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Year Zero Club

Year Zero Club

...when simply winning is not enough!

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

 

1,556,854 views 924 replies
Reply #801 Top

Thanks, Dys.  :beer:

I have a game in progress at home that might do that.  Or I could replay the one above.  This was on one attempt and I'm pretty sure I can do better.

Reply #802 Top

Nice job Motti! :D

I had a huge all-abundant map where I could have done a ZYW, but I didnt do a score test to see what it would have been.  Maybe on my next giga-abundant I'll see what I can get.

Kzinti empire2.JPG Sentient species taste better...

Reply #803 Top

Hrm, a record shattering score......with DA 2.01.  *_*

Reply #804 Top

Yep, DA 2.01.  Now there's no reason to hold on to the old 1.80g. Other than the computer with that doesn't have Impulse yet.  I'll be moving to Impulse and 2.01 on that one after an ongoing game.  It's probably not a good idea to start a game in 1.80g and finish it with 2.01.

I've found 1.80g and 2.01 to be identical as far as gameplay goes.  The only difference that I can find is the spying.  Since that's a little less than a minor part of the game for me, it's essentially identical.

Reply #805 Top

I've had only mindless busy work to do here this afternoon, so I had some time to think about your score Motti, and I have an idea of what you might have done.  If you would answer one question...did the two you've done so far take about 2 or 3x longer to play, than the ZYWs as we've been doing them for the last few months?  That will give me an clue if my theory is correct.

Thanks. ;)

Kzinti empire2.JPG Sentient species taste better...

Reply #806 Top

Called it on page 26.  (Although I didn't call a ~200k!)

Very nice work, Motti.

Reply #807 Top

}:)

Reply #808 Top

With my experimenting tonight, I did figure out a way to increase my ZYW scores by about 5%.  Certainly it's not whatever Motti is doing though! XD   I eliminated some possibilities, so I only really have one theory left, which is my original one, and which I alluded to in my previous post.

Kzinti empire2.JPG Sentient species taste better...

Reply #809 Top

Told ya i was hearing sounds of a dam breaking, and smelling a change in the air.

Well done Motti. You will be joined very soon. Latest game is coming along nicely. And fast too.

Reply #810 Top

I've had only mindless busy work to do here this afternoon, so I had some time to think about your score Motti, and I have an idea of what you might have done.  If you would answer one question...did the two you've done so far take about 2 or 3x longer to play, than the ZYWs as we've been doing them for the last few months?  That will give me an clue if my theory is correct.

Thanks.

Yes, it takes longer than the common style ZYW. 

think you'll break 200k?

I replayed that game and got exactly the same score.  I tried twice this morning and didn't do any better either.  The one I thought would beat it only drew 165k.  My next attempt was 195k and the game playing part of my brain is fried.

I think 200k+ can be done, but it won't be easy.

Hrm, a record shattering score......with DA 2.01. 

Here's an almost identical one in 1.80g.  No real difference, so don't be concerned about upgrading.  In fact, since I don't have any games going for my main character, I'll likely upgrade to Impulse and 2.x today.

Reply #811 Top

Yes, it takes longer than the common style ZYW.

Not to devalue anything you've done, Motti, but in that case we may need a new category for it.  I was tempted to make this comment earlier, but I was waiting for confirmation that it really isn't your typical ZYW (if any of the games in this thread can be called typical).

It'd also be interesting if there were competition in the tiny maps again...

Reply #812 Top

Quoting Sole, reply 11

Not to devalue anything you've done, Motti, but in that case we may need a new category for it.  I was tempted to make this comment earlier, but I was waiting for confirmation that it really isn't your typical ZYW (if any of the games in this thread can be called typical).

It'd also be interesting if there were competition in the tiny maps again...

I can't disagree more.  ZYW stands for Zero Year Win.  That's a win in the year "0".  It is what it is, regardless of your preconceptions.  There are several ways of doing one of these. 

I did one in Dread Lords very early in the lineup, as did a few others.  This is simply a refinement of those early games.  PI methods have been used since the very beginning. If anything, this is more of a classical style ZYW than the "common type".

Reply #813 Top

Although - You do have me wondering what could be done on a tiny map with PI.

Reply #814 Top

Agreed. ZYW under any circumstances is still a win in year 0. That's all that required. And not that i am managing motti's scores, but using the same method i just recorded a win that was not that much slower than some of the early May ZYW's on tiny's.

Still not nailing it Motti....Dammit.

Reply #815 Top

I can't disagree more. ZYW stands for Zero Year Win. That's a win in the year "0". It is what it is, regardless of your preconceptions. There are several ways of doing one of these.

That's not what I meant.

We have classical tinies, we have gigantics; how does this fall into one category or the other?

I didn't say it didn't count.

:(

Reply #816 Top

It's a gigantic. Whats different?

Just cause its a bigger score doesnt mean it should be given it's own status. It's a ZYW on a gigantic.

Whats the score matter?

Reply #817 Top

It's a gigantic. Whats different?

 

I really don't think I need to answer that, Neilo.

And what the hell is with everyone being so pissy today?

Man, even the forums are being pissy.  I lost my edit and quote buttons and had to clear the cache to get them back.

Reply #818 Top

the reason, part of it anyway, they don't want a new category is because for a tyrannt, the glory isn't in the achievement, but in taking the prestige from someone else }:)

however, beyond that i personally don't even see the reason for keeping a "classic" list as opposed to a new one. everyone uses at least slightly different methods in their ZYWs, as in their games in general. drawing the line here seems better than breaking down high scores by individual player.

Reply #819 Top

Quoting dystopic, reply 18
they don't want a new category

As far as I know Sole Soul is one person. XD   I can see it both ways, so I'm abivalent on the matter.  For me its the fun of the competition that is the most important!

I do agree with SS on one thing....lots of crankiness around here lately.

Kzinti empire2.JPG Sentient species taste better...

Reply #820 Top

the "they" i was talking about was neilo and motti. so perhaps i should've said 'we', since we're in the same empire and i generally support them, regardless of my own stake in things.

Reply #821 Top

Whoops, I misread that post, hehe. ;)

The reason for the classic list is that it's on a tiny map, and so the parameters under which you play are significantly different in a number of important ways.  Definitely worthy of a separate category for tiny vs gigantic.

Kzinti empire2.JPG Sentient species taste better...

Reply #822 Top

ZYDeth works on Tiny as well.  :P

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Reply #823 Top

Congrats Motti!  :grin:   I'm pretty certain I know the basics of how you're doing this, so I expect the competiton has entered a new phase. (again!)

Looks like you may have your wish regarding tiny maps SS. :)

Kzinti empire2.JPG Sentient species taste better...

Reply #824 Top

Quoting KzintiPatriarch, reply 21
Whoops, I misread that post, hehe.

The reason for the classic list is that it's on a tiny map, and so the parameters under which you play are significantly different in a number of important ways.  Definitely worthy of a separate category for tiny vs gigantic.

just to be clear, i wasn't taking up "we should eliminate the classic list" as a cause. i'm fine with it being there. my point was that creating a new subdivision doesn't seem productive; on the surface the premise is based on a different style of achieving a ZYW, but that's a slippery slope. by that logic, we should also have a list for "un-trained" ZYWs, etc. map size is important due to its effect on score, but beyond that, i think the lists we have now are sufficient.

Reply #825 Top

Quoting KzintiPatriarch, reply 23
Congrats Motti!    I'm pretty certain I know the basics of how you're doing this, so I expect the competiton has entered a new phase. (again!)

Thanks, KP.  You're on the right track if you're thinking what I'm thinking.  :fuzzy: