J@ckRB
Chieftain
Well, to find a delay-BW friendly map, we will need to find a map which has 1) low amounts of forests (+ few hills fore mining production) 2) low food (where slavery is inefficient) and 3) no near neighbours/peaceful neighbours, because you will only have archery to rely on for defense.
Of course, even if maps are found (which they will), the problem is, where is the line drawn between BW advantageous early and BW disadvantageous early? There will be a 'shaded' area were both options are viable, but general clear distinctions will be needed to show when this strategy is better/worse than early/early-ish BW. And lastly, specifically found delay-BW maps will probably need to be played with the traditional BW just to compare differences, to nail down whether this is a viable strategy. I reckon it is, but my opinion holds pretty much 0 value considering I play at a very low level (noble-prince).
Surely the best way forward is what Penopat said, play maps, varying difficulty, compare the different methods, collect data, slowly grind out general rules of when to avoid BW. At the moment arguments are being thrown around achieving nothing.
Brennus.Quigley at least deserves credit for thinking whether such a play was possible on a minority of maps. If this strategy proves viable, then it's viable, if it's not, it's not. It's just that, really, the only way to build data to prove that this is viable by playing maps. Seriously. Do it. Someone fire off Mapfinder now.
Of course, even if maps are found (which they will), the problem is, where is the line drawn between BW advantageous early and BW disadvantageous early? There will be a 'shaded' area were both options are viable, but general clear distinctions will be needed to show when this strategy is better/worse than early/early-ish BW. And lastly, specifically found delay-BW maps will probably need to be played with the traditional BW just to compare differences, to nail down whether this is a viable strategy. I reckon it is, but my opinion holds pretty much 0 value considering I play at a very low level (noble-prince).
Surely the best way forward is what Penopat said, play maps, varying difficulty, compare the different methods, collect data, slowly grind out general rules of when to avoid BW. At the moment arguments are being thrown around achieving nothing.
Brennus.Quigley at least deserves credit for thinking whether such a play was possible on a minority of maps. If this strategy proves viable, then it's viable, if it's not, it's not. It's just that, really, the only way to build data to prove that this is viable by playing maps. Seriously. Do it. Someone fire off Mapfinder now.