CIV4 grs vs. Darkness - Finished

[Darkness]

The start:

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/Darkness/2005128204133_Civ4ScreenShot0001.JPG
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Looking at the score, I guess grs moved his settler. I saw no reason to do so (but hey, this is my 3rd game of CIV4, so what do I know... [crazyeye])

[Kemal]

And, the difficulty level would be noble? (Wondering about that because of happiness/health stuff, especially since you have 4 flood plains).

Nice of you guys to spoiler, sure be following this one. :)

[Darkness]

quote:Originally posted by Kemal

And, the difficulty level would be noble? (Wondering about that because of happiness/health stuff, especially since you have 4 flood plains).

Nice of you guys to spoiler, sure be following this one. :)


prince level. :)

I had 7 or 8 health and 5 happy's, so I think I can manage.

[Kemal]

Having just been informed on grs's civ choice, any ideas on the early game plan, especially on the religious front?

Bronze working looks like the worker chop tactic coming up...

[Darkness]

quote:Originally posted by Darkness

quote:Originally posted by Kemal

And, the difficulty level would be noble? (Wondering about that because of happiness/health stuff, especially since you have 4 flood plains).

Nice of you guys to spoiler, sure be following this one. :)


prince level. :)

I had 7 or 8 health and 5 happy's, so I think I can manage.


OK, I was wrong. Only 5 health. That will force me to stay on the small side a bit in the early game.

I already met my first AI, Frederik.

My strategy is still up in the air.
I know grs is Gandhi, and this is prince level, so the three early religions are unattainable.
I was think of doing some worker techs after BW and then moving for CoL (confucianism). But I'm not sure yet.

[akots]

So you are creative/financial then? (Catherine) Since if you were expansive you would have more health?

[Darkness]

quote:Originally posted by akots

So you are creative/financial then? (Catherine) Since if you were expansive you would have more health?


Yes, I'm Cathy...

[Darkness]

The first tech has been discovered...
Next up is Animal Husbandry (there are these cute little cows just east of my capital, and I am hungry).

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/Darkness/2005121713546_husbie.JPG
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Just met my second AI...

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/Darkness/20051216191926_Musa.JPG
111.33*KB

And this is how my capital looks like.

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/Darkness/20051216192022_Moscow.JPG
128.6*KB

One warrior coming up for MP, then a worker to hook up the cattle and to start some chopping.


Edited to add the correct tech tree screenshot.

[Lt. Killer M]

hm, how come we can see the iron and copper etc? Or is that other stuff?

[akots]

That piece of art on grassland certainly looks like copper but tech tree shows you don't know bronze working yet? [confused]

[grahamiam]

i think the one on the plains is gems, but the grass definitely looks like copper (or maybe its just cowshit :) )? Are you guys playing with some debug mode due to Civ4 instabilities?

[Darkness]

quote:Originally posted by Lt. Killer M

hm, how come we can see the iron and copper etc? Or is that other stuff?


Because I posted the wrong tech tree screenie. [blush2]
It was the same screenie I posted in the Ci4 forum, regarding the small bug in researched techs color...

It's corrected now.

There's copper to the west (grassland) of Moscow and stone to the east (plains)

[Lt. Killer M]

ah.....

early Bronze is a good choice, I have found, if you can't run for the religions. let them become cultured, then take them :)

[Darkness]

3000BC - time for an update

I just discovered animal husbandry. The wheel is up next

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/darkness/20051223165156_grs3000bctechs.JPG
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Two sources of horses close by. Nice! :)

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/darkness/20051223165242_grs3000bcmap.JPG
150.23KB

Worker coming up, and then a settler.

[romeothemonk]

That looks really nice. Keep up the good work.

[Darkness]

I'm two turns away from completing my first settler...

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/Darkness/20051229112113_GRS 2400BC map.JPG
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Where shall I found my second city? I'm leaning to north of the horses (red arrow). Any suggestions?

[Lt. Killer M]

from your minimap it seems there is no AI closeby in hte north. Thus, I personally would delay settling there and rather push in the direction of the next AI. Otherwise you will find yourself with a long borderline. Make the AI worry about defending one instead!

So: where is the next AI? I would suspect they are to the right - right up or right down (if there is a land cnnection). Going for the rice/cow is too far atm, but city #3 could go there (diversity of resources, too). Maybe go straight west and settle on the river forest next to horses? Town #3 then would quickly gain border connection and is in reasonable range.

[Darkness]

Mansa Musa and Alexander are in the top right area. I have only met an English warrior so far, so I don't know where Vicky is (I'm guessing bottom left corner). Frederik is closest, and he's in the left top (where my scout found his border this turn). So settling near the horses would be settling towards the nearest AI, and it would give me coastal access.

[Kemal]

Killer has some good points, but... barbarians are on on this map, arent't they? If so, putting cities far away can be a real hazard, plus the distance will increase their maintenance which can be a real killer early on.

For 2nd city, your red arrow seems like a fine spot to me too. :)

[Rik Meleet]

in the playerlist (on the right) why is GRS listed with a questionmark ??

[Darkness]

quote:Originally posted by Kemal

barbarians are on on this map, arent't they?

Yes.

quote:Originally posted by Rik Meleet

in the playerlist (on the right) why is GRS listed with a questionmark ??


I think that is because I haven't met him yet, but he's still on the list because he's another human player.

[Darkness]

425BC update

I just discovered calander (I desperately need plantations, 'cause happyness problems are capping my potential growth at size 5... :( Fortunately there are some silks and spices nearby). Code of Laws coming in 6 turns, but probably longer because I am running a defecit and my treasury will be empty soon.

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/Darkness/2006131232410_0425bc tech.JPG
108.55KB


The global view. I've met 4 AI. England (to my SE), Germany (towards my NW), the Malinese and the Greeks (both far to my NE).

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/Darkness/2006131232543_0425bc globe.JPG
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A close-up of the southern part of my empire (I've got two more cities to the north, to grab some resources):

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/Darkness/2006131232624_0425bc close.JPG
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And the demographics (I'm low on soldiers :()

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/Darkness/2006131232746_0425bc demo.JPG
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The plan:
Grow a bit more. Grab some more resources (still have Ivory, Gems, Fish, Deer and Cattle in unclaimed land, which I might get, if I'm lucky). Build up infrastructure and see if I can get a healthy empire running.
Grs has founded two religions so far (Judaism and Confucianism), so I guess it's safe to say he'll have a steady income this game...

[Kemal]

Perhaps it could be useful for your empire to research monarchy and change to the hereditary rule civic, I find that to be a quite reliable and cheap method of combating unhappiness (and as a side-effect, you're forced to improve your military situation too!).

[Darkness]

quote:Originally posted by Kemal

Perhaps it could be useful for your empire to research monarchy and change to the hereditary rule civic, I find that to be a quite reliable and cheap method of combating unhappiness (and as a side-effect, you're forced to improve your military situation too!).


I know Kemal, but thanks for the suggestion. :)

Researching Monarchy is quite high on the "to do"-list, but I wanted to get Code of Laws first, so I can get started on building courthouses before corruption/upkeep gets out of hand.
A second reason to get Monarchy fast is, of course, the source of wines just east of Yekaterinenburg. Monarchy enables wineries, so I will get another luxury and my cities will be able to grow bigger. :)

[Kemal]

I kinda expected that you already knew basic stuff like that, but I though can't hurt to post it, and perhaps some other people could pick up some ideas/suggestions in spoilers as well.

But I'll refrain from making noble level player comments in your thread from now, don't worry. ;)

[Darkness]

quote:Originally posted by Kemal

But I'll refrain from making noble level player comments in your thread from now, don't worry. ;)


No worries Kemal... :)
All comments are appreciated. I've not played this game long enough to have the illusion that I know every trick already...
And besides, this is my first game above noble level. [blush2] So, please, keep the comments coming! :)

[romeothemonk]

What are your war plans? Do you have any? Going after Vicky the Ice queen?

[Darkness]

quote:Originally posted by romeothemonk

What are your war plans? Do you have any? Going after Vicky the Ice queen?


Eventually Vicky will probably have to go.
But, since I've closed her off on the tundra part of the continent (no open borders) and my scouting did not reveal much good luxuries (some clams), I'm not really in a hurry to do anything about it. The land is not good enough for her to become a big threat, and I don't think I'll need it. By peacefull expansion I should get about 9-11 cities. Let's just see if I can get that into a decently functioning empire before I start moving on the war path.

[Darkness]

250 AD...

grs may be playing as Gandhi, but he's not the only one who can found religions... :)

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/Darkness/2006223221445_250ADchris.JPG
108.92KB

I though this one could be worth it, because my two closest neighbours (England and Germany) haven't founded any religions and Mansa Musa is not really working very hard on spreading Buddhism (the only other religion on my landmass)....

[Whomp]

Darkness out of curiousity will your war plans be to raze non holy cities or keep them?

[Darkness]

quote:Originally posted by Whomp

Darkness out of curiousity will your war plans be to raze non holy cities or keep them?


At the moment I honestly don't know...

For now I've no plan besides building a healthy, well-functioning empire, I only know I want to kick the English out at some point, and considering their land is mostly tundra, I expect to raze most (if not all) their cities at some point.

[Darkness]

grs has been building a lot of (good) wonders...
It's the reason he's leading in score by nearly 400 points.

So this one is just to show he's not the only one that can build wonders:

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/Darkness/200631111554_980ADSiS.JPG
124.09KB



It's not a very good wonder, I know... But it does produce 10 cpt, so it makes my border with the English a bit stronger.

[Darkness]

Game over...

grs landed at least 15-20 units on my shores near Moscow and he destroyed St. Petersburg with an amphibious assault. Since my army is nowhere near grs' strength (I have a grand total of 8 units), I have surrendered.

But I'll have my revenge in the rematch (I hope)...