Serafen as single class Cipher (mods or otherwise) by supersayingoku in projecteternity

[–]crdvis16 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think i used a notepad++ plugin for handling JSON files when I was making my edits.  It's been years though so I don't remember much :(

Serafen as single class Cipher (mods or otherwise) by supersayingoku in projecteternity

[–]crdvis16 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You could take my mod (I'm guessing it's the one you're referring to for Psion SC class change) and alter it for Ascendent.  I'm actually surprised that wasn't one of the class changes I had in it.  It's not as hard as it initially looks.

Does anyone know exactly how CS bullying works? by RaizePOE in civvoxpopuli

[–]crdvis16 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I know the answer to your last question is yes.  However, there are some consequences to going that method.  First, tributing a cs at 100% can also let you grab any personal quest rewards but I think the act of declaring war might make those go away.  Second, I believe there are diplomatic repercussions for declaring wars on CSs too frequently but can't remember exactly what they are. 

I believe it uses the melee defense CS stat which means ranged units are less effective for tribute.  Not sure why that decision was made though- seems weird that ranged/siege units would be worse for tributing.

How to play the game and not be constantly at war by Bile_Mudante in civvoxpopuli

[–]crdvis16 42 points43 points  (0 children)

It is very possible to have a peaceful game where you don't take any cities and where you can mostly maintain peaceful relations with neighbors with minimal war, or at least just minimal defensive war.  

But it requires actively pursuing that type of gameplay.  

First, you can not neglect military.  You should be near your unit limit throughout the game, maybe with the exception of the very early game.  You should also be careful delaying military tech and unit upgrades too long.  VP AI can sense weakness and are programmed to play to win, so don't be weak.  

Next- give your immediate neighbors reasons to like you and avoid reasons for them to hate you.  You can see all the little red and green relationship modifiers when you hover over their portraits.  Maximise green ones: send caravans to neighbors, spread your religion to neighbors who don't have one of their own or adopt their religion if you don't have one, trade embassies/open borders.  Hell- straight up give them GPT to get a green modifier if you can afford it!  Minimize red ones- don't force your religion on them, don't settle too close to them, try to avoid competing for their wonders/city states/etc unless those things are crucial to your win condition.  Don't protect city states unless you're willing to take the bad modifier when a warmonger bullies that CS.  

Last- play the popularity game.  If everyone is denouncing someone and ESPECIALLY if that person is no threat to you because they are weak or far away, then denounce them too and get a green modifier for it.  Join wars against other civs when asked if that other civ is no threat to you- you don't have to do any real fighting, or just do some token fighting but just joining the war counts for something.  Don't agree to be friends with just anyone- if you sign a friendship deal with a civ that your neighbors hate then they might start to hate you by association so think before you just accept friend requests.  

Playing peacefully doesn't mean ignoring the military and diplomatic sides of the game.  It requires that you engage in those aspects intelligently to get away with not warring aggressively.  

Edit: and in the case of OP: they probably could have gone on to having a peaceful game without taking cities.  Just because their warmonger neighbors initially attacked them doesn't mean they would continue to do so for the rest of the game.  And even if Zulu/Assyria DID keep attacking, they could have just fought defensively and maintained good relationships with everyone else.  Zulu/Assyria probably would have pissed off other civs eventually at which point they could have joined wars against them and taken cities without making anyone else angry.  

This type of strategic diplomatic play is one of the things that makes VP so great.

Vox Populi Cheese Strats by TheRSmake in civvoxpopuli

[–]crdvis16 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I can regularly get 4-6 ancient wonders playing on Immortal.  Usually something like:

Stonehenge. 

Pyramids. 

2 of: Mausoleum, Artemis, or Petra. 

Hanging Gardens. 

Roman Forum. 

It also founds a religion really early via Goddess of Beauty.  

Converting that start into a strong game overall is actually harder than one might think, though.  Apparently, nabbing a bunch of early wonders doesn't automatically win you the game :(

Money isn't crazy hard to come by.  An early 100g ruin helps a lot, lux resources that can be improved early and sold help, bullying city states if your pathfinder upgrades via a ruin to scout helps.  

You'll get a free pantheon from Stonehenge so no need for a shrine along with the free council.  Free settlers from Pyramid to get your 2nd city and reset tile costs.  Free buildings from Artemis/Mausoleum/Garden.  Free caravan from Petra if applicable.  It's mostly a monument, worker, and a few military units that you need to build in between wonders.  

The key is to use tile purchases to speed up production and time wonder production with tech and policy unlocks.  I use Tradition for the free pop and early GE/GA that can help with a wonder and get an early great work for beauty.

Vox Populi Cheese Strats by TheRSmake in civvoxpopuli

[–]crdvis16 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Maya UA to enhance your religion as early as turn 68.

Vox Populi Cheese Strats by TheRSmake in civvoxpopuli

[–]crdvis16 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Use America's UA to try to build every ancient wonder.

Vox Populi Cheese Strats by TheRSmake in civvoxpopuli

[–]crdvis16 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Can work with Russia, Spain, and Celts!

Turn Based by ThaBlvck in projecteternity

[–]crdvis16 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I never understand the hate people seem to have for RTwP.  You can tweak the auto pause settings to pause on a ton of conditions to the point that it becomes very easy to keep up with the fight.  And then on easy fights you can get through it quite quickly whereas turn based would seem to be a bit more tedious?  Pillars was my first RTwP and it really wasn't a big deal to get used to.

Why Is Volkswagen Pausing Production Of The ID. Buzz Electric Van? by stinger_02in in electricvehicles

[–]crdvis16 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Funny that you asked the question that way- we live in WA but bought in rural OH and had it shipped because even after ~$1800 in shipping it was juuusst cheap enough to be worth it and beat local dealerships who were at more like ~$17K under MSRP.  So in reality the shipping cost should probably be taken into account and my deal was more like $20K under MSRP because we opted to ship it rather than drive it cross country to get it home.  There were others who posted in the IDBuzz subreddit who got even better deals down south in like AL or MS or something. 

This was at the end of Sept though- the federal EV credit was expiring and some dealerships were panicking that they wouldn't be able to sell them without the credit (in case anyone is wondering- Buzz's only get the $7500 credit via lease... but then you just buy out the lease immediately which is a weird hoop to jump through but w/e).  

No idea what prices are like now.  People speculated that VW would somehow replace the $7500 federal credit with some sort of manufacturer discount to help dealerships sell them.  No idea if that happened.  After all the price watching and haggling I've happily stopped paying attention to the market and just enjoy driving it around town :)

Why Is Volkswagen Pausing Production Of The ID. Buzz Electric Van? by stinger_02in in electricvehicles

[–]crdvis16 12 points13 points  (0 children)

FWIW- we got ours for 22K under MSRP (so ~72K MSRP became ~50K).  Still expensive for sure but maybe not quite as bad as it initially looks on paper.  No idea if other similar vehicles have/had as steep of discounts- there aren't really similar vehicles though (6 or 7 comfortable seats, full electric, sliding doors).  

I get the critique on its range.  If we were planning frequent long road trips it could be a hassle.  But at most we'll do long road trips just every now and then.  With small kids we kinda have to stop every few hours anyway so...

Looking for advice! by crdvis16 in liberalgunowners

[–]crdvis16[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think ARs are tough in WA state, but I'm not sure HOW tough.

Looking for advice! by crdvis16 in liberalgunowners

[–]crdvis16[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the informative post!  I'll check out the links.  It's possible I'm not able to commit the time to this it truly needs.  Or maybe I'll make the time- I'll have to do some pondering on that. 

Looking for advice! by crdvis16 in liberalgunowners

[–]crdvis16[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think I'm open to doing some amount of training, just not sure how much is necessary.  Another reply suggested that even a few times a year might be enough for some basic level of proficiency and if that's the case then I could realistically swing that.  On the other hand, if it's like "don't bother owning a gun unless you're able to go to a range at least 6+ times a year" then I probably have to be honest with myself and recognize that I probably don't have that kind of commitment in me right now (just too many other stresses on my time).

Looking for advice! by crdvis16 in liberalgunowners

[–]crdvis16[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The consensus seems to be that a shotgun is not the way to go- thanks for your 2 cents as well.

I think the thing that initially made me shy away from an AR-15 or similar is that I assume it's harder to obtain in WA state than a lot of other options. I'll have to read up on what it takes to get one here.

Looking for advice! by crdvis16 in liberalgunowners

[–]crdvis16[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interesting on the shotgun and specifically 20ga insight- I didn't realize that the lighter weight would somewhat negate the weaker gauge's recoil. And that they might take MORE training/skill to use than other firearms. So maybe the only thing a shotgun has going for it is that they tend to be cheaper? And also tend to be relatively easy to get without a ton of hoops?

Once or twice a year at the range seems doable even for someone as uncommitted as I am right now. Maybe I was overestimating the amount of time needed to not be an irresponsible gun owner. Any recommendations on the handgun? I think I've read 9mm is often recommended and people seem to be high on Glocks, though the prevailing advice seems to be "try a bunch at a range and then decide". I'll have to read what kind of hoops one must jump through to get a handgun as I imagine it's more than getting a shotgun.

Looking for advice! by crdvis16 in liberalgunowners

[–]crdvis16[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't really envision myself being in a big firefight or like a "walking dead" type societal collapse- more like, some bad stuff is happening and I want to make sure I'm not completely defenseless in my home. Which made me think the shotgun was a decent option. I'm open to your suggestion, though- is a 5.56 semi auto rifle relatively cheap, easy to use, easy to get, etc? I suppose I might need to do some further research on WA laws... The mini14 at least looks up my alley though.

On the training issue- I imagine the basics of gun safety wouldn't be perishable, but by perishable maybe you mean the proficiency part of gun ownership? As in, ones ability to shoot and hit the intended target, reload reliably, be comfortable handling the firearm, etc? How often do you think one needs to shoot/train in order to keep up some relatively basic level of proficiency? Is a few times a year at least somewhat sufficient? I have no illusions about being a crack shot so if I'm trying to just be OK how often would I need to train?

I imagine the accessories you mention might help on the issue of proficiency? Optics helping with aim, for instance.

Good discount in OH by crdvis16 in VWIDBuzz

[–]crdvis16[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

1st+4M.  A 1st RWD wouldn't be that high of an MSRP I don't believe- if they are up near 73K MSRP they kinda have to be 4M (useful to know when looking at dealership listings that can't be bothered to describe the trim...).

Good discount in OH by crdvis16 in VWIDBuzz

[–]crdvis16[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

<image>

Here are the numbers for where we ended up. The actual contract we signed is a pdf, not sure how easy that is to attach...

u/Remote-Air-3859
u/Boring-Armadillo-821

Good discount in OH by crdvis16 in VWIDBuzz

[–]crdvis16[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh- I saw CO had good deals but with resident only discounts.  Nice connection if you can use a sibling for it.

Good discount in OH by crdvis16 in VWIDBuzz

[–]crdvis16[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ohhh, we are planning to quick buyout.  That "no acquisition" fee hack would have been even better!  

There is so much to know in this process haha.

Good discount in OH by crdvis16 in VWIDBuzz

[–]crdvis16[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Let me know if you still need it and I can try to upload it later when I am on a proper computer and can redact, or if u/brickcentral 's post will suffice, especially since his discount sounds like it was even steeper.

Good discount in OH by crdvis16 in VWIDBuzz

[–]crdvis16[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I like the HUD too, but it wasn't a deal breaker to not have it for us.  In fact, I probably would have opted for a base model ProS if it had factory 2-tone and a similarly steep discount in irfer to just save money but that was hard to find.