Building wonders on Emperor level.

[civverguy]

On emperor level, should you build any wonders at all? What wonders should you build if you can build some wonders?

 

[hrhomer]

Around here, most people say to let the AI build them, then capture them. I, however, like to build them. If I have ivory, I try for the Statue of Zeus every time. On pangaea or continents, I like Leonardo's Workshop and Sun Tzu's Art of War, but at Emperor level, it's tough to get more than one of those 3, if any. I ALWAYS prebuild for Theory of Evolution - the two free techs are important.

Joe

 

[WackenOpenAir]

These wonders are usually worth building on Emperor:
-Hoover Dam
-Theory of Evolution
-Internet
-UN

These wonders can be worth building if they fit your map and strategy:
-Leonardo's workshop (or capture if a nearby AI is building it)
-The Great Lighthouse (or capture if a nearby AI is building it)
-Newtons
-Copernicus

These wonders are not worth building because they are too early, but they are VERY worthy capturing from opponents:
-Pyramids
-Temple of Artemis

Most other wonders are relatively worthless, but i could be overlooking somethings.

 

[MAS]

if you get a SGL in the early AA, by all means, use it for Pyramids.

 

[Sashie VII]

If you really, really want to, some AA wonders can be yours (negative effects on your expansion aside). Especially those that comes from the Writing path, you can setup your opponents to get very good chances.

In the middle ages, I find Sun Tzu's, Leo's and Sistine's (yes, Sistine's ) as well as Smith's useful.

Especially Leonardo's in early MA, if I have to hand build it I will.

Anything past the Middle Ages should be yours.

 

[thetrooper]

I try to build wonders that directly benefit the cities in which they are built.

Wonders that benefit your whole empire (Pyramids, Artemis, Sun Tzu, Smith's etc) can be captured. As you can see, all of those are expensive and you'll probably miss them anyway.

 

[Sashie VII]

you'll probably miss them anyway.

Especially Sun Tzu's, IMO.

 

[Pyrrhos]

Usually, isn't there a chain reaction starting with the first wonder built that results in each of the AI civs getting one wonder each and then they are "empty"? If you prebuild (palace), you should have a decent chance of Sun Tzu's as well as building the Sistine in your capital. Usually, the AI capitals are not as developed as yours and need many more turns.

 

[thetrooper]

The phenomenon you describe is called wonder cascade here at CFC. It's a wonderful thing...

 

[Sashie VII]

Not when it gives you a 250-shield barracks with impressive gardens

But it is when the AIs get 400-shield walls

 

[drakdan]

So long as you manage the wonder cascade and the general tech level well enough (much easier said than done. Archi-maps would work best for low AI contacts), there is no reason why you can't grab most of the wonders from Sun Tzu's onward.

That said, I like the Mausoleum because the 3 happy faces help me to make an early 12-pop city capable of turning out wonders like magic, especially in a time of relatively little production and luxuries.

 

[eldar]

If I have Ivory, I always shoot for Soz. MoM is often the pre-build. This is because generally, if another AI has Ivory as well, they'll be on the same continent as me, and I'd rather have it than not. Besides 200 shields isn't all that much and the ROI is quite quick. I think the game values the ACs at 40 shields, so you get your 200 shield investment back in 25 turns. Not bad going, really, and the ACs are the #1 unit of the AA - even better than Immortals.

After that, I don't bother until Copernicus. Then I'll try and grab anything that comes my way. Newton's, Smith's if the AI research Econ, Shake's if they get Free Artistry late (i.e. I'm already Industrial and have rails+factories+power plants done), and anything Industrial onwards should be a shoo-in. I rarely play beyond early Industrial ever, though, as by then I consider the game won by whatever means I choose.

 

[Drakan]

At Emperor-level you can still build all GWs from late Middle Ages onwards if you wish and quite a few of the early ones too.

 

[Mizar]

At Emperor-level you can still build all GWs from late Middle Ages onwards if you wish and quite a few of the early ones too.

The later is a matter of prebuilding. You can use the palace and the GL (which tends to be built late in emperor level games) as good prebuilds for 2 of the 4 early Middle Ages wonders.
I prefered Sun and Sistine in those games, allowing me to go for domination with Cavalry (the size-12 core stays happy with the double cathedrales and you can run max-science to cavs with 0% lux)

 

[Aceman101]

I'd build at least these wonders.

-Theory of Evolution
-Sun Tzus
-Hoover Dam

Maybe also The Internet.

 

[metamike]

The wonder that my playing style can't survive without (lots of commerce and low tech rate in Ancient Age) is the Great Library.

To survive I find it a neccesity that if I have at least 2-3 contacts I pre-build a palace in a decent food/decent shield town while using my capital for settlers, and buy Literature from the first person I see with it.

 

[vmxa]

In the middle ages, I find Sun Tzu's, Leo's and Sistine's (yes, Sistine's ) as well as Smith's useful.

Sistines is not useful, since you have no business building cathes, unless you are playing for a culture win. If the game goes into the late Ind or Early Modern, you can slap up one or two.

That is not enough to justify a wonder. The reason you can do one late, is it won't take long. Several reason why you do not do it otherwise.

 

[ecuwins]

If I want to war in Republic like I am in Monarchy I may go for Sistine's and build Cathedrals. Let those worriers pray it out.

Edit: I do want to mention that I usually build NO wonders at all. If anyone has not read the "Four Rules to Wonder Addiction" article in the War Academy I suggest you do so.

 

[vmxa]

The shield count for those cathedrals will make units that could be taking down your neighbors. These extra units lets you make the war short.

You do not want to be make 160 or 200 shield structures at a time when you probably are getting less than 20 net shields if not in a GA.

 

[Sashie VII]

Sistines is not useful, since you have no business building cathes, unless you are playing for a culture win. If the game goes into the late Ind or Early Modern, you can slap up one or two.

I understand your point, but the reason I find them useful is almost totally for personal fun. I don't play for immediate win every time, I like to build and after I take out everyone on my continent I'll indulge my core with hospitals etc, so I can enjoy the power of metros late in the game. Not the way to win on the higher levels, certainly, but I play for fun

ps: Hope you get well soon!