I've been trying to decide what the best way to get the Pyramids is. Some of the options I've seen are:

1) Just build the Pyramids: This method has the advantage of being straight foward you just start building the pyramids hopefull with stone and before the AI

2) Forge: Some people have been advoating getting MC either through the Oracle or just research and building a forge then assigning a engineering specialist to get a great engineer to use for the pyramids. The problem with the method is that the techs are expensive, either MC or the techs to Oracle and the Orcale its self, and then you still have to build a forge which isn't cheap. I'm just not sure this will ever be faster then method 1

3) Build the Great Wall and then use the great engineer it generates. The Great Wall is 200 hammers cheaper but you still have to wait for the great engineer. I'm just not sure if this is faster then 1 but you also get the Great Wall.

I was wondering which of these people prefer and if they have other suggestions.

Have a great source of food near by, some workers, and batta bing batta boom. I found I could build the pyramids in 28 turns with 7 work tiles. I still wasn't able to build it though. But I did kick Qin Shi Huang's arse.

It would be pretty easy to test which is quickest from the same start wouldn't it? Maybe tailor the AI civs, with/without industrial trait

I favour #3, but I think you may be limited to Philosophical leaders to be competitive.

Again, testing this with Phil/non Phil leaders will not be too time consuming. The results will be very useful, as i think a lot of people want to play Specialist econs these days because they're interesting.

#3's biggest advantage is that you get to build other things instead of the pyramids. For me this is the main thing because I hate being retarded,gamewise.

I prefer #3. I usally have this build order:
worker>warrior>warrior>Great Wall>settler>settler
Its worked pretty well for me so far.

I'll do #1 only if I have stone in my starting city and my starting city is a production powerhouse. Otherwise its too taxing on my early development and its too risky.

I've tried #2 a few times, and to be honest, its kinda complicated. Hardest part for me is getting the oracle out at a decent time AND having some prechopped forests for the forge city. ALso, running an engineer specialist so early really hurts the growth of the second city.

Options #2 and #3 are faster than #1 if no stone is available. If there is stone available then #1 is probably the fastest, but still not sure if its most productive route to go.

#3 is my favorite I have a thread about. But it can be dangerous if you fail to build the Great wall. I've seen Roosvelt build it in 2000BC, he had stone and is industrious. He latter built the pyramids as well. It was a very bad game. But if you do build the GW and are Philisophical then its an easy path to pyramids, Great Library and an amazing specialist economy.

I still prefer the good old fashioned #1.

#2 is actually slower than #1 and having both cities locked into a specific build order can be problematic (Pyramids leaves one city free.)

and the trouble with #3 is it isn't faster either, and instead of hoping that the AI doesn't beat you to one wonder, you're now hoping it doesn't beat you to two.

I just played #3 at prince level ,Hannibal, no stone , and Julius beat me to it at 300BC. In other words forget it if you're non-Philo and without stone.

There's a thread in the Articles section about GW-Great Engineer-Pyramids, and yes, you pretty much have to be philosophical for it to work. I said I'd give it a try but haven't had the time yet.

#3 is a nice strategy if you are philosophical. Plus the GW has a pretty useful effect.

Anyone know of other stratgies?

You could try letting the AI build it, while you build axemen and then capture the wonder. I know, it might be built on the other side of the map... just joking.

No.1 is the best unless you are philosophical then try 3. No.2 imo does not work

You could try letting the AI build it, while you build axemen and then capture the wonder. I know, it might be built on the other side of the map... just joking.

On duel/tiny pangaea this might be the best thing to do. You can build 11 swords for the same amount of hammers as you need to build the pyramids.

Anyone know of other stratgies?

Rock thrower's gambit

Rock thrower's gambit

Care to explain

No.1 is the best unless you are philosophical then try 3. No.2 imo does not work

Well, it just so happens that it does indeed work: Sisiutil's "All Leaders Challenge Game #7: Frederick/Germany" (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=178995). :) It's not easy, but it can be done.

After reading this thread I did 2 games on noble and recorded building data from my capital as i went. Getting to the point here is what i wanted from both games (I hope what i have done is pratical):

Game 1: Build Great Wall then Pyramids with GP - Stop when Pyramids is built.

Game 2: Build Pyramids and play until end date of Game 1.

If you dont understand just read on :)

In both games i had no stone and was a non-industrious civ (Elizabeth - Phi/Fin)

Game 1 - Great Wall Strategy

Build Queue
-Worker
-Warrior
-Settler
-Great Wall (Finished 950BC)
-Granary
-Settler
-Axeman
-Spearman
-1 turn on Pyramids to Build (From GP)
-Also i noted that a libary is one turn away

End Date: 325BC
No. of Cities: 3 (inc. Capital)

Game 1 - Straight to Pyramids

Build Queue
-Worker
-Warrior
-Settler
-Pyramids (Finished 700BC)
-Settler
-Libary - (could of been unit)

End Date: 325BC
No. of Cities: 3 (inc. Capital)

From doing this i realised that perhaps Game 1 was better as you had more military and/or buildings. I certainly think you should get a settler before starting any wonder as i show in my build queue. The Pyramids did finish earlier in Game 2 but i didnt have the benifit of making units/buildings as i did have in Game 1 building the Great Wall.

Also in Game 1 i have 2 wonders and a small GP Factory for the early years. Another benefit i found, as expressed by someone, is that it is safer to build the wall because it is faster and the great engineer can get another wonder if Pyramids is built (Oracle or GL).

This is my opinion and on different maps it may vary, even with stone (if im not an industrious civ) i would get the wall as 2 possible wonders attracts me more than 1 almost certain one.

Rock Thrower Gambit

Care to explain


Find rocks
Research Masonry
Connect Rocks
Gift Rocks to neighboring Industrial Civ
Build axes

VoU: Excellent strategy. If you haven't done so already post it on ALC for Sisiutil's consideration.

That would almost guarantee the wonders being built nearby! *Must try... :borg:*

From doing this i realised that perhaps Game 1 was better as you had more military and/or buildings. I certainly think you should get a settler before starting any wonder as i show in my build queue. The Pyramids did finish earlier in Game 2 but i didnt have the benifit of making units/buildings as i did have in Game 1 building the Great Wall.

Also in Game 1 i have 2 wonders and a small GP Factory for the early years. Another benefit i found, as expressed by someone, is that it is safer to build the wall because it is faster and the great engineer can get another wonder if Pyramids is built (Oracle or GL).

This is my opinion and on different maps it may vary, even with stone (if im not an industrious civ) i would get the wall as 2 possible wonders attracts me more than 1 almost certain one.
Also, don't neglect the the fact that the Great Wall has a good effect in its own right. Not having to worry about barbs is a big plus depending on the game setup.

Find rocks
Research Masonry
Connect Rocks
Gift Rocks to neighboring Industrial Civ
Build axes


To answer the OP, D) All of the above.

Cross-check select AI values as well, in particular a leader's propensity for building wonders, and its favorite civic.

For example, Cyrus would be a great leader to gift the Stone to if he was nearby because he likes building wonders and his favorite civic is Representation. While he's not Industrious, he is still far more likely to build The Pyramids than, say, Roosevelt.