TSG 275 After Actions

[vadalaz]

In this thread you can post the results of your game. Please attach your final savefile, state your victory/loss date (preferably in the post title) and describe your path to glory in this post! Players are encouraged to provide feedback on the game.

Quick links: Announcement thread | Opening actions

- Did you play peacefully or warlike?
- Were the Greek unique abilities useful to you?
- Which ideology did you pick?
- How many cities did you have in the end and where did you settle them?
- Which AI generated the most culture?

 

[The_Black_Vegetable]

Turn 275 culture victory (out of competition, as I created the map). Not intended to coincide with the GotM number - I just had a tough game. I had underestimated the challenge of CV on Immortal a little, and I overestimated how good the map would be. When I rolled the map, I played for about 20 turns and liked what I saw: space for three connected coastals, a religious CS close by plus an interesting choice of pantheons (I went with tundra faith myself). However, the lack of fresh water hurt, and there was no obvious place for a fourth city.

My game was quite slow, and I made matters worse with some questionable choices. I only got one, maybe two worker steals, and took the questionable decision to go for Colossus (rather than NC), and then onto workshops. Next, I went Education into frigates hoping to stop the AI on the other islands that were snowballing quite hard. Unfortunately, all the wonders were being built by the inland civs (I had not seen the full map beforehand, so I did not know what to expect). I only took Copenhagen (ToA, State of Zeus), but did not bother with Korea who had no culture and no wonders, so then I sailed back to the other side of my own island before taking Istanbul, and finally coming around for Rome.

Due to my slow tech path, China got to Printing Press way ahead of me, and built Leaning Tower before I even got the tech. In good games I usually manage to get LT even on Deity, so to lose it on Immortal was a bit disappointing. Later she also beat me to Globe. China, Persia, Morocco and Babylon in particular were doing quite well, and built many wonders before I could try them. Oracle went before T100, Hanging Gardens was also built quite early, and Babylon actually built both Broadway and Eiffel Tower before I even had the tech (I did go Dynamite after public schools)! Babylon was also bigger than Athens all game until I conquered it with infantry late game.

One thing that did go well this game was that I was friends with Persia for most of the game, and I could feed him Roman cities. For some of those cities he paid quite handsomely, so at some point I was receiving hundreds of gold per turn plus some luxuries from him.

Having decided early on that this would be a domination-style CV, the game turned into a massive slog to clear the AI off the large map. To be honest, at the end of the game I just wanted it to be over, and I was not playing very efficiently anymore. In the screen shot, you can see I actually have two musicians left, the biggest being 14000! From the opening actions, I could see that fiddlesticks seemed to be having a much better game, I hope the others aren't floundering as I was.

 

[ForkOfSpite]

Turn 290 Culture Victory!

Spoiler :

- Did you play peacefully or warlike? Both? Ended up with Rome, Constantinople, and Istanbul in self defense.
- Were the Greek unique abilities useful to you? Sure - longer CS friends/allies helps, of course. Did not make use of speedy recovery though.
- Which ideology did you pick? Freedom
- How many cities did you have in the end and where did you settle them? Core 4 (three on southern coast, one on northern). In addition to the 3 AI capitals, I ended with one other puppet (but gave two away).
- Which AI generated the most culture? Darius I. Ahmad al-Mansur wasn't far behind.

Overall Summary
The wars didn't really matter (except to survive, of course) and only slowed me down slightly. This was a standard science game, slightly modified. Began Great Scientist bulbs on Turn 265 (Atomic Theory through Internet). Another GS spawn and some research agreements gave me Radar so I bought an airport in Athens. Combined with international games (Turn 282), a Great Musician spawn timed to happen with the IG bonus, and two faith-purchased musicians, it was game over. Needed two for Darius (I gave him Shanghai from Suleiman's peace deal) and one for Ahmad (gave him Antium which was my first capture and still a puppet.

War vs. Theodora
I tried to force a war, but my heart wasn't in it apparently. Thought it would be easy, so I only sent a companion cavalry, hoplite, and three composite bows. Declared on Turn 113. Killed a few units, but never threatened Constantinople, and she sent a pike. White peace on Turn 125.

Roman Aggression
Didn't happen as fast as it did for Raider's opening post, but it happened to me (Turn 135 screenshot):

Spoiler :

I was teching up top - think I was researching Acoustics at the time, so switch to Machinery. Caesar spent a ton time setting up, and I was able to upgrade a couple of crossbows, a pike, and a sword. I guess that was enough to get Caesar to change his mind - he started to withdraw.

Crisis over - I switch back to Acoustics (T146), open Rationalism on Turn 151, complete the Sistine Chapel on Turn 159. Tried to get some work boats out from Corinth, but Caesar's trireme was trapped. I didn't think about just buying the tile, so I sold him open borders. I thought he was just making his was to China, but Caesar DOWs me on Turn 162:

Spoiler :

Buy some units - upgrade the companion cavalry - detour to steel and upgrade the sword. Somewhat surprisingly easy defense.

But, that's no reason to stop. Think I already had Navigation (don't remember exactly when, but I entered Industrial via Archaeology on Turn 186). I get a second longsword and a couple of frigates - Antium falls easily. Rome was tougher, but that falls on Turn 193:

Spoiler :

I guess Chichen Itza was in an expansion.

Mid-Game Science Simulation
Punishing Rome was well at hand, so I continue the science simulation - modified for early Archaeology followed by the push for scientific theory, electricity, and Oxford for Radio on Turn 211. Faith-purchased engineered Eiffel Tower and first ideology on Turn 212. Vote for the first world congress proposals on Turn 216 (I didn't get to choose, but World Fair was chosen and passed). I get to choose a proposal for the next set and forgot that, unless ready for International Games, early Radio (or, in this case, late initial World Congress) that selecting the World Ideology is the play here. Can even send some diplomats out to buy their votes (in case they choose something else before the vote). Instead, I choose to repeal the gems ban.

But, that's not the worst mistake. Turn 226:

Spoiler :

Except for my fourth city, I had switched production out of the fair after I put about 1000 into it - thought it was enough. But, I don't think it affected the finishing time. I proposed International Games at the next opportunity anyway and needed that for the win. Having the extra culture might have helped a bit, but at most, that cost me one turn.

The Ottoman Empire
Meanwhile, Suleiman was his usual aggressive self. He has already decimated Theodora, and as I was working towards Radio, he had set his sights on Wu - methodically working his way southeast towards me. When he took Beijing, I denounced him (good excuse to fulfill a city state quest). He had the "strongest" army, and I have my customary weak-scored army. So, he's naturally hostile and continues working through Wu's expansions.

Thankfully, I make it to Freedom 5 and take the foreign legion. Then, I draw the line at Macau. HOW DARE he try to raze that fine city to the ground. I DOW him immediately (Turn 230):

Spoiler :

I didn't have plastics yet (researched Turn 252), so I leave one foreign legion behind to guard the south and quickly liberate Macau and Xian. Four frigates, one privateer, and one submarine in the southern ocean start making their way west and north up the coast. A few turns behind, another sub escorts an admiral (and a later sub joins while escorting a prophet for a city state quest).

But, the northern front bogs down at Shanghai and Beijing - possibly because I split the army somehow. Those units manage to capture (and puppet) Constantinople on Turn 247 - Stonehenge, Temple of Artemis, and a completely worthless Harbor on an inland ocean. The southern (now western) navy liberates Adrianople but can't effectively fight Istanbul. I find out I can't upgrade units in allied city state territory, so three of the frigates head home (the fourth had the range promotion, so it sticks around with the subs).

Eventually, the whole world denounces and then DOWs Suleiman. A Roman navy eventually arrives, so I decide to sneak an infantry in the water to try to steal the capture. The Korean navy arrives later and does most of the work allowing me to capture Istanbul on Turn 272 (Colossus and Statue of Zeus). Suleiman offers two decently sized Chinese cities in the peace deal - I take it. Give the coastal one (Shanghai) to Darius so I have easier musician access. I intended to give the other one to Ahmad, but it has a couple great works that I can't place elsewhere - so I keep it (it was an internal, long trip city anyway). Ended up giving Antium to Ahmad for access.

Social Policies
base: Tradition 6 - Aesthetics 3 - Rationalism 2 - Aesthetics 6 - Freedom 6 - Rationalism 6
extras: Freedom 7 (I had happiness issues), Patronage 3

Wonders
T106 - Oracle (Athens - hard built)
T159 - Sistine Chapel (Athens - hard built)
T193 - Globe Theatre (Rome - captured)
T193 - Great Library (Rome - captured)
T193 - Pyramids (Rome - captured)
T193 - Terracotta Army (Rome - captured)
T212 - Eiffel Tower (Athens - faith engineer)
T247 - Stonehenge (Constantinople - captured)
T247 - Temple of Artemis (Constantinople - captured)
T257 - Statue of Liberty (Athens - hard built)
T272 - Colossus (Istanbul - captured)
T272 - Statue of Zeus (Istanbul - captured)
(after IG) - Sydney Opera House (Athens - natural engineer)
(after IG) - Neuschwanstein (Athens - hard built)

 

[fiddlesticks]

Culture victory turn 228

Highlights of the mid-late game:

• Bailed out of the Rome war for gold and luxuries. Rome never built Colossus (I did in Rome in 4 turns) and Rome was going nowhere culturally
• Sent troops back to capture Constantinople, which was much easier.
• I built a navy by Oxfording Navigation, but the water next to Constantinople was an inland sea!
• So sailed them up to take out the Ottomans. Istanbul had ToA, ND and another wonder. "Istanbul, not Constantinople", well in Civ5 you can have both!
• The navy sailed around to the other continent to help clip Babylon's wings, but it was inland and could only take a coastal Babylonish city and sell it to the Persians. I also go Akkad in the peace deal. Only Babylon left.
• Eventually I used foreign legions to take Babylon.
• Persia and Morocco were the culture leads. I gifted them nothing-burger cities in GM range of Athens and used a natural on Morocco and a Broadway GM on Persia to win a couple of turns after NVC and Internet. Both had a little over 10,000 culture at this point. The last GM was 4,500+ tourism.
• GE'd Eiffel and SoL
• Rationalism finisher for Telecommunications and 2 faith GS for Internet.
• No civ snowballed too hard, so I only lost Globe and Taj Mahal in expands.
• Founding WC was late because Morocco was hard to meet, so IG just started when the game ended without the boost.

Policies were cheap culture buildings, Rationalism, Freedom and exploration opener.

Athens had Uffuzi, Louvre, Hermitage all themed and was the tourism engine as usual.

Thanks for the map @The_Black_Vegetable !

 

[Rhodro]

Turn 236 tourism victory.
My final tourism engine can be seen in the screenshot.

- Did you play peacefully or warlike?
After the opening actions, as predicted rome marched to athens. I took a guess and planted a citadel between 2 of my cities, this deterred him, but only for like 15 turns or so until he DoWed me. He did take my captured CS Kathmandu, i just wasn't in the position to defend it enough at that time, i had too much faith in the citadel keeping him away. This was a bit of a hit because i just built a court house which is a lot of hammers for an early city. I took Kathmandu back a few turns later. The worker baiting trick helped A LOT, easily massacaring his very strong legions with my crossbows. I took his most important cities with crossbows/compbows + some horse + melee units. Sold one off to china, kept 1 with great lighthouse and 1 with pyramids. When i met the other continent, I found persia was generating big culture, but only with 3 cities, and i thought my crossbows could still swim over the ocean and do some damage to him. I made him DOW everyone and then DOWed him myself. Swam my army past mt kilimanjaro at hong kong and sieged his cities. It wasn't fast because most of them didn't have range or logistics yet, and hitting his city was hard because of jungle (i had a captured worker there cutting jungle), but after many turns his first city fell and the other ones soon after. I sold one city to babylon for big money, let morocco capture one, and kept his capital which had alhambra, chichen itza and red fort. That was the last of my own conquering. I did buy denmark and babylon to war on morocco to slow their culture growth.

- Were the Greek unique abilities useful to you?
The unique units were a bit underused, i think i had 1 hoplite upgraded shortly after. My 2 horsemen died, so i didn't have late game cavalry with the unique promotion. The UA is amazing, i love putting my units in CS territory without tanking my standing with them when you're not friends/allied yet, and healing double speed.

- Which ideology did you pick? Freedom, i already generated a bunch of writers and artists so i didn't see much use for autocracy. And the tourism bonusses of order kinda only kick in when the AI picks order, but in my game they were very slow in tech and didn't even pick any ideology yet at the end.

- How many cities did you have in the end and where did you settle them? 7. my capital + 2 coastal settles + captured kathmandu + Rome + Antium + Persepolis.

- Which AI generated the most culture?
Babylon (10.5k) and Marocco (12k).

Spoiler :

 

[lymond]

T260 Culture


- Did you play peacefully or warlike? Mostly peaceful except for Rome as worker farm and eventual destruction. No other wars.
- Were the Greek unique abilities useful to you? The UA for sure. Honestly, did not have to think much about CS friends..they mostly just happened.
- Which ideology did you pick? Freedom - mainly just the useful ones up to the tourism boost.
- How many cities did you have in the end and where did you settle them? 4 settled + Rome = 5
- Which AI generated the most culture? Babylon, Persia and Morocco were mostly neck and neck



I guess this date was turrible considering CV is by far my worst game. I can't recall my best time which may have been the last CV game here.

My two big mistakes/issues were not doing better with science, and a huge mistake with a diplomat mid-game, as I was setting up my spies to shmooze Babylon, Persia and Morroco - the big 3 culture guys on the other continent. I had set Morocco first as a) it takes a long time for the bonus b) he appeared to be leader. (Really these 3 were all neck and neck culture-wise though I think Babylon was best by the end mainly due to his science effort. Anyway, after setting morroco and babylon, and new spy come in soon after. However, I accidentally moved the Morocco guy to Persia instead of the new one, essentially losing all progress. I got the bonus eventually on Babylon and Persia, but never even got it at all with Morocco. That bonus would have been huge and essentially achieve dominance almost all simultaneously. This cause many turns - at least 10.

more to come...

Spoiler Pics :

Prague - this was hilarious (Friend for life)

CV Status showing Morocco problem which I will explain in summary

Empire

Rome too

Great Works though not showing Rome

Athens

 

[ForkOfSpite]

However, I accidently move the Morocco guy to Persia instead of the new one, essentially losing all progress. I got the bonus eventually on Babylon and Persia, but never even got it at all with Morocco. That bonus would have been huge and essentially achieve dominance almost all simultaneously.

Are you referring to the propaganda boost to tourism? That bonus only comes from diplomats at civs with a different ideology (effectively, it reduces the tourism penalty for having a different ideology). Morocco went Freedom in my run - maybe the same happened for you?

 

[lymond]

Are you referring to the propaganda boost to tourism? That bonus only comes from diplomats at civs with a different ideology (effectively, it reduces the tourism penalty for having a different ideology). Morocco went Freedom in my run - maybe the same happened for you?

I don't think I ever knew that...I don't think Morocco ever got an Idealogy. There were 2 or 3 that never did. But that explains it. He was too far away for the trade route too. I shoulda planned to set that up somehow..maybe by settling a 5th city on an island over there.

 

[Megalou]

CV turn 306
Thanks for the map, Mr Vegetable

Also got some tourism from our Roman conquest.

 

[sebtanic]

Culture Victory turn 283.

I took Autocracy this time, not because I thought it would be more efficient, but because I always take Freedom and wanted to do something different this game.

Futurism helped a bit, but not much. The other policies were mostly useless, except for Cult of Personality (+50% tourism if fighting a common enemy), but I didn't really leverage it until near the end of the game.

I had 3 cities of my own, and when Rome came after me I beat them back and took their capital plus an expo on the east coast. I wanted the eastern expo to facilitate trade routes with the other continent.

Later I got double DOWed by China and Ottomans, but they didn't do much harm. I razed one Chinese city, then sued for peace with both of them in exchange for all their gold and luxes.

After that war, I turtled peacefully until near the end of the game. I got Internet turn 269, then finally decided to leverage cult of personality. I had the 3 leading civs (culturally) on the other continent team up with me against what was left of poor little Rome.

Babylon were 1st in culture. The +50% boost from our common war against the Romans brought the projected win time down from 60-something turns to below 20 turns. Bought a GM with faith and sent it east to Babylon. When it completed its concert tour, my win time was down to 4 turns with Babylon and 3 turns with 2 of the other civs (Morocco and Persia). I had enough faith for another GM near the end, but it wouldn't have made it across the sea in time for it to matter. (EDIT: The Babylonian pop 1 city you see on one of the screenshots popped up on the last turn I think, I don't remember seeing it before.)

Won the game one turn before completing Radar. I did have Hotels everywhere and NVC in the capital, which made a big difference in Tourism output.

Never had a single hoplite, but companian cavalry were quite useful with their extra movement.

 

[ABigCivFan]

Turn 235 peaceful vic. Not very experienced with culture vic in GOTM setting. Just went with the flow with general ideas like bulbing to Internet, max Aesthetics, get to Freedom-Media culture. Achieved all policies with World Fair and 5 Great writers. Timing on things like the Rationalism finisher tech and other things were completely off. Just played quickly to the end. Only had a small defensive war against Rome. Persia had the largest amt of culture 17k at the end. Had to use 2 faith GMusician one for Morocco and one for Persia. Overall learned a lot about a cultural speed run with this GOTM.

 

[FireFree3]

T338 win.
Really forgotten how to play culture game. Finally, got science to stealth and killed everyone with high culture.

- greece's UU is useless as I was in a peace game in those time.
- morocco had the most culture, so he's the first to go completely, after me researching bombers.