AU302: One City - Strategy, Spoilers and Comments

[Dominae]

Post your results for the One City scenario here.

If you have the patience, keeping a log of your actions during the game and posting it here would be nice addition. You're not doing much during your turns, so keeping even a detailed log is easy.

By the way, it is possible to win this game via Spaceship (on Emperor); I got close enough to know that it can be done (and that was enough for me!).


Dominae

[CerberusIV]

SPOILER - Don't read this until you have explored a bit

I have certainly enjoyed this so far - it is a challenge (for me at least) not to REX and not to resort to war.

I am playing the PTW 1.14 version at Monarch level.

First issue - which civ. I concluded commercial was useless for one city and industrious not much better since there were only so many tiles to improve. Militaristic didn't offer much so that left religious, scientific and expansionist. I didn't know it was an isolated continent where scouts made no difference so I went for the Babylonians. That turned out to be a good choice as my bowmen easily dealt with the barbarians.

Second choice - where to found Babylon. I went NW to the hill. I decided I did not need to be on the coast but would be better off forgetting about coastal improvements and have 20 land tiles around my city to work. Again it seems to have worked as other civs founded cities and built harbours so I can now trade with everyone.

With the place to myself I got all the goody huts (no need for expansionist). I researched warrior code and then beelined literature for the Great Library. I managed early contact with the Koreans as a Bowman spotted a city of theirs just to the south of the starting continent. They sold contact with me to the Indians and I was behind on tech. I completed the GL in 90BC and still sold literature to the Koreans and Indians. Eventually the other three civs made contact and my free research proceeded nicely - except that they all went for education rather that gunpowder so my free ride on research came to an early end.

I was able to get the furs early and the Indians have not expanded Karachi yet to take one - I should keep the other and both iron permanently. I had a colony exploiting ivory (I can't remember ever building a colony before!) but the Koreans built a city and squeezed me off all the ivory.

As the picture shows I am slowly using surplus workers to build outposts around my border to stop units from civs I am not at war with wandering across my land. Maintaining ROP's proved too expensive.

The main bonus (I hope!) of my city location is that if there is any coal around I will get it and build Ironworks (please!)

After losing the GL I fell behind on tech again but was able to catch up by trading Printing Press and have just (990AD) finished Copernicus. I managed the Hanging Gardens on the way as the AI's were slow to build it.

Things are going quite nicely as the AI's are fairly peaceful. I hope to research Democracy first and trade for the techs they have and I don't. The only problem so far is that I didn't get a religious GW so I won't get a GA in this game unless I build the Internet.

It is also interesting to consider the wonders, both great and small, that you can't build or are pointless with only one city

[BigDork]

Hi everybody...

Well since I had to stay up for a few hours after work this morning I decided to download the game and fire it up. I'm playing the second edition AU302 with the AU mod on regent. I decided to play as the mighty Ottomans. I figured a lot of people were gonna be Babys or Greeks and I wanted to give someone else a try.

Well it's been a kind of intersting game I guess. I'm kinda coming to the conclusion I don't like OCC but I'll probably give it another go or two seeing as how it is so quick. I've played for maybe 3 hours and am almost to 1800AD. Oh yeah, and I turned off domination victory. Probably a good thing too the English will probably get close to it if the ever mount an overseas invasion.

I started out by building the city right where we started. I considered moving to the hill to the NW and probably will next time but decided against it this game. I quickly started kicking out some warriors to explore what's around me. I definatly didn't get much luck on the huts.
1)Barbs
2)Barbs
3)Settler
4)Map
5)Pottery

Obviously I just integrated the settler into my city. But I was still surprised to see just how fast my city grew. Both with the land around the city and the fact that I wasn't churning out settlers as fast as possible.

I actually ended up making colonies on the ivory and the fur not wanting to wait until my borders encompass it. But soon enough I had them.

I was also surprised to see how quickly I ran out of stuff to build. Even while grabbing wonders. I used the Pyramid as a pre-build for the GL and actually timed it well. One turn after I got lit I had the GL built. Off the top of my head I've also built the Oracle, Newton's, Sun Tzu, Hoover, ToE, Universal Sufferage.

The Koreans pissed me off early on. The put a city one east of the furs and after long their cultural borders took the other one too. But other than that they have been pretty good neighbors. There was a small misunderstanding that occured not too long ago but I'll go into that later.

[BigDork]

I've come to the conclusion that I suck at being a tech broker. It just doesnt' suit my playing style. It took a while to get used to checking the diplo screen every turn. And I don't know if this happens a lot but in my game it seems like at least two civs are getting the techs at the same time. And everyone else is broke so I can't buy a tech and then sell it. This is making it hard to keep up. I'm think I would try going for a domination victory once I got tanks but seeing as how I turned that off it isn't gonna happen.

England is kicking major butt. They killed off the Celts and are pushing the back the Romans. As I said earlier if they can actually cross the seas and get a foothold they will definatly be kicking some butt. Hey, can I conquer a city and then quickly give it to the English so that way they'd have that foothold? No, didn't think so.

My little misunderstanding with the Koreans happened during a war between them and India. With almost every war that's happened so far I've been asked if I want to join. Obviously I always decline. Well Ghandi send over a message asking if I want in on their side against Wang and I accidentally clicked yes.

Well I made a mistake but I must go on. So I sent my three siphai I had over to that damned city Wang had built next to the fur. It was a perfect opertunity to get back what's mine. Well it didn't go so good. I killed one rifleman but went into the red and used my last movement point to get away from the city. My other veteran siphai was defeated by a conscript rifleman. WtF?!? Anyway I built up a few more and took out the city. By now India has made peace and I'm in the clear to do the same. Unfortunatly Wang was broke and only had cities to give. Well that doesn't do me any good.

I'm getting screwed on techs. I can't tech broker because only Lizzy is being a b-i-t-c-h. She is asking way too much for the techs and everyone else is broke as hell so it wouldn't do me any good. So I'm trying to research the techs the AI isn't going after first in hopes to do some trading of my own. I really wish I could kick some ass with tanks. Oh well.

So that's about where I am. It's a race to get tanks right now. I'm not to thrilled with OCC but it makes for a quick game. I've never been this far along in techs so early in the game. Also it's only been 3 hours and probably only need another hour or so. I doubt I'm gonna win but will try again. I so hate to lose. I'll let you all know how it ends.

BigD

[Dominae]

Originally posted by BigDork
I doubt I'm gonna win but will try again. I so hate to lose. I'll let you all know how it ends.

This will probably be a humbling experience for people not used to OCC. Try not to let it get you down.


Dominae

[Panzer32]

My first AU game!!

Here's sort of a log of what I've been doing up till now:

Playing on regent.

I chose the Carthaginians to play in this game. One big reason is that I imagine the city will get pretty big, and the commercial/industrious combo should be good for extra trade/shield. Also, I won't have to upgrade to pikemen in the early middle ages.

Built a city on the starting tile.
Starting tech = bronze working.
Moved worker to grassland and mined then roaded.
Sent first exploration warrior south; found coast; went west. First goody hut = 25g
Next worked tile is shielded grassland 77 from city. Mine than road.
Second warrior goes east; finds coast, then goes north.
Third warrior stays in Carthage; start prebuild for temple.
Next tech is Ceremonial burial - I want to get lots of culture so that I can get those luxuries just outside the city radius.
Third worked tile is 69 from Carthage; last river grassland.
Two more huts popped; empty + barbs.

So... I see we are on a peninsula... aha!!! I decide that I'm going to go for literature and the great library. Writing in 23 turns. Next worker move is irrigation on flood plains. Next build is a Numidian Mercenary; I'm going to disband the defensive warrior so that I don't spend any gold on unit maintenance. After the Mercenary, I start on pyramids, a prebuild for the GL.

Worker: builds road to an ivory then mined 99 grassland of city.
Another 2 villiages; 25 gold and deserted.
Finally, 2110bc; the culture finally expands and Ivory makes my city happy . Building a road to furs currently.

1950bc: I make contact with the Koreans, who build a city across the small straight to my continent. I trade masonry + 35 gold for warrior code and pottery. By this time, my city is pop 6.

1725bc: I make contact with the Indians, who want to trade Iron working for Writing. I decide not; because I am only a few turns away from the Great Library. I note that they only have 2 cities, while the Koreans have 3.

1550bc: I get literature. 9 turns until Great Library. Research goal is mysticism, but I set research all the way back to 10%. I'm going to be really mad if any AI gets GLib before me!!

1400bc: I don't have much to say, except that I think I should have moved my capital next to the ocean. Going 2 from the start spot would probably have been good.

1325bc: I complete the Great Library, giving me Iron working and the wheel. I start building the pyramids again, a prebuild for the Oracle. I pump up research just enough to give me the Oracle just after I get mysticism.

950bc: I get mysticism; 7 turns until the Oracle. Boy, you can build alot when youre not building settlers!!

850bc: Map Making from the GL. I'm running into quite a few barbarians now.

825bc: Trade Indians world maps. 1 Turn until Oracle.

775bc: I'm building a swordsman because my warriors can't seem to handle the volume of barbarians. I'm not positive if a barracks would be a good investment, so I might just replace my warriors eventually with better units. After swordsman, I'm going to start prebuilding the hanging gardens.

[BigDork]

Originally posted by Panzer32
My first AU game!!

Welcome to the club.

950bc: I get mysticism; 7 turns until the Oracle. Boy, you can build alot when youre not building settlers!!

I have to agree. I was also surprised to find just how quickly you ran out of stuff to build, including wonders.

775bc: I'm building a swordsman because my warriors can't seem to handle the volume of barbarians. I'm not positive if a barracks would be a good investment, so I might just replace my warriors eventually with better units. After swordsman, I'm going to start prebuilding the hanging gardens

I too found that there were a lot of barbs running around. Popping them out of two huts didn't help. Dom, what level you got the barbs on?

BigD

[Dominae]

Originally posted by BigDork
I too found that there were a lot of barbs running around. Popping them out of two huts didn't help. Dom, what level you got the barbs on?

I'm quite certain Barbs are on Roaming. It feels like there's more of them because: 1) the landmass around your capital is not being claimed as fast as in normal games, because you're not expanding and the AIs need Galleys to get to it, 2) you're not building as many military units as you normally would.

Keep up the good work, Panzer32 (and BigD)!


Dominae

[CerberusIV]

I certainly didn't find the barbarians a problem but I did build a barracks early and replace my initial warriors with vet bowmen.

I have lost this game. It went fine up to the early industrial. I managed to add Shakespeare to my list of GW's. I was spending a lot of time producing wealth when I had nothing to build.

Steampower showed up the coal and I built Ironworks - thank you Dominae!

Suddenly I just dropped right out of the tech loop as the AI's shot ahead. I actually built US although I was way behind the AI's in starting it but with a factory, ironworks and coal plant I could build it in 9 turns.

The Celts went down to the English so there are 4 AI's left. I know I am not going to win as I am only two-thirds of the way through the Industrial era whilst the Koreans have built the UN and are busy overrunning the Indians using MA. I can't buy techs from anyone so I am simply researching at 100% (and still in surplus!!!) but it is slow going. I may play this through to see if I can survive to the end.

It has certainly been interesting but I think I don't really like OCC - once you fall behind a little bit you are just about finished. I might try a 5CC on a small map where some war is viable or it would be easier to keep up with the AI's.

Thanks for setting this up Dom, it has been well worth playing.

[BigDork]

Originally posted by CerberusIV
Suddenly I just dropped right out of the tech loop as the AI's shot ahead. I actually built US although I was way behind the AI's in starting it but with a factory, ironworks and coal plant I could build it in 9 turns.

Some thing happened to me. And my guess is it's only gonna get worse. I'm hoping to get the UN first and force a vote but with the Koreans furious with me after our accidental war I don't know if I'll win. Here's hoping anyways.

once you fall behind a little bit you are just about finished.

Thanks for setting this up Dom, it has been well worth playing.

I agree and I agree. Dom, you're awsome, and a little evil.

BigD

[Panzer32]

530bc: I'm going to build the pyramids before I get monarchy, so I waste 29 shields to build a library. Then I'll build the hanging gardens. Barbarian hunting is netting alot of gold; 372 right now.

510bc: I get philosophy from the GL. I'm beginning to like the great library now!

350bc: First foreign units on my island. Korean warrior and settler combo found on souther peninsula. 11 Turns till monarchy.

250bc: Code of laws from GL.

130bc: I get monarchy. I chose to leave switching for a couple of turns, until the hanging gardens is built. Researching mathematics at only 10%.

90bc: Hanging gardens built. I decide to build a granary... nothing else to build, and maybe I can get a big city sooner (currently size 10).

50bc: Revolution. Change into monarchy. I decide to research at full steam, heading for construction. I want a colleseum!! I also just noticed an Indian city at the chokepoint for the southern peninsula of the island. Treasury at 522 gold.

70ad: Granary done; barracks to be built before colleseum, since it is 16 turns until construction. Wealth afterwards until colleseum prebuild can begin.

130ad: I trade Indians worker for worker (along with other stuff) so I can have less unit upkeep; and most of the tiles are already improved.

270ad: I establish embassies (forgot to earlier), and find out the Koreans and the Indians are at war. I don't know how long this has been going on for.

310ad: Get construction; currency at 10%. 4 Turns until colleseum. I will build another mercenary after that, and then I'll just go for wealth until some oppertunity presents itself.

380ad: Koreans and Indians make peace. No power shift - they're pretty evenly ballenced.

400ad: Republic from GL. Another revolution. Just a question: I've got GL, and know of 2 civs that have HBR, but I'm not getting it (later note: I got it in 580ad). Does anyone know why?

740ad: Finish currency; go into middle ages. Researching monotheism (18 turns). There is now 3 Korean cities and 2 Indian cities on the island.

870ad: Have bought monotheism and built marketplace. 7 turns until theology; prebuilding Sistine chapel.

960ad: Got Feudalism from GL. Researching printing press at 10% (Hope to extend GL life some )

1140ad: Built Sistine Chapel. Now going for cathedral; 23 turns till PP.

1150ad: Koreans built Leo's workshop. I think they switched when I got Sistine last turn, so I got Sistine by one turn!!

1220ad: Done cathedral; now there's no unhappy people in the city. Maybe in my other games, maybe I'm underestimating the power of Sistine! Building a courthouse, and then wealth. I want to go for democracy quickly.

1255ad: I get Chivalry from the GL. I hope to get Engineering as the last GL tech soon.

Thats it for now...

[Hueij]

This is my first AU. Being an old Civ2 OCC veteran I could't resist Now if anyone will write a Civ3 Paulicy...

I didn't keep a detailed log but from the top of my head:

One thing I learned from Civ2 is that you really need your city to be on the coast, so I moved my settler to the hill SW and my worker to the hill north, just to see what the surroundings where like. Right! On the coast, next to a lake and a cattle tile.

Got the GL, Col, Oracle, Gardens, Sist Chapel.

The Indians settled on my continent and declared war Only thing was that they forgot to defend their cities, so after my one legion(!) razed two of their cities they begged for peace.

Right now I'm half way the medieval age, way back in techs, a size 12 city and no clue what to do. There's no way I'll get any of the science wonders

But, playing emperor I'm doing okay I guess

[Dominae]

Great job guys! At least you all tried it, and now you're a better Civ player because of it (I hope!).

Everyone seems to be having the same problem: techs. OCC is all about techs. You need to fight fight fight to get those techs; in the diplomacy screens, you have to become a tech warmonger.

CerberusIV, any strategy comments or things you've learned for this game? I believe you'll find 5CC suits your playstyle more; military endeavours are not really a part of OCC (in my experience).


Dominae

[BigDork]

Originally posted by Panzer32
1220ad: Done cathedral; now there's no unhappy people in the city. Maybe in my other games, maybe I'm underestimating the power of Sistine! Building a courthouse, and then wealth. I want to go for democracy quickly.

Courthouse? Just going ahead and building everything. I think the courthouse is the one thing I haven't built.

BigD

[Hueij]

A Courthouse is the one thing you don't need in OCC

Anyways, I've been focusing on the happines wonders. Size 12 and all happy, with luxuries on 10%. Maybe going after the science wonders would be a better approach.