pndrev pndrev

Year Zero Club

▼

Year Zero Club

...when simply winning is not enough!

from GalCiv2 Forums

First off, I couldn't have done this without the inspiration of the Metaverse League and Wyndstar in particular. Kudos to the master!

Now to the matter at hand.

I finally did it. A year zero win! Granted, it was only against 1 AI and on challenging (my current level) but I'm certain that 'tough' wouldn't have been much harder. On the other hand, it was my first attempt at an 'all-labs' and 'lease instead of buy' approach, so I consider myself proud that I could do it at all.

Here is the link to the character, as a proof: http://metaverse.galciv2.com/index.aspx?g=player&id=14517

For all of you, who like me thought that year zero wins are nigh impossible: Try it! Read the posts about it! It is difficult, requires constant micromanagement, but I found it incredibly rewarding to see that victory screen after 25 - 30 turns. Not the way I'd like to play constantly, but as a change of pace, it's a incredible challenge.

And of course, once you've accomplished your first 'Year Zero', post here and rejoice!


As an edit, I now include the current top score.


Attention new players!
Do not be frightened by these scores! Playing a ZYW is actually really easy, and getting a score close to 30000 points takes just a few tries. These games are usually finished in less than 20 minutes, so have at it. Try the tiny ZYWs first, I find them easier and you might get the unique chance to beat players like neilo or Wyndstar.


Current ZYW record holders:

'expert' ZYW - Gigantic


1) 198450 points - MottiKhan

2) 119000 points - Kzinti Patriarch

3) 109500 points - neilo


'classic' ZYW - Tiny

1) 56700points - MottiKhan

2) 40600 points - Kzinti Patriarch / Magnumaniac

3) 38850 points - Wyndstar

 

1,558,622 views 924 replies
Reply #276 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
That looks VERY expensive! :LOL:

Kzinti empire2.JPG Sentient species taste better...
Reply #277 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
You think that was expensive.....

I'm really missing some key element. Note the treasury in that game. Never in the red, massive tech and an April 8th finish....

All for 73K.... :NOTSURE:

Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.us

Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #278 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Does anyone think the amount you owe in leases has any affect on score?
Reply #279 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Does anyone think the amount you owe in leases has any affect on score?
End of quote


As long as it doesn't drag you into debt for an extended period of time.
When your pop gets dissatisfied with debt, then you know your score is suffering.
Reply #280 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Does anyone think the amount you owe in leases has any affect on score?
End of quote

Not at all. In a ZYW, the game isnt long enough for your people to get pissed about being in debt. I was very surprised at this result, but here is another personal best for me:

Photobucket

It didnt seem like an exceptional game to me, so I'm definitely not understanding something about the scoring.

Kzinti empire2.JPG Sentient species taste better...


Reply #281 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
As long as it doesn't drag you into debt for an extended period of time.
When your pop gets dissatisfied with debt, then you know your score is suffering.
End of quote


Not at all. In a ZYW, the game isnt long enough for your people to get pissed about being in debt.
End of quote


This i understand, what i mean is just the pure fact you are paying a lease. Not any consequences of the lease but that you have them, i was curious as to whether this impacted score, economic particually, outside of population concerns....

Perhaps not, just thinking out loud.

Good effort KP. Any particular settings you used. I seem to have hit a wall.
Reply #282 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Righto.....What aren't you guys telling me? I have finished on April 8th and penny pinched the entire game, to the point i was adjusting the amount spent each turn and then reloading and reloading again if need be so that i spent not 1 bc more than i had too.

I have had banking centers all over the planet and had positive cash flow and not been in debt at all. With two library's the above game was worth 66K.

What's wrong, i had max research, +1 speed, 1 point in morale with tech party.

I get the feeling you guys are waiting for me to start begging...... ;p

Reply #283 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
This i understand, what i mean is just the pure fact you are paying a lease. Not any consequences of the lease but that you have them, i was curious as to whether this impacted score, economic particually, outside of population concerns....
End of quote


Mumble did mention a long time ago in the Team C private forums that your spending doesn't have much to do with your econ score. It mainly reflects how much money you can earn in contrast to the AIs.
Reply #284 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Amazing neilo, where do you get such homeworlds from?
How often you hit Ctrl-N?? :LOL:

Started a few games now, but never had anything like this...
Reply #285 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Mumble did mention a long time ago in the Team C private forums that your spending doesn't have much to do with your econ score.
End of quote

True, econ score is only about what you're taking in, not what you're spending, including leases.

Righto.....What aren't you guys telling me? I have finished on April 8th and penny pinched the entire game, to the point i was adjusting the amount spent each turn and then reloading and reloading again if need be so that i spent not 1 bc more than i had too.I have had banking centers all over the planet and had positive cash flow and not been in debt at all. With two library's the above game was worth 66K.What's wrong, i had max research, +1 speed, 1 point in morale with tech party.I get the feeling you guys are waiting for me to start begging......
End of quote

Hmmm....I really dont know. You and I have talked quite a bit about ZYW strategy both in the forums and over PMs. You're setup and build pattern sounds exactly like mine, but I'm averaging over 80k, and I had another 89k game last night. When I get a chance today, I'll write a detailed description of what I'm doing. I see we are also using the exact same version, so that's not an issue.

Kzinti empire2.JPG Sentient species taste better...
Reply #286 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
To be honest Neilo - I have no idea what is going on. I dream of getting a planet with 3 Precursor Libraries, max I've ever got total research output to is about 1200.

The current setup I've been getting the 90K+ games with is 8 points for +2 speed and 2 points in Research, with Technologists - only build research buildings, nothing else, and only on bonus tiles.

The only thing I can think of is that you are doing something crazy like holding off building any research buildings on turn 1, and waiting until you get Xeno Labs or Res Centres or something similar. That is the only possible explanation for the huge score differential that I can come up with.

Now - please send me one of those multi-library homeworlds  :D 

Nice game KP - funny how they surprise you sometimes
Reply #287 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Amazing neilo, where do you get such homeworlds from?
How often you hit Ctrl-N??
End of quote


I do CTRL+N a few times to get within range of the AI, but these bonuses are due to the map settings. Gigantic galaxy with all rare settings will produce these amounts of bonuses as the amount of bonuses is tied to galaxy size and not planet count.

As best as i understand it anyway.... :)

Mumble did mention a long time ago in the Team C private forums that your spending doesn't have much to do with your econ score. It mainly reflects how much money you can earn in contrast to the AIs.
End of quote


Ahh good point, this is also covered in his mumbler strat over on the ToE forums...ty FB. ;)

Hmmm....I really dont know. You and I have talked quite a bit about ZYW strategy both in the forums and over PMs. You're setup and build pattern sounds exactly like mine, but I'm averaging over 80k, and I had another 89k game last night. When I get a chance today, I'll write a detailed description of what I'm doing. I see we are also using the exact same version, so that's not an issue.
End of quote


Thanks KP, i think that may help me nail down what i am not doing or doing wrong.
Quick question, after you have researched your engines, spore and weapons, what techs do you go after next?
:D

Reply #288 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I will often get two or three library's, but oddly enough, as i recall anyway, both by 85K games only had one library so....well, so... ;p

I have at times waited for turn two to build a Lab, but not on a world with 3 library's i don't. I do play around with this though so i will do a number of games always purchasing a lab on turn 1.

Thanks Mag. ;)
Reply #289 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I seem to be getting consistent... 4 consectutive scores of 93100, with different bonus tile combinations each time!

Also seeing some strange things with research, e.g.

Game 1, with total research output at 651, 2 turns to research engines up to Warp 1 from the start point (definitely no anomalies involved)

Game 2, with total research output at 670+, 2 turns left me short of Warp 1 by a few points???

Settings were identical and previous research was the same in both cases. Can't explain it!
Reply #290 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Settings were identical and previous research was the same in both cases. Can't explain it!
End of quote


Perhaps the first time creativity lent a helping hand. Even if you don't select creativity, it does affect research. :)
Reply #291 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Well, I eventually found a Neilo-esque triple library home planet...



 :D  :LOL:  :D 

+1 Loading…
Reply #292 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Congratulations! I'd never have thought it possible :).
Reply #294 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Game 1, with total research output at 651, 2 turns to research engines up to Warp 1 from the start point (definitely no anomalies involved)

Game 2, with total research output at 670+, 2 turns left me short of Warp 1 by a few points???

Settings were identical and previous research was the same in both cases. Can't explain it!
End of quote


Ok that goes part way to my understanding of why your scores are so much higher. For some reason your research output is far higher than mine. It normally takes me 2 turns to just get to Impulse I or II, and then another 2 turns to get Warp I.

Curiously, how many turns does it take you to get to Lasers. It takes me 3 turns to grab Laser II.

If one only needs 3 library's to crack 100K i should have done it many times over already.....I'm wondering if i am getting the CTRL+N bug or something from time to time..

And what an awesome game mate :CONGRAT: :CONGRAT:
Reply #295 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Curiously, how many turns does it take you to get to Lasers. It takes me 3 turns to grab Laser II.
End of quote


Don't go anywhere near them - spend one turn researching military techs (usually on turn 8 or 9, with Spore immediately following it), just to get the basic particle beam weapon.

Turn 3 research is New Propulsion / Ion / Impulse 1. Turn 4 Impulse 2, 3, & Warp. Turns 5-7 are yellow techs - I'l let you work out what turns 1 & 2 are  :HOT: 

Actually managed 91350 in TA earlier - surprised me, as there appears to be no chance of getting a multi-library planet in TA (and a lot less bonus tiles in general). Also crept up to 4th spot in the Alt Meta - still a looooooooong way behind you and KP though.
Reply #296 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Hmmm, game i'm playing right now, Jan 15-22 with two library's, i have a Research Center on one and a Xeno Lab on the other and i cannot manage to get to Impulse I in one turn.

Jan 22-Feb 1, now with Research Center's on both and i only get to Impulse III.

Feb 1-8 Now with a thrid research Centre on a 100% tile and i finally get to Warp 1.

Seems weird that what takes you 2 turns takes me 4. For turns one and two i went Xeno Research and Research Centers, which i assume is what you went for. If not then you are getting tremendous research from somewhere in the game that i have never realized, since you had said you were ignoring the Tech Cap now....

Edit - Also takes me 2 turns to research Galactic Warfare - Space Militarization - Space Weapons and Beam Weapon theory. ATM, i have 500 Research output from my three Research Center's.

Reply #297 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Finished on April 15 for 69K....Again never was in debt and was researching every turn... :NOTSURE:
Reply #298 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Here's another personal record for me!  :CONGRAT: 

Photobucket

I had 3 Precursor libraries AND 1 100% RESEARCH TILE, and played the game 3 times to squeeze out as many points as possible.  :D 

Neilo, sorry I didnt get around to writing out some things for you yesterday. Definitely will do it today. I dont understand why your games are lower-scoring, when it seems you doing almost exactly the same things. We'll get it figured out. :)

Kzinti empire2.JPG Sentient species taste better...
Reply #299 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I sure would appreciate some ideas, i am doing nothing of any significance different from you guys, that i can tell anyway, and am far below your averages.
Reply #300 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
AND 1 100% RESEARCH TILE
End of quote

Just accidental caps, there was no special significance here.

I sure would appreciate some ideas, i am doing nothing of any significance different from you guys, that i can tell anyway, and am far below your averages.
End of quote

Are you getting Planetary Improvements & Xeno Economics on turn 2 Neilo?

Kzinti empire2.JPG Sentient species taste better...