2019-08-06 Snake River Game 03 - To Turn 100 # # # The idea is to have a much better start, to trim it down to the basics, leaving a nice board in place, but to really get those numbers up (Research/Turn, number of Cities, and Cutting off Gandhi). # # # Pottery is (without a doubt) the most important early Technology, so I shall skip the Religions and Research that first. Next, I am Researching Animal Husbandry, as that +1F +2H for Cows is big. After that, I'm thinking I will beeline Bronze Working and Iron Working. But that is a bit premature. # # # Yeah, I'm just not that good at this game. I want to pound it out. But I am not good enough to pound it out. # # # 1) I over REX'ed and killed my economy. 2) Rather than develop my land in an organized fashion (row by row), I got creative... always a bad sign. 3) Though my first research picks were inspired, I avoided Alphabet, because I did not want to give Technologies away to the AIs. But maybe I should welcome the opportunity for such diplomatic bonuses. Either way, it left me without Currency, which I need. So, restart. # # # Restart. Researching: Pottery -> Animal Husbandry -> Bronze Working Scouts on Auto-Pilot. Building Fishing Boats, so my Cities can grow (rather than Granary). # # # You know, and the truth is I did not do much better. # # # In this game, I either should have researched Monarchy faster... or put more of a priority on the Pyramids. And likely, Monarchy would be the better choice for this game. # # # Seriously, I'm just not that good... and I feel like having another go at it. But not even just the first hundred turns. Hmmm... # # # 2018-08-06 Third restart. I don't even know if I am going to count the other two... probably not at all in my numbering system. What's, also, odd: if I am playing for real, I want a Religion. Ha! # # # 2018-08-06 T30 2800BC I got the Trio of Faith: the three starting Religions. Now, on to: Pottery -> Animal Husbandry -> Bronze Working Also, I'm going to settle my first two Cities (so, City three and four) right up next to Gandhi to cut him off early, no messing around. # # # 2018-08-06 T49 2050BC Gandhi has been isolated. And since I need to keep him happy, I started trading with him: Clam for Rice. # # # 2018-08-06 T95 500BC Well, as I would have measured the game going in, I am not doing that well. 52 Beakers/Turn 7 Cities On the plus side, I am in Monarchy. And so, my garrison troops will give me a Happiness bonus and keep the other AI's off my back. Isabella is already asking for tribute. But hopefully, we're friendly now. # # # Well, there's a day shot. Six hours later and I do not want to stop. And I'm really just playing the same old game that I always play... with just a few minor tweaks. # # # 2018-08-06 1450AD And the ironic thing is that I don't feel like I am playing any better. In fact, I don't feel strong enough to attack Gandhi, so I've switched gears (always a bad sign). And have decided to go for a Space Victory. Um, I'm not playing well, at all. # # # 2018-08-07 T001 4000BC The latest try was not going well. I was veering off into a Space Victory, which I had not planned to do. Changes in direction are never good. More importantly, I have accepted that I want to play this map again. I did not think that I did. But I do. 1) I intend to play it more open... less trying to seal Gandhi off. 2) I will be going for as many Religions and as many Wonders, as I can, as I like both, I enjoy getting them. 3) I will not rule out a Cultural Victory. 4) But the most important thing is to go slow, pay attention, and play to win. None of this sprinting to the finish line. I want to play. And as much as I want to get on to the next map, this map needs one more play through, first. # # # 2018-08-07 T55 1800BC I have the Trio of Religions. I feel as though my Research efforts {thought going into what to research next} have slacked off, since that moment. Anyhow, backfilling the worker Technologies, prior to... um, have to work out a plan for that. Maybe the Alphabet and try to trade with other Civilizations this game. Typically, I've been settling around the capital. But my third best City has always been The Cove. So, I think I will settle that next, as in, make it my third city. Also, I think I shall stop capitalizing game terms. By now, both of us should know what I am talking about... unless it is something obscure. 'City' does not need to be capitalized every time. # # # I lost the wonder race for both The Oracle and Stonehenge... but I got fail gold, which allows me to have a higher research rate. Still, I think I would rather have had the wonders. I hope I don't loose The Pyramids, as well. Maybe, I should build a bunch of Swordsmen? # # # 2018-08-07 T113 50BC I am bailing on this game. I like that I have fewer, better developed cities. But I am flailing. No set goal or strategy. I've sent three settlers out to the wind to get some nice land. But I have sent them way too far afield. Time to start over. And the religions are really doing me no good. I will resist the urge. # # # Eighth Play Through 2018-08-07 T1 4000BC Animal Husbandry -> Pottery -> Bronze Working... nope, sorry, sorry. Decided to try for Polytheism, instead. Yeah, I know. Going for a religion. But then, I don't think Bronze Working is going to do me any good for the next few turns. Sadly, I did not discover Hinduism. Researching: Masonry -> Monotheism. I lost all three religions, but went for them. Wasted effort. I am reloading. Either get the religions or do not go for them. It's way too early to be beat out by a turn on... anything. # # # 2018-8-07 GAME 09 Clearly, I am not all that. Fail at getting the second religion. Um, so abort and reload. Not even counting it. I will forgo Meditation this time. And instead, go for Polytheism -> Monotheism... with Animal Husbandry thrown in there somewhere. Polytheism -> Animal Husbandry -> Masonry -> Monotheism... got me two of the religions. Researching Pottery, next. Killed my scouts to reduce maintenance. So, I might as well let them roam as they would until eliminating them. Of course, this means I will meet Ragnar and the rest later, which I have no idea whether that is a good thing or not. # # # 2018-08-06 T71 1160BC Well, I've hit the spot where I have no clear agenda, so it is time to pause and do other things. # # # 2018-08-07 T106 225BC I found my next mid-term goal: Drama for Globe Theatre and unlimited whipping in my Capital. I got a few of the early wonders, including the Oracle, Pyramids, and Colossus. Research is mediocre at 26. And I only have 7 cities. But they are spread out, so they cover a lot of territory. And more importantly, I'm feeling good about the game... especially now that I know that my next mile-marker it the Globe Theatre. # # # 2018-08-07 T142 640AD Nothing inspired. Just keep on keeping on. Gandhi is pulling away in the tech race: the dangers of giving the AI too much of an advantage. His land was almost as good as mine. I'd say war soon, but I am not ready. Still in REX mode. Though, I am slowly but surely building troops, as I want to get that power graph up. # # # 2018-08-07 T144 680AD I am happy, having a good time... but I haven't the slightest clue how this game stacks up to the previous. I think I'm pretty set for a Cultural Win, if nothing else. But I would guess there will be some bloodshed before too terribly long. Maybe, culture for the win. Bloodshed for the points. # # # 2018-08-08 And I spread myself out too thin. I believe the Incans were going to declare war on me. I had just declared war on the Vikings to appease Isabella, who probably should have been my enemy. And although it is to be expected that I am developed around {I have no idea anymore what I meant by this}, it did not feel like winning. So, try again. # # # 2018-08-08 T0 4000BC Scouts on automatic, as I simply disbanded without using them last game, so I might as well get some map discovery out of them. When I have to start paying unit upkeep, it will be time to disband them. Researching: Animal Husbandry -> Masonry -> Pottery Building workers first, probably two down in Dream and three or more in Charm. 3240BC: Deleted one Scout... with more to follow. 2560: All Scouts have been deleted Since the start, the Capitol has been pumping out nothing but workers and settlers... except for one lone work boat, while building up its population. # # # Maybe the next time I create a map, I will have all the tiles revealed, so I don't forget the choke points. About to found a singe city that may well cut Gandhi off. It gives him plenty of land, but cutting him off has always been nice. # # # 2018-08-08 T71 1160BC There is a definite trade off in using the whip. I lose one worked tile, which in turn, often means I lose a cottage. So, in the end, I can run a higher research rate if I don't whip. Also, I don't have iron, yet. So, I'm running out of meaningful things to whip. # # # 2018-08-08 T100 357BC Things look well. Not such a subdued statement. Things, actually, look very well. Research: 129/turn at 50% Though, this will bounce up and down, as I am on a city founding campaign. With the slider at 40%, research is at 106/turn, which is as good as I was doing before. So, this game is looking good. Gandhi is isolated by a single city, which likely gave him more land, but will allow me to amass troops at a single way point... and conduct the Cultural War from a single locale. I am pleased with that. I don't know how the Great Swamp {a city name} will turn out. I think I'm a few turns ahead of Isabella. And usually, that is all that it takes. Cities: 9, with no overlapping Fat Crosses, and plenty of room for back filling. I don't 'own' all the back fill territory, yet. But Gandhi is isolated. And no one is in a position to make a play for my back forty, as of yet. Settlers: 2 Workers: 19 Warriors: 8 Great Engineer: that I'm sitting on for a later game wonder. Iron comes online in a few turns, and I will build... what, call it a dozen or so axes. I may have to do that thing where I dedicate a city to military, because I don't tend to build enough units when I am on a infrastructure spree, which is what I'm on now. No religions founded: only two in my territory. We'll see. Lots of Wonders. So, yeah. I am optimistic. If I can avoid over-extending myself or making a silly diplomatic play, things are looking good. # # # 2018-08-08 T123 200AD I'm anxious, because Ragnar is plotting. I think he wants to declare war on Gandhi. But he cannot reach Gandhi on account of our closed borders. Maybe I should open the borders. I don't want him to settle what I consider to be my territory. But I don't know that he is the settler type. # # # 2018-08-08 T127 300AD I now have the most soldiers, as noted on the Demographic Screen and the most Power in the Power Graph; so hopefully, no one will declare war. I only think it is tight for a dozen more turns or so, as I have more troops coming online. After all, once I am safe enough, it will be time to declare war. Also, I'm looking to be the Tech Leader... or if not, it's very close. # # # 2018-08-08 T138 560AD Everything is coming up roses. I have four opponents. And each one of them has founded their own religion. So, no one is friends. I take that back. Ragnar and the Incans are on good terms. And there is not as much hate as I might like. But it's not a solid coalition. No one declared war on me at the critical junction. And now, I have more power than anybody else; soon, than everybody else {combined}. But more importantly, I have the greater portion of the map cordoned off with a wall of cities... and no Open Borders. Gandhi is going for a cultural win. But he is behind me, even on that. And I doubt he will live that long. That Wall of Cites {across the Northern Frontier} (with no Open Borders) is very nice. # # # 2018-08-09 T154 880AD It's hard to believe it is only sixteen turns later. For the most, the expansion is done. I have opened my borders (and I do view it more as my opening my borders rather than anything mutual) to both Ragnar and the Incans. Maybe, I should simply start calling Huanya, Huey. My territory is not completely settled. But by the time either figures this out, it will be. I am the tech leader and the dominant force. I know I'm in the lead, because I have the spare resources to build wonders... and keep winning the race. My economy is taking a hit, as about half of my cities are completely undeveloped. Maybe a third are one pop wonders. But that will change soon enough. And then, watch out. # # # Ha! Next turn, I lost the race to build the Parthenon. # # # Been loosing the race for a lot of wonders. I will use a Great Engineer to land the Statue of Liberty. # # # 2018-08-09 T171 1110AD Whatever I may say about reloading, I definitely consider it inferior. I thought about reloading, but I am not going to. I used a Great Engineer to partially build the Statue of Liberty... only I did this in the wrong city. I was thinking the Great Engineer would finish the wonder. And then, after trading Gandhi for copper (lucky him that he had it), I was hoping this would double the value of the hammers I received. But it did not. The silly thing is 45 turns out. I have two great prophets off to Snake Dream to build up its production. Hopefully, the statue will come in a dozen turns or so... likely a good twenty... if not more. Disappointing. # # # 2018-08-09 1160AD T176 Optics -> Steel -> Steam Power... with a few steps along the way. At Optics, I upgrade my Triremes to Caravels. And at Steel, I upgrade whatever artillery I have to cannons. And then, I attack... or declare war. Maybe, Gandhi will come to me. But I doubt it. I have searched his lands and found no stack of doom. I have enough Great People (3 Merchants, 2 Prophets) that I should start a Golden Age and switch into Emancipation (it's zero turns for the revolution in a Golden Age). Oh! The first Golden Age only costs one Great Person! I am so doing that! # # # Golden Age # # # 2018-08-10 T181 1210AD I declared war on Isabella, joining Ragnar in the good fight, snagging three workers in the first turn. I don't quite have cannons, but it looks like the tide is going Ragnar's way. And I want to be in on the city capture; hopefully, stealing the cities right from between Ragnar's fingers. It is times like this that I feel like I am becoming a much better player. Yeah, someone (Gandhi or Huey) might declare war on me. But it would be a mistake. But more importantly, my use of the screens to determine situation is much better. I will be killing Isabella's scout and warrior deep in my territory in a turn or two. Well, I lost two units in Spain's counter attack, so maybe I should not be so cocky. Also, rather than attack with me, Ragnar pulled back into one of his cities. Great People are not immune to attack. I thought that they were. I just lost one in battle. That's a pretty bad blow for such a stupid move. Still, they work as wonderful scouts... pre-war. # # # 2018-08-10 T188 1280AD Ragnar pulled back, because he declared peace. I have no worry about that, as that means he weakened Isabella's stack and got a single city for his efforts. Spain is falling. Well, maybe not this offensive. But make no mistake, Spain cannot resist my onslaught. I have cannons. Soon, machine gunners. The writing is on the wall. I am more annoyed by Gandhi beating me to the Statue of Liberty by a single turn. Sure, I get the fail gold... and a lot of it. But at: 50 turns (until I take Delhi) 3 beakers a turn 25 cities = 3,750 beakers Or more than double the fail gold. Perhaps, I will need to accelerate my Indian Extinction plans. # # # I did not reload upon loosing my Great Merchant (I think that's what it was). So, there's a definite indication {on my part} that I consider reloading to be an inferior option. But, come on, I thought the unit was immune. Not so. # # # I get Steam Power (and therefore, Dykes in a turn). And seven or so turns later, I get Assembly Line (and Infantry). At which point, my military will likely be unstoppable. Perhaps, I should be a bit cautious until then. I definitely should save my Drafts until after the upgrade. So, maybe stop Drafting in a few turns. It's going to be extremely satisfying destroying India. All the military techs are going to come on line in just a few turns. In a final note, I have been thinking about founding Sid's Sushi. I've never worked a corporation before. But I gave myself a lot of seafood... without even thinking about the Sushi benefits. Eh, who am I kidding, the game simply is not going to end for another fifty turns or so. I have time to found Sushi and play with it a while. # # # 2018-08-13 T198 1380AD I have taken over two Spanish cities and am just a few turns away from taking over at least one more. Spain will surrender. But the game does not have a mechanic that would make acceptance of their surrender a reasonable proposition for me. They would literally have to exit the game... or give me multiple cities. Yeah, capitulation is one mechanic, but I am thinking of something along the lines of a negotiated surrender. We will surrender IF: We don't have to build military... We keep 20 gold for happiness We have +5 unhappy, symbolizing our additional freedoms, or whatever. Anyhow, I have Infantry. And Spain will fall... just probably not today. Also, although I stopped drafting for a few turns, I forgot to start again once I got Infantry. That might have something to do with, also, having to get Rifling. Presently, I am bee-lining for Medicine. At which point, I will found Sushi in the capital, and go into as many Golden Ages as I can. # # # 2018-08-13 T200 1400AD Isabella is good at picking off my wayward units. I need to maintain Stack Discipline. And that said, my immediate impulse is to continue the war against Spain... but send all further Drafts or Builds to the Indian front for a declaration in under ten turns. At Infantry, Isabella does not stand a chance. What I need to do is be methodological about the enterprise: to be slow and deliberate. See, in the latest, I split the front, went after two cites, and allowed a handful of lesser stacks to wander through their territory. Instead, I should waste the turn and save the stack. Slow and Deliberate Wins the Race. Tomorrow is a Good Day to Die! Just looking for some catchy slogan. I only want Gandhi's mainland cities. Without them, he is out of the game. And he just doesn't have the troops to withstand my advances. I should send a scout his way. # # # 2018-08-21 T209 1490AD Starting up again! And it is time to kill Gandhi and incorporate Sid's Sushi! # # # 2018-08-21 T213 1515AD Wow! It's only been four turns! I am having a grand old time winning the war on two fronts. And I have founded Sid's Sushi, so we shall see how that plays out. Presently, War Weariness is killing me... well, not killing me. But I don't want to launch any Golden Ages until its more under control. # # # 2018-08-21 T216 1530AD 186,758 if I win this turn... which I won't, but it's good to know. Much better than last time around. And I expect Sushi to blast that score up a few tens of thousands more. So, 200,000+ is a possibility. I will take a ten turn peace from Gandhi in a turn or two, after I take over Bombay. And I am already trying to figure out which cities from the Incan's will maximize my score. I mean, I don't want to win prematurely. Anyway, the next time I start {play}, I am going to have to work out the next strategic steps prior to playing. Spam Sid's Sushi, but of course. Maybe spam Religions. And what else? I mean, I do not even have a technological goal, at this point. I think I'll research: Mass Media -> Plastics. That will give me access to a slew of Happiness Wonders... and Tanks. Unless the War Weariness lifts on the turn roll, I will be declaring peace with Gandhi soon. Anyhow: Mass Media -> Plastics That's the ticket. Oh, and if I can remember, I have two of Gandhi's units in my backwater. So, kill the one explorer. And switch to an Iron Clad in the Island City or Gandhi will be pillaging my fishing boats for sure. # # # 2018-08-22 T224 1570AD Well, this spree has taken about an hour longer than I expected. Not so much time to kill Gandhi... or take over his mainland cities. But then, I spent another hour looking over the map. I think I would like to found Mining, Inc, but I doubt I will get the Great Merchant that I need. In other news, I changed my civics (during a Golden Age, nice way to do that), so that I am running: State Religion: Judaism Universal Suffrage Free Speech Emancipation Environmentalism Organized Religion I, suppose, Organized Religion is the only surprise there, but I want to spread religions... and I don't think Free Religion is helping me that much, as I just don't have that many Religions going. I am going to spam Sushi, Judaism, and the religions. Also, I declared war on the hated Incans. We'll see if they are stupid enough to take the war to me. 4480 points 204,934 if I won this turn Sushi will ramp that higher. And I have another Incan city or two headed my way. I am savouring this colossal win. And if I had to identify the winning strategies: Pottery in lieu of Religion Settling Primo Spots First Wall of Cities Slavery -> Nationalism And of course, playing to win. Eh, maybe I'll have to play a random map on Noble to prove I know what I am doing. We'll see. I don't think I have much interest in playing at the higher levels. # # # 2018-08-24 T224 1570AD I had an unpleasant exchange with a dog a little while ago. So although I was going to try and get a little work done prior to playing, I'm going to play first... and possibly work a bit later. {It's not the only reason I play, but I do find the game to be something I can fall into. And on the other side, when I emerge, any anger has fallen by the wayside. So, I deliberately use CIV IV (and other things) as part of an Anger Management Strategy.} To recap, my priorities are: Spam Missionaries and Executives. War with Incans Garrison cities that border Viking territory # # # 2018-08-24 T232 1610AD Score: 5145 If Win This Turn: 219,934 My score is going up by leaps and bounds: mainly, by letting my population grow. The best tip that I heard about score whoring is to delay the win until your score starts to go down. Well, at a few thousand odd points a turn, that could be awhile, especially since Sushi is not fully online. # # # 2018-08-24 T239 1645AD The old Indian cities are growing restless, so I might just have a war with Gandhi to knock him out of the game. Score: 6018 Score if Win This Turn: 242,671 I can see why folks tend to nurse the score, it's fun. I may well actually double my previous score on this map. # # # 2018-08-25 T248 1690AD I just finished a rewarding session. I knocked Gandhi out of the game, due to the unhappiness his continued existence was causing. And I declared war on Ragnar. I believe I will nibble away at his holdings until it is time to win the game. Sushi executive spam is going well. I could do the same thing with another corporation... but I don't think I have the patience. For instance, I could beeline Fusion; and then, use the Great Engineer to found Mining, Inc. In truth, I am no longer playing against the computer. It gave up (or ceased being a challenge, in this game) long ago. But that high score drives me. Sure, the map is a Garden of Eden. But I'm close to doubling my previous score {on this same map}. It's sort of unreal. Score: 7,083 Score By Winning This Turn: 260,017 Because of Sid, population is on a tear, and I expect that score to keep on going up for several dozen turns, at least. Oh, I am, also, producing more settlers for Total City Infill. Ha! I wonder how long I will be able to ride the point train. I mean, I am only at T248, so there is a long way to go... # # # 2018-08-27 T265 1775 FINAL Score: 8981 From Winning This Turn: 271395 The final bit of play was a Death March. I did not plan properly. In many ways, I was taken by surprise by how fast my Sushi Score Rush ended. But either way, I was not preparing for the end game, so I was not prepared. I should have made it so once the score levelled out, I could simultaneously attack both Ragnar and the Incans. In addition, I should have had the settlers along Dream Road ready to settle in a string in a single turn. Instead, I built buildings. I maybe could have ended it ten turns sooner... or not. Anyway, next time, full on Military and Settlers at the end... if it comes to the same sort of game. Either way, fun... last session was just getting it done, which is maybe why not so many points. But, no. I was thinking the Sushi Point Train was going to last another... what? Fifty turns, at least. # # # 2018-08-27 (c) Brett Paufler So, please note, this one hour project to get a better one hundred turn research number, turned into a three week project taking dozens upon dozens of hours. Lots of projects are like that. Someday (I am sure), I will decided to write a book, perhaps quite suddenly, and an hour or two whim will fill up months. Anyway, that has nothing to do with CIV IV, so I'll leave the thoughts for elsewhere and else when. I really enjoyed this map. If you play, I hope you do to. # # # 2018-08-27 (c) Copyright Brett Paufler Note: I only read through notes like this once and let lots of minor (confusing, ambiguous) things fly. {Indicates a clarification added during the editing stage.} These notes really do seem a lot longer when I am playing the game and writing them up.