$0.00 Budget?

[jc011]

i will have some money for some wonders and emergencies, but after that, i go as much science without loosing money, i will often have to change my taxes as i build improvements. A key wonder is Adam Smiths. If i build adam, i can set more to science since i have less costs. I will keep science as high as possible till i get space flight. I will lower it just enough that i can get science in 7-5. I start to stock up on money to buy my SS, if the AI is really close behind me of course. When i get plastics and super conductor, i can go lower, but i still must get fusion power, if i haven't got it already.

I will then buy my SS and be off!!

 

[The Last Conformist]

Re protection from barbarians:

I take it you guys don't believe in rapid expansion in the early game? Most of the things you mention I simply don't have when I build my second city - if I've somehow acquired writing I've certainly not built an diplomat at that point. And sending a single Phalanx with the settler simply don't help against a dozen Horsemen unless I found the city on mountain square.

As for the unlikelihood of a dozen barb Horsemen appearing out of the blue in the early game, I see it now and then on Raging Hordes (not to mention what'll happen if you modify the rules to allow for higher barbarian settings, which I've done lately).

I almost never lose cities to barbs (land or sea) later in the game, when I've got an military to speak about. Last time it happened it was 'cos the Japanese had wiped out the defenders of the city in question.

 

[starlifter]

I take it you guys don't believe in rapid expansion in the early game? Most of the things you mention I simply don't have when I build my second city - if I've somehow acquired writing I've certainly not built an diplomat at that point.

Its a matter of priorities. A single diplomat can protect 2-3 cities (if you have about 100 gold to get started bribing with). My method it to protect cities that are vulnerable. Barbs will not just come from ANYwhere. So I protect the places they might appear.

No one said anything about one city only. But you also can ignore defenses if you hav one city. A barb cannot defeat even a caravan defending your capital, if you have never founded a 2nd city. I doubt anyone acquires writing immediately, unless there was free techs to start.

As for the unlikelihood of a dozen barb Horsemen appearing out of the blue in the early game, I see it now and then on Raging Hordes (not to mention what'll happen if you modify the rules to allow for higher barbarian settings, which I've done lately).

At raging hordes, I never recall seeing a dozen barb horsemen in one place in early game. I have seen a dozen TOTAL from different parts of the world. But not out of the blue in one spot.

The key is preparation. I don't bother with useless techs like HBR, Wheel, Warrior Code, Pottery, Map Making, etc. early on. No time for a sideshow at Deity. Get Monarchy, Writing, Philosophy... get everything else thru swapping... the AI will have it when you meet.

 

[jc011]

i've seen eight horsemen come out of a hut at raging hordes.
but other times, barbarians will just pop out of nowhere. And i mean nowhere. One time, there was a 2 square lake in the middle of land, and suddenly, barbarian ships!!! they landed with 6 dragoons! How'd they get there!? :crazyeyes

 

[starlifter]

How'd they get there!?

I have not looked for a pattern, but they seem to be random, in "unpopulated" areas. A barb ship may appear from any water (but not rivers). When anyone discovers Mobile Warfare, there will be no more barb ships. All will be land barbs of one type or another.

EDIT: Maybe an Apolyton person might know if Aployton has looked into this...

 

[gurgelgnuttas]

There are four main reasons to keep about 200-3000 coins in stock:
*Avoid that your citites get bought by other civs
*Rush buying wonders/buildings that are very needed
*Paying tributes
*Keeping a buffert so your improvements don´t auto-sell in case of emergency.

ONLY if you think these reasons are enough, you should keep money unused. Otherwise, lower your taxe rate dramatically and get science/lux or buy improvements. Espexially offshore platforms must be bought in some cities (those with 1 shield only).

 

[Sodak]

Originally posted by gurgelgnuttas
There are four main reasons to keep about 200-3000 coins in stock:
...
*Paying tributes

Do you actually pay? Tribute is for collection!

(Yes, I know it's part of OCC, but otherwise?)

 

[Magnus]

You do realize the more money you have the more gold in tribute they will want.

I would only pay tribute if my capital was somehow in danger of falling, otehrwise, its WAR!

 

[Sodak]

Originally posted by Magnus
I would only pay tribute if my capital was somehow in danger of falling, otehrwise, its WAR!

Ah, that's a refreshing line to read!

Yes, I was aware that the amount of gold affects how much they demand. But I always choose war over paying tribute - even bribing back a city is usually cheaper than the demand they made, should a newly captured city be in danger.

 

[starlifter]

About Tribute (gold demanded by the AI)... personally, I never pay tribute, even for a captial because I will never lose a capital against an AI. Against a human maybe, but AI, no. I cannot recall more than a handfull of times the AI has even attacked my capital, and I don't recall losing a defense (& pop point) ever. The capital is just too important in early/mid game to lose. In a late game democracy, corruption/waste is not a problem, but I presume an empire split could be. So I defend the capital in layered defenses, and RB anything that could remotely be necessary, given the AI capabilities of the situation.

So tribute to AI=No. But on rare occasions, if I've fouled my sea barb defense up, I've been known to pay barbs a ransom to save an important (but obviously ill-defended city, particularly if a useful Wonder is there.

 

[jc011]

well well well, tributes, usually i am horribly defended and try to keep the AI from not attacking me, this is mainly because i never get Leonardo's, and my units are all old. One time, my capital was building an armor and a phalanx was defending it! my units are all old, so i will pay tributes to the civs to keep them away.

Occasionally, barbs will pop up in front of a newly founded city with no defender, i will have to pay their ransom to avoid a sack .
I hate it when this happens!

 

[gurgelgnuttas]

Paying tributes may be necessary sometimes! It´s better to lose 200gold than a good city. Since I play with mostly warriors as defense (no defense during republic/democracy) , tributes may be a way to buy time for getting an army.

 

[Magnus]

(slips into baffled Civ2 military advisor mode)

HOW CAN YOU LEAVE YOUR CITIES UNDEFENDED?????!!!!!