Can anyone point me to good articles on beginning queue arrangement?

[alexandria2000]

Thanks. I'm playing on Chieftain, in totally Random mode, after reading quite a few of the articles on playing the game. I particularly paid attention to the Wonder Addiction article, and the Ratings of the Wonders article; noted down a few Wonders that should be built, and plan on leaving the majority alone just to see what happens.

But I'd like to read what people have said about arranging queues for the opening cities - I got India as my random civ, and from what I know they're relatively slow to expand.

Drat. Wasn't planning on building the Pyramids, but I may have to with my opening settlement point. Near a river though, and there's cows nearby, so we'll see.

 

[nullspace]

On Chieftan, you can do pretty much whatever you want and still win. Just pick a goal and go for it.

Anyway, early on, there's just a few things you really need:

1) Settlers and Workers. These are you top priorities so that you can grow and improve your empire. Workers are the best way to make your empire stronger, settlers are neccesary claim land and keep your opponents for taking land that's useful to you.

2) Warriors. You need these to contact other civs, explore for city sites, kill barbarians, and keep your people happy.

3) Granaries. Build them in cities with good food and production and have these cities focus on settlers and workers.

4) Barracks. Build them in cities with good production but bad food. The cities should then build your real troops: swordsmen, horsemen, or warriors that will be upgraded.

And that's about it. Some other things are useful sometimes. Wonders often aren't worth their shield cost. Unless you've got a huge amount of territory to settle, you're probably better off with a granary and a bunch of setters than even the pyramids.