- Joined
- Mar 26, 2007
- Messages
- 7,920
I had a good start with Suleiman, but claimed Iron too late and got DoWed by Elizabeth right after I bulbed Machinery. Be sure you have your source of Iron solidly defended. Settle on Iron, if that's a reasonable option. You don't want to lose Iron, a few turns after getting Machinery. I was only able to build 3 Crossbowmen before Elizabeth captured my Iron City. I tried to recapture it with 2 Crossbowmen + 1 Archer and 3 Catapults, but fell short and eventually lost my entire wimpy stack.
I plan to try another start with Suleiman. I now have a better handle on how to squeeze out Machinery and Engineering sooner.
Brief Strategy Sketch:
Research Pottery first to build a few Cottages on Floodplains and Riverside Grassland plus build an early Granary for faster growth in the capital.
Next research worker technologies as needed like Animal Husbandry and Mining. Try to have a start with at least one Gems or Gold in the BFC.
Next, pass on Bronze Working for now, unless you have many forests to chop. Research Writing instead to build a Library in the capital. Crank up the population and get at least one Settler out. Hire at least one Scientist when the Library is completed. Do not build any great wonders, not even The Oracle. The Oracle will pollute your Great Person gene pool and your want to generate two Great Scientists as the first two Great People.
Be sure to avoid Fishing and Meditation (or with Meditation, avoid both Code of Laws and Drama). Doing the former avoids the Sailing -> Compass GS bulbing line. Doing the latter avoids "wasting" a GS bulb on Philosophy (which would require one to generate three GS rather than just two).
Be sure to build a small empire of 3-4 cities close to the capital to keep research high and maintenance low.
Before you can bulb Machinery, you must research or trade for Aesthetics, Mathematics, Alphabet and Iron Working, otherwise the GS would bulb these technologies. I recommend researching Mathematics first to trade plus smaller technologies for Alphabet once one or more is have Alphabet to trade. You will probably need to research Aesthetics, unless you include Mansa Musa as an opponent (I omitted him, because he may become a research threat). This strategy may work better without Mansa Musa in it.
To bulb Engineering, you simply need to trade for Masonry and research Construction.
Next research Feudalism. Capturing cities should keep research at 100%. Start chaining AI capitulations once Feudalism is completed. Give cities back to vassals to improve relations and reduce maintenance costs.
After Feudalism, Currency should be available for trade or tribute.
Sun Tzu Wu
I plan to try another start with Suleiman. I now have a better handle on how to squeeze out Machinery and Engineering sooner.
Brief Strategy Sketch:
Research Pottery first to build a few Cottages on Floodplains and Riverside Grassland plus build an early Granary for faster growth in the capital.
Next research worker technologies as needed like Animal Husbandry and Mining. Try to have a start with at least one Gems or Gold in the BFC.
Next, pass on Bronze Working for now, unless you have many forests to chop. Research Writing instead to build a Library in the capital. Crank up the population and get at least one Settler out. Hire at least one Scientist when the Library is completed. Do not build any great wonders, not even The Oracle. The Oracle will pollute your Great Person gene pool and your want to generate two Great Scientists as the first two Great People.
Be sure to avoid Fishing and Meditation (or with Meditation, avoid both Code of Laws and Drama). Doing the former avoids the Sailing -> Compass GS bulbing line. Doing the latter avoids "wasting" a GS bulb on Philosophy (which would require one to generate three GS rather than just two).
Be sure to build a small empire of 3-4 cities close to the capital to keep research high and maintenance low.
Before you can bulb Machinery, you must research or trade for Aesthetics, Mathematics, Alphabet and Iron Working, otherwise the GS would bulb these technologies. I recommend researching Mathematics first to trade plus smaller technologies for Alphabet once one or more is have Alphabet to trade. You will probably need to research Aesthetics, unless you include Mansa Musa as an opponent (I omitted him, because he may become a research threat). This strategy may work better without Mansa Musa in it.
To bulb Engineering, you simply need to trade for Masonry and research Construction.
Next research Feudalism. Capturing cities should keep research at 100%. Start chaining AI capitulations once Feudalism is completed. Give cities back to vassals to improve relations and reduce maintenance costs.
After Feudalism, Currency should be available for trade or tribute.
Sun Tzu Wu