I gave this one a whirl too. My report is here .

Now to settle in for some good reading of what others did.

I have never played an always war game before in any civ version. But after playing epic4 untill 2003 (I got rid of all barbarians, but it would have taken another 30 to 50 turns to take on Qin and probably another 200 turns for Ghandi, I did not finish epic4) I thought always war on noble can't be worse than deity raging barbs.
At least it will take the AI much longer to threaten my capital. Nevertheless, I was very careful with my early research: archery first and first build a warrior



I decided to do only a limited scouting and stop untill I meet the first AI. So I wanted to limit the numbers of AIs I am at war with, hoping that some far away AIs won't get through the initially closed borders.
That might have helped with a civ3 like AI since they did not scout the area extensively, but it did not help with the civ4 AI.

I met Ghandi in 3160 BC

Here is a picture of my empire. One can see I researched BW after Archery and have copper close by for my second city. My capital is already proteced by one archer. The scout and the warrior are exploring the nearby land.



I sent my warrior which was not too far away immediately to Ghandi to either capture a worker or prevent him from developing his land. Later I changed the warrior to an archer.



This worked beatufully. As one can see, in 2140 BC, Ghandi has not progressed at all.



Finally Ghandi managed to sneak out a settler protected by two archers, just in time for my axemen.



After razing my first city, Bombay in 1000 BC my freshly promoted axemen are closing in on Delhi



Delhi was captured in 730 BC, the Indian civilization is destroyed and I was now owner of the holy city of Hinduism.



So far, always war looked mostly harmless. The AIs trickled the one or other warrior into my territory, easy prey for my axemen and archers.
This situation changed a bit in the next few hundred years.
I kept expanding, I even finished the early wonders in Berlin: Stonehenge, Pyramids and Oracle. The Oracle for the CS slingshot. I was pulling ahead in techs, so I was not really concerned about the long term prospects.



The AIs are now concentrating all their efforts on Delhi. I got frequent visitors from land and sea:



But my defenses ar much too strong for the invaders. I now have macemen and all the send are horse archers, axemen and spearmen.
No real problem so far.

This is my empire in 1010 AD. I am building my infrastructure, pull ahead in techs even further and have no problem to defend my current position.
I plan to expend a little further with macemen, but wait for a final push with cavalry.



I built the FP in Kagoshima. This city is now in the far west of my empire, but soon it will be in the center, Kagashima is now the focus of all AI action, but looking at the defenders and the invaders, it is clear who has the longer part of the stick:



After researching military tradition, everything went pretty fast.
From the fall of Osaka in 1472



it took a bit more than 200 years to achieve domination victory in 1688.





I was surprised how easy this victory came. Also war weariness never played a role. I did not need move the cultural slider once. Nice epic, thanks Sirian for developing that one. I'm looking forward to playing epic 7, whatever that might be.

I had almost forgotten it was over

My report has been completed for a while. You can read it here!

It was my first completed Always War game, and it was a blast!

Result: Diplomatic Victory in 1844AD
(I went for a Diplo win just for the inherent irony.)

http://www.erudita.com/darrell/EpicVI/da...art_I.html

For those of you who think a Time victory is impossible in AW, read on

Darrell

Apparently, even endless wars end eventually. Please post your reports from this event. Thanks.


- Sirian

Meeting time for GvG is 8:30 PM EST, Fridays.

Here's the build we're going to use for the time being:

Originated by: Need Before Greed [imo]

W/Rt
"Fear Me!", Steady Stance, Drunken Blow, Desperation Blow, Disrupting Chop, Bull's Strike, Heal Sig, Flesh of My Flesh

W/E
Flail, Rush, Devastating Hammer, Crushing Blow, Bull's Strike, Shock, Grasping Earth, Res Sig

N/A
Dash, Reaper's Mark, Malaise, Insidious Parasites, Faintheartedness, Signet of Sorrow, Price of Failure, Res Sig

N/E
Rotting Flesh, Rising Bile, Shadow of Fear, Deathly Swarm, Glyph of Lesser Energy, Icy Veins, Putrid Explosion, Res Sig

Me/E
Energy Burn, Glyph of Lesser Energy, Panic, Backfire, Wastrel's Demise, Spirit of Failure, Mind Wrack, Res Sig

E/Rt
Weilder's Boon, Weapon of Warding, Flame Djinn's Haste, Mind Blast, Fireball, Smoldering Embers, Fire Attunement, Mark of Rodgort

Mo/E
Heal Party, Jamei's Gaze, Words of Comfort, Glyph of Lesser Energy, Ethereal Light, Healing Touch, Healer's Boon, Dismiss Condition

Mo/A
Restore Condition, Spirit Bond, Holy Veil, Reversal of Fortune, Gift of Health, Dark Escape, Mending Touch, Return

Here's a list of the skills that will probably be used in the various builds we try:
Note: this list is pretty out of date. I need to add/remove quite a few skills.
Warrior
Elite
Axe - Eviscerate, Cleave
Hammer - Devastating Hammer, Backbreaker, Forceful Blow
Swordsmanship - Quivering Blade, Dragon Slash
Strength - Bull's Charge
Tactics - "Charge!", Steady Stance
No Attribute - "You're All Alone!"
Non-elite
Axe - Dismember, Executioner's Strike, Axe Rake, Penetrating Blow/Chop, Lacertating Chop, Critical Chop, Agonizing Chop
Hammer - Crushing Blow, Irresistible Blow, Hammer Bash, Fierce Blow, Heavy Blow
Swordsmanship - Sever Artery, Gash, Sun & Moon Strike, Galrath/Silverwing Slash, Savage Slash, Final Thrust, Barbarous Strike
Strength - Bull's Strike, Protector's Strike, Endure Pain, Sprint, Rush, Warrior's Cunning, Burst of Aggression
Tactics - Healing Signet, "Fear Me!", Desperation/Drunken Blow
No Attribute - Wild Blow, Distracting Blow, Frenzy, "For Great Justice!"

Ranger
Elite
Beast Mastery - Ferocious Strike, Rampage as One
Expertise - Escape, Oath Shot, Practiced Stance
Marksmanship - Crippling Shot, Punishing Shot, Burning Arrow
Wilderness Survival - Melandru's Arrows, Poison Arrow, Spike Trap, Smoke Trap
No Attribute - Quick Shot
Non-elite
Beast Mastery - Bestial/Tiger's Fury, Call of Haste, Charm Animal, Comfort Animal, Disrupting Lunge, Feral Lunge, Run as One, Fertile Season, Energizing Wind, Symbiosis
Expertise - Distracting Shot, Dodge/Zojun's Haste, Throw Dirt, Whirling Defense
Marksmanship - Favorable Winds, Hunter's Shot, Marauder's Shot, Read the Wind, Savage Shot, Debilitating Shot, Seeking Arrows, Screaming Arrow
Wilderness Survival - Apply Poison, Barbed Trap, Choking Gas, Dust Trap, Flame Trap, Kindle Arrows, Nature's Renewal, Quickening Zephyr, Serpent's Quickness, Tranquility, Troll Unguent, Natural Stride, Barbed Arrows, Trapper's Speed, Tripwire
No Attribute - Dual Shot

Monk
Elite
Divine Favor - Blessed Light, Spell Breaker
Healing Prayers - Healing Light, Word of Healing, Light of Deliverence, Healer's Covenant, Glimmer of Light
Protection Prayers - Air of Enchantment, Life Barrier, Restore Condition, Shield of Deflection, Zealous Benediction, Divert Hexes
No Attribute - Empathic Removal, Martyr
Non-elite
Divine Favor - Blessed Signet, Contemplation of Purity, Divine Boon, Signet of Devotion
Healing Prayers - Dwayna's Kiss, Ethereal Light, Gift of Health, Heal Other/Jamei's Gaze, Heal Party, Healing Seed, Healing Touch, Infuse Health, Orison of Healing, Resurrection Chant, Vigorous Spirit, Words of Comfort
Protection Prayers - Aegis, Convert Hexes, Draw Conditions, Extinguish, Guardian, Life Bond, Mend Ailment, Mend Condition, Protective Spirit, Reversal of Fortune, Spirit Bond, Shield of Absorption, Mending Touch, Dismiss Condition
Smiting Prayers - Balthazar's Aura, Balthazar's Spirit, Judge's Insight, Smite Hex, Zealot's Fire, Reversal of Damage
No Attribute - Holy Veil, Purge Conditions, Purge Signet, Remove Hex, Resurrect

Necromancer
Elite
Blood Magic - Blood is Power, Offering of Blood, Order of the Vampire, Well of Power
Curses - Feast of Corruption, Lingering Curse, Spiteful Spirit, Wither
Death Magic - Tainted Flesh, Virulence
Soul Reaping - Wail of Doom, Reaper's Mark
No Attribute - Grenth's Balance
Non-elite
Blood Magic - Awaken the Blood, Barbed Signet, Blood Renewal, Blood Ritual, Life Siphon, Lifebane/Shadow Strike, Mark of Subversion, Oppressive Gaze, Order of Pain, Strip Enchantment, Well of Blood, Blood of the Aggressor
Curses - Barbs, Defile/Desecrate Enchantments, Faintheartedness, Malaise, Parasitic Bond, Price of Failure, Reckless Haste, Rend Enchantments, Rigor Mortis, Shadow of Fear, Soul Barbs, Suffering, Vocal Minority
Death Magic - Consume Corpse, Necrotic Traversal, Animate Shanbling Horror, Animate Bone Fiend, Blood of the Master
Soul Reaping - Signet of Lost Souls, Signet of Sorrow
No Attribute - Plague Touch

Mesmer
Elite
Domination Magic - Energy Surge, Power Block, Psychic Distraction
Fast Casting - Mantra of Recovery, Stolen Speed
Illusion Magic - Crippling Anguish, Ineptitude, Migraine
Inspiration Magic - Energy Drain, Mantra of Recall,
No Attribute - Echo, Expel Hexes, Shatter Storm, Signet of Midnight
Non-elite
Domination Magic - Blackout, Cry of Frustration, Diversion, Energy Burn, Guilt, Hex Breaker, Mind Wrack, Power Leak, Power Spike, Shame, Shatter Delusions, Shatter Enchantment, Signet of Disruption, Signet of Weariness, Unnatural Signet, Spiritual Pain
Illusion Magic - Accumulated Pain, Arcane Conundrum, Clumsiness, Conjure Nightmare, Conjure Phantasm, Distortion, Illusion of Haste, Illusion of Weakness, Images of Remorse, Imagined/Kitah's Burden, Phantom Pain
Inspiration Magic - Channeling, Drain Enchantment, Energy Tap, Ether Feast, Ether Lord, Inspired/Revealed Enchantment, Inspired/Revealed Hex, Mantra of Concentration, Mantra of Persistence, Power Drain, Signet of Humility, Spirit Shakles
No Attribute - Arcane Echo, Lyssa's Balance, Web of Disruption

Elementalist
Elite
Energy Storage - Elemental Attunement, Ether Prodigy, Master of Magic
Air Magic - Invoke Lightning, Blinding Surge
Earth Magic - Sandstorm
Fire Magic - Searing Flames
Water Magic - Ward Against Harm, Water Trident
No Attribute - Glyph of Energy, Glyph of Renewal
Non-elite
Air Magic - Air Attunement, Blinding Flash, Enervating Charge, Gale, Lightning Hammer, Lightning Javeling, Lightning Orb, Lightning Strike, Shock, Windborne Speed, Storm Djinn's Haste
Earth Magic - Ward Against Elements, Ward Against Foes, Ward Against Melee, Ward of Stability, Stoneflesh Aura, Armor of Earth
Energy Storage - Aura of Restoration
Fire Magic - Breath of Fire, Fire Attunement, Fireball, Immolate, Meteor, Meteor Shower, Rodgort's Invocation, Liquid Flame, Glowing Gaze
Water Magic - Armor of Mist, Blurred Vision, Deep Freeze, Ice Spikes, Freezing Gust
No Attribute - Glyph of Concentration, Glyph of Sacrifice, Glyph of Elemental Power

Assassin
Elite
Dagger Mastery - Temple Strike
Deadly Arts - Assassin's Promise, Shadow Prison
No Attribute - Aura of Displacement
Non-elite
Critical Strikes - Black Lotus Strike, Twisting Fangs, Unsuspecting Strike
Dagger Mastery - Disrupting Stab, Exhausting Assault, Falling Spider, Fox Fangs, Golden Phoenix Strike, Horns of the Ox, Jagged Strike, Repeating Strike, Wild Strike, Black Spider Strike
Deadly Arts - Crippling Dagger, Entangling Asp, Impale, Deadly Paradox
Shadow Arts - Caltrops, Dark Escape, Death's Charge, Return, Shadow Refuge, Shadow of Haste, Way of the Fox, Feigned Nutrality, Death's Retreat
No Attribute - Dash, Recall, Signet of Malice

Ritualist
Elite
Communing - Wanderlust
Restoration Magic - Preservation, Tranquil was Tanasen
Spawning Power - Ritual Lord
No Attribute - Soul Twisting
Non-elite
Channeling Magic - Ancestor's Rage, Spirit Burn, Painful Bond
Communing - Bloodsong, Displacement, Earthbind, Pain, Shadowsong, Shelter, Soothing, Union, Anguish
Restoration Magic - Flesh of My Flesh, Life, Mend Body and Soul, Recuperation, Soothing Memories, Spirit Light, Spirit Transfer
Spawning Power - Boon of Creation, Sight Beyond Sight

Dervish
Elite
Mysticism - Avatar of Melandru, Avatar of Grenth
Scythe Mastery - Reaper's Sweep, Wounding Strike
Earth Prayers - Ebon Dust Aura
Non-elite
Mysticism - Heart of Fury, Extend Enchantments, Imbue Health
Scythe Mastery - Eremite's Attack, Mystic Sweep, Lyssa's Assualt, Wearying Strike, Chilling Victory, Victorious Sweep, Twin Moon Sweep
Earth Prayers - Mystic Regeneration
Wind Prayers - Featherfooted Grace, Harrier's Grasp, Harrier's Haste, Lyssa's Haste

Paragon
Elite
Leadership - Crippling Anthem
Motivation - Song of Restoration
No Attribute - Cautery Signet
Non-elite
Leadership - Anthem of Flame, Blazing Finale, Signet of Return, Glowing Signet
Command - "Brace Yourself!", "Go for the Eyes!", "Stand Your Ground!"
Motivation - Aria of Zeal, Aria of Restoration, Ballad of Restoration
Spear Mastery - Spear of Lightning, Wild Throw, Harrier's Toss, Merciless Spear, Swift Throw, Disrupting Throw
No Attribute - Remedy Signet

If I have anything under the wrong attribute line let me know and I'll fix it. I don't have much experience playing as or with paragons, so that list is probably the weakest one to go by, but it's a start anyways.

I'll think about sorting the list by campaign later, but for right now that's too big of a task to think about.

Hey all, Was at Target picking up odds and ends when I saw they had this in stock. Was perfectly happy with vanilla Civ 4, but have been tempted with the new units, GG, buildings, wonders and civs. So what the heck- I tossed it in the cart.

Started up a random map game, with Churchhill (so many new civs and attributes-- fun!).

Of course I built all the new Wonders just because I could- the Great Wall is pretty cool actually.

Love the Trebs which counterbalance city defender Longbows much better. England's new building is ok, but a +15% bonus bank is not one of the better unique buildings. Great General (got two so far) are fun- I used my in the field for a super fun time happy stack. Lost my first one to a really bad roll of the dice. Grr.

The senarios look like fun too, although I am not a fan of turn limited senarios in general.

So far, it's worth the money. I can't wait to get home and play some more. I even have my own Vassle state and everything. Poor Mansa, you really didn't think I was going to let you tech your way to space did you?

Ok, I'm trying to set up a website or something so I can post reports on Epics 6 and 7 when opening day comes. I have now read up on html, though I'll have to learn more codes, I suppose, to make it nice to look at. I have a free webpage at geocities.com I think... And I'm trying to set up a domain name... do I have to have a domain name? Dot.tk seems to offer free domain names, but a paid one is cheap for a year, so I don't know if it's better to take the paid one... I'm thinking yes... but whether I select paid or free, I just get an endless loop. So I'm stuck right now, it says the domain is available, but won't continue the setup process. Do I really need one? I'm no techy, but I learn fast. Or is there a way to just post an html document to the web somewhere so I can report on this site? Anybody? I need guidance! I read that other post around here that listed free webhosting sites, but I tried to use the #1 recommended site, and was just plain baffled.

Never discover Education & win via Space Launch.


Lets proove those stinky academic philosophers that we can beat'em w/o their silly Unis. *pimp*

I wanted to have the RB adventurre out of this, but lets go with the SG.
Hope U find it a good read: Civfanatics thread and remember when posting:

"No dark sarcasm in the classroom!"