Now I've finally done it

[Theben]

Yes, after many games of not finishing, either due to outpacing the AI or getting smacked around (or not getting that wonder!), I've decided to finish one that I should've quit long ago.

No reloads this time, if I didn't get the wonder I wanted I grit my teeth and dealt with it- and incidentally the monetary reward was often worth it. But the interesting thing about this game is that I started on a land mass alone, well away from ANY other civ. There was a smaller island at teh other end but I was not to meet anyone until the Age of Sail.

Now I figured I was doing "okay" for the most part until when I was working Civil Service I got the message someone had discovered Liberalism(!!). At that point I figured should give up but decided to keep going. Finally a Korean caravel shows up and I note I'm at least a dozen techs behind. To make a long story short(er) there were 2 other land masses out there, one small and uninhabited except by barbs, and a HUGE landmass occupied by everyone else. But teching hard and after the occasional trade I've found myself only 1 tech behind the current leader. One of the more interesting games.

The funny part about it is that the European civs are on the west and the Asian civs east, and I'm playing the Native Americans.

[Jaybe]

OMG, what a setup! Did you do random map styles?
I like my 2-hemispheres setup (greater numbers seemed awkward & contrived when I tried them).

As one who almost always finishes a game, "enjoying the journey" and all that scrap, I must offer my congratulations and "it's about TIME!" comments.

[Shogun Gunner]

Nice work Theben...I have to admit that I have more than my fair share of "abandoned games" It is rewarding to finish a game where you have to battle to keep pace.

Thanks for sharing this...interesting dynamic regarding "East versus West"

[Theben]

It's a fractal map... I've become quite fond of them.

I was able to build the Great Wall early which helped immensely. I doubt I'd have had as much luck if I had to deal with the barbs too!
The real downside of not having neighbors was I got the "Tower Shield" event... talk about wasted.

On the plus side I'm still able to "defend" my cities with Dog Soldiers.

[Theben]

I noticed another thing new (for me), upgrade unit THEN promote. I won the race to Fascism and got the free GG. Attached him to a unit to build West Point, used free upgrade from Dog Soldier to Infantry and then applied promotions, I didn't lose the points. Then again IIRC GG units don't lose those points? I wonder if it'd work for reg units.

[Jaybe]

Great General'd units retain all their experience points throughout all their (free) upgrades, yes.
Is that what you were referring to?

[Diadem]

Here too someone who almost never finishes games.

I recently played 2 rounds of the civ4 tri-league and finished those. But those were my first 2 finished games in aaages. It's kind of fun to finish a game. But also an amazing amount of work!

Maybe I should finish that deity game I was playing a few weeks back though... Had a very good empire and just finished The Internet to reach a tech lead on all AIs. Should be a win if I can find the patience to finish it.

[snoopy369]

GG units don't lose their points, yes. A regular unit would drop down to 010.

[Krill]

4000BC save please.

[Blaupanzer]

I'm another who usually drops the game if too far behind (often) or ahead (rarely). Current game playing fractal very similar to yours with me alone on one medium sized continent, 7 others on one large continent, and one other on a smallish continent with coastal overlap with the large one. Catching up on science, passing most at gunpowder and astronomy. The Civ that was alone on that other continent, the Maya have a 5 tech lead, at least, and most of the Wonders. Playing Ethiopia so good claim on own continent and can afford the cities -- number 2 in pop, number 3 in land, number 5 in score, rising in power and soldiers (number 3 at moment). On big continent, Med/Middle Eastern types to my west and Nasty types -- Ragnar/Monty/Isabella to my East. Been lots of fighting over there with lots of ruins.

Anyway, Theban, I think I will follow your inspiration and play this one out.

[Unimatrix11]

The name is Theben - Theban is someone else...

[Sir Og]

Re: Now I've finally done it

Originally posted by Theben
Yes, after many games of not finishing, either due to outpacing the AI or getting smacked around (or not getting that wonder!), I've decided to finish one that I should've quit long ago.

No reloads this time, if I didn't get the wonder I wanted I grit my teeth and dealt with it- and incidentally the monetary reward was often worth it. But the interesting thing about this game is that I started on a land mass alone, well away from ANY other civ. There was a smaller island at teh other end but I was not to meet anyone until the Age of Sail.

Now I figured I was doing "okay" for the most part until when I was working Civil Service I got the message someone had discovered Liberalism(!!). At that point I figured should give up but decided to keep going. Finally a Korean caravel shows up and I note I'm at least a dozen techs behind. To make a long story short(er) there were 2 other land masses out there, one small and uninhabited except by barbs, and a HUGE landmass occupied by everyone else. But teching hard and after the occasional trade I've found myself only 1 tech behind the current leader. One of the more interesting games.

The funny part about it is that the European civs are on the west and the Asian civs east, and I'm playing the Native Americans.

What difficulty and what is your rank in number of soldiers ("F9" screen)?
I should definately try playing a loosing game untill the end.

[Blaupanzer]

Originally posted by Unimatrix11
The name is Theben - Theban is someone else...

Made this error before, I would hope I'll learn.

[Boris Godunov]

I can't think of the last time I played a Civ4 game without popping into the World Editor to do spot of cheating. I'm not sure how to break the habit now.

[Blaupanzer]

Just ... don't ... do ... it! You can hold yourself back if you try, Boris. Of course, it's not as fun.