AI Settler Rush

[Intellectus]

Can someone give a solution to beating the AI settler rush?

It seems like by the Middle Ages, the AI(especially on large maps) has tons of cities and just consistenly popping out settlers like crazy and yet manages to get head in the tech race.

(This situation happened in a warlord game).

 

[Turner]

Build settlers faster than the AI.

What level are you playing on?

 

[Intellectus]

Build settlers faster than the AI.

What level are you playing on?

I said Warlord. Of course, it may as simple as building Settlers faster than the AI but it seems like they just have an endless supply of them.

I had my captial city qeued up with settlers but Mao had like thirty cities on a archpelgao map by the early middle ages.

So you pros just simply pump out the settlers like crazy. That to me seems to really dampen the game's enjoyment and it becomes all about rushing and not actually trying to cultivate the land.

 

[Turner]

Gotta have land first before you can cultivate it.

Upload a save, we can see how you're playing and make suggestions. Also, check out this link. This will give you some guides on how to increase your settler production.

 

[vmxa]

30 cities is not unreasonable on a large map at that stage. One thing that can happen is you select a large map and play with less than 12 nations. Now there is a ton of room and they will work to fill it.

You have an advantage at this level, so you should be able to out do them on all fronts. If you are not, you need to look at how you manage the empire. Typical is to not have enough workers for the number of towns and to not have enough towns.

Take care about popping out settlers from towns that are going to drop to less than size 3. Use towns that have food bonus. Get out of despotism asap.

It is better at low levels to let the capitol grown to 5 or 6 and then make settlers. Ideally you time the build so you grow enough to not drop below that 5-6 size.

The AI will often push out a settler and drop to size 1 or 2. Start another settler and sit waiting to grow large enough to allow the settler to finish. Do not do what the AI does as it is not optimal.

 

[ThinkTank]

At warlord you should be able to out-expand the AI, if you make a concentrated effort. The concept of settler factory, as explained by the link in Turner's post, is very useful for this.