On weekend I played Serabit Khadim and found it very interesting, if going for high prosperity - and got an idea it could be even better if combined with population. Tomek tested this combination and we agreed that this is a perfect map for contest; we have edited the map so that you can play as long as you wish (original version ends as soon as you have Kingdom 80). That is also the reason for the requirement of 1 Palatial Estate - you can't achieve this level of housing.
If you want to take part in the contest, please read this post and rules carefully. Don't start from your career map of Serabit Khadim - download the modified *.sav file.If you don't understand some of the used expressions or are not sure what it is about, please look into the post "Contest rules"!
Herewith the following contest is announced:
Name of scenario : Serabit Khadim (modified career map - download from my site)
Completion Criteria : Kingdom rating 80, not in debt
Winning Criterion 1 : Prosperity
Winning Criterion 2 : PopulationRules : Must be played at difficulty HARD. No cheats, but 2 recruiters are allowed (search Game Help forum for "Recruiter" if you don't know how to build 2). You must save the game each December and preserve these saves. Don't send them though, unless asked to do so. It is impossible to control all saves of all participants, but at least some of them will be checked. Please, be sure to save regularly - if you fail to supply progressive saves on demand, you will not be ranked in the contest.
Submit save to : balticus@geocities.com (only 1 save per person, please - and use Winzip or WinRAR to compress the file!)
How to submit : Name the save "Serabit yourname.sav", compressed archive "Serabit yourname.zip" (or .rar). Attach it to the message, and state your result (Prosperity and Population) in the message. Use your Forum name preferably, please - if too long, use part of it and state your full forum name in the mail.
Submit until : March 10, 23:59 of your local time.
Any questions please direct to the above mail address, or post them here.
Preliminary results will be announced on Sunday, March 12; official results as soon as the chosen progressive saves are checked. Results of all people who have submitted valid save in time will be posted and ranked.WARNING - following text is just MY PERSONAL OPINION, and it is an account of how the mission is built - not a guide. If your experience is different, ignore what it says. You may have found a better strategy than me.
Some facts about the scenario :
Small desert map, some walls on the map, more walls can't be built. One pack of hyenas to the side of the map. No towers. Frequent attacks (including Bedouin sneak attacks) and requests (copper, gems, luxury goods).
Plenty of trade routes, all land. Very limited resources : Ostriches for food, copper, gems. All other raw materials and lot of food can be imported. Main exports - copper, luxury goods, gems; finished products from imported raw materials are exportable, too.
Highest possible housing level - Stately Manor (no Senet house).
Greatest challenges - city layout (limited space, undesirable structures near housing); increasing the population while maintaining high prosperity.I'm looking forward to your contributions! Feel free to comment on anything, from organization to new ideas for a contest.
Cherub BalticPharaoh CZ - download the starting position from here.
Edited incorrect statement about highest possible housing level.
[This message has been edited by Baltic (edited 03-02-2000).][This message has been edited by Baltic (edited 03-04-2000).]