The Great DoC 1.9 UHV Challenge

[Tomorrow's Dawn]

Since Leoreth never started it up, I would like to take it upon myself to chronicle this.
Hopefully Leoreth can mine some data from these victories.
So, basically, post the saves of your victories and some screenshots, if you wish.
It's not required, but it would be great if you could embellish your strategy in the form of a write-up or a couple comments.

Again, like the first challenge: Monarch difficulty and Normal speed are the most relevant criteria for this challenge and will serve as the primary listing.
Games played on any combination of Viceroy/Emperor and Epic/Marathon will be noted separately.
Please note if you are playing 3000BC, 600AD or an SVN version as well (This criteria will not disqualify you for the primary listing).

LEADERBOARDS:

Standard Games:
1. youtien: 12 (=)
2. Barbuesque: 7 (-1)
3. pippo84: 4 (+2)
4. blizzrd: 3 (+3)
5. Ororo: 2 (=)
6. Neshalin: 2 (+1)
7. Power_of_Beer: 2 (+1)
8. SantoSubito: 2 (=)
9. Jusos2108: 1 (+1)
10. Meister Maggi: 1 (-1)
11. Sarius1997: 1 (=)
12. soul-breathing: 1 (=)
13. strijder20: 1 (=)
14. Tomorrow's Dawn: 1 (=)

Non-Standard Games:
1. iOnlySignIn: 4
2. outofthebox: 3
3. strijder20, Swarbs: 2

M/N Victories:
Egypt:
Jusos2108: 20212, (Virtual: Turn 118)
Babylon:
Neshalin: 10963, 700 BC
China:
youtien: 22485, (1150 AD)
India:
youtien: 14918, (1200 AD)
Greece:
Ororo: 21650, (100 BC)
Phoenicia:
Barbuesque: 11282, Turn 154 (Virtual: 153)
Persia:
Meister Maggi: 32583, (350 AD)
Rome:
Power_of_Beer: 12922, (1000 AD)
Tamils:
Ororo: 14901, (1000 AD)
Byzantium:
youtien: 15510, (1455 AD)
Corea:
youtien: 8199, (1590 BC)
Ethiopia:
youtien: 6413, (1910 AD)
Maya:
Neshalin: 3512, (1380 AD) HIGHEST SCORE
Ororo: 3269, Turn 251 (1300 AD) FASTEST COMPLETION
Vikings:
youtien: 12393, (1290 AD)
Japan:
Power_of_Beer: 3622, (1961 AD)
Indonesia:
blizzrd: 3589
Khmer:
Barbuesque: 4756, (1410 AD)
Indonesia:
SantoSubito: 3220, (1940 AD)
Arabia:
Barbuesque: 7739, (1793 AD)
Moors:
Tomorrow's Dawn: 6791, 1300 AD (Virtual: 1200 AD)
Spain:
youtien: 16799, (Virtual: 1670 AD)
France:
Barbuesque: 9059, (Virtual: 1775 AD)
England:
youtien: 13678, (1766 AD) HIGHEST SCORE
Barbuesque: 6501, 1802 AD (Virtual: 1748 AD) FASTEST COMPLETION
HRE:
pippo84: 2371, (2004 AD)
Mali:
youtien: 5198, (1700 AD)
Tibet:
pippo84: 3600, (1480 AD)
Italy:
pippo84: 2800, (Virtual: 1841 AD)
Mother Russia:
blizzrd: 11905, (1745 AD)
Poland:
youtien: 6746, (1595 AD)
Portugal:
Barbuesque: 5343, (Virtual: 1605 AD)
Inca:
youtien: 6592, (1799 AD)
Thailand:
strijder20: 2942, (1902 AD)
Aztecs:
blizzrd: 5745, (1715 AD)
Mongolia:
soul-breathing: 11669, (1455 AD)
Turkey:
Barbuesque: 5079, (Virtual: 1695 AD)
Mughals:
SantoSubito: 4020, (1751 AD)
Dutch:
youtien: 6363, (1730 AD) HIGHEST SCORE
Sarius1997: 4592, (1715 AD) FASTEST COMPLETION
Mericuh:
pippo84: 2573, (1992 AD)

Other Combination Victories:
China:
iOnlySignIn: EMPEROR/EPIC 44688, (1065 AD)
Greece:
outofthebox: EMPEROR/NORMAL 30000, (Turn 170)
iOnlySignIn: EMPEROR/EPIC 63793, (310 BC)
Rome:
outofthebox: EMPEROR/NORMAL 35000, (610 AD)
Maya:
Swarbs: EMPEROR/NORMAL 3200, (1270 AD)
Byzantium:
Swarbs: EMPEROR/NORMAL 11619, (1450 AD)
Moors:
iOnlySignIn: EMPEROR/EPIC 18379, (Virtual: 1190 AD)
Holy Roman Empire:
strijder20: MONARCH/EPIC 11127 (1200 AD)
Tibet:
strijder20: MONARCH/EPIC 4739, (1412 AD)
Poland:
outofthebox: EMPEROR/NORMAL 8000 something, (1650 AD)
Mericuh:
iOnlySignIn: EMPEROR/EPIC 8150, (Virtual: 1912 AD)

 

[Barbuesque]

There's Phoenicia:

I settled Utica on the eastern adriatic coast, on the "Salona" spot for greeks and romans, to guarantee I had bronze. Cyprus could have done it, but later and with mathematics (for the fort). This worked real well as a move, especially as this city has really good production, far better than any of the carthage traditional areas.

I hired 2 vultures a few turns before the persian spawn and razed Angora. They then proceeded, along with other troops, to defeat a steady stream of persian units (war on spawn), and grab Jerusalem after before making peace. I then waited for the persians to soften the Babylon defenses before snatching it. This didn't end up as useful as it sounds because many turns later, Babylon is still choked by Persian culture.

I settled Carthage and Barca, before Rome Dow'ed me. Then followed a really long war, that I didn't want to end before I grabbed Pompeii. Rome immediately took carthage with their UP troops. Then, a massive number of these troops (they were at war with every mediterrean civ at pretty much the same time) started to move around the map in a really odd behavior, ignoring poorly defended cities, grabbing others and not defending them, before ending up slowly suiciding themselves on Jerusalem and Byzantium.

I retook Carthage (undefended), settled Rusadir, took Pompeii to free up the sicily dye from rome, then made peace. Then I had to make war on the greeks because Sparta culture was choking Pompei and I couldn't work the dye. I took Sparta and finished the UHV requirement one turn before the date.

In turn 155, before saving, I turned Pompei back to the romans and Barca to the greeks, because imo they were worthless and I wanted to keep going for domination - I didn't, because I think the current stability status makes it impossible.

A really fun, fast paced set of UHVs. The UB though, seems to be of dubious use and is completely outside the scope of the UHV. As you can see, I didn't even research metal casting.

 

[Tomorrow's Dawn]

^I need exact date/turn of victory and your score, please.

 

[youtien]

Italy:

3000 BC start, I settled Verona on wheat(1NE), there were Roma and Vibo Valentia(dye) under French control, I conquered both and make peace with France. Teched banking - drama - music - patronage - philosophy. Byz was strong in my game. In 1405 Arabs collapsed so I took North africa and Egypt (Niwt-rst/Luxor has Temple of Artemis and La Mezquita and a GG, which provided 4 food under city-state), build Islam missionary and spread Islam to Verona and Roma to build the Red Fort. I sent the first GA to settle in Vibo Valentia, and settled every GP except a great spy, who I sent to Byz and stole paper, optics, education. I finished the 3 wonders just in time (it is scarce!), researched Liberalism(5-7 turns), bulbed printing press, embraced reformation, then switched culture slider to 100%. Vibo Valentia build culture after a cathedral and made it 5000 in 1595. Roma got another GA and created great work, Verona went 5000 by itself.

By the way, I got all 3 conquerer event after I stole optics from Byz. I razed many Mayan and Incan cities and made them capilucated to me. Their luxury resources helps after astronomy.

just before my 2/3 UHV triggers, Byz declared war on me, with 20+ armies toward Egypt! I lost a city NNE to Al-Ugsur, luckily, I managed an army and spy in Europe, razed one city NW of Constantinople in 1595, and Byz collapsed next turn, with NO TROOP in Constantinople! My knight conquered it happily.

I stayed 11 cities for a long time, I already has 65-75% Mediterran lands, I vassalized Turkey and Iran. Now I am again the tech leader, maybe I'll finish this game someday later.

 

[El Bogus]

I did it. Was fairly easy, though the Greek and Roman Conquerors were kind of annoying.
Date: 170 AD (the only possible^^)
Score: 17566

 

[Leoreth]

Good to know that the conquerors don't mess up the UHV.

 

[Barbuesque]

^I need exact date/turn of victory and your score, please.

Score = 11282, finish date is turn 154 (virtual = turn 153)

 

[Ororo]

I had to replay my Maya game since apparently I forgot to save after victory. Plus I think I've reloaded in that game too so I wanted to provide a completely legitimate attempt.

The key element for this was a specific city placement and a clear focus on commerce throughout the whole game.

Right at the beginning switch to Pantheon for the Pagan temple happiness. You are not settling on T0 anyway so you might as well use it for a revolution. I settled Oxwitik as my capital, on the silver. This gets you the precious 5/turn from the start and eliminates the need to work a tile with no food, which would severely hurt your growth in the early game. It doesn't get the extra fish that a city 1S of silver does, but can work Corn and Dyes instead.
The other city I settled was Huaxyacac, on the stone. It can work the Corn 2N and also borrow the other Corn from capital (do this when Oxwitik reaches the happy cap and work scientists/high commerce tiles instead).

Set research to beeline Calendar. As far as production, Oxwitik should go something like: Workboat -> Granary -> Library and Huaxyacac should go Pagan temple (to pop the borders and get Corn) -> Granary -> Library. Send you warriors to get the two huts in NA: one is near Denver, the other is near New York I think. Try not to use your 3 free barb kills on animals, instead save them for some hopeless fights to get some high XP units (IIRC I was very lucky and got two level 4 warriors this way). Once Libraries are done work some specialists and high commerce tiles to get to Calendar in time.

Once Calendar is in, research Bronze Working and Code of Laws next. Oxwitik should focus on its infrastructure. Try to get a Great Scientist ASAP for and Academy. Huaxyacac should be pumping out galleys, settlers and warriors. Definitely send a galley with a warrior to get the huts in SA. Your first settler should found Uxmal in Columbia (the exact location I chose was ON the Corn). It gets you Gold, which means +2 once Forges are built and is overall a very decent commerce site, which will help you tech to macemen faster.

Switch to City states after CoL and set your research to Construction (for your UB). Start building Temple of Kukulkan in Huaxyacac. Speed it up by chopping all the forests around. If you get swarmed by barbs just hire a mercenary crossbow or something. Though I don't think you should get "barb-rushed" this early. Once ToK is done, whip out a settler and send him to found Mayapan (southernmost tile of Incan lands). This finally gets you a source of copper, which you will need for axes/maces. In the meantime tech to Civil service and switch to Absolutism to further improve your research in Oxwitik. Beeline Machinery while building the necessary infrastructure. Don't bother with anything in Mayapan, it's not worth it. Just set it to build axes/catas. Once Machinery is in, do mass upgrades to maces and wait for the Aztecs. Make sure you have enough catapults and at least 3 galleys. You can research Currency when you run out of things to upgrade as the extra trade routes help your stability.

The best case scenario, though you can't guarantee it, is that you start at war with Aztecs. If this is the case, don't attack them right away and let them settle their capital. This way you can make some good use of your city raider promotions. If you start at peace, you have to wait 10 turns unfortunately When you kill the Aztecs just load your troops on those boats I've mentioned and declare on Incas. Killing a couple of their troops should be enough to get you a Great General.

Optional: You will likely suffer from a very high negative stability in the last couple of turns. Therefore, I would encourage you to try and get two different kinds of GP and launch a Golden age roughly at the time you attack the Aztecs.

So that's it, I've used this strategy for my own attempt and managed to win a relatively early UHV in 1300AD scoring 3269 points.

Here's the screenshot of the victory and the score:

Spoiler :

And the cities:

Spoiler :

The save is attached below.

 

[Leoreth]

This is a 1.9 competition, though.

 

[Ororo]

Well whatever My fault for skipping the most important part of the rules

 

[Tomorrow's Dawn]

^Nah, you made it in. You were supposed to note if you were playing SVN though.

 

[Ororo]

Oh! Glad to hear that I think I'm gonna try Aztecs and Incas on SVN as well. I really enjoy playing these backwards civs.

 

[Neshalin]

What's this 5 commerce thing by settling on the silver? I only got 1 (but 2 hammers, at least). I had to settle Olximché instead. Ended up winning in 1380 AD after fighting off the independent conquerors. Not as early as yours, but score was higher (3512) by settling New Orleans and Chicago rather than poor Incan land.

 

[Tomorrow's Dawn]

^In SVN 1.9+, you get the full tile yields from settling on top of a resource.
Go ahead and post a save and some screenshots if you got a higher score.

 

[DC123456789]

What's this 5 commerce thing by settling on the silver? I only got 1 (but 2 hammers, at least). I had to settle Olximché instead. Ended up winning in 1380 AD after fighting off the independent conquerors. Not as early as yours, but score was higher (3512) by settling New Orleans and Chicago rather than poor Incan land.

In the svn, settling cities on resources gives you the extra yield that you would get if you put the proper improvement on it. It's not in 1.9, because it wasn't developed before the release.

Edit: Never mind, already answered.

 

[Neshalin]

Thanks! That's good to know for when that version goes live.

I played my Mayan game last week, trying to get the UHV and then colonize all of America - see how far you can get. Unfortunately, not far enough for a domination victory. Maya is soooo behind on technology.

Founded Huaxyacac 1E of the stone and Olximché 1S of the silver, since with this version there's no use settling on top of the resources and you really need the silver's commerce. Huaxyacac built a library first, then The Great Lighthouse <3. Olximché builds a monument and workboats to grab the fish, as well as a scout to hopefully get something nice from the goodie huts. I can't remember if that paid off... probably got a map and maybe some gold.

After that it was off into North America, taking the SE New Orleans spot and Chicago for the iron and excellent production; I made this one mostly build troops, especially crossbowmen once Machinery was done. Settling these places early is fairly suicidal, with all the barbarians and natives wandering around, but some walls and a merc crossbow held it. A few crossbows, whipped swords and catapults, and mercenaries took down the Aztec, but unfortunately that didn't give enough xp for a general yet. There were no more natives either, so it was waiting for the conquerors.

Now, besides the awesome land, another benefit of settling North America is that you might meet the Europeans there and not get conquerors at all. At least, that's how it worked in RFC; not sure about DoC since I got... independents! That was easy. Their mostly-pikeman army suicided on three crossbows and after killing the remaining catapult, I got my general. Yay! End result: 3512 score in 1380 AD.

Spoiler :

 

[Neshalin]

Since it's a quickie, here's Babylon:

Settle on the spot, obviously, and warrior goes on a journey grabbing goodies. Research Writing first, then Mysticism, Masonry. First hut gave me gold, but I was forced to spend it on a mercenary because independents decided to send a warrior to my undefended city. (On a related note, Babylon almost requires reloads to win, since you'll lose so often .)

And then my friends in Sweden gave me a technology: Aestheticism! That's useful, because it allows The Oracle to grab Monarchy early on. While researching Polytheism and Priesthood, Babylon had built a bowman to replace the expensive mercenary, as well as a library. I went for The Hanging Gardens before Oracle. After that it's just waiting for Code of Laws to finish researching. Persia spawned at peace, allowing an easy win in 625 BC (turn 99) with 8524 normalized score.

Spoiler :

 

[youtien]

600 AD Polish in the latest svn!

UHV #1: have 3 cities with size 12 in 1350 AD

-- Conquer Vienna at start, found Lublin (1e from Krakow, spawn spot) and Riga(on cow), make peace with HRE, conquer indy Kiev, capture Byz workers, trade guilds from Portugese, switch to urbanization, build farms. Made it in 1340!

UHV #2: be the first to discover liberalism and astronomy

-- Man, this is hard! I spawned a great spy to steal paper, engineering from Byz, researched philosophy by myself, partially bulbed(1680) education with a great scientist, there was still optics to go before liberalism! I have no choice but to steal from Italian. I managed to steal optics and finish liberalism in the same turn - 1500 AD, just when the Dutch(with astronomy) spawns, and boom! I made it just in time.

UHV #3: build 3 Christian cathedrals by 1600 AD

-- This is not working. Do I need both Catholic and Orthodox ones, each 3, or total 3? I conquered Byz and Greece and Novgorod and Rome and Germany without winged hussars(no time to research military tradition), got 12 cities and built 3 catholic ones, but it didn't count. Anyway I won. An interesting challenge.

 

[youtien]

Also, I research drama first for happiness issue (otherwise you have to build many warriors without linking copper or iron).

 

[Tomorrow's Dawn]

^youtien: Score? I am not on SVN so I cannot check the save.