It's not much of a start.
But France was nearby.
Brett's Games
Random
A Random Start on Monarch
CIV IV
Beyond The Sword
Game Save File
002-random-start-4000BC
Monarch
Dutch
William van Oranje
Default Game Settings
Continents
Cylindrical
Standard World Size
Temperate Climate
Medium Sea Level
Beyond the Sword 3.19
BUG Mod 4.5 [Build 2221]
BULL 1.4 [Build 243]
BAT Mod 4.1
Goal
The main goal for this game was to win on Monarch any way that I could. Since every guide I've ever read says that war is the way to go, that is my plan.
Reasons
Originally, I was going to call this secondary section 'Reasons for Playing this Map'. But this map is the counter of that. It's a totally random map, using the standard defaults. Basically, if I can win here, I can win anywhere. Or at least, that's what I'm going to tell myself.
Or if that's too wordy, I decided I didn't want to spend so much time regenerating maps in the future (as I had been in the past), so I opted to take what I got.
Strategies & Spoilers
So don't read beyond this point, if you don't want to know.
I don't remember how many units I lost. But the war was quick. So quick, I didn't have Alphabet and never got a single tech from Louis, which was a shame, as he was way ahead of me, having founded Confucianism.
After I took out France (all lickity split), I spent (basically) the rest of the game battling Ramesses II and Sitting Bull.
As it says in my game notes, I made one bad strategic decision (attacking Sitting Bull prematurely, when our units where equal, causing me to reload and/or cheat). So, I wasn't going to make the same mistake again. This is stack that won me the game. Oh, I had to pay to upgrade the units. But it was the same stack.
Also, note the cultural borders which hug my cities (Giza and Kituhwa, in the above).
As it says in my game notes, I made one bad strategic decision (attacking Sitting Bull prematurely, when our units where equal, causing me to reload and/or cheat). So, I wasn't going to make the same mistake again. This is stack that won me the game. Oh, I had to pay to upgrade the units. But it was the same stack.
Also, note the cultural borders which hug my cities (Giza and Kituhwa, in the above).
Fifty six years later and I'm winning the culture war.
This was a few turns prior to victory, immediately after my war with Ragnar of Viking fame.
And for all three of these cities, I could wait until the end of time and not win the culture war.
I returned the City of Jelling and Haithabu to Ragnar the Viking (after he became my vassal), because I am a kind and generous tyrant.
And I returned the City of Pharsalos to Pericles the Greek, because I am a fool. Well, I though it would increase my diplomatic bonuses. But when it came to the UN Election for Diplomatic Victory, he still voted for himself (being in second place and all). So, if I had kept that city, well, I only missed winning the election by ten votes.
OK. Pharsalos did not make any difference. But in a different game, it could have.
And for all three of these cities, I could wait until the end of time and not win the culture war.
I returned the City of Jelling and Haithabu to Ragnar the Viking (after he became my vassal), because I am a kind and generous tyrant.
And I returned the City of Pharsalos to Pericles the Greek, because I am a fool. Well, I though it would increase my diplomatic bonuses. But when it came to the UN Election for Diplomatic Victory, he still voted for himself (being in second place and all). So, if I had kept that city, well, I only missed winning the election by ten votes.
OK. Pharsalos did not make any difference. But in a different game, it could have.
Final Thoughts
Here's my capitol as we go into the final stretch.
It's big.
It's productive.
But it's not awesome.
I need to learn how to make a city awesome.
But that's for another game.
The Start
002-random-start-4000BC
My Cheating Heart
Being the place from where I rolled back, so my cheating confessional.
092-random-roll-back-AD-1650
Post Diplomatic Victory
002-random-diplomatic-victory-AD-1902
Rolling Game Notes
002-random-notes
The Post Game Replay File
002-random-replay
It's big.
It's productive.
But it's not awesome.
I need to learn how to make a city awesome.
But that's for another game.
The Start
002-random-start-4000BC
My Cheating Heart
Being the place from where I rolled back, so my cheating confessional.
092-random-roll-back-AD-1650
Post Diplomatic Victory
002-random-diplomatic-victory-AD-1902
Rolling Game Notes
002-random-notes
The Post Game Replay File
002-random-replay
Next time, maybe I'll have log files.