Washington Monarch Cookbook Mark II (IC Concurrent)

[lymond]

Welcome to the Monarch Cookbook Mark II

The Monarch Cookbook is a concurrent succession game series to help readers learn how to play and win at Monarch level in Civilization 4: Beyond the Sword, v3.19.

Here is a link to the Emperor Cookbook Bullpen (yet unchanged) for more info on past games:

Emperor Cookbook Bullpen

Some of you may be familiar with the previous Emperor Cookbook games. We decided to raise the level of difficulty to Immortal because we are always playing from the best save and we were often over engineering saves to make them more of a challenge. Due to the newly increased difficulty of the cookbook series, Gumbolt and I decided to run a Monarch Cookbook to make this game more accessible to less experienced players. The Monarch Cookbook will used the same exact save as the Immortal Cookbook, but tailored to the Monarch difficulty level.

In a change to previous Cookbooks we will play rounds up to 1300ad. At this point we will either elect a method to complete game by or decide if another round is really needed.

The Cookbooks appear designed as a competition. However, they are more about the learning experience and gaining skills to reach the next level. Expect contributions and feedback from more experienced players than myself.

This Monarch Cookbook game features Washington. Washington's starting techs are Fishing and Agriculture. We will be playing at Monarch difficulty, Epic, with a standard sized map. Huts and events are disabled for this game, as they tend to make things more random.

Here is the info on our leader, her unique unit and building as well as our starting position and settings:




Our Fearless Leader:

Spoiler :

UU:

Spoiler :

UB:

Spoiler :

Starting position:

Spoiler :

Settings :

Spoiler :

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Current Round:

Round Three lasts from 400AD - 1300 AD.

Please play this Round and submit your Report into this thread by 26th of September 2010 if possible. (We will generally try to follow the same timeline as the IC. Time frames may change once game is up and running)


IMPORTANT : Please use spoilers if you want to discuss opening strategies prior to starting the round. Please don't view spoilers until after you have completed your round. This does you and others a disservice.

At the end of your Round, please remember to name your save with your name, game and Round # & game date (i.e. "MC2 Round 1 MyName BC-1500.CivBeyondSwordSave"). (And please don't forget to attach it to your Round report, either! ) Please also state your usual difficulty of play.

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Roster:

YOU! - contributor, voter - our most important fixture, the readers who follow the threads and play along.

Same as the Immortal Cookbook, the Monarch Cookbook will use the 'best ball' system of selecting and playing saves. What this essentially means is that after we have completed each round, everyone will have a chance to vote on which save is in the best position. The winning save will be used for the next round.

If there is any player who is strong at Monarch+ level, it would be great to have you post your saves to show us how it's done. However, I request that any of you who realize your round was far superior remove your save from the voting. This rule is intended to ensure that the game doesn't get into a overly strong winning position after only a few rounds (because what fun is that? ).

Voting Rules:

1. You may NOT vote on your own save (but you are encouraged to state the strengths and weaknesses of your save).
2. For your vote to count as winning save you are expected to have voted for 3 other saves where possible. There is an element of fair play expected from those that vote and tactical voting is not allowed.
3. Only those who have posted a round may vote (those who are shadowing are always encouraged to express their opinion!)
4. Please don't vote on a save that has voluntarily been removed from the running by the person who submitted it.
5. At the end of each round you can vote on 3 saves for first, second and third place. I believe that these votes should be made publicly in order to allow for as much discussion as possible. I strongly encourage you to explain why you are voting for a particular save. This is one of the best ways to learn, and that's what this game is all about! If you feel uncomfortable voting publicly, PM me with your vote.

After a couple days for voting and discussion a winner will be declared and we will move on to the next round using the winners save.

Please note that although I am administering the Monarch Cookbook, I will be playing the Immortal version. This mean I will not be contributing directly until I have completed my round in the IC. Please do not view the IC thread until after a round is complete and, only then, the current round's discussion. It may be best to wait until the Cookbook's are finished before viewing across threads.


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A special shout out goes to Kossin who provided us with the map!

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And with that, let the Game begin...

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Intrathread links (ToC): (note, the turn sets are subject to change, this is a tentative schedule to get this first round underway, we are still trying to find the best length for each round)

Round 0: The starting save (this post)
Round 1: 4000 BC - 1500 BC - completed
Round 2: 1500 BC - 400 AD - completed
Round 3: 400 AD - 1300 AD - In Progress
Round 4: upcoming, if necessary

 

[Bibor]

I'm in. Will play it tomorrow.

 

[nephrahim]

Cool. I've been reading some of the other cookbooks and wondering when a new one might start. I've just started to get used to Prince, so Monarch might be a bit much, but hey, never know.

I'm in.

 

[Ergo Sum]

Epic speed?!

I may end up submitting a game despite that if I manage to find the time, but it's not super likely. And if I do submit a save, it will be sub par. But I love America! Wonder if the Uniques will actually get any use.

USA #1!

 

[lymond]

Epic speed?!

I may end up submitting a game despite that if I manage to find the time, but it's not super likely. And if I do submit a save, it will be sub par. But I love America! Wonder if the Uniques will actually get any use.

USA #1!

hmmm....I assume you play normal speed. I find Epic to be the most balanced of speeds and since the rounds are set limits they should move fairly quickly, especially the first couple of rounds. The cookbook is played over several weeks so everyone should have time.

Kossin designs the game for the Immortal Cookbook, so it's interesting to see how that effects the same save on Monarch level. This factor was clear in the last IC/MC as the Monarch game proved fairly easy. However, Kos is always very good at making adjustments, so I expect this game will be more of a challenge regardless of difficulty level. The point being relative to you second comment in that I expect this game will proceed further into the game and, thusly, we may see a Seal or two.

Also note that this point should not preclude anyone from trying out the MC regardless of whether or not they are comfortable with Monarch. The ultimate objective of the MC, besides having fun, is to allow players an opportunity to advance to the level of the cookbook.

 

[nephrahim]

I tend to play at Marathon, so I'll have to get used to NOT having hundreds of turns to conduct my wars before upgrades start, I suppose...

 

[Aldor]

I'll see if I can do a bit better this time

 

[Siran]

Hm, I don't know if I should try this one or the other one. I don't really win all that many monarch games but I normally play at that level. Should I try the IC one to get out of my comfort zone or stay here until I win monarch regularly?

 

[vranasm]

I will this time try IC for real, so I will probably just shadow Monarch after IC run.

So good luck everyone with their first round!

 

[Bibor]

I'm an exclusively monarch player and here's my save.

Spoiler :

4000 BC Opening move
Noticed the "Fresh Water" on the hill 2E1S of starting position; presumed floodplain oasis, moved settler on hill 2E1S, when saw fish decided to settle.
Moved Warrior 1NW.

Land exploration adventures
Moved down the western coast of our peninsula.
Survived two lions.
Met the Sumerans and scouted most of his lands, then returned to our peninsula entrance for barb/Gilgamesh sentry duty.

Naval exploration adventures
Commissioned an explorer workboat somewhere around 2500 BC.
Met the Germans and Maya in 2125 BC.
Met the French in 1900 BC, also an Aztec workboat came down from our west coast (must be connected through the frozen island).
Met the Incas around 1600 BC.

Research path
Animal Husbandry on turn 17 (found horse) -->
Mining --> Bronze Working on turn 44 (no bronze, but Gilgamesh has it) -->
Wheel --> Mysticism --> Hunting --> Archery --> Pottery --> Writing (in 4 turns).

Initial production in capital
Work Boat, Worker, Work Boat, Worker, Warrior, Settler

Domestic situation recap
Washington has 3 cities and room for 7. Decided not to rush for the sugar city SE, zero production and lot of jungle. Let Gilgamesh build it up for us
Of these seven, three are food rich, two are good for production, two are cottagable.
Washington is planned as a GP farm, and a good move would be to to move capital to New York for a cottaged bureaucratic capital.

Resource recap
3 resources, Gold, Incense and Sugar (two requiring Calendar). 0 to trade away.
Whopping 8 resources, Granary 3/3 and Harbor 3/3 ones. 2 to trade away.
1 Horse, no Copper, Iron unknown.

If Washington acquires Gilgamesh's lands (known land) the following resources are acquired:
Copper, +1 Spices, Marble, as well as 9 surplus resources.

Foreign policy recap
Montezuma is to the West, presumably on an island connected to our peninsula (but not to Incan part of the world. Would be good idea to knock him out first with a naval invasion, otherwise he'll do the same to us (justified paranoia!). Another benefit is gaining domestic intercontinental trade. Considering his position, he might have whales, fur or deer.

Gilgamesh is on our island and is Creative AND protective AND has copper . His land is a realy nice, but invading it requires Construction and hopefully IRON. Suggested invasion is at time of Macemen or Knights. Also, none of his (future) cities seem to be on a hill, which at least removes some bonuses he otherwise has. Washington's only current advantage I can see is that Gilgamesh's land don't seem to be too food rich (no super-size cities in early medieval).

Bismarck might or might not share a landmass with us. In any case it has at least 3 rivers so I guess some of his land is really nice, although i suspect its pretty dry otherwise. Aside from the known Gems and Ivory I suspect he has at least some wine.

Huyana Capac has two (!) religions and will most probably get Christianity as well. His archnemesis will probably be the buddhist Inca. Two or even religions spread faster than one, and it might very well be that French end up being in a third religion (lets say Christianity). In that case, that continent is going to be in a constant war, which is a good thing.

Our religious situation is questionable. We might or might not get a "trade route spread" and Gilgamesh and Bismarck might get a similar spread, maybe the same religion as we, or a different one, so it all depends on a roll of a dice.

Policy recap
A mixed economy, but mostly SE is what I predict for near future. Washington can forget any personal wonders with 3 wondewhores in the game. A whip-driven military buildup will be inevitable after settling the 7 city spots, with the city planned NW of Washington DC and Philly pulling the bulk of the military work.
After Writing and Sailing, going Iron working and then Metal Casting (triremes, workshops, forges!) sounds like a good plan. We can afford forges and workshops with all this health and food! Trading around metal casting should get us most of the "other" techs, most notably Mathematics, Calendar, Alphabet and possibly Construction. Considering the recovery time, I'd say invading Gilgamesh at the time of Knights sounds like a realistic plan (leaving Bismarck for the Rifles/Cannons era and the other continent for Navy Seals).

P.s.
I Hope the Aztec workboat explorer dies so he stays FOREVER in isolation.
I REALLY, REALLY hope there's iron on the pensisula.

Our glorious maps:

Spoiler :

 

[i_imperator]

I'm in, still have to finish hatty though.

 

[i_imperator]

Heres my round 1:

Spoiler :

I decided to settle in place as i couldn't get the pigs/corn/crab in the bfc.

Builds>Worker>WarriorX3>Settler>Warrior>Settler>WarriorX2>Granery>Worker> (Next in quew)Library>Settler
Tech> AH>Wheel>Mining>BW>Pottery (floodplains)>Writing>Alphabet
No shaka this time but, I met everyone's favourite psyco monty on turn 50, I saw that one of his workboats was on my coast, so that means that he's Probably on the tundra landmass up north.

I'm not too worried about him. I then met giggles a few turns later (Cant remember, but it was shortely after meeting monty. Once i saw his culture i instantly decided that i need to block him off. I also met Bismark on turn 99. I'm not sure how he found me but i think it was through a workboat. So my paln is to build up the economy, and block off giggles from my land and the good cottage land. I'm hurting in research at the moment but once i get a library up and start running scientists, and cottages (Washington is going to be a geat Beau cap, with all those flood plains), i should be ok. Hedetiary rule and alphabet are a Priority now to get the cities growing and cottaged.I don't plan on rushing anyone this time. I might take giggles out with swords and cats if i have iron. The only source of copper in near giggles territory so i'm not even going to try and settle that. Also, i forgot to tech mystism, but i plan on trading for it once i get alphabet. The landmass will be able to fogbust easily also, but i couldn't get my worker to NewYork, due to a barb archer in the way.Giggles founded hindu by the way.
Washington:

Power:

Diplo:

Demo:

My empire:

And the save
FYI, i know it says that i'm researching mystism, in the pic but i changed it to alphabet, when i saved.

 

[kossin]

Epic Speed was chosen by popular choice as lymond said.

Personally I'd choose Normal but that's just me

 

[enKage]

I made my one and only approach :] i'm not satisfied ;/
I usually play Noble / Prince, sometimes Monarch, but seldom win (3,4 or so), won only once on Emp

Spoiler :

Tech
wheel & pottery
Animal h.
Mining & BW
writing -- mistycysm -- alphabet in progress

Production: Warker --> Granary settler waior library (whipped) warior setller ...


Settled in place just to get + 2 health bonus
heading to pottery to make granaries - capital seems to be nice for starting whipping

Made techs to grow tiles, then settled another city on a coast, with corn and sea resource in BFC

Planned cities: further south on the coast with cows and crabs, one reaching the rest of floodplains, one for gold on hills & horses, one north on tundra tile with fish and three hills


2nd city has monument for reaching claim or crabs i dont remember and granary

Capital: granary, library, worked cottaged floodplains --> ready to grow rapidly, put scientist, whip from level 6 population and so on and produce this way settlers / units really quickly

In one turn coming a settler

Rivals met: Gilgamesh, Pacal, Montezuma, open trades


To be made as soon as possible: IW (?) or Archery for defense - i dont want to see Vultures knocking in not so distant future - now my 2 cities defended only by wariors - one each.

BTW whats's the utility you use for marking future cities and making notes on the map?

View attachment MC2 Round1 enKage BC-1500.CivBeyondSwordSave

EDIT:
Siran thanx

 

[Siran]

Marking future cities is BUG Mod. I think you can makes notes with standard civ.

 

[Trystero]

I followed the first MC, and I am still getting the hang of Monarch, so I thought I would try a hand at this one:

Spoiler :

This was a somewhat challenging start with the asymmetric distribution of resources.

As Washington starts with Fishing and Ag, and both those resources were visible, I decided to send the warrior 1SE to reveal more of the coast and see if a food-rich start was to be had. Since this revealed an additional fish resource, I sent the settler 2NE and delayed settling by one turn to settle on the coast. The initial build was a WB, followed a worker and then warriors.

My scouting warrior found Gilgamesh far to the south, with some really nice land to himself. I decided expansion the appropriate course of action, and I was aiming to get blocking cities in place. Since I figured the jungle between us would slow down Gilgamesh somewhat, I took a slightly more conservative approach and settled my second city on the coast south of the capital in another food-rich spot.

My tech order was: Mining > BW (no copper, and not many trees, but I needed the whip) > The Wheel > AH > Mysticism > Pottery > IW (ongoing)

I was somewhat conflicted on what to tech after Pottery. Writing or Sailing might have been better than IW right away, but I was concerned about being prepared when more barbs show up. And IW might allow me to grab jungle cities before Gilgamesh.

I managed to secure the horse/gold city to the south, and I am constructing another settler for the cow/fish/sugar site.

Northern cities:

Spoiler :

And the south:

Spoiler :

I should get a WB out to scout the neighboring islands. I know some must be reachable since I met Monty coming from the west.

 

[Shrielkul]

I'm in. I should have my save posted sometime midday on the 11th.

 

[Aldor]

The round didn't go that great for me. Anyway here's my try.

Spoiler :

Luck wasn't with me really, lost several explorers to bear + barb, forests spawned on a hill I was about to mine etc... So I didn't find out much about the surroundings. At least I know that I'm on a reasonably sized peninsula with Gilgamesh blocking me to the south, and I know that Monty must be somewhere to the west (he found me by boat).

I found out rather late about Gilgamesh, and also discovered the horses to the south only after sending my second explorer (first died to a bear). So the site for the first city was clearly to the south east with fish-clam-corn. Second city then went to claim the horses and gold..it has no food but will be able to farm around the lake. Third then was to claim fish-cow-sugar. This leaves me space for another city inbetween to take the remaining floodplains and oasis, and of course the poor spot in the north.

I'm tempted to send another settler or two to the south first however, to block Gilgamesh...but the land is jungle down there and as such not that interesting for now. Maintenance would be too high also.

Tech path was AH, Wheel, Pottery, BW, Myst, Writing. Sailing probably wasn't a great idea to take next, was thinking about GLH but the map isn't that good for it. I think IW should be next, and if no iron is around, HBR...otherwise I won't have any reasonable offensive units. Chariots won't be that great against the protective civ in the south (although they will be good to beat the vultures).

I just brought the horses online, so should build some chariots soon, although barbs probably won't be a huge problem anymore now. Also have too few workers, but two more will come online next turn.

I think the next step should be to make sure Gilgamesh doesn't block me. Then I can build up my land and prepare while he cleans up the jungle.

Some pictures of my situation:

 

[bufo802]

Restarted playing after not reinstalling the game for a while and normally play on noble difficulty (win comfortably but not particularly quickly), so thought this might be a good chance to increase the difficulty. Will also be a good chance to see if my current methods are "wrong", as haven't played it particularly seriously before.

 

[lymond]

welcome bufo - the cookbook is indeed a great way to improve your game and move up