Do I have to kill them all?

[plomeros]

Playing at a relativly low level, Monarch in a real world. It's 1600 - something and I am one of the leading civilizations. Now, all land is taken by some culture, I've irrigated and mined all my lands, and am progressing as fast as I can, still, I start to lag behind (cheating ¤%/&%¤ AI)
Is it really necessary to always (like in civ2) be a really bloodthirsty madass to get high scores?

 

[Daaraa]

Probably not. If you have the most cities. And it would depend on your infrastructure. Otherwise, I've always gone to war at least once. If anything to wipe off whoever is sharing the continent with me. I guess I just hate neighbors.

 

[eyrei]

Monarch is not a low level. The AI gets a bonus to production and science, so if things stagnate, you will slowly fall behind. I have found the best way to remedy this is to pay very close attention fo the tech race, and try to shoot for a tech that noone has. If you get it first or second, trade it to everyone else for gold/turn. Then set your science rate to max for 20 turns, which should put you temporarily back in the lead. The key is to manage your empire as efficiently as possible. You may want to move your palace to cut down on corruption. Also, micromanage the economy slider. When you are a few turns away from a tech, play with it until you get the maximum return for your money.

Expect to fall behind from time to time on Monarch level. If you play your cards right you will come out ahead in the end.

 

[Doomsday]

Actually, monarchy is still one of the levels that the rules are still balanced in your favor.

What you have to to is claim a continent for your self and expand and expand. Kill who is ever on it and make the land grab

On the current world map I was playing , I expanded like a madman, taking over all of africa, europe, the middle east and india. When I finnally won the game by building the spaceship. I realized that I was scientifically superior to everyone so I didn't trade any tech's to anyone. In the very last turns of the game everyone attacked me, with Musketmen and Knights (some cavalry) while I had Modern armor, Mech Inf, Stealth bombers and the like.

Expand, Expand, Key to winning the game.

 

[eyrei]

Originally posted by Doomsday
Actually, monarchy is still one of the levels that the rules are still balanced in your favor.

Seriously, Monarch is the lowest level in which the AI civs get bonuses.

Anyway, expansion is always an option for keeping ahead. Many times I prefer to play more peacefully though. In some ways it is actually more challenging to win in this way.