The "Famine" contest is now over. Thank you to everyone who participated, and congratulations to our Top 10 players!
The winner is Borealis, with an incredible score of 174 points! To give you some perspective, 2nd place has 118 points, and 3rd place 81 points. Borealis really optimized everything.
Congratulations Borealis, you'll be immortalized in the #hall-of-fame and the game credits (in the next update), you have a shiny role on discord with access to a secret channel and you'll have a tile of your own design integrated into the game!
Borealis strategy to win:
Pause the real-time timer. The first turn is by far the most important (followed by the last), so don't hesitate to restart if your opening isn't strong. Your goal on turn 1 is to maximize Science and set up your economy: collect the shipwreck and treasure chests, upgrade your Home into a Forge, clear the first Crypts, destroy the eastern Obelisk, reveal the northern Elves, Great Tree, and the first Light Breaches, then start building Cow Pastures.
The exact order matters, as some actions increase the rewards from others.
Once you reveal the 4th Light Breach, destroy the remaining Obelisks while keeping their costs low. The 5th Light Breach is far west through the swamp, where the Ogre event grants 2 Workforce.
In the northwest, claim the treasure chest before the Crypt to increase its rewards. Prioritize Cow Pastures for most resource generation (except Production). Free the Orcs during their event, and make peace with the Elf camps after building a few Mines first. Use Observatories, Wisps, and Light Breaches for Light—don't build Wells.
Research priority: Tree of Life → Forge → Barracks → Market → Cow Pasture → Royal Farm (final turn). Optional: Carpenter and Pyramid.
Finally, never let Food overflow. Trade excess Food for Workforce with the Market and Druid, and always keep at least one forest available (ideally east of your Home) so the Druid can spawn and trade additional Science.
Stay tuned for the next contest!
Take care,
Darenn