Anyone play Isabella as Carthage yet?

[ogre51]

I normally play Economic in Civ games as I really like the power and flexibility of gold. In one of my recent attempts with Isabella (my favorite) I was going to play Carthage but decided on Mayan instead as I do normally play Maya with Isabella. When I started the game I had Torres del Paine 2 tiles from the coast. Good Start with the Mayan as I get Vegetation movement bonus plus the Rough movement bonus which is terrific for both their scout and archer units. While I was playing I kept thinking of Carthage as while exploring with the Jags I found a number of Natural Wonders on the coast (within range of the Carthage settlement requirements) which I settled towns on (normally if the settlement has a national wonder it becomes a city for me as soon as I can afford upgrading) so I really have never explored how a town deals with a Natural Wonder long term. How is the experience of settling a NW with a town (and keeping it a town)? I can see some benefits, but a lot more downsides. Any thoughts?

 

[Zaarin]

It's on my to-do list. For my part, I usually leave Natural Wonder settlements as towns since the Natural Wonder takes up quarter slots anyway and many of them boost rural districts.

 

[ogre51]

@Zaarin Good point, one I had not considered. With towns I want the Rural tiles over the Urban anyway, I normally give my towns the Altar, whatever ageless is needed to specialize and walls. Playing as Mayan I really want their uniques built wherever possible, hence cities. I personally do not use specialists very often and many of the potential quarters I do not use at all .... why?.... Isabella's bonus is worth many potential quarters to me and usually better (2 prod becomes 8, times 4 wonder tiles is hard to beat) allowing me to focus building wonders and troops instead.

 

[reddishrecue]

I havent even played Carthage yet and I cant wait yet. I would play carthage one day but not necessarily with Isabella, just to try it out. Seems like an interesting civ.

 

[uppi]

Yes, but there was not a single NW in sight. Neither near the capital nor anywhere where I could settle. So unfortunately, I can't answer your question

I probably should have restarted, but played it out anyway. I felt like I struggled until I used the other half of Isabella's ability combined with the Carthagian tradition to buy a large fleet for cheap and navally invade Rome.

I lost those ships in the transition to Exploration, but kept her ability and the tradition, of course. This came handy when I got into a protracted naval war with Amina. I got the upper hand after buying 20+ carracks and took her best cities.

Then I got to take 18 ships of the line and 3 highly promoted naval commanders into the modern age. Then 4 AIs declared war on me, I upgraded all of the ships to dreadnoughts and the AI never knew what hit them.

 

[Sagax]

That is my current game, and I settled next to Kilimanjaro and Vihren in Antiquity.

Honestly, didn’t feel like there was much synergy in that department - it’s just Isabella pumping out yields thanks to her ability, and towns converting food and hammers as per their usual logic. You will be swimming in cash, though, so you can expand really fast and buy your OP (and bugged) cavalry on demand. I did convert them into cities immediately in Exploration, though.

 

[Jkchart]

Yes, and she was extremely fun. I had a great time and so much cash! I even started next to a natural wonder.

 

[sav]

That's my current game! Started right next to an enormous rainbow-coloured mountain. Great start.

 

[marius_kaparius]

I played Isabella and Carthage and spawned next to the Great Barrier Reef. It was a good time. I had more than enough gold to max out my towns and I built up every single town in Carthage itself with a mixture of wonders and districts.

Edit: The AI did a hideous forward settle and it flipped to me in a crisis right before the end of the age. Delightful!

 

[Giskler]

I have. Not as strong a combo as Augustus and Carthage, but still fun.