Civilization IV
Beyond The Sword
Thomas' War

2021-04-20
(c) Copyright Brett Paufler

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I am almost done with my taxes.  So, maybe, just maybe, it is time to play another Game of Civilization.

This time, I will be trying out Thomas's War (henceforth, at times, Tom War).

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As per all the Mods, I will be installing Tom War into a Fresh Install of Civ.  But in contrast to the other installs, I will be installing this Mod (and likely all future Mods) into the Default Directory as recommended by The Installer.

CIV IV COMPLETE
C:\Program Files (x86)\2K Games\Firaxis Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 4 Complete

Civ4BeyondTheSwordPatch3.19
Run as Administrator

C:\Program Files (x86)\2K Games\Firaxis Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 4 Complete\Beyond the Sword\Mods\Thomas' War

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C:\Users\DATA\Documents\My Games\Beyond the Sword\CivilizationIV.ini

Edits to ini File:
    Mod = Thomas' War
    FullScreen = ask

Actually, these User Files were not zeroed out when I deleted the old install.  So, I might not have listed all the changes.

Eh, I'm just going to zero them out now by deleting the directory en bulk.

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I started The Game, so the My Games directory would be rebuilt, getting an error message the first time I tried to run The Game.  But all looks good now.

C:\Users\DATA\Documents\My Games\Beyond the Sword

CivilizationIV.ini
    FullScreen = ask
    MaxAutoSaves = 1000
    AutoSaveInterval = 1
    Mod = Thomas' War
    GameName = Tommy Boy
    Alias = Tommy Boy
    CheatCode = 0 (could be chipolte)

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2021-04-20

Thomas' War is installed and is ready to play.  The previous error messages were from using a Shortcut to Start The Game.  So, for now, I will be Starting from the Base Directory.

Lots of new content... and not all of it readily explainable.  For instance, I don't know where a Leader List listing Traits might be found.

Further, there are preferred Game Settings, which I should keep in mind.

But that's it for the day.

It looks like I am up and running.

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2021-05-08

I was planning on Custom Building a World.  But, perhaps, a Random Start will get me close enough.

Monarch
2 Players per Team
4 Teams
1 Continent Per Team

I am Casimir of Poland, as he's got both Philosophical and Industrious, the magical combination.

All other Players are Random.

No Barbarians
Aggressive AI
Permanent Alliances
No Tribal Villages
No Random Events

All Victories!

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Changed to:
    Continents & Islands
    Choose Religions

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I don't have Mysticism, so I killed Mysticism from everyone else, so I'd get The Religions I want.

In many ways, this looks like a weak start.  But it has the essential features.

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I do not like Choose Religion, as I cannot keep track {of where my opponents are} that way.  Also, I will switch {My Ally} to someone who has Mysticism as their first Technology.  Perhaps, Isabella, she knows how to fight and run an empire.

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2021-05-08
4000BC
T0

Let's try this again.

Isabella is on My Team.

Religions are Hard Coded to Techs.

I have a Baked Start.

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2021-05-08
1200BC
T230

I do not have Espionage on anybody.  But I'm getting most of The Wonders; and so far, all of The Religions.

Isabella is not expanding as fast as I would like.  But her Power is right near the top.  So, that's good enough.

I'm liking all the extras... plenty of New Wonders and Loads of Religions, which will allow me to make a Mega Religious Powerhouse.

Though, at the moment, I'm Building Wonders.  I don't have as much freedom to infill lesser Buildings, because Isabella might decide to Build a Wonder on me.

Now, I am not ready for a War; but then, neither is anybody else.  And outside of an Early War, I think I am going to run away with this.  There's just too many Bonuses coming may way, slowing adding on top of one another.

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T233: War not us, two other Civilization Groupings.  So, in many ways, that is Game.

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2021-05-08
450BC
T305

So as to minimize the number of Wonders Isabella Builds, I am staggering my Research of Wonder Techs.

Nothing much else is happening.

No War.

And War seems unlikely.

All the same, I am Building a few Triremes in-between Wonders, you know, as I am out of Wonders to Build.

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I do not have The Proper Graphic for The Wetlands Tile, so they are Pink, which I find annoying.

+ Wonders
+ Religions
- Wetlands

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T505: Isabella has Captured a City on Another Continent.  So, that's nice independent action.

Trying For:
    Every Wonder
    Every Religion

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T543: It would appear I suffer from my Team Mates War Weariness.

T600: Twenty-Five... And Done!  Nothing is happening.  I'm Building Units. Catapults, mostly.

{In these Builder Games, I often try to limit my play to runs of 25 Turns.  In a War Situation, this metric is meaningless.  So, I tend to break at Critical Points: before or after Key Assaults.}

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2021-05-09
2442AD
T626

King Kong's Capital is all by its lonesome on an island.  So, it's not getting any reinforcements.  If I can take it.  I can take it... or quietly sail on.

My lead is not as great as I would like, especially since my Kingdom isn't growing.  To be viable in 300 Turns, I need to acquire a few Cities.

Though, I wonder how few is too few?

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T622: A Tension filled landing. Will all The Galleon's Survive?  If not, it's three lost Land Units each.  They all survived.  Though, I've lost two Caravels (if I count correctly) so far.

After the count, I can say I lost one Galleon (empty at the time) and one Caravel; not disastrous.

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2021-05-09
1532AD
T661

The trouble with all these Civilizations is that I can't keep them straight.  I don't know the names of my opponents.

I'm cranking out The Units.

I will be Attacking Shaka, tomorrow, most likely.  He's got his Impi.  And I've got Rifles.  So, it will be Decisive.

The Team of Vietnam and Assyria forms my chief rival.  They have Military Techs.  But are lacking in other ways.  I expect to take the Post Scientific Method Bonuses, after pushing Scientific Method back as far as possible.

{This is a standard ploy for me.  The Monk Economy looses The Benefit of Monasteries at Scientific Method but gives enough bonuses (+10% per Monastery in The Capital and all my Research comes from The Capital) I typically have a decisive enough Tech Lead that I can delay such a Critical Tech for quite some time.}

My first wave against Shaka consists of:
    13 Rifles
    2 Calvary

I will add an equal number of Catapults to the pile; but may not use after reducing Defences, as why take the losses?

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2021-05-10
1540AD
T665

The War (if one wants to call it that) against Shaka did not last long.  Isabella gives me The Size (i.e. Power) I need for Capitulation.  One City and it was over.

PRO/CON: Mod Observations.

CON: Vassals are not grouped with Controlling Civilization.

CON: No Resource Brokering.  I cannot Beg Resource from Teammate to Trade with Shaka.

I guess I am going to play a little more as proof of concept that the game is won.  But I am losing interest fast.  All the Original Content of The Mod is front loaded and happens early in the game... well, before the point at which I am, for the most.

I think it safe to say I build too many Wonders.  There's lots of Eye Candy in This Mod.  But of what utility some of The Wonders have is unclear.  One of The Wonders was supposed to provide Crusaders now and again.  But I only ever got one.  So, hardly worth the 1000H or whatever it cost.

And I like Great People.  But I think I can harvest them better simply by maxing The Specialists.  Certainly, I would not get any Artists, that way.

Since abandoning a Game means writing it up, I'm trying to figure that out.  What does a Write-Up look like for This Game?

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2021-05-10
1550AD
T670

Yep.  I'm calling it.  I am done with this game.

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Abu Bakr is looking like The Next Leader.  I don't want to Build so many Wonders.  And as such, The Scientific Trait looks promising (those Bonuses will add up), and switching Civics can be a good way to make up for other deficiencies (thus, Spiritual, I believe).

Besides, I like Green.

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CON: No Log

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Second Thomas' War Notes

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Wheel o' Fun
2021-05-10
(c) Copyright Brett Paufler

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Thomas' War Mod
Same Install As Previous Game

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The intent is to Spam Cities.

Let's see how that works for me.

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2021-05-10
535AD
T407

The End of The First Columbian War.  And there is an emphasis on First, there.

I went for all The Early Religions, which was a mistake.  I will get no benefit from the diversion.  All I really need is Organized Religion.  And even that, given The Warmonger Game I am playing may be a waste of time.

It would be nice to have a Log.  I'm actually thinking about going back to BUG or BAT.  The joy in Thomas' War is all the extras.  But Straight War does not utilize any extras.

We'll see.  My Research is not as I have become accustomed to... you know, on those Baked Starts; wherein, I get all The Wonders.

Whatever.

I am on the march north.

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2021-05-11

I decided to abandon Thomas' War and move on to BUG or BAT (probably, BUG, as I think it includes BAT) for The Logging, if nothing else.

I am not so far into The Current Game that it makes any difference.  And I wasted time going for all those Religions.  I can do better as a War Monger.

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Brett Paufler
2021-05-12