Colossus early?

[trumpeteer]

Ahh! Didn't think of that...

 

[budweiser]

<< I suppose that not many people can answer me, because it << seems like everyone plays on Regent or above...

I feel guilty like I am slumming if I play on Monarch.

 

[barron of ideas]

Some of the time you should play on a higher level than you feel comfortable with, it stretches your CIV III muscles, so to speak. And you may fall into what would be bad habbits on lower levels that you could not get away with on say Diety, like always building the Great Library so that you rely on getting it. Just an example, there are others, like not micro-managing your production, or automating workers, or getting into wars without thinking through the consequences first.

 

[budweiser]

Diety does not really appeal to me all that much. I've tried it a few times but to be honest have not played a complete game. I get the feeling that its too contrived and you have to play too much catch up. Like, if you were Rome you might get so far behind that you miss the chance to do any good with the legion if/when you get them the other civs might be up to medieval or even gun powder. You dont ever catch up until tanks and then you end up getting a conquest victory with moder armor - same thing every time. I might be wrong but thats the feeling I get.

I like Emporer, I think the ai is just tough enough to force you to play a good game.

 

[barron of ideas]

If you don't fall behind in Diety, you are so strong a player that CIV III is probably not the game for you. Play mostly at whatever level is a challenge. If you win all the time, or even most of the time, you should move up. The chance of losing is what makes winning satisfying. There are players who get so good at Diety they develop unusual handicaps to keep the potential for loss available. Things like one city challenge, always war, maps with resources removed, visit the realms beyond civilization website and see what the big boys and girls are doing, Likley you will come back with some ideas you can use on Monarch. If nothing else, don't automate your workers.

 

[Richie0]

colossus is ok

definitely better if you're seafaring though

firstly, for the golden age trigger

and secondly, all that sea/coast commerce combines with the colossus

if you're the byzantines, try and get colossus, newton's, copernicus in constantinople

you'll be laughing

 

[Theov]

On the subject of the Colossus, is it just me, or on a world map like Marla Singer's, on Warlord, does it seem like the English in their correct location always seem to get the Colossus? I suppose that not many people can answer me, because it seems like everyone plays on Regent or above...

Seafaring civs start near water more than other civs and the AI builds many things if they run out of land (when settlers are not needed anymore) - so the English are a candidate.

I don't really like the Colossus - like I don't like any early wonders. My early cities are pumping out settlers and workers until every tile of my island is covered. Then if the city that builds the Colossus has no fresh water, then the wonder has a max of 6gpt. That's ok, but not earth shattering.
If I have nothing else to build (which never happens) I might build it - but even then, I'd rather make 2 ships and fill them with 2 swordsmen, a pikeman and a settler. Declare that there are lands to be discovered, rename a ship "Santa Maria" and set sail... set rowing.
And to make the Colossus to prevent someone else from making it... that's a bad reason tbh. If you don't want them to have it, you can also make 6 swordsmen, take the city, make everyone your slave and blow the city up while you walk away in slow motion.

 

[CKS]

If you are playing a long game where you will do research, colossus is great. It is not just the extra commerce from each tile. The tourist income is also a big deal (assuming you are playing conquests rather than vanilla or ptw). Both get multiplied by your multiplier buildings, and voila! You have a city producing zillions of beakers.

 

[Yoda Power]

Seafaring civs start near water more than other civs and the AI builds many things if they run out of land (when settlers are not needed anymore) - so the English are a candidate.

I'm not sure Seafaring was around when Trumpeteer made that post, considering it's almost ten years old.

 

[Ataxerxes]

If you are playing a long game where you will do research, colossus is great. It is not just the extra commerce from each tile. The tourist income is also a big deal (assuming you are playing conquests rather than vanilla or ptw). Both get multiplied by your multiplier buildings, and voila! You have a city producing zillions of beakers.

I have to go with Theov here. It's an early wonder when I'm still trying to get out settlers, workers and defend myself. I suppose on a very small map it might be nicer because the bonus only goes to one city. I always seem to have something more important to build. Also, if it's a golden age trigger that's another downside, with an early golden age.

There are very few ancient wonders I go for. On Archipelage, the Great Lighthouse is nice. If I can get Ivory, Statue of Zeus is often a priority for me. Tourist income is nice, but the early game is where the game is usually won or lost. Depending on level, the Great Library can be terrific esp. with the slingshot (it's horrible on low levels).

As long as this is an ancient discussion, I'd like to put in a vote for Ision's ancient "4 Rules of Wonder Addiction". It's a good read and still applicable.

 

[Rodrig0]

...does any one find it hard to be the first to the Colossus?

It also depends on your strategy to build it. I almost always build it in my capital, after I've sent 6~7 settling pairs (settler-archer) from there and gotten out of despotism. By that time there are always other civs already building it. What I do is produce workers from all other cities and send them to improve the capital's land, then join it and arrange luxury slider as necessary. Not many AI cities may compete at that time with a fully developed size 12 capital . So most of the time I beat the AIs to the colossus and, if the land is generous, sometimes even to other wonders they may switch to.

 

[Richie0]

for those saying that it detracts from your capital producing settlers:

well, unless your capital is a fantastic start, then you will make 2, maybe 3 settlers from it, then build nothing but troops the rest of the game, with the occasional wonder/city improvement

nowt wrong with the capital for the colossus. it's uncorrupted, so it gets the best benefit, both in terms of the cash, and the science

one of your other core cities can be the settler maker

assuming you're seafaring of course. if you're not seafaring then don't bother

 

[Spoonwood]

It also depends on your strategy to build it. I almost always build it in my capital, after I've sent 6~7 settling pairs (settler-archer) from there and gotten out of despotism. By that time there are always other civs already building it. What I do is produce workers from all other cities and send them to improve the capital's land, then join it and arrange luxury slider as necessary. Not many AI cities may compete at that time with a fully developed size 12 capital . So most of the time I beat the AIs to the colossus and, if the land is generous, sometimes even to other wonders they may switch to.

I would guess that this strategy has never worked on Emperor or higher.

 

[Buttercup]

Yes, the English get a Golden Age from Colossus, great for getting a quick second Wonder.

I love Colossus, it's my favourite Wonder and, almost (but not entirely) a must for anyone going for a comfortable 20k victory.