Civ 3 Classic GOTM 43 (Japan, Deity level)

Game started: 15 May 2005, finished: 15 Jun 2005

This game has finished. Click here to see the results.

You can no longer submit a competition entry, but you can download the starting save below (click on an icon) to play for fun.

Sorry, starting saves are not currently available for this game. We're probably working on the problem.

version 0.0.0 last updated on April 14, 2005

You may choose to play the same game in one of two different program formats (Civ3 v1.29 or PTW v1.27f). Please do not attempt to play this game in any version of Civ3 Conquests. If you have the Civ3 Conquests Software you will definitely have the other two program choices available you just have to select and start with the appropriate software executable other than Civ3 Conquests.

Classic Gotm XLIII: Japan

The Japanese archipelago assumed its present shape around 10,000 years ago. Soon after, the era known as the Jomon period began and continued for about 8,000 years. Its people were hunter-gatherers. Gradually, they formed small communities and began to organize their lives communally. They also began to use earthenware objects. Rice cultivation reached Japan from the Eurasian continent around 300 BC during the Yayoi period, and settlements grew larger.

Japan can be said to have taken its first steps to nationhood in the Yamato period, which began at the end of the third century AD. During this period, the ancestors of the present Emperor began to bring a number of small states under unified rule from their bases around what are now Nara and Osaka Prefectures.

In 604 Prince Shotoku laid down Japan's first constitution. Also from this time, Buddhism that was introduced from the Eurasian continent began to take root in Japan. The Nara period began at the beginning of the eighth century with the establishment of the country's first permanent capital in Nara. Toward the end of the century, the capital was transferred to Kyoto, launching the Heian period, during which noble families predominated and a distinct national culture blossomed.

From the Kamakura period, which began at the end of the twelfth century, to the close of the Edo period in the latter half of the nineteenth century, Japan was ruled by samurai, or warrior class. Order broke down around the middle of the fifteenth century, and Japan was torn by civil warfare for nearly 100 years as samurai lords of different domains fought one another. The agent of pacification and national unity was Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

At the beginning of the seventeenth century, Tokugawa Ieyasu set up a government in Edo (now Tokyo), and the Edo period began. The Tokugawa regime adopted an isolationist policy that lasted for more than 200 years, cutting off exchange with all countries except China and the Netherlands. But with the arrival of American Commodore Matthew Perry in 1853, the nation began to open itself up to the United States and European powers.

The age of the samurai came to an end with the Meiji Restoration of 1868, and a new system of government centered on the Emperor was set up. The new government promoted modernization, adopted Western political, social and economic systems, and stimulated industrial activity. The Diet was inaugurated, and the people began to enjoy limited participation in politics.

From around 1920 a democratic movement gained strength. But amid a global economic crisis, the military came to the fore, and Japan eventually marched down the road to war.

With the end of World War II in 1945 Japan put into effect a new Constitution, committed itself to becoming a peace-seeking democracy, and succeeded in relaunching its economy. In 1956 the nation's entry into the United Nations was approved. Since then, Japan has contributed to world peace and prosperity as a member of the international community.

So take up your Samurai swords and relive the emergence of the Japanese empire.

GOTM 43 starting position - Click for a wider view of the start position

Scope of the Game:

Civilization: Japan
Difficulty: Deity
World size: Standard
Landmass: Continents, 70% Ocean
Geology: 4 billion years old (approximately)
Environment: Warm, Wet
Barbarians: Restless
Rivals: 10 Preset
Upgrade Swordsmen/Longbows: ON
AI Respawn:: OFF
NOTE: Differential Naval Movement is ON
NOTE: Mobilization is OFF
NOTE: Goody huts yield Workers instead of Settlers.
NOTE: Some normally Scientific races have altered traits so that there is only one Scientfic race in the game.
NOTE: Iron location is fixed (will not disappear)
Submissions due by June 15, 2005. PLEASE NOTE THE DATE.

A SPECIAL NOTE:

In some classic GOTMs, there were some changes made to provide a rule-set similar to that used in Civilization3: Conquests. Now that we provide a parallel competition for the Conquests pack most of these rule changes have been reversed. In particular:

Map Trading is enabled with Map Making.
Communication Trading is enabled with writing.
The Great Wall Wonder doubles the effect of built walls and increased defence vs. barbs.
Republic free unit support is zero. Maintenance cost is 1 gold per unit.
No free defensive shots for archers/bowmen/longbows.

However, please note that some changes are still in use. Some of the A/D/M value tweaks are continued. Also ...

Differential Naval movement is ON.
Mongol and Celtic UUs have shield cost 40, not 50. You should not assume that these races are involved in the game.
Explorers and equivalent unique units have been moved from Navigation to Astronomy.
Space Race - SS Stasis Chamber Has been moved from Synthetic Fibers to Robotics.
Marines Increased attack strength from 8 to 12 and cost increased to 120 shields.
Radar Artillery Movement increased to 2 and rate of fire increased to 3.
Air Unit Operating Ranges most have been increased up to the maximum hardcoded limit in Civ3v1.29.
Lethal Sea Bombardment for all air units that can bomb targets.
Lethal Land Bombardment for all bombers and steath bombers.
F-15 stats increase to 8/4/1 (range of 8) with bombard at 6/0/2 lethal land & sea
Helicopter transport capacity has been increased to 3.
Stealth Fighter stats increased to 8/6/1 with bombard at 6/0/2.
Stealth Bomber stats increased to 0/5/1 with bombard at 18/0/3.

IMPORTANT: GOTM 43 USES CUSTOM RESOURCES

For PTW on Windows: This month's 'classic' game will require a small additional download for the Play The World version. Before you open the Start FIle you need to download THIS FILE, place it in the \Civilization III\Civ3PTW\Scenarios\ folder on your hard drive, and unzip it. Your \Civilization III\ folder will typically be in C:\\Program Files\Infogrames\ or C:\\Program Files\Atari\. Installing this pack will have no effect on other games that you play. If you have played recent SGOTMs then you need do nothing.

For Civ3 v1.29 on Mac or Windows You require the install packs as for previous GOTM events. The additional resources are included in the standard All-in-One installers. If you have played previous recent GOTMs then you need do nothing. See this page for details of all download options for Windows and Mac Civ III v1.29.

Testing. When you load the start file, please check that you can see the goats on the mountain south west of the start location, as shown in the screenshot above. If you can't then do NOT play on. Recheck your installation process, and if you still can't see them then contact us for assistance. If you have any questions regarding this set-up, then please let us know by PM or email.

ALL SPOILERS PROHIBITED: Do not post any messages or questions about this game in any forum until after about February 20th, 2005 when we open the first spoiler thread. Please do not discuss any aspect of this game prior to that date, and then only post in the official spoiler threads. Once you have started playing the game, you MAY NOT post in the pre-game discussion or game release threads!

As always, have fun playing the GOTM and we hope you join us in the postgame discussions!

You will have your choice of Playing Gotm 43 in one of three skill levels that most closely matches your current abilities - Conquest Class, Open Class, or Predator Class. The two software choices for this game do not have compatible setup files. You may only play the game in one software format and at one difficulty level for comparison to other players.

Conquest Class Game Details for Gotm 43

Players who choose to play in the Conquest class game will receive a set of bonuses designed to help them focus on key early strategic decisions that may help them to get more enjoyment out of the specific conditions of this game. The bonuses ARE NOT designed to guarantee you a win without requiring some good early decisions to be made and without asking you to manage your Civilization properly.

Players who might be interested in playing the conquest class game could be those players who might only feel comfortable playing at Warlord or Regent difficulty.

You may not play the Conquest Class game if you have ranked at or above the top half of submissions in any previous C/GOTM results.

For the purposes of global ranking and comparison to all other GOTM scores, the Conquest class games scores in the QSC and GOTM results will be weighted downward with an 85% multiplier to factor out the value of the additional starting bonuses. Conquest class entries will NOT qualify for the high score or fast finish awards.

Conquest Class Starting Bonuses:
Conquest class players will begin the game with following unit and game feature bonuses:

Starting technologies: Start with Masonry and Bronze Working in addition to normal starting techs.

Click on the image below to download the start Conquest-class save file for the version you want to play.

Open Class Game Details for Gotm 43

Players who choose to play in the Open Class game receive no bonuses compared to a game that would be normally be played on this level.

For the purposes of global ranking and comparison to all other GOTM scores, Open class game scores will be ranked according to the Jason score which balances speed and scoring skills for a combined "Best Overall game" rating.

Open Class Starting Bonuses:

None

Click on the image below to download the start Open-class save file for the version you want to play.

Predator Class Game Details for Gotm 43

Players who choose to play in the Predator class game must overcome an extra set of obstacles built into their game to provide an extra level of challenge. The intent of these changes is to raise the difficulty without altering strategic play progress from that which you would see for comparison in the conquest class and open class games.

Players who might be interested in playing the Predator class game could be those players who have participated in the Elite or Leader divisions of the Medal Play Series or players who just want an extra level of excitement or challenge.

For the purposes of global ranking and comparison to all other GOTM scores, the Predator class game scores in the QSC and GOTM results do not receive any compensating scoring bonus for the added elements of challenge.

Predator Class Equalizing Obstacles:
The game features for Predator Class Games have been raised to provide the following obstacles:

Starting technologies: Your people are backward. You start with no techs whatsoever.

Click on the image below to download the start Predator-class save file for the version you want to play.