TSG32 After Action Report

[Dan4GS]

Game: Civ5 GOTM 32
Date submitted: 2012-03-20
Reference number: 25943
Game status: Diplomacy Victory
Game date: 1850AD
Turns played: 295
Base score: 1181
Final score: 2001
Time played: 2:37:00
Renamed file: Dan4GS_C503201.Civ5Save

Well my finish date wasn't very good in comparison to most... I had played a cultural game just before this and that had to rub off on this one, because I played as if playing a cultural game. Ignored military to city build for the most part, keeping just enough to keep Askia from doing anything.

Cap 1E on Hill, 2'nd city on plains east of mountains (next to the 2 sheep). Got NC before 3'rd city on island to the north with the silver. 4'th and 5'th cities on island to the west below Cathy, with plenty of bonus resources, 4 horses, and 3 pearls between them ($$ makers).

All my cities were 15+ at end of game, and capital was pushing 30 pop. Killed Askia near the end because I was tired of his silly comments. Don't think there was a real war all game between anyone...thus the short game time.

 

[elCreepo]

Game: Civ5 GOTM 32
Date submitted: 2012-03-21
Reference number: 25950
Game status: Diplomacy Victory
Game date: 1921AD
Turns played: 341
Base score: 899
Final score: 1322
Time played: 13:48:00
Renamed file: elCreepo_C503201.Civ5Save

Hi All - This was my first GOTM (but I'm a long time Civ player & CFC lurker).

Pretty typical game with Diplo victory on turn 341/1921AD so definitely no records broken there. I managed to avoid wars aside from the one I started with Askia once I had gunpowder (he only had the 2 cities so I knocked him out of the game and got labeled as the warmongering menace, but oh well). Cath and Wu were forever hostile after that and continuously denounced me but I guess my moderate military that I kept upgraded discouraged anything further (and I was the tech leader right to the end).

Managed to start allying early with city states which helped huge with culture so I finished all of Liberty, Rationalism, Patronage and a bit of Commerce near the end.

Anyway, fun game, I thought the map was pretty interesting plus the resource distribution (or lack of it! haha) and the sneaky "hidden" CS at the top & bottom of the map. I look forward to the next GOTM!

 

[MiniMe]

Game: Civ5 GOTM 32
Date submitted: 2012-03-21
Reference number: 25952
Your name: Minime
Game status: Diplomacy Victory
Game date: 1750AD
Turns played: 260
Base score: 624
Final score: 1200
Time played: 4:20:00
Submitted save: Suleiman_0260 AD-1750.Civ5Save
Renamed file: Minime_C503201.Civ5Save


I deviated from my normal start and went all out Tradition (before Rationalism / Patronage). Managed to time in some nice and early temples, but in general Tradition felt suboptimal to Liberty. Missed the early settler/worker and for sure the GE.

However the extra ranged city strength from tradition really helped in the wars against askia, maybe even assured my survival in the first clash. The idea was to get the extra food from Tradition and the Hanging Gardens for a super city. But helas, the HG was lost by a few turns and I felt pretty stupid.

Also lost the Oracle so few things really worked out as planned at the start. Was a bit fed up there so never took the time and effort to get more than 2 cities. Exploration worked fine, went for an early Sailing and got quite a few extra boats from barbs.

Tried to keep constant RAs since around turn 70 but there was always 2 civs being hostile. One RA was broken by Askia (the only time I made one with him). But after what I thought was a rather crappy opening I was not too unhappy with my final date

 

[leif erikson]

Hi All - This was my first GOTM (but I'm a long time Civ player & CFC lurker).

I look forward to the next GOTM!

Glad you decided to join in the fun.

Welcome to CivFanatics and GOTM. Your first post.

And congrats on your first win.

 

[xerex]

Thank you to all of you who posted a description of their wins, and especially Tabarnak and DaveMcW who also often record a video

So after reading, I replayed this game and finished at turn 269. Considering that my first game was 334 turns, and even accounting for the fact that I had knowledge of the map, I can safely say that I learn a lot

Still there is room for improvements. Notes to myself:
For the late game: I didn't manage to get a GE in time (UN took 14 turns to hard build and the GE came 2 turns before completion), I was a couple of GS short
I used the Scientific Revolution too early, I got too many policies too early (alternatively I didn't tech Renaissance early enough).
Besides, I took Askia's capital very early (too early?), with just triremes, archers and warriors, and the results was a small puppeted city (4 pop) which didn't produce that much gold. The price was perhaps high since I had to build the units.

 

[caeru71]

Diplomatic vitory in 1957. Thanks for the game.

 

[Beto_Java]

Game: Civ5 GOTM 32
Date submitted: 2012-03-22
Reference number: 25957
Your name: Beto_Java
Game status: Diplomacy Victory
Game date: 1980AD
Turns played: 400
Base score: 1236
Final score: 1545
Time played: 7:32:00
Submitted save: vitoria_Suleiman_0400 AD-1980.Civ5Save
Renamed file: Beto_Java_C503201.Civ5Save


The turn recordist attacked again !!

lol

 

[Half Nelson]

Game date: 1834AD
Turns played: 288
Base score: 1328
Final score: 2329

I never fully recovered from a slow start in which Edirne and Ankara outpaced Istanbul for growth and diluted capital advantages. I am still not exactly sure how this happened:- probably due to slower growth from a WB+lighthouse city compared to a river-wheat+granary city. I vented my spleen on Russia then Arabia but, despite 22 completed RA, was still slow to Globalisation. Finished UN in 7 turns using a GE and bought out CS in the run-in for the final vote. Istanbul eventually rallied with some maritime CS support. Took Libery, LH rationalism, top 3 in Patronage and Order starter. Must grow capital early!!!

 

[LTJG Perry]

Diplo turn 414.


Istanbul settled on marble

Edirne at tip of the peneninsula near silver (~4E)

Ankara on the island with Monaco.

I am always pleased to see my cities are about the same as the top players--but that's about all in common : )

Puppeted Gao

Not much war , 2 with Askia, 1 with Arabia (I started it and got nothing out of it) , 1 turn before end I declared on India to lock my advantage in CS.
had to sell many buildings during the countdown after I built UN to have $ to steal CS from India - as soon as I had him beat I declared on him.


Liberty, Patronage, Rationalism complete
Commerce opened, Autocracy (with populism the penultimate turn)

Pyramid, GLib, Louvre (culture bombed Tombukto and GA) , Cristo (for denial to India who was threatening a cultural V) , UN (GE+8turns)

 

[MiniMe]

Waiting for the next TSG, I did a replay of this game. Went Liberty here as I normally do (instead of Tradition in the official game), settled a couple of more cities (4 in total) and took Askias capital.

The strategy for the remaining part of the game is very similar. Get in cash for RA and optimize the median. I did handle the transition into Renaissance and to full RA mode better than last time. Didnt sign any RAs until turn 80 someting to try and make sure I would have both PT and Rationalism opener when the techs came in (and it almost worked out well).

In general I had more cash this time around, but again never managed to get all other civs in RAs at any point in time. Normally 2 were pissed at me for some reason which I never figured out.
Fun thing is that their mood changes quite a bit. Suddenly I am Arabias best friend, next minute they think I have the plague or something. Toward the very end of the game we changed back to buddies. Is there a good explanation for this sort of behaviour?

So managed to shave 30 turns off my official game, which I am happy with.

 

[S.K. Ren]

Im not submitting since I had a ~50 turn false start. But I finished on Turn 308.

Following my write up of turns 1-160 I conqered Askia and while I was hunting for Al, Hiya DoWs on me. Bring it on After taking 2 cities and his capital I force him to surrender (My mistake, he DoWs later again despite me having some highly promoted Destroyers.) I use Oxford and a GS to bulb Combustion and Computers and hard tech plastics. I use Scientific Revolution to jump straight into Globalization when my last RA finishes. I used a GE on the UN. By this point I make more money than Al so I own everything

 

[Brigg]

T328.
Askia dow dor the second time on t161. I crushed him and remained at war, relentlessly shellin his last pitiful city.
Russia went hostile, but did notthing more than insult me.
My third city location proved great. It had my only oil, small island with gems west of Bucharest, near the 2 iron.
I went liberty, ,rat opener, patronage, finished rat and started order.
3 cities only, with 3 puppets.

 

[Trystero]

Game: Civ5 GOTM 32
Date submitted: 2012-03-27
Reference number: 25973
Your name: Trystero
Your email:
Game status: Diplomacy Victory
Game date: 1888AD
Turns played: 314
Base score: 751
Final score: 1211
Time played: 5:29:00

Only my second attempt at a Diplomatic victory, and my first win as Suleiman (unlocked an achievement, yay!). I played it as a peaceful scientific game. I moved the settler 1E as settled next to the mountain for the observatory and Machu Pichu. My initial city placements were similar to others:

Spoiler :

Edirne's position was to allow it to be on the coast and next to a mountain (for the observatory again). It would have been slightly easier to defend during the my brief war with Askia if it were N of the mountains. Beside Machu Pichu, I built HS and PT in Istanbul. I missed the Great Lighthouse. I only settled 6 cities (the others were on the silver island to the North and two on the island to the West).

I could use some more practice lining up RA's for maximum benefit, and I should have saved a GE for the UN. I did learn in this game that you can built mech infantry without Rifling, which just seems odd.

 

[Neuro]

Civ5 GOTM 32
Date submitted: 2012-03-28
Reference number: 25975
Your name: Neuro
Game status: Diplomacy Victory
Game date: 1580AD
Turns played: 226
Base score: 907
Final score: 2015
Time played: 4:39:00

This was a hard game for me to get through. I'm not a fan of Archipelago maps, and the last GotM I did (30) was also Archipelago, so it was hard for me to really get into this one.

I started out moving my warrior north, saw the dead end up there, so I turned him around. I settled my capitol on the riverside hill 1E like everyone else, and my warrior went East (a barb camp was south of me, wasn't ready to clear it yet). Built Monolith first, warrior next, and got Animal Husbandry from a ruin. I moved my initial warrior around Gao, found two more ruins (culture and +1 pop), and realized I was definitely on an island, meaning Arch map.

I cleared the barb camp with my two warriors, found Lhasa, and bought a worker. My first two policies were Liberty and Free Settler, which I dropped on the Silver to the east. Normally, I wouldn't have dropped it so close to my capitol, but this island was so small, it wouldn't have mattered.

I researched Writing and Sailing next, built a trireme and went exploring. The only good thing about Arch map was that I was playing Suleiman, and converted about half a dozen barb ships. I even discovered that a Work Boat can convert a barb ship (which saved my work boat from getting killed). About two turns after our Cash-for-Silver deal expired, Askia DoW me, but he really couldn't do anything. I kept two warriors parked at the choke point, and he couldn't get past it. I built an archer to back them up, and between him and a trireme, I kept picking off Askia's warriors and building up xp.

I built the GL, grabbed Philosophy, and researched CS, Theo, and Compass until they each had only 1 turn left. The plan was to hold off going into Medieval until I signed RAs, since everyone else was still in Classic. I finally found the last civ around turn 85, and signed six RAs (which involved selling all my lux and borrowing heavily from Gandhi) on turn 87, one turn before I hit Medieval.

After that, I pushed Theo, CS, and Education. Once I got Education, I spent 1 turn finishing Compass, but realized I wouldn't have time to get Astro done before my next policy finished, so instead I finished up Liberty, took a GE, used him to get Porcelain Tower, and ended up Bulbing Astro. This allowed me time for my capitol to build NC and Hanging Gardens.

Askia and I made peace eventually, though I was hoping he would hook up his silver and marble so I could demand it from him, but he never did. Arabia and Russia were hostile to me almost the entire game, from about 5-6 turns after we signed RAs onward, so they were worthless as trading partners, as was Askia. Turn 118, all six of my RAs came due, and my median at the time was Acoustics (Nav, Banking, Acoustics, and Construction). I cleared everything from Construction through Economics that turn.

After this point, signing RAs became much harder. The only other civs to hit Renaissance while i was still in it were Russia and Arabia, and they were so hostile they wanted 900g to sign, so I had to pay the 100g extra. I filled out Steel and Gunpowder and started building Janissaries to take on Askia, since I couldn't get Iron anywhere it seemed.

I have a slightly embarrassing confession to make at this point. I have obviously never used Janissaries before, probably because I was so used to having Iron, and because nothing upgrades to them. I thought they healed 1-2 points of damage, like Jaguar warriors; I didn't realized they healed to *full* whenever they won a combat. I built 2 Janissaries because I couldn't get Longswordsmen, and declared on Askia around turn 150. Once I realized that any kill caused them to heal to full, I managed to sweep Askia's pikeman army off the board, and took Gao in 3 turns. I would have stopped there, but Askia had just finished building Machu Picchu in his second city, so I took it as well.

From this point, the game was fairly sedate. I just kept clicking next turn, buying RAs when I could. I bought my last two RAs around turn 180, right before I hit Industrial. Between those, 7 GS, Oxford, and two free techs from Rationalism, I managed to hit Globalism at turn 213. A GE pushed the UN to a four turn build, and I spent the next nine turns grabbing as many City States as I could. I ended up DoWing Arabia to keep him from stealing my CS back from me, as he did several times.

Mistakes I made: I should have pushed for Janissaries much sooner. I could have taken Askia 10-15 turns earlier (or more) had I realized how strong they are. I also should have built Scouts instead of Archers, and sent the scouts out looking for Ruins, with the hope of getting an archer upgrade. Archers with the scout perk are so strong, I forget how much I miss it. Also, I forgot to build a Garden in Istanbul for the longest time, I was so focused on getting the Wonders and RAs.

Looking forward to the next GotM!

 

[Tabarnak]

I even discovered that a Work Boat can convert a barb ship (which saved my work boat from getting killed).

Interesting find Neuro. This can save some hammers for exploration(work boats vs triremes). I didn't know that.

 

[DaveMcW]

I'd rather spend 6 extra hammers than risk 50% chance of being sunk...

 

[Tabarnak]

I'd rather spend 6 extra hammers than risk 50% chance of being sunk...

Oops i forgot that it's not automatic Nevermind then

6 only?

 

[FeiLing]

Your name: FeiLing
Game status: Diplomacy Victory
Game date: 1800AD
Turns played: 270
Base score: 1086
Final score: 2011

hmm... kept 2 GE for the UN (although the 2nd only saved 4 more turns). Had plenty of GS (I think there were 8) and signed RAs all game long with everyone except Harun and Askia. And only 2 iirc with Catherine. So there were 4 excellent trade partners (Gandhi, Wu Zetian, Hiawatha and Darius) for permanent RAs and selling all my luxurie and strategic resources all game long. I never had more money than in this game, was able to buy all the CS for the last turn. Went Liberty, 5 cities. Puppeted Gao. When Cathrine got angry and stopped trading due to me settling towards her I took Rostov where she had build the Forbidden Palace and later Moscow too as puppets with a few units - that was just when I upgraded my handful of Janissary to Riflemen (the UUs abilities(!) are really strong). All I really missed (but didn't even start to build before they were gone) were the Notre Dame, the Oracle and maybe the Hanging Gardens too. HG didn't feel too important and it's pretty normal to be missed as I'm building GL and HS rather at that point in the game. ND turned out to be less important than I thought at first, didn't have any happiness problems. Oracle of course is always nice, however I finished Liberty and Rationalism and also got 3 more SPs which were used for Patronage. All in all I think this went pretty well...

No idea how you guys finished more than 40 turns earlier

PS: I wondered two things in this game but didn't get to test them:
-Will a ship in own territory heal faster if a medic promoted land unit sits next to the coastal water tile the ship is on?
-Will a Janissary heal if he captures a worker or a great person?

Oh... and this here is weird, isn't it?:
(Catherine asked me about the many units at her border when only 1 of my units touched her border -.-)

Spoiler :

 

[LTJG Perry]

I was always pretty sure they counted your units within 2 or 3 squares of the border

 

[S.K. Ren]

It counts units it can 'see' near the border. So if it has units stationed on its border, it'll be able to see more units. If its just border sight though its only 1 hex wide.