: Standard, cylindrical, cold, low water
• Opponents: The six civilizations from SGOTM10 (Churchill, De Gaulle, Mao Zedong, Roosevelt, Gandhi, Stalin)
• Victory condition: Only space victory
• Game Options: no random events, no barbarians, no city flipping from culture, no vassal states, no goody huts. Aggressive AI and rising seas are enabled.

Starting Conditions
Almost all of earth is covered by fallout. You are in contact with all opponents, you are at war with them, and they are upset that you have nuked them. The map is not the same as in SGOTM10. You are land connected to at least one of the AIs. The AI capitals are pre-settled. All biological units have died from exposure to radiation, except your settler. The fallout will not disappear by itself, and it is not possible to settle on fallout (due to a modified BUFFY)

Goals
To win the game:

• All fallout must be cleared
• Stalin must be defeated (dead)
• All other AIs must survive and be at peace with the player when space victory is achieved.
• Teams will not be penalized for events outside the team's control, such as:
  • one AI killing the other before the team has the opportunity to prevent it
  • one AI declares war on team after the launch
  • one AI launch a nuke after the launch ....etc.
  • any fallout that may appear on unreachable terrain does NOT need to be cleaned up.

The teams are trusted to fulfill the objectives to the best of their ability, and any AI related events that prevent the fulfillment of the criteria for winning shall be described and forwarded in a PM to Erkon or me for analysis.

Awards
Laurels will be awarded to up to three teams who accomplish the winning goals fastest (Ie by the earliest in-game dates).
Wooden spoons will go to the team who finishes the game (win or lose) with the lowest score.

Notes

• Versions
  This game will be played in Civilization IV Beyond the Sword, version 3.19, using a customized HoF Mod 'BUFFY_SG12'. The installer for this special mod is available here. Unzip the downloaded file and run it to install BUFFY_SG12 into your ...\Beyond the Sword\Mods\ folder.
  
  If a later BtS patch is released during this game you will NOT be able to use it to play. You will need to complete this game in BtS version 3.19 before updating your copy of BtS, or create and update a separate copy.
  
  Mac players can only join in if they are able to run the Windows software on their system.
  
• Rules and Procedures
  Please visit the Civ4 SGOTM reference thread to check out the rules and procedures to ensure that you are adequately prepared for this game.
  
  All saved game files uploaded to the server are parsed through software that extracts and archives data about your save, including reload count for each turn set.
  

Please wait until your team leader/administrator/scribe has reserved a couple of top posts for game admin information. Then post here to let your team know you have arrived.

Good luck .... You might need it

 

[leif erikson]

<reserved for future use>

 

[leif erikson]

Welcome to XTeam!

Welcome to our Gypsy Kings, for the moment at least, allies.
Nice to see C63, dV, Griff and R1 aboard for this one.

Also, welcome to The-Hawk for his first game with XTeam.

And, as always, welcome back to my team mates.
Please feel free to abbreviate names when you post.

Just a few things about our team and philosophy.

We believe that our best games come from when the best ideas float to the top through honesty and discussion. We hope that you will present not just an idea you have, but why you think it is a good idea. Please do not be afraid to defend whatever you put on the table. And, please do not be offended when it is questioned. We do not always make the correct decision, as we proved last game, but we try to do so through game testing and vigorous discussion. There are a lot of us this game and many are quite good players, so we really should try to resolve issues between us before we move ahead.

On this team, the person holding the mouse is the decision maker. We do not vote for a course of action. We hope that the mouse holder will listen to the discussion and play along the lines of what they feel is the best course of action. Whatever happens, focusing on the past is not going to get us anywhere, so we do try to look ahead and deal with whatever situation we are dealt, or get ourselves into. Acrimony is never going to resolve our situation, working together will. We have turned mistakes into advantages in the past, so it can happen.

As our team is quite large, I expect that preparing for turn sets may take a while. However, we do have a three month deadline and so we must be careful not to waste time either. We generally try to have the next player up post a "got it" within 24-hours of a player finishing a set and then posting a pre-play plan within the next 24-hours. We then give ourselves 48-hours for discussion and try to complete the turn set within 72-hours. These are guidelines that we should try to meet. Situations may arise that require more time and we have, in general, taken that time when needed. If you are up and unclear about something, please ask and I know you will probably get plenty of advise and assistance. If you are in the middle of a turn set and run into something you feel you need to ask about, stop, save the game and post for advice. You can use screen shots or the game save that you attach to the thread.

As there are so many of us, I plan to keep a dual roster. The upper part will be those who are ready to play and the lower part will be those who wish more to lurk and provide a helping hand at times. Please do let me know which roster you wish to start in. Also, please feel free to post when you wish to move between the rosters which you are free to do as you have time. We have also moved people within a roster to meet time requirements of players. There is much freedom within the roster, as long as you are keeping me up to date on when you have time, or will not be available. I appreciate your help with this.

Lastly, please be very careful using test game saves. When we name a test game save, please do not use SGOTM12 in the name as the HoF Mod can be confused at times. Also, know which save you are opening up. Please, whatever you do, do not open and play the real save if you are not up. You are encouraged to look at the real save to assess the situation, but please do not make any moves that cannot be reversed. Should this accidentally happen, please save and let us know immediately because it will have to be uploaded to the gotm server played by the player that is up.

This post is getting way too long. Should you have questions, or comments, about how things work or why something happens, please let me know. If you do not wish to post it in the thread, please PM me and I will answer as soon as I can.

welcome to you all and let's have a great game!

 

[Grifftavian]

Reporting for Duty!

I have subscribed to the SG12 Maintenance Thread and the SG12 Rules Discussion Thread.

EDIT: Cross-post with Leif; ready-to-play/active roster please.

 

[leif erikson]

Reporting for Duty!

I have subscribed to the SG12 Maintenance Thread and the SG12 Rules Discussion Thread.

Welcome.

 

[Grifftavian]

Welcome.

Glad to be here, thanks for having me on the X-Team!!!!

NOTE TO ALL: I just checked my civilization.ini file, and my auto-save interval had been reset to 4 turns. Maybe a result of downloading the BUFFY_SG12 Mod? Anyway, it would be a good idea for everyone to check their civilization.ini file, and reset it to 1 turn if required.

 

[leif erikson]

NOTE TO ALL: I just checked my civilization.ini file, and my auto-save interval had been reset to 4 turns. Maybe a result of downloading the BUFFY_SG12 Mod? Anyway, it would be a good idea for everyone to check their civilization.ini file, and reset it to 1 turn if required.

Thanks for the warning as I checked and mine had changed as well.

Once you install the HoF SG12 Mod, please check as Griff has posted.

 

[Conquistador 63]

Greetings!

I am really happy with the opportunity provided by Leif for joining XTeam for this SGOTM, even more so for keeping some of my old Gypysy Kings teammates (and friends) by my side.

As a brief self-introduction to those not familiar with me, I'm a Civ4 GOTM veteran player , and I like to think of myself as an Emperor-level player, who can win sometimes on Immortal when the mapmakers are generous enough (cough (Leif) cough (CP)).

When part of a SG team, I think I usually contribute more with input on game mechanics (based on forum research and previous game experience), but less than I think I should with building and playtesting "test maps" - hopefully that won't be a problem in a team with a such a large number of talented players!

And, for the record, I am available to play actual turnsets, so please put me in that part of the roster.

 

[Ronnie1]

Checking in!

Ditto C63's sentiments on the offer/welcome to join you all, and also for keeping us together.
Actually, most all of what he said goes for me also, with the exception of the game mechanics expertise.

I am working out some spotty internet issues, but am fully ready to participate and play.

Now where to begin?

 

[The-Hawk]

Hi all, checking in .

Looking forward to participating, thanks for the invitation. I consider myself a solid B+ player, typically successful through immortal level. I hope to learn a lot given the number of "A" players on our team.

Unfortunately, I expect to be in-and-out a bit because of work. Leif, I'd suggest putting me on the 2nd list (semi-lurker). I think there is a good chance I can get online most days to comment, but my playing time may be limited. Also, I will be reluctant to play on weeknights because I have been running 12-16 hour work days and may be prone to mistakes.

I live on east coast of USA, typically will be on-line late evenings and most weekends.

 

[leif erikson]

I am really happy with the opportunity provided by Leif for joining XTeam for this SGOTM, even more so for keeping some of my old Gypysy Kings teammates (and friends) by my side.

We are happy to have you all.

Thanks for introductions and roster status. Before we get into too much, I am waiting a bit for the others to sign in.

Please have a look at the start location and we can soon begin a discussion on the start. I think one of the teams posted a test start, I'll try to have a look and see if it is usable. Otherwise, I can try to create something that we can work with.

 

[Mad Professor]

Checking in. Active roster.

When I'm available it will be obvious. Just occasionally work causes me to go AWOL for a few days. I can usually predict those times, so it will not be a problem. Previous XTeam members will remember how that happens - I don't think it affects my input much in the long run.

I'm looking forward to learning lots from all the guys I haven't played in the same team with before.

Heh - if we can pull off orderly "discussions" and have the player with the mouse easily distill from the discussion just what the team is thinking, we will do well. This is a BIG team! If we can do that bit OK, then I think the rest of it will be easy. Looking forward to getting my teeth into this one.

 

[da_Vinci]

Another mercenary Gypsy checking in!

Ditto on the thanks to Leif for the invite for the temporary (we hope) merge.

For self-introduction, I am a GOTM veteran, would have to say an emperor level wanna-be (it's not always a guaranteed win ) ... and it takes a rare conjunction of planets for me to win on immortal.

I am also not the avid simmer that many others are ... hmm, so what am I good for anyway?

Oh yeah, my job is to ask the stupid questions, and hopefully sometimes not so stupid ones. And when I have the time, to articulate lists of the issues needing to be resolved before we play the next turnset. I'm often better at asking questions than answering them.

With a good plan in place, I am usually pretty good at executing it (before you all get too nervous ... )

Glad to be here!

RL is a bit nuts right now, so put me on the lurker roster to start with.

First questions: what are the implications of having ecology at the start? Any useful civics or buildings unlocked? More worrisome, what kind of techs might our at war enemies have in hand from the start (hopefully not artillery! Befudlov anyone?)?

dV

 

[Grifftavian]

Snip...
Please have a look at the start location and we can soon begin a discussion on the start. I think one of the teams posted a test start, I'll try to have a look and see if it is usable. Otherwise, I can try to create something that we can work with.

I've started working on a Test Game, it's about 75% complete. Hope to finish it up tomorrow, after some much needed beauty sleep.

All biological units have died from exposure to radiation, except your settler.
I'm not sure if that means the AI Civs have no units or workers Seems unlikely, would make it more of a Noble level game. On the other hand...

Difficulty: Emperor - but be warned. It may play a little higher that this
Scary thought: instead of the AI Civ starting with two Archers, per a normal Emperor game, maybe they start out with one of their Unique Units (but not necessarily the knowledge of how to build more)

Preview of Coming Attractions...(see attached screen shot)

 

[da_Vinci]

Going to be an interesting test game, since we don't really know what units or what techs the AI might be starting out with.

Can we assume they all start with ecology? Otherwise, our monopoly on fallout cleanup would be a huge edge, wouldn't it?

If some AI does start out with artillery or a similar weapons tech, we would not know until we see the unit, right? Even with alpha, since we lack the pre-reqs, it would not be visible, right?

dV

 

[zamint3]

Welcome to XTeam!

Thank you Leif!

Long post up there, and I thought only the Ducks spoke French.
I looked up "acrimony" and you're absolutely right
- on the serious side, some of us don't have English as our native language, but I'll try to keep up!

Active roster please, all though I might not be available for much Civ4 next tuesday

I'm looking forward to learning lots from all the guys I haven't played in the same team with before.

Me too, but I still hope to learn a lot from you as well MP

Great to see that you are making a testgame Griff, my WB skills suck!

 

[Grifftavian]

The AI capitals are pre-settled. All biological units have died from exposure to radiation, except your settler.

In the Rules Discussion thread, I asked if this meant that the AI Civs didn't start with their normal 2 Archers & 2 Workers for an Emperor level game. Erkon's response was...

"All" in this context means world wide, so the AI will not start with any workers. As stated earlier, "biological" in this context means any unit that breathe and eat. A scout is a biological unit, a work boat is not for example. I hope this definition suffice.

To which beestar said... So ... Stalin could have a mech infantry and a battleship ...

Hmmm... I guess an ICBM doesn't breathe or eat.

 

[leif erikson]

There is much we will not know until we have a save, and then we still may not know much?

I think the most productive thing to do may be to look at our starting area and discuss possible locations to settle and how to set up the area. It seems to me there may be 3 or so city sites we may consider.

I am liking N and then NE, between the Cows. Not sure if seafood is affected by radiation, seems like a good way to get some food going and Workers built. Seafood also has some commerce for us, if we can get Work Boats built relatively quickly?

If all biological units are none existent, then everyone should have a slowish start and we need to get ahead of that.

 

[Cactus Pete]

Cactus Pete checking in for the active roster (but can't be very active until sometime next week).

Warm welcome to the new members. Let's win this one.

 

[Conquistador 63]

I am liking N and then NE, between the Cows. Not sure if seafood is affected by radiation, seems like a good way to get some food going and Workers built. Seafood also has some commerce for us, if we can get Work Boats built relatively quickly?

That was my first thought, with the lower part of the peninsula occupied by a city on the forested plains hill. But I can think of 2 alternative sites for the capital, just to stir up some debate.

1. 1NE: Pros: 13 land tiles vs 9 if settling NNE; Cons: we miss fish in capital (gets rice instead), we lose a chop.

2. In place: Pros: no turns wasted moving, all land, more likely to get strategic resource before city2, fresh water, 9 river tiles for levee, super bureau + HR capital. Con: we miss clam as a workable tile (probably forever) and fish (until a later city gets it), we lose a chop.