Going for 500 AD landings on standard maps

[solo]

I came up with a generous start for the Americans on a standard sized map. Included were seven free techs: Alphabet, Bronze Working, Code of Laws, Construction, Currency, Masonry and Trade! Since none of these are off the preferred path through the tech tree, carrying costs have been reduced considerably.

My settlers were located in a decent area, too, not being stuck on a small islet or polar cap. This seemed like a good chance to challenge the 500 AD early landing barrier for this map size, so I gave it a shot, armed with all this new knowledge about the inner workings of trade.

My great luck did not last, as some unfortunate techs from early huts delayed Republic for much too long, but I made a go of it anyways using early Monarchy. By the time 500 AD arrived, I still had about 7 or 8 techs to learn, but exploiting this new knowledge about trade helped me come a lot closer than I had thought possible. My SSC was only stuck with food for one brief time, and supplied an amazing amount of revenue (and tech beaker boosts) from the demanded commodities it produced during the course of the game.

Attached is the start I used, in case any others would like to give it a try. I'd like to see that 500 AD barrier fall!

[Elephant]

Generous in techs, but not terrain. Cant tell where the special pattern is so an immediate plant is out. Looks like a medium or old age, large continent, temperate or dry? How long did you fish around before starting the city? I assume CerBur then Mon, if this is not prevented by the extra techs. Have to CIV2PLAN that out.

[Scouse Gits]

solo ... I will download and have a look - thanks. BTW what is the current record for a Standard Map?

Elephant ... no trouble in finding the special pattern if you use SG[1]'s new version of Hut Finder with diagrams

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SG(2)

[Elephant]

I saw that - needs more than just map size and a single special, though, doesn't it?

[Scouse Gits]

All it needs is the location of the first hut you find - the rest is worked out for you

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SG(2)

[Elephant]

No huts visible here - just a single special.

[solo]

Elephant,

The settlers do not start in a great spot, but there are excellent city sites within a few moves, if you look around. Admittedly, there is also some rotten terrain nearby, too. My first city was founded after about 7 moves, if I remember right. My SSC site took a little longer to find, but was fairly close by, too.

The map was 3 billion years, large landmass (for extra huts), and a wet climate was chosen, but after uncovering the map, I didn't think it was very wet at all.

CB was my first tech choice, because there was nothing better. Then Monarchy. Then some unwelcome techs from huts delayed Republic. However, with most civs on my own continent, I made the most of Monarchy by extorting a lot of tribute.

SG,

For sure, this is another start for your collection. I believe the earliest landing for standard maps was my 776 game, but that was tainted by the use of caravan rehoming. I think Samson had the best date without rehoming, but do not recall offhand what it was.

Anything below 1000 AD at that time was considered great, though. I did it a few more times without rehoming, but never got below 800 AD. I think our new understanding of trade gives the power of rehoming without resorting to its use. Other refinements developed in the small map games should also help put 500 AD in range.

[Caesar the Great]

for a second i almost thought you were talking about OCC... i was ready to fall over dead

[solo]

Actually, there was an OCC landing in 446 on a small map by Ribbanah, using an ideal SSC site in a random start provided by Samson.

For a standard map, even the best of SSC sites can not sustain 1 turn advances long enough due to the higher tech costs. Add in the delay in OCC caused by building one space part per turn puts early dates pretty much out of reach for one city on larger maps.

[solo]

I have made another attempt, this time trying the start that I used in the 776 AD re-homing game. This start had all the ingredients I thought were needed for success, and this proved to be the case, as I was able to land in 476 AD, one turn earlier than needed to beat the 500 AD barrier.

When they are ready, I will add some details, in which I will compare the two games played from this start. I'll also describe some changes in strategy I made in making the move up from a small to standard map. I wanted to beat Samson to at least one early landing landmark, so for now I'll post a save made the turn before launch.

(Edited later: Seems that "upload new attachment" did not work the way I planned. Please look a few posts further down to see the real ab_a475.sav)

[Bloody Monk]

Solo

It appears to me that you attached the 475bc save from the start that tops this thread rather than the one you refer to.

Good to see how this game was developed, though.

[Bloody Monk]

Solo

I just reread your post/log for the 776 game in the Great Library. So much of what you recorded has become accepted wisdom and preferred strategy. Very humbled but also very grateful that you share so much

If you are going to provide the save for the new landing could you also provide the 4000bc save?? I cannot connect to the link in the GL.

Thanks very much!!

[solo]

Oops, you're right! I have replaced ab_b475, with the correct ab_a475. The b475 save was one made earlier in the other game. Below is the start used for both the 776 and 476 AD games:

[Bloody Monk]

Solo

The a475.sav is still the b475.sav when d/l'ed. It says 'a' here but loads as 'b'.

[La Fayette]

Thank you, solo!
samson is busy exploding my previous records in various CiC scenarios
Therefore you are completely right to set some new landmarks in the field of early landing in the meantime.
We all know that no record has a long life when HE turns a greedy eye towards it