Conquests: Mesopotamia strategy/tip thread

[BrianJ]

I'm creating one thread per conquest in order to discuss strategies and experiences with each conquest. I'm curious to see what people think is the best civ to play for each one, as well as the easiest and toughest. I'd like to see some straegies and tips for each civ.

 

[thetrooper]

This scenario is all about building the 7 wonders of the ancient world.

Throughout their journey along the Mesopotamian Tech Tree, players should concentrate on quickly mastering technologies that allow access to building the Great Wonders - as this scenario can suddenly end the moment the last of the seven Great Wonders of the Ancient World has been built. The victory points scored for completing each wonder has been greatly increased, further emphasizing the prestige and importance of these impressive, man-made structures during ancient times.

Charlie Kibler, BreakAway Games


I have played all civilizations except for Egypt and I rank them (from easiest to hardest):

1. Sumeria
2. Mycenae
3. Babylon
4. The Hittites
5. The Medes
6. Phoenicia

Sumeria unquestionable #1 - traits and cheap UU. I had 3 SGLs during my game (= 3 wonders). Triggered my GA at the right time with the Enkidu Warrior in a war against Babylon (my closest neighbour). Early tech trading with Medes (expansionist) and Babylon (scientific) made the three of us superior compared to the rest of the bunch. "Isolated" Mycenae and Egypt were far behind. The only downside was the large and infertile (though agricultural helps) desert to the south. Advise: go for mining, irrigation, wood working and animal domestication right away.

 

[Improviser]

IMO the easiest civ is Phoenicia. They can contact all the other AI's about 30-40 turns before the AI's get in conact with each other. Contact monopoly=technology lead. Even when choosing other civs, you can still contact all the AI's reasonably quickly, at least well before they do. (In my experience even Babylon and Sumeria take 25 turns or so to get in contact)

I also noticed from playing this that the AI is too slow to start on wonders, and is more concerned with expanding into poor lands. By starting cities on wonder builds-prebuilds very early on, it's easily possible to grab at least 5 wonders on Deity, enough to win with.

I'm not sure how to rank the other civ's in terms of difficulty. Phoenicia is by far the easiest though.

 

[joycem10]

I like the phoenicians for the contact advantage, but from a pure strategic basis, I also like the myceneans and the egyptians for thier ability to control a relatively large area of land by taking a strategic choke point. You slap a couple of units on that choke and you're basically free to develop your terriroty at your leisure.

 

[thetrooper]

Good advice joycem10! There are two choke points in this scenario. One of them can be fortified right away by mycenean warrior. The other can easily be fortified by Phoenicia or Egypt.

 

[player1 fanatic]

For me Egypt was really easy.
Agr/Ind combo is great. And lot of flood plains, plus deserts that act as plains.

 

[BMartini28]

easiest to hardest have only won as #1-4
1. sumeria
2. Mycenae
3. egypt
4. hittites
5. babylon
6. Phoenicia
7. medes

as the greeks if you settle your capital on the stone hill, it will be far more productive.
I love Phoenicia's UU but i get killed every time because my cities dont output enough

 

[Elephantium]

 

[BMartini28]

yea yea yea i just now noticed