Martin Alvito
Real men play SMAC
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2010
- Messages
- 2,332
For the most part, BNW has killed off purely vertical openings in Deity play. While the computer no longer has the ability to spam a ton of cities, the reduced availability of early 
precludes us from purchasing multiple Settlers upon the completion of the NC. With most civs needing upwards of 60 turns to build the NC, on Deity the good land is generally taken by the time Settlers can be produced and planted.
With that said, trading early luxuries for GPT isn't that big of a disadvantage if we're planning to spend the proceeds many turns later. If we can get the NC done early enough, we can trade luxuries for GPT and still get quality dirt before the second wave of AI Settlers hits. It turns out that there's only one good way to accomplish that in the expansion: Babylon.
The concept is pretty straightforward: use the early Academy to accelerate Philosophy by about ten turns, buy a Settler and plunk it down the turn the NC completes, and build 1-2 more Settlers with
immediately afterward. Stealing a Worker from a city-state is highly recommended, as we aren't buying one. The hard built one comes out a little late, but that isn't a big deal since luxury techs are delayed anyway due to the Writing beeline.
Tech order is as follows: Pottery -> Writing -> (Mining/Bronze Working) -> Calendar -> Philosophy -> Civil Service/Theology beelines -> Education
Mining is usually a necessity before Philosophy, rather than after, to hook up luxuries and push NC completion. Bronze Working also may be necessary in a Jungle start, although at that point I think a more horizontal approach is usually wise.
Standard build order:
Scout -> Scout -> Shrine -> Worker -> Library -> NC
If you get some crazy 3+ Wheat/Deer/Banana start, you can always pre-build the Worker after the first Scout, then drop the Granary and the Shrine in once Pottery completes. Strong starts also usually permit working the Granary in between the Worker and Library.
Social policy ordering is up to you. I'd recommend Tradition -> Legalism -> Landed Elite -> Aristocracy -> Monarchy -> Oligarchy, but you can go Liberty if the dirt dictates a Wonder and you think you can get the tech and SPs in time. The Babs are probably the worst civ to try to dabble in multiple trees with due to the accelerated Renaissance, so I can't really recommend a hybrid Liberty/Tradition approach.
The plan after the NC is also variable. The Oracle is a strong build if you think you can finish it and aren't worried about neighbors. In a more threatened position, some Bowmen are generally indicated. Caravans are also a good move at this point; with Babylon I find they tend to be better off sending
to satellite cities early on. The one downside of discovering early techs rapidly is the decrease in 
generation from international trade routes. Finally, you're going to need some more Workers for the satellites.
I tend to go Granary -> Library in the secondary cities to be best prepared for when Education hits. Workers can be squeezed into that build order, but they're generally best sent from the capital because the satellites are so slow to build things early on.
In any event, you should find yourself with a solid empire and early Education at the end of all this. That's not as strong as it used to be since the Caravans are such a leveler for the more backward sides, but it still makes for a better early position than you can achieve with most civs. If you want to play a game where retro strategies still work in this expansion, this is the way to do it.
precludes us from purchasing multiple Settlers upon the completion of the NC. With most civs needing upwards of 60 turns to build the NC, on Deity the good land is generally taken by the time Settlers can be produced and planted.With that said, trading early luxuries for GPT isn't that big of a disadvantage if we're planning to spend the proceeds many turns later. If we can get the NC done early enough, we can trade luxuries for GPT and still get quality dirt before the second wave of AI Settlers hits. It turns out that there's only one good way to accomplish that in the expansion: Babylon.
The concept is pretty straightforward: use the early Academy to accelerate Philosophy by about ten turns, buy a Settler and plunk it down the turn the NC completes, and build 1-2 more Settlers with
immediately afterward. Stealing a Worker from a city-state is highly recommended, as we aren't buying one. The hard built one comes out a little late, but that isn't a big deal since luxury techs are delayed anyway due to the Writing beeline.Tech order is as follows: Pottery -> Writing -> (Mining/Bronze Working) -> Calendar -> Philosophy -> Civil Service/Theology beelines -> Education
Mining is usually a necessity before Philosophy, rather than after, to hook up luxuries and push NC completion. Bronze Working also may be necessary in a Jungle start, although at that point I think a more horizontal approach is usually wise.
Standard build order:
Scout -> Scout -> Shrine -> Worker -> Library -> NC
If you get some crazy 3+ Wheat/Deer/Banana start, you can always pre-build the Worker after the first Scout, then drop the Granary and the Shrine in once Pottery completes. Strong
starts also usually permit working the Granary in between the Worker and Library.Social policy ordering is up to you. I'd recommend Tradition -> Legalism -> Landed Elite -> Aristocracy -> Monarchy -> Oligarchy, but you can go Liberty if the dirt dictates a Wonder and you think you can get the tech and SPs in time. The Babs are probably the worst civ to try to dabble in multiple trees with due to the accelerated Renaissance, so I can't really recommend a hybrid Liberty/Tradition approach.
The plan after the NC is also variable. The Oracle is a strong build if you think you can finish it and aren't worried about neighbors. In a more threatened position, some Bowmen are generally indicated. Caravans are also a good move at this point; with Babylon I find they tend to be better off sending
to satellite cities early on. The one downside of discovering early techs rapidly is the decrease in generation from international trade routes. Finally, you're going to need some more Workers for the satellites.I tend to go Granary -> Library in the secondary cities to be best prepared for when Education hits. Workers can be squeezed into that build order, but they're generally best sent from the capital because the satellites are so slow to build things early on.
In any event, you should find yourself with a solid empire and early Education at the end of all this. That's not as strong as it used to be since the Caravans are such a
leveler for the more backward sides, but it still makes for a better early position than you can achieve with most civs. If you want to play a game where retro strategies still work in this expansion, this is the way to do it.
nice post.. I just wonder.. how do you manage to spam those academis ? can you give me some tips ? Big multiplayer game with my friends this weekend and I need to practice 
