Foundation and Empire

[godevils]

I read VoiceofUnreason's post completely and would like some advice as to what did I do wrong or right. What is next and how can I fix any deficiencies. Thanks to all who post and write on these forums as it helps all of our improved gameplay.

 

[Amao]

10 cities and 8 workers. So, you failed the basic strategies.

 

[godevils]

10 cities and 8 workers. So, you failed the basic strategies.

so any other advice or just a failing grade

 

[VoiceOfUnreason]

I read VoiceofUnreason's post completely and would like some advice as to what did I do wrong or right. What is next and how can I fix any deficiencies.

So the first thing I would suggest that you do is look at the Info/Demographics screen (F9, if you can't find the button in the interface). It shows that you are the front runner in every category except GNP, where you are dead last. This helps to explain your wretched tech rate.

You really ought to have seen that this was a problem at around turn 75 or so. If I ever actually write up the guide, I'll make sure to include some rough guidelines for research speed. You probably needed to prioritize a library in Washington higher than you did, and also perhaps in those northern cities that already have their food hooked up.

You're using too many units for fog busting -- I *love* that you have the units; but you've packed them more closely than you need to. A unit prevents a barbarian from spawning in two rings around it, so an ideal spread will have units 4 tiles apart, and four tiles away from your borders. Units cost more money when they are outside your borders, so bring the ones you don't need back inside.

Your placement of Boston: ok location, bad timing. Pigs are an awesome tile, especially on a flat tile. Pigs in a jungle, though... not so much. If you are going to settle the jungle early, you need to be looking at Iron Working as an immediate research target after Writing.

Floodplains in the capital usually want cottages, rather than farms.


That said, I think you have a pretty easy position to recover from. Revolt into slavery, whip libraries. Bring the troops back inside your borders. Stop building the granaries for now -- if the city doesn't have enough food for libraries and scientists, build wealth until you can get yourself up to about 50 research per turn. Then take stock. Start figuring out where your happiness is going to come from.