Game with Pericles!

Starting a Single Player Game (Play Now Option) with Pericles :)

Session ONE:
ROUND 1, Part 1 (4000 BC) (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=7029916&postcount=6) Part 2 (4000 BC - 3880 BC) (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=7030120&postcount=9)
ROUND 2 (3880 BC - 3800 BC) (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=7030478&postcount=13)
ROUND 3 (3760 BC - 3620 BC) (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=7030770&postcount=21)
ROUND 4 (3400 BC - 3240 BC) (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=7030955&postcount=25)
ROUND 5, Part 1 (3160 BC) (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=7031028&postcount=28) Part 2 (2880 BC) (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=7031096&postcount=30)

Session TWO:
ROUND 6 (2600 BC - 2560 BC) (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=7032741&postcount=39)
ROUND 7 (2480 BC - 1920 BC) (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=7033674&postcount=43)
ROUND 8 (1760 BC - 1680 BC) (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=7045148&postcount=51)
ROUND 9 (1680 BC - 1280 BC) (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=7072291&postcount=56)
ROUND 10 (1160 BC - 1080 BC) (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=7076356&postcount=59)

Session THREE:
ROUND 11 (1080 BC - 1000 BC) (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=7086069&postcount=64)
ROUND 12 (1000 BC - 925 BC) (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=7087829&postcount=69)
ROUND 13 (925 BC - 775 BC) (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=7094461&postcount=74)
ROUND 14 (775 BC - 600 BC) (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=7101237&postcount=77)
ROUND 15 (600 BC - 300 BC) (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=7227661&postcount=89)


http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/civ4screenshot0000dv4.jpg

Difficulty: Prince
Map: Earth2

Here is my starting position:
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/civ4screenshot0002ts4-1.jpg

SAVE GAME: See ATTACHMENT! If you guys (especially beginners) want to follow the game, you should download this Save File and play with us :)

This game should be especially for people who are a bit new to Civ4. So please dont use shortcuts on your first post... that would be nice..

Do you guys have better suggestions?

Use photobucket instead of imageshack? :lol:

Use photobucket instead of imageshack? :lol:
:lol:

I'd settle in place and enjoy the bonus hammer from settling on plains hills. This way you also have another decent and propably uncontested city spot 2N of the scout. The fresh water bonus is not important in the beginning and being on the coast you can build a harbour eventually. Moai Statues might be an option for a coastal capital.

Also, whereever you settle, don't pop the hut with the scout but with your cultural borders. This way you eliminate the possibility of getting XP and thus improve the chance of getting somthing useful.

I agree with Honkoid, settle in place. Not the best capital, but it'll do. If you settle on the scout's hill you won't be able to put a city to work the wheat later, which would be a waste. 2E of the wheat would be a good site, unless scouting reveals seafood elsewhere along the coast.

Agriculture first, then either Mining or Animal Husbandry.

Yeah, settle in place, and pray that it's not an isolated start.

ROUND 1 (4000 BC), Part 1

Ok. I will settle in place, move my scout to the North and research Animal Husbandry (AH).
I founded Athens and got 42 gold from the hut :)

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/Civ4ScreenShot0006-1.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/Civ4ScreenShot0004-1.jpg

Oh look :) there is ice in the north... so I guess there will be no fish or any resources...
I will research Agriculture first as Honkoid suggested in his post (scroll down) and after that AH and I will train a worker...
My worker needs 12 turns to complete and agriculture in 9 turns...

I've played quite a bit with Pericles recently, and he has excellent synergy between his 2 traits early on. Creative gives him cheap libraries, and Philosophical gives double GPP. So I tend to look for city locations for my second and third cities that can provide 6 food off 2 tiles, so they can run 2 scientists in a size 4 city, and cranck out those Great Scientists.

I'd prefer Agriculture first. Irrigated Corn is stronger than Sheep. Animal Husbandry second is then researched a bit faster since you have both prerequesites.

ROUND 1 (4000 BC - 3880 BC), Part 2

OK. There is my next move. Scout to the West and there I found a hut. Should I take the hut OR should I wait until my borders increase OR settle there?

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/Civ4ScreenShot0007.jpghttp://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/Civ4ScreenShot0008.jpg

I would take it, if you dont mind :)
Next Suggestion: After the worker is complete, I will train 2 warriors and then a worker/scout... barbarians could appear :), Next Reasearch: AH
NEW SAVE in Attachment..

Mediocre capital imo. Hopefully you pop copper/horses/iron there to improve it.

Mediocre capital imo. Hopefully you pop copper/horses/iron there to improve it.

What is Mediocre capital imo? What do you mean by that?
Please dont use shortcuts in your first post.. that would be nice :)

What is Mediocre capital imo? What do you mean by that?
Please dont use shortcuts in your first post.. that would be nice :)

"imo" means "in my opinion" and is common internet slang, not some Civilization jargon. Basically he's saying your capital's starting position is mediocre. Not your fault, just what the game dealt. He hopes you'll discover copper, iron, or horses nearby (which are revealed when you learn bronze working, iron working, and animal husbandry respectively).

By the way, I'd recommend having your scout explore the nearby area for some good land rather than beelining out in a single direction. Feel free to pop any huts. After you get your worker and two warriors out I'd recommend making a settler, you gotta start expanding! You can cut down some nearby trees to get him out faster, and use the second warrior to escort him.

ROUND 2 (3880 BC - 3800 BC)
Alright. I moved with my scout on the HUT and got some gold. In the south there seems to be a mountain region. So now I take my Scout to the south.
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/Civ4ScreenShot0012.jpg

And thats WHAT I discover! A MARBLE and another tribal village.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/Civ4ScreenShot0013.jpg

What do you think? Should I go to the tribal village OR settle there with my next settler and get the tribal village with my culture border?

Next: I go to the tribal village with my scout and then I to the west and see whats near the cost...

I think I'll shadow later.

I'll probably open settler 2 NE on plains hill, AH -----> then make sure I have agriculture/mining. Warrior first in case there's a nearby AI I can rush with 5 warriors or so. If not he scouts then fogbust as I train a worker.

I think I'll shadow later.
Shadow is another word for settle?? Or do you mean scouting?
I'll probably open settler 2 NE on plains hill
You want build a settlement 2NE of Athens? But why so close to athens?

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/Civ4ScreenShot0008-1.jpg

The borders of athens will expand and I dont see a lot of resources in the north...
Maybe south would be better...
what do you think?

Clarification: Shadow means I'll play this myself, and post it in spoilers so you don't see it until you want to (I.E. when you're as far as the shadow spoilers say).

I will put ATHENS ITSELF 2 NE, as I like plains hill capitols for the early production boost and that still gets 3 food resources and fresh water. Of course prior to doing so the scout goes 2E to make sure that tundra is the only weak tile in the BFC.

I will put ATHENS ITSELF 2 NE, as I like plains hill capitols for the early production boost and that still gets 3 food resources and fresh water. Of course prior to doing so the scout goes 2E to make sure that tundra is the only weak tile in the BFC.

Well, I wanted to do that in the beginning... but most people said to settle on place :) now athens is where it is...
But how do the others think of building a settlement 2NE of athens?

Well, I wanted to do that in the beginning... but most people said to settle on place :) now athens is where it is...
But how do the others think of building a settlement 2NE of athens?

I don't exactly see why... for starters you're already on a plains hill and moving will cost you a turn. The only real benefit I see is an extra sheep, but you lose the ocean access and will have unworkable ocean tiles in the 2NE Athen's fat cross. (unless you can build a lighthouse and etc on a pond?)

As for your game itself, first I'd recommend grabbing every hut ASAP with a scout to stop someone else from getting it, with the exception of huts right near your capital it usually isn't worth the risk to wait.

After that, marble is a nice resource for building wonders and all those plains hills could make for a good production city but I'm worried about food. There's some wheat to the west so after getting the hut, scout out around that way for grasslands, food resources and seafood, you might find a good city spot that can use the marble while having enough food.

Afterwards you should probably follow the coast in some direction, see if you can't locate another civ. Knowing where your neighbors are lets you know where is high priority to settle (to stop them from getting it) and what can wait (and backfill later).

Settling in place was and still is the best call, imo. 2NE loses the lakes, under-rated tiles in the early game (w/lighthouse).

grab the marble fast
at early game, it is extremely important to expand to:
1. grab resources
2. block AI

also, you dont need AH until later
corn is more than enough, with some grassland farm
research writing, build library, and run scientist

focus more on BW and MC, and possible IW
iron and copper are very important strategic resources for greek
also immediately research alphabet when you encounter AI

ROUND 3 (3760 BC - 3620 BC)

The tribal village gave me some gold and I started moving with my scout to the west. Guess what I found there!!!

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/Civ4ScreenShot0014.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/Civ4ScreenShot0015.jpg

I have marked a spot. Would be this ok for a new settlement? It could be a good settlement for PRODUCTION. And that means BUILDING wonders faster and make it a great person and science city :)

BTW Buddhism has been founded in a distant land :( But Pericles is creative. So religion is not the highest priority I think :)
Agriculture is finished.
Next suggested research: AH and then mining and I will move with the scout a bit to the west and see whats there and then all the way to the east.... athens is training 2 warriors next and then a settler...

Now we have a good place to settle, so we are not in a hurry with our scout :)


also, you dont need AH until later
corn is more than enough, with some grassland farm
research writing, build library, and run scientist.
focus more on BW and MC, and possible IW
iron and copper are very important strategic resources for greek
also immediately research alphabet when you encounter AI

So next research will be AH then Writing then Mining then BW and MC
I think AH first because we don't even have a settler at the moment... we still need the 2 warriors too... so lets wait with mining a bit and research AH and Writing first...

You don't want to settle on the purple dot because then you won't be coastal and you will have a lot of weak water spaces on your fat cross... settling right on top of the east gold (where your scout is in the screenshot) would probably be better, as then you get wheat, marble, and both gold (though only one gold mine) while having ocean access.

I'm still a little worried about food though, I'm not sure how much wheat gives you but that is a lot of plains and no fresh water for irrigation. You need to move your scout west a little to see if anything good is hiding there.

And don't worry about losing the early religions (buddhism, hinduism, judaism) as the AI tends to get them and there's usually more important stuff to learn early on. If you really want to found a religion (which while helpful is hardly vital to a good game) Christianity or Islam are both usually available if you want to shoot for them later. If the oppurtunity appears you might want to try getting Confuscism or Taoism as they are both on good techs.

and what about research? Shall i do AH first? or mining?

I wouldn't say mining is top priority at the moment, your second settler is quite a while away and your worker will be kept busy at home... I'd say animal husbandry [AH] first so you can get the sheep and see if there are any horses nearby (which are very helpful both as a productive square and for military).

After AH I'd say to go for Bronze Working if you don't have that already... with all those hills/plains there's probably some copper around, there are some nice forests near the capital that could be cut, and you should switch to slavery ASAP. After that you'll probably want mining but you'll have to see where you're at.

ROUND 4 (3400 BC - 3240 BC)

Discovery of a new Civ :) The Maya.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/Civ4ScreenShot0002.jpg

Moved my scout further west (was attack by wild animals during that) and here is the current resource overview:

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/Civ4ScreenShot0008-3.jpg

warrior and AH finished :)
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/Civ4ScreenShot0010.jpg

Next decided research: Mining, because its cheap and I want to have BW when I have my second settlement in the south... then BW
Next decided units to train in athens:Warrior then settler then worker...

uhm, in my opinion mining should be main priority

you only need agriculture before your 1st worker pop out
then farm the corn, and 2 grassland while researching mining and BW
meanwhile you can build some warriors

then immediately chop for settler after finishing BW

also, getting 2nd worker before your 1st settler is kinda uncommon


but whatever, if you continue, i think you should grab the gold and marble fast
they will boost your research
if possible tech alphabet, and trade MC, IW or Mathematic with AI
you also need to tech Aesthetic/literature (or trade with AI), and try for TGL

Ha, I totally forgot mining was needed for bronze working. High priority for sure.

If you keep closed borders, your second city (in the planned location) should close off that entire peninsula for yourself later, which has some nice food resources. Now that that corner of the continent is explored, you should definitely go westward and see what you can get before the Mayans do.

Also nice on spawning horses near your capital.

ROUND 5, Part 1 (3160 BC)


also, getting 2nd worker before your 1st settler is kinda uncommon

not worker, WARRIOR... you have read it false :) I need that warrior to protect my settler...

MY research: I started with Agriculture then AH then Mining (doing now) then BW...
I did AH before mining, because I have horses and sheeps and its giving me lot production and growth for Athens :) AND I dont have a settler in the south, so I did AH first.. because no settler and Mining already researched is not a good combination...

After BW im gonna do Writing/Masonry... depends...
Now I am doing mining and the BW... like you people told me :)

I started Mining and buildung the 2 pastures for athens now and moving my scout to the east now. Have a look:

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/Civ4ScreenShot0000.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/Civ4ScreenShot0001.jpg

Next decided research: BW

After bronze working, I'm guessing that you'll probably want the wheel to start connecting your resorces. Mysticism is cheap but since you're a creative leader it isn't very important. Though you could pretty much go in whatever direction you want at this point... a lot of it depends on how aggressive you want to be.

ROUND 5, Part 2 (2880 BC)

Ok. Look at Athens now! Thats why I did AH first... because now the settler and the future units will be produced faster... in athens I am now building a mine with my worker...
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/Civ4ScreenShot0005.jpg

Finished Unit: Warrior, Next Unit: Settler then worker; Finished Improvements: 2 Pastures, Next Impr.: Mine

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/Civ4ScreenShot0003.jpg

Not such a good situation here: a bear, who is stronger than my scout and my warrior... but my scout is promoted with Hill Defense... lets hope my settler will survive that :D

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/Civ4ScreenShot0004.jpg

Yea... wheel would be a good choice...
I think writing would also be good... A culture win with pericles would be great :) I dont want to play aggressive... I want to use a lot of science and culture and have good diplomatic connections with the other civs...
Special Economy (SE) would be nice... if we use that...
If we use SE than I can invest more money into culture for a culture victory... but a culture victory has not highest priority for me..

Well I have absolutely no experience in culture victories so I can't help you there. If you're going to go pacifist though I'd say your highest priority now is to scout and then claim as much good land east before the Incas or any other neighbors get it, since you won't be fighting over it...

After that gets you as far as it can, fill up your little peninsula. Nice spots for sheep/corn and fish/cow/spice cities. Hopefully you'll have enough land to last you the game. (don't forgot to explore nearby islands at some point too)

I'm going to bed now, have fun.

you will have a bit food problem there, but it's doable

in my opinion, the best place to make GP farm is your capital
later after civil service, you can farm all tiles

settle at marble+wine, gold+wheat, fish+cow+spices, corn+sheep
so you will have 4 cities at the peninsula
then settle again somewhere else around your capital after you found currency


i would cottage the cities with food resources, and make them the future to be legendary cities
your capital as GA farm + 2 commerce cities as 3 legendary cities

imo, settle first on gold+wheat
it is the best your your economy

in my opinion, the best place to make GP farm is your capital
later after civil service, you can farm all tiles

your capital as GA farm + 2 commerce cities as 3 legendary cities


What is "GP farm" and "GA farm" ??

Here are the NEW possible starting positions:

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/Civ4ScreenShot0006i.jpg

Is that ok?

NEW SAVE: See attachment!

GP/GA farm = Great People/Great Artist farm
This LINK (http://www.civfanatics.com/civ4/reference/acronyms.php) explains some Civ acronyms you might stumble upon.

Unless something nice is hidden in the fog the city at 2 will not be more than a slow growing fishing village. When placing cities, try to calculate the surplus food they have. In the early game I almost never build cities without food ressources or flood plains around.
One exception is a city to block off the AI or an otherwise superb position, that has at least a few irrigatable grasslands.

City 1 is good. You do need to scout some more around city 2's site, though even if no other resources are revealed I would settle that spot. It's kind of crap, but will at least block off your land well (there could of course be better blocking sites further east, though - keep scouting there).

City 3 I don't like, as in its current location it prevents you from settling any more cities on that peninsula, with the exception of settling on the corn, which would be a waste (as it'd prevent you from improving the tile and having it feed a city).

I'd place city 3 2N of the sheep, and another city 1NE of the corn. But you need to fully scout the coastline to see if there's any seafood down there first after you're done with the east.

1N of the cows is another decent site for later, but top priority for now is City 1, then a city in the east to block off your rivals.

Yeah city 2 will hardly grow at all, unless there's something awesome hidden in that fog. It isn't particularly good land which is why you want that wheat to give it a fighting chance.

As for the peninsula, I agree that there's probably room for two nice cities there, one with cow/fish/spice and the other with sheep/corn, both coastal.

You really need to explore more eastward though to see what's out there.

Just a minor tip.

Don't click to move the scout 2-3 turns ahead...only go one space at a time. It results in better exploration. For clarification, this means you shouldn't be seeing any "go to" orders that have turns "2" and higher listed, like in the last screenshot of post 28.

Oh my. That's lots of plains and not many rivers. At least this could show new players the importance of food resources.

ROUND 6 (2600 BC - 2560 BC)

Ok. My settler is in place for City Nr 1.. The worker and the warrior are also on their way to this new settlement...

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/Civ4ScreenShot0013-1.jpg

SPARTA is founded.
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/Civ4ScreenShot0014-1.jpg

I send my scout to the East, thats what it looks like now :)

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/Civ4ScreenShot0015i.jpg

Next units/buildings in athens: Settler (to block AI at the East) and I don't need a worker in athens for the moment, because I can have only 4 tiles. After the settler I'll train a warrior, who will be placed SE of athens to protect athens...
Next units/buildings in sparta: Warrior then Worker...
After the warrior is finished in sparta, we will have 2 warriors. One warrior will be sent to the west, in case there are barb. or animals... the other one protecting sparta...
Next research: After BW I will research Wheel(for Roads) / Writing(for OpenBorders) / Masonry(for Marble!)

hmm so many plains are bad :(
you will probably need to chain irrigate all those plains, at least they will give +1 food after biology

hmm so many plains are bad :(
you will probably need to chain irrigate all those plains, at least they will give +1 food after biology

Yes. Many plains... BUT City Nr.2 is only for blocking AI and the marble can be connected to other cities with the help of roads! So its a good blocking position... You even can see the enemy border! So in my opinion City 2 would be a good choice...

And I will build 2 cities on the peninsula, as Glare Seethe and Joshua suggested.

What about research? No open borders at the moment -> that means no writing?

Writing is still good as Alphabet is important, plus it leads to Feudalism, which leads to Civil Service. Spreading irrigation from that freshwater pond is going to be pretty important if you want all your plains cities to grow. It'll take quite a lot of worker effort, but Civil Service is far enough in the future for you to not worry about that just yet.

Also where is the enemy border? I can't see it... I'd suggest sweeping the scout upwards for any good city sites to the east (if it isn't already claimed)... this seems like a pretty arid map though so good luck, keep an eye out for good resources.

ROUND 7 (2480 BC - 1920 BC)

In my next turns: I started with Writing, moving my scout to the North and training a warrior in Sparta. Here you also see the enemy border...

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/Civ4ScreenShot0001-1.jpg

While my scout was moving north I discovered 2 new Civs...

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/Civ4ScreenShot0002-1.jpghttp://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/Civ4ScreenShot0004-2.jpg

Now, in every city I am training workers for road building and Tile-Improvement... I already have researched: Writing then Wheel and now Masonry will be finished soon...One settler is being trained in athens... Now I need one more and then I can construct the 2 cities on the peninsula :) I am also building a library in sparta...
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/Civ4ScreenShot0000-1.jpg

I wont train any worker at the moment... cuz I have enough now I think....

Here is my next decision, based on the experienced Civ-Players :)
Units/buildings in athens: At the moment Settler (for peninsula settlement) then Library then Settler(for east settlement)
Units/buildings in sparta: At the moment Library then Settler (for peninsula settlement)
Next units/buildings in corinth: warrior...

Next research: Alphabet (tech trading) and then trying to go to Civil service (irrigate tiles) ASAP...
Next decision:Settle 2 cities on the peninsula and train WORKERS there -> improve the tiles of the cities
Move another settler to the east ASAP where we have a lot of food near the river...

Next POSSIBLE Civic:I can have SLAVERY now, should I change to Slavery??? //please comment

The map makes my eyes bleed. I really hate that terrain, even with blue marble

;7034004']The map makes my eyes bleed. I really hate that terrain, even with blue marble

lol... yea... no food... but we have 2 fish on the west cost :) that could make us a bit more happy... and there is lotsa food in the east (there is a river...)

So I have 3 possibilities now:
1. Settle in the east near the river
2. Dont settle in the east and concentrate on the cities in the south... and do research
3. Or both :)

lol... yea... no food... but we have 2 fish on the west cost :) that could make us a bit more happy... and there is lotsa food in the east (there is a river...)

So I have 3 possibilities now:
1. Settle in the east near the river
2. Dont settle in the east and concentrate on the cities in the south... and do research
3. Or both :)

If you don't settle the east river area someone else is gonna get it. The peninsula is nice but can probably wait until you've settled two or three cities in the east. (though keep an eye out for any ships carrying settlers heading that way... it's unlikely this early but if you do you'll probably have to whip an emergency settler)

Of course spreading out will induce some maintenance costs and you'll probably have to lower your science slider but it almost always pays off long term (except possibly for cities in really crappy locations like Corinth). Make sure to build those libraries, expecially in high-commerce cities like the double gold one, to help cancel out the slide.

Heh, yeah sorry, I'm giving pretty obvious advice. The round seems to be going pretty smoothly at the moment.

Just wanted to pop in seeing that you play Pericles.

Incidentally, Pericles didn't do nearly so well (as you seem to be) when I was his Zulu neighbor... :lol:

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=283011

Good luck with your game (I can't seem to open it, perhaps you're playing with patch 3.17?)

ok :) im gonna wait for a bit more advices and then make my new round...

@kazapp: Yes. Its the newest patch 3.17 :)

When you settle cities on the peninsula, I don't think you should have those newly founded cities to construct workers (they need other buildigns like granaries and libraries) like you seemed to imply. It's probably better to have more developed cities build the workers you need.

And switch to slavery when you need to (such as when preparing for war) so as to minimize slave revolts.

I know it's a little late to chime in regarding Capital placement. I would have moved the scout 1NW of the settler to check for seafood. Seeing none I would have settled the capital 1W of the northern lake. This loses the sheep but gains the corn. That means just one tech to improve both. it also gives the freshwater health bonus as well as health from a harbor once seafood is attained. Coastal also means the the lighthouse boosts the fresh water lakes.

ROUND 8 (1760 BC - 1680 BC)

Finished unit in athens: Settler. This settler will be sent to the Peninsula.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round2/Civ4ScreenShot0000.jpg

Finished tile-improvement in Corinth: Copper-Mine.
Next tile-improvement in Corinth: Quarry
Current unit: Worker, Next possible unit: Warrior

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round2/Civ4ScreenShot0001.jpg

Caesar wants to OPEN Borders. But this COULD decrease relationship with other Civs? For now I agreed with Caesar :)

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round2/Civ4ScreenShot0002.jpg

Some workers are set to the option: BUILD TRADE NETWORK (Automatically), so all my resources get connected...

Next turn I finished a research: Masonry next Alphabet.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round2/Civ4ScreenShot0003.jpg

Resource Overview: EAST of Athens.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round2/Civ4ScreenShot0004.jpg

And here you see east of Corinth the Mongolian border already...

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round2/Civ4ScreenShot0006.jpg

Finished the copper mine in corinth. Warriors will be ready in 3 turns...
Current tile-impr.: quarry

OVERVIEW:
Moving scout to the east, too see what Civs/threats there could be. And the Marble will be connected with the other cities...

Diplomatic Relations:
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round2/Civ4ScreenShot0005.jpg

Next building in athens: Library then Settler(for east settlement)
Units/buildings in sparta: At the moment Library then Settler (for peninsula settlement)
Next building in corinth: library

Current research: Alphabet (tech trading) and then trying to go to Civil service (irrigate tiles) ASAP...
Next decision:Settle 2 cities on the peninsula and build libraries and granaries and improve the tiles of the cities

Next POSSIBLE Civic: Slavery.

NEW Save!

I would get a settler out and grab the wheat, cow, copper, wine spot asap (1W of the copper). If the mongols don't have copper you can even rush him. Even the city will have about 4 peaks in it, it is still worth it and will even some nice production.

has anybody more ideas??

Maybe settle on the easter copper and fortify the crap out of the resulting town. It makes a natural choke point separating the Mongols from your heartland. Any Mongol incursion would then go through Corinth.

It won't be a great city, but it will serve a purpose.

never use automated workers at the start...

ROUND 9 (1680 BC - 1280 BC)

NEXT ROUND:

Turn 58 (1680 BC)
As you can see, there are 2 libraries being constructed. And one warrior. After that we want 3 settlers! 1 for the peninsula, 1 for the river in the East and 1 for the copper in the NE of corinth.
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/Civ4ScreenShot0009-1.jpg
Athens finishes: Library

Turn 59 (1640 BC)
Athens begins: Settler

Turn 60 (1600 BC)
Sparta finishes: Library

Turn 61 (1560 BC)
Sparta begins: Settler
Corinth begins: Settler
Thebes founded
Thebes begins: Work Boat
Athens begins: another Settler

Turn 62 (1520 BC)
In this move all cities are connected with gold and marble and grain :) Thanks to the roads...

And opening borders with some Civs... idk if its a good idea... :confused:

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/Civ4ScreenShot0010-1.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/Civ4ScreenShot0012-1.jpg

Turn 64 (1440 BC)
Scout loses to: Barbarian Warrior (0.80/2)

Turn 65 (1400 BC)
Corinth begins: Library
Athens finishes: Settler

Turn 66 (1360 BC)
Thebes's borders expand

Turn 68 (1280 BC)
I think this is going to be a good position for the new settlement!

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/Civ4ScreenShot0000-2.jpg

Cities Overview:

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/Civ4ScreenShot0001-2.jpg

BTW, also changed to a new Civic: Slavery

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/Civ4ScreenShot0011.jpg

OVERVIEW:

Athens: Settler(for east settlement, copper) next ??
Sparta: Settler (for peninsula settlement) next ??
Corinth: Library next ??

Current research: Alphabet (tech trading) and then trying to go to Civil service (irrigate tiles) ASAP...
Next decision:Settle 1 city on the peninsula, build libraries and granaries and settle 2 cities in the East (see markers on the screenshot)

Changed Civic to: Slavery.

I don't like Corinth.. surrounded by plains tiles with no food resources .. this city won't grow very much. Also, I would build the peninsula city and eastern city #1 ASAP .. Eastern city #2 would have 5 peaks in the BFC and claims copper which there is plenty of (one near Corinth and one on the peninsula) and a single source of corn. Don't found that city.

Nothing wrong with open borders as this point. You've pretty much already settled the peninsula, and if you do happen to see a settler going where you don't want it, you can just quickly close borders.

Your lands are very brown... you should probably move city site #2 northeast somewhat to get in the green, lots of green hills and forests. You might be able to snag some resources too...

See that tiny brown culture square two SW of site 1? Looks like Khan beat you to your first location.

ROUND 10 (1160 BC - 1080 BC)

Cities Overview:
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/Civ4ScreenShot0002-2.jpg

Turn 71 (1160 BC)
Found the city: Argos and training a warrior there for protection of the city.
What can I do in this situation with Argos??? Make it a culture city?
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/Civ4ScreenShot0006.jpg
Athens finishes: Settler
Thebes finishes: Work Boat

Turn 72 (1120 BC)
Athens begins: Barracks
Thebes begins: Work Boat
Started the construction of the barracks in athens.. baucause I want to train Phanlanx ASAP to protect my settlements.
Building a second workboat in thebes for the 2nd fish tile... this could be a great GP farm city :)
The only thing I am worried about is the border of Kublai Khan... he can be very dangerous.... I have to choices: WAR or Peace... lets see how the situation will develope...
Corinth finishes: Library

Turn 73 (1080 BC)
Corinth begins: Spearman
Changed the tiles of Thebes... I want more growth to get the copper tile and sheep tile... so I need population 3/4 ASAP
At #3 will be the 2nd settlement after Argos for the copper and grain...

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/Civ4ScreenShot0004-3.jpg

OVERVIEW:

Athens: Barracks next Phalanx
Sparta: Settler (for peninsula settlement) next ??
Corinth: Spearman for protection next ??
Argos: Warrior for protection next ??

Current research: Alphabet (tech trading) and then trying to go to Civil service (irrigate tiles) ASAP...
Next decision:Settle 2 cities. One on the peninsula, the other near the copper and grain. Priority: Protect the cities, tile improvement, city connection through roads...

Current Civic: Slavery.

And at the moment I have no scientists running...

I don't like that you have almost no military.. I know its early (1000BC), but Kublai could declare on you soon especially since your borders are touching.
Other than that, make sure you settle your economy before you expand like mad because 2 of your starting cities are weak and will have trouble growing - Corinth and Argos. In your case, I would have Phalanx rushed Kublai, but it's probably too late for that. On the positive side, Sparta and Thebes are excellent cities as is Athens. If I were you, I'd build some spearmen in a hurry.

ok. I will build more phalanx asap. And how should I manage my cities when training military units? should i use specialists? turn the tile-manager on and set him to production??
But what about the economy? What economy should i use? SE or normal economy??
At the moment i have no specialists running...

I think athens and thebes could be good GP farm... should I build wonders there?

And about the barracks: should I build a barracks in every city?

Yeah, you need some military. Check the Power graph, if you can. If the AI is far outstripping you they are more likely to attack.

I would have settled the copper city first, then Argos afterward. Sure, Argos is a nicer city site, but it is far from your core, which will make it very difficult to defend. Every unit stationed in Argos will be unavailable to repel a Mongol invasion through Corinth. Plus, its very existence makes such a war more likely, as it directly abuts a new Mongol city. (To make matters worse, the new Mongol city has claimed the wheat, which is half of what made Argos an attractive site in the first place.)

Get walls up in Corinth, Argos, and the new copper city. Build your military, with plenty of spears, since the Mongols have horses and will be swarming you with Keshiks.

. . . and as a rule of thumb, I generally avoid building barracks in every city. I usually designate my best non-capitol production city as my military city, put a barracks there, and have it on near-constant military production. I will also squeeze in a couple of barracks into my other decent production cities, but only use them in times of war or times of military catch-up.

ROUND 11 (1080 BC - 1000 BC)

Training a warrior in the new founded city, Argos. Building walls in Corinth. And I will choose Sparta as my military train city, because it has a lot of production.
So I will build a baracks there. A chariot in Athens, cuz idk what could be a better option.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round3/Civ4ScreenShot0000.jpg

Research Alphabet finished. Now Currency.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round3/Civ4ScreenShot0001.jpg

That means. Tech trading is possible :)

And athens is doing RESEARCH now... All the production will be converted for research...

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round3/Civ4ScreenShot0002.jpg

Is this a good idea? Or should I make athens a military city and train as much military units as possible and build a barracks there??

And the current tiles of athens...

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round3/Civ4ScreenShot0003.jpg

New city: Knossos founded. What should I build there first?

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round3/Civ4ScreenShot0004.jpg

OVERVIEW:

Athens: Research next ??
Sparta: Settler (for peninsula settlement) next ??
Corinth: Phalanx for protection next ??
Argos: Warrior for protection next ??
Knossos: nothing at the moment... waiting for suggestions...

Current research: Currency and then trying to go to Civil service (irrigate tiles) ASAP...
Next decision:Training military units. Priority: Protect the cities, tile improvement, city connection through roads...

Should I start running specialists?? I dont have specialists in any city at the moment.

Current Civic: Slavery.

You are welcome to look at the SAVE FILE below and see if you can improve my game :)

enough settlers!! You're overexpanding .. 6 cities in 1000BC is a little much and you're losing money at 40% science with 2 gold in your treasury. Convert Sparta to a pure military city and train pretty much only military units until the end of the game. You other cities need a mix infrastructure (granary, library, eventually courthouse), but they should be building some units right now as well.
In addition, your cities are all size one.. try to grow a little. Argos was an ambitious settlement and its costing a lot while contributing little.. you should not have founded it since its [rpbably constituting a large part of your maintenance costs. I must say this is a relatively poor starting location .. all plains (lack of food) and almost no forests to accelerate production.

Alright. I will make sparta a military city. Should I found the next city on the peninsula or not?

I know I need to grow the cities with population 1. But how? its only possible with Civil service...

In athens I will keep the research.
Knossos will be set to build a library (23 turns :( )

I wouldn't found any more cities until you have Code of Laws and courthouses up. I always keep in mind the "60% rule", which says you shouldn't build any more cities if you can't have positive cash flow with science set at 60%. Mind you, I break this rule all the time, but it at least gives you pause before you overspam and crash your economy.

Rather than build research in Athens, I'd military or a spy. And I'd stop working that farm north of Athens and either work the mine instead, or make another scientist specialist.

Dankok8 is right about Argos. It was too ambitious, and too far away. But . . . the die is cast.

I think you will like Sparta as the military city.

You'll be fine, crashing your economy is not a huge deal and it appears you are still researching at a reasonable rate. I would add a 2nd scientist to your capital, have one of those brand new far away cities build itself a worker. Have your capital build troops instead of research. Keshiks are dominating.

ROUND 12 (1000 BC - 925 BC)

Turn 75 (1000 BC)
This are the diplomatic relations... the Mongols are not so dangerous at the moment... I think there could be trouble with Mehmet...

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round4/Diplomaticrealtions0000.jpg

Sparta begins: Barracks
And here is the overview of sparta... I canceled the settler and starten building the barracks!

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round4/spartetile0000.jpg

Athens begins: Chariot
Athens begins: Phalanx
Athens begins: Spearman
I cancelled the research in Athens and started training units... but look at the research bar now... currency will be done in 32 turn :(

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round4/athenstile0000.jpg

Athens grows: 6

Turn 76 (975 BC)
And opening borders with the inca

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round4/Civ4ScreenShot0006.jpg

Sparta grows: 3
Argos's borders expand
Argos finishes: Warrior

Turn 77 (950 BC)
Argos begins: Worker
the borders of Argos have expanded and training a worker now :) Mehmet at the right side of argos could be dangerous...
I think, this is the best tile option for Athens now... currency is now on 18 turns :)

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round4/besttileathens0000.jpg

Athens finishes: Chariot
Corinth finishes: Walls

Turn 78 (925 BC)
Corinth begins: Phalanx


OVERVIEW:

Athens: Military and running 2 scientists
Sparta: Barracks next Phalanx/spearman
Corinth: Phalanx next military units
Argos: Warrior next ?? (library/granary)
Knossos: library

Current research: Currency and then trying to go to Civil service (irrigate tiles) ASAP...
Next decision:Training military units. Priority: Protect the cities, tile improvement, city connection through roads... preparing for war with mongols/ottoman

How does irrigating tiles work? Is it implemented automatically after the research of Civil Service??

Current Civic: Slavery.

Irrigation just allows you to connect farms if I'm not wrong. In other words, you can only build a farm away from a freshwater source if it's next to another farm. You have already overexpanded and it's hurting. No more settlers till ~1AD, k. ;)

What about religion. Should I convert to another religion if its possible?
It will increase happiness but it will decrease the relationsship with the other civs, right??

deleted message

What about religion. Should I convert to another religion if its possible?
It will increase happiness but it will decrease the relationsship with the other civs, right??

Religion is a very fickle thing. Basically what it does is form "cliques" amoung various civilizations, above all that is its primary purpose in the game, more than the happiness and culture boost, more than the money from a shrine.

If you don't want to commit diplomatic suicide, you either have to found and quickly spread an early religion to your neighbors before they get something else, or join in whatever the largest/most powerful/closest religious group that gets established.

Right now the world is divided, but its still early. Your two neighbors in particular still haven't chosen any, and I'm sure you won't want a religious penalty against them. ;) If you found or obtain a religion that you want, be sure to spread it to them first before making it your state. (but of course, it's probably best to focus on military protection rather than religion at the moment)

Hopefully they won't attack you and will both share a religion with some of the other civs, and then you can join in a (hopefully) big happy family. If this doesn't happen, I'd advise staying in paganism until free religion, no need to make yourself a bigger target. It sucks but I've done it before and its a nice way to stay out of most wars.

ROUND 13 (925 BC - 775 BC)

Turn 78 (925 BC)
Here is the current cities overview

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round13/CityOverview0000.jpg

Argos begins: Library
Here are the tiles of Argos. I changed from worker to library, because I have enough workers...

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round13/argostiles0000.jpg

Turn 79 (900 BC)
Athens begins: Barracks
Thebes grows: 2
Knossos's borders expand

Turn 80 (875 BC)
I am sending a worker to Argos, to start building a farm then the marble mine/fur...

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round13/workertoarg0000.jpg

Corinth grows: 2

Turn 81 (850 BC)
Athens finishes: Chariot
Sparta finishes: Barracks

Turn 82 (825 BC)
Sparta begins: Phalanx
Mehmet contacts me and wants to trade...
Well I tried to negotiate.... and mehmet agreed to the following deal :)

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round13/deal20000.jpg

Corinth's borders expand
Corinth finishes: Phalanx
Thebes finishes: Work Boat

Turn 83 (800 BC)
Corinth begins: Spearman
Thebes begins: Library
Thebes grows: 3

Turn 84 (775 BC)
I changed the tiles in Thebes... I think, this city could be a nice GP farm city... Production is currently not the highest prority for Thebes... thats why I chose 2 fish tiles... I will try to improve the city with building and will try to make it a GP farm city...

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round13/thebestiles0000.jpg

OVERVIEW:

Athens: Military and running 2 scientists
Sparta: training military units... currently it is on stagnation...
Corinth: training military units
Argos: library next ??
Knossos: library

Current research: Currency and then trying to go to Civil service (irrigate tiles) ASAP...
Next decision:Training military units. Priority: Protect the cities, tile improvement, city connection through roads... preparing for war with mongols/ottoman

Current Civic: Slavery.

SAVE File aviable.

what about trading techs? Did I do the right thing with mehmet?? what should I be aware of when trading techs??

Trade with least powerful and least advanced civs where possible and avoid giving away military techs that a hating AI can use to hurt you.

ROUND 14 (775 BC - 600 BC)

Turn 84 (775 BC)
Athens grows: 7
Athens finishes: Phalanx
Argos grows: 2
Knossos grows: 2

Turn 85 (750 BC)
Started improving the tiles... building a copper mine in Knossos, a sheep pasture and a camp in Argos... With the camp, I will get the fur and that means +1 happiness in all cities because of the roads... and with building a market in all cities will give me even more happiness...

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round14/tileimpargknos0000.jpg

And here is the current city overview: -1 in athens... but that should improve with the fur and the market...

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round14/cityOV0000.jpg

Rene Descartes (Great Scientist) born in Athens
Sparta finishes: Phalanx

Turn 86 (725 BC)
Sparta begins: Phalanx
My 1st GP... I will build an academy... lets hope thats a good decision :))

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round14/1GP0000.jpg

Athens finishes: Academy
I really have a food problem in corinth :( its not growing... Will irrigating farms improve that?? Are there more options to have more growth? or is it hopeless until Civil Service?

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round14/tilecorinth0000.jpg

Turn 87 (700 BC)
This are the only cities: Sparta and Corinth, which are stegnant at the moment.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round14/stegnant0000.jpg

Corinth finishes: Spearman
Thebes grows: 4

Turn 88 (675 BC)
Corinth begins: Spearman
Athens finishes: Spearman
Sparta finishes: Phalanx

Turn 89 (650 BC)
Athens begins: Phalanx
Sparta begins: Phalanx
Phalanx promoted: Woodsman I
Phalanx promoted: Woodsman I
Thebes finishes: Library
Argos grows: 3
Judaism has spread: Argos

Turn 90 (625 BC)
Thebes begins: Granary
Judaism has spread. I decided not to convert. Because I don't want to risk and I don't need a war at the moment. Lets see how the situation with the other Civs will develop and then make a decision.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round14/rel0000.jpg

Knossos grows: 3
Knossos finishes: Library

Turn 91 (600 BC)
Research begun: Code of Laws
Knossos begins: Phalanx
Currency has been researched. Now Code of Laws... Should I build as many markets as possible now?? If yes, in which cities?? in cities with the most gold??

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round14/Cur0000.jpg

Knossos begins: Granary
I decided to build a granary in Knossos... I can change this, cuz I didn't finish this turn. What should Knossos be? a production city OR should I build farms here and make it a growth city??

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round14/tilesknos0000.jpg


OVERVIEW:

Athens: Military and running 2 scientists
Sparta: training military units... currently it is on stagnation...
Corinth: training military units
Argos: library next ??
Knossos: granary?

Current research: Code of Laws and then Mathematics then Civil service (irrigate tiles)
Next decision:Training military units. Priority: Protect the cities, tile improvement, city connection through roads...

Current Civic: Slavery.

NEW SAVE aviable

I really have a food problem in corinth its not growing... Will irrigating farms improve that?? Are there more options to have more growth? or is it hopeless until Civil Service?

You can not slap down farms near this city until Civil Service (you need to chain irrigrate from some spot with fresh water, which requires Civil Service). Also, whatever farm you do put down there after Civil Service will yield only 2 food, thus making the tile food neutral (neither costing nor providing any food). You have 2 options: build a lighthouse (+1 food on water tiles) and work the water tiles for 2 coins each, or chain irrigrate the plains tiles after Civil Service for 1 hammer each tile. Once you tech Biology in the late Renaissance age, any chain irrigrated farms on these plains tiles will yield 3 food. You can also put down unirrigrated farms once Biology is in for tiles that yield 2 food (food neutral).

So, to give a more direct answer to the question: yes, there is an alternative: lighthouse.

The Inca are growing very fast... the leader of the inca uses cottage spam and other strategies...

1. What kind of strategy could I implement for a cultural victory? specialist economy? cottage spam? are there more good strategies which would be good for me?

2. and what about wonders? should I build wonders at the moment? and if yes, which one?

3. And: I can assign max. 2 GP in one city... How can I increase the number of assignments in a city?? Is it possible only with Caste System?? arent there other possiblities?

4.Should I build as many markets as possible now?? If yes, in which cities?? in cities with the most gold??

5. After Code of Laws I can build courthouses! Should I build them in every city? Or in cities with the highest maintenance? (A high maintenance is maybe -8 gold, but -2 gold isnt really high... so does it make sense to build a courthouse where you have a maintenance of -2 gold ?)

6. If I don't know what to build in a city, is it then a good idea to choose "Research" or "Wealth" ??

7. You are welcome to look at my newest save game and to answer my questions... that would be very nice of you :)

I don't know but to me It looks like a demented Europe. :)

Good going. If you have Monarchy get the Wine ASAP as they will give happiness and I think more food in that tile.

If only you can ship food...

Corinth can grow with either a lighthouse or the development of the wine tile, once you get monarchy. But as Monsterzuma noted, all of those tiles will be food neutral, which means you will have a hard time growing while working your best production tiles. Corinth might grow into a decent city in the modern era, but it's going to suck for most of history.

Just out of curiosity, why the woodsman phalanxes?

Sparta and Corinth need a lighthouse and you gotta work those water tiles to grow. Those are food poor cities and will never reach their potential as production centers since they cannot work the mines. Argos turned out a good city though. Your further expansion (not yet!!) should be westward towards those islands or eastwards on Kublai once you get cats. Good start nevertheless. 45 beakers/turn in 600BC is pretty good.

just curious what speed are you playing on?

Could somebody answer the following questions, before I continue with the next rounds?

1. What kind of strategy could I implement for a cultural victory? specialist economy? cottage spam? are there more good strategies which would be good for me?

2. and what about wonders? should I build wonders at the moment? and if yes, which one?

3. And: I can assign max. 2 GP in one city... How can I increase the number of assignments in a city?? Is it possible only with Caste System?? arent there other possiblities?

4.Should I build as many markets as possible now?? If yes, in which cities?? in cities with the most gold??

5. After Code of Laws I can build courthouses! Should I build them in every city? Or in cities with the highest maintenance? (A high maintenance is maybe -8 gold, but -2 gold isnt really high... so does it make sense to build a courthouse where you have a maintenance of -2 gold ?)

6. If I don't know what to build in a city, is it then a good idea to choose "Research" or "Wealth" ??

7. You are welcome to look at my newest save game and to answer my questions... that would be very nice of you

Can anyone try to answer this questions?

1. Here are some hints from newbie also for peaceful cutural victory:
* Select 3 cities where you concentrate your efforts. They should have food. In your map production ísn't big issue. depending on the mapsize it is good idea to have at least 3 other cities, where you can build temples (to enable special religious buildings in your main cities).
* Concentrate on diplomacy to avoid wars and build enough army to lessen the aggressive AI civics declaring war
* Hope for several religions (or found them yourself). Religious buldings are easiest to get for increasing cultural output. All religions have special building that can be build after you've build 3,6,9... temples of corresponding religion (e.g. Cathedral for Christianity). It increases 50% cultural output. So keep your borders open for missionaries to come.
* Build improvements and wonders that increase the cultural output to your main cities.
* Try to generate mainly Great Artists (in the beginning you might also other Scientists are ok) and use artists specialists in your cities.
* Following phases are typical if you're heading for fastest posible victory:
- Found/conquer sufficient number of cities (After this you there is no need to expand)
- Concentrate on Research and Economy. Cottages are most efficient after they've matured, but you can do similar things also using specialists and gain more Great Artists at the same time. Meanwhile you can try to spread all the religions you've, to all your cities and start to build temples (in cottage cities libraries and markets are 1st priority at this point though. In production cities temples can come earlier.)
- After you've build up your economy and hopefully got at least 3-4 religions. Stop research and produce wealth, change your civic to Universal Suffrage (available after Democracy or from the Pyramids) and start creating money to buy all religious buildings you still haven't got ready
- After the religious buildings put all your efforts to gaining culture (culture slider to 100%, create culture in your cities and use artist specialists).
- Spare few Great Artists to help in the end to get the weakest city to the goal.

2. If you go for cultural victory Parthenon would be helpful (you've also marble) to get more Great Persons. Great Library would also be good (you'll need Literacy) for your scientific output. Pyramids would be also be good to run either Representation/Hereditary Rule civic and later change to Universal Suffrage without Democracy. However Pyramids are expensive without stone and it might even be too late to start them.

3. There are other buildings that enable more specialists.

4. Build markets in your science/economy cities.

5. -

6. At this point of game build up your army if you can afford it, if there aren't anything else to build. Later producing Wealth or Science makes more sense.

7.-

just curious what speed are you playing on?

I am playing on normal speed.

As for question five, just use common sense. Courthouses are somewhat hammer-expensive to build so just place them in the farther cities, nearer cities would be better off building stuff you need like military units. I think a good rule of thumb would be to place them in any city that's costing you more gold than it makes, near cities won't cost much at all unless you get a nice big empire (which seems unlikely in a cultural game).

ROUND 15 (600 BC - 300 BC)

Turn 91-93/500 (600 BC)

Current strategy: Concetrate on military units until civil service., build cottages near knossos and argos and make them cottage cities. thebes and athens can be GP farm cities, after civil service do farm irrgiation to get some growth. continue producing military units in the other cities. then going for monarchy and sailing (lighthouse) and make sparta and corinth grow faster...

argos and knossos will be commerce cities as I will build cottages there... knossos will also train military units... thats why I have chosen to build a baracks there...

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round15/argosandknossos0000.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round15/cities20000.jpg

Turn 94/500 (525 BC)
Tech traded to Huayna Capac(Inca): Writing
Tech acquired (trade, lightbulb, hut, espionage): Sailing
A Quarry was built near Argos
Huayna agreed to the following deal

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round15/deal0000.jpg

Now I can build the lighthouse in corinth and sparta and make them grow a little bit...
Corinth begins: Lighthouse (9 turns)
Sparta begins: Lighthouse (7 turns)

current tiles of sparta

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round15/spartatile0000.jpg

After End Turn:
Argos finishes: Library

Turn 95/500 (500 BC)
Argos begins: Spearman (5 turns)
A Cottage was built near Knossos

After End Turn:
Athens's borders expand
Thebes grows to size 5

Turn 96/500 (475 BC)
A Cottage was built near Argos
A Cottage was built near Argos

After End Turn:
Thebes finishes: Spearman

Turn 97/500 (450 BC)

After End Turn:
Knossos finishes: Barracks

Other Player Actions:
Civics Change: Huayna Capac(Inca) from 'Paganism' to 'Organized Religion'

Turn 98/500 (425 BC)
Knossos begins: Spearman (5 turns)
A Cottage was built near Argos

Turn 99/500 (400 BC)
A Cottage was built near Knossos

After End Turn:
Thebes finishes: Spearman
Argos finishes: Spearman
Knossos grows to size 4

Other Player Actions:
Civics Change: Pacal II(Maya) from 'Paganism' to 'Organized Religion'

Turn 100/500 (375 BC)
Argos begins: Phalanx (5 turns)

After End Turn:
Athens grows to size 8
Thebes's borders expand
Argos grows to size 5

Other Player Actions:
Civics Change: Mehmed II(Ottomans) from 'Paganism' to 'Organized Religion'

Turn 101/500 (350 BC)

After End Turn:
Tech acquired (trade, lightbulb, hut, espionage): Code of Laws
Confucianism founded in Thebes
Confucianism has spread: Thebes
Euclid (Great Scientist) born in Athens

Turn 102/500 (325 BC)
Tech traded to Augustus Caesar(Rome): Writing
Tech acquired (trade, lightbulb, hut, espionage): Archery
Research begun: Mathematics (6 Turns)

As ceaser has the lowest score, I will agree to this deal

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round15/deal20000.jpg

I also didnt agree with having a new religion, cuz its to risky at the moment

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round15/norel0000.jpg

I'll make my new GP to join the city

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round15/scientist0000.jpg

After End Turn:
Sparta finishes: Lighthouse
Corinth finishes: Lighthouse
Thebes finishes: Phalanx
Knossos finishes: Spearman

Turn 103/500 (300 BC)
Thebes begins: Spearman (4 turns)
Knossos begins: Granary (9 turns)
Knossos begins: Phalanx (4 turns)
Spearman promoted: Combat I
A Farm was built near Argos

I am positioning most of my military in Knossos, corinth and Argos

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round15/armypos0000.jpg

And I am ending my round with a city overview.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j90/delta458/Civ4Pericles/round15/cityOV0000.jpg

Should I better go for monarchy now than to mathematics and civil service? cuz I dont need civil service or? If I have sailing then I can build lighthhouses which will increase the growth!

OVERVIEW:

Athens: Market and running 2 scientists, next ??
Sparta: lighthouse, next military
Corinth: lighthouse, next military
Argos: military, next maybe courthouse (if maintenance is too high)
Knossos: military, next maybe courthouse (if maintenance is too high)

Current research: Mathematics then Civil service (irrigate tiles) OR Monarchy?? Or should I cancel Mathematics and discover Monarchy ASAP for the tile in Corinth???
Next decision:Training military units. Priority: Protect the cities, get more happines (these means building markets and try to research/build culture)

Current Civic: Slavery.

I've only read the last few rounds but Mongolia would probably be my first target (closest neighbor). I would recommend getting some EP so you can see his power rating and prepare for war.