The ultimate start topic

[DiRectum]

Well since a good start is crucial in higher difficulty levels, I' ll ask everyone to post their starting tactis (especially for higher difficulty levels). Don't know if there already is a topic like this...If so I appoligize.

This is my starting tactic.
I always invent argiculture first. Then I usually try to get slavery as soon as possible, so i can cut down forrests. By the time I reach that tech, I ussually have produced a worker, a few warriors (to protect my future citys) and a granery. From then on I start creating a settler, while chopping forrests. If you do it before you can chop forrests, you'll end up losing a lot of growth in the beginning. I usually create two settlers with my capital and then start with the stonehenge (important for expanding the borders of your future city and getting more forrests outside your terretory)

Every new city you build should, should create a worker first (for chopping forrests) and then a settler (or two) (and perhaps a warrior for protection of your settler). Don't chop al the forrest at the start, save some for future wonders. Since I already have the stonhenge at that time, i dont need to build obelisks.

After I have invented Bronzeworking I ussually go for metalcasting (for the forge) or try to reach the alfabet (so you can trade techs). I ussualy do the alfabet first, because since the way to that tech also unlocks the liberary (which acclerates ur sience output). When I reach the "metalcasting & alfabet"-milestone, I ussualy try to trading the cheaper techs (that lead to monarchy) with other civs.

When I unlock the liberary, I usually build them asap in all cities, since sience is the key in keeping pace with your oppenents.


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Not finished yet, I'll add the missing parts tomorrow.
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[Grimz101]

i either play gandhi on the small maps for quick expansion and wonders, or the industrial, financel guy for fast non stop cottage spamming expansion .

Gandhi: go straight for bronze working, get worker, got worker chop 2nd worker with 1st.
Now research mystisum for stonehenge but india starts with it so go for mansonary,
chop settler with two workers,
chop stonehenge,
chop settler,
chop pyramids, by now i normally run out of forests on capital lol, and might spend 1 forest on two warriors if i have barbs on.
research depends on enviroment now, usually pick up improvement techs, then either go for iron working (if lots of jungles) or beeline for litriture for great libary in my gp city . rest of cities get workers chopped, and settlers, till i cant expand no more, thats why i only do gandhi on small map, for wonders and to take a big chunk of a small map .
depending on the difficulty i might go for oracle, if its on monarch above, you can get oracle but u will lose pyramids .. and in the long run pyramids is better.
if im china guy i do same really, except little slow expansion since i go crazy with cottages so i can actually afford all this expansion

[alexti2]

I'm pretty sure there is no single optimal starting strategy on high difficulties. It depends on circumstances. One is if you expect to have enough room to found second city right away, if you need a galley to do that, or if you plan to take your second city from the opponent. Then, depending on the resources you have around, your tech strategy will have to adapt to that. Civ you play also matters.

[cleverhandle]

Your description reflects an incredibly rigid mindset about openings, OP. You need to consider your civ and your circumstances if you want effective starts at higher levels. You're orders of magnitude away from the kind of flexibility you'll need at the moment.