A Babylonian Space Guide (1.16 Regent Normal)

Granite Ridge

Chieftain
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Jul 13, 2022
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This thread is motivated by the discussion here (https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/egypt-babylonia-space-victory-suggestions?.676845/). After several attempts I think I've found a locally optimal solution. It may seem gamey at times but, if carefully executed, can allow reaching the Global Age in the 1400s. I have not finished the game yet, but in any case it should guarantee a space victory well ahead of the deadline. Any suggestion is welcome!

Overview​

My central focus in playing this game is to maximize science by all means necessary while undertake expansion as early as possible. This also entails chasing as many religions as feasible for the nice synergies between wonders of difference religions. The rough themes of each era are
  • 3000 - 900 BC: race to Writing (for library) and Philosophy (for Academy and Great Library) while founding an early city in India for Buddhist shrine & rice (which will allow you to build Dujiangyan).
  • 900 BC - 0 CE: Fend off the Persian invasion while beelining to Guilds (for Regulated Trade). Snatch Orthodoxy and Islam in Babilu while building up an army. Settle South Africa to found Catholicism in the early CEs.
  • 0 - 300 CE: Conquer Persia; use the army to take Constantinople & Athens if Rome collapsed / Greece is still around (in which cases the Byzantines will not spawn).
  • 300 - 600 CE: Develop your conquered land & beeline Heritage for Renaissance.
  • 600 CE onward: Defeat the Arabians, Turks, Mongols, and Iranians; Your tech rate will likely determine your expansion limit. With jails & Westminster in the Global Age, you should have no problem holding an empire spanning Egypt, Mecca, Eastern Africa down to Durban, Kiev, Transoxania, Southern India, and Midwestern U.S. I like to prioritize Macroeconomics for the Global Age.

The Babilu Question​

You can fit three cities in Babylonian's core which will have more than 2x Babylon's population, but the increase in core population is probably marginal. Founding Babilu on spot will allow it to monopolize on 3/4 shrines (Orthodoxy, Islam, Protestantism, Judaism is optional) and all the amazing flood plains, which synergizes nicely with Regulated Trade, Centralism, and wonders like National College, National Bank, Menlo Park, etc. With two or three cities your shrine gold and beakers will likely be scattered around, diminishing their maximum potential. Founding Babilu on spot will also give you a golden age once you clear the population & culture goals, which is not a game changer but not nothing either. (By beelining Writing and Philosophy you will all but certainly lose the first UHV.)

Religion & Wonder Planning​

I, for one, was amazed by how many religions Babylonian can found. The wonders they unlock can help you economy snowball much, much faster. At the same time, it also requires a disciplined schedule of building and switching so you don't get bogged down building fluff wonders, as well as prior planning so you will have the slot/culture to build them when they become available, especially those you will build in Babilu. A good rule of thumb is to build all wonders with global effects (Mount Athos, Sankore, etc.) outside Babilu Also note missionaries of your state religion are guaranteed to succeed.
  • Pagan Religion. You will only have slots for 3 wonders for a while, then 5. Therefore I skipped Sphinx, Pyramid, or Ishtar Gate. First built Oracle, Hanging Garden, Great Library. When culture expands build Parthenon and Flavian Amphitheater. Build a theater in Babilu ASAP for culture & artists.
  • Buddhism. The first religion you will found in Mumbai (or one N?) around Persian spawn. In my game I had an early spread of Hinduism so I switched to Buddhism once the Flavian Amphitheater is ready and built Prambanan (+25% food after growth) & Wat Preah Pisnulok (all cities +1 pop, preist +1 food) there. Babilu builds Dujiangyan after Ethics and Borobudur (priest +1 hammer, +3 priest slots) after Civil Service. If Hinduism spreads late you may want to go to Orthodoxy first.
  • Orthodoxy. Don't settle near the northern iron beforehand if you want it in Babilu. Built Mount Athos in the northern city and Monolithic Church in Parsa after conquering Persia. After this I almost exclusively run priests until the end of Renaissance.
  • Islam. Don't invade Persia beforehand if you want it in Babilu. Built La Mezquita in Babilu and Sankore elsewhere (e.g. Athens).
  • Catholicism. Founded in Durban. Build Santa Maria del Fiore in Babilu; San Marco Basilica and Versailles elsewhere. I also had some spare production so built Sistine Chapel as well.
  • Protestantism. Researching Academia will found it in Babilu since you have 0 city in its historical area. You will get ~ 1000 gold + a shrine for free. Built Bourse in Babylu, Saint Thomas Church & Oxford elsewhere (probably outside Iran).
  • Switch to Islam again, simply because Image of the World Square is awesome in Babilu! You can build Taj Mahal any time you want; no one is going to beat you to it anyways.
  • Secularism. Like... whatever you want. Just maybe don't build fluff ones in Babilu. I like to have Bourse, Louvre, Hermitage, Menlo Park, Metropolitan, and Empire State Building along with National College+Monument+Bank in Babilu by Global Age. Maybe LHC and something else later?
  • I used engineers to rush Bell Rock & Westminster.

More details coming soon...

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Okay...wow. How are you getting such fast research? This seems insane.
 
You seems to go to space before anyone starts Industrial Revolution.
 
Anyone else tried this? Looks interesting but you get a lot of plates spinning between wonders and conquest, and getting the timing right with techs.
 
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