CIV4 Darkness vs Romeothemonk - Finished

[Darkness]

I'm Mao, he's Cyrus,

Thanks to Barbu for the map! [goodjob]

The start:

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/Darkness/2006429112442_Civ4ScreenShot0020.JPG
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[Darkness]

Just founded my second city this turn...

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/Darkness/2006525105214_Civ4ScreenShot0024.JPG
148.94KB

[Darkness]

200 AD

Update time...

I am on a continent with the Aztecs and the Americans. Until this turn there had not been any religions founded in my little corner of the world. That just changed:

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/Darkness/200676185710_Civ4ScreenShot0026.JPG
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The Americans are a friendly bunch, but the Aztecs declared war 5 or 6 turns ago. They have a "stack" in my territory. Underneath the Jaguar are two warriors... [lol]

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/Darkness/200676185857_Civ4ScreenShot0027.JPG
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The demographics:
http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/Darkness/200676185946_Civ4ScreenShot0028.JPG
110.86KB

Seems to be going pretty OK. The categories I am not leading are probably led by Romeo (who's also about 60-70 points ahead in score, he's got two or three wonders). I'm working on the soldiers, I'd like a few more.


The plan:
Spread Toaism through my lands as well as the American, and later also through the Aztec lands, after I can get them to agree to peace. War is not in my best interests at the moment.
Research to optics and get caravels, to locate more civs...
My capital is building one final settler, who will claim some deer and whales to the far south. I could try to claim some sheep close to the American capital, but I think that city would be more of a drain than an asset to my empire...

[Darkness]

My offensive against the Aztecs ran out of steam in the jungle. After he declared I would have been satisfied with just holding my borders, because I had not really focussed on military. But all he sent was one louzy jaguar and two warriors. After I killed those I mounted a small offensive. That gained me two cities, sugar resources and fish (after cultural expansion). Then he sent quite a lot units so I gave him peace, for which he paid all he had.

My northern border:
http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/Darkness/2006714204242_Civ4ScreenShot0030.JPG
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Now I'm going back to spreading Taoism and making sure my empire becomes economically healthy as well as trying to find the other continent (after I dicover optics off course).

[Darkness]

quote:Originally posted by Darkness


Now I'm going back to spreading Taoism and making sure my empire becomes economically healthy as well as trying to find the other continent (after I dicover optics off course).


Unfortunately this wasn't meant to be... :(
Almost immediately after the Aztec war the Americans declared on me and for a time I was really hard-pressed to keep my holy city, which unfortunately is right on the border with America.
But he ran out of units at some point and I was able to take New York from him, and last turn (980AD), this happened:

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/darkness/2006726221629_Civ4ScreenShot0031.JPG
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Washington's got the Pyramids, so I really like having this city. :) As far as I can tell America has now been reduced to two towns near the Aztec lands. I am perfectly happy to leave them there for a while. I need to get my empire on track again.

[Darkness]

1150 AD

I met Romeo last turn.
After taking Washington and its' pyramids I gave the Americans peace. They will never be a threat again. They are stuck on three cities now, while the Aztecs have five. Both are effectively crippled. I see no need to eliminate them immediately, I'd rather wait until I can build some better units so I can steamroll over them with minimum losses. So I will most likely try to get cavalries ASAP.

My caravel will explore the other continent, which has been effectively cleared by Romeo. The victory screen tells me there are 4 rivals left. Two on my continent, Romeo and another AI on Romeo's doorstep. Romeo's economy is suffering from the wars, as is GNP is slightly more than a third of mine, though he leads in MFG... At the moment he appears to be keeping his economy affloat with the gold he takes from the cities he conquers, but that well will dry up quite soon, as he is running out of AI to kill and cities to conquer.

The other continent:
http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/darkness/200685175524_Civ4ScreenShot0038.JPG
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Diplo screen with Romeo. I have no interest in trading techs with him at this time. I can get monarchy easily from the Americans, but I don't need it. There are no wines on my continent and hereditary rule is not needed, due to the fact that my pyramids allow me to use universal suffrage. I'll research paper soon myself, and music and theology are not needed at this time (although theology could be usefull in the future (theocracy)). And besides, I don't want to give him philosophy or compass. Philosophy leads to nationalism, and I want that first, so I can build the Taj Mahal and get a Golden Age. And Compass leads to optics, and then he could build caravels and start looking for my continent.
http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/darkness/200685175953_Civ4ScreenShot0040.JPG
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My core, which is almost fully improved:
Ghanzhou is my holy city, which already holds the Dai Miao. This gets me 15 gpt, which allows me to run 70-80% science all the time.
http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/darkness/20068518330_Civ4ScreenShot0039.JPG
188.26KB


Shanghai is my wonder city, it already holds Hanging gardens, the Parthenon, Chichen Itza and my National Epic. This gets me 31 Great Person Points each turn (using the pacifism civic):
http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/darkness/20068518720_Civ4ScreenShot0042.JPG
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The Demographics:
Romeo and I lead every category. The AI are no longer a major influence in the game. I imagine Romeo will have his continent cleared very soon. I'll start making preparations for doing the same, and after that it will be a nice arms race and tech race between the two of us...
http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/darkness/20068518108_Civ4ScreenShot0041.JPG
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[Darkness]

1380 AD

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/darkness/200681621472_Civ4ScreenShot0047.JPG
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:D


Romeo was leading in MFG (about 40 hammers). I was leading in GNP (about 40 gold). Now I lead both (for 8 turns).

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/darkness/2006816214843_Civ4ScreenShot0048.JPG
111.32KB



Romeo is at war with the Malinese again, so I decided to take out the last two American cities.

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/darkness/2006816214951_Civ4ScreenShot0049.JPG
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http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/darkness/2006816215016_Civ4ScreenShot0050.JPG
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Romeo does still lead in techs. He's got Liberalism and Economics over me, but he hasn't got nationalism. I am gaining though. I hope to use this Golden Age to race to gunpowder and military tradition. Then I'll build up to take out the Aztecs and then I will hold a continent of my own. No more AI to bribe against me for Romeo.

[Darkness]

1400 AD

quote:Originally posted by Darkness

Romeo is at war with the Malinese again, so I decided to take out the last two American cities.


Roosevelt's dead now...
http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/darkness/2006817205247_Civ4ScreenShot0055.JPG
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Back to the peacefull builder mode...

[Rik Meleet]

How will you try to overcome the tech-achterstand ?

[BCLG100]

you should probably clip montys wings a bit more incase romeo starts gifting him techs.

[Darkness]

quote:Originally posted by Rik Meleet

How will you try to overcome the tech-achterstand ?


Even without my GA I still lead in GNP. The Malinese also have a tech I don't have, so I'll try to obtain that before they die. I am also building universities like crazy at the moment. I'll see where I stand in 4 turns (at the end of my GA).

quote:Originally posted by BCLG100

you should probably clip montys wings a bit more incase romeo starts gifting him techs.

That's the plan, yes. But I am actually more interested in eliminating Monty. I'll have military tradition in 3, and gunpowder will take another 4-5. After a bit of a build-up, I should then be able to steamroll Monty using cavalries.

[Darkness]

1580 AD

About 10 turns after Romeo eliminated the Malinese to claim his own continent, I have succeeded in claiming my own. Monty's gone...

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/darkness/200682603250_Civ4ScreenShot0056.JPG
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Diplo screen with Romeo. We're about equal on techs...

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/darkness/200682603340_Civ4ScreenShot0057.JPG
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Demographics:

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/darkness/200682603412_Civ4ScreenShot0058.JPG
111.66KB

The plan:
Get the formerly Aztec lands civilized. I will not attack Romeo, but I will focus on getting my economy back on track and beat him in an arms/tech/space race...

[Darkness]

1886 AD

The space race is on!
http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/darkness/2006113020416_Civ4ScreenShot0090.JPG
99.46*KB



Romeo completed his Apollo program 5 turns ago...
http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/darkness/2006113020455_Civ4ScreenShot0091.JPG
189.43*KB



The demographics:
http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/darkness/2006113020527_Civ4ScreenShot0092.JPG
111.96*KB


Romeo has been sending marines over now and then, so I'm keeping an eye out for trouble. So far he's razed a few cities, but I recently destroyed 4 transports full of marines and it has been quiet since...
He has recently founded a city on a small island north of my continent, so he may be getting ready to mount an offensive from there. I'm already moving some units (navy, air and army) north to meet him in case he does try to invade again.

[Darkness]

1900 AD

The space race has definately started...

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/darkness/2006128225749_Civ4ScreenShot0097.JPG
113.33KB

[Tubby Rower]

I don't think that this will be a real race since you have the edge in mfg goods, GNP ANP the space elevator. The only thing that could hurt you now is nukes ;)

[Darkness]

quote:Originally posted by Tubby Rower

I don't think that this will be a real race since you have the edge in mfg goods, GNP ANP the space elevator. The only thing that could hurt you now is nukes ;)


That was during my GA...
Now it's after my GA and I still have the edge in GNP, but Romeo has about 200 MFG more. But the elevator is great. I just built SS docking bay, the most expensive part (and Romeo hasn't gotten that tech yet), so I think I've got a small edge...

BTW: Nukes aren't going to come into this. Romeo built the UN, but I won the secretary general vote. Off course the first resolution was the anti-atomic weapens treaty-thingy... :D

[Darkness]

quote:Originally posted by Tubby Rower

I don't think that this will be a real race since you have the edge in mfg goods, GNP ANP the space elevator. The only thing that could hurt you now is nukes ;)


That was during my GA...
Now it's after my GA and I still have the edge in GNP, but Romeo has about 200 MFG more. But the elevator is great. I just built SS docking bay, the most expensive part (and Romeo hasn't gotten that tech yet), so I think I've got a small edge...

BTW: Nukes aren't going to come into this. Romeo built the UN, but I won the secretary general vote. Off course the first resolution was the anti-atomic weapens treaty-thingy... :D

[Darkness]

1912 AD

Romeo triggered his GA, so now it really is a race...

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/darkness/20061217234551_Civ4ScreenShot0110.JPG
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[Darkness]

1927 AD

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/darkness/2007127174559_Civ4ScreenShot0018.JPG
113.35KB

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/darkness/2007127174636_Civ4ScreenShot0019.JPG
197.19KB

:D

[Whomp]

Awesome game Darkness!!! That was about as evenly matched one will ever expect! Wow.wow.wow.

[barbu1977]

Just wondering, any comments about the map?

[Socrates]

So, have you won ? Not sure if I can conclude that from that last pic. Also, can the game be won by both players if both "win" on the same turn ? If not, was there any influence by the player roster ? (if yes, a small detail that can be easily solved in another game (software))

[Darkness]

Game over...

http://www.civ3duelzone.com/forum/uploaded/darkness/2007128163357_Civ4ScreenShot0020.JPG
195.92KB

@Barbu: The map was great. I did notice a that Romeo's continent appeared to have slightly more resources, but it was not a huge difference.

[BCLG100]

this thread took about half an hour to load but was worth it, nice play darkness, be interesting to see how far romeo was away from his one.

[Darkness]

quote:Originally posted by BCLG100

this thread took about half an hour to load but was worth it, nice play darkness, be interesting to see how far romeo was away from his one.


Yes, it would. I sent him an email asking him how many turns he still needed for his final spaceship part. :)

[Pastorius]

[woohoo]

Conga Rats

[Darkness]

quote:Originally posted by BCLG100

be interesting to see how far romeo was away from his one.


1 turn...
This must be the closest PBEM spaceship win in CDZ history...

[Beam]

quote:Originally posted by Darkness

quote:Originally posted by BCLG100

be interesting to see how far romeo was away from his one.


1 turn...
This must be the closest PBEM spaceship win in CDZ history...


Congrats Marcel! [goodjob] Iirc this match goes in the CDZ recordbooks indeed. Apart from the spacerace what other types of victory did you really consider and given it so close I'd also like Romeos view on this. :)

[Whomp]

One turn! Unbelievable.

[barbu1977]

quote:Originally posted by Darkness


@Barbu: The map was great. I did notice a that Romeo's continent appeared to have slightly more resources, but it was not a huge difference.


IICR, you both had exacly the same amount (and same type) of ressources, Romeo's Island being a bit smaller his ressources were packed closser.

[romeothemonk]

1 turn to victory for me.
2 keys that allowed darkness to win.
1) trading with the Mali
2) I sprang the marines on the wrong city, i.e. I didn't wait till I could wipe out Washington, I took easier stuff first.

All in all, this was a great game though. My congrats to Darkness for the win.

[Darkness]

quote:Originally posted by romeothemonk


2) I sprang the marines on the wrong city, i.e. I didn't wait till I could wipe out Washington, I took easier stuff first.


That would have hurt... Washington had 2 or 3 wonders in it.

[Pastorius]

I think cdz pbem history shows that failing to go for the big uns - trying to grab easier stuff - is what costs people the game...