All Leader Catastrophe 1 - Stalin

[michmbk]

I wouldn't worry about the copper at this point - I'd rather tech AH and see if you have horses nearby. Then you could think about chariots (although it'll be getting pretty late for them), or even better, HAs, which will mop the floor with prince AIs (including holkans).

Pacal is relatively easy to kill almost anytime, as he never builds enough units. I often prefer killing him a little later so he can build me some wonders first. You do look fairly boxed in, so I'd really think about trying to claim some land using HAs. You can settle 3 cities and start the attack later with about 10 HAs - as long as you prioritize pillaging AI metal early on, you can easily knock out 2-3 AI with just HAs.

If you don't have horse, then I'd rather rush out settlers and claim land - get the corn and pig as fast as possible, and then you can backfill a couple sites in between. It looks like it will be tough to get more than 6 cities without war, so you want to claim them as fast as possible.

I may try to shadow this later on for the fun of it.

 

[yatta77]

@OP: uhm... I personally wouldn't bother too much about that copper right now.

It is sad that you miss calculated the first city position. If you ask me, IMO settle a second city to grab that grain and/or sheep and/or possible seafood and/or pig sounds a good enough deal now, maybe grabbing also few flood plains in CFC if possible; this way you also include a bit of land into your cultural borders already.

Research animal husbandry is also a good call IMO: you have animal tiles to work close to your borders already, and it's probably me, but I rank horse archers way better than axes or swords (even if UU), and I would never trade horse for copper or iron (having just 1 I mean) going aggressive; so, if revealing horse near, if you really wish to go aggressive, just beeline horseback riding and conquer whatever you wish. But again, this is just my silly opinion, you might want to ask better advice to stronger players than I am.

Cheers, and good luck with your game!

Edit: I just realized the post above is about the same. Sorry, I missed it since it was in the next page, while I was replying to the OP last post in the previous one.

You will lose the copper as soon as her radius hits 3 from her religion.
Research AH and IW to come up with other options.
If, you have a Horse resourse, that will help vs some of them, but, you Really Need Iron.
Chariots won't do well vs Mayan Holkans.

I too preferred the SIP option.
I don't like to give up freshwater access for my capitol, nor gain Ocean tiles.