Axes Still Rule

[bastillebaston]

Just tried BtS, monarch difficulty, fractal map, standard settings. Played a dozen games, with randomly chosen leaders. In terms of strategy, I see no substantial differences. Even with nerfed siege and "better AI", early expansion is still relatively easy. Once again, the axe rush quickly does the job, and guarantees victory. No need to bother with espionage. No need to found/spread either religions or corporations. I ignored all the new wonders (I hardly ever build any wonder, for that matter). Apostolic palace and random events turned out to be non-factors. As to the late game units, I’ve never got that far… by the time infantry comes around I’ve already won my games. I guess all the new features become relevant only if you don’t want to axe rush your neighbours (but why you wouldn’t?) or if you have no bronze/iron (too frustrating, I would just recommend quitting in such an unlikely case) or if you play scenarios/advanced starts. This is too bad… I already feel rather bored and disappointed with BtS.

 

[Todd Hawks]

For a start, increase the difficulty level.

(I personally don't know why you even bother playing Civ when you "hardly ever build any wonder", "recommend quitting" when you have no bronze/iron and feel like you absolutely have to axe rush. What's the point of playing a game employing just one strategy and quitting if you can't use it? But whatever floats your boat)

 

[Zhahz]

You *could* always try to play some other way than an axe rush. What do you do if you don't have copper nearby - quit and restart?

 

[mrt144]

Just tried BtS, monarch difficulty, fractal map, standard settings. Played a dozen games, with randomly chosen leaders. In terms of strategy, I see no substantial differences. Even with nerfed siege and "better AI", early expansion is still relatively easy. Once again, the axe rush quickly does the job, and guarantees victory. No need to bother with espionage. No need to found/spread either religions or corporations. I ignored all the new wonders (I hardly ever build any wonder, for that matter). Apostolic palace and random events turned out to be non-factors. As to the late game units, I’ve never got that far… by the time infantry comes around I’ve already won my games. I guess all the new features become relevant only if you don’t want to axe rush your neighbours (but why you wouldn’t?) or if you have no bronze/iron (too frustrating, I would just recommend quitting in such an unlikely case) or if you play scenarios/advanced starts. This is too bad… I already feel rather bored and disappointed with BtS.

eyesofnight?

 

[largedarryl]

Maybe try winning on a continents (3-4) on a huge map, then axe rush and still tell me if you are going to have an easy victory.

There are more ways to play then on a pangea type map where an early axe rush is a guaranteed win.

 

[bastillebaston]

For a start, increase the difficulty level.

No thanks. Difficulty levels above monarch require too micromanaging for my taste, and the "better AI" just spams too many units.

I personally don't know why you even bother playing Civ when you "hardly ever build any wonder"

Wonders are not essential. Any fool can win without ever building one.

"recommend quitting" when you have no bronze/iron and feel like you absolutely have to axe rush.

Withouth axes the game just becomes frustrating, especially if you are not interested in either diplomatic or cultural victories (which, anyway, are even more boring than the axe rush).

What's the point of playing a game employing just one strategy and quitting if you can't use it?

The game itself limits the choice of effective strategies. As things stand, the most effective strategy is the axe rush, with all the other strategies being too iffy or micromanagy. Hence, my suggestion to quit if either bronze or iron are lacking (or, I should add, if one starts isolated).

 

[anandus]

Just tried BtS, monarch difficulty, fractal map, standard settings. Played a dozen games

Eh? BTS is just out, how can you possibly have played 'a dozen games'? The games only been out for a few days

Maybe you should change the difficulty setting or play on a bigger map? Or start in a later age, after axes?

 

[Roland Johansen]

The axe-rush also works best on smaller maps where you start on a large continent with many civilization close. If you play on huge maps, you aren't likely to have copper close to your capital and the enemy cities are quite distant. If you happen to start on an island alone, then a rush isn't even possible.

If you only play in a situation where the axe-rush works, then yes of course it is powerful.

 

[mrt144]

this like complaining that slam dunks are the most effective way to score baskets, but if the hoop is adjusted to prevent slam dunks he just doesnt play on that court.

 

[rickb]

I guess all the new features become relevant only if you don’t want to axe rush your neighbours (but why you wouldn’t?)

Because some people like to play and enjoy the game in a different way than you do, or, gasp, may not even give a rat's a$$ about "winning" or getting the best score.

 

[jkp1187]

Yeah, Tic-Tac-Toe is getting pretty boring, too. I mean, I play it all the time with my five-year-old nephew, and it's just a piece of cake. I always "volunteer" to play as "X", so I always get the center square. I swear, he plays like he's five years old or something.

 

[largedarryl]

No thanks. Difficulty levels above monarch require too micromanaging for my taste, and the "better AI" just spams too many units.

You mean, difficulty levels above monarch are too hard. If you don't want to be challenged with a video game go play a different game.

 

[Innawerkz]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I get the impression you're a 'Cheat Code' kind of guy. Find the easiest way to beat a game and use it - even if it's an exploit of a small programming glitch.

What the others are suggesting is to deliberately make the game have a different texture. It may require you to play outside of your comfort level, but that was one of the main motivators for creating so many victory conditions and approaches.

There are a large number of walkthroughs presented by very patient and highly skilled players demonstrating a variety of play styles.

 

[PimpyMicPimp]

Go play an RTS, then.

 

[anandus]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I get the impression your a 'Cheat Code' kind of guy. Find the easiest way to beat a game and use it - even if it's an exploit of a small programming glitch.

Time for a wall-hack in Civ

 

[rtfischbeck]

From my own experience thus far, i'd have to disagree. I've played 3 games thus far ( monarch continents standard ) and I found that while effective the axe rush only worked once. The other two times I faced 6-8 defending chariots...although there was a quest to build them at the time, so that may have influenced AI decision making, but that at least refutes the quests as non-factor issue.

 

[bastillebaston]

Maybe try winning on a continents (3-4) on a huge map

The size of the map is not a factor. The number of opponents is. In general: the greater the number of opponents, the easier the victory. Many opponents means that you'll have one or more close neighbours to axe-rush, while the other AIs are limiting one another's expansion.

There are more ways to play then on a pangea type map

I find pangea the easiest map-type. I mostly played fractal.

 

[Nkot]

I remember I played with similar settings back when I first started. I also used a simliar strategy (swords instead of axes). It's helpful because you can practice the 10% of the game which is early expansion, but your just kidding yourself if you think you have mastered the game.

As for higher difficulty levels requiring too much micromanaging, this sounds more like an excuse to me. Seriously, I didn't really have to start playing a good, solid game until Immortal, so you should at least try Emperor.

 

[PimpyMicPimp]

I find pangea the easiest map-type. I mostly played fractal.

Maybe it's time to start challenging yourself, than? It's ok to lose, really, it is.

 

[GeoModder]

Fractal is mosttimes just a more snaky version of Pangea, with a few straits to have early separation.
In my experience this is an even easier map to go on a conquest routine, since the player usually starts on one end of the land, and just has to push a frontline until he reaches the other side of the land.