Civ4: Colonization - Glee game blog 3 (1599 or bust)

The Game Room
1

Welcome to my third game blog (the others are here and here)

In this one, CapnPitt and WormTheRed (hi guys :slight_smile: ) have challenged me to achieve Independence before 1600.

I have some ideas - mainly on **things not to do **because they take up too much time.

Since repeated typing (or cut + pasting) is boring for me, I will use some abbreviations:

NV = Native Village
TT = treasure train
ES = Elder Statesman
RS = Rebel Sentiment

I am going to do one thing I would never normally do - I will restart :eek: until I have a Seasoned Scout on the Docks.
I apologise for the ethical breech :frowning: , but I think the Scout is vital early on and seriously affects my chances of achieving the artificial (but fun!) goal.
In other blogs, it’s just as interesting/useful to fail, since it’s a learning experience.
Here I simply want to know if the aim can be achieved, even with the best possible start.

I will choose Simon Bolivar (on Pilgrim). I don’t intend to use the Spanish bonus of Native attack, but Bolivar’s combat bonus seems vital to me in the War - as I don’t expect to have many combat units by then! :eek:

2

Custom game, playing Simon Bolivar (England) on Pilgrim.
I chose Spain / Bolivar purely because he gets the combat % bonus v King of (RS - 50) *2.

Settings (same as usual)

Map: A New World
Size: Huge
Climate: Temperate
Sea level: Low
Era: Discovery
Speed: Normal (presumably this would be easier on Quick - but that wasn’t the challenge)

Options
None checked

Victories
All checked

1492 (turn 1/ introduction)

1 Soldier and 1 Pioneer in boat (plus Seasoned Scout on Docks - had to restart twice to get this).
N.B. King has 8 Soldiers, 4 Dragoons, 4 Artillery and 4 Warships. I will use the annotation 8/4/4/4 in future (these shortcuts do help me focus on the game, not the typing!)

Arrive at Coast with Crab and coastal river (also gives a production bonus)
Disembark deliberately adjacent to NV. My Cultural expansion will remove it later, without causing conflict.

3

1493 - 1502

1493

Founded Isabella.
Soldier starts in Town Hall for Liberty Bells. (Extreme, but key to my strategy.)
Ship immediately returns for Scout.

1494

Meet English (Washington).
Exchange Maps, agree Open Borders.

1495

Quiet.

1496

Buy Scout and (Hardy) Pioneer.

1497

Quiet.

1498

Scout and Pioneer disembark.

1499

Enter NV. (Teach) Farmer / (give) 942 TT / (want) Guns.
188gp off (Ancient) Ruin.
Sent TT home via King (after-tax profit of 471gp).
English found Settlement up the coast.
Accept Pedro (-50% European travel time).
103gp from Burial (Ground).

1500

Quiet.

1501

Enter NV. Farmer / 1368 TT / Horses.

1502

Buy Guns for trading.

4

1503 - 1512

1503

Ore Miner on Docks.

1504

Refuse to pay King 130gp. (Not a lot, but every gp counts this time.)
Meet Arawak.
Smoothly select suitably supplied second settlement site. :wink:

1505

Trade guns for 150% profit. :cool: Buy Cotton at standard price (but it gives me Trade Points!)
Founded Santo Domingo (very close to Isabella - saves travel time and easier to defend).

1506

Buy second Caravel and second Scout (must collect TT’s from NVs quickly). Also bribe Jesuit Missionary to enlist now.

1507

Quiet.

1508

Enter NV. Farmer / 174gp / Cigars.

1509

Dock built in Isabella; start on Printing Press.
Decline Juan (better treasure).
Bribe Preacher to join. (I don’t intend to use him, but am hoping an ES will aapear next!)

1509

Accept Peter (-25% cost of European units :D).
Treasure from Ruin.

1510

Enter NV. Cotton Planter / 380gp / Guns.

1511

Quiet

1512

Send TT home. Establish Mission in Farming NV.
316gp from Burial.
Another TT sent home (King’s Galleons a nice little earner for him - actually I don’t think it affects his behaviour at all)

5

1513 - 1522

1513

Scout gets experience points (XP) from Ancient. Will promote to Explorer 1 + 2 for speed of movement.
Enter NV. Fur Trader / 264gp / Horses.

1514

Enter NV. Tobacco Planter / 264gp (again!) / Tools.
Buy Fisherman, then ES! :cool:

1515

Quiet.

1516

Scout gets XP from Ruin.
Fisherman and ES join Isabella. Now we’re cooking with gas!
Select third (and final, because there’s so little time) Settlement Site.

1517

Accept Bartolome (more Native Conversions).
Original NV yields up peacefully to my Culture - was built on Corn Resource, so this becomes my third Settlement Site instead. (Settler “Make your blooming mind up, Simon!”)

1518

Buy Guns + Horses.
Enter NV. Farmer / 296gp / Guns.
Hurry Printing Press. Costs a lot (412gp to save 11 turns), but this is my core Strategy. Liberty Bells rule, OK!

1519

Founded San Salvador. Sadly have to anger Natives to save 667gp. :frowning:
Enter NV. Scout / 336 TT / Cigars.
Treasure from Burial.
Meet Tupi - agree Defensive Pact.
500% profit from Horse trade. :eek::cool::smiley: Buy Furs cheaply too.

1520

Wagon Train ready (built in Santo Domingo).
Defensive Pact with Cherokee.
TT from Burial.

1521

Enter NV. Farmer / 246gp / Rum.
Refuse Gonzalo (reveals Sites).

1522

Quiet

6

This will be a cool one! I hope you’ll make it.

7

1523 - 1532

1523

Decline John (extra Tobacco).
Buy Guns + Horses. (Technically this is a key part of my Strategy too!)
Pay 50gp tax. I don’t usually do this, but it keeps the King happy, which may save me having to fight more of his units later…
152gp from Burial.

1524

Accept Vasco (+25% defence).
Enter NV. Fishermen / XP / Cigars.
360 TT Burial.

1525

Another TT from Burial.
Promote Scout to Surgeon 1.
Both Inland Settlements now have 100 Guns and 100 Horses stored, ready for Independence. (The extra 2 servants per Settlement then will free up 2 Colonists to become Dragoons.)
Buy Cannon (for Defence).

1526

Meet Apache. No Defensive Pact.

1527

Enter NV. Ore Miner / XP / Rum.

1528

Promote Scout to Surgeon 2. (I think this is vital.)

1529

Accept Giovanni (extra Caravel).
King raises tax to 3%. Accept.

1530

Buy Servant (for Mission).
TT to Europe.
Enter NV. Farmer / 1240 TT / Guns.
Buy Guns for trading.

1531

Enter NV. Tobacco Planter / 344 TT / Cigars.
Arawaks donate 61 Furs (my Spanish Civilisation likes the natives!)

1532

Exchange World map with Washington.
At last NV (Farmer) converts. (I think my nicking their land may have caused the delay.)
Servant becomes Missionary and sets off to convert Cotton Planters; first Student enters School to graduate as ES.
Trade Guns profitably, then buy Furs and Tobacco.

8

This game is like running down a hillside, chasing a cheese! :confused::eek::smiley:

9

That sounds like something I’d really enjoy :smiley:

10

1533 - 1542

1533

RS 15%. King 9/4/5/4.
338 TT from Burial.

1534

Buy ES (critical for Strategy) and Cannon.
Enter NV. Farmer / 1500 TT / Guns.

1535

Decline Lord (few more Crosses). Not quick enough to help.
TT from Ancient.
Establish Mission in Cotton Planter NV.
TT to Europe.

1536

Accept Juan (with 2 Natives).
Buy Carpenter (and Tools for trading).
Send Natives for training (Farmer + Tobacco Planter).

1537

Enter NV. Cotton Planter / 1366 TT / Guns.
Enter NV. Farmer / 2472 :eek: TT / Guns.
Ship TT to Europe. (Well not me - the King’s Galleon actually!)
Iroquois give 16 Tobacco.
Meet Dutch. Agree Open Borders, exchange World Maps, +40gp for friend. Dank u wel!

1538

Sell Tools for small profit; buy Furs and Tobacco.
Agree Defensive Pact.

1539

Decline Jan (less Tools needed); Accept John (many more Crosses).
Buy 2 more Cannons.
Farmer reaches San Salvador.

1540

King raises tax to 5%. Accept
Native trained as Farmer.
Send Missionary to another Farming NV.

1541

3 Tobacco from Arawaks.
RS 18%. King 10/4/5/4.

1542

ES graduates School.
Enter NV. Farmer / 216gp / Guns.

11

Doesn’t look too good, so far. Carrying a mental bet that you can pull it off, though :slight_smile:

12

My experience is that I need at least as many Dragoons as 1/3 of the King’s (Soldiers + Dragoons + Artillery).
Obviously my Cannons help somewhat.

I have a few ‘boosts’ once I declare Independence:

  • choosing ‘All men are free’ nets me 2 Indentured Servants per Settlement, freeing up 2 Colonists to become Dragoons (this is why I put 100 guns+horses in each Inland Settlement)
  • the King usually attacks in waves, giving me time to heal up (which is why my Scout with Surgeon skills is so useful)
  • their troops have to land, so I always attack first
  • once I kill a few troops (Dragoons are tough, but Soldiers are easier and Artillery are weak when attacked by Dragoons), I get XP for promotions and also a Great General (always used to promote my Scout with Surgeon skills)
13

1543 - 1552

1543

Meet Inca. Meet French: agree Open Borders / exchange World Map / +30gp for friendship. Merci beaucoup!
Accept Juan (+1 Caravel move; this could make all the difference when resupplying during the War)

1544

Hurry Newspaper (costs 323gp, but I must have Liberty Bells!)

1545

Mission in second Farming NV. Tobacco Planter trained.

1546

Decline William (cheaper land). Only War assistance or Liberty Bells, thank you.
Buy 100 guns+horses.
Enter NV. Cotton Planter / 1366 TT / Guns.

1547

Accept Hernan (Free Stockades) and switch Inland Settlements to Trade Points, hoping for Alexander (increased production).

1548

Farmer joins San Domingo.

1549

Decline Adam (Factories); Accept Pocohontas (Native Relations) - I don’t want any extra opponents during the War…
King raises tax to 10%. :stuck_out_tongue: Accept.
Native converts in Farmer NV and begins training there.

1550

Quiet

1551

RS 26%. King 10/4/5/5.

1552

Another ES graduates School. :slight_smile:
Iroquois donate 62 Tobacco. :smiley:
Native trained as Farmer - another starts learning Cotton Planting.
Ship TT home.

14

1553 - 1562

1553

Install ES in both Inland Settlements.
Order Seasoned Scout (with Surgeon 2) to return - I have to declare Independence around 1575 to allow the King time to ship all his troops over…so that I can massacre them!

1554

Decline John (cheaper land), but accept Alexander (increased production). (I love it when a plan comes together!)
Speed Lumber Mill (costs 677gp, but there’s no time to lose)

1555

Quiet

1556

Decline Thomas (Missionaries). No time to use them…
Switch to Political Points (for FF with Liberty Bells bonuses)

1557

Welcome Ben (Liberty Bells) - I love it when a plan comes together!
RS 34%. King 10/5/5/5.
Come on, Rebels!

1558

322gp from Ruin.

1559

Pickup Gunsmith and buy Veteran Soldier; Equip first two Dragoons (more will follow :slight_smile: )

1560

Final ES graduates from School (3 ES are for Isabella as it has the largest population; 1 for each other Settlement)
Accept Jacques (+1 move for Scouts) as one is coming back and the other can sneak in a little more exploring…
King demands 490gp - decide I will pay so he doesn’t get too annoyed.
Washington generously donates 390gp (so I almost covered my expenses :wink: )
159gp from Burial. Soldier and Gunsmith arrive.
RS 36%. King 10/5/5/6.

1561

Having just three Settlements and close together is working well (e.g. only one Wagon Train needed).
3 Caravels now bringing in horses+guns continually :cool:

1562

NV gives second Scout XP - decide to bring him in too (Veteran unit more vital for War than mapping or even income; anyway TT wouldn’t make it back to Port in time)

15

1563 - 1576

1563

Reject Alexander (College build bonus) and John (+50% Furs).
My slogan is ‘Liberty Bells, Liberty Bells - give me Liberty Bells or give me a finish after 1600’. :eek: (yes, it does need work :o )
Samuel promptly turns up offering ‘you-know-what’. Accepted.

1564

RS 45%. :smiley: King 11/5/5/6. :frowning:
Population can’t keep up with massive supplies of guns+horses. Resolve to hire anyone from Dock and stick them on horseback with a gun!
NV provides Convert - train as Farmer.

1565

Quiet :confused:

1566

Patrick offers Liberty Bells - almost snatch his hand off accepting!
King raises taxes to 15%.
RS 46%. King 13/5/5/6. (I think he thinks I’m up to something…)

1567

Move Farmers to Town Hall (Liberty Bells)
Senior Scout returns. Excitement in the air.
RS 50%. King 13/5/5/6.
I’m not sure I’m ready, but the time limit is inexorable so…

DECLARE INDEPENDENCE!

Choose:

  • All men are free
  • Monarchy
  • Native Rights
  • Separate Church and State
  • Controlled Arms.

1568

Usual short delay before King’s Armada arrives (quiet before the storm).
Bonus Servants (All men are free!) have replaced Colonists, who in turn have formed up as Dragoons and are massing in Isabella.
I have 13 Dragoons and 5 Cannon.

1569

King’s Armada arrives - as does Juan (more Bells!)
RS 60% (so +20% combat bonus from Bolivar).
I launch all-out attack
…
OK, now I have a Great General :slight_smile: , and the King is down to 8/1/3/6. :cool:

1570

Reject Francisco H (Offers a Promotion, but I don’t like this particular one).
Reject Diego (Offers 3 Servants - normally great, but here extra population would lower my RS :eek: ).
Accept Francisco P (Dragoons get an extra move).
Promote Scout to Surgeon 3 and Veteran 2.
Caravel runs blockade, delivering horses+guns.
RS 69%. King 3/1/2/6.

1571

Accept Chief (just for points score, coz I’m WINNING!)
Promote several units to Veteran.
RS 71%. :wink:

1572

Accept Roger (points!)
Buy Fortress.

1573

RS 76%.
Second Scout arrives back - just in time for celebrations. :wink:

1574

Accept Thomas (production).
Scan horizon, desperately hoping that English return (for their thrashing!) before 1599…

1575

English return!
RS 79%.

1576

INDEPENDENCE :smiley:
Score 3219

16

I enjoyed that! :smiley:

I suggest:

  • you don’t need a Fortress if you successfully eliminate all Royal troops as they land
  • for a really quick victory, there’s no time for Factories
  • early Liberty Bells are controversial, but they give you Founding Fathers, bonus production and a boost to Rebel Sentiment which you can’t make up later
  • Settlements close together are not the problem they would be in Civ4
17

Damn! That was well done!

Congratulations!

18

Agreed. Very well done!!! Congratulations.