v1.21f
I've had some difficulty connecting to the forums yesterday and this morning, but I am happy to report (finally!) finishing and submitting my game.
Domination Win, 870 AD, with about 7100 Firaxis points. (Finished right around 11:30 PM on the 30th, and submitted right after, so another nail-biting final evening.)
I actually researched the Wheel at 100% after founding Makkah 1 space SE of the start position. This gave me more than enough trading power to get all the beginning techs. After that I pretty much did minimal research, saving my money and looking for good trade opportunities to stay current. I used a RCP of 5.x; my city layout is almost identical to SirPleb's
. Even though I knew where the horses were, the Ottomans still beat me to the closest horse resource space, so I loaded up on Warriors and had 17 upgraded to Swordsmen at the end of the QSC. I entered the MidAges in 1000BC, making a big trade for Poly, Constr and Curr. Most everyone else was also MA, too.
I'd seen a Persian scout earlier, so I assumed they were expansionistic. I noticed that the Ottomans did not get a free Tech upon entering the MA, so it looks like no civ was truly scientific.
Since I didnt have horses, the plan was to use Swords/Azaps against the Ottomans and Rome, and Ansar Warriors against the rest, triggering a GA against Egypt. I would stay on friendly terms with Carthage and keep a ROP with them until after Id taken care of everyone else. And Id leave France and India alone; I thought Id achieve Domination without needing to war against Joan or Gandhi. Id use Luxury trades to keep them happy with me for as long as necessary or possible.
I started a war against Rome with Osman as an ally (to soften them both up), and a war against Spain with Persia as an ally (keep them occupied), and signed ROP deals with Persia and Carthage. Meanwhile the Zulu decided to declare against Egypt, and Persia got India in against the Spanish, so only Carthage and the French were still at peace in the early MA.
The Rome war started in 1575 BC; I dissolved my alliance with Osman about 900 BC, and took him on; he was gone before the ADs and I had my horse access. Rome tried to extort me, so Rome part II was on. This was right at the beginning of the ADs, and Feudalism was out so I upgraded to Azaps and started my attacks. The Azap stack was able to take about 5 Roman towns before it ran out of steam; meanwhile I was building my horsemen up. Around 220 AD I gave peace to Spain for Chivalry, upgraded 10 of about 25 horsemen, and in 240 AD started my GA against Egypt. (We were already at war; how typical, Cleo decided to ally with Ceasar
) Shortly after this, France finished Spain.
Id been in Despotism this whole time; my army was pretty large and it didnt seem cost-effective to switch. During the GA I changed to Republic for the production (5 cities had 15+ production, so 50 new horsemen during those 20 turns, disconnecting and reconnecting Iron for upgrades every few turns), but switched back to Despotism at the end of the GA.
The Ansar Warrior was really nice! That 3 movement is devastating. Only problem with my minimal research and slow build-up was that most civs already knew Gunpowder, so I saw a lot of Muskets during my conquests. The first 10 Ansars swept across ¾ of Egypt, resting occasionally. The next 10 Ansars went down to Rome and took it down to just 2 cities in the SE, and 3 along the Eastern coast. The next 10 reinforced the Egypt brigade, leaving Cleo with just 1 city (I gained Invention for peace), and then took Shaka down to 1 city (I gained Gunpowder here). Another 10 were sent to evict Rome from its ancestral home (I gained a leader! Forbidden palace just West of Rome). Then 22 were launched against Persia, taking 6 cities in the first turn! I saw that Xerxes had cavalry; peace with Rome netted Chemistry; peace with Persia netted Metallurgy; then I bought MilTrad from Hannibal and began the upgrades to Cavalry. Shortly after that I broke my peace treaties with Rome and Persia, doing them in. Then I attacked Carthage and wore him out, with side stacks of Cav finishing off Egypt and the Zulu. Just me, Persia (1 city on the North island), France and India left; I built Temples, settled in the few open spaces, and the big expansion in culture 5 turns later brought me the win!
This was a very early win for me, and the first time Id tried this type of massive early overrun of the other civs. Very enlightening, and it was fun! (I now know how powerful the Ansar Warrior and the Chinese Rider are.) And this was also my fastest game (only 2 weeks to finish!), so a lot of new things in my world. I'm impressed at some of the earlier wins other players have achieved! I can see I'd need to do more active research in the early MA to have a chance to compete in that league!
I was surprised at the AI military mix. First, the Romans took forever to hook up their iron. I took forever, also, so they had lots of time to build Legions, but I think I only saw 3-4 of them. Also, I saw NO horse based units with Rome, 1 isolated War-Chariot with Egypt, 1 Knight and 1 Cav with Persia, 1 Knight and 1 Cav with Carthage, 2 Knights with the Zulu. I never saw any Indian units, and I did see a couple of French horse units, but I was never at war with either Joan or Gandhi. With all this open space and my own large-ish horse armies, it was odd not to see hardly any in the other civs. Also, my war with Rome and Egypt dragged on for a while, and both civs built tons of Longbows (which were quickly mowed down once they came within range; they had no defensive units with them.) I wonder if these units had their prices lowered to make it more attractive to the AI to build them.
Great Game! Its off to 5-4; Ill give France at least 10 days to achieve commercial domination before I move on to Korea!
