GOTM 62 First Spoiler

[Arnold_T]

I think you're definately right about needing more warriors for fogbusting. while I was busy building a Libary the Barbs spawned a city and quickly launched an attack
Thanks neilmeister!

 

[Mitchum]

I will try to beeline CS wthout Writing and Library. I was foillowing the CS/PCS Slingshot strategy posted by VirtualM Apr 19 2006, which says research Pottery (not sure why you need Pottery) and Writing to Library which will allow you to run Scientists in your Capital in order to get to CoL before the Oracle is finished. I guess what you guys are saying is that you risk missing the Oracle this way, and this will only work on lower levels, or games where most of the AI is Always at War with each other

Writing is on your CoL beeline, so you have to research it for the CS sling to work.

It's a tough call whether to build a library once you learn Writing. Research is typically the gating factor in pulling off the CS sling, not building the Oracle. Since the capital generates almost all of your early game , a library is sometimes required in order to finish CoL before an AI builds the Oracle. You just have to balance expansion, army and infrastructure.

Pottery is not required but sometimes useful. Since science is the gating factor, sometimes you need to lay down an early cottage or two to speed up CoL. If you have gold, silver or gems, you can typically skip Pottery and still research CoL fast enough.

BTW, pulling off the CS sling in BtS is much harder because you also have to research Math before you can take Civil Service from the Oracle.

 

[neilmeister]

You just have to balance expansion, army and infrastructure.

Well said. This is the tricky bit of course. Its funny, I normally find my problem with Oracle is , not (in Vanilla)

Another factor is the order in which you get techs. For each pre-req you have, a tech is cheaper. So, if you have both Pottery & PH, then Writing is 20% ??? cheaper than if you only had one.

 

[jesusin]

For each pre-req you have, a tech is cheaper. So, if you have both Pottery & PH, then Writing is 20% ??? cheaper than if you only had one.

With one requisite your base beaker output is multiplied by 120/100.
With 2 requisites your base beaker output is multiplied by 140/100.

The difference between having one and having two is thus 20/120= 16,6% improvement.



On my way to CS sling, if I have spare hammers, I only go Library if losing the sling means losing the game. Otherwise I build a Settler instead.

A succesful CS sling having 2 cities and no land left for settling is too close to defeat for my liking.