I've seen a lot of comments around about how the game is basically won in the Exploration Age. Unfortunately for me, that's the age I really struggle in.
Been playing at Deity, and it's a good challenge, but every single game almost completely falls apart for me in the Exploration Age, and requires a big massive war in the Modern Age to compensate. I don't want to always go to war though!
Often it's because one of the AIs gets some absurd yields, driving forward the age counter.
So, what might I be doing wrong? What strategies do you guys employ to really get ahead in the Exploration Age?
Hopefully I can give you some tips! I actually agree that exploration is very important. But before exploration comes antequities. And that one is hugely important for the set up in exploration. Basically these are my rough guidelines for the three ages. Antiquities: It's all about map positioning, getting cities in the right locations, preferrably on both sides of a big continent at least one. But you have to check your military. I always try to end the age with three fully packed army commanders. Two can work as well, but the deterrence effect is slightly bigger with three. Always start friendly with your neighbours and use trade routes to balance leader agendas if negative. It's worthwile to try and go for 9 points in the military track to give you the legacy option of an extra two settlement limit. If an AI player is aggressive, it may speed things up. But I rarely declare war myself. I always play on huge maps, so be prepared for a shock when you start Exploration. There will always be at least one civ that has a huge lead in civ or culture (usually more than 1 - ond often on other continents). With trade routes I try to keep everyone in "green" diplomacy at the end of the age. When it comes to independant cities; try to suzerain one that has the potential for building an ageless building, preferably the resource that you miss most (science or culture usually). The rest of the city states? Try to destroy all hostile ones within reach as soon as possibly. It gives you a huge bonus and levels up your first army commander. But that means you need your army commander a.s.a.p. I always do mysticism first, followed by the civic that give the army commander. With a bit of luck you have a unit from a goodies hut. Otherwise, try and pack the army by means of buying. 2 slings and 1 warrior are enough to take out early city states. The good thing is, AI players usually take a while to befriend a hostile one. They may be grateful
Make sure that if you have the choice, always pick culture from a goodies hut until you can start with civics and your first social policies. Btw ...I usually pick the memento for extra social policy in this age, combined with an attribute point wich my leader or civ lacks (like culture or science). When you have a strong board position at the end (9 settlements shoud be nice) you are ready form exploration.
Exploration is all about - well - pretty obvious off course - exploration. But also for developing, developing and developing. Getting the specialists, especially to try and catch up if the AI lead is too high. In this age I usually go for mementos that give me more trade potential. (especially the extra trade route per civ or the extra gold per resource is really nice). Don't build new home land cities. Try to go for 6 cities in distant lands. If you have a bit of starting capital left, get a few extra cogs. In your homelands, focus on peace. First thing to do? Get your religion up and runnning and go for ALL religious civics first. Make sure your own cities have your relgion. I always try to go for the Dhawa belief. It's so nice to see that your new trade routes will convert AI settlements. Your original beliefs are usually quite good. I tend to go for the one that gives relics for a city with 10+ urban population. Scouting distant lands? Try to setlle near at least one treasure resource. Sometimes you are lucky with 3 or more, but that takes a while before you get a +3 treasure fleet. Don't worry too much if an AI player has a huge lead in science or culture. You make sure you develop well enough. Than your start in Modern will be good. Do not go below three army commanders, and update your untis. This will deter most civs. Focus your research on shipbuilding. Just click it at the start, and don't bother with it until you have it and can safely travel the oceans. After that, go for techs that increase your specialist limit. Do not forget to scout. Usually three tiles away from the safe coast and hope you discover land. Otherwise sail back and chose another starting point. Whenever you get the extra money, get trade routes. This will enhance your reputation as well as your economy. In general, if you focus on trade and gold, you can use specialists to catch up in science and culture. I know it looks really nice to go for better buildings, but in general, specialists are the fastest way to increase it. And with a bit of luck, you get a nice building from a city state you suzerained. Than build that whenever possible. Considering city states: try to save as much influence as possible to suzerain as many city states as you can. But don't forget the occasional endeavor with a friendly neighbour. Maybe (considering your question) it's not something you want to hear
, but indeed - the exploration age is the easiest one to score all four legacy paths (your religion can turn your six exploration cities into the 12 needed points for the military path). With every civ and every leader...If you did it right in Antiquities, you can set up everything for your end victory rush in Modern.
In modern age it is all about ....eeeeehmmm...being fast
I set my science on manufactoring and after that on the last one needed for the space race. For civics I go for archeology, it's mastery and then Hegemony. My first money goes to three explorers and a museum to start with. This way you set yourself up right from the start for three victories. In my games, the economic one is usually the fastest. I don't build cities anymore. Usually I have 9 from antiquities (huge map), then another six from exloration for a total of 15. More than enough. I haven't played a game yet where I wasn't the first one to score the economic victory if my exploration was set-up in the right way. Than I usually go back one turn, put my banker on inactive, and try to go for the other two victories. I can't bother with the military victory. Not my playing style. Which means I don't even go for the ideologies. Hegemony is more important first.
Hopefully this helps you a bit. You can always mail me if you have questions. Have fun playing this excellent game.
Regards,
Marcus
