COTM 24 - Pre Game Discussion

Legionary defense reduced to 1.

Worse than the unit it replaces? Geez. Mind you, this is not nearly as bad as some recent predator handicaps. I might consider accepting this one.

Why do I think I've played this opening in a previous life? And why do I think my name was Osman?

 

and

Me thinks I could live with the predator equaliser

 

Man, this a dilemma.

At first glance it doesn't look difficult: monarch, (bonus)grass, river.
But I can't decide what to do:
A: settle in place
B: settle NW
C: settle S
D: look for food-bonus

A: settle in place
greatest momentum and on the river
sacrificing bg and forcing worker to move

B: settle NW
on the river and worker can start immediately
more decentric and lots of mountains

C: settle S
more centric and worker can start immediately
not on the river

D: look for food-bonus
finding one will greatly enhance pop growth
questionable if ainwood provided one nearby and lost momentum

So maybe it's best to take Moonsingers advice

(cotm12)

 

I will settle NW
Looking for a food bonus would be pointless (I don't think Ainwood is that genrous) and I think the extra BG is worth it. Plus the worker can stay in place.

Another thought, if Conquest gets and extra settler it makes me think that the AI's have a very generous start...


Any Predator Challenge Redbad?

 

Maybe best not. There are also starting 2 SGOTMs and a 4OTM. If I get time issues this game will be the first to suffer.

 

I may scout S with the worker. Momentum does't mean much to me. I'll move NW if there aren't goodies to the S.

 

The predator handicap is not really that bad.

 

Defense from 3 to 1 isnt that bad...

 

Yes, indeed, the predator handicap isn't a big issue. When in fear of counterattacks mixing in a few spears in the stack is enough. Moreover, when one's suffering quite a few (counter)attacks, it's raising the question if playing predator was a good idea in the first place

Other aspects:
Considering the starting techs and traits, it looks tempting to do a quick archer rush and research for the slingshot. Continents on standard size would normally mean 2 to 4 neighbours on our continent. However with 60% sea the continent would be somewhat largish. Or worse, maybe even have 3 continents. That could leave us with only 1 or 2 neighbours. On the plusside however is that ainwood seems to have cooked up this map. In my experience, that is a plus, as Karasu and Gyathaar seem to be long beyond any feelings of shame with mapdesigning

 

Archer rush? It occurs to me that a 3-1-1 unit would have been a cool UU replacement for the archer. 'Way better than a bowman.

As for the legionary, it's really a pretty sucky UU period. Its main advantage is that, better than any other, it allows you to choose when your GA takes place, and this handicap doesn't change that.

 

Not that bad a predator handicap, an enormously helpful conquest class bonus... makes you wonder . Remember the last "Monarch" COTM ainwood gave us...

I don't think I will move off the river. NW is a possibility. With no food bonus, I think my capital will end up building 2 archers + a settler every 10 turns from size 3-5. I need 3 BGs to do that so I think worker SW - if there is another BG in sight (S-SW of the start), then settle in place; if not, then settler NW. The other possibility is settle in place and hope there's a BG under one of the forests I chop for my granary.

Research will probably be pottery, then the attempted slingshot.

 

Good point about the Conquest Bonus. It makes Redbad's idea of an archer rush even more attractive.

I, for one, will be clicking F11 the second I open the save.

 

I'm settling south,and doing open class.

 

I'll move Worker W on the mountain to look around. Then deside.

I don't think there will be a food bonus in sight with this kind of Conquest bonus.
But I maybe will do 20K, so choosing the best place is very important.

 

I see only one more mountain in the city tiles.

 

My first at one of these, wish me luck.

I will most likely settle on the existing spot and have the worker take care of the BG along the river. Get a warrior out fast to take a look around and a couple more to defend my towns and Settlers from the raging Barbs.

Good luck all.

 

@Più
Yes, you're right. I didn't count the mountains, but indeed it looks worse that it actually is.

 

Ouch, that is just mean.