Hey all! I have finally started winning a large percentage of my Emperor games, so its time to move on up to Immortal! I decided to be a leader that I'm comfortable with, Joao II, and on a map setting I'm comfortable with; standard everything, 9 leaders.

So, I decided to save at 500BC and see what feedback you guys can give me. I did a lot of things I normally wouldn't do (examples being getting archery quick, whipping a lot more than I normally would and beelining pottery after I saw my capital) but it turns out everything I did helped out my game quite significantly, and I feel like I'm in a better position than I normally would be in an Emperor game! Note that it was the first start I generated, and after revealing the 2 gems north/west, I moved my capital (originally was south of the eastern corn). I worked a lot harder on my military might and diplomacy than I normally would, but I haven't been micro-ing as good as I usually do. I am currently in my 2nd expansion phase, and will build some swords and works in my main cities next (will probably whip them) to help clear jungle and to take out the barbarian cities. I now have some questions, and a couple screenshots.

1) Where should I settle my next two cities? I am 100% sure that I will put up a block city to block off Qin, but where should the second one go? I was thinking either the jungle site or the GP farm, 2 fish site.

2) Do I have enough works / am I working the correct tiles? I don't plan on whipping much anymore in my older cities, and I plan on growing the capital to the happy cap next (sword -> worker).

3) Should I be worried about Shaka? (I know.. always be worried about Shaka) I have him up to pleased, but I'm still slightly worried about a war dec. I tried to get him to dec on Tokugawa, but Aesthetics + Poly wasn't enough, so I gave it to him for free for the diplo bonus (he gave me sailing in return after I begged!)

4) What should my tech path be? I have a good beaker rate going on right now, so going Music for the GA seemed like a good idea. Should I use him for a golden age or settle him?

5) Should I rush the settler in my third city? (it's the one north west of my cap.. I have the game closed but I think it's Guimares)

On a final note, I made a big mistake by accidentally spending 7 turns manually researching Alphabet by myself. 3 of the AIs recently researched it, and I only meant to put a single turn into it to trade it for Aesthetics, but such is life.

Screenshots!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v715/ppplushies/GPPFarm.jpg
Potential GPP Farm site.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v715/ppplushies/Lisbon.jpg
My uber-capital.

Any comments or suggestions are welcome.

Your empire looks a little small for a double corn start. Especially with the double gems, I would have expanded a lot more aggressively. If the north is blocked off, I'd start settling it soon to get those cities online. Expansive workers!

Your empire looks a little small for a double corn start. Especially with the double gems, I would have expanded a lot more aggressively. If the north is blocked off, I'd start settling it soon to get those cities online. Expansive workers!

I'm on-par city-wise with the AI. Keep in mind that it is a 9 player Standard map; it's meant to be squishy.

1) Definitely block Qin with your next city. Then settle the 2fish spot and start running scientists asap.

2) No, you dont have enough workers. You need at least 3-4 more right now. Your tile micro could use a few touch ups but its not disastrous.

3) Definitely worry about Shaka. Build spears and axes in your southern cities. Continue to keep an eye out for opportunities to direct him at someone else.

4) Music sounds good. Try using binary research. It will help by allowing you to go for stuff like music quickly without investing a ton of beakers before committing at the last minute. If someone else beats you, you can abort without too much setback. I would use the GA for a goldenage when you have access to bureau/HR/OR.

5) No, I think Guimaes should be growing. If you really need a settler you can chop one out in Oporto.

I think you could have waited on Evora. It is not doing much for you and is in a blocked area. Blocking Qin is a much higher priority. Also, the placement on Coimbra (1 away from coast and crowding Shaka) is a bit questionable. It is hard to say where to settle because you have really not scouted the north at all. If its blocked off then hurry up and settle that land! Get some chariots up there asap.

Other than that I think the game looks pretty decent. Good job getting the floodplains cottaged quickly. That, plus all the commerce bonus tiles, is making your economy pretty solid. Settle the rest of the land and you will be in good shape. Good luck!

Ah, I missed the 9 civ part. Just get 6 good cities running to open up national wonders and start running over the AI with rifles, cannons, or cuirassiers. If you're not bordering Shaka, you're probably fine unless you're his worst enemy.

Ah, I missed the 9 civ part. Just get 6 good cities running to open up national wonders and start running over the AI with rifles, cannons, or cuirassiers. If you're not bordering Shaka, you're probably fine unless you're his worst enemy.

He is bordering shaka and already has -2 diplo for border tensions. I dont think the 9 civ thing is relevant here. It looks like there is tons of room to the north but its not scouted.

Ah, I do see the border looking closer at the mini-map. This is what I get for giving advice without opening the save :lol: What's the status of Shaka? If he's not at war, I'd build a small garrison in the border city just to be on the safe side. A couple of axes and archers should be enough. It'd be better if you could just outright bribe him against someone though.

Thanks for the help. Should I go something like Sword -> Worker -> Chariot -> (Chop) Worker -> (Chop) Sword in my capital? I'll try and get the plains hill mined and I'll steal back the flood plain from my other city so that my cap stops growing.

Ah, I do see the border looking closer at the mini-map. This is what I get for giving advice without opening the save :lol: What's the status of Shaka? If he's not at war, I'd build a small garrison in the border city just to be on the safe side. A couple of axes and archers should be enough. It'd be better if you could just outright bribe him against someone though.

I have a sword and 2 archers currently in one of my border cities, and I plan on building more axes. Keep in mind I am safe for another 10 turns as Shaka gave me Sailing, in which I could probably finish Music by then. Should I try and bribe Shaka into war with Music?