sword rushing -> Number crunching

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X-Posted from "multiplayer cheater" thread

Quick sword rushes are covered for 3 cases:

Case 1: Minimum start

Case 2: Average start

Case 3: Good start w/ france or culture ruin.

Definitions:

A 2/0 hex is defined to be one that gives 2 FOOD and 0 HAMMERS (like a grassland).
A 0/2 hex is defined to be one that gives 0 FOOD and 2 HAMMERS (like a hill).
A 2/1 hex is defined to be one that gives 2 FOOD and 1 HAMMERS (like a plains wheat or forest deer).
A 3/0 hex is defined to be one that gives 3 FOOD and 0 HAMMERS

Game Speed Setting is always QUICK

 

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MINIMUM START:



Tech order: Beeline iron working
Policy order: OFF
Civ: Ottoman
Ruins: OFF
City state: NORMAL (Discovering city state is needed to get 240 gold)

Numbers I'm using:

Exact hammer cost of warrior (quick setting) = 26
Exact hammer cost of scout (quick setting) = 16
Exact hammer cost of settler (quick setting) = 60 (??)
Exact food cost (size 1->2) (quick setting) = 10
Exact food cost (size 2->3) (quick setting) = 16 (??)
Exact beaker cost (mining) (quick setting) = 23 (??)
Exact beaker cost (bronze working) (quick setting) = 36 (??)
Exact beaker cost (iron working) (quick setting) = 100 (??)

Game rules I'm using:
Production overflow between units
Tech overflow between techs

Assume capital: NO 2/1 hex, NO 3/0 hex, 2 2/0 hexes, 1 0/2 hex
Assume 2nd city: NO 2/1 hex, NO 3/0 hex, 1 2/0 hex, 1 0/2 hex

Turn 0:
Nation: Current Tech: Mining -- Progress: 0/23
Capital: Current Production: Scout. Hammers: 0/16

Turn 1:
Nation: Current Tech: Mining -- Progress: 4/23
Capital: Current Production: Scout. Hammers: 4/16

Turn 2:
Nation: Current Tech: Mining -- Progress: 8/23
Capital: Current Production: Scout. Hammers: 8/16

Turn 3:
Nation: Current Tech: Mining -- Progress: 12/23
Capital: Current Production: Scout. Hammers: 12/16

Turn 4:
Nation: Current Tech: Mining -- Progress: 16/23. SCOUT complete.
Capital: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 0/26

Turn 5:
Nation: Current Tech: Mining -- Progress: 21/23. POP GROWTH in capital.
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 0/60

Turn 6:
Nation: Current Tech: Bronze Working -- Progress: 3/36.
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 6/60

Turn 7:
Nation: Current Tech: Bronze Working -- Progress: 8/36.
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 12/60

Turn 8:
Nation: Current Tech: Bronze Working -- Progress: 13/36.
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 18/60

Turn 9:
Nation: Current Tech: Bronze Working -- Progress: 18/36.
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 24/60

Turn 10:
Nation: Current Tech: Bronze Working -- Progress: 23/36.
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 30/60

Turn 11:
Nation: Current Tech: Bronze Working -- Progress: 28/36.
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 36/60

Turn 12:
Nation: Current Tech: Bronze Working -- Progress: 33/36.
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 42/60

Turn 13:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 2/100.
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 48/60

Turn 14:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 7/100.
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 54/60

Turn 15:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 12/100. SETTLER complete
Capital: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 4/26 [production saved]

Turn 16:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 17/100.
Capital: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 8/26

Turn 17:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 22/100.
Capital: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 12/26

Turn 18:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 27/100. City 2 FOUNDED
Capital: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 16/26

Turn 19:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 32/100.
Capital: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 20/26
City 2: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 0/26

Turn 20:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 38/100.
Capital: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 24/26
City 2: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 2/26

Turn 21:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 44/100. WARRIOR created
Capital: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 2/26
City 2: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 4/26

Turn 22:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 50/100.
Capital: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 6/26
City 2: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 6/26

Turn 23:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 58/100.

POP GROWTH in capital. POP GROWTH in 2nd city. Each city now using 1 0/2 tile (unimproved hill) [can do this between turns by using production focus + locked squares]

Capital: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 12/26
City 2: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 10/26

Turn 24:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 66/100.
Capital: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 18/26
City 2: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 14/26

Turn 25:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 74/100.
Capital: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 24/26
City 2: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 18/26

Turn 26:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 82/100. WARRIOR created
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 2/60
City 2: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 22/26

Turn 36:
SETTLER created

Turn 38 Iron colonized

 

[Smote]

AVERAGE START:


Obviously, its apparent we cannot do a 30 turn sword-rush with a minimum start. Let's add a single 2/1 square to capital [average start].

Turn 0:
Nation: Current Tech: Mining -- Progress: 0/23
Capital: Current Production: Scout. Hammers: 0/16

Turn 1:
Nation: Current Tech: Mining -- Progress: 4/23
Capital: Current Production: Scout. Hammers: 5/16

Turn 2:
Nation: Current Tech: Mining -- Progress: 8/23
Capital: Current Production: Scout. Hammers: 10/16

Turn 3:
Nation: Current Tech: Mining -- Progress: 12/23
Capital: Current Production: Scout. Hammers: 15/16

Turn 4:
Nation: Current Tech: Mining -- Progress: 16/23. SCOUT complete.
Capital: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 4/26

Turn 5:
Nation: Current Tech: Mining -- Progress: 21/23. POP GROWTH in capital.
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 0/60

Turn 6:
Nation: Current Tech: Bronze Working -- Progress: 3/36.
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 7/60

Turn 7:
Nation: Current Tech: Bronze Working -- Progress: 8/36.
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 14/60

Turn 8:
Nation: Current Tech: Bronze Working -- Progress: 13/36.
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 21/60

Turn 9:
Nation: Current Tech: Bronze Working -- Progress: 18/36.
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 28/60

Turn 10:
Nation: Current Tech: Bronze Working -- Progress: 23/36.
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 35/60

Turn 11:
Nation: Current Tech: Bronze Working -- Progress: 28/36.
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 42/60

Turn 12:
Nation: Current Tech: Bronze Working -- Progress: 33/36.
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 49/60

Turn 13:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 2/100.
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 56/60

Turn 14:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 7/100. SETTLER complete
Capital: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 12/26 [production saved+overflow (assuming prod overflows- haven't checked)]

Turn 15:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 12/100.
Capital: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 17/26

Turn 16:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 17/100.
Capital: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 24/26

Turn 17:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 22/100. WARRIOR complete. City 2 FOUNDED
Capital: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 3/26
City 2: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 0/26

Turn 18:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 28/100.
Capital: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 8/26
City 2: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 2/26


Turn 19:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 34/100.
Capital: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 13/26
City 2: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 4/26

Turn 20:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 40/100.
Capital: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 18/26
City 2: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 6/26

Turn 21:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 46/100.
Capital: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 25/26
City 2: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 8/26

Turn 22:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 54/100. WARRIOR complete POP GROWTH in capital + 2nd city. Both now using HILLS. [can do this between turns by using production focus + locked squares]

Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 6/60
City 2: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 12/26

Turn 23:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 62/100.
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 13/60
City 2: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 16/26

Turn 24:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 70/100.
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 20/60
City 2: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 20/26

Turn 25:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 78/100.
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 27/60
City 2: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 24/26

Turn 26:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 86/100. WARRIOR created in 2nd city.
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 34/60

Turn 27:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 86/100.
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 41/60

Turn 28:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 94/100. .
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 48/60

Turn 29:
Nation: IRON WORKING invented.
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 55/60

Turn 30: SETTLER created.

Turn 32: Iron Settled. Upgrade 4 warriors (also have scout).

Note: This requires 240 gold @ turn 30, via ruins, tiles, and city state discoveries. If any AI are discovered, this can also be gained via open border selling.

This is disappointing. Let's add in liberty.

Turn 23:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 62/100.
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 16/60
City 2: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 16/26

Turn 28:
SETTLER created.
Turn 30: Iron Settled. Upgrade 4 warriors (also have scout).

 

[Smote]

GOOD START WITH FRANCE:

Now, just for fun, lets do 1 more analysis. This one will be for FRANCE, with 2 3/0 hexes and a 0/2 hex


Turn 0:
Nation: Current Tech: Mining -- Progress: 0/23
Capital: Current Production: Scout. Hammers: 0/16

Turn 1:
Nation: Current Tech: Mining -- Progress: 4/23
Capital: Current Production: Scout. Hammers: 4/16

Turn 2:
Nation: Current Tech: Mining -- Progress: 8/23
Capital: Current Production: Scout. Hammers: 8/16

Turn 3:
Nation: Current Tech: Mining -- Progress: 12/23
Capital: Current Production: Scout. Hammers: 12/16

Turn 4:
Nation: Current Tech: Mining -- Progress: 17/23 POP GROWTH IN CAPITAL. SCOUT COMPLETE.
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 0/60

Turn 5:
Nation: Current Tech: Mining -- Progress: 22/23 POLICY: LIBERTY chosen
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 8/60

Turn 5:
Nation: Current Tech: Bronze Working -- Progress: 4/36
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 20/60

Turn 6:
Nation: Current Tech: Bronze Working -- Progress: 9/36
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 32/60

Turn 7:
Nation: Current Tech: Bronze Working -- Progress: 14/36
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 44/60

Turn 8:
Nation: Current Tech: Bronze Working -- Progress: 19/36
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 56/60

Turn 9:
Nation: Current Tech: Bronze Working -- Progress: 24/36 SETTLER created
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 6/60

Turn 10:
Nation: Current Tech: Bronze Working -- Progress: 29/36
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 18/60

Turn 11:
Nation: Current Tech: Bronze Working -- Progress: 34/36 2nd City SETTLED- using 3/0 hex

Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 30/60
2nd City: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 0/26

Turn 11:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 4/100
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 42/60
2nd City: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 2/26

Turn 12:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 10/100
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 54/60
2nd City: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 4/26

Turn 13:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 16/100 SETTLER created.
Capital: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 6/26
2nd City: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 6/26

Turn 14:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 23/100 2nd city GROW, now using HILL.
Capital: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 10/26
2nd City: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 10/26

Turn 15:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 30/100
Capital: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 14/26
2nd City: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 14/26

Turn 16:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 37/100
Capital: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 18/26
2nd City: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 18/26

Turn 17:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 45/100 CAPITAL GROW, now using HILL
Capital: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 24/26
2nd City: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 22/26

Turn 18:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 53/100 3rd City founded NEAR opponent (for upgrading to swords- using hill) 2x Warrior created
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 4/60
2nd City: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 0/26
3rd City: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 0/26

Turn 19:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 62/100
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 16/60
2nd City: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 4/26
3rd City: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 4/26

Turn 20:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 71/100
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 28/60
2nd City: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 8/26
3rd City: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 8/26

Turn 21:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 80/100
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 40/60
2nd City: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 12/26
3rd City: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 12/26

Turn 22:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 89/100
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 52/60
2nd City: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 16/26
3rd City: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 16/26

Turn 23:
Nation: Current Tech: Iron Working -- Progress: 98/100
Capital: Current Production: Settler. Hammers: 52/60
2nd City: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 16/26
3rd City: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 16/26

Turn 24:
Iron working done. SETTLER done.
2nd City: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 20/26
3rd City: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 20/26

Turn 25:
2nd City: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 24/26
3rd City: Current Production: Warrior. Hammers: 24/26

Turn 26: 2x Warrior done. 1 Warrior located at 2nd city, 4 Warriors at 3rd city. Settler founds 4th city on Iron. 4x Warrior upgrade. Turn 27-29 attack/kill enemy capital with 4 swordsmen.

Note this requires ~240 gold @turn 26.

I claim no further optimization is possible without lucky ancient ruins or El Dorado or super-early worker steal from high-level AI/player or AI luxury for gold trading coupled with unit purchasing. Great Library/tradition/aristocracy builds to do a "Mini Sword rush" are about the same speed, but for 2 swords and with a much smaller base.