Encouraged by Sisutil's ALC threads I've moved to Prince. Some help needed, though

[Indibil]

Recently reinstaled Civ&Warlords as my workload has somewhat got lighter. I used to play in Noble, but having read some of Sisutil's ALC threads I decided to take the step up to Prince and be more flexible with my strategy.

RNG Gods were kind.

Using the usual settings at ALC games I rolled Saladin and a starting position which was too good to believe: 3 fishes, 1 Crab, 1 Pig, 1 Lake, 2 Plains Hills and 4 Plains woods in the BFC if I settled in position. There was a posibility of forsaking 2 fishes to get gold and two (1 plains, 1 semidesertic) hills more in the BFC whilst keeping the coastal start, but I thought I'd rather keep the 5 food resources and use it as GP farm in the long term.

So settle in place it'd be and despite starting with mysticism I decided Fishing had to be my initial research as I had no commerce in which to base a religion rush.

Mecca's production was set to Warrior to give the research time to discover fishing.

A small gamble was made when we discovered fishing and I set research to Poly (or whichever tech it is that gives Hindu) whilst maximising commerce. The gamble paid off greatly as we strangely enough landed the Religion! Wahey!! (which also gave me a hint about how many spiritual Civs I could expect to meet in the game: That should be about 0)

With two warriors exploring we started to look for futher possible expansion sites and started developing the usual techs.

With the second city we grabbed Marble to accomplish those Marble based wonders, leaving copper to our 3rd city and a decent floodplains/hills combo for our 4th City. Oh and heaps of Gold in the way.

Explorationwise, we met Alex (who is our closest neighbour), Julius (whose location remains a mistery) and Bismark (who I am cultivating into friendship as he's the farthest neighbour).

I don't want to extend myself a lot longer on explanations, so I'll post some screenies which undoubtedly will tell a lot more with fewer words. Let's only say we've got a solid tech lead (with Alphabet Monopoly at 100AD) and I'm laying plans to 'invite' Alex's cities to join our Empire (without Alex that is).

The known World

Our Empire:

As you can see Mecca is almost ready to turn into GP Farm full form and I'll change civics to Caste System when the Granary is done. We're in Hereditary System (as you've probably guessed by the huge amount of soldiers at Mecca).

Mecca will also try to build the Great Library next for research's sake.

Some random stats&graphs:

We've got Alphabet on everyone, a religious early tech on Alex and Julius) and CoL on Bismark.

Further Game direction:

Everyone is cautious at me, Julius and Bismark are universally liked and only Julius is Friendly to Alex.

My primary plan is to build more army in the few next turns, declare war to the Greek and jump into Alex's territory until we reach his two iron sources and cut them off. Conquer the cities (probably keep his capital but raze the rest and relocate them).

Next war should be Julius and I expect to have Catas by then.

Any pointers, opinions on how I'm doing and what I'm doing sub-par?

Feedback very welcome

 

[oyzar]

why are you working the lake instead of the gold mine in damaskus? there isnt realy any point in that... why dont you grow your capital? Bagdad needs more improvements(though i assume you are working on them, why does it have the plains hill mine instead of a flood plains cottage? Grow first...). If you assing the specialists in mecca to titles(fish and plains hill) you can grow in 1 turn(getting back a specialist) and compleet the granary in 2 turns(letting you add up the full 5 specialists). Why are you reaserching music? you trying to get a cultural win? You dont actually need to take out his iron source just take out all his cities. With enough catapults and axemen it should be pretty much a walk in the park(remermber some spears cause they have horses).

 

[Hackapell]

Yes, I agree that music is not the smartest move when preparing for war. trade alpha to Julius for archery and HBR; it's unlikly that he'll be dedicated enough to grab the GL. build some archer for the happy, promote all those warriors to axemen, build some swords. Who built the 'mids? they should be your next target. I agree you should take out Alex first. work all those gold mines, and make forges for more and . good luck!

 

[a0161613]

maybe he is beelining cavalry/mil trad?

and / or wants the GA to be available when he captures the first city of the greeks? it may be a perfect city?!

all guessing of course, its not clear at all.

 

[Hackapell]

perhaps, but he's only in 100AD

 

[Indibil]

why are you working the lake instead of the gold mine in damaskus? there isnt realy any point in that... why dont you grow your capital?

Point taken.

Bagdad needs more improvements(though i assume you are working on them, why does it have the plains hill mine instead of a flood plains cottage? Grow first...).

Already working on them as you guessed. It's not a plains hill, it's a gold mine. I thought I needed the commerce. Will try it out before continuing to see if it's worth.

If you assing the specialists in mecca to titles(fish and plains hill) you can grow in 1 turn(getting back a specialist) and compleet the granary in 2 turns(letting you add up the full 5 specialists).

Thanks. Wasn't really concentrating on that one

Why are you reaserching music? you trying to get a cultural win?

Actually, I was trying to get the artist to settle it in Alex's capital once we take it and bring it sooner online with less rebelion trouble.

You dont actually need to take out his iron source just take out all his cities. With enough catapults and axemen it should be pretty much a walk in the park(remermber some spears cause they have horses).

In my experience, Alex doesn't use horses that much, but I'll sure try to bring some spears.

I don't agree with the not taking the Iron part, though. He has two metal sources. Hopefully I can take both down in the same turn or with only one turn difference. Plus... They're both in my route:

2 Simultaneous stacks. Each one razes one iron source before moving on to the city.

Gold takes on the capital and then turns back to raze the growing city.

Blood razes the two cities. Catas will come handy here as both cities are on hills, but I might be forced to take the 1st city without them.