Sullla's AI Survivor Season Eight - Game 4 Thread

[Plains-Cow]

Sullla's AI Survivor Season 8 continues this Friday, June 28th on Sullla's Twitch Channel at 1200 EDT.

AI Survivor starts again with big shoes to fill after Sitting Bull (with a plains-cow start, mind you) eliminated Huayna Capac and won a cultural victory! This week, we have the powerhouse Mansa Musa (also with a plains-cow start; how OP!), previous wildcard Saladin, one of the last East Asian leaders in Qin, cool-helmet-animation Pericles, and Washington (who also has a plains-cow tile). Zara and Alexander also are paired up once again; Alex killed Zara multiple times in previous seasons, so there's a lot of drama between the two leaders. Will it happen again this year? You'll have to tune in and find out!

Read up more about the game, check out the preview video (once Sullla has it up), and make your predictions about the results here:

Civ4 AI Survivor

BE sure to make your picks HERE

Indulge your inner gambler by checking out the local civfanatics betting thread run by @Fippy (aka My) here:

CFC betting game - Survivor S8G4

This will also be known as the Mansa game.. great capital with rivers & high :hammers: and peaceful AIs next to him. But what will you bet on here? :) All new & old players get 5000 Fippybucks to spend. Some did better than others last time and they start with: Eauxps 20.000 * Chalybion 8000 *...

forums.civfanatics.com

 

[lymond]

New Game 4 announcement has been posted to the main page!

 

[Eauxps I. Fourgott]

Poor Pericles is the only leader to not get a mention here. What did he ever do to you?

 

[Keler]

So excited to see a tag team Wahington+Zara destroys Qin Shi Huang the first to die, then Americans eat Alex and win space with Mansa runner up. Maybe they eat Saladin too and get enough to win domination.


Too bad I already made my prediction and I don't know how to change as I didn't keep the link. So my heart wants Saladin to build a winner shrine city and win space with whoever not in the way is second. Maybe Qin so low pw can take revenge from high pw leaders. But of course, won't happen

 

[Plains-Cow]

Poor Pericles is the only leader to not get a mention here. What did he ever do to you?

Pericles is indeed a leader in CIV IV and a part of this week's upcoming game, so, uh, consider the OP as an evolving OP lol. I also added My's betting thread.

 

[urbestfriend]

After what felt like some very unpredictable games the last few weeks, this one feels like a slam dunk for Mansa. In the corner by similar peace weights and honestly the only big threat is on the far side of the map and only a threat in the short term.

 

[Plains-Cow]

After what felt like some very unpredictable games the last few weeks, this one feels like a slam dunk for Mansa. In the corner by similar peace weights and honestly the only big threat is on the far side of the map and only a threat in the short term.

I'm still riding that high from the Sitting Bull win. Three of us believed.

 

[lymond]

I'm getting Sally feelies for this one, though I agree Mansa looks stronk here. The two should be religious rivals so hope Sal beats up on Mansa early. Sal does not declare at pleased though.

 

[Plains-Cow]

I'm getting Sally feelies for this one, though I agree Mansa looks stronk here. The two should be religious rivals so hope Sal beats up on Mansa early. Sal does not declare at pleased though.

I'm thinking it's a Mansa game. Great start with lots of land to grow into, peaceful neighbors who will be perfect punching bags as his econ skill allows him to tech away, best resource right out the gate... I don't see it breaking any other way.

 

[AcaMetis]

I don't see it breaking any other way.

After last game I don't think anything could surprise me. Sure hope the game will try, mind, but it'll have to try it's best .

 

[Fippy]

I don't think Mansa has more than a ~40% chance of winning.

 

[Plains-Cow]

I don't think Mansa has more than a ~40% chance of winning.

How about G-Wash or Alex "Ethiopian Smasher" the Great?

 

[Chalybion]

Initial thoughts on the map:
- Mansa: It's his game to lose. Long floodplains river to tech, friendly neighbors. Wheat is one tech away, but animal husbandry is pretty far. Iron/elephant are far enough away that Zara might steal them, limiting potential war success until late game
- Pericles: Poor Pericles, his borders, peaceweight, and location make him Alex's natural target. No religion preference to convert Alex either. If he is unlucky, Alex will settle copper before he reaches IW. Decent start for Hunting. FTD?
- Alex: Corn/floodplains/iron is strong. If he slows his conquest of Pericles long enough to win the Pyramids competition, he will terrorize the pangaea with Police State. I think he can win if he conquers Saladin, maybe 2nd if he conquers the south?
- Saladin: Best start on the map, once he decides to tech food. Nearby horse and ivory. Really strong mid-game with large cities and armies. I think he has two paths to victory: Convert Alex and wage war on the eastern infidels, or mop up a Pericles-Alex slugfest, before turning on the infidels with a massive empire
- Qin: Will have a fast Agri/Mining start, but surrounding land is commerce poor. I think he will spoil someones victory before dying ignomiously.
- Zara: Not a great start, but lots of room to expand. Will build a large empire, and can win if he is first to, say, Code of Laws, and declares religious war on Washy/Mansa
- Washington: Really strong start for food, commerce, and mounted combat. I predict he will get religion from either Sally or Mansa, then become a punching bag for the other. If Mansa converts Washington, that sets stage for Mansa space/culture win, with Washington as bodyguard.

 

[a pen-dragon]

Initial thoughts on the map:
- Mansa: It's his game to lose. Long floodplains river to tech, friendly neighbors. Wheat is one tech away, but animal husbandry is pretty far. Iron/elephant are far enough away that Zara might steal them, limiting potential war success until late game
- Pericles: Poor Pericles, his borders, peaceweight, and location make him Alex's natural target. No religion preference to convert Alex either. If he is unlucky, Alex will settle copper before he reaches IW. Decent start for Hunting. FTD?
- Alex: Corn/floodplains/iron is strong. If he slows his conquest of Pericles long enough to win the Pyramids competition, he will terrorize the pangaea with Police State. I think he can win if he conquers Saladin, maybe 2nd if he conquers the south?
- Saladin: Best start on the map, once he decides to tech food. Nearby horse and ivory. Really strong mid-game with large cities and armies. I think he has two paths to victory: Convert Alex and wage war on the eastern infidels, or mop up a Pericles-Alex slugfest, before turning on the infidels with a massive empire
- Qin: Will have a fast Agri/Mining start, but surrounding land is commerce poor. I think he will spoil someones victory before dying ignomiously.
- Zara: Not a great start, but lots of room to expand. Will build a large empire, and can win if he is first to, say, Code of Laws, and declares religious war on Washy/Mansa
- Washington: Really strong start for food, commerce, and mounted combat. I predict he will get religion from either Sally or Mansa, then become a punching bag for the other. If Mansa converts Washington, that sets stage for Mansa space/culture win, with Washington as bodyguard.

I agree mostly. However Mansa and even more Alex need Monarchy or Calendar for happiness. Once Mansa reaches Calendar he will be fine, that should not be a big problem for him.

Alex only has access to Spices, Wine and potentially Sugar and Dyes, maybe even the Gems near Peri. The Religions will probably all be founded in the eastern part of the continent, so far away from him. If he rushes Pericles or Qin he will be fine. Also the Mids and rep could solve this problem. OTOH if his War stalls and he does not have Monarchy or Calendar this could slow him down.

 

[lymond]

1st - Sally
2nd - Zara
FTD - Mansa
Wars - 10
Victory - Space
Time - 320

 

[Fippy]

Mansa FTD needs a miracle

 

[Texas03]

I trust that Mansa plays his flavours right and uses the floodplains to carry himself to Monarchy and Calendar. But already Kublai and HC failed me this season and there is a lot that can go wrong here. If the religions don't go in his but instead maybe in Saladins favour then theres a strong candidate for a victory as well. A lot also hinges on how effective Alexander can be. If he does manage to take out Pericles quick and go down the right tech path (somewhat at least) there may yet be danger to Saladin.

I am very sure to score points on FTD as well. I mean can there really be a large case against Pericles?

 

[Fippy]

I am very sure to score points on FTD as well. I mean can there really be a large case against Pericles?

Peri has copper, Alex has one in the desert and maybe ignores myst
I am never sure in those games..the contest % are usually misleading.
57% on Peri FTD is much but i really don't think he dies first in half of the games.

 

[Kaitzilla]

How many religious capitals does Mansa need to go for culture?

It feels like Saladin could get Meditation starting with Mysticism.
Zara and Mansa both have a religious flavor, but Zara has a gold mine that can be improved right away.

Pericles might also compete with Philosophical religion bulbs.

 

[lymond]

Well, Sal will most assuredly head straight for a religion. Only Myst start here I believe. Mansa and Zara should fight for the second one, but Mansa usually gets 3 or 4 relis anyway