Thanks for the advice Paralyticus,I think I understand what you're trying to say.
And BTW my fellow conquerers,I am in no way "moaning" that I can't win the game(I will be victorius)or putting down this game in any way.I was just trying to get some advice from people who may have been in this situation.It sounds like everyone that ever was just gave up and decided to only play with easier victory conditions.I haven't had this game for very long,but this is the most fun I've had with the game yet.If you havn't tried playing big huge random secret sea map with 8 sides,very low resources and conquest victory and elimination conditions I suggest you do.It's fun.Lots of battles.
I do enjoy playing with other victory conditions.As a matter of fact I have played several games with standard vc's since I started the marathon game.I knew it would take a long time when I started it.There is no way I would want to play with conquest conditions on a big huge map in multiplayer.I would never have enough time.
Cool thing is that the 6 1/2 hour stalemate is no longer a stalemate.I've been learning to use hotkeys,learned how to set trade routes that won't be sacked and I'm getting much more accurate with the mouse.Now instead of a stalemate,I am gaining ground.I found a way of keeping the bantu off my western shoreline(and it's a long stretch of shoreline) when I'm attacking the nubians way up to the north.I made a wall of shipyards damn near all the way down the shore.Now they can't just land their transportts anywhere they please.Those shipyards have like 5000 hitpoint each,so it takes some effort to get through them.And after I secure the Island up in the NW that I've captured from the nubians, the bantu will be history.I have them cornered.Then it will be my 200 pop limit against 2 other nations(400) instead of my 200 against 3 nations(600).
It's now at 7 1/2 hours but it ain't no stalemate.And I've learned alot since the game started.
But of course any suggestions to help me win this game would still be appreciated.
[This message has been edited by hairballxavier (edited 10-29-2003 @ 09:50 PM).]