The Average Joes

[50_dollar_bag]

Here's an idea for an SG if anyones interested.
What I want to have is a game where we don't build anything special or have anyone special. Basically what this means is no wonders and no specialists. This will mean razing captured wonders also.

Am open for discussion on leader, level, map type, etc. And for any other restrictions or ideas for the variant.

Roster
50_dollar_bag
Simple Simon
Colony
Open
Open

 

[Simple Simon]

Is this to be CIV, Warloards or BtS?

I'd love to join, but I must caution you that
a) I have the latest BtS patch installed, thus both CIV and Warlords are fully patched, too
b) I tend to forget the differences and play any game like it is BtS.

 

[mice]

Just throwing an idea in , you could allow only civics that are medium cost. ie, no high cost ones.

50% tech where ever possible?

Not signing up as you may want to go high level. No worries.

Edit; the civics one is not so smart. It only counts out Bureaucracy, Police state,Vassalage and OR.

 

[50_dollar_bag]

This will be in BtS 3.13, I use Bhruic's patch too.
@simple simon, there shouldn't be too much to remember I think we can get away with telling city governor's to maximize food/production/commerce which should prevent them from assigning specialists. The only thing that may be hard is finding out if a city contains a wonder before you capture it.

@mice, I hadn't thought too much about civics, I guess when you think about it we should shun anything that puts one person above the rest, that would pretty much mean that Universal Suffrage, Free Speech, State Property, Free Religion, Emancipation should be the civics we're in.
And regarding level I was thinking around Monarch level which will play a bit harder perhaps a bit more like Emperor. But I'd be willing to give Prince a try and maybe play another one depending on how this one goes.
What level would you be comfortable with mice, love to have you along

 

[Simple Simon]

well, then I am in if you will have me

 

[50_dollar_bag]

Simple Simon you're in.
What difficulty are you comfortable with?

 

[mice]

In this game we had no specialists, no cottages. It was tough but we won eaisliy in the end by dominating, at Prince. Yes, using the city emphasize buttons reduces the turning up of specialists.

I thought you'd throw this one out at Monarch or Emperor. I've been tackling Monarch lately, but this variant is tough. Prince is too easy for you I think 50_dollar , better to hang on and get the game at your interest level.

 

[50_dollar_bag]

I thought you'd throw this one out at Monarch or Emperor. I've been tackling Monarch lately, but this variant is tough.

I was thinking Monarch.
I read through your game and it seemed like you had it in the bag the whole game. You should be able to handle Monarch , what better way to step up than in an SG. Wink-Wink Nudge-Nudge, prod-push-shove

 

[Simple Simon]

Simple Simon you're in.
What difficulty are you comfortable with?

Prince is the level where I always win (almost - there ARE really bad luck games), Monarch depends on map settings. Runaway 'other' continents give me the creeps, otherwise I am fine on monarch.


NOTE: I will be AWOL for 36 to 72 hours.

 

[colony]

I'm in if you want another, might help me see that there is another way through the middle ages without the philo/education bulbs in normal games, and without relying on early libraries to get my research going. I regularly beat Emperor, but this might be quite hard for a Monarch game, so it should be fine. Is there any way of telling what wonders are in which city if the city isn't listed on the Top 5 screen or trying to work it out from the map?

Have you given any thought to the map type/leader/speed settings yet? Obviously non Financial would be harder, and a Philosophical leader would basicallt give you a one trait leader, but it depends how much harder you want the game to be. As for map setting I don't have any real preferance, as long as it's not a pangaea type map. I normally play on Large/Epic maps, but I don't have any preference on speed for Standard sized maps.

 

[50_dollar_bag]

You're in colony.

I have done a little thought on leaders, I wanted to talk it through as a group mostly. I agree Philosophical would be a rather useless trait aside from half priced Universities. Financial would be the best choice, as would organized which makes Darius the best option. Warring will be a large part of our income so maybe aggressive or Charismatic might be good too.
Options:
Napolean- Charismatic Organized. My first choice but the UB gives a free artist which rules out a science multiplier and would complicate capturing cities as observatories can remain upon capture.

Hannibal- Charismatic Financial. A solid choice.

Ragnar- Aggressive Financial. Good UU, average UB.

Darius- Financial Organized. Good UU, average UB. Possible the best traits for us.

Brennus- Charismatic Spiritual. average UU and UB but pretty good traits I think, spiritual is good for SG's. My second pick.

As far as determining where wonders are we'll have to keep track from the top 5 cities/wonders screen and see if any wonders are owned by the civ we're at war with and check the city graphics

@ simple simon, if we chose to play on Monarch then it will play more like Emperor I'd imagine, would you be comfortable with that?

 

[mice]

I better back out. I can hardly get to my MLG turns and Ottomanation.

It looks like a good hard gamethough, with a lot of careful decisions to make, so I'll watch with interest from the sidelines.

 

[50_dollar_bag]

I was thinking perhaps we could get really masochistic and remove our traits, UU and UB.

Also allow only the default civics, and only allow changes to Universal Suffrage, Emancipation, State Property, Free Religion and Free Speech.

 

[colony]

Nothing like a challenge, eh?

I assume no wonders means no national wonders too, or building wonders to get the gold from failing to complete them?

Both games that I've played as Darius felt a bit easy, with so much money that I could expand much faster than normal, although that might not be such a bad thing for this game. Ragnar or Hannibal would be two of my top choices from that list. What about the other financial leaders though? Mansa (Spi), Pacal (Exp, good UB) and Willem (Cre, and has dikes) could all do well with these rules. We could definately do with a couple more players before deciding anything though.

 

[50_dollar_bag]

I don't have a problem with building wonders for gold.

I'd consider all the financial leaders but like you said we should sit on it until we get a few more players.

 

[Simple Simon]

I guess we may need the cash from unfinished wonders

Personally, I'd go with Ragnar (I love the UU, even though I hardly ever get to use it to full potential).

Does anybody know whether reduced graphics quality can hide wonders in the map view? If so I have to change my settings before playing in this SG

Cheers,
Simple Simon

 

[50_dollar_bag]

I might not have internet access for the next 4 days or so. Please feel free to continue any discussion sill I'm gone, Colony you can be the interim captain if you wish.

 

[Jet]

Lurker's Comment: Joe Stalin?

 

[50_dollar_bag]

Lurker's Comment: Joe Stalin?

Interesting, he is industrious though which is a fairly useless trait for us bar the cheap forges.

@simple simon and colony, are you still interested in playing this?

 

[colony]

I'm still interested, though I'd prefer another player or two. We could always set up the game once we've chosen a leader and some settings, then allow someone to join after it's started if they're interested.