GalCiv II will be out next week. I ordered electronically (something I couldn't afford to do with GC1 because I was still on dialup at the time!)

I got my notice today for the "Pre-Load", which is a chance to grab most of the game files NOW, and only have to get the executables or whatever other minority of critical files they're holding back until release day, next week.

I have stayed pretty far away from GalCivII -- farther than Soren, as it turns out. I have no idea what exactly to expect other than the big picture stuff and some screens (which look rather good, actually.)

Anybody who wants more info can check out: http://www.galciv2.com/

No idea what, if anything, we will do for this game at RB. Depends on how it is received.


- Sirian

Well, I've been out of town all week, so unfortunately have no access to my machine to get a report written before Friday. I did have a lot of fun with this game - much thanks to Arathorn! - and achieved an 1888 launch with a largely peaceful game. The only war was Khan eating Roosevelt with me along for mutual military points, then a later mutual unit destruction stalemate I arranged between Khan and Qin.

Lacking a culture slider, I struggled with happiness and thus hit the financial wall at the six city point for about fifty turns, which definitely slowed me down compared to Sulla. I made good use of State Property+Pacifism for several late game GA's to catch up somewhat, but lacking aluminum, having the "building research" option unavailable, and not being able to build the Space Elevator in my Ironworks city made building the ship feel like pulling teeth.

Curious about the value of war vs peace, I played another game to take advantage of war chariots, conquering the Inca quite early and later much of Qin's land with help from Khan, and ended up with a.... 1888 launch!

Could be found here.

executive summary
Launch in 1924AD.
Semi phony war with Spain in the late game.
Convert all the continent to my unique late religion.

Jabah

Thank you to Arathorn for setting up this fun scenario. I apologize for the lack of screenshots, but I have to go to sleep, so I’ll take some screenshots tomorrow night.

Executive Summary: This was a typical builder’s game that ended with a launch in 1842. (The earliest I’ve ever launched.)

Pregame Thoughts.

Considering that Adventure 2 was supposedly "too easy" and Arathorn is one of the top players, I was very worried about things he might do to make this scenario harder. Would he put us on a continent with all aggressive civs, while all peaceful civs are happily researching on another continent? Would he surround our starting location by miles of empty desert?

On a more serious note, in addition to obvious disadvantage of later start of tech trading, lack of Alphabet would cause following problems:

1. Inability to build research.
2. Inability to build theaters.
3. Inability to use culture slider.
4. Inability to build Heroic Epic and West Point.
5. Inability to build National Epic, train Cavalry and do a couple other things I almost never do anyway.
6. Inability to build Great Library.

Problem 1 would mean that I have to be even more careful in the balance of research v. production, because I will not have the option of direct production -> research conversion. In all of my previous spaceship games, I found myself with too much production, having to wait a few turns in the end while last techs are being researched. So this game, I'll push research even more aggressively, perhaps even chopping down some forests in favor of cottages. (Building wealth is still an option, but that's a lot less flexible, because there is nothing to do with extra cash when you are at 100% research already.)

Problem 2 is neutralized by the fact that Egyptians are creative. (automatic culture in new cities) And lack of culture slider makes theaters far less useful for combatting WW.

Problem 3 is the biggest challenge to military expansion. I tend to rely exclusively on culture slider to combat WW. So lack of this slider will completely kill late-game offensive warfare. (WW tends to pile up much more quickly for me in modern wars. Is it a function of civics I am running at the time? Number of units involved? Bad luck?) This means that early expansion will be vital for this scenario. It takes a lot of cottages to launch the spaceship quickly and you can't build cottages in deserts, tundra, or plains.

Problem 4 just makes warfare even harder, but problem 3 already did that.

Problem 5 isn't really an issue. For example, I didn't even realize that I couldn't build cathedrals until looking at the tech tree late in the game.

Problem 6 is very annoying, because building Great Library as my first wonder often gives me Academies for 3-4 top science cities. (Those early great scientists come quickly when you get 10gpps per turn.)

Diplomacy.

I followed Atheist Appeasement policy, as I do in all builder games. The atheist part means not adopting (or even founding) any religions (going straight from paganism to free speech). This lets AIs get angry at each other due to religious differences, while you avoid that problem and become everybody's friend due to appeasement part of the strategy. The appeasement part starts by avoiding actions that can make your neighbors angry at you (no Open Borders or trades with your neighbors' enemies) and in the mid-game changes to trying to appease everybody relevant with Open Borders, resource for cash deals, etc. My report will not mention it explicitly, but I've tried to have a resource-for-cash deal going with each civ I had Open Borders with. ("Trade with enemies" penalty is neutralized by "fair trade" bonus, so "open borders" bonus and "years supplied with resources" bonus make universal resource for cash deals a good thing overall, if you can avoid too many demands for cancellation of trade with enemies.) Since Egyptians are spiritual, it's also easy to agree to demands for changing religion or civics, but I haven't had any such demands this game.

Early Game.

My pregame thoughts indicated that early war might be necessary, so that, combined with resources available at the start, determined my early research and builds.

I decide to settle in place, since map creation scripts supposedly heavily optimize starting location. I start Worker(15) to put pasture on those nice fat pigs. Research obviously goes into Animal Husbandry (12) for pastures and revelation of horses (for our UU). After that, research will go on to hunting, for camps on ivory. Then Archery (for early defense) and Pottery (cottages).

Warrior gets 56$ from eastern hut. I guess a tech was too much to hope for.

Buddhism was founded in 3680BC. So it's good that I didn't go chasing religions. (Not that I was planning to.)

Western hut gave our warrior experience. Better, but still not a tech I was hoping for.

In 3280BC I find horses to the north a couple turns after starting Archery research. I cancel research into Archery (wasting 16 beakers) and go on to Pottery. This luck is unbelievable and I keep waiting for something to go wrong.

I get Horseback Riding from a hut in 3120BC. Normally, I don’t get techs from huts and the irony is that when I finally did get one (and an expensive one at that) it was a tech that was actively harmful to me, because it almost obsoleted our great UU. If I hadn’t interrupted that Archery research I’d have to train expensive horse archers, instead of cheap War Chariots. I can’t even use it for trading material, because by the time AIs will get Alphabet, they’ll know it already.

Thebes finishes Warrior and goes on to build barracks, waiting to grow to about size 4 before training a settler. (The growth rate is amazingly fast, so waiting until size 4 is ok.)

In 2760BC we finally meet a Chinese warrior in jungles north-west of our capital. My fears of early conflict hadn’t been realized so far. In fact, we are protected by tundra on the south and a vast expanse of jungles on the north.

After Mining, research goes Fishing -> Sailing to enable coastal trade. (Foreign trade routes are worth twice more than domestic ones, so an early port on this map will have same effect as researching Currency.) Meanwhile, warriors explored most of the northern jungle. The worker starts building cottages on floodplains and the city starts Settler at size 4, after finishing Barracks.

However, placing second city NW of gold, to get horses, cows, rice and gold would make it a production powerhouse, so I go for that city placement and interrupt fishing research to get Bronze Working. (Horses are good, but a metal will be needed in the long run.)

When we learn Bronzeworking we find several sources of copper nearby. I can't believe this luck. Research is started in Iron Working, but is switched to Writing -> Math -> Currency, because Copper is enough for most military needs, so we can get back to improving economy.

Memphis is founded in 2080BC on a spot 1 NW of Gold. This city will be my main production center, in addition to running several cottages. (Even my top production city will be working as many cottages as it can in this game.)

In 2000BC we see a Quecha coming from the south. Did HC start in that southern tundra I didn't even bother exploring?

In 1960BC we are the least advanced Civilization in the world. How did that happen? Our GNP is quite respectable. And soon we see a Barb archer in the Jungles. It's good that both our copper and horses are about to be hooked up.

Helipolis is founded in 1640BC, getting another copper source, rice, marble and some hills. It will also serve as a stepping stone for our expansion into jungles.

I signed open borders with both Quin and HC. This might open up trade routes and improve relations later.

In 1200BC I get my first punishment for running 0 military. A barbarian warrior approaches my only source of hoses. I order up a chariot in Memphis, which will have to be whipped next turn. I also notice Barbarian city Gaul, which is already protected by 3 archers. It's 1 tile north of where I wanted to found a city, so it'll probably have to be rased. My newly built chariot does kill the warrior, but loses to an archer a couple turns later. However, by that time I've returned my scouting chariot, so the pasture will be rebuilt in time.

I am getting a constant stream of barbarians now. A camp is pillaged, causing my cities to fall into unhappiness. I guess 2 chariots isn't enough even for my small 3-city empire. I eventually build up a sizable chariot army with a shock-promoted chariot (and later a second, medic-promoted, chariot) using a river to guard southern improvements near capital, while several chariots protect the northern border and prepare to take out the barbarian city.

Currency is learned in 775BC and I go back to learn Iron working (find iron and clear jungles) and Sailing (coastal trade), because my 4th city will be coastal jungle city; followed by Calendar (to connect Bananas and sugar that will be supplied by forth city).

Elephantine is founded in 550BC near bananas and sugar in the coastal jungles NE of capital. The settler had to wait a couple turns while barbarian archer suicided against Wood2 warrior on a jungle hill.

In 375BC we destroy the barbarian town of Gaul, losing 1 chariot to take out 2 archers. Next year, we are ranked 4th most powerful civilization in the world. It seems barbarians had their own dotmap. Elephantine was founded 1 spot east of the blue circle and Gaul had to be razed, because it wasted a row of tiles, which would have fallen into radius of computer-suggested location for Elephantine. I later had to raze another barb city to the north, because it also didn’t fit along with location of my city that replaced Gaul, but would have worked perfectly with Gaul.

Mid-game Expansion.

150AD - We have 6 cities and are almost 1st in GNP and Production, 1st in land area and population and 5th in army size. First, Thebes has tons of food and is at happiness limit, so I'll "build Great Library" by assigning a couple scientists. However, Thebes, as well as all other large cities, also need to train some workers and settlers. Settlers have to settle before Memphis finishes Hanging Gardens in 19 turns. (Although the Hanging Gardens will probably be delayed to settle more cities first.)

I seriously consider settling near silver, iron, wheat and cows in the southern tundra, but that city would be too far (land between it and capital is worthless) and too likely to provoke war with HC. Since fighting over tundra is pointless, I decide to buy silver from HC instead and focus on expanding into northern jungle.

For research, I decide to change my focus towards a beeline to Liberalism. (CoL -> Civil Service -> Paper -> Education; Mysticism -> Meditation -> Philosophy -> Liberalism) I might decide to learn Philosophy earlier to get a religion, but I might be better off leaving yet another religion for AIs to potentially switch to, breaking their alliances. (So far every religion went to a different AI, causing noticeable tension.)

The Khan has had Alphabet for some time, but he is offering only Mysticism and Archery for trade. I wish I had Alphabet myself. It's going to take forever for all these warmongers to get it themselves.

Over the following several hundred years, I went on a massive land utilization campaign. Cities trained 3 new settlers and about half a dozen workers, who constructed many cottages.

Civil Service was discovered in 580AD and a great scientist was timed to be born in Thebes the same year. The construction of Academy, together with the switch to Beurocracy greatly increased our research output.

These efforts led to the fact that by the time Paper was discovered in 700AD, expected research time for Education dropped from over 30 turns to just 13.

That year we note that HC also has Alphabet, so we can make our first trade: Meditation for Priesthood and 20$.

Soon after that, Roosevelt also got Alphabet. Unfortunately he is too backwards to get much benefit from trading with him. HC sells Monarchy for Construction + 40$.

In 800AD we finally construct the Hanging Gardens. I delayed its completion until after founding the 9th city to let as many cities as possible enjoy the population boost. Perhaps I could have waited even longer, but I decided not to risk it. We also buy Machinery from Kubai Khan for Civil Service, our map and 50$.

Quin gets Alphabet the next year, finally allowing me to trade with everybody on our continent. He also has Feudalism, which I get from him for Civil Service and CoL. Looks like nobody has Guilds yet, but Chinese already have compass, which they are unvilling to trade. This doesn't matter, because I can learn it in 3 turns anyway.

We enter Renaissance era in 940AD with discovery of Education and decide to make a brief detour into Compass and Optics before going on to Philosophy and Liberalism.(I want to try to take Astronomy as the free Liberalism tech. However, I go for Philosophy, instead of Optics after getting Compass, because a couple people already had Compass when I finished, so I am assuming they are going for Optics next. This plan worked and in 1050AD I sell my newly discovered Philosophy to the Khan for Optics, 100$ and his map.

In 1100AD our Caravel finds new continent, making contact with Frederick and Asoka.

We discover Liberalism in 1120AD, taking Astronomy as the free tech.

In 1140AD I decide to sell Asoka Paper for his map and 10$. This is a good investment, because it reveals the entire second continent, with a trace of Frederick's Caravel going towards our continent. This completes the map, giving me circumnavigation bonus. I also bought Guilds from HC for Philosophy and Paper. I am considering just gifting some AIs a bunch of techs to speed up the technology rate in the game, but decided against it.

Late Game.

At this point, I could just coast to an easy victory, simply continuing to build science and cash improving buildings and cottages. However, that would be a bit boring and I'd like to speed up the victory. There are two ways to do it: a war to increase my land (more land = more research and production) or selling all techs for small amounts of cash to speed up the world tech pace. The drawback of war is that it's expensive (loss of foreign trade and resources, need to build an army, possibility of pillagers) and since Chinese cities aren't very well developed and have few (if any) towns around them, it would take a very long time until the war payed for itself. Besides, all my workers are currently busy clearing the land around 2 newest cities and I can establish at least 3 more fishing villages on my current land. So I decide to go the peaceful road and sell Guilds for cash to everybody who needs them, hoping that they will develop Banking and/or Gunpoweder for me.

I finally get Monotheism from Quin and he is no longer willing to trade with me. A couple turns later, I get Engineering from HC for Printing Press and the Khan is no longer willing to trade with me either. This proves that what matters is total number of trades you make, rather than whom you are trading with. It also means that I will soon have to go to war to speed up my research rate.

I discover Nationalism in 1230, but nobody is willing to sell me Banking. So I give up on getting AIs to research stuff for me and go to research Banking myself.

In 1380AD we can finally buy Gunpowder from HC. He was waiting until 2 other AIs had it before selling. It looks like we will not be getting much more use from trades. So after researching Corporation (in just 3 turns!) we will go on to Rifling and start building up forces to capture China. They have second highest research rate, so their cities must be pretty good.

A few turns later, Quin became willing to trade with me again. However, if I have enough Riflemen to take a few of his cities, I'll do it.

In 1505 I lost Taj Mahal to the Khan. It was just 2 turns from completion, but I was delaying it until after discovery of Democracy (which I discovered this turn) to get extra hummers from towns. I guess I shouldn't have delayed it by so much. At least I got 601$, which might have been comparable to the amount I could have gotten from the golden age itself. (Not really, but it's better than nothing.) I also got a third great scientist recenty, so I now have 3 academies. I finally switch to Free Speech, along with Universal Suffrage. I finally have enough towns to get bigger benefit from Free Speech than from Beurocracy.

We enter Industrial Era in 1525 with the discovery of Steam Power and immediately begin work on Assembly Line due in 6 turns. I had enough time to train only 4 riflemen and they are about to become obsolete already. Around this time, I also revolt to Emancipation, after applying last couple of whips.

In 1610 AD I am far ahead of everybody in GNP, Production, Population, etc. I am researching Physics and all the techs are expected to take 4-9 turns. My workers will soon be done railroading my territory and will have nothing to do as well. So I decide to use all troops I've gathered over the last few turns to attack China. This might delay my victory due to loss of trade routes, maintanance for captured towns, etc, but I want to see at least 1 war in the game, so I'll start one now. Besides, China has tons of workers near the border, improving border town, so I will not even have to risk my own workers in the war zone.

This Infantry+Artillery v. Riflemen + Longbows war was so lopsided that I didn’t even bother to take notes. About half a dozen infantrymen, supported by a few canons and artillery pieces, just walked from one city to another, leaving riflemen for protection and wounded troops for healing and joining in later battles. China made a couple of landings that forced me to upgrade a few riflemen to infantry, upgrade a galleon and rush-buy couple ships to protect fishing nets (that got pillaged anyway). However, overall the war was very uneventful. I stopped training troops shortly after war started, because the one or two dozen units I’ve had were enough.

In 1620, Indian fishing village Kolhapur revolted to join our empire. The same year, we discovered physics, getting a great scientist. War weariness is already kicking in and we have no way of combating it.

We constructed the Statue of Liberty in 1625.

By 1665 we've captured 4 Chinese cities, including the Christian Holy City.

In 1690 we capture Bejing. Next year we capture Makau (the fishing village near my coast that I was going to found myself) and see the real WW hit from capturing Bejing. Number of rebels went up from 2 in a couple cities and 4 in the capital to 4 in some core cities and 10 in the capital. So I have to make peace. Unforutnately, Quin refused to give the city that was applying preassure on Bejing, so Bejing will be a useless half-starved, perpetually rebelling, city.

Another thing that happened in 1690 is that we learned Industrialization and I realized that war against China would have been necessary anyway, because the closes Aluminum to our original borders is next to Guanzhou, the Christian holy city we've captured recently. This city will come out of resistance in 4 turns, just as we learn Rocketry, enabling us to start Apollo Program with access to Aluminum.

At my current research rate, it will take about 70 turns to research the rest of spaceship techs. However, I have Statue of Liberty, so switching to Representation increases my research rate by about 10%. I also spend over an hour doing extensive MM, giving shared town tiles to cities with bigger research modifiers, converting engineers to scientists, etc. However, all that work increases research rate by about 5%, so it only cuts about 3 turns from expected end date. This means that you don't really need to do MM unless you actually like it.

I also switch research to Radio -> Computers to let all cities build labs while one will be working on Apollo Program.

Setting all cities that have nothing useful to build on wealth lets me bump research up to 90%.

We enter Modern Era in 1715 with the discovery of Radio.

Broadway is constructed in 1725, while more and more cities are building wealth in preparation for availability of labs.

In 1735 we discover computers. Research is set to Rocketry, while all cities that have Factories and Observatories start building Labs. The current research rate is simply insane: 2222$. (Although we are running 91 gpt deficit with about 700$ in the bank.) At current rate, researching Future Tech would take only 6 turns!

In 1750 we discover Rocketry and go on to Plastics (in just 3 turns) (for the Dam) -> Robotics (for the Elevator). Usually I get Robotics before Rocketry, but in this game there is no danger of losing the Space Elevator, so I can start Apollo Program first. However, I will still start that program in my second most productive city (Thebes), leaving the top city (Memphis) for the Elevator. Also that year, a Chinese revolt takes place in Bejing and Chinese borders expand, making Bejing completely useless even when it comes out of revolt.

Next turn, Thebes starts the Apollo Program, due in 16 turns. (A windmill was "borrowed" from nearby city to speed up the project, putting that city into temporary food shortage.)

Three Gorges Dam is started in Memphis and is scheduled to complete just 1 year after the Apollo Program. This will force Space Elevator to be built in my 3rd production city, but I am planning to rush it with the Great Engineer I'll get from Fusion, so it should complete quickly too. Next turn, selling Physics to most AIs nets me about 700$, letting me run 100% research for 4 turns, bringing Robotics down to 4 (3 turns on it left).

In 1780 I get a Great Engineer in Elephantine. This means that I'll be able to hurry Space Elevator even before learning Fusion.

In 1785 I learn Robotics and realize that the city in former tropical jungles near the center of the map where I was planning to build the Space Elevator is ineligible. However, a city close to the edge of the southern turndra is. That is my 3rd highest production city, so I am not complaining. However, it's weird, because I thought Space Elevator could be built only near the equator.

In 1800 we complete The Pentagon, one of the wonders I started in a minor city, just out of boredom.

I use the Great Scientist I've been saving to speed up Fiber Optics, because all other great people insist on discovering Fascism and I'll get at least two more great people, so enough for a golden age.

In 1814 we finish the Apollo Program. We also learn Fusion and use the newly received Engineer, together with a previously saved Engineer, to hurry the space elevator, forcing its completion next turn, simultaneously with the 3 Gorges Dam.

In 1816, when both wonders are complete, I assign spaceship parts to cities. There is reserved space for 3 thrusters (will be available in 2 turns) and a couple casings will be started at that time, to make them complete simultaneously with most other parts. The last two parts will be enabled by Genetics and Ecology and will be scheduled in 1st and 2nd production cities respectively. The Genetics part is pretty big and will probably take 8 turns to complete. It will take 10 turns of research to get genetics at current rate. However, I am about to generate a great person in one of my cities. So the launch might happen before the 18 turn estimate.

In 1824 I realize that research into Genetics will complete 1 turn sooner than I'll be ready to build Stasis Chamber. This sounds like good time to switch from Representation back to Universal Suffrage. This does bring ETA on Docking Bay down by 1 turn.

The Eiffel Tower completes in Elephantine 1826. Main benefit of this is that we get 136$ in Alexandria, the city that was building it before switching to more urgent projects. I am currently running 100% research at -300gpt, selling everything to AIs for all their cash, so this cash is quite welcome. We also get a great scientist in Asyut, so we can finally trigger a Golden Age. (I used Sirian’s idea from Adventure 2 to hire an extra merchant to speed up the great person generation, making my last great person appear just in time to trigger the (first and) final Golden Age.)

First ship components complete in 1828 and many more complete in 1830 and 1832.

We learn Genetics in 1832 and start research on Ecology in 2. Stasis Chamber is started in Memphis and will be ready in 5 turns. All these cities building wealth in a Golden Age let us make money at 100% science. I wish I could build science, instead of wealth.

We learn Ecology in 1836 and start work on Life Support in Thebes, due in 3 turns, just as the golden age runs out. The last of older spaceship components have completed this turn.

Space Race Victory in 1842. The fastest I've ever launched!

The "race" wasn't even close, with none of the AIs finishing (or perhaps even starting?) Apollo program.

This was a notable game for me for a number of reasons. For one its my first attempt at doing a tournement game. Secondly it was the first time I finished a game on a difficulty level higher than Noble (just picked up the game in January)--on any Civ (and I've been playing since the original). In fact I spent most of Civs I-III hovering around the lower difficulty levels.

Three things made me want to work on upping my game. One was the fact that Civ 4 is by far a much, much deeper game than any of the previous incarnations. The other was the inclusion of overflows and the subsequent elimination of the tedious micro that was neccessary to maximize research and production resources. More importantly was Sirian's Great Library, which I stumbled on around the time of Epic 14, the Greek always war game. It was a facinating read, and it opened my mind to the possibilities of the game, which at that time I played more like a glorified SimCity.

Fortunatly, this particular game was pretty merciful with its starting position. The opening city position had 7 flood plainsthere was a pig and an ivory nearby, there were 5 hills (one for the piggie and two with forests). This city would not only grow quickly, but with mines and cottages there would be a tremendous amount of production and commerce. Just as a capper, copper also is found on one of the grassland tiles. The only thing missing is a coast.

The continent itself was littered with a wide variety of resources, including marble near the capital and enough food and luxires to keep my rapidly growing cities fat and happy even into the high teens. Even more importantly was the shape of the contient. Nice, fat, and resource loaded in the middle, with two narrow land bridges to the north and south. This made cutting off my neighbors (Qin to the north and HC to the south) a top priority.

My third and fourth cities were founded on the north bridge for just that purpose. The first snuggly on the coast between the sugars and banana, the the other on the south coast between the ivory and rice. With Cultural trait the gaps quickly closed. My fourth city I founded on the south bridge, in range of the horses and wheat. With closed boarders I was free to back fill the remaining land at my lesiure.

My second city was founded northwest of my capital to take advantage of the horses and two seafoods. I was going to be ignoring the metal techs for a while in favor of getting to Code of Laws via Priesthood and Writing. Without copper or iron I was going to need War Chariots to win the fight against the barbs. Interestingly enough I would spend almost the whole game without Horseback Riding, so most of my chariots were never upgraded the whole game.

With my neighbors blocked and the barbs under control I turned back to the task of establishing my empire. Because of the resorces of my capital and my marble I decided on a Oracle --> Civil Service gambit. It payed off and I switched to Bureacracy immediatly and stayed there the rest of the game except when I needed to draft up some military.

A bonus effect was discovering Confucianiusm before anyone else on my continent had their own relegions. The one true faith spread and my entire hemisphere bowed down to the wisdom of fortune cookies. This made relations with my immediate neighbors easy, let me build a highly profitable shrine, and would come in very handy later in the game.

One thing I did not count on was being able to trade techs. I forgot that even without Alphabet, if another civ has it then you can still trade with them. I was able to back fill Bronze, Iron, and Sailing and started in on Metalworking. I even managed to get Colosus built (a boon with so many coastal towns) and eventually my empire was a healthy 16 cities.

After that it was an uneventful game. I lost a (literally) one horse town in the southeast due to an expected Spanish invasion. A few rushed destroyers and some draftees took care of the interlopers, and I involved the Chineese in the fight to keep both of them occupied while I focused on accumulating techs. Turns out that might of been the key to winning, as he was at war with Spain long after we made peace, which probably dampened his spaceship production.

Not having access to Alluminum meant that getting research labs and the elevator were going to be top priority. As Thebes was pumping out Apollo, my other cities were building labs. I rushed the elevator for almost the full amount (after stopping research for a few turns to pay for it). I build all the casings and thrusters in various cities, and build all of the expensive one ofs in Thebes, winning the game in 1941.

The varient turned out to matter much less than I thought it would. I was able to still trade techs with other civs. I wasn't able to build research in cities, but building wealth worked just as well allowing my to devote more tax money to science. Not being able to increase culture spending didn't really impact this map, as there were a ton of luxuries to be had and willing trade partners to fill the gaps. The only thing that ended up really effecting my game dramatically was the required space race win. I'm pretty sure I would of won a dimplomatic victory much sooner, as I had Friendly status with several swing vote civs at one point.

Well, thanks for reading. Hopefully I can be a bit more informative next time. I just hope my time is respectable.

Thanks,

Woebearer

I wish I had a full report at this time, but...

Space Race victory in 1912AD.

Full report to come (most likely) on Wednesday.
Hopefully.
If I have time.

I wasn't actually going to even bother with a report, but I think I had the earliest war for reasons I can't entirely figure out.

Here is the report.

Failed somehow by researching or trading for alphabet then saving the game .


Summary:
Executed a flawless traditional CS slingshot, founded Conf and Taoism in the same city.
HC declared war on me very early, and razed one of my cities with a sneak attack from the sea.
I retaliate with a war chariot that was scouting his territory and take one of his cities.
There's some more back and forth action before the war concludes.
The game ends just before I learn Liberalism, after the oopsie.

Speculation:
AI's get pissed off by Slingshots - they think an insane tech lead equates to poor military and automatically declare war.

Hi, everyone, and sorry for the *extremely* short summary. I'm up to my ears in schoolwork, and my time for reports is, well, zero.

This game was a lot of fun. Peaceful expansion, no wars (except phony ones with Roosevelt) and a solid coast towards a space race victory.

The lack of alphabet did not even phase me. Not one iota. While this game was lots of fun (I like monarch with an easy setup!), I look forward to more involved variants in the future.

Space race victory, 1932.

-Jester

Hey guys, I had alot of fun with this game. My report is not super-detailed.. but I hope you guys enjoy it nonetheless. It may also have some spelling errors because I just wrote it somewhat quickly.

http://slibby.net/Civ/Adventure4/

Anyways, time to read other peoples reports.

You research Alphabet after you launch of course! *grins*



The glorious Egyptians: A Space Race win – in 1963.

And this is after they overcame the following interesting hurdles:
- no religion discovered
- no state religion ever
- no religion in any city at all until 880AD – and it’s Christianity
- no war ever initiated by Egypt
- only four 2-movement units built before tanks (and only 6 of those built)
- 3 naval vessels built (but only after work boats had been pillaged)
- no aircraft ever
- no wonders built until 1550AD (even then it’s Hagia Sophia – faster workers)
- unable to research at 100% due to lack of gold for almost all the game
- a panicked and mistimed golden age (or was it ?)

But I did find a strategy or two that I will use in future, including making this a remarkable trading game, and of course, it’s sometimes good to be lucky. :-)

Now that our ancient and wise leader: Narmer, has left on the Space Ship Ra 1, we have relaxed his ‘forbidden law’. The barbarian Alphabet needs to be learnt as our wise priests wish to spread the word to our heathen neighbours – the story of the glorious Egyptian empire and their triumphs. *smiles*

- - - - - - - - - -

In the beginning … Ra breathed life into the world, and Amun let Thebes be founded on the bountiful banks of the River Nile. Foreign gods let seven other peoples settle also. Heathens all!

Because we knew our gods already, we ignored the false spiritual quest others were bound to take in their ignorance, and so went for knowledge to let us grow and find sacrifices for our beloved gods (Animal Husbandry > Hunting > Archery).

A new (for me) opening – a Worker – to make our lands even more productive, followed by a Warrior and a Scout who soon dies to an animal, but is replaced by one from a hut. Horus, looking down from the sky, wants us to see all the land he can. :-)

Border expansion (3000BC) due to worship of Ptah, god of the craftsmen, pops a Warrior and Pottery. The gods are kind, allowing me to meet China (2840BC). Friendly heathens. ;-)

Mysticism learnt – and yes I try Polytheism (strange – I already believe in the many TRUE gods of Egypt), but Anubis strikes me down as it falls elsewhere – so I swap to Mining > Bronze Working to appease the Mummification God with shiny idols instead.

He must have been pleased as I meet Inca (2520BC), however death and pain would always be associated with these lost heathens. *sadness*

Revolt to Slavery (2440BC) although I’m sure Cheops actually used conscripts. ;-)

The third pagan religion falls (2280BC) as the gods grant me more knowledge. Polythesism > Writing.

Horus knows that some of the foreign heathens will soon have conflict (arrows indicate direction of expansion by 2000BC). I’m just glad Amun-Ra kept us away from those heathens, especially our two closest neighbours who are the world’s most powerful! Note: I still haven’t built my 2nd city yet.



With Copper linked (1920BC) I build trinkets to a new goddess – Neith the hunteress, to help catch those Horses at City 2: Memphis (1880BC). A nice river location NW of Thebes with Rice, Horses, Gold & Cows. First build, a Worker in honour of the goddess (not sure how smart this was – but who said religion was smart ?). ;-P

Thoth – god of writing – shares his knowledge (1760BC) and I immediately Open Borders with both neighbours, and send a double woodsman promoted Warrior into China to explore – he’ll survive the game, but never make it home again! :-\ (Iron tech next)

Seth – god of disorder – has been stirring up the Hindu Mongols (they also discovered Judaism) and they are the score leader when I meet them (1600BC) on the other side of China. Open Borders arranged, but Seth laughs and seals the border again once they’re through.

Bes – protector of pregnant women – looks after my Warrior, who upon meeting the Americans (1400BC) – Open Borders again – keeps him safe forever within their embrace. And also lets my 3rd City be born: Heliopolis, on the East coast Copper (near Clams, Rice and more Elephants).

After Iron (1080BC) > Fishing (the God Khnum of the inundation whispers in my dreams) > Sailing. (research 60%)

In 1000BC the heathens are obviously being counseled by Seth who also brings storms and war! Two areas of future conflict are circled. The black squares are known barbarian cities. Resource rich Nubians in the North? How confusing.



The yellow arrow in the above pik becomes the location of City 4 – my HUGE land grab after seeing Wheat, Silver, Cows, and a very defensible hill site! More resources ? Yes please! Apis is worshiped in this city: Elephantine (700BC), as I was bull headed about settling there, and bull headed about keeping it! Settler arrived just one turn before the Inca, and boy – did that piss them off!! *laughs* Horseback > Masonry (research 40%) [The Chinese visited Saqqara then built their own Pyramid (675BC)]

375BC – 25BC : The First China / Mongol War

Our many gods must frighten Herodotus, as he proclaims Egypt 2nd largest of all civilizations (350BC). Least it’s something as I’ve no money, no research, and I’m trailing in score. By 1AD Egypt obviously has fewer cities, but is using the culture trait effectively. ;-)



And from Ra’s point of view: Yes unhappiness, no ‘fake’ religion you see. A strategy I like is fog busting – I’ve units stationed at each yellow circle – including naked settlers – useful to have around on future city sites so they cannot be stolen from you. *nods* And a stack next to that northern barb city, one day destined to become my Forbidden Palace site. Note: Elephantine is fighting a culture war on the southern Inca border. Oh, and Imhotep magicked the extra cash when I didn’t complete the Parthenon. So we shall continue to worship on the Nile riverbanks. (Heading for Currency at 40%)



Over the next 500 years not much happens. China and I begin making trades, keeping Thoth happy:

(225AD) China: Gems / Ivory – well, if they are going to fight the Mongols! ;-)
(325AD) China: Sheep / Rice

And I begin to spam cottages on grasslands, and some floodplains – and ensure they are worked in preference to hammers!

Suddenly there’s a coup in Egypt, Tuthmosis takes the crown, and the War gods rally. The northern barbarian town of Hsung-Nu falls to our axes (520AD), and we celebrate by building Alexandria on the northern coast (Sheep, Rice, Banana & Iron). China must be impressed because they soon demand Copper. What ? less idols to worship ? No chance, so they close off their borders!

The Inca capture that other barbarian town near China, stupid moves let me miss it after they’d weakened it. So instead I build Pi Rameses (740AD) on a hill (Rice and Banana) to fill in the gap. Now I’ve Incan borders north AND south!

(800AD) China: Incense / Pig (even though they first asked for copper)

Thoth must be happy with us as he’s taught us his other skill – counting, which led to Currency (860AD). Markets ordered as I head for Metal Casting. So happy is Thoth with a positive income he lets me build Giza on the NW river Bananas (Cow, Rice, Sugar).

880AD – Foreign gods appear for the first time – Christianity – the Egyptian people reject these false gods. But will later spread it for the use of their temples. ;-)

The Egyptians soon are under the wing of Taweret, actually a bird’s probably the only animal that doesn’t make up part of this Hippo/Woman/Lion/Crocodile God of Fertility and Growth! Slowly we are able to support each new city – and with another in 940AD: Byblos – our northern settlements are now fully complete. [Spain / India war starts]



The Goddess Isis – Guardian of Egypt for the next 500 years of peace – directs our research after Metal Casting (1030AD) > Calendar (for those luxuries) > Construction (1110AD) > Code of Laws (for Court Houses), and also encourages our trades:

(1170AD) America: Meditation + Priesthood + 170g / Calendar
China: Wine / Sugar
Mongols: 5g/t / Pig (research 50% at -1g/t *shrugs*)

1210AD – 1540AD : The Second China / Mongol War

… whilst Egyptians revolt to Caste System Civic. Another city ? Why not. El-Amarna – SE fishing village (Fish, Clams, Horses). (research 40%)

(1270AD) Mongols: Incense / Dye
America: 5g/t / Dye (research 50% at -13g/t *winks*)

Another Isis inspired revolt (Bureaucracy Civic – 1310AD) (next Machinery > Paper > Printing Press). Finally Breaking Even at 50%! Courthouses help too. So decide on another city! Hieraconpolis – a coastal gap filler. [America also declares war on the Mongols!]

(1370AD) Mongol: demands 160g – give. (but don’t help with their war!)

Isis is kind, or distracted by Ra, and I finally meet unfriendly Germany (1390AD) whilst my first Great Person appears from specialist citizens – a Great Scientist (Academy in Thebes).

When Abydos, the city of the dead, is appropriately built on the southern resourceless wastelands (1400AD), the southern settlements are now fully complete. No more cities will ever be built by Egypt. Isis is happy. So happy that …

(1420AD) America: Compass + World Map + 280g / Paper

… causing me to hit the Score lead! :-) Even if last in Tech! :-\ *laughs*



… and I also meet India (1440AD) who’s in last place, trade maps to find that Spain is a monster!

(1490AD) Inca: demands Copper – Apis Bull says No.
India: Optics / Paper + pay 100g (heading for Liberalism)

(1500AD) Inca: Monarchy + Theology + Engineering / Printing Press + pay 260g



Isis bestows her last gift: a Great Merchant (1505AD) and whilst he travels I set Research to 80% even if -40g/t. To Pacifism Civic (1515AD) as cheaper.

(1520AD) Mongol: Feudalism + 60g / Printing Press

The Apis Bull grows horns as The Incan Empire declares WAR! (1530AD) Did I just pay towards their war effort ?? :-P

On the next turn I capture their northern city of Ligurian (that ex-Barb city) and defend with bullish simplicity on my southern border. That’s it. Easily holding firm. The Merchant will obtain 1500g in Mongolia allowing 70% at – 17g/t. I meet unhappy Spain (1550AD) and …

… build my first Wonder to the Egyptian Gods!! Hagia Sophia (1550AD). :-)

The people celebrate learning Liberalism (1565AD) converting to their favourite Civics to spread the Egyptian gospel: Free Speech and Free Religion. Nationalism next (for the Taj) but notice 2 civs already have it! :-(

(1565AD) China: Guilds + 110g / Liberalism
Germany: Gunpower + 190g / Printing Press (60%, +23g/t for the war effort)

(1605AD) America: Banking + Astronomy + 280g / Nationalism + Liberalism (70%, – 20g/t)

PEACE! (1605AD) … and I start the Taj Mahal (10 turns but a couple of forest chops and rearranging citizens will reduce it to 5). Change to Mercantilism Civic (next tech > Replaceable Parts > Economic > Chemistry, then > Biology (+1 farms)).



(1615AD) Spain: demands 190g – reject!

Ankenaten and Nefertiti jointly reign, at Hsung-Nu in the Forbidden Palace, built at the same time as the Taj Mahal in Thebes (1630AD). It is a Golden Age – and the Aten, or Solar Disc (arrowed) – appears for 8 turns in the Heavens. Note my valuable towns along the Nile River!



A Great Scientist (1660AD) learns that a single god is wrong for the Egyptian people and they leave the golden age behind as an Academy is built in Heliopolis.

(1675AD) Mongol: demands Replaceable Parts – reject!

(1690AD) America: Crab / Banana

The Apis Bull awakes – this time angrier and with sharper horns – the Incan Empire again declares WAR! (1695AD). Convert to Representation Civic (1700AD).

(1695AD) America: Declare War on Inca / Constitution

The Apis Bull provides us with strength unbeatable, and also, another Great Scientist (1730AD) who will watch this battle as the Bull incarnate, kept for the future.

I capture the southern Inca border town of Cori (1735AD), but press onwards with VERY slow-moving single-movement troops.

1755AD – 1832AD : The Third China / Mongol War

(1755AD) India: Divine Right + World Map + 20g / Nationalism
America: Rifling / Scientific method + World Map + pay 1460g *ouch*

(1770AD) Spain: demands Nationalism – reject!
India: Declares War on Inca (WITHOUT prompting! – honest!)

Capture Incan Huamanga (1775AD) but lose it next turn.

(1775AD) Spain: Luxury + Health / Luxury + Health

Capture Incan Huamanga again (1785AD) and ensure I keep it by reinforcing with my entire invasion army!

Osiris, god of the underworld, honours all those lost in battle by gifting us a Great Engineer (1795AD), who along with my 1730AD Great Scientist means I have enough for a Golden Age – instead, both are saved. (Tech heading for Radio)

As the Americans declare peace with the Inca (1808AD), I attack Machu Picchu, capture it, and obtain Peace the same turn also. The Apis Bull moves to this new home on the border, well knowing that this will provoke the Inca.



(1810AD) Inca: demands Democracy – Apis Bull says No.
India then ask for help in their War versus Inca – Apis Bull *laughs* then says No. (They find peace in 1820AD) (Still 70%)

(1816AD) America: Steel + 1160g + World Map / Physics

(1822AD) Germany: demands 240g – give.
Spain: Silk + 3g/t / Ivory
China: 6g/t / Clam
America: 4g/t / Ivory
Mongol: 2g/t / Horse (*wink* still at war with China)
Inca: 3g/t / Sugar
India: 3g/t / Horse (80% now, – 15g/t)

(1826AD) Spain: Open Borders (& income becomes +7g/t!)

After patiently waiting for us to become the Egypt of destiny, Sobek the crocodile god, offers encouragement with a Great Scientist (I’ve one already – so Academy in Alexandria, 1830AD). (Tech heading for Mass Media – Priests on TV)

(1836AD) Spain: demands 250g – give ... but … but …

… but Isabella must have hated what those Mass Media Priests began broadcasting (1838AD), about the only true Gods being Egyptian and Declares WAR! (Next techs are > Steam > Assembly Line > Railroad)

China: Declare War on Spain + 1030g / Electricity
America: Declare War on Spain + 20g / Biology
India: Declare War on Spain + World Map + 160g / Steel

A crocodile unseen is even more dangerous, and always has a nasty grin!



(1850AD) Inca: Clam / Dye (after Spain pillaged mine, but no troops were ever seen – I wonder why). ;-)

Sobek shows we are doing the right thing, presenting another Great Scientist that year (As I’ve now 2 … Academy in Hsung-Nu).

(1852AD) America ask for Universal Suffrage – Sobek says No.

Sobek *grins* showing his teeth as the Statue of Liberty is built, and we begin the UN, using our Great Engineer, who was being saved for a Golden Age, but we know our gods will be kind. Change to Emancipation & Universal Suffrage Civics. 4 of 5 Civics are the most advanced now. ;-)

Sobek grips the future in his teeth as we build the UN (1858AD) and then the Eiffel Tower (1860AD), and the other civs know the death roll is soon …

The Incan Empire decides unwisely to declare WAR! (1860AD) and Seth must be walking the globe as chaos spreads …

1864AD : The Fourth China / Mongol War begins

Oh, and remember they’re all still fighting Spain! *grins* (Tech towards tanks!)

(1868AD) Germany: Declare War on Inca + 200g / Biology
UN: Single currency – Yes!

With war everywhere, the world is a mess!

(1876AD) UN: No Nukes – Yes!
And Broadway is built so the History of the Egyptian Gods may be performed.

(1888AD) UN: Free Religion – Yes! My gods are so pleased Rock and Roll appears!

Oh, and the war potters along slowly, but surely! What’s that ? I can’t build tanks ? No oil wells ? Ahhh – first is built in the Valley of the Kings opposite Thebes. :-) (Tech to Plastic)

(1892AD) Spain: Peace – costs World Map
Spain: 18g/t / Hit Singles

The slow creep of the crocodile into Incan territory …



Techs after Plastic are as follows: Computers > Robotics > Fission > Fibre Optics > Fusion (I’m after that Great Engineer, and will come back later for the Apollo techs, they should be cheaper with the AI all learning them, and then begin the Space Ship all at once – well, that’s the plan!)

UN: Open Markets – Yes!
UN: Emancipation – Yes!

Sobek is feeding well on the Incan underbelly, rewards a Great Artist (1912AD) who along with the aging 1730AD Great Scientist, means once again I have enough for a Golden Age – both are saved together in Thebes. Sobek is satisfied with his meal, kicking the Inca off the continent and onto three islands, PEACE is declared (1916AD), and our crocodile god is never seen again, going off to live in the 3 Gorges Dam built in China.



Min, the phallic god of fertility, thrusts his way onto the scene in Hollywood (1925AD) and life becomes unsettled in Egypt.

(1928AD) Spain: demands Hit Movies – give
UN: Environmentalism – Fails! But … but … I need those health!! :-(
Whilst yet another unwanted Great Scientist builds an Academy in Giza
And a Chinese Great Artist is seen wandering alone near Thebes!! Tourist perhaps ?



(1929AD) Germany: Communism + 850g / Mass Media
America: Defense Pact

UN: Environmentalism – Fails again! So the UN is closed down, never to vote again! *Min is now too busy to worry, starring in numerous porn movies!*

Whilst the gods play, the people work, producing a Great Engineer (from Fusion, 1936AD) who’s saved, (Tech > Refrig > Genetics (SS Part + Health)), and the Space Elevator is built (1937AD). Egypt builds the infrastructure before the knowledge! ;-)



(1940AD) *News Flash* China completes Apollo! *News Flash*



(1941AD) *News Flash* China most advanced civ! *News Flash*



Is that ONLY because I don’t know the 5 Alphabet based techs ?? *ponders*

Horus reappears to once more guide the Egyptians, hawk eyes looking towards the future. With genetics (1942AD) our health problems are over, and it’s time to head for > Artillery > Rocketry (Apollo) > Satellites > Ecology (last SS tech & we’ll be done!). Horus, our sharp eyes, sends our first Spy to China, where …

(1943AD) *News Flash* China completes first SS Casing! *News Flash*

(1945AD) *News Flash* China working on Docking Bay! *News Flash*

I only start the Apollo program in 1947AD, and wake my saved Great Engineer only to find …



… he cannot build it! *PANIC* … and I wonder if I should start a Golden Age … until …

1947AD : The Fifth China / Mongol War begins!

(1948AD) *News Flash* China working on Cockpit! *News Flash*

*PANIC* … and start a Golden Age … calling for a return of the divine Ankenaten and the beautiful Nefertiti. The other Gods feel threathened, and so the Golden Age of a single god (so wrong to the Egyptian people) only really helps a single city: Thebes. With the Great Engineer added as a Super Citizen, the Apollo Program is reduced from 10 to 7 turns, and then a single forest chop reduces it to 6!

*News Flash* China doesn’t have all the Space Ship Techs *News Flash*

Ooops – I should have looked at that first! That’s the problem with a single god! Not enough eyes looking after the Empire! *grins*

(1952AD) *News Flash* Spain completes Apollo! *News Flash*

… and with only 2 turns of the Golden Age left Egypt finally completes the Apollo program! (1954AD) *distasteful taste as it’s named after a heathen god* :-P (to Environmentalism Civic)

The entire Egyptian empire is re-organised, every city is examined, and ALL 13 Space Ship pieces are scheduled for production AT ONCE! Horus guides us forward. Maximum time to completion = 9 turns, but the golden age ends in 1. (Red arrows denote the location of my 2 spies)



As the Golden Age ends, the times remain the same, making me wonder if it was timed well. *shrugs* 4 turns off the Apollo then, or 4 turns off the SS components now ?

(1956AD) *News Flash* Spain completes first SS Casing! *News Flash*

(1958AD) *News Flash* China completes Cockpit! *News Flash*

Horus spreads his wings …

(1959AD) Egypt completes first SS Casing!

(1963AD) Egypt completes Space Ship!

Horus lets us soar off into the realm of Ra – the Sun God.



10hrs 43mins, Game Score 4188, Score 15046