first leader - now what

[alja]

I always have used my first leader to rush the hidden palace and get another area of my empire to work. Otherwise a city would need around 100-400 turns to build it. This is very helpful.

Does it make sense to build an army to be able to build this wonder increasing the chance of getting more heros?

I have never done this (didn't know so far ;-) ) and I see ~1-2 leaders in my games. Having 4 armies to build the pentagon is impossible for me.

Does it really help to build this 'forgot the name' wonder? Do you use your first leader for an army to have it asap? How many leaders you see in an average game with/without this wonder?

 

[Bamspeedy]

In one game I got 7 leaders without being a militaristic civ or having the heroic epic wonder. Other games I don't see any leaders even if I am militaristic, or after I do get 1 leader and build the heroic epic, I don't get any leaders after that.

It does improve your odds of getting more leaders, but it all depends on the situation. A forbidden palace in the right place can be more powerful any 2 or even 3 wonders. So I would decide if you want to run the risk of having to build the FP 1 shield at a time or to build an army instead to increase your chances of more leaders.

I only build armies if there isn't any real good wonders available and I already have my FP/or not a good spot for the FP yet.

 

[Catt]

If you use a leader to build an army AND that army is successful in battle (only needs to win once!), you will be able to build the Heroic Epic small wonder. The Heroic Epic changes the odds of leader generation from a successful battle by an elite unit from 1/16 to 1/12 (1/32 to 1/24 if the elite unit is defending). Perhaps equally important is that a victorious army will also allow you to build the Military Academy small wonder -- but this wonder is not available until you have discovered the technology "Military Tradition" at the end of the Middle Ages. The city that builds the Military Academy (but only that city) can thereafter build armies (just like any other build item such as a military unit, city improvement, etc).

The Pentagon small wonder is available after you have three armies. The Pentagon increases the capacity of armies from 3 units to 4 units.

Every decision depends on the circumstances of the particular game -- that being said, it seems pretty common that people who post on these boards use their first leader for either: (1) rush-building the forbidden palace; or (2) creating an army and making sure the army is victorious so that the Heroic Epic and Military Academy small wonders are available. A smaller number of people posting here seem to use that first leader to rush a great wonder such as the Pyramids, etc. But again -- virtually every decision is informed by the particular circumstances.

 

[Tassadar]

I like to use a leader to make an army, especialy if i expect to conquer the world. The forbiden palace can be built in a city size 6 with WLKD+courthouse+temple( rush built $ those building) in a resonable amount of time. But it always depend on the situation.

As for leader generation, i have experience that if i am under attack, i will have much greater chance to get a GL, but if i am the warmonger, then no more GL. It happen in 2 game. Firts one i was pacific, under republic, and persia declare war on me, i got about 4-5 GL during that war. In a second game, i was the bad guy, and i never got a GL. Both game i played with german. So where this 1/16 came from, is this another urban legend?

 

['Copter Pilot]

In my last game (Iroquois/Monarch) I used the only leader I got to rush the Great Library, because I really needed to catch up with tech. I didn't intend to do much warmongering after I had kicked the Americans off my nice continent, so I thought I'd better not waste it on an army, build the Heroic Epic and declare war on someone else just because I want more Great Leaders. I fought one more war, but only for a few turns, so I think I made the right decision.

I've found that you only ever get Great Leaders if you don't think about them. Start a war, move in all your elite units and attack like mad hoping for a GL, and you're more likely to win by conquest than get a GL. Rush in two elite swordsmen to get access to a bit of dye or salpeter or whatever, and you'll get a GL (and loose the ressource a turn later to an attacking spearman).

Tassadar, maybe GLs become more likely if the same unit wins more than one fight in a turn. Thus successfully defending against two immortals might help a lot.

 

[Lt. 'Killer' M.]

Check carefully: is there a wonder that gives you a big instant boost? Do you really need the FP NOW? OR can you use an army to conquer all across the continent?

Then decide!

If you know that there will sooner or later come a time of conquest, I suggest the army, if the conquest phase is over, go for the FP in a good location.

Make sure you do use one leader for an army, if you play on until modern times, it can get very frustrating to fight wars, and being able to build armies in a city like any other unit can then be very helpfull!

 

[bobgote]

yeh, 1st leader i suggest for an army. After that, never use them for armies, save them for wonders, but I like having the option of the army and related small wonders.

 

[LKendter]

Actually the rule above all:

Use the leader ASAP - unless a critical item within a handfull of turns. Never forget the one at 1 time rule.

As for the first one - the time plays factor. I have gotten one around 3000BC - warrior meets barbs, promote to elite - meets the enemy and a leader. That time I rushed the pyramids. To early for an fp, and I wasn't about to make a warrior army . It always depends on the situtation.

However - unless playing always war and leader overload -

My goals for leaders are fp when timing is right, army for the he / ma, and critical wonders. Not a great choice around - hey, rushing small wonders in a low production town still isn't bad

 

[D9phoenix]

And one little nice thing about armies later in the game... armies disband for 100 shields so they make great rushers in newly conquered territories. ( its nice having Iron works, factory, hoover dam with manufacturing plant all in the same city )