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Year Zero Club

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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

 

1,558,734 views 924 replies
Reply #326 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I see you pumped out about a dozen ZYWs today Loupdinour, and some nice scores in there too! You've knocked Neilo out of third place for a tiny map score. :CONGRAT: I see you are playing TA too, which I think makes them more difficult.

I think I'll try again to break the 40,600 record that Mag and I share.

Kzinti empire2.JPG Sentient species taste better...
Reply #327 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I think I'll try again to break the 40,600 record that Mag and I share.
End of quote


Oh - don't make me have to go back to tiny maps again  ;) Can't we settle on an honourable draw. I know the US don't like draws, and always need 'overtime' - but there's always exceptions.

Anyway, I need to get my first TA Immense abundant everything finished off - got to get 2nd place back off Neilo  :HOT: 

I see you pumped out about a dozen ZYWs today Loupdinour, and some nice scores in there too! You've knocked Neilo out of third place for a tiny map score. I see you are playing TA too, which I think makes them more difficult.
End of quote


Yes indeed - 35K+ for a TA tiny is very good.  :CONGRAT: 
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Reply #328 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Hmmm do i need another spree of Giga ZYW's, i am in striking distance of Mumble.... ;)
Reply #329 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I think I'll try again to break the 40,600 record that Mag and I share.Oh - don't make me have to go back to tiny maps again   Can't we settle on an honourable draw. I know the US don't like draws, and always need overtime
End of quote

Yes, we do like a clear victor....keeps us from having all those pesky thoughts and ambiguities in our heads, that prevent us from seeing everything in the reassuring stark black-and-white terms that make life worth living. And we all wear cowboy hats and live on ranches too. :LOL: 

Kidding aside though, I would like to break the tiny-map record, although I'm sure it wouldnt last all that long once you decided to put out a few more of them yourself.

I'm off to rope some cattle now... ;)

Kzinti empire2.JPG Sentient species taste better...



Reply #330 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
i just missed a ZYW on suicidal on a tiny map...by a few weeks

-Dave
Reply #331 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Ohhh i just missed knocking you out of 2nd place KP. ;)

Reply #332 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Awesome game! :) What did you do to up your score this time?

I tried breaking the tiny-map record, but my highest score was 38,500. It's still eluding me...

Kzinti empire2.JPG Sentient species taste better...
Reply #333 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I went with a different approach than you guys, in that i basically abandoned chasing any econ score and just went tech, tech, tech. That game (using Oxor) i had 2 library's on the HW and a 300% on the secondary, built the tech cap and did not go after the econ cap or govt techs, but instead went for the MCC and finished on April 22.

With the right starting position, it was not that favorable and a 3 library HW i might get a April 8 finish with MCC and see where that takes me.

I did though take the number 1 spot on the MV....yea me! ;p
:LOL:
Reply #334 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Congrats on the #1 spot!  :CONGRAT: 

In that game, did you manage to stay out of debt for most/all of the game? Did the MCC seem to do anything for your score? Previously it seems like we all concluded it was useless for ZYWs.

Kzinti empire2.JPG Sentient species taste better...
Reply #335 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I just can't imagine scores l;ike that for a ZYW. What is the game using to calculate them? I mean you basically have no military, economy or population. Does the game have a coefficient for each game year that reduces score? I read here once that at year 7 you take a big penalty.

Anyway congrats Neilo.

You've convinvced me to try for a ZYW of my own.


Has anyone considerd a new empire comprised of just ZYW's? It would be interesting to see how it would stack up to the other empires. And it would prevent ZYW's from artificially raising empires' rankings. I know, its arguable if ZYW's are actually artifical but it seems that it could just be an exploit if someone wanted to get like 50,000 points every hour.
Reply #336 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
It would be interesting to see how it would stack up to the other empires. And it would prevent ZYW's from artificially raising empires' rankings. I know, its arguable if ZYW's are actually artifical but it seems that it could just be an exploit if someone wanted to get like 50,000 points every hour.
End of quote


Actually every turn after April 8th potentially lowers your score in virtually all ZYWs. There are some exceptions.

I dont think the ToE would go for losing about 1/4 of its points.  :LOL:  I might lose a million or so from the Kzinti, but we could take that hit. Sounds like a non-starter though. ;)

Kzinti empire2.JPG Sentient species taste better...


Reply #337 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Actually every turn after April 8th potentially lowers your score in virtually all ZYWs. There are some exceptions.
End of quote


Thanks, thats what i really needed to know. Other wise i may have tried to make the game last until December.
Reply #338 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I'd loose 82% of my points if I didn't have ZYWs lol.
Reply #340 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
isn't it boring when you play on easy?:NOTSURE:

-Dave
Reply #341 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
isn't it boring when you play on easy?-Dave
End of quote


no
Reply #342 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
ok. everyone is entitled to his own opinion...mine just happens to be different than yours ;)

-Dave
Reply #343 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
My ZYWs were on Suicidal, only due to the fact that I could get way with it. Any other game I play, I play on Tough since I really feel like I'm gyping myself by not allowing the AI to do all that it could if I go any lower.

Not to rain on the parade, but you finished that game after a year had already progressed. It would have "Years: 0" if completed before a year was up.
Reply #344 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
mine were on challenging and tough...i just missed a suicidal one by a few weeks :'(

-Dave
Reply #345 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
There is no reason not to play a ZYW on anything but suicidal. The AI cannot adapt to the strategy, they have no chance.

Congrats on the #1 spot! :CONGRAT:

In that game, did you manage to stay out of debt for most/all of the game? Did the MCC seem to do anything for your score? Previously it seems like we all concluded it was useless for ZYWs.
End of quote


Thankyou KP. :D

And i did stay out of debt until i built the MCC. It put me in debt but i built it on the next to last turn so i was only in the red for that one turn. I had a terrible position in that game so a better map will really help in telling how good this strat is. Until i get an April 8th win doing it this way i don't really consider it a success.

I dont think the ToE would go for losing about 1/4 of its points.
End of quote


I'll pass thanks..... ;p

Reply #346 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
There is no reason not to play a ZYW on anything but suicidal. The AI cannot adapt to the strategy, they have no chance.
End of quote


I would say that's only true under the following conditions:
1) You're used to high difficulty levels / experienced with fast ZYW's
2) You have a favourable starting position (close to the enemy capital, some good bonus tiles)

Otherwise I fear that the AI bonuses will help the AI to even further stack colony ships 'defending' its planets, at least in ToA.

Reply #347 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I would say that's only true under the following conditions:
1) You're used to high difficulty levels / experienced with fast ZYW's
2) You have a favorable starting position (close to the enemy capital, some good bonus tiles)

Otherwise I fear that the AI bonuses will help the AI to even further stack colony ships 'defending' its planets, at least in ToA.
End of quote


I run non-ZYWs on Tough no higher, but I had no trouble playing ZYWs (even my first one) on Suicidal. While they do get plenty of bonuses, you don't really notice them too much since they are still in the colony-rush stage of the game when you win. Anyways, you want you bread-basket (the minors) to be all pumped up with cash and techs anyway :)

As for the colony ship defenders, you only need the lowest POS weapon to pop them, the AI doesn't get the chance to start weapon techs in a ZYW so a tiny ship with a 1 attack rating is uber...or even arm your spore/troop ships with a peashooter :)
Reply #348 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Right Loupdinour, my Spore ships all have 1 beam weapon on them to take out any defenders.

Kzinti empire2.JPG Sentient species taste better...
Reply #349 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
that's the way i play it too. spores with one beam weapon.

-Dave
Reply #350 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Just out of curiosity, by the time your spore ships or transports can egt to enemy territory how many planets have they colonized?

If you use spore ship, what do you do with your initial colony ship?