Some advice on current game (Emperor)

[Kalmah]

This is my first game on emperor and I'd like some advice on what I should do next. I'm at a bit of a crossroad between beelining for artillery or scientific theory. I'm aiming for a SV as that's what I'm most comfortable with.

I know that science > everything but with Atilla close and fairing pretty well I don't know if I feel comfortable just sitting back and teching away (especially as my growth has been pretty crap and I don't have huge science potential). Getting artillery first will allow me to take him out as well as Isabella and establish my religion even further.

Anyway here's the current situation:


(Link to larger version)


http://i.imgur.com/WbWbQyV.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/yHkGg6R.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/ccCvPAi.jpg

I'm also eyeing off this location here for another city (settling on the jungle hill next to the French scout). This will completely close off Theodora while grabbing another two luxes. The only problem I see is that it opens me up to the Huns and with Budapest in the way sending reinforcements will be a pain.


http://i.imgur.com/dlnuSx9.jpg

I'm not planning on finishing the piety tree. I started this game about two months ago back before I learned how useless it is and I've been bogged down with uni which is why I'm just getting around to this now. Planning on finishing rationalism then freedom.

What do you guys think?

 

[FrostK]

I just hope this is not standard speed - smth slower, what I never played, so its a bit hard for me to analyze screens...

0. 3 your cities are coastal - make internal sea trade routes asap.
1. First thing u need is to build universities in all cities if not yet. I dont recommened founding new city.
2. I recommend to tech: Machinery->Printing Press->Astronomy->Scientific Theory/Industrialization.
Better dont build Sicstine, u can start small wonder for hammers [Iron works?-)] in 7 turns, then try build Pisa and mb found World Congress. Then build Observatories.
3. In your position several crossbowmens should be enough for def.
4. If u want SV, suggest World Fair in world congress and every1 will love u. Do not go war in this case. If u want freedom, go for Radio directly after Scientific Theory, u do not in fact need so much factories in all cities.
5. U can go domination, teching Artillery afterwards. To do it smarter: after city builds factory and public school, start building canons. After cap finishes public shool, u can burn scientists. Also u can take Artillery itself with Newton University. Freedom is very weak for conquering, u should select smth else and take smiles.

 

[Kalmah]

This is on epic speed.

I've already built universities in my core cities so I'm focusing workshops now to up production. Can't remember if Constantinople has a university or not but I might just buy it anyway.

I wasn't sure on Sistine Chapel either. I feel like my culture sucks and by wasting 3 early policies on piety I want to kick out some extra culture to catch up and push through rationalism quicker. I was the first to acoustics/Renaissance so there's no danger of losing it out to anyone else. The cultural city states have hardly had quests out either that I can complete to supplement my lack of culture.

 

[Kalmah]

Any other opinions on what I should do next?

 

[Stellarnight]

I was thinking of letting the Byzantium settler settle some random city and then sweeping Adrianople. No need to settle new city. With that captured, you have a pretty good position flanked by the CS in the east and sea from the other flanks. Attila would get bog down in the east.

Get some food internal trade routes up, get observatories, put specialists in Universities and food focus all your cities. Put farms around Constantinople.

 

[Moriarte]

I think it's a bit too late to go after them, much better to tech away with what you have. If you don't feel safe, ally two city states to the east.

Or, get crossbows and go hunting east. No need for a huge detour to dynamite, if you aim for SV.

 

[Kalmah]

Thanks for the advice.

I forgot to mention that I have a great engineer that I can use on a wonder. I was thinking of using it on the porcelain tower (got quite a few friends and potential for RAs). However I suspect that I'll be first to architecture and as I'm building ironworks atm in my capital I should be able to complete it quickly so it might be a waste to use it on that.