TSG16 After Action Report

[subber]

Game: Civ5 GOTM 16
Date submitted: 2011-07-24
Reference number: 24622
Your name: subber
Game status: Culture Victory
Game date: 1956AD
Turns played: 376
Base score: 1637
Final score: 2182
Time played: 4:32:00
Submitted save: Dareios I._0376 - 1956 n. Chr..Civ5Save
Renamed file: subber_C501601.Civ5Save

messed up a faster victory in mid-game where I acted without any focus.

I finished the upper row of policies.
first SPs tradition -> Honor -> Liberty.

Capital in place, after a while built 2nd city to the west with pearls and the other dyes.

then took london after Elizabeth built 2 wonders in there with the immortals. Nice healing rate!

I sat around like that for around 100 turns having a lot of trade deals going on but did not really manage to increase culture production significantly. In midgame it took around 20 turns to get to next SP, in early and late game it is only around 10 turns.
china, rome declared war but I could block them and settled for flat peace again and again.

allied with city states and filled patronage. the tree is not as powerful anymore. lot of maritime CS allowed my capital to grow to size 29. greece was getting powerful and attacked my allies - this made me sending 4 rilfes, getting the CS back and taking puppeting most of alex. this would have been significantly more difficult on other difficulty levels. had cannons that upgraded to artilery - no issue taking the continent.

according to the opinion of others in the forum, expanding a little more would have been beneficial.

the screenshot showes my "operational base"

 

[MrWhite]

Again a very nice game. As it was prince, it was not very difficult to win. But it was very fun to play and again I learned some things which I believe make me a better player.

Game: Civ5 GOTM 16
Date submitted: 2011-07-24
Game status: Culture Victory
Game date: 1858AD
Turns played: 299
Base score: 1629
Final score: 2761

I did have a very good start. Found civilians in the first hut encountered and later culture so I had a kickstart. Later I made some small errors so I know I could have made a better date. At first I didn't make the connection that finishing Freedom would enhance the output from the settled artists... It was only about 100 culture per turn I could have had about 30 turns earlier.
Yes, I was able to settle a lot of artists, I believe there were 7 settled in the end.

Two remarks about the game I wish to make:
- The game crashed two times, it happens when I let it on too long (and always on going into diplomacy - apparently this needs the most resources from the laptop). Luckily the autosaves work as intended, but just so you know it did happen.
- I had a bunch of golden ages, 7 or 8 in total, but I did not get the achievement to start 5 golden ages in a game with Darius. Can anybody enlighten me on this? Is it that golden ages started by great people don't count?

 

[MrWhite]

It works for one city only. You can't do that in multiple cities at once.

Yes, that was one of my learning points as well.
I made it happen once in my game, which was pretty sweet as I could use the Engineer and Artist it gave me a lot!

 

[Fooj]

- I had a bunch of golden ages, 7 or 8 in total, but I did not get the achievement to start 5 golden ages in a game with Darius. Can anybody enlighten me on this? Is it that golden ages started by great people don't count?

The achievement only fires if you get 5 golden ages spawned via happiness surplus.

 

[leif erikson]

Welcome to CivFanatics and GoTM.

for the info.

 

[killerloop]

Victory turn 281

Ha Attaturk, you've beaten me by 1 turn! Seems you took a more science focused approach, I went the more cultural way. My Utopia took 15 turns as I didn't have the hydro's etc.

build order Persepolis:
scout-monument- buy worker-granary-scout-settler-GLib (not completed)-Lib (bought)-Imm(2x)-HG-NC

I founded Pasardagae NW of Bananas getting me the Fur (I bought that tile immediately) and the 3 other luxes
I founded Susa SW of Dyes along the river.
Build orders here were Monument-Imm-Granary

When I saw London building and GLight+SH early on I knew that it would be my 4th city!

Glib went early (before turn 50) to a faraway land :-(

I took York (puppeted) and London around turn 70, London was annexed after finishing NC.

I stole 3 workers resulting in a Permawar with cultural Seoul, that I only discovered a 100 turns later or so. I got 3 workers from England and 2 I Liberated. Around turn 75 I got 9 or so running around, by turn 100 I had all land cultivated!

I popped 6 huts: cult & pop were the 1st two, after that I got a map, a barb hut, 50 gold and a immortal upgrade.

Tech order:
pot-min-wri-cal-AH-BW-Mas-Trap-Phil
then upto math
then upto accoust
then upto archeology
then upto Biology (incl fertiliser)
then upto radio/telegraph

I always seem to forget the CivServ's extra food! I should have researched it earlier, maybe?

SocPol's:
Trad-Liberty-Col Rule-Citiz-Repr
Fill out Liberty with Legalism in between for the 4 temples.
Piety-Org religion-MoH-Ref-Fill-out
Freedom fillout
Monarch-Patronage

I probably better should have filled out Freedom 1st before finishing the piety fully. The bonus of the Freedom finisher could outweigh the 10% bounus from Piety. What is the forum's opinion here?

I finally had 14 GArtists: 10 I used in Persepolis. 2 I used in Susa and Pasargadae

All my RA's I signed in the old world were losses, as Zu, Ceasar and Harun seem to make fun DoW-ing me close to completions everytime. Only war with Harun costed me two LSM's once, the rest of the wars were fake ones. ALthough the 1st one with Wu lasted over 50 turns as she didn't wanted to settle for a peace, but always asking for all my money/luxes and cities???

After each war, they immediately turned friendly, but then DoW-ing me again and again.
RA's therefore were limited to the new world. I managed 4 or 5 I guess.
Even with biggest army AI was constantly DoW-ing me, I guess this was because of the permawar??

Money during 1st 100 turns was scarce, I only had money for 1 CS ally (the rest of money I dumped in these useless RA's). Because of the wars I sometimes had luxes that I couldn't trade.


The highest cpt I had was close to the end with 924 in a 20 pop Persepolis with 10 Landmarks.

Happiness was only an issue early game. even when I missed out on ND, after turn 100 I never had happiness issues.

Anyway, I'm convinced this wasn't a perfect game yet.
With a GLib, and working RA's I guess below 250 turns is possible
Steeling one worker too many, getting me the permawar (and probably thes useless DoW's) didn't help eitehr.

Still, it was a fun game, tx again GOTM-Staff!

 

[Aaronius]

I probably better should have filled out Freedom 1st before finishing the piety fully. The bonus of the Freedom finisher could outweigh the 10% bounus from Piety. What is the forum's opinion here?

I have the same question. I always dip into freedom first to get the great wonder culture bonus, after that it depends. I usually finish piety first, but I'm never sure if its the right decision.

After each war, they immediately turned friendly, but then DoW-ing me again and again.

I'm pretty sure your perma war with the CS is what was causing all your problems with the AI DOWs. Also I've noticed post patch that it is literally impossible to go with a fast liberty opening without making an enemy of everyone on your continent. To me, liberty start plus a neighbor guarantees war, so I always take Honor policies along with Liberty. Its inevitable.

 

[xerex]

Second attempt, 341t win . My first was 343t win. About the same but my way was quite different. Here I tried to found two additional cities, and get them up with Libraries before building NC in Cap. Higher focus on military, puppeted all three English cities. In late game I puppeted also Arabia's cap but probably too late in game. I think that my opening are okay but I now need to work on my mid-game.

Tx for tips about getting some Freedom before finishing Piety. Even perhaps finishing Freedom first. Likely I overvalue the Patronage tree.

I should leave my cap grow bigger, and plant some more GArt's.

 

[Farrapo]

Game: Civ5 GOTM 16
Date submitted: 2011-07-25
Reference number: 24629
Your name: Farrapo
Game status: Culture Victory
Game date: 1925AD
Turns played: 345
Base score: 1591
Final score: 2305
Time played: 7:49:00
Submitted save: Darius I_0345 AD-1925.Civ5Save
Renamed file: Farrapo_C501601.Civ5Save

Had one total game crash in the middle of turn 309 when I needed only three more SPs, was generating 713 CPT, had built all relevant Wonders, and was allied with all CS's. I autosave after every turn so was able to recover and continue from turn 308. It's okay by me if this game is not included in the final summary as a result ... I just wanted to finish since I had come so far. I think these (increasingly rare) crashes have to do with my running Civ5 in a Windows 7 partition under Parallels on an iMac.

Here were my initial picks (turn):

Spoiler :

Research: Mining (9), Pottery (17), Calendar (27), Writing (37), Masonry (43), Philosophy (54), AH (56), Archery (59), Wheel (62), BW (66), IW (73) ...

Persepolis: Monument (8), Scout (13), Worker (25), Granary (34) Library (400 G, 37), Settler (500G, 49), SH (59), Stone Wroks (67), Trireme (260G, 80), Oracle (82) ...

Social Policies: Tradition (13), Liberty (15), Citizenship (24), Aristocracy (39), Collective Rule (62), Republic (Oracle, 82), Representation (82), Piety (101) ...

Built two cities to the SE and W. Everything was peaceful and I traded with everyone dfreely until England and Rome both DOW'd me around turn 140-145. I had very little military, ramped up quickly, and eventually conquered both with a few peace treaties along the way. Captured three England cities and razed one; took two Roman cities and razed one.

Had no further wars with anyone, but all other powers were either hostile of guarded for the rest of the game. IKept my forces upgraded as available to discourage attacks. By the end I was allied with all CS's, picking up the cultural ones first.

Gold was never a problem, had some periods where I had to be careful with happiness (razing cities, etc.).

Built all the relevant wonders (and many others). The five SP's I completed were (in order of full completion): Liberty, Tradition, Piety, Freedom, Patronage.

I'm not sure what I could have done to speed up the result. Maybe complete Freedom sooner, decline to attack Rome ... not sure. The game seemed to progress well.

 

[Banman]

Game: Civ5 GOTM 16
Date submitted: 2011-07-25
Reference number: 24633
Your name: Banman
Game status: Culture Victory
Game date: 1937AD
Turns played: 357
Base score: 2072
Final score: 2918
Time played: 11:39:00
Submitted save: TSG16Darius I_0357 AD-1937.Civ5Save
Renamed file: Banman_C501601.Civ5Save

Fun game! Had a strong start (lots of early wonders) and took England down early, annexed London. Left Nottingham to England to avoid the warmonger hit (china took them later on, and I took Nottingham during the endgame when China attacked, before invading the rest of China ) ... Arabia DOW'd later on and I puppeted all their cities except Mecca (w/I annexed --> in hindsight should have puppeted, I don't think it ever produced enough culture quick enough to counter the drag on my total city count). Probably could have shaved quite a bit of time off if I'd been more conservative on the annexing and more focused on research agreement timing, etc.

Looking forward to the next one!

 

[caeru71]

My Darius acheived a cultural victory in 1951. Thanks for the game.

 

[numaru7]

Game: Civ5 GOTM 16
Date submitted: 2011-07-26
Reference number: 24637
Your name: numaru7
Your email: -
Game status: Culture Victory
Game date: 1903AD
Turns played: 323
Base score: 1251
Final score: 1954
Time played: 2:31:00
Submitted save: TSG16_Turn 323 WIN.Civ5Save
Renamed file: numaru7_C501601.Civ5Save

I never build temples because i almost always go fast expand war - so naturally i forgot to build temples when i should have....at least i expanded.
Until the end i got 9 artists, 1 of them i used to culture bomb because the English did it to me and i had to push them back just because i could ) (first time this has ever happened to me).
Also it was almost permanent golden age because of 40+ happiness at all times and Chichen Itza. Also, Money was abundant - 200 under golden age, which like i said was neverending - problem was most of the cultural CS's were not on my continent.

Also, i started this the first day it came out, but then i thought i'd better play some other games to understand the new changes better. Then i started it again so i knew 2 things: where Ragusa and the English were.

attached is the screenshot on the turn i won

 

[Maxym]

Game: Civ5 GOTM 16
Date submitted: 2011-08-08
Reference number: 24699
Your name: Maxym
Game status: Culture Victory
Game date: 1824AD
Turns played: 282
Base score: 1539
Final score: 2748

having propblems uploading at the moment.
looks like i got beat by Ataturk by 2 and Killerloop by 1 turn

I have no idea how to get 6 turn utopia build time at the end. I have messed up by 1 turn by not making all non engineer specialists into plain citizens and getting an extra +1 production. That would have shaved my build time from 10n to 9 turns. Also getting a scientist as free GP from liberty completion might have unlocked solar plant tech and its production bonus.

oh well. it was a fun game of micromanagement. AI was not a problem at any stage. I took up Arabs offer to Dow Liz early inthe game and puppeted London and York her only cities with 4 SM. Then took one of Harun's cities when he turned guarded and stopped trading. Rome DOWed me shortly after that, i took both peace offers for lots of cash and then marched my then LSM army towards Rome, to await peace deal's expiry. Took Rome for sugar for love the king days and Cumae for coal, and hunkered down to count the turns to utopia after that.

I have messed up my SP tree, never took Honor and i think it would have helped especially if i could have set up a few barb farms. took forever to fill in piety and freedom. Did not build a lot of GAs early enough. should not have wasted GE for wonders as i built almost all of them anyway. I settled only 1 more city besides capital, to the east, got beat by arabs to a choice location with 3 luxes and had to settle for 2. Annexed London vary late in the game to build Sydney O. both piety and patronage seem a lot weaker now, hardly any science from scholasticism.

looking forward to see what winning times are gonna be....

 

[Tabarnak]

Game: Civ5 GOTM 16
Date submitted: 2011-07-26
Reference number: 24642
Your name: Tabarnak
Game status: Culture Victory
Game date: 1907AD
Turns played: 327
Base score: 827
Final score: 1272
Time played: 4:02:00
Submitted save: Darius I_0327 AD-1907.Civ5Save

Longest game ever. Last 100 turns was cliking end turns excepted some mini declaration of wars with peace some turns later. Didn't want to fight, too lazy. Just wanted to finish the game as fast as possible

Went up close to 800 cpt at some point. Not going for the 33% discount on policies from Liberty tree before settling new cities is bad. I settled 12 artists in capital. I picked policies a bit randomly, searching for short term gains instead of long term ones(resulting in not finishing some trees soon enough). I made a way better time from my first attempt in another game. I always been bad at cultural game tho.

But i found new things i couldnt realize before playing. I will surely do better next time. I need to get more puppets too.

 

[tommynt]

Finished 249, think its way faster possible but overall I played Ok game.

had 987 cult/t in end

Moved cap inland and settled 2 ore cities fast and right after Iron anexed London. So I had 4 nice cities going before turn 50
puppeted like 6-7 cities overall afterwards (tried to sell some in end to boost happy an therefore cult but happy didnt rise - why??)
Therefore I had nice gold income (about +300/t) and could rush buy a lot

tech path was pretty normal - towrds museums - towrds acheology - (rushed it with gs) and then towwds towers with RAs and GS.
Had GEs ready to rush buy all important cult wonders but Opera house

as my cap was doing +500 cult/t I think key to do a REAL fast win is having cap on coast and teching to Opera House STRAIGHT (maybe in like 160 turns) while not carring so much about culture - in end all the modifiers matter and getting 5 more or less cult early seems kinda "no matter"

edit: SP: 1, trad, 3 lib, 1 trad - fill Piety - 1 trad (operas) .. this specialist tree - fill liberty - patronage - fill trad
Never ever tried Honor - in fact most sp in it seems wasted, and 1 or 2 decent ones are not enough to do a whole tree imo, but then did Patronage not give me any real benefits aswell

Not going for the 33% discount on policies from Liberty tree before settling new cities is bad.

dont think it matter if u go for the discount before or after settling them - its just a discount on future sps
when doing 300t+ games people just dont get modifiers fast enough

 

[Maxym]

I think tommynt is right, coastal cap and SO asap would make a big difference. I debated with myself whether to do it in this game, and in the end got greedy for those river/dye tiles and abandoned seaside start. I think I had over 600 cult in cap at the end, and I messed up not running GA specialists early enough, and only got 7 or 8 of them.

Congrats on a speedy win. Did u go for honor? What SP path did u take

 

[Attaturk]

This is driving me crazy, I replayed the map 3 more times and the I cannot go below 270.
Even when I tried to follow tommynt's example. I finished 277.

I am missing something, but don't know what. Tommy do you immediately fill slots in the temples and other cultural buildings?

Did you go Freedom for your 5th tree?


How many RA did you use?

 

[killerloop]

Ha Attaturk,

I'm also replaying, and also haven't figured it out. I guess, a number of puppets is also helpful.

I'm puzzled wat Tommynt's is meaning with "after iron he annexed London"? Is he already having Steel before turn 50??? Or is he meaning Bronze Working? With 3 or 4 immortals you can take England and Harun's capital quickly, before turn 50. In my 1st game I waited till the 1st GA for the extra movement, but you don't need that.

I'm focusing in my game 1st fully on tech now, planning to switch to cultural after turn 140 or so, planning to puppet Harun's cities later on. This will cost me some GArtists (I had 14 in 1st game), but I guess it's getting me quicker through the SP's with the earlier multipliers. Also my cities will grow faster. Well, let's see...

Also I will abuse Legalism for Musea and not for temples as I did in 1st game

 

[godotnut]

Game: Civ5 GOTM 16
Date submitted: 2011-07-29
Reference number: 24655
Your name: godotnut
Game status: Culture Victory
Game date: 1842AD
Turns played: 291
Base score: 1338
Final score: 2306
Time played: 14:09:00

I did a culture heavy strat with little emphasis on research. Filled out liberty branch last, which may have been a mistake. Ended with three cities under my control. Founded two, also had four puppets from England. Felt pretty good about my game, but can see how I could shave off ten turns or so next time.

 

[barefooter]

Hi,
first try for me here and also first post in forum. Fun game, I did not manage to well though, finished after 456 turn with 2119 points, not too impressive
I think I had a quite effective game to start with but maybe I missed out focusing on things after a while since I ended up in wars, first Darius then Elisabeth then Rome, in the end I had a lot of cities (17), only razed a few small ones, obviously kept the ones with wonders.
It did not focus on cultural outputs in cities until the end, maybe I should have done that earlier.
I kept my workers busy building improvements, farms and later converting them to trading posts and then upgraded roads to railroads.
Did not submit game, maybe I will try another round and keeping the amount of cities down a bit