One World Godlike Challenge

[Icemania]

So iangoth over at the Stardock forums had the idea to play Godlike without allowing any colonisation i.e. the old one world challenge. I just had to give that a try, given the tradition here with some other games. I've also avoided any invasions, at least until the end of the game, so still have only 1 world.

The end result was an Alliance Victory on Turn 79. Now on Turn 106 and confident that all Victory types are feasible. So it's clear, no "cheats" were involved (e.g. reloads), the strategy is using the mechanics in-game effectively.

A bit of the strategy is discussed here:

http://forums.galciv3.com/474905/page/1/#3617163

The game balance/AI issues allowing this to be possible are effectively in my comments in the reddit AMA Q&A thread, so see below to avoid repetitive (although of course I have no Precursor Worlds in this game).

https://www.reddit.com/r/4Xgaming/comments/43314x/ama_round_2_brad_wardell_of_stardock_on_february/

Also here is the save game on the eve of Victory for any skeptics:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ek1kdh7ndffv3nk/One%20World%20Godlike%20Turn%2079%20Alliance%20Victory.GC3Sav?dl=0

[runifoc]

Very nice. Other than the Snathi Revenge, did anyone declare war on you?

Now that you have demonstrated it can be done, maybe there should be an achievement for it.

[Icemania]

The Snathi Revenge didn't declare war at all (nobody did), I just didn't have good enough relations for a Turn 50 or faster victory like other games when I did expand. I'd rather Stardock had a closer look at some of the issues that allow this to be possible, rather than creating an achievement.

[Icemania]

A follow-up on the one world Godlike challenge.

Around Turn 138 the AI literally "gave" me 5 free colonies, including 2 precursor worlds ... they colonised worlds within my influence and so flipped within a couple of turns.

All the AI have considered me weak, ripe for conquest and also have negative diplomatic modifiers because they see me going for an Ascension Victory. So to be sure everyone stays in an Alliance I built a couple of Diplomatic buildings. No AI has declared war at any stage.

Research Victory was on Turn 197 and Ascension Victory on Turn 251.

Since I have Beyond Mortality technology (e.g. ships with no maintenance costs, logistics bonuses etc) I've got a bunch of doom fleets around with 100+ movement which can wipe out everything on the map in a few turns.

So all is on track to get all 5 victory types from the same game. A save game on Turn 250 is below, Ascension victory is on the next turn, just turn on Diplomatic or Research victory to get those.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/obzpibzo00kk5h7/One%20World%20Godlike%20Turn%20250%20Ascension%20Win.GC3Sav?dl=0

Again, the issues that allow this are essentially summarised on the AMA reddit thread referenced in the OP.

Here is a screenshot (with just a little bit of AI fleet hugging) on the eve of declaring war on everybody:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/7cr8h2p571e8o0r/Screenshot%202016-02-03%2020.17.08.png?dl=0

[rog214]

Great explanation of the issues that permit this to take place.

+1 on all of it.