GOTW: May 31st return of the Russians

[WOOD]

Thats right, the Russians again. This week there will be no walk-in as there is a barb hut blocking your way out of your land mass. An interesting map with all opponents on the same continent which is in more or less a U-shape. Starting in the NW and heading SE you will find the Egyptians. Heading East the Americans, with the Japanese East of them and Chinese to the NE.
COG is at the South end of the map from your start location with AOC, SOC, KT and Atlantis all in play this week.
There is a very nice choke point between you and the Egyptians with lots of room to expand. Its is hard to find many balanced location with great production to the south, lots of food around your starting location and a large desert above you. Lots good island locations to the North are there for the taking.
I managed to get all the wonders with my first time through but had a very casual stroll to a tech victory. I expect there will be some good times this week as sood as people work out how to take the Egyptians down quickly. Enjoy!

[Pedal2Metal]

I really enjoy playing the Russians now so I decided to give this weeks GOTW a try as it's been a few months. Posted a 1625 AD Domination on Deity on my first playthrough which will likely be my only playthrough. I'm confident this can be shortened significantly as I took a low risk path building 15 elite tank armies via legions->tanks w/Leonardo's. 1600 AD was top score on 360 so far although I'm confident this will drop measurably as the week rolls on.

best regards,
Pedal2Metal

[MadDjinn]

err, that score shouldn't be...

you can easily take off 1000 years from that score and maybe not hit the top 10...

[Pedal2Metal]

Originally Posted by MadDjinn

err, that score shouldn't be...

you can easily take off 1000 years from that score and maybe not hit the top 10...

I agree (as I stated). It's the first few hours it was posted so usually the scores drop until later in the week as people optimize their playthroughs. On a first playthrough (w/no restarts either), anyone that gets a pre-1000 AD score has done something significant as pre-1000 AD scores on Deity GOTW w/Russians on your first playthrough isn't a cakewalk. Most folks I know like to start & then re-start after they've "scoped out" where the civs are & they call that an "initial" playthrough. However, if you allow "scope out" restarts like that, it's easy to get a great score as the map isn't unknown anymore & that's a big variable in the game. I used to do that myself when trying to get my very best score but it's become too boring now. Now I just allow myself 1 playthrough, win or lose. Doing it on your first playthrough without restarts is more like MP as you never know how things are going to go so it's more fun IMO. I always over-do the number of units I build as I get livid when the stupid AI wins & I lose all my units. So I go for "overwhelming force" where I don't care if I lose a few armies but 15 elite tank armies is probably a bit much.

This is one reason I wish the scoreboards offered a "Num Attempts" column so that it could be seen how many attempts were required to get the score shown. I've requested it but I doubt it's ever going to happen even thought it would be a trivial addition to the scoreboards.

best regards,
Pedal2Metal

[enexuscurt]

It always seems like there won't be a walk-in or an early win and then some smart guys comes up with one and I think why didn't I think of that.

[elthrasher]

Originally Posted by enexuscurt

It always seems like there won't be a walk-in or an early win and then some smart guys comes up with one and I think why didn't I think of that.

I've only messed around with this one a little, but it seems like it should be impossible to me. The AI gets a defensive unit around 3500-3400 BC. Normally, you settle 2 squares from the AI city, use your exploration or friendly village gold to rush a warrior and get the walk-in in 3500 BC or so.

This week, there's a hut at a chokepoint around 4 squares from Thebes and no friendly villages on the way. I'd be very impressed if somebody could work out a walk-in.

[Pedal2Metal]

Originally Posted by elthrasher

I've only messed around with this one a little, but it seems like it should be impossible to me. The AI gets a defensive unit around 3500-3400 BC. Normally, you settle 2 squares from the AI city, use your exploration or friendly village gold to rush a warrior and get the walk-in in 3500 BC or so.

Not only that, they are an elite archer unit due to barracks + GL at Diety GOTW level.

Originally Posted by elthrasher

This week, there's a hut at a chokepoint around 4 squares from Thebes and no friendly villages on the way. I'd be very impressed if somebody could work out a walk-in.

I doubt there will be walk-ins this week but a pre-1000 AD seems plausible. I'll be impressed if a BC victory occurs however.

best regards,
Pedal2Metal

[elthrasher]

Originally Posted by Pedal2Metal

I doubt there will be walk-ins this week but a pre-1000 AD seems plausible. I'll be impressed if a BC victory occurs however.

BC victory should be doable. There's plenty of money on the map to put together a vet horse army or two. Then figure out when the AI moves its archer armies out, and attack. Might be kind of tricky with the Egyptians because their culture will be big, so it may be impossible to wait 2 squares away without being at war.

I don't think I'll try because I get bored after a couple GotW playthroughs. I prefer human opponents.

[Pedal2Metal]

Originally Posted by elthrasher

BC victory should be doable. Then figure out when the AI moves its archer armies out, and attack.

I don't use that technique myself although I am aware of it. I consider it cheap myself although I will agree it is a valid technique & within the parameters of the game. I just find that technique like watching grass grow. BORING!!!

I've stopped playing GOTW regularly now but when I do play it, I usually only play 1 time although occasionally I'll play twice for another victory condition besides domination. However, I don't do any restarts, no do-overs, no "explore the map & then play" garbage. Play it just like MP, 1 shot for a given victory type. If you get it, great. If not, better luck next week.

This tends to keep it fresher & more fun for me.

best regards,
Pedal2Metal

[WOOD]

I would be surprised at a pre 1000 AD victory at this point. I was attacking Washington at about 1050 with 2 infiltration/fundamentalist knights and the both bounced off the pikeman like a bug. Five turns later the same unit (now upgraded) swallowed two infiltration tank armies. Every battle was in my favor but that didn't matter.
This last playthrough I almost got an ok time but Bejing ate my tank army so I had to sail artie up from Kyoto adding 9 more turns. The BS factor this week on deity is a little much.
That best score posted on 360 is 1400 AD but that is last weeks game. I am probably going to leave my 1525 so I don't break my controller.