RBPB4 [SPOILERS] - De Gaulle of the Egyptians

[Lord Parkin]

1v1 is incredibly different to FFA-type games, whether on a blazing or a pitboss timer. FFA games, you need to consider anyone around you, don't stand out too much, and keep your cards close.

I'd say the timer makes at least as much difference as the type of game (FFA or 1 vs 1). Playing on a blazing (few seconds per turn) timer on the exact same map with the exact same people is a completely different experience to playing with a 12/24/48 hour timer. There are some people who do better in one environment than the other; TheMeInTeam from CFC, for instance, tends to do relatively well on blazing games but doesn't have much patience for slower paced games. I can usually do alright in blazing games, but my personal preference is really for the longer-paced pitboss games.

1v1 resembles starcraft, where you have a set enemy, and you therefore want to deal maximum economic damage for the minimum investment, and use that economic damage to gain time to power your own economy. I'm not great at either, and I usually don't follow my own advice

Dealing maximum economic damage to your opponent for minimum investment on your part is certainly key in 1 vs 1 games. However, almost as much of the game revolves around gaining the upper hand in cold wars, without any battles even taking place - such as strategically placing enough units in the right places to gain visibility without being easily removed, or shuffling stacks back and forth to try to misdirect your opponent. Basically, playing mind games with your opponent sometimes helps on the road to success.

[Lord Parkin]

Thanks for all that again.

In this game, what is your main objective that will help you to win? I mean, are you bee-lining something or a series of somethings which will allow you to go and dominate? If so, what and approximately when?

I'm planning on working through the economic techs and building as many decent wonders as I can along the way - making full use of fail gold where possible as well. I'm definitely looking to war at some point, likely just after I have a fresh technological edge. Possibly at Maces, Trebuchets, Rifles or Cannons... haven't decided for sure yet, it'll depend on what other nations do over the next few dozen turns as well. I do have some vague thoughts in mind about who and when I'd like to attack, but I'll keep some surprises in store for the future.

Your use of NAP is most interesting.

Will you be taking out your opposition one by one, alone or with others or is it just too complex to have an exact plan and that taking an opportunity when it presents itself may probably be the key?

Initially I'm planning on working together with others to take out opponents one by one. I wasn't lucky enough to have a weak neighbour (like some), so a one on one war would almost certainly be too costly for me in the near future. However, once I get rolling later on I intend to start considering taking on targets on my own, although of course it's always helpful to have someone else on board.

I am just trying to get to understand your 'behind the scenes' thinking on how you plan to win... You have commented that you are somewhat isolated, this presumably affects your planning.

Indeed, I'm kind of playing the isolationist at the moment in terms of geography - signing long peace agreements with all my neighbours, and just building up my own backyard in private at my own pace. However, in other respects I'm definitely not playing the isolationist... I'm extremely active in diplo, possibly more so than anyone except perhaps Rego. That's a necessity in games like this, though. If you don't talk to people frequently and kindly enough, you risk getting left out in the cold - which is a sure recipe for a dogpiling.

[Lord Parkin]

We officially have a first for our empire... #1 in all the first three categories! (Or at least first equal. )



Of course, this is only temporary, and fluctuates around from turn to turn. But it's a nice sign anyway.

[Nicolae Carpathia]

Dealing maximum economic damage to your opponent for minimum investment on your part is certainly key in 1 vs 1 games. However, almost as much of the game revolves around gaining the upper hand in cold wars, without any battles even taking place - such as strategically placing enough units in the right places to gain visibility without being easily removed, or shuffling stacks back and forth to try to misdirect your opponent. Basically, playing mind games with your opponent sometimes helps on the road to success.

So exactly like Starcraft (and other economy-focused strategy games). Yeah, I emphasise map control in my games as well, I don't feel safe unless I have a big sentry net set up, and I feel most safe when my sentry net is physically inside someone else's territory.

[Gazzahk]

Thanks for these useful insights.

I look forward to seeing how it develops in the short and medium term. This is the first PB that I have followed and I have found it most helpful.

Presumably, you also keep a lot of records outside of the game (e.g. to know that the current turn was the first time in the game when you have been 1st in the first three categories). Is that sophisticated or some simple approach? I have never kept records beyond what the game offers. I suppose these additional supports evolve over time?

Thanks - sorry for yet more questions.

[Lord Parkin]

So exactly like Starcraft (and other economy-focused strategy games). Yeah, I emphasise map control in my games as well, I don't feel safe unless I have a big sentry net set up, and I feel most safe when my sentry net is physically inside someone else's territory.

Cool. I actually haven't ever played Starcraft myself. Maybe I should try it out sometime.

Thanks for these useful insights.

I look forward to seeing how it develops in the short and medium term. This is the first PB that I have followed and I have found it most helpful.

Neat, glad you're finding it useful.

Presumably, you also keep a lot of records outside of the game (e.g. to know that the current turn was the first time in the game when you have been 1st in the first three categories). Is that sophisticated or some simple approach? I have never kept records beyond what the game offers. I suppose these additional supports evolve over time?

I keep my "records" in pretty much the laziest possible way: take screenshots of all the key screens every turn, so that I can go into the folder and compare them later if need be.

That and I just remember stuff in my head. The "first time being first in the first three categories" was something I didn't even need to look up. It's not hard to remember the first time you see all those 1's, after a certain civ (*cough* Plako *cough*) has been dominating the demographics for most of the game.

Thanks - sorry for yet more questions.

No worries, happy to answer your queries. Glad to be helping out.

[Nicolae Carpathia]

Well, there are two ways of playing starcraft. The way they teach you in single player is to turtle up, build the equivalent of 30 tanks on 4 cities in 2030 while working unimproved tiles as your enemy batters itself mindlessly against a fortified hill chokepoint city .ie. not very efficient. But then you see really good players pumping out massive maxed out armies at the 10min mark, and you realise how important economy management is. But enough about fundamental theory, show off some pictures!

[Ellimist]

That's a pretty good summary of SP vs MP in most real time strategy(RTS) games. At least in command and conquer they added more depth after the first couple games in the series.

[Lord Parkin]

That's a pretty good summary of SP vs MP in most real time strategy(RTS) games.

That's not actually so surprising, given that the purpose of most AI in games is to provide a fun challenge to the human before eventually allowing them to win. Human opponents, on the other hand, are largely a stark contrast because a lot of people are fiercely competitive and want to play to win.

At least in command and conquer they added more depth after the first couple games in the series.

Ah, yes. I must admit still have fond memories of Red Alert... the first game I ever bought. A great choice, as it turned out.

[Lord Parkin]

Plako wanted to cash in his agreed 10 turns of a happiness resource that we agreed to a while back (still not quite sure why I thought that was ok at the time ). Anyway, I ended up sending Gems rather than Ivory because he mentioned he was considering Music (and therefore Aesthetics) and I didn't want to give him effectively a free wonder (Statue of Zeus). That was our only source of Gems, but we'll hook another up in a few turns, and in addition Silks and Spices will come online very shortly.

(We're overflowing with happiness right now anyway, so the loss of Gems for a few turns actually isn't even an issue. But Plako doesn't know that. )

I just hope that other civs don't pick up on the gift and start to think we're allied or something. I mentioned that to Plako, but he didn't seem to mind. We'll see what happens I guess.