Vanilla player

[dutchfire]

Hey there HOF players!
I've played civIV in the past, but got bored with it. I've recently picked up civIII again and I was wondering if you could give me some tips for HOF playing. Preferably low level games (up to Regent-Monarch) that don't require hours of reloading. I can only play vanilla though, that might change things a lot (no scientific great leaders for example). So any tips on which tables I should aim for?

 

[Bartleby]

Hi.
To begin with I'd say decide on what kind of game you want to play and then see how well you can chart. Smaller map sizes and lower levels tend to lead to tough competition, especially in Conquest and Domination. "Longer" game types are a bit less hotly contended--for example Standard Warlord 20k has only four entries (I'm planning on playing one of these in the near future).

The 100k tables are far from full too, but if you want to use smaller than standard maps Vanilla will be a disadvantage because in C3C Tiny maps need only 60k and small maps need 80k (I'm assuming that when you say "hours of reloading" you mean that you want short games without many sessions; reloading to re-play moves is not allowed).

For Diplo and Space there's still plenty of free slots, but the Slingshot and Big Picture tricks give C3C a big advantage in terms of how fast you can win.

 

[AutomatedTeller]

It should be noted that the fastest 100K finish is not on a Tiny Map in conquests - it's a large map in PTW (or Vanilla, don't remember)

 

[superslug]

(I'm assuming that when you say "hours of reloading" you mean that you want short games without many sessions; reloading to re-play moves is not allowed).

That would be my guess. dutchfire has a number of submissions in HOF-IV, so he understands the basic rules shared by both environments.

 

[Marsden]

Just keep in mind, you don't necessarily need to get a #1 to be on the chart and the HoF is only a little over half full.

 

[Tone]

I've used vanilla/PtW for quick conquest games and for some 20K attempts.

Jags are more expensive in C3C so I use PtW for this. The very quick tiny/small map conquest game is ideal for this.

It is difficult to compete with the top 20K games when not playing in C3C as the early SGL to get Pyramids before 3000BC is a huge boost. Additionally there are more wonders to go for so the vanilla player is at a disadvantage. However I really enjoy the odd slug-fest of GL farming and you can get a number of leaders in very quick succession if the AI supplies the cannon fodder.

The lack of a Republic slingshot is a real problem when going for fast research (Diplo/SS) games and vanilla players have to research Radio (not in C3C) which hampers a fast Diplo date. SS is evened out a little though as C3C need to get to Robotics to build the Stasis Chamber. I still say that not getting into Republic at around 1500BC is tough handicap to overcome.

One type of game that may not be affected is domination. Sure, you don't get to build/capture the Temple of Artimis that gives free temples across your empire but I've played a number of games where I've pop rushed temples in new cities and it does the job just as well. I've played them in conquests but my more recent games could easily have been in vanilla and I wouldn't have noticed a difference.

Oh, and welcome to the civ III HOF. It's nice to see that you've already submitted a game and I look forward to seeing some more.

 

[dutchfire]

Thanks all! My first game has been submitted, and it should come in at 5th (and last) next update. It was I game I had already played, but I still had the starting save, and the end save, so I decided to submit it.

I'm currently doing a chieftain, tiny, spaceship with Russia, but I'm in doubt whether it's best to conquer another civ and build the forbidden palace with a second ring in their territory, or just keep 1 ring. Conquering will cost me a lot of unit upkeep and shields.

 

[RFHolloway]

I would do some conquering, you won't need much military at cheiftain, I would go with swords, but then I play C3C. I suspect a cossack triggered GA would come too late, but a bit of leader farming might pay back the sheilds if a GL pops up.

 

[Marsden]

As the situation dictates, a quick horseman rush only requires one or two horse to over ride the cheiftain AI, a quick burst of activity in the ancient age can allow you the security of not having much of an army later.

 

[superslug]

Vanilla Aztec Jaguar Warriors are still only 10 shields...Egyptian chariots were good continent sweepers in lower level Vanilla pangaea's...