Devel's Workshop Idea Thread

[KerThud]

I'd like to echo the request for an "isolated start" workshop.

And, I'd like to request a "surrounded by aggressive civilizations" scenario (ideally "with Ghandi and Mansa on their own island somewhere else").

The problem with both of these requests is that if you know what the scenario is before you begin, you can optimize your approach from the start.

I guess a way around this would be to compile a sublist of scenarios that require ignorance of the situation, then have someone set up them up and spring them on Vel, aka "The Devil", in his workshop.

Along the "city specialization" idea, I'd love to see a "selecting sites for your second and third cities" workshop. This would probably involve three or four random starts, each only run out about 30 or 40 turns until the terrain around your capital is sufficiently revealed.

Love the workshop idea!

[alco75]

Originally posted by Hauptman
Any founded religion, becomes founded in your most recently aquired city.

A religion is always founded in the founding Civ's most recently acquired city? Is this common knowledge?! Can anyone confirm?

[DirtyMartini]

Hmm, I don't think that's necessarily true --

IIRC, last night I founded Confucianism in New York, my second, and newest city. Later, I had 5-6 cities -- some founded, some conquered. At that point, I founded Islam...in New York.

Dirty

[Velociryx]

KerThud , that sounds like a good workshop indeed! Set me one of those up...standard sized map tho, cos my computer won't handle anything bigger.

Continents (and if you feel like bein' sneaky, feel free to do custom continents with Arid or Rocky or something fun), Epic or Marathon speed, Monarch level, and let's see how she goes!

-=Vel=-

[KerThud]

I will set up a game or two for you, though it might take a few days for me to get them together.... Thanks!

[KerThud]

I guess I won't....

Vel, you are too successful at teaching how to play! I've tried for quite a while to come up with a Monarch/Standard size/Standard number of civs/Epic speed game that I couldn't win because of any combination of 1) aggressive neighbors, 2) isolation, or 3) isolated AI tech fiends.

Fortunately, the advice you've already given, in your workshops and elsewhere, has made these games no longer impossible (though not always easy or obvious) to me. Thank you!

Unfortunately, that means I don't have a map for you to play. But perhaps, I have another suggestion for a workshop:

"How to play from a tech disadvantage"

I think this would have to be an emperor/immortal level game. At immortal, for me, *any* start or game speed would qualify!

Such a workshop would probably have multiple versions since the approach would likely highly depend on your leader traits and the sites of your first three or four cities.

So, thank you for selflessly sharing your (ohmigod how often you must play to know all this) game wisdom, and I'm sorry that I can't provide a Monarch map that causes me problems anymore...but it's because of you!

[JackRudd]

How about a "crummy trait synergy" game? Napoleon and Alexander spring to mind as potential candidates.

[unamablebuiler]

i have a start a thats tough only prince though i am isolated with very limited non food resources.

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=148462

it might make a good training for low to mid level players. It would be working with yor limitations to turn them into strengths i am most interesed in. it is whats need to turn an average player into a good one.

[Hermann the Lombard]

I'm bumping this thread because I'd be interested in a game where the strategy is to set up one or more Great Person pumps. I'm lousy at this, probably because I build too many cottages and not enough farms for the purpose.

[fed1943]

I second Hermann.
BTW,does anybody knows of Vel?It seems he didn't post in the last two weeks.
Best regards,

[PaganPaulwhisky]

One more vote from me. I'm ok at getting GP early, but then I tend to ignore them in favor of cash and units. This is probably the weakest part of my game and I would be very interested to see how better players maximize their GP output. It is for this reason that I tend to shy away from space race victories and usually go for domination unless I get a philosophical civ. I usually play epic or marathon and it just seems to take forever to pump these guys out. I know you have to decrease the rate on these levels, but I really hate tying up all the production in my large cities towards specialists when I could be building lots of units.

[Hermann the Lombard]

I was thinking about Vel's health and absence as I was typing my message. I know we all sincerely hope he's OK!

[Alkis2]

I think Monarch + Epic/Marathon is too easy. Either make it Monarch normal speed or move up to Emperor if you want Epic/Marathon.

Just a suggestion.

[Arrian]

I was thinking the same thing about Vel's health, so I PM'd him. He's ok, although there have been a few added complications to his recovery. He's getting better now, though.

He completed another Devil's Workshop, but hasn't been able to type it up yet for everyone's reading pleasure.

-Arrian

[Hermann the Lombard]

Thanks so much for the info, Arrian. His health is far more important than our entertainment, of course. Unless he types at 100 wpm and pastes at 60 images per minute I can hardly imagine how long it takes to type one of those accounts. [Actually, I can easily test since I've been keeping a detailed log of my Devel 1 game. As you may remember I play with all the speed of a greased glacier.]