This is a shadow game inspired by Verto1 (http://forums.civfanatics.com/member.php?u=168912)'s Prince of the World #1: Frederick (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=335988). In his game, based on DMOC's suggestion (http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=8477406&postcount=8), he started by settling on the copper hill and pull off an axe rush on several european civs. After studying his screenshot, I did a little calculation and figured that I could actually get a much earlier axe rush and hit the neighbors hard before they even get archery. So, I gave it a try on the almost same settings except I chose to use normal speed which is my preferrence.

So here is my game, and the settings are World Civ18, Frederick, Prince/Normal on BTS 3.19 with BUG 4.0.

Also, a note here: I haven't got the habbit of taking screenshots while playing the game. However, I do keep all the autosaves in most cases. So was this game. All my screenshots except a handful ones were taken by reloading the autosaves. So, what cities were starting to build could be different from the actual game later on as i don't remember them all.

Turn 0:
Starting move, scout heads west to claim the hut and settler heads SE for the copper mine.

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pems1XcGcrCP6wEGfPw5LtFcal9VUqnaFumxpjZilc-0eKqOYv9jnGIkqnchnjfF2tWQRErSGWIwX5WpTG8lG3ro4TdYH XI-n/Civ4ScreenShot0046.jpg

Turn 1:
Build the city, start building worker, nothing much.
Research BW
However, due to huge map, i need 16 turns for BW instead of 13 or so on a standard map. This means the worker couldn't do much until BW is researched. Well, I'll leave with it. The worker and the chop are way more important in my strategy.

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pW84q_o37U9qzCk5FvmeQJtBzaZVuiW6Tod9oyR5NoQoQGq8 7cv8j7Ymp5eGkuXWFu-U1RPOy7m9E0I6uhWYoHU9SDd7QCKaF/Civ4ScreenShot0048.jpg

Turn 2:
Popped a Masonry from the hut. Scount turns to get another hut to the SE of Berlin.
http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pZk5-8JSianExiNfRUMGko7hSMZBwEgtpP8YIQbExvmm6Z1VRg_lPmT 9eY-QLhvavAvaCOsk93P6K9gITVwSFHL9GAZssCNHL/Civ4ScreenShot0050.jpg

Turn 6:
Berlin culture grows. And looking back from now I'm kind of regret I actually used the pig hill rather than the 3F1C tiles because this slowed down the research of BW 1 turn. I was thinking when I was playing. Just thought more prod was better!

And the scout popped AH from the 2nd hut. This is cool!

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1psoFsRNcjdrPS5dbX0CfbDirmw-ydWKhbJM44Z7Ip-_rlNvw-ee0Pvp-mTxqR4GpGc57NSm_z5aSR5tR2mj7XeejOPUiM2prz/Civ4ScreenShot0051.jpg

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pOI4Y8ePJAWV91JWoc7iBKFgxGp2431GEmnUp1GTi-LdJB8Iupx_nl0rPhbQIDpJm0FTg8vXFsaYIAamdThoAhUY0N_J Mj4Ql/Civ4ScreenShot0052.jpg

Turn 14:
The worker is out. And we still have 3 turns to waste. Can't build a cheap warrior, it'd turn to a useless spear guy right after the BW is researched. Another worker or settler will slow down the city growth. So I picked the Barracks, just for 3 turns. ;)

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pYS-zti6hAJJN1w4YvwqQLhVjGu7XOcsAIpX0aLIEixPLNZvZthSz-W-w-TbVCem0lefXzku5gJJNx39uzikxkC3tzOjAPAt4/Civ4ScreenShot0053.jpg

And, the scout popped yet another tech, The Wheel. This is now rather humiliating. :blush: All 3 techs were actually on my research path, not my immediate rush plan, though. But it take down the game to another easier level, I had to admit.

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pWO5g2zYGCdbA0LfO8_PaARfxOU2_Y7nFQaENcstATQgSCyA hGxFLvJccnXDBTOaJqirZ3Z3kk4fLQBwyzxT6WrIHnrlpwSvJ/Civ4ScreenShot0054.jpg

My next research plan, Fishing -> Sailing. I might have gone for AH/Masonry before Sailing if I had not been lucky with huts.

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pm65MnXk6_4CzTbxkxZ0L3YayPy3vYpQfUkUsP3vxGhWAWlw udEJRlnvdoR6ihbT6rHbsJhdhhN4NJA0Bp-GddFvlQ2g4dh-l/Civ4ScreenShot0055.jpg

Turn 16:

The turn before I got BW, I moved worker into a forest. This saves one turn of chopping.

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1ppfmMDe8UCx_FXI-w1KrybFPO8FSYr6MvRvDyGAlXzu9X7Lc7z1HGIIqXyWWTmgfzJ-d2waZ0oEyUpzINTcNcfskCRlpeTUPo/Civ4ScreenShot0056.jpg

Turn 17:

BW! Now let's talk about the business. The citizen back to pig hill again and worker started to chop. First axe expected to appear in 4 turns (4H*4 from city and 1 chop from worker every 4 turns (1 turn move in and 3 turn of chopping) for 20H is 36H for a 35H axeman).

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pKHD89IDDsjzXIaCHzcWfQvCXd-8yoTO4O_J9yNA2c8xyAx2s5835kMWFslvdREabxqNWwzikjIYg EbFfm9ov4Z75X4J8AujZ/Civ4ScreenShot0058.jpg

Turn 21:

Axeman 1
Let's wait for an another axe before we started roaming. The concern was single point of failure. The risk was more time for neighbors to get archery.

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pIQ6iW6yKuYgrVhuARqTQWTZ_dNGu8v4WnbAyEVvejcdoOk_ H9snq4nJqktH3xk-1owT870dN2oszvRkhp873JTFwI5UJc2F1/Civ4ScreenShot0059.jpg

Turn 25:

Axeman 2
Let's go!

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1p9O0ceXSKAHVFPksnT9nzksu24HzFp21ht-i28jERMyOeev66FnJ9O7QZTQxznkLTntSMxcgzs1hXVBSSvHlz grDGWsWA9ALF/Civ4ScreenShot0060.jpg

Turn 27:

Invasion of France. Let's draw the first blood from the warrior!

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1p3JgJRxrw4CwYb_xWPwPcUCR-tnmkn4KkP5gJQZeAdUZJcC86oBE2a_d4ZxkNce32DaSchjp3I3 iLLe-Z7fBbucqtVw-PTC_Q/Civ4ScreenShot0062.jpg

Turn 28:

Axeman 3
No archery from France means the fall of Paris to the all-mighty axe. A worker was captured hiding in the city together with 55 gold.

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1p4ZfJgwyZIRJEQCFAJgCPssyeRwWQ-8_ENbxy_oIO-um4kbqCVdqvDENVkc3zRQ83hZi1mlt6IHvGP-xMIUwxyLdFP2NFkvbi/Civ4ScreenShot0064.jpg

The city is still focused on pumping more axes after population rise to 2.

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pNg4DFPRMGiZohXAruoUcGGX_kk_TZLZBuF0wb-tdwae-hJnHmvVCh634Z5Z3HiSb91uAucWm_BG8KMjeLFyuK47f99eEfW Us/Civ4ScreenShot0066.jpg

Turn 32:

Invasion of Roman.

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pZyuISzVi_Gyrfzti_z3UWi5RNod5DOwa_GzlGveooF0SnDz CXCFSWzMsf8z91lXupnlkPfvObvkMwfKATI7vNe-wfbKk5Sk_/Civ4ScreenShot0067.jpg

Turn 33:

Fall of Rome, for 1 worker and 77 gold. Nice return!

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pHrMIz8bgNfY4lGS4ZHbLVY0qN-T05nT6dtFB_3mYyBsaL8plyoCpWbv3E-HHO7c3zt5fBLsIi-_44YqCj1PpWiKwDT_qYvwL/Civ4ScreenShot0070.jpg

Turn 34:

Invasion of Greece, with a single axe. The reason is, to beat the archery, and if an archer showed up the next turn. I'd just choke Alex to death by denying his way out and waiting for my axe army to arrive.

Isabella has a warrior out scouting after both Paris and Rome culture collapse. This is good and bad. The good is one less defender in the city and bad is this roaming warrior could cause trouble as it did in Verto1's game.

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pp2qEYOCphi7RbLIzil48c4hQULfzgMd1nZivuCSKWrBke-8GRWqmehDeRzGc6Ijub5dw0DsFocHHZRrNvr89LkQn5-vYQb9g/Civ4ScreenShot0071.jpg

Turn 35:

Fall of Athens, with a worker and 78 gold. :D Now I can turn my focus on Isabella and sending new axe to east.

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pqa_l6N5wqMezcuUw1nVDXyzEU-gwntsZXMJ88nxoYe4agk6pdUgQK9wA07Q3XE8FKE_ZM4VNADC8 aaJIiSb0N8hA5F5qddFG/Civ4ScreenShot0073.jpg

Turn 37:

With the worker captured from Paris joining chopping at Berlin. One of the worker started to work on the river pig for city growth.

Tech wise, after Sailing, most cities are connected due to watery routes. I should have gone for Mysticism as the SH would be a good wonder to grow all the newly conquered city back to full strength. However, in reality, I wasted a few turns in Writting before i noticed Mysticism was more urgent than the libraries. So don't be confused from the screenshots because it was taken by loading the autosaves.

Axe 4 and 5 now head NE, supposedly to rush Cathy.

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pYojRzGGc2W5z7M69u-EBfLN6J5hDzG6usMo8xl9p6WQ8caimpeanXDal3c75-mpgqsSsSKBBRtJdK2oALoN5sJIg5ncyimvr/Civ4ScreenShot0074.jpg

And, invasion of Spain

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pvyZAVcvU-4UbbjThnxqDNbURDpo2Y4tjKumLLsVAh0LrP6UwmDIB9labIJJ 3H9ZrmwOAAHiwW4gwl2XM_aqWzu5SDmD742E5/Civ4ScreenShot0075.jpg

Turn 39:

Spanish might put up a flight with 2 warriors in the city face a lone axe. Because the 2nd axe was left behind guarding Rome for the roaming warrior Isabella sent out.

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pJ7O_HHfz4FQRybLLLZcsvvp7v-8JPnUVqNXpy-pCx1KCrvPn1S-ITdpDOd2TlQT9C597Ifw_ziOuMmnwhrJf4gksI9rGLlCk/Civ4ScreenShot0076.jpg

Turn 40:

Or not. One of the warrior went out with the worker, which left only one warrior in the city. So there was the fall of Madrid with 70 gold and a holy Hindu city.

So, in 40 turns, I've sacked 4 capitals with just 3 axemen. Axe 4 and 5 turned out eventually empty handed in the east because Cathy simply showed me some archers inside her border which was enough to stop my invasion plan.

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pJGpjMOIIzfsW9YmBip3M6qNABO5_cvM0RACLUQt-v57M_uqVtijnTomw79Ufzk3To9H770zuzxA2AJqb8igjgHtKQk ScFYWJ/Civ4ScreenShot0077.jpg

Turn 50:

A quick summary time.

The 5 cities. Note that the paris is building a galley because London was still just showing warrior(s).

Tech path, after Writing, went for Alphabet.

On the diplomatic front, notice that I haven't sign OB with many civs yet. Because there were many worst enemy relations out there. I don't want to be bothered this early.

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1p5AjMjIsjmn168JoynpJt5HjKfTXTV2Ch-JhDdap8JM1UZ3ytHdQQzN75-phJkfBCsl3ibr5nzkTr4JIOCYcmsq5A90SaVQwI/Civ4ScreenShot0078.jpg

My scout survived all the way through south Asia jungle and eventually got cocky and died in the Gobi dessert. Among the old world civs only Monsa and Toku were missing. I know Monsa would eventually show up and as for the Toku guy, I don't expect anything from him, not even OB. :rolleyes:

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pdGkDPmlvSYrhbNsJ4uSbzAgC69DUXMygWaAVSQ9h90pG8jd gFnVYz9bfZgAhYS7Kyw5U6XSyNQeyLQVvzz4_0f8X-dk28LGx/Civ4ScreenShot0079.jpg

I have chopped SH in Berlin on turn earlier. A little late, but beated everybody.

And I'm building Moai Statues in Rome. Also sending 2 of the workers to Madrid to mine the silver there to improve happy cap by 1. Well, at this stage, every one counts!

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pQhQ6QPr2blyQYXhxQz4JiU6YXQV9xnwFtL_G6E2aKsfQYfo jBIOnZpJQd5piQR0IjQF7PY9-O6b4QZTSLSAACTNbVQTJUnsw/Civ4ScreenShot0081.jpg

To Be Continued.

IMO it's easiest just to warrior rush XD.

IMO it's easiest just to warrior rush XD.

TMIT, i think that's true for other european civs w/o immediate copper access. But for Fred, it seems so easy for an axe rush. Maybe you should do a video demo after you have a job and no weddings. ;)

You did an Ace job on showing me how it's done lol, very impressed. Doing the Prince of the world series is all about learning from each other so I must thank you. I will definitely tune in to see how your game develops, I'm glad you started this. :)

Nice. I'm starting to look at the strategy forums more, and I like what I see. :)

Ya, that's one of the stupid things about the earth map: AIs don't get the starting bonuses that they should (correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't an AI usually get archery as a starting tech on Prince. I am sure they do on Monarch, maybe not prince...)

Ya, that's one of the stupid things about the earth map: AIs don't get the starting bonuses that they should (correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't an AI usually get archery as a starting tech on Prince. I am sure they do on Monarch, maybe not prince...)

Free Achery is for Monarch and above. Prince is the last level that warrior rush was viable.

Turn 52:

The final invasion of the great axe era. A galley full of Norman axemen sailed accross the straight.

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pmU3gaDRRZbAWZKoP1teWmrC_tCFZOmQ2RxB4ARWdBvPZerZ sy2mbiw2Ygde2f7PkFm7tkv_YOlciMyspEM5-pA/Civ4ScreenShot0083.jpg

Turn 53:

London fell, yielding a worker and 122 gold. :D

Now that the all Europe civs except Russia are gone. I took a break and focus on improve the tiles for various cities. Well, when play peacefully, I have never be able to settle more than 3 cities by 2000BC. This is something brand new to me. And amazingly, with the combination of huge map, organized trait, the maintanance fee hasn't eat me alive yet. Since I've got the Bratain in control, I put the GLH on top priority so that I can spam more cities.

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pT6App36l7CBLExCh85Ab0_412vMEbtRY8u5w2VTr6TLqZ61 WqKf-8XXt-xRwPdm0zOZ92agWhyrxKAO18-PH7w/Civ4ScreenShot0084.jpg

Free Achery is for Monarch and above. Prince is the last level that warrior rush was viable.

Except on earth map ;)

A Wonderful World.

Turn 59:

Alphabet is researched. Mathematics next. :confused: Maybe I was looking for Construction next for the catapults for Cathy? Or just for Calendar to improve happy cap?

Anyway, time for a few tech broker. However, you don't want to just trade. I won't trade with guys who were marked as worst enemy by others. for example:

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1p1FgLIsJVD-m5K_XZXRZdFrW0ux8_mqT4vuwFuEvc8LJzp4Cr92oB7CLbMWTk L6-Kyj1DC3o4pvKLemrOxF4p5Q/Civ4ScreenShot0087.jpg


Turn 60:

Hatty showed up and asking me to convert to Hinduism. Hmmm, I have the holy city, why not? So I agreed regardless her weak military presence. And Hatty instantly become pleased.

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pnQDzkVp_EVkQQ2pYm-v6h5Vu-cp4PLLpknwo3NYbojMTBfWugpT0aPhFd-NrGCXJH3OHIDn6rDwCY_ngP-VBYA/Civ4ScreenShot0085.jpg

Turn 65:

The first GS out. Berlin looks like a good cottage capital. So why not settle all the GS there and see how much science it can generate once the Oxford is built there?

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1paUtBpcLPC9cYGbKPTffHOCK-DnWiAoNcAEhXucYko5q0P_ON5yw6Gg7dy5L1t6MooDsxc_jh5z VPhov60AHmoA/Civ4ScreenShot0093.jpg

The grand view of the German empire. Rome finished Moai Statue and Lighthouse and now works on the GLH. Madrid is chopping Mids like no tmr. Athens is now designated as military base to boost my power standing. And Berlin is now building my first settler.

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pzNzEQMGnozMXjHbRcwfh1NbbXe-Ug7CsmRqIyVEURCPP2qpe_hhn4kxpaOQnINA_flQrMFgqqEjqA W_bOicz0A/Civ4ScreenShot0095.jpg

Turn 70:

5 more turns later. Athens is building a settler to claim Asia Minor. A lone worker is building road towards there. And finally, I have run out of all the cashes I looted over the rush time. GLH and Currency, I need them badly. Did you notice I've got 7 cities now? ;)

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1p4FkpvNVsNp0N1hcoBVK6qWapzkTexp2JIw9s5OM-JISr2xhGZqAKhd4ABA_V8jDqfSj1RWJsleCbsq88NrAMYQ/Civ4ScreenShot0096.jpg

Turn 72:

The last turn tweak. Change the wheat to the undeveloped plain hill make it one turn to finish. Nail biting time.

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1p_yMSlPjeDXEzVYwWADME8g8UPsHn5H_GmLwVkQBiFWtJqZF fdI3WXmJkSz6AN3J2LQDUQ9uW8DYWaC35P_Gc6A/Civ4ScreenShot0097.jpg

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1p7U6UMcl4FB2VyMZ10fjxhRcteNI_ELNHUhU5f9DxIAiaRHO 3I1bO0gocxnOpqgoZbGcQ_r_OMUvRPE3RFde6tQ/Civ4ScreenShot0098.jpg

Turn 73:

The GLH instantly boosts the beaker from 75 to 86 with 60%, and cash flow from even to +5. And I only have one oversea city for now. That's why I'm building settler in London. And one more will be built for settling the Ireland.

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1puXNyVFKwaVdolVwoiLT-4BiseN63qivwOjtTn2DJmRLrg4-aMC0SDoZzXtITimiXgUGmwLQxreXY6UZMdy8qxg/Civ4ScreenShot0099.jpg

How many cities can you have before AD? :)

Turn 80:

City count: 10. Pushing for CoL this turn. I'm definitely in positive cash flow if working on 60%.

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pi7jPaohQP25xYr08vs8PQIBHotKNLs0IJmEZpbRxxtJwM_r bW75wTwWv7FVqmiv6r6whBkOqJLE_atn5_nhLog/Civ4ScreenShot0100.jpg

Turn 85:

Great person No. 2. Sending to Madrid for the holy city.

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1px77Gvdwr75gdiiNN8C6rL6zs8cx7JWeujIbk67OUzBNg3l3 yikVAWHojCaYSrztCw3_sLXvaGlWHzK0sNCTC7Q/Civ4ScreenShot0101.jpg

Turn 88:

Settling North Africa. An axe was sent there earlier for fog busting.

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1paTo7uh7EU4ud2EjHrcEeFLOGG5dOz-Cz_8ToQuCur8SKAeHiI8A8ubtCFKVQNQnYvlh9NQk_0EGbwtjm CSVPYg/Civ4ScreenShot0102.jpg

Turn 101:

The big picture of the known world. City count 17, 243 Beaker/Turn at 60% with -6 cash flow. Most cities are coastal to take the benifits from the GLH. The MoM is almost ready, I'm counting on it for the GAs.

City specialization: London, Paris, and Berlin are pumping GSs and later reduced to only London and Paris. Paris is building GL Madrid and the 3 Greek cities are military oriented. Rome is the Wonder city. Other cities are still growing.

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1p94odMOmUhRHjDC2B9nG41tXv8DmBSs70zyaDAg8dXwL2mO4 ueSTczQa1qnt8_arliKOy-QqhXjqghWNqYsYsYA/Civ4ScreenShot0103.jpg

Southern empire close up.
http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pBh0v4mQ9RjuGg53V2_VM2mvUjo69tm8c7vZ43nNfN_-lkHQUtksRcupKh3McMwvVjzyUgE10_ku4IWJQihembw/Civ4ScreenShot0105.jpg

Northern part
http://cid-2bb43336a46dfec9.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/.Public/earth18civ%20frederick/Civ4ScreenShot0105.jpg#resId/2BB43336A46DFEC9!437


And Hatty becomes Friendly, this is first time for me. As a result, she's willing to trade the monopoly tech to me. How nice! I don't need it for now as that could trigger her trading Feud away with other. The less people has Longbows, the better. :cool:

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pbIvE5YcfncsnN9tdOZrFraWITdvRK0uYOO5-CmeNy9ygrfb8xDtu6L3n4pRqbVVmDqlz2GnkVtg4G4rCog0kxQ/Civ4ScreenShot0107.jpg

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1p724cwzIgGdNFm3cFEvVAtT0z_RokHYW3Nl5iVCLuIjeVDCa 7_Kxh2_TWHD8NpzGljMtNae9s6smtRLTfJbf5IQ/Civ4ScreenShot0108.jpg

Turn 106:

MoM built, using the Great Artist from Music to trigger a 12 turn GA. Beaker flies.

http://uhxd8w.bay.livefilestore.com/y1pNq8t6szS14O7t5LtyCOerJQT223LyQu3vAa1OFRtrTHw2-jyzePkjlP-RFeJrJrLejg5REGVQaOllbStnMDHvA/Civ4ScreenShot0110.jpg

I did a game as the spanish on Earth, accidentally on Noble (usually a monarch player, mis-clicked and didn't notice it until I got my score at the end. No wonder it was easy...)

But yeah, I chariot rushed France/Rome, then teched to Iron Working and used chariots/axes/swords to take out the rest of Europe. I left Greece alone, built up until I got Conquistadors. With the powerhouses in Europe, I even managed to take out Alex before he got longbows. It's really strong taking out Europe early.

Higher levels it's a bit tougher, since some AIs will actually tech archery before you take them all out, but it's still a strong position.

To me, the big "bug" the early Earth rush takes advantage of is the Enforced AI Peace. No matter how exposed you are, no matter how overmatched your army is, the computer won't declare war until a certain point (I think the exact date depends on level). Now, this is fine on the Earth map. Indeed, with Europe being as packed as it is, it's kind of necessary to prevent Germany and its Scout from being steamrolled.

The trouble is that the player is under no such restriction. That's my issue with it. You're using a tactic that is expressly forbidden for the AIs. You may as well be Worldbuildering in a Modern Armor at that point. That said, it's great fun and a great training exercise for running an empire far larger than anything you should be able to acquire in, say, 1 A.D. I just don't consider it a "real" game.

All right, that was a bit curmudgeonly. You are doing a fine job of showing off an efficient rush, and it does open up a lot of interesting tactical discussion. Rant over :)

To me, the big "bug" the early Earth rush takes advantage of is the Enforced AI Peace. No matter how exposed you are, no matter how overmatched your army is, the computer won't declare war until a certain point (I think the exact date depends on level). Now, this is fine on the Earth map. Indeed, with Europe being as packed as it is, it's kind of necessary to prevent Germany and its Scout from being steamrolled.

The trouble is that the player is under no such restriction. That's my issue with it. You're using a tactic that is expressly forbidden for the AIs. You may as well be Worldbuildering in a Modern Armor at that point. That said, it's great fun and a great training exercise for running an empire far larger than anything you should be able to acquire in, say, 1 A.D. I just don't consider it a "real" game.

All right, that was a bit curmudgeonly. You are doing a fine job of showing off an efficient rush, and it does open up a lot of interesting tactical discussion. Rant over :)

Thanks for the input, :king: Neal.

I started by calculating how many axes could I produce from the start. It ended up with a huge empire I have never built so early in the game. I've been working on REXing recently and been struggling with an 10 city land locked empire early on. This game gave me some light on how the early empire can be like.

Did you say that you settled your first GS?

Did you say that you settled your first GS?

Yes. But since you asked. I'm not sure now. Maybe built academy. I'll have to check my autosaves later this evening.

Anyway, what's your suggestion?

Yes. But since you asked. I'm not sure now. Maybe built academy. I'll have to check my autosaves later this evening.

Anyway, what's your suggestion?

Building an academy for sure.

Or, if you are behind in tech on a high level (definitely not this situation though) bulbing philosophy for trade bait can work too.

I rarely settle GS's (only real situation is OCC) because an academy or bulb is almost always superior.

Building an academy for sure.

Or, if you are behind in tech on a high level (definitely not this situation though) bulbing philosophy for trade bait can work too.

I rarely settle GS's (only real situation is OCC) because an academy or bulb is almost always superior.

point taken. I like bulb, too.

but in this game, with the beakers increasing like i have never seen before. I decided not to worry about bulb, just to have some fun and to make a super science city and see how it worked out. And i definitely built the Academy if not using the first GS, it must be the 2nd. :)