Suleiman the Magnificent

[NintendoTogepi]

So, I noticed Wikipedia's FA and so I decided to create this thread...

What do you guys like of Suleiman? Good leader? Bad leader? What are some tips for playing as and against him?

[slaze]

I'm a pretty big Imperialistic fan although that seems to be the minority around here. He seems pretty straightforward: a philosophical-bulbing/settling beeline through education to gunpowder, although it would be nice to get vassalage or theocracy somehow along the way. If you can rush to liberalism and take Nationalism then it doesn't matter much as the drafted won't get the xp.

Outstanding UB. I may take it as a possible replacement for Monarchy, especially if there's alot of calendar resources around.

As far as playing against him, can't really say. Be able to deal with gunpowder, I guess.

[Iranon]

while not in my top5 list, he is a very decent leader with potential.

IMP is a great support trait to FIN (the new cities quickly become an asset rather than a liability) or IND (wonderspamming isn't as compromised by early expansion); I don't see particular synergy with PHI unless there is stone and/or marble nearby. In that case, an utterly ridiculous wonder-fueled economy should be in the cards: cheap settlers get the resources online, PHI maxes the benefits of the wonders after they are built.

[Indiansmoke]

I have become a big fan of Imp as well lately. Originaly I thought the trait was week, but as I played more multiplayer I realized the importance of fast settlers, and of course the early GG (which more or less make you aggressive as well).

Philosophical I was very fond of, I have come to like it less and less. However if there is plenty of food around it can be one of the best 3 traits in the game.

UU and UB are great, so I would say he is a top leader.

[TM Moot]

Originally Posted by Indiansmoke

UU and UB are great, so I would say he is a top leader.

Can you remind me what his UU and UB are?

(Am at work , so can't check)..

[Indiansmoke]

UU is a musketman with +25% vs. archery, melee, and mounted units.

UB is an adequet with +2 hapiness

[Bleys]

I had a pretty solid LHC game with him recently, I like that UB quite a bit. His UU got some mileage as well that game, I invaded one of my neighbors some. They make darn good garrison units though, and with Nat and Gunpowder, can be a very strong drafted army.

[Catan_Settler]

For a specialist/super-specialist economy it's hard to find a better leader than Suleiman. Early game prioritize Pyramids (most important) and the Great Wall (200% great general emergence on defense? yes please!). Run representation for most of the game, and just keep settling those great people. If you put the wall in one city (your capital is probably the best bet) and the Pyramids in a second or third city, once you get a forge there you'll be able to tune it so you pop 2-3 great engineers in the early to mid game to rush build some clutch wonders like the Parthenon (so 150% great person emergence in all cities, and you can even add pacifism later), and then some other onese depending on your chosen victory type... Meanwhile your capital is becoming an espionage and science monster with a settled spy, scotland yard, and over time (as you ramp up the number of scientist specialists) will be cranking out the great scientists for the academy and settling. If you get the Pyramids and are running rep, all those great generals you're spawning are giving you 3 free beakers. The power of this type of economy just seems to keep escalating until your capital is pumping out 500, 600, 1000 beakers per turn... Even at 0% on the research slider. Contrary to what one of the other posters said, I find imperialistic and philosophical to be an incredibly powerful combo, as long as you make sure you get the Pyramids. The other wonders are gravy, and really practically overkill... Philosophical and an early wonder or two are going to ensure you are swimming in great people which you can use to just keep powering through the tech tree and/or stealing techs from your neighbours. Suleiman kicks all kinds of butt... The UU isn't that bad (though not exactly uber) but the UB is top 5 in my opinion. Extra happiness early (and unlocked by Masonry which you need for the Pyramids and great wall play anyhow) is huge and will allow better vertical growth, which is important early on when expanding horizontally can easily tank your economy due to maintenance.

Anyways, that's my 2 cents. Suleiman is IMO the best leader for a food and specialist based economy in the game... His only competition would be Lincoln (Phi/Cha) for a warmonger game, and Pericles (Phi/Cre) for a culture win.