Theoretical discussion: 2 UpT

[nokmirt]

In my current games, one will be in CiV Stories and Tales (because I need to start doing some writing again.) and the other on this thread, which will discuss improvements with 1 UPT. These are my changes for both games...

First of all, I am going to play a domination game on the YAHEM TSL large Europe map on King level and starting in the ancient era. Mods are info addict, agS resource panel, End at Renaisscance, Improved 1UPT mod in which I changed min-city_range from 3 to 4, YAHEM, extra Diplomacy text, and a CS leaderhead mod.

XML changes

1.) 12 civs and 8 CSs all civ leaders have had warmonger hate reduced to 0.

2.) All civs except England, Ottomans, Danes, and Spain have had their naval flavors increased by 1.

3.) In the GlobalDiplomacyAIDefines.xml Warmonger opinion weight has been reduced to these values.


Code:
<Row Name="OPINION_WEIGHT_WARMONGER_CRITICAL">
<Value>50</Value>
</Row>
<Row Name="OPINION_WEIGHT_WARMONGER_SEVERE">
<Value>35</Value>
</Row>
<Row Name="OPINION_WEIGHT_WARMONGER_MAJOR">
<Value>20</Value>
</Row>
<Row Name="OPINION_WEIGHT_WARMONGER_MINOR">
<Value>8</Value>
</Row>
<Row Name="OPINION_WEIGHT_WARMONGER_NONE">
<Value>0</Value>4.) In Global Defines.xml MIN_CITY_RANGE has been changed to 4.

This should be quite interesting. Now I have to think of some story lines that I can apply as I go along. I will be playing as Napoleon. Since I am studying him in real life anyway. The story of the French will be posted on CiV Stories and Tales.

For the game on this thread I will play as Russia and I will be posting screenshots. When they are applicable to 1 UPT and the AI. The other issues I will be discussing briefly is warmongering, diplomacy, and naval AI as it occurs in game and is of importance. Let the fun begin.

 

[nokmirt]

Ok, with the improved 1 UPT rules, I have been handed a defeat by Germany. I played on emperor for my first game. I was swamped by barbarians from the outset. Moscow was surrounded by warriors early on, and though the city did not fall, it was a battle. The rest of the time I was doing the best I could holding off those marauders. Then to make matters worse I was DOWed on by Germany, Rome, and Greece a bit later. Rome and Greece I took care of, but Germany was dead set against me. He attacked me with three capital killer armies aimed at the heart of me, MOSCOW!. The first two I turned away, those having spears and archers. The third and more powerful force had Landschect Pikemen. With a weakened force to defend the place due to losses fighting barbs, I was surrounded and fought to the end. The AI was very very determined and is was frustatingly fun, if you know what I mean! I tried to retake my capital, but my two remaining cities were not good enough, and the AI had already within a few turns added two more cities near Moscow. It was a forlorn hope. So I quit. Though I did, I've taken some important lessons and experience from the debacle.

The main issue that caused my defeat was the fact that I went for a swordsman rush, but on Dieter's large Europe map, in all of the vast Russian expanse I had explored, there was not one source of iron. Without being able to upgrade my warriors to swords, I was ultimately doomed. How can you make a map with no iron sources, in a game where iron is very important? Its beyond me. It could be a patch problem from the last patch. I have enquired on Dieter's thread to try to find out and have not been answered yet.

If needs be my recourse is to try to open the map in worldbuilder and add some iron resources to the map myself. With these new rules I do not feel able to play on emperor. So, when I play again I will try on king after adding resources to the map.

The AI seems much better with improved 1 UPT it does come to get you and is very persistent, until it kills your capital. It can move its army much faster, and that army always come out of the fog of war without giving me time to prepare. The AI also used barbarians well enough to keep harassing me. That was a big issue, because I was unable to create a large empire. The iron problem was what caused my defeat, with iron I well may have gained the upperhand.

If you try improved 1 UPT, expand as quickly as possible, spread out those barbs and keep a sizable army ready at hand. Rush for better military tech and play on a map that has iron. Have fun!

 

[glider1]

Viva la Normirt! I'm a bit slow today but basically your improved 1UPT is MIN_CITY_RANGE = 4 isn't it?
Cheers

 

[nokmirt]

Viva la Normirt! I'm a bit slow today but basically your improved 1UPT is MIN_CITY_RANGE = 4 isn't it?
Cheers

Yessir it is! Works out pretty well if I do say so myself. Plenty of room for actual battles. Especially if you use a larger map than the civs on it. But it is actually not my improved 1 UPT, it is on the CiV online mod browser. I downloaded it and changed his MIN_CITY_RANGE value from 3 to 4. The rest of the rules you can leave the same. It does make a difference in game. I just have to get used to how fast these barbs and civs come at you. Remember before you can get DOWed and the AI never attacks. With these new rules they engaged me everytime. They also did not make peace very easy. That may be because I play domination only.

 

[glider1]

Nokmirt I had a look at the improved 1UPT mod and didn't realise that it was so simple to change some of the parameters particularly movement rates coupled with visibility. You mentioned in your review above that the AI units come out of the fog of war before you could prepare, I guess that's good considering the AI as it is. Do you think visibility promotions have to be fixed as well? I'd check it out, but I'm taking a break from the game for a while. Spent too much time on it and paid the price.
Cheers

 

[nokmirt]

Nokmirt I had a look at the improved 1UPT mod and didn't realise that it was so simple to change some of the parameters particularly movement rates coupled with visibility. You mentioned in your review above that the AI units come out of the fog of war before you could prepare, I guess that's good considering the AI as it is. Do you think visibility promotions have to be fixed as well? I'd check it out, but I'm taking a break from the game for a while. Spent too much time on it and paid the price.
Cheers

I would say that is a possibility Glider. I was thinking of taking a break myself to try Napoleon Total War for awhile. I've had it forever but never took the time to play it. I was thinking of taking a break at least until the next patch and dlc or expansion comes out. The game is getting old now, and it is not holding my interest. It needs to evolve to its next level via expansion. Vanilla version of CiV is more than obsolete now. Cheers to you too.

 

[glider1]

Yeah, I feel the same Nokmirt and I'm on self imposed exile from civ right now. If I do get the irrepressible urge, I'll pass on what I experience about improved 1UPT. Let's hope there's a better AI next round! Civ is in theory a great game and the people are nice. I'm going to try out Europa Universalis III which is less than the price of one DLC

Stay in touch
Cheers

 

[qutsemnie]

2upt sounds like it could improve my game play experience going to give it a go after game of the month.

I wish though you could mod up two layer 2upt: ranged unit layer + melee unit layer.

 

[glider1]

Hi qutsemnie
Yes that is a good idea. It's just that we need access to the core to make it work, and Firaxis haven't released it yet.
Cheers

 

[nokmirt]

Yeah, I feel the same Nokmirt and I'm on self imposed exile from civ right now. If I do get the irrepressible urge, I'll pass on what I experience about improved 1UPT. Let's hope there's a better AI next round! Civ is in theory a great game and the people are nice. I'm going to try out Europa Universalis III which is less than the price of one DLC

Stay in touch
Cheers

I have Europa Universalis III, but I never tried it yet. I ordered it from amazon some time ago. Let me know how it goes and how you like the game. From what I hear there is a patch that makes the game much better.

I feel the same as you about CiV. It could be a truly remarkable game if it was fixed. I hope in the near future they do something for it. In the meantime its time I tried some other games. The first will be NTW. A friend and I plan on playing the co op multi player campaign.

 

[nokmirt]

Yeah, I feel the same Nokmirt and I'm on self imposed exile from civ right now. If I do get the irrepressible urge, I'll pass on what I experience about improved 1UPT. Let's hope there's a better AI next round! Civ is in theory a great game and the people are nice. I'm going to try out Europa Universalis III which is less than the price of one DLC

Stay in touch
Cheers

I have Europa Universalis III, but I never tried it yet. I ordered it from amazon some time ago. Let me know how it goes and how you like the game. From what I hear there is a patch that makes the game much better.

I feel the same as you about CiV. It could be a truly remarkable game if it was fixed. I hope in the near future they do something for it. In the meantime its time I tried some other games. The first will be NTW. A friend and I plan on playing the co op multi player campaign. I did not know you could do this with Napoleon total War.