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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

 

1,558,660 views 924 replies
Reply #351 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
It depends on the map settings. On a gigantic ZYW, I set the enemy to Thalan, so all they have is the homeworld. They arent near enough to anything else to make a colony. On a tiny map it depends how the map gets drawn. I know Mag makes a fast fighter early on to destroy any enemy colony ships, but I generally dont. Sometimes they could have up to 6 planets on a tiny map.

Colonize the secondary of your homesystem. If you dont want to do that, you can fly it towards the enemy homeworld and upgrade it to a Spore ship later.

Kzinti empire2.JPG Sentient species taste better...
Reply #352 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
If you do it properly, they haven't managed to settle a third planet yet, making sure planets, stars and habitable planets are rare, the chance of them even ever find a third planet, is much much lower.
CursorFX - Customize your Windows cursor
Reply #353 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
It depends on the map settings. On a gigantic ZYW, I set the enemy to Thalan, so all they have is the homeworld. They arent near enough to anything else to make a colony. On a tiny map it depends how the map gets drawn. I know Mag makes a fast fighter early on to destroy any enemy colony ships, but I generally dont. Sometimes they could have up to 6 planets on a tiny map.Colonize the secondary of your homesystem. If you dont want to do that, you can fly it towards the enemy homeworld and upgrade it to a Spore ship later. Sentient species taste better...
End of quote

One benefit of letting them colonize worlds, is that you end up with a higher score. :)

Kzinti empire2.JPG Sentient species taste better...


Reply #354 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
All depending on how things are situated, I normally have to do a colony rush to block their colony rush in TA in order to drag it out to Apr 8th. That is even with rare planets and rare habitable planets, max minors (you think these may be causing undo planets?).

In TA i stayed away from going against the Thalan. Their 'pink blob of doom' effect is caused by planetary improvement boredom, thus too many colony ships going out. My favorite enemy in TA is the Arceans, solely for their -1 speed.
Reply #355 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
One benefit of letting them colonize worlds, is that you end up with a higher score.
End of quote


~taps chin~ perhaps I'll just skip that colony-rush c%#$-block method then and just go all spore.

Do you ALWAYS use the max lease for quick-buy? Or does it help your economy to not have that insane "money spent on leases" record in the scoring dept?
Reply #356 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
In TA i stayed away from going against the Thalan. Their 'pink blob of doom' effect is caused by planetary improvement boredom, thus too many colony ships going out.
End of quote


Not had a problem with the Thalan in TA - those colony ships have got to get somewhere to be useful, and it's very unlikely they can reach another habitable system on an immense map by April 8th.

If you are talking tiny maps, then the Arceans are a good choice for exactly the reason you gave.

Do you ALWAYS use the max lease for quick-buy? Or does it help your economy to not have that insane "money spent on leases" record in the scoring dept?
End of quote


The money you spend, however you spend it, has no effect on score at all. The only factor that affects the economy score component is total income.
Reply #358 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Nicely done Seth, and your best scoring game too.  :CONGRAT: 

Kzinti empire2.JPG Sentient species taste better...
Reply #359 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
And it was done with 1.91 which arguably may be a better choice for ZYWs for TA. Sure, it has the dreaded research 'bug' but at least you can quick-buy a planets-worth of improvements (labs/econ...) in one week as long as you got the money. Gratz on th ZYW Seth.

Hey KP, is that something new I see there in the medals ~squints~

Mag, yeah I'm just talking Tiny maps for now. Also, good to know that lease cost I see (something sick like -70k) has no cost.
Reply #360 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Hmmmm...I cant see medals from work (IE6), so I dont know. I'll have to look when I get home. :)

Kzinti empire2.JPG Sentient species taste better...
Reply #361 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Damn, I just looked at my personal highest scores (pre & post MV) and that #3 spot I have up there is my 2nd highest score. I had a 42,700 on a large map, tough difficulty.
Reply #362 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I just posted an game onan immense sized galaxy and the galaxy size is blank, WTF?
Reply #363 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I noticed that in some other people's profiles too Seth. I dont know what is up with that.

Kzinti empire2.JPG Sentient species taste better...
Reply #364 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
When did you get the 250 game medal KP. I'm fairly oblivious sometimes, but I didn't remember that one yesterday.
Reply #365 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Oh, I think I've had that for a month or two...nothing new, hehe. Maybe I'll find out if the next medal is at 500 games. ;)

Kzinti empire2.JPG Sentient species taste better...
Reply #368 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Try upping the difficulty, and I think you will find its not that much harder. It will bump your scores a bit too.

Kzinti empire2.JPG Sentient species taste better...
Reply #369 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Try upping the difficulty, and I think you will find its not that much harder. It will bump your scores a bit too. Sentient species taste better...
End of quote


Look i already up the difficulty and my sores are still low see,WWW Link
Reply #371 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
You're notably improving, but while upping the level, your gametime has also increased. The last actual ZYW you had was at beginner level.

Keep practicing though, you're on the right path.
Reply #373 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Good effort!

ZYWs teach you a completely different approach to the game, with the need to constantly push the limit of your economy and research.

Very helpful even in normal games.
Reply #374 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Good effort!ZYWs teach you a completely different approach to the game, with the need to constantly push the limit of your economy and research.Very helpful even in normal games.
End of quote


behold my greatist gameso far, WWW Link
Reply #375 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Congratulations on breaking the 10.000 points mark!