early or late UU

[levi Limestone]

On using the unique unit to advantage in expansion / conquest:
Playing as a civ with an Early unique unit suchas Sumerians, is it possible or even advisable to use the advantage? i.e. mass produce the unit and be expansionist in the era of that unit?
When the unique unit cannot be reached untill Late, the modern era (suchas the Germans) is it advisable to put off the bulk of conquest till then?

 

[Sashie VII]

"It Depends" is what you'll get from most people, I think

Personally I don't really mind what UUs I have, although having Mounted Warriors instead of horsemen would be nice for instance. Whatever UU you get, use it when it comes. But it doesn't mean you should wait to war till they come (as in Ottoman Sipahi or German Panzers).

 

[gmaharriet]

Like Sashie, I wouldn't wait for warfare until my UU comes in, but I might wait to use a very early UU. If an early UU wins a battle, you get your Golden Age in Despotism. That may be alright in some situations, but I'd certainly want to have more than 2 or 3 towns when it happens, so I'd wait long enough to get some benefit. Depending on the situation, that may or may not be in Despot.

 

[Abegweit]

On using the unique unit to advantage in expansion / conquest:
Playing as a civ with an Early unique unit such as Sumerians, is it possible or even advisable to use the advantage? i.e. mass produce the unit and be expansionist in the era of that unit?

Enkidu is a nice little unit. One of the advantages of an early UU is that you can time our GA to happen when you want it to.

When the unique unit cannot be reached untill Late, the modern era (suchas the Germans) is it advisable to put off the bulk of conquest till then?

No. That's far too late. Your first war should generally take place with Swords or horses. Or better, Mounted Warriors.

 

[TheOverseer714]

Depends on the UU: if it's strong militarily, use it to the hilt, and deal with an early GA. If it is weak, or primarily defensive, save it for a timed GA. Like after you switch governments, or better yet, during the MA.

 

[WackenOpenAir]

Don't think about your unique unit as something that should decide your strategy or not. It has a certain influence on your strategy like the many other factors that influence your strategy. The usuall strategy is to expand by settlers until space runs out and then continue expanding by war. This may be combined by cultural buildings if you want to go for 100K, or an investment in one city for a 20k victory, libraries for a space/UN victory or just nothing but war for a conquest victory. Go with that basic strategy and let your traits and UU influence that strategy.
Of course, that is just my usuall strategy. If your's is different, you may think of different ways to addept it to your traits and UU.

As said, an example of a strong influence is the very early unique unit that may delay your wars to prevent a golden age in despotism.

Another example would be a very strong unique unit that allows you to win the game without further technology. Like the mounted warrior that allows you to win in ancient age even if you have to fight some pikes. In this game, you could stop researching and invest only in units while you would not do so without the mounties.

A more mild influence could be a strong unique unit like the chinese rider for example. The game can't be won with just knight technology but the UU causes you to build your libraries or marketplaces a little later than you would if you would not have those riders to build.

A naval UU could encourage you to fight for naval dominance while otherwise you would just try to avoid the enemy while transporting your units with little convoys for protection.

Delaying your wars until anything beyond knights for the sake of your UU is nuts though.

Of course, if you create your own custon games, you can fit together a strategy, a unique unit and a map style before you start the game.

 

[garyg]

The thing about a UU is not warfare but golden age.
The downside of an early UU is a despotic golden age.
What I sometimes do is build only a handfull of my UU and keep them in reserve, fight my wars with lesser units. After I switch government and am ready for the golden age I bring in the UU to the battle, most likely against a redlined opponent.

 

[Mirc]

I love playing as the Romans or Persians, discovering Iron Working, building 20 Legios/Immortals, then switching to Rep/Mon (if I play almost AW) and conquer everyone around me. Then I get time to improve my continent, and in the mid-Middle Ages I get to conquering the other continent with Cavs. Then I discover Steam Engine, railroad all my tiles, and produce Cavalry like crazy until Tanks come. When they come, I usually have about 8-9 cities that can produce them in 2 turns, about 2 which can produce them in 1 turn, and about 5 that can produce them in 3 turns, which means I can build a whole stack in one turn, and also move it onto a transport, thanks to the rails. That's my strategy most of the time.

 

[jb1964]

If I have an ancient age UU I'll keep him in reserve until I'm out of Despotism.

 

[Abegweit]

I've played entire games in despotism. All out conquest. Especially attractive with a good early UU like a Mounted Warrior.

 

[Mesodius]

Depends on the map size but generally I prefer an early UU, especially when that comes at the end of the expansion phase, right when it is time to start slaughtering AI Civs. My recent game as the Romans reminded me how much I love the Legion.

 

[Aceman101]

I do lot's of waring in the middle ages, so I'd say middle ages UU would be my favorite time for a UU.

 

[Ville]

Middle ages UU for me...

 

[thetrooper]

Middle to late middle ages is great for a UU triggered GA.

>> Musketeer, War Elephant, Sipahi, Swiss Merc, ManOWar etc...

 

[Aceman101]

Looks like I did something right! The reason why I like Middle Age UU's is because that's the time when most wars brake out. Well, maybe not most but, lot's.

 

[Ringo Kid]

I agree with Wacken Open Air, and focus on constant expansion. I don't really care whether it's building new cities with settlers or taking them away by war. But I do always use the UU, simply because it's fun.

 

[Hydrogen]

In Conquests it's got to be the Gallic Swordsman (3-2-2) for me, the extra movement and ability to withdraw ... priceless ... get GL and build an Army of these and it is almost unstoppable. I dont worry about causing an early GA ... as soon as I get Iron I'm off to war with the neighbours, extort them then redeclare war them etc. etc. and don't stop until I have conqurered the continent I'm on.

When I used to play Vanilla then it was the Roman Legionaire for an early game, Russian Cossack for a middle game and the German Panzer for a late game (both the later apply in Conquests)

 

[Mizar]

The power of an early UU (Gallic sword) in an Always War game on Demigod:

Mump2_SG

 

[dgfred]

Middle to late middle ages is great for a UU triggered GA.

>> Musketeer, War Elephant, Sipahi, Swiss Merc, ManOWar etc...

I like the Middle Aged GA too, like with Berserkers . I have tried the
Germans but things usually are settled even before Panzers. My current game
is Iroquois, but the dang Persians would not quit badgering me for money,
when I refused they did not declare war but tried a sneak attack on one of
my cities and triggered my GA. I beat them back and reached peace before
their large archer stacks reached me, while destroying their road network . So its a early GA for me , but I will make due and
build up my area/cities and go for a big war in the Middle Ages.