Exploration

[TimBentley]

Although some of this is dependent on the map (especially whether the capital is coastal, although there is a good chance since we are seafaring), I would like to open discussions on our methods of exploration. In particular, should the emphasis be land first, then water, or water first, then land? Also some discussion about how many exploring units are needed would be good. As we are seafaring, curraghs would be particularly good for exploration.

 

[Ginger_Ale]

As we are Seafaring, and will almost definately start next to the coast, I suggest a curragh (2 of them actually, to go along the coast), then a warrior for exploration. Meanwhile, we use the luxury slider for happiness. Then a settler...of course, this is all dependent on the map, but that's a rough guideline. Curraghs are faster than even a scout (3 moves, no matter what terrain), so I think they are much better than warriors - we can also use them to find other continents/islands suicidally once they map the coast.

 

[Rik Meleet]

I am a big fan of curraghs;
you'll meet many civs because you aren't landlocked;
you have 3 movement instead of 1;
you can't be attacked by warriors or other land units;
you are less likely to be killed by barbarians;
etc.

 

[Chieftess]

hmm, go west, no wait north! Ahh, it's too hard to see in this thick, black fog.


I'd wait until we see what our land is like. Besides, a curragh would be the 3rd (sometimes 2nd) thing I'd build. I'd rather find goody huts (hoping they're friendly).

 

[GenMarshall]

hmm, go west, no wait north! Ahh, it's too hard to see in this thick, black fog.


I'd wait until we see what our land is like. Besides, a curragh would be the 3rd (sometimes 2nd) thing I'd build. I'd rather find goody huts (hoping they're friendly).

I second this opinion, since I would rather see the map itself before making a decision to decide where to go.

 

[Black_Hole]

This is long term planning, which doesnt depend on the map anyways... Short term planning hasnt started yet, but will once the creation day has been played.

 

[Ginger_Ale]

The probability of barbarians on Emperor is 65%, iirc. The other biggest one is a tech, which is 10%. Others, like map and gold are 5%... these are not good chances. If we pop barbs, our scouting warriors could die -> curraghs can't die (unless out of coast, even then it's only a 25% chance - good for suicide curraghs) until Map Making (barb galleys).

 

[YNCS]

Curraghs only show in front the coast one or two squares (depending on terrain). Having a curragh or two explore the coast is fine, but we will need several warriors to explore the interior, meet the neighbors, and die at the hands of barbarians.

 

[Ulyaoth]

I'm for land exploration first, followed by a curragh or two, then more warriors.

 

[Provolution]

I say, build 2 warriors, then a curraugh, assess city growth, and build according to the city growth ratio, possibly a new warrior or a new settler. When new settler is built , build a new curraugh for sailing the other direction.

 

[Ashburnham]

I, too, think land exploration takes precidence over sea. After all, we can only build cities on land, so finding suitable city sites is more important than discovering the shape of our continent.

 

[Donovan Zoi]

Without seeing the map, I would say:

Warrior / Curragh / Warrior / Curragh

We'll need the Warriors to pop goodie huts (barb huts?), as well as scout for interlopers. But the Curragh could define the outskirts of our land so that our Warriors do not waste time inadvertently heading towards the coast.

Plus a Curragh will be more quickly built from a Size 2 city, so there's another reason to lead with Warrior.

 

[blackheart]

We need to secure our home island (if that's the case) before colonizing other islands. It is just annoys me when I've left a gap and an AI civ plops a city down on my island.

 

[MOTH]

Speed of initial contact can be a key to be able to trade for all of the opening techs. Curragh's have a much better chance of finding contacts due to their 3x speed and ability to see further along the coast to spot borders.

I say that we should build curragh / warrior / curragh / warrior / settler. If we've got food bonuses available at the start then I might consider building the settler earlier. In either case, once we see the starting location I will employ my analysis and calculations on possible optimal starts to get expansion running quickly (that will be a tactical discussion of course).

Out of the people that clearly stated a preference it appears to 3 (GA, RM, M) want at least 1 curragh first and 4 (Uly, Prv, Ash, DZ) want at least 1 warrior first. I couldn't determine (or maybe just interpret) the preferences of 6 people (TB, CT, CG, BH, YN, or bh).

 

[GenMarshall]

Without seeing the map, I would say:

Warrior / Curragh / Warrior / Curragh

We'll need the Warriors to pop goodie huts (barb huts?), as well as scout for interlopers. But the Curragh could define the outskirts of our land so that our Warriors do not waste time inadvertently heading towards the coast.

Plus a Curragh will be more quickly built from a Size 2 city, so there's another reason to lead with Warrior.

I would pop huts more conservatively in a higher difficulty level since there is a higher chance of poping goodie huts that contain agressive barbarian warriors.

I have given thought of using the Curragh for scouting our coastal waters, but then I had to think realisticly and keep my eye on the department incharge of where settlers plop to settle. Im sure that if we find a good coastal area with access to fish and wheat/cattle resources, then curragh scouts are possible .

 

[Bertie]

Once I see the start I may change my mind, but I'd prefer to produce two warriors, then a curragh. The warriors are useful for scouting the immediate vicinity, which is important so we can begin planning where to place our cities. Also, if we have neighbors right on our doorstep it's important to learn that ASAP. If we have an aggressive neighbor close by that may affect our military strategy.

I do agree that we should produce several curraghs as soon as feasible. Curraghs make early exploration easier, and discovering early trading partners should help us keep up in technology. If we think our capital can become a settler pump, however, most of these may need to be produced by our second city.

 

[Provolution]

We are in the far south of the map, and the ocean is south, and it looks like we got plenty of land up north, I would say we go for 2 warriors and a curraugh, then reassess as we explore more.

 

[Ginger_Ale]

Warriors will take a long time to meet other civs. I would like a curragh -> warrior -> curragh, then maybe a settler. If we don't settle on one of the wines (I like going 1 SE, even though we waste the river), and we irrigate them, mine the BGs and one additional grassland, we can have +4 fpt, and a six turn settler factory at sizes 4-5.

 

[Rik Meleet]

"Where to settle" should be a different thread.

This particulair food-low start requires a good location for a 2nd city. That is best done by land. So I opt warrior - curragh - curragh - warrior (MP)

 

[Ashburnham]

I definately think we should get a warrior going before a boat. Scouting city locations takes precidence over finding out the shape of our continent. I would prefer warrior -- warrior -- curragh.