Space Race Victory

My first victory in Civ IV came from winning the "Space Race." My victory was during the year 2027 A.D. after a meager 18 hours and 11 minutes of play time. Here's the summary from my first primal settlement to my final liftoff:

I began with German Empire, led by Fredrick. After a previous loss playing as the Aztec Empire, I knew the first step towards success (at least with a military campaign in mind) was to achieve a level of technological, cultural, productive, and military ability that was far beyond all other inhabitants. Once the said level was achieved, I began expanding my borders while still producing increasing amounts of food/money/research. After having built 8 cities and only enough military units to ward off Barbarians, my borders had expanded to the point of halting at others' territory. Up until this point, I focused on rigorous use of my workers; almost every turn was spent meticulously directing my workers towards maximum resource efficiency.

My first assault was in the year 1500B.C. against Cyrus and the Persian Empire. All military units I was capable of producing at the time were far superior to any available to Cyrus. I lined my adjoining border with units, then asked Cyrus for whatever he would give me (a free technology), and then declared war. It was the traditional German Lightning War style, first led by my more powerful units defeating and then moving on to other cities, while my less mobile and sturdy units occupied the cities. After Cyrus it was Alexander, then Augustus Caesar, and on to Egypt, a intermittent colonization of the New World, and then returning to defeat Asuka's Indian Empire. That is where my military campaign still stands, because I achieved the Space Race victory just as I was finishing up with Asuka.

Germany has the capability of producing Panzer tanks, which were known as the paragon of all tanks developed during WWII. These were my initial mass-produced military units. In my game, I rarely produced a military unit other than a few "horse archers" to defend my empire from barbarian marauders. Once however, I was capable of producing the Panzers, their production was the soul effort of my labors. The Panzers (and the ability to produce them efficiently) are in essence the very level of surpassing dominance that is required to humble my rivals. The benefits that came from my military campaign significantly boosted my empire's might and production, which directly correlated with my Space Race victory. Another, which I believe to be, crucial aspect of my victory is attributed to my policy of Isolationism. I was an entity in myself, I neither gave, nor received aid; I only accepted trade agreements.

There are now only three remaining empires in my current game: Japan, China, and India. I will pursue the game and total domination of the world and post the results in my next blog.

Questions, comments, concerns? Leave a comment.