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  • #16
    I prefer epic speed, but maybe that is because I only play an hour or two, then save the game and return to it sometime later. The drawback is that you can forget what you had going in the game before you saved, so I find it useful to write down a strategy - for example what to beeline in the tech.-tree - after a few turns in the beginning.

    ybrevo

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    • #17
      The trick with enjoying a marathon game is to not mind that it may 3 to 6 weeks to complete the game -- that's what makes it truly epic in scope.

      Eighty percent of my 1500-turn marathon games end around turn 1000, because that's when I win. Some of the other 20% I lose, the others I quit early ... except for the one I'm playing now, which may last much longer than usual (and is more satisfying too).

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      • #18
        I've abanoded that test game and am now playing the Epic Huge Map one for real. Custom Contients (3). Default numberl of oppoents for this size, rest of the map settings random.

        Yes, Epic speed is needed on Huge to have the same feel that Normal speed does on Normal.

        I actually did secure 2 religions. (Mediation + Philo, the second from lightbulbing a GS)

        So I'd sugest if you try Quick speed do it on a smaller map so it doesn't take forever to explore / send your armies out / etc.
        1st C3DG Term 7 Science Advisor 1st C3DG Term 8 Domestic Minister
        Templar Science Minister
        AI: I sure wish Jon would hurry up and complete his turn, he's been at it for over 1,200,000 milliseconds now.

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        • #19
          If time is a factor, then change map size, going to a tiny map with yourself and 2 AI's will keep the game under 2 hours guaranteed from my experience, small maps with around 4 AI's maybe 3 hours. This is on marathon speed which I play, and probably the easiest speed to win at higher levels, because it allows more time for war and that is where human tactical ability can far exceed the computers. It is certainly the only speed where I have won a game on deity and generally competitive on Immortal.
          But generally I would suggest choose the speed and size that you enjoy most and save often and return to game when you have time. Quick speeds suit builder style more, marathon speed suits warfare more, and at higher levels warfare is only way to win. Builder style is very difficult above Monarch level.

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          • #20
            Thanks for all the answers, things are becoming clearer now.

            Originally posted by trev
            If time is a factor, then change map size, going to a tiny map with yourself and 2 AI's will keep the game under 2 hours guaranteed from my experience, small maps with around 4 AI's maybe 3 hours. This is on marathon speed which I play, and probably the easiest speed to win at higher levels, because it allows more time for war and that is where human tactical ability can far exceed the computers. It is certainly the only speed where I have won a game on deity and generally competitive on Immortal.
            But generally I would suggest choose the speed and size that you enjoy most and save often and return to game when you have time. Quick speeds suit builder style more, marathon speed suits warfare more, and at higher levels warfare is only way to win. Builder style is very difficult above Monarch level.
            Needless to say that, being of the builder kind, I rarely play beyond the mid level difficulties. I am not interested in reaching the highest level difficulties, I just change the setting when playing the game tends to become too easy... and so on until I find the most enjoyable difficulty level.
            "Democracy is the worst form of government there is, except for all the others that have been tried." Sir Winston Churchill

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            • #21
              I just played a game on Quick speed. Small fractal map - 5 civs total on Prince (Warlords).

              The AI did quite well at teching, had a very large number of units, and upgraded them all very quickly (suspiciously so). I did manage to take over one neighbour, who was rather small and backward, but this slowed my tech down and made it hard to get a tech lead over the others that would allow superior quality of units against their superior numbers. I was quite commerce-heavy in my empire, and spent much of the game running at 50% science and constantly upgrading. Eventually my beeline to Computers paid off, and although we all built Apollo at a similar time I accelerated away through the last era and launched comfortably.

              Quick definitely is a builder type setting, imo.

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              • #22
                Originally posted by trev
                If time is a factor, then change map size, going to a tiny map with yourself and 2 AI's will keep the game under 2 hours guaranteed from my experience, small maps with around 4 AI's maybe 3 hours.
                I'm amazed how some people can complete a game this quickly. I spend forever agonising over strategic, tactical and planning decisions, especially when at war.

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                • #23
                  Originally posted by Cort Haus

                  I'm amazed how some people can complete a game this quickly. I spend forever agonising over strategic, tactical and planning decisions, especially when at war.
                  I think that such quick victories can only be reached through an aggressive strategy targetting a "domination" or "bloodbath" victory. I don't think that a cultural or scientific victory can be obtained so quickly even on a small map.

                  Perhaps am I wrong, as I am not playing at such levels, but it seems that the higher levels of difficulty are more about "exploiting the flaws of the game (and the AIs)" and "crush the other civs" than "having fun building an empire that will resist the test of time". The more you raise the difficulty level the less strategies are available.
                  "Democracy is the worst form of government there is, except for all the others that have been tried." Sir Winston Churchill

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                  • #24
                    Well, my quickest win remembered took me less than 4 hours on epic - a cultural win in 1685 (prince, mid-size hemispheres).

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                    • #25
                      Originally posted by Unimatrix11
                      Well, my quickest win remembered took me less than 4 hours on epic - a cultural win in 1685 (prince, mid-size hemispheres).
                      I am impressed, I must admit that I have not the least of an idea about the way one can play a full game so quickly. I thought that such quick victories could only be reached through an agressive stance.
                      "Democracy is the worst form of government there is, except for all the others that have been tried." Sir Winston Churchill

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                      • #26
                        Check out some of these links for some really fast wins.

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                        • #27
                          Been playing mostly Epic speed in SP, but am about to try out Marathon, since late game techs move too quickly for my taste.

                          Played a handful of MP games, all on Quick. It wasn't bad, although it is very different from SP.

                          I asked in the Gamespy lobby if anyone would be interested in a Normal speed game, and got just one response: "I only play normal in PB games."

                          Might try to set up some Normal or Epic speed MP games. I can get to Medieval in just a few hours on Epic speed. That's plenty of time to bash some skulls.

                          Pitboss seems interesting, but 1 turn a day is sloooow.

                          I'm very new to Civ IV, been playing only a few weeks now. My previous Apolyton experience is from Civs 2&3, and RoN, mostly.

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                          • #28
                            Wow ! 1735 AD in 41 minutes...

                            Is this really possible ?

                            Can one really enjoy the game while playing at this speed ?
                            "Democracy is the worst form of government there is, except for all the others that have been tried." Sir Winston Churchill

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                            • #29
                              Such games are apparently more to be admired than enjoyed. Wouldn't have the feel I like in my game, but as with you, I am more of a builder with intermittant fights.
                              No matter where you go, there you are. - Buckaroo Banzai
                              "I played it [Civilization] for three months and then realised I hadn't done any work. In the end, I had to delete all the saved files and smash the CD." Iain Banks, author

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                              • #30
                                I didn't appreciate any speed level except Marathon; even epic was a little bit too fast, when I used to play it in Vanilla CIv4 w/o patches.

                                The fact is that I like the feel of each era, having plenty of time to see the before-after effect of buildings on my cities and, of course, planning massive assaults that break the spine of any civ.

                                It was particularly pleasant this last game of mine: commanding the Holy Roman forces, I tried a first great war (end of medieval/first years of rifle era) with the japanese, which ended with dubious results, since I just lost some pillaged improvements and did not get anything. Well, one thing for sure: I made enough damage to his troups that crippled him for a second attempt, a few years latter, this time with full rifle-era units... Lots of terrain gained and important resources.

                                The last war was also against the loathsome Peter of Russia (vassalized poor Tokugawa), and this included great stuff like Overture movement with sea-landing on Moscow, air support and sea bombardment included; air vs. air combat for superiority; paradrop just before major bombardment; SOD's walking ev'rywhere; submarine hunting (paying homage to the Red October)...

                                This is a great game.

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