Suggestions for SGOTM13

[Mathilda]

The only real failure i remember is the space dumbo.

That was my favourite
Sure it didn't work out in the end, but it the most fun to play.

 

[sercer88]

I like the idea for upgraded barbs, too. Not necessarily barbs with cities and techs, but instead of warriors and horsemen, maybe MI and Knights?

Oh, and, one time, I played a game I made up where the barbs were Mech Infantry, Modern Armour, and Nuclear Submarines That was really fun!

 

[I. Larkin]

I don't know why you think only 2 had a good variant. That sounds like a personal oppinion.

The only real failure i remember is the space dumbo.

If you like 5CC, OCC or AW is personal and had nothing to do with being a good or bad variant.

OK, my personal opinion about SGTOMs is:

SGOTM 1 5CC+ AW, Regent: 3+
SGOTM 2 Diplo with twist, Monarch: 3-
SGOTM 3 Oscillating War (like), Emperor: 3+
SGTOM 4 5CC Monarch: 4-
SGTOM 5 1CCBC Regent : 4-
SGOTM 6 100k culture Emperor: 3-
SGOTM 7 AW Deity: 3-
SGOTM 8 Hydrophobic, Emperor: 3+
SGOTM 9 Dumbo to Space , Monarch 2
SGOTM 10 Barbarians : Did not played
SGTOM 11 War vs Alliances, Emperor 4
SGTOM 12 Diplo, Diety: 5-.

Key: 5-Excelent, 4- good, 3- satisfactory, 2- unsatisfactory.

Another thing I notice, that SGOTM became longer and longer.
SGTOM1 took 3 weeks only for our team that may be too short.
But 2-3 month is normal time scale.

 

[msch]

There are still a lot of unexplored oportunities. The Tech tree may be modified, new techs added, effects of existing ones may be changed to surprise players. New enhncements may be added.

One thing I'd like to do is to add scientific/happines/cultural enhancements.
Their effect may be limited. They may expire quickly, but still provide extra culture. Think about Community Colleges or City Education Departments.
Another great enhancement may be a Monastery, it may be Religious and/or Scientific and even save some food. Its effect may be limited to towns (not cities or metros), expire with Education or with Scientific Methods (i'd prefer the later, because TOE is pretty much unbalancing in hands of Human players and need to have a science punishement included, as it did in Real Life, he-he). Monastery may be fairly cheep but require another advance, like Ascetism. What about a Great Wonder that puts a monastery in every town? ( like "Mt. Sinai" or "Mt. Athos" )
There should be many possibilities to make science and culture much faster.
We may also make some military advances much more expensive to slow down the military options.
Custom maps and resources provide a lot of opportunities. How about a Sid game with a lot of extra resources for human player and opportunity to capture food rich areas that later on will allow competing with AI in research. Hopefully it may be done in a way that would require some tough strategic decision more than just micro-management. Such as Capitol jump, FP placement, identifying, capturing, and developing Science farms areas etc.
By disallowing Diplo and Domin. victories and enhancing Science/Culture options we may create a nice competitions between teams running to space, building culture and trying to conquer the world.

 

[PaperBeetle]

That is an interesting idea: can the game be imbalanced to such an extent that it isn't obvious which type of VC is fastest?

 

[I. Larkin]

That is an interesting idea: can the game be imbalanced to such an extent that it isn't obvious which type of VC is fastest?

If remove SS, 100k and 20k it may be. Like COTM Englad Emperor (forgot number (29?)) was won by Diplo. But how to balance SS and Diplo?

 

[msch]

I don't think You can balance SS and Diplo. Also You'll need a very fast science to balance military victory and SS. That would require a high difficulty level, making 20K not very physible. For 100K You'll need to control most of the world, making Domination much faster anyway. But You may be able to slow down Conquest by creating one very strong opponent. So, the only victories acceptable should be: SS, Conquest, and 100K (20K may be acceptable but not realistic).
This would require much faster research in Ancient and Middle ages and more cultural buildings.
The problem, such variants require a lot of test runs, and who has time for them?

 

[denyd]

MSCH, if you like other units & buildings, check out Rise & Rule in the Mod pack forum - at least twice the techs, buildings, units, etc.

Another option is restricted unit usage, such as only units with no resource requirements, only missle/projectile units or only slow (or fast) movers.

At Demi-God+ levels adding new restrictions like victory condition or unit restriction makes victory very unlikely.

Another option is a Gilligan start on a large continent with 2-3 AI in a locked alliance on another island, putting the player at a major tech whole. (Change Great Library for this one to a free library until Education, similar to TOA).

 

[Rik Meleet]

Rik has PM'd me with some thoughts. I'll get together with him and see if we can produce a game plan.

A map and a Biq has been send to AlanH. It's far from finished but we're off.

If you have special suggestions, now is the time to tell.

 

[Niklas]

Another option is a Gilligan start on a large continent with 2-3 AI in a locked alliance on another island, putting the player at a major tech whole. (Change Great Library for this one to a free library until Education, similar to TOA).

I strongly dislike Gilligan starts because then the outcome depends so much on luck, i.e. who gets the first surviving ship over to the other side.

So what's the situation on this anyway?

 

[AlanH]

So what's the situation on this anyway?

I have to review Rik's start file. I haven't got to it yet, but hope to do so shortly.

 

[Paul#42]

I have to review Rik's start file. I haven't got to it yet, but hope to do so shortly.

 

[Kulko]

Any hope this baby gets of this month?

 

[Hasdrubal Barca]

Where do i sign up for this?

 

[Paul#42]

Right here - in a couple of months...

 

[Hasdrubal Barca]

oh...ok ok...i will be waiting for it then, thks paul!

 

[denyd]

Just thinking that since last one started Feb 2007 we should rename it the SGOTY

 

[Kulko]

As long as we don't have to rename it the Sucession Game that never was :-(.

 

[I. Larkin]

I think we should fire AlanH and organise this game ourselfs. But we need somebody from "staff", who will be formal supervisor. Can Rik Meleet do that and provide map? I suppose that we can play random Deity without "story". It will be better, then nothing.
Ivan.

 

[AlanH]

I think we should fire AlanH

Thanks! can I take next year off, then?

Can Rik Meleet do that and provide map?

Rik provided a map. I told him it looks to me to be a bit beyond challenging. However, if you like we can start a game with it?