Jon-Michael Deldin

BMX, bike trials, & software from the Pacific Northwest

0 A.D. Map Reviews

We have played 0 A.D. for about four years now, and this past fall, we decided to play all the biome variants of each map. We finally finished!

Strategy

Our general strategy was build a wonder inside Iberian walls, and then the other player would launch attacks but also be able to mount a large response to protect the wonder. We still have not figured out how to dispatch with elephants efficiently – they can wipe us out quickly, especially if the enemies have 150 people. Cavalry archers seem to do a decent job, as do British dogs, but it’s never fast enough. Naturally, when we play as elephant civilizations, the enemy crushes our elephants immediately. Furthermore, the AI swordsman decimate us, even when our infantry and cavalry units are fully upgraded.

We’re still not good enough to go against three AI enemies without a third player, so when we didn’t have a third human, we had a random behavior, random civilization AI as a sacrificial lamb. Sometimes, it worked and they were attacked early instead of us, but not always. We usually were an Iberian+Roman human team.

Setup

  • Wife: 2012 Macbook Pro is the host, shares WiFi over ethernet
  • Me: 2016 Thinkpad T460 running Ubuntu, plugged into MBP
  • Stepson: Steam box running Windows 10, connected over WiFi or ethernet to router

Game Settings

  • 3 AI enemies on random behavior and very hard
  • Large map
  • Wonder Victory (60 min)
  • Teams Locked
  • Conquest
  • No treasures
  • Unexplored
  • Unrevealed
  • Pop 100
  • Very high resources
  • Disable spies
  • Insane 2x

Top maps

  • Lion’s Den
  • Persian Highlands
  • Sahel Watering Holes
  • Snowflake Searocks

Worst maps

  • Lake (too much lag)
  • Wild Lake (so hard to move and to build)

Statistics

VictoryCount
Win: Wonder50
Win: Survival1
Win: Conquest110
Skip2
Quit21
Lost13
Total197

Game Notes

We live in the Northwest, so there are a lot of long rainy days, i.e., 0 A.D. killing days.

DateMap# human# AI Allies# AI EnemiesWoodMetalStoneMeatFishWould play again?Win?Iberian walls?AI Ally Play
<2019-09-11 Wed>African Plains303HMMHLY / hardWonder, almost destroyed allYN/A
<2019-09-12 Thu>Alpine Lakes213HMHLLY / easyConquestYStrong
<2019-09-12 Thu>Alpine Valley213MHHHY / hardWonder, almost killedYMeh
<2019-09-14 Sat>Ambush303HMLMY / mediumWonder, almost killedYN/A
<2019-11-19 Tue>Ambush - Alpine213HHMLY / mediumWonder, needed more time to killYMedium
<2019-11-20 Wed>Ambush - Autumn213HHHLN / not as good as alpineWonder, no chance of getting conquestYWeak
<2019-11-20 Wed>Ambush - Desert213HLLN / better than autumnWonderYWeak
<2019-11-23 Sat>Ambush - Mediterranean213HMMLY / funConquestYMedium
<2019-11-23 Sat>Ambush - Savanna213MMMLY / not as good as meditWonder, needed more time for conquestNMedium
<2019-11-23 Sat>Ambush - Snowy213HMMLY / funConquestNWeak
<2019-11-24 Sun>Ambush - Temperate213HMMLY / fun, narrow corridors for fightingConquestNWeak
<2019-11-25 Mon>Ambush - Tropic213HHHLY / very fun, easy conquestConquestYWeak
<2019-09-15 Sun>Anatolian Plateau213LHL2LY / easyConquestYMeh
<2019-09-15 Sun>Arctic Summer213MMMLLY / mediumWonder, almost killedYSUCKED
<2019-09-15 Sun>Ardennes Forest303HLLLY / very hardWonder (backup), almost diedYN/A
<2019-09-16 Mon>Atlas Mountains303HHHLN / very hard, basically openWonder, probably needed 20 min to kill allYN/A
<2019-09-16 Mon>Belgian Uplands303HVLVLVHN / fake resources, sucksLOSTNN/A
<2019-09-16 Mon>Botswanan Haven303MMMHN / too much lagQUIT too much lagYN/A
<2019-09-16 Mon>Caledonian Meadows303MMMMN / too much lagQUIT too much lagYN/A
<2019-09-16 Mon>Cantabarian Highlands303HHHHLY / easy and funWonder, probably needed 10 min to kill allYN/A
<2019-09-20 Fri>Canyon213HLMLY / easy and funConquestYMeh
<2019-11-25 Mon>Canyon - Alpine213HMMLY / nice conquestConquestYGood
<2019-11-25 Mon>Canyon - Autumn213HHHLY / fun conquestConquestYWeak
<2019-11-30 Sat>Canyon - Desert213HHHLY / fun easy conquestConquest, singlehandedYSUCKED, almost died
<2019-11-30 Sat>Canyon - Mediterranean213HMMLN / not as fun, was placed in middle so further to attack therefore harderConquestYSUCKED, had to defend constantly
<2019-12-02 Mon>Canyon - Savanna213LHHLY / trivialConquestYSUCKED, did nothing
<2019-12-02 Mon>Canyon - Snowy213HHHLY / depends on location for difficultyConquestYWeak
<2019-12-02 Mon>Canyon - Temperate213HHHHY / pretty easyConquestYWeak
<2019-12-02 Mon>Canyon - Tropic213HLLLN / lagged, two elephant bad guys + britishWonderYWeak, lost civ center
<2019-09-21 Sat>Continent213HHHLMY / hard until you conquer oneConquestYPoor
<2019-12-07 Sat>Continent - Alpine213HMHLMY / can be hard until you start conquering the mapConquestYStrong!
<2019-12-07 Sat>Continent - Autumn213HHHLMN / alpine more funConquestYGood
<2019-12-07 Sat>Continent - Desert213HHHLMY / very easy conquest if you start earlyConquestYOK
<2019-12-07 Sat>Continent - Mediterranean213HHHLMY equivalent to desertConquestYOK
<2019-12-07 Sat>Continent - Savanna213HHHLMY / equivalent to desertConquestYOK
<2019-12-07 Sat>Continent - Snowy213HMMLMN / not as funConquestYOK
<2019-12-07 Sat>Continent - Temperate213HMMLMY / easy conquestConquestYOK
<2019-12-07 Sat>Continent - Tropic213HMMLMY / ok conquestConquestYOK
<2019-09-21 Sat>Corinthian Isthmus213HHHLLY / easy if you block the isthmusWonder, nowhere near conquest, should have infiltrated via boatNPoor
<2019-09-21 Sat>Deep Forest213HHMLY / hard till you take out oneConquestYPoor
<2019-09-22 Sun>Empire213MHHMY / hard, dual civWonder, probably needed 20 min to kill allNSUCKED
<2019-12-09 Mon>Empire - Alpine213MMMLN / hard, annoying, sucksLOSTNSUCKED
<2019-12-11 Wed>Empire - Autumn213HHHMY / worked much better (less lag), no enemy siege weapons?ConquestNWeak
<2019-12-12 Thu>Empire - Desert213HHHMN / lost wonder, way overpowered by enemy siege at all townsQUITNPoor, absolutely useless
<2019-12-12 Thu>Empire - Mediterranean213MMMLN / lost my wonder, but overall better game than desertWonderNMediocre
<2019-12-16 Mon>Empire - Savanna213MMMLN / better than lastWonderNWeak
<2019-12-18 Wed>Empire - Snowy213MMMLN / about the same as savanna, not very funWonderNPoor
<2019-12-18 Wed>Empire - Temperate213HHHLY / pretty goodConquestNOK
<2019-12-18 Wed>Empire - Tropic213HHHLY / pretty good challengeConquestNGood
<2019-09-22 Sun>Extinct Volcano213HMMLN / stupid, floods eventuallySurvival, just build a boatNPoor
<2019-09-22 Sun>Fields of Meroe213HMMMN / very hardWonder, barelyNPoor
<2019-12-19 Thu>Fields of Meroe - Dry213HMHMY / pretty funConquestYOK
<2019-12-19 Thu>Fields of Meroe - Rainy213HMMMN / sucked, too many elephantsWonder via OrangeYGood, but only defensive
<2019-09-23 Mon>Flood213N / too much lagQUIT too much lag, unplayableNN/A
<2019-09-23 Mon>Fortress213HLLLY / hard, heavy wood, central metalLOSTYSUCKED
<2019-09-23 Mon>Frontier - sand213-----N / disconnect immediatelyQUIT disconnect first time. wouldn’t load second timeNN/A
<2019-09-23 Mon>Frontier - winter213HHHHY / funConquestYStrong
<2019-12-20 Fri>Frontier - Alpine213HHMMY / funConquestYPoor
<2019-12-20 Fri>Frontier - Autumn213HHMLY / funConquestYPoor
<2019-12-20 Fri>Frontier - Desert213MMMLN / sucked. was squished for starting civLOSTNDIED
<2019-12-20 Fri>Frontier - Mediterranean213MMMLN / sucked. got destroyedQUITNUseless
<2019-12-31 Tue>Frontier - Savanna213HMMLN / mediocreConquestNUseless
<2019-12-31 Tue>Frontier - Snowy213HMMLN / okay, destroyed themConquestYUseless
<2020-01-01 Wed>Frontier - Temperate213MMMLN / sucked, ambushed by 11 elephants because AI antagonized themQUITNJERKS
<2020-01-01 Wed>Frontier - Tropic213MMMLY / was actually fun because we could block a canyonConquestNWeak
<2019-09-23 Mon>Gear213-----N / disconnect immediately for Player 2QUITNN/A
<2019-09-23 Mon>Gear213HHMHLY / fun, worked the second time with halt freeze every 10 sConquestNOK
<2020-01-03 Fri>Gear - Alpine213HHHLLY / funConquestNSucked, lost civ center and died in town phase
<2020-01-04 Sat>Gear - Autumn213HHMLLY / funConquestNWeak
<2020-01-04 Sat>Gear - Desert213MMMLLN / died, overpowered by 8 (!) elephantsLOSTNWeak
<2020-01-04 Sat>Gear - Mediterranean213MMMLLN / died, overpowered by more elephantsLOSTNWeak, useless
<2020-01-04 Sat>Gear - Savanna213MMMLLN / won, but trees kinda sucked. early attacking elephant people helpedConquestNWeak
<2020-01-04 Sat>Gear - Snowy213MMMLLY / won, no real elephantsConquestNWeak
<2020-01-05 Sun>Gear - Temperate213MMMLLY / won, attacked them early and no real elephantsConquestNWeak
<2020-01-05 Sun>Gear - Tropic213MMMLLY / won, same, basically single playerConquestNWeak, almost lost civ center
<2019-09-26 Thu>Guadalquivir River213HMMLY / fun, kind of hardWonder, needed 2 more min to conquerNStrong at end
<2019-09-29 Sun>Gulf of Bothnia - winter213HLLLMY / funWonder, needed 2 more min to conquerYStrong
<2020-01-05 Sun>Gulf of Bothnia - frozen213HMMLY / funConquestYWeak
<2020-01-05 Sun>Gulf of Bothnia - spring213HMHLY / funConquestYWeak
<2019-09-30 Mon>Harbor213HHMMMY / fun, basically same as last but with natural wall bordersWonder, needed 2 more min to conquerYStrong
<2020-01-07 Tue>Harbor - alpine213HMMLMY / funConquestYStrong
<2020-01-09 Thu>Harbor - autumn213HMMLMY / funConquestYStrong
<2020-01-10 Fri>Harbor - desert213HMMLMY / easyConquestYWeak
<2020-01-10 Fri>Harbor - mediterranean213HMMLMY / easyConquestYWeak
<2020-01-13 Mon>Harbor - savanna213HMMLMY / easyConquestYOK
<2020-01-13 Mon>Harbor - snowy213HHHLMY / easyConquestYStrong
<2020-01-18 Sat>Harbor - temperate213HHMLMY / easy, funConquestYOK
<2020-01-18 Sat>Harbor - tropic213HHMLMY / wasn’t as easy due to early attacksConquestYWeak
<2019-10-02 Wed>Hell’s Pass - green303N / disconnect immediately before host even loadsQUITNN/A
<2019-10-02 Wed>Hell’s Pass - desert303HLMLLY / hard, close allies, no metal outside first pileWonder, needed 3 hours to conquerNN/A
<2020-01-19 Sun>Hell’s Pass - alpine213HLHLLY / hard, limited metalWonder, needed 10 more min to conquerNWeak
<2020-01-19 Sun>Hell’s Pass - autumn213HLHLLY / okayConquestNOK
<2020-01-19 Sun>Hell’s Pass - desert213HLMLLN / annoying bottlenecks, scarce resources, generally not funWonderNWeak
<2020-01-19 Sun>Hell’s Pass - mediterranean213LLLMLN / resource starved for everythingWonderNWeak
<2020-01-19 Sun>Hell’s Pass - savanna213LLLLLN / resource starved, just got slammed. not very funLOSTNWeak
<2020-01-19 Sun>Hell’s Pass - snowy213HLHLLN / ally died, so wonder cond went to enemy. overpoweredLOSTNWeak
<2020-01-21 Tue>Hell’s Pass - Temperate213HLHLLY / kind of sucked being in front of everyone and squished = no chanceWonderNWeak
<2020-01-21 Tue>Hell’s Pass - Tropic213HLHLLN / pretty annoying. overall, hell’s pass is a terrible map - no rest, all conflictWonderNWeak
<2019-10-02 Wed>Hellas303HHHMMN / pretty hard, unusable terrain, naval wasn’t as big as map promisedLOSTN
<2019-10-02 Wed>Hyrcanian Shores213N / disconnect immediatelyQUITN
<2019-10-02 Wed>India213N / disconnectQUITN
<2019-10-02 Wed>Jebel Barkal - very hard213HMMMMN / STUPID hardConquest with cheatingNWeak
<2019-10-02 Wed>Kerala213HHMLMY / pretty easy once you kill an enemy centerConquestN/AMeh
<2019-10-03 Thu>Lake - Snowy303N / lagged badlyQUIT
<2019-10-03 Thu>Lake - Desert303HHHMHY / funWonder, needed 4 min to conquerYN/A
<2020-01-23 Thu>Lake - Alpine213HMMLLY / fun but laggyConquestYMeh
<2020-01-24 Fri>Lake - Autumn213HMMLLY / funConquestYWeak
<2020-01-24 Fri>Lake - Desert213HHLLLY / funWonder, needed 30 sec to finishYWeak
<2020-01-25 Sat>Lake - Mediterranean213HHLLLY / funConquestYGood
<2020-01-25 Sat>Lake - Savanna213MMHLLY / funConquestYWeak
<2020-01-27 Mon>Lake - Snowy213HMHLLY / fun, more metal in enemy civsConquestYWeak
<2020-01-29 Wed>Lake - Temperate213N / quit because too much lagQUIT
<2020-01-29 Wed>Lake - Temperate213N / quit because too much lagQUIT
<2020-01-29 Wed>Lake - Tropic213HHHLLN / was okay, kind of boringConquestYWeak
<2019-10-03 Thu>Latium303N / disconnect and out of sync immediately. stupid square map.QUIT
<2019-10-03 Thu>Lion’s Den303HLMLY / hard to control mapWonder, needed a lot of time to conquerYN/A
<2020-01-30 Thu>Lion’s Den - Alpine213HHHLY / funConquestYStrong
<2020-01-30 Thu>Lion’s Den - Autumn213HHHLY / had fun blocking map and forcing enemy routesConquest (JM Wonder)YWeak
<2020-01-31 Fri>Lion’s Den - Desert213HMMLN / fun but not as good as the other biomesConquest (JM Wonder)YWeak
<2020-01-31 Fri>Lion’s Den - Mediterranean213HMMLN / quit because got overpowered by elephants and ramsQUITYWeak
<2020-02-01 Sat>Lion’s Den - Savanna213HHMLY / good despite tree scarcityConquestYStrong
<2020-02-02 Sun>Lion’s Den - Snowy213HHHMY / fun, resource richConquestYOK
<2020-02-02 Sun>Lion’s Den - Temperate213HHMLY / fun, killed them all quicklyConquestYWeak
<2020-02-02 Sun>Lion’s Den - Tropic213HHMLY / funConquestYWeak
<2019-10-10 Thu>Lorraine Plain213HMMLY / funWonder, needed 5 min to conquer
<2019-10-10 Thu>Lower Nubia213MHHLN / too much collision, trader and unit pileupsWonder, would have needed awhile to conquerYWeak
<2019-10-11 Fri>Mainland213HHHLY / fun, easyConquestYWeak
<2020-02-02 Sun>Mainland - Alpine213HHHLY / funConquestYWeak
<2020-02-02 Sun>Mainland - Autumn213HMMLY / hard, too many elephants and ramsWonderYWeak
<2020-02-03 Mon>Mainland - Desert213HHHMY / easy, no elephantsConquestYWeak
<2020-02-12 Wed>Mainland - Mediterranean213HHHLY / easyConquestYWeak
<2020-02-12 Wed>Mainland - Savanna213HHHMY / easyConquestYWeak
<2020-02-13 Thu>Mainland - Snowy213HHHMY / easyConquestYWeak
<2020-02-13 Thu>Mainland - Temperate213HHHMY / easyConquestYWeak
<2020-02-16 Sun>Mainland - Tropic213HHHMN / hate the biome for the lionsConquestYWeak
<2019-10-13 Sun>Marmara213HLMMLY / hardLOSTYSUCKED
<2019-10-23 Wed>Mediterranean213HMLMLN / hard, kind of annoying pathfindingWonder
<2019-10-24 Thu>Neareastern Badlands303HHMHY / hardWonderY
<2019-10-24 Thu>Ngorongoro303MHMHN / lostLOSTY
<2019-10-25 Fri>Northern Lights303LHHLLY / very hardWonderY
<2019-10-25 Fri>Oasis303HHHLY / fun, hard at first but easy once you start crushingConquestY
<2019-10-28 Mon>Persian Highlands213LHHLY / fun, dittoWonder, needed 10 min to conquerYWeak
<2020-02-18 Tue>Persian Highlands - Spring213LHHLY / fun, easyConquestYWeak
<2020-02-18 Tue>Persian Highlands - Summer213LHHLY / fun, easyConquestYWeak
<2019-10-28 Mon>Phonecian Levant213N / square map, doesn’t workQUIT
<2019-10-28 Mon>Polar Sea213LLLLMY / naval tradeWonderNSUCKED, 0 K/D ratio
<2019-10-30 Wed>Pompeii213MLMLY / hard to build anywhere which can give some players an advantageWonder, was just getting enough $ to start conquestNSUCKED, lost civ center
<2019-10-30 Wed>Pyrenean Sierra213HMMLMYLOSTYSUCKED
<2019-10-30 Wed>Pyrenean Sierra213HMMLMY / hard depending on whether you can build bottlenecks or notWonderYSUCKED
<2019-10-31 Thu>Ratumacos213HMMLY / very hardLOSTNSUCKED, lost civ center twice
<2019-11-02 Sat>Red Sea213HHHMMY / very hard if placed in the middleWonder, needed time for conquestYWeak
<2019-11-02 Sat>Rhine Marshlands213N / too much lagQUITY
<2019-11-02 Sat>Rivers213HMMLLY / fun controlling half a mapConquestYSUCKED, died
<2020-02-18 Tue>Rivers - Alpine213HMMLLYConquestYWeak
<2020-02-18 Tue>Rivers - Autumn213HMMLLYConquestYWeak
<2020-02-18 Tue>Rivers - Desert213HMMLLYConquestYWeak
<2020-02-19 Wed>Rivers - Mediterranean213HMMLLN / swarms of elephantsWonderYWeak
<2020-02-20 Thu>Rivers - Savanna213MHHHLN / tree disparity is annoyingConquestYWeak
<2020-02-22 Sat>Rivers - Snowy213HHHLLY / funConquestYWeak
<2020-02-23 Sun>Rivers - Temperate213HHHLLY / funConquestYOK
<2020-02-23 Sun>Rivers - Tropic213HHHLLY / funConquestWonderWeak
<2019-11-03 Sun>Saharan Oases213
<2019-11-04 Mon>Sahel213LMMMY / disconnected P2 immediately first try, but easy conquest second tryConquestYWeak
<2019-11-04 Mon>Sahel Watering Holes213MMMMY / fun little pizza slices to own/defendConquestYMediocre
<2019-11-06 Wed>Schwarzwald213HMMLLY / fun for conquest, easy ram travelConquestNSUCKED, died
<2019-11-06 Wed>Scythian Rivulet213HMMLY / fun, pretty easy for conquest if you attack earlyConquestYStrong
<2019-11-12 Tue>Snowflake Searocks213HHHLY / fun, easy to play turtle/defensiveWonderNWeak
<2020-02-23 Sun>Snowflake Searocks - Alpine213MMMLY / fun, hard if you block yourself off to the world early – can’t expandWonderNWeak
<2020-02-23 Sun>Snowflake Searocks - Autumn213HMMLY / fun, needed 5 more min to conquer (blew our wonder up)ConquestNWeak
<2020-02-23 Sun>Snowflake Searocks - Desert213HMMLY / fun, needed 2 min to conquer (blew our wonder up)ConquestNWeak
<2020-02-24 Mon>Snowflake Searocks - Mediterranean213MMMLY / wood was sparseConquestNStrong
<2020-02-24 Mon>Snowflake Searocks - Savanna213MMMLY / wood was sparseConquestNOK
<2020-02-24 Mon>Snowflake Searocks - Snowy213HMMLYConquestNStrong
<2020-03-01 Sun>Snowflake Searocks - Temperate213HMMLYConquestNWeak
<2020-03-01 Sun>Snowflake Searocks - Tropic213HMMLN / hard to move siege inConquestNWeak
<2019-11-17 Sun>Stronghold213HMMMMaybe / difficultWonderNWeak
<2020-03-04 Wed>Stronghold - Alpine213LHMLN / difficult, pretty annoying being frontlineWonderNWeak
<2020-03-14 Sat>Stronghold - Alpine213LMMLN / quit because this sucksQUITNWeak, died
<2020-03-14 Sat>Stronghold - Autumn213MMMMY / was pretty easy being on the back civ and attacking earlyConquestNWeak
<2020-03-14 Sat>Stronghold - Desert213HHHMY / metal and wood rich, good battlingConquestNWeak, died
<2020-03-15 Sun>Stronghold - Mediterranean213HHHLN / not as resource richConquestNWeak
<2020-03-15 Sun>Stronghold - Savanna213HHHLN / not as resource richConquestNWeak
<2020-03-15 Sun>Stronghold - Snowy213HHHLY / resource richConquestNWeak, died
<2020-03-15 Sun>Stronghold - Temperate213HHHLY / resource richConquestNStrong
<2020-03-15 Sun>Stronghold - Tropic213HLLLN / suckedQUITNWeak, died
<2019-11-17 Sun>Survival of the Fittest213Skipped, no point
<2019-11-17 Sun>Syria213MMMLY / very difficultWonder, needed a few min more for conquestYStrong towards the end
<2019-11-17 Sun>Volcanic Lands213HHHLY / easy conquestConquestYMeh
<2019-11-17 Sun>Wild Lake213HMMHHN / hard travelConquestYMeh
<2020-03-15 Sun>Wild Lake - Alpine213HMMHHN / hard to move siege weaponsConquestYMeh
<2020-03-23 Mon>Wild Lake - Autumn213HMHHHN / map is annoying to build and move onConquestYMeh
<2020-03-28 Sat>Wild Lake - Desert213HLHHHN / worst map. units get stuck, units take wrong paths, can’t rebuild wallsQUITYWeak, useless
<2020-03-28 Sat>Wild Lake - Mediterranean213HMHHHY / better placement, could build inside iberian wallsConquestYWeak, died
<2020-03-29 Sun>Wild Lake - Savanna213HHHHHN / couldn’t find space for a wonder for most of gameWonderYWeak, useless
<2020-03-29 Sun>Wild Lake - Snowy213HHHHHY / was much more fun and could actually build in more placesConquestYWeak
<2020-03-29 Sun>Wild Lake - Temperate213HHHHHN / sucked, hard to build and move unitsWonderYOK
<2020-03-29 Sun>Wild Lake - Tropic213HHHHHN / metal piles were often sideways and un-mineableConquestYOK
* * *