Alternative strategies for Civs

[mikebiazzo]

Hi guys:

I want to speak about Spain and their UA, who seems be forgotten for everyone. “Treasure fleets” gives extra yields to every trade with cities in other continent than the original: +1 food and production for their own, and +3 gold for foreign cities. So, we are going to assume Spain has a continent start blast and most of their cities are going to be in other continents.

If we have trade routes the new cities can start with 2 extra food and production, which is fantastic for them and that’s also means we can use our economic slot for another policy like “God kings” or “Caravansaries”, earning +2 gold for every trade route. We can also take “Urban ´planning” to maximize the production boost getting +3 production each new city.

That means, we have to get the more trade routes we can to take advantage of our strategy. Where are they? Well, we have the first with “Foreign trade” and the others we have to gain it ourselves building the most Commercial hubs and Harbors we could. Also, I think we should focus building The colossus to, who grants a new trade unit and, if it’s possible, winning the race for Zhang Qian, great merchant who also grants one more in Classical era.

So, instead of focus in religion (which we can also acquire) going down in the civic tree, I recommend going up to reach “Exploration” and Merchant republic which is going to give us +2 trade routes and build the Mision. It’s a pitty that it’s so bad… +2 faith and +1 science, but only if you work it: compare that with Madrassa it’s a shame. But well, that’s another topic.

What do you think about the strategy?

 

[El Castellano]

I had thought to use a similar strategy with Spain.

In addition to getting the maximum performance with the internal routes, I had thought of using the advantage of Felipe to defend me the victories of domination and religion (more attack force against other religions (religious and military combat), in addition to the second load inquisitor (religious unity defensive)).

I would build missions in the intercontinental cities and lift them to the maximum bonus, I seem to have +1 faith of base and the maximum bonus is +3 faith and +1 science.

So I would go to get a religion as soon as possible and get Jesuit education (build scientific and cultural buildings with faith), to later go for a cultural or scientific victory.

 

[mzprox]

Too much luck about the continent borders.. a border can be right next to the capital or really separated by an ocean. I don1t like civs which are very much luck dependent. I don't think something like "continent starting bias" is exists.

 

[beorn]

Too much luck about the continent borders.. a border can be right next to the capital or really separated by an ocean. I don1t like civs which are very much luck dependent. I don't think something like "continent starting bias" is exists.

Well, that is true if you are selecting your strategy before starting the game (or before exploring). But I think that they are designing the game with an eye towards, as they say, playing the map. It's a good option to pursue, if the map looks promising for it.

 

[mikebiazzo]

Well, like they said, this strategy is based in that particular case and i don't think it's going to be so strange to has this conditions. It's interesting to realice that Spain has other good ways to play and win.

 

[Al Bundy]

It's true. I think Spain is not well balanced: mission appears mid game and give a max. +2 faith, +1 science. What can you do with +1 science in mid game? Nothing. Also, there is something odd about that +4 combat bonus vs other religions. Why not +5? All combat bonuses I see are +5 or +7. Maybe it has its own logic, but I don't get it.

For me, strategy will depend on how the game develops. In the case of Spain, I think that gold will come easily by itself. I would be centered on boosting faith and production.

 

[Lucius_]

Also, there is something odd about that +4 combat bonus vs other religions. Why not +5? All combat bonuses I see are +5 or +7. Maybe it has its own logic, but I don't get it.

Oligarchy provides a +4 combat bonus.

 

[God of Kings]

Too much luck about the continent borders.. a border can be right next to the capital or really separated by an ocean. I don1t like civs which are very much luck dependent. I don't think something like "continent starting bias" is exists.

One of the Firaxis livestreams featured a Spain game in which Madrid is founded right on the continental boundary.

 

[Stilgar08]

The trade Bonus is more for representing colonial times so a continental bias isn't needed. I even hope it will be harder on the final mapscripts to get to another continent if it's not a pangea.
Still a good strategy if it fits the circumstances...

 

[Kouvb593kdnuewnd]

Mission gets an additional +2 faith if on another continent and it gets an additional 2 science after the national heritage civic is researched so it can give up to 3 faith and 3 science.

 

[El Castellano]

I'm already picturing to Spain send the first "Mission" to Mars.

 

[Kouvb593kdnuewnd]

If Spain use the religious war card they get +8 combat strength vs other religions which is pretty nice.

Mercantilism is a pretty good civic to get early as Spain. If you are Spain you get both fleets and armadas at mercantilism and triangular trade give +4 gold and +1 faith for all trade routes no matter if they are international or not which is very nice for any trade focused empire.

 

[mikebiazzo]

Mission gets an additional +2 faith if on another continent and it gets an additional 2 science after the national heritage civic is researched so it can give up to 3 faith and 3 science.

Yes, but the +2 of National heritage come at the end of the civic tree so i think it's not very useful. I like all the abilities of Spain and i think it's a civ very versatile but it's also right that the Mision it's a poorly improvement, coming to late and not giving powerful bonuses (if it was +3 maybe...). Say that, most of the uniques improvements have the same problem because they need citizens to work them, contrary to Unique buildings or districts.

And, i don't remember what gameplay, but i also saw Spain starting near the border of two continents in a pangea map.

 

[Al Bundy]

Oligarchy provides a +4 combat bonus.

I was talking about Civ's bonuses, not policies. Thank you though.

 

[KrikkitTwo]

Mission gets an additional +2 faith if on another continent and it gets an additional 2 science after the national heritage civic is researched so it can give up to 3 faith and 3 science.

is that +2 science for all missions or only the ones adjacent to a campus?

 

[Kouvb593kdnuewnd]

I think it is +2 for all missions.

Yes, but the +2 of National heritage come at the end of the civic tree so i think it's not very useful. I like all the abilities of Spain and i think it's a civ very versatile but it's also right that the Mision it's a poorly improvement, coming to late and not giving powerful bonuses (if it was +3 maybe...). Say that, most of the uniques improvements have the same problem because they need citizens to work them, contrary to Unique buildings or districts.

Compared to a specialist which give +2 of a specific resource +3 faith and +3 science is really good, the same as 3 specialist. Given that there are little interest in growing cities above pop 25 or so because more pop wont give any more districts. While population do give minor science and culture the cost of growing your population is not worth these minor yields and given that a mission with 1 citizen do the same work as 3 specialist and also get the resources from the tile as well a mission is superior to a farm after you have maxed your district cap.

 

[KrikkitTwo]

I think it is +2 for all missions.

very nice

 

[mikebiazzo]

Compared to a specialist which give +2 of a specific resource +3 faith and +3 science is really good, the same as 3 specialist.

I didn't think that but, remember the +3 science is only given when rou reach national heritage, which is in the end of the civics tree. AND, we are not sure if it's going to be +2 or +3 in foreign continent. Say that, your point of view really makes me think.