Babylon writing GS

[Sincro]

What is the general consensus for the best use of the free GS Babylon gets with writing? Settle (on a strat resource I would assume), bulb a tech immediatly or save for a later bulb?

I am leaning toward settling on a resource for an immediate and unending boost to science for the rest of the game, which seems more valuable then either bulbing immediately, or even holding for later.

Thoughts?

-Sinc

 

[The Peacekeeper]

I would definitely settle the GS. The early techs have a pret low beaker cost so you don't get very much worth out of bulking an early tech. Playing as Babylon, you will most likely get another GS before the renaissance, so it wouldn't be too worthwhile to save it.

 

[budweiser]

It pretty much doubles your early science output vs other civs if you settle.

 

[Muskie]

Why would you build an academy on a strategic resource? Does that count as working the strategic resource such as building a pasture or plantation or mine?

 

[Halcyan2]

Why would you build an academy on a strategic resource? Does that count as working the strategic resource such as building a pasture or plantation or mine?

GS improvements provide access to strategic resources they are on (but *not* luxury resources).

The underlying idea is that you don't know where the strategic resources are until later in the game. So if you settle a GP in a tile that later turns out to have the crucial oil/uranium you have, it would kind of suck if you had to get rid of your GP improvement to get that resource.

I do not know if the improvements count as pasture (horse/stable) or mines. I would guess not since it gets a separate bonus than the bonus you get from, say, Chemistry (extra hammer to mines). You might want someone to doublecheck on this though.

 

[joncnunn]

Yes, Settle the Writing GS but a known resource wouldn't be my first choice to settle it on. (Horses are worth more with a Pasture & Stable improvement; Iron is worth more with a Mine and the Forge improvement)

My first location choice to settle a GS would be a generic flat river tile (unless the city is having food problems and it looks like the tile is needed for a farm.)

(Next would be a generic flat tile of any type; then a generic non river hill)

I'm not sure if settling autoclears a Marsh tile; if so that would be an even better tile to settle that GS.

Your second GS as Babylon should be PT induced (either via Liberty or HS) in the standard beeline to Education and Optics so that the second GS is bulbed for Astronomy to enter that era early. You'll want HS to further speed up scientists.

The third GS can be used to bulb the next tech past Astronomy for very early Frigates and without interfering with RAs. (This won't take long if you assigned 2 scientists in your capital right away) But you probably won't want to bulb Archaeology with the 4th as that would reduce the value of RAs. (at least not until you clear the other prereqs to the next tech.)

As to social policies: Standard Liberty first, I'd then open Tradition (really waiting to bulb into next era)
Then open Rationalism (RAs)
Then open Freedom (further increase rate of new GS)
won't really matter after that, but rest of Rationalism I guess.

HS + a Garden + the national wonder speeding great people + base Freedom + Babylon is going to yield a lot of Great Scientists in the capital.

 

[Muskie]

GS improvements provide access to strategic resources they are on (but *not* luxury resources).

The underlying idea is that you don't know where the strategic resources are until later in the game. So if you settle a GP in a tile that later turns out to have the crucial oil/uranium you have, it would kind of suck if you had to get rid of your GP improvement to get that resource.

I do not know if the improvements count as pasture (horse/stable) or mines. I would guess not since it gets a separate bonus than the bonus you get from, say, Chemistry (extra hammer to mines). You might want someone to doublecheck on this though.

I did not know that. In fact I'm paranoid and don't improve desert and hills other than mines expecting them to be oil or a mineral. I tend to put my Academies and Art buildings in grassland, leaving riverside spots for farms.

I know if a resource appears under your city you get it. But I generally like the versatility of seeing my resources so I can improve them in the order I want. I tend to build a lot of Academies, but I bulb the odd Great Scientist later in the game. Artists get turned into Golden Age unless I build a mega culture city, I've had cities over 200+ culture a turn, without any shenanigans. I've read the whole settle the early great engineer and make a manufacturem but it is so tempting to instant build a wonder. So for that reason I think Great Engineers are the best, I also like Great Merchants but when I get a free Great Person I choose engineer most every time unless I'm desperate for a Great General.

I do occasionally turn Great Generals into strategic battlements. I also only need one or two so I Golden Age the rest. My last game I lost as Aztecs but I had the 200+ culture capital and so many golden ages... I just didn't make enough money to buy up City States and stop Rome from winning.

 

[A Rabid Dopsis]

I know if a resource appears under your city you get it. But I generally like the versatility of seeing my resources so I can improve them in the order I want. I tend to build a lot of Academies, but I bulb the odd Great Scientist later in the game. Artists get turned into Golden Age unless I build a mega culture city, I've had cities over 200+ culture a turn, without any shenanigans. I've read the whole settle the early great engineer and make a manufacturem but it is so tempting to instant build a wonder. So for that reason I think Great Engineers are the best, I also like Great Merchants but when I get a free Great Person I choose engineer most every time unless I'm desperate for a Great General.

While it's a good idea to settle that early great scientist, I wouldn't recommend settling more. As the game is now, bulbing gives you so much more benefit. Whether it's saving up ten to finish off a science victory or a couple to get early rifles or knights, bulbing rocks.

I personally tend to set up my great people so that I never get a great merchant but that's a bunch of micromanagement.

/unsolicited advice.

 

[Full Metal]

Always plant my first, and sometimes second, GS. But that's coming from someone who never uses his GEs for wonders. I always settle them on hills. End up with a couple hundred hammers per turn in my capitol. Academies on grass or plains.

 

[MaximusK]

It's really only necessary to bulb your GS/GE on Immortal/Deity and maybe Emperor. King and below your fine settling them. But really after two GS settled probably should start saving them for the final techs.

The most adamant bulbers still tend to settle the first babylon GS.

 

[The Pilgrim]

I do not know if the improvements count as pasture (horse/stable) or mines. I would guess not since it gets a separate bonus than the bonus you get from, say, Chemistry (extra hammer to mines). You might want someone to doublecheck on this though.

They don't. But settling GP improvement on strategic resource is still worth it if they are on flat tile. Especially grassland, that 'feeds' itself. For example, for iron grassland tile with mine before Chemistry you only get +1 .
22 tile is not that great anyways.

Always plant my first, and sometimes second, GS. But that's coming from someone who never uses his GEs for wonders. I always settle them on hills. End up with a couple hundred hammers per turn in my capitol. Academies on grass or plains.

Manufactory on hill is waste of hammers, since you give up on mine. Unless 1-2 you save are absolutely crucial, flat tile is better.

It's really only necessary to bulb your GS/GE on Immortal/Deity and maybe Emperor.

It's been proven you can win on immortal without bulbing and RA's.

 

[Sincro]

Thanks for the insight.

I just finished a game as Babylon, and was able to finish Stealth on turn 237 using the RA strategy thread as guidance, plus saving all but my first GS. I still play at King level, so I was limited by most of the AIs being broke for much of the game. Half the RAs I signed I first had to trade the AI cash, then ask for the RA.

I could probably move up a level, but my understanding is that playing at Emperor starts requiring too many 'you must do this, in this specific order' to have a reasonable shot at winning. I like having more flexibility then that.

-Sinc

 

[Maxym]

You can easily play emperor any way you like, no need for specific openers
You'll see what works for your play style, of course you might lose some at first.
Look into GOTM emperor write-ups for help if you get wiped. Playing same game as other ppl really helped me.

I a, struggling to stay alive on deity as Babylon with 3 exposed borders and Cathy Oda Liz and harun as neighbors.
I wish now I had seen this thread and settled my first GS I might have saved the education one for later. Got HS GL and PT so GS bonus is really kicking in, now I just have to survive for my bowman to find the other continent. Over 20 turns in the drink and still nothing...