Korea Strategy

I bought the Korea/wonders of the ancient world DLC, because of the steam sale. I want to know how to take full use of Korea's UUs and UA. I'm probably going to go for a science vic with them so I want to know the startegy for a science victory with Korea. I'll be playing on continents, probably a standard size.

Which level are you playing? As long as it's not Deity or Immortal my thread should be able to help you. Basically as Korea, Seoul (your capital) needs to build the science wonders and buildings in order to get the beaker boost from the UA. This includes library or GL (I highly recommend this if below the two hardest levels), NC, university, observatory, Oxford, public school and research lab. In addition you have to grab PT the beaker boost from those science buildings works exactly like an RA so PT will increase it by 50%.

Hence capital start ideally should be beside a mountain for the observatory.

Don't worry too much about the UUs, just build them when you finally research Physics and Astronomy. You should be able to reach them very fast if you did as many RAs as possible, building the key buildings/wonders in Seoul. Fill in as many specialist slots as possible. For CS allies maritime is the best for supporting specialists and growth.

i'm playing on king

Korea: Every time you build a science building in your capital, you get the equalivent of an RA boost.
So similar to RAs, place a queue list when your about to finish the library.

This also means you should build the regular library in your capital. If you build the Great Library do it after the regular library completes (or as an alternative build the great one in your Liberty induced settler city.)

Next, the science boost applies to all specialists, so your not locked in to just scientists (like Babylon). So fill all spots if your city is large enough.
After the standard Liberty tree first, Tradition makes a good second tree for Korea for that growth. (With the standard interupt the tree for base Rationalism right after use use PT to bulb Astronomy. With the standard free GE from either HS or Liberty.)

As to your UUS:

1. The first one is a better version of the ranged sieged weapon it replaces. Standard tactics apply there. (On defense place inside your city and in other hexes the enemy can't live long enough to attack into.)

2. As to the Turtle; personally I wouldn't built it at all; it doesn't have ocean ability that the Caravel it replaces has. And I've never yet seen the AI build an Iron Clad so you can't even build one for the achievement.

Oh, and Korea is like playing a full difficulty level lower compared to most civs, I wouldn't worry so much about re-rolling for the perfect start of on a river touching a mountain with them.

About GL, you can't build it in any other city than capital aka Seoul, as it will not grant a beaker boost. GL in Seoul essentially grants a double boost, on top of the free tech, as it comes with the free library which also grants a beaker boost.

Ah yes, remember to queue your tech research before the key buildings complete, just like an RA.

On continents you'll need to send a scout (turtle ship can't enter deep oceans) to explore the other continent upon researching Astronomy, so make sure you have a friendly beach territory to embark.

Early on when you're building settlers, it's not a bad idea to just have 1 or 2 unemployed people working in your cities because the UA will count them as specialists and give +2 science for each, which can help getting some early techs a few turns faster. But that's really only if you don't have adequate production tiles to work during the early stages of the game.

Also, keep in mind that the research boost works exactly the same as regular research agreements, so if you can, it's better to wait building universities until porcelain tower is built and you've teched to renaissance era for the full 100%.

Korea is OK, but I prefer Babylon. Korea may be able to produce more raw beakers especially if you follow advice given above about putting every science boosting building in Seoul.

The reason I prefer Babylon is Seoul's two unique units come in the medieval age or even later. Whereas Babylon's two more modest bonuses are available very quickly. Some AI Civs and some warmonger people will attack you early and Babylon naturally lends itself to a defensive start. You basically research Archery for fun and better archers then probably Writing if not Philosophy then you're away to the races with science.

It isn't that hard to get the tech that lets you build city walls because if you are following a peaceful builder strategy you'll want roads, mines, plantations, and all manner of city improvements. If you're Babylon and start on a little tiny island, you might bee-line Optics. I seem to get a lot of random island starts from CiV so after researching whatever tech I need to access my nearest luxury resource I tend to bee-line Optics frequently.

Korea can still be fun to play, but given my now years of experience at Civ I'm pretty set in my ways as a peaceful builder and Babylon is a safer pick, especially on the higher difficulties.

Safety first. ;-)