Can I win this? How would you?

[choraltrickster]

Hi everyone. I'm thilled to have joined this board. There's tonnes to learn here!

I am currently in the middle of the attached game and am wondering if I have a chance of coming out victorious. I'm lagging behind Russia and Greece and have had an irksome game with Alexander on the next continent (accessible with coastal units). We've pretty much been at war since we met--his doing, not mine!--and have had a back and forth on his island continent. I seized Ephesus and recently razed Corinth after our warring reduced it to a population of 3. I can't maintain a foothold on his mainland though. He has bombers and a far more numerous and advanced army. He had been running away with this game, but our recent conflicts have allowed Russia to move past him. The other Civs all hate him but are too far away to have had any substantial conflict.

I have had excellent relations--little contact--with the other Civs (they're all very peaceable). I thought I had a great start, with Morocco as my only continental neighbour. I boxed him into the desert and maintained a healthy relationship, which is now starting to become strained.

What do I do? I don't see any way of taking Athens until I have bombers and paratroops, and warring with Greece is only going to hand it to Russia. Yet I know Alexander will DoW after every treaty. I can keep him from my shores with my navy, but he's slowing my progress in every way.

What's my VC? What would you do? Do I plan to take Morocco's impressive pair of cities for their populations, wonders and oil? With railroads and good units, I'm sure I wouldn't have too much trouble. How can I slow down Catherine's progress with her on the other end of the world? She and the Dutch have finally gone to war with each other, which is good. Do I amass a force and head for Moscow? It's an inland city and half a world away.

Thanks to anyone willing to take the time to offer feedback. I am really interested in improving my game. All advice, harsh as it may be, is welcome! Thanks in advance.

(One of my zillion questions for you all: how is it that the AI can build cities in the desert with 20-25 population and I struggle to get mine past 12?)

(save game)
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B1uEYEwt-uvyczF5c2x1eXpBRnc&usp=sharing

 

[danaphanous]

As far as your question about desert cities and Morocco, their unique improvement, the Kasbah, actually improves the yield of desert tiles so they become really great terrain. They are the only civ that can grow as big as they do in desert. Each civilization has different bonuses and Morocco is primed to do well in deserts. Poland, your civ, is not, but if you take over their Kasbah's you can use them too. I wouldn't though. Morocco is not your biggest competitor and you get a lot more gold from sending trade routes to him and he's peaceful so I find him more valuable as a friend and neighbor.

You aren't doing bad compared to the AI. I notice everyone is about the same tech level, and you're #2 in literacy. It should be easy to pass Alexander in science and win a space race victory if you prioritize your science a bit more by growing your cities and be first to ideologies, buying/building research labs as soon as you can and producing scientists to use when your science output gets higher.

Your question about how do I grow my cities? Well they slow down at high populations. You need to work many farms and food tiles, and if you are out then make some cargo ships or caravans to send food to the cities you want to grow faster. If you adopt freedom specialists will only cost 1/2 food so your cities will suddenly grow a lot faster as well. Your choice which ideology you want though.

For the war issues: do what you can to keep Catherine and Dutch at war. Bribe them to keep at it if you need too. Alexander has to launch a coastal invasion so he should be easy to fight off as soon as you get submarines and bombers. In the meantime you might try to find an ally for your war. See if morocco is willing, he's a weaker target so Alexander get distracted fighting both of you.

 

[choraltrickster]

..

Thanks Danaphonous. That's all really helpful. I'll try and focus science and keep the others fighting.

I'll post my general questions in another thread after I research them a little more. Thanks for your reply

 

[jayjackson]

Thanks Danaphonous. That's all really helpful. I'll try and focus science and keep the others fighting.

I'll post my general questions in another thread after I research them a little more. Thanks for your reply

Hey, if questions come up, don't be afraid to ask them here. I was away from the computer when I saw your post last night, but I'm definitely watching your thread to see if there's any way I can offer help!