Grand Strategy Thread

[donsig]

If we are going to research polytheism then we should not go into anarchy until that is done. (I still can't look at the save so I'm not sure if we'll finish poly before or after the torch.) We don't want to hold up poly because we want FREE to do MA research while we are in our anarchy. We also have to time our learning of poly so as to avoid massive barbarian uprisings.

 

[zyxy]

@donsig: the timing of researching Poly and building the Torch match up quite nicely, and it also matches quite well with FREE leaving their anarchy. I think that we'll also be able to disperse the barb camps around the same time, but that's a bit harder to say - it depends to some extent on what the barbs do .

 

[donsig]

Cool. This is getting exciting. I'm on pins and needles about the Great Lighthouse! I like the fact that we're researching polytheism. That will allow us to back off on getting it for a turn if we need to deal with one last barb camp. It's time to think about MAAP II.

 

[donsig]

and build a worker from The Admiralty (right after The Torch).

What should The Admiralty focus on after this? Does it still lack a library? Should we use it for settlers or galleys? Should we build the Colossus?

 

[Aigburth]

The Admiralty will need an aquaduct to grow beyond size 6 so this should be a priority, it will also need library and maybe harbour aswell in time.

 

[Paul#42]

The Admirality should build a worker, a library, a temple, a duct, a harbor...
edit: a duct is rather expensive an worthless without a temple. I'd build worker-lib-worker-harbor-worker-temple there before turning to a duct...

I' suggest we should start our wonders in different towns so they all get similarily (under-)developed...

I'd like a science wonder in The Treasury in the mid run...
Maybe we start a Cope's prebuild early? Depending on which free techs we get we might get Astro in some 30 turns from now... 400 shields in a town that is doing 7 spt currently... Wait, The Treasury is already working on Sistines'...
That might be tough to build Cope's there. Maybe Newton's some 10 turns later?

Could we get a SGL, please?

 

[Aigburth]

My thoughts on the duct was to get it to size 7 early to help with unit support in Republic, we could control happiness by hiring a specialist.

 

[donsig]

Some tough choices ahead for The Admiralty and The Treasury. We don't have many choices for coastal wonder cities. How about Colossus and Copernicus in The Admiralty? Is that doable at size 6? Is it worth it?

 

[zyxy]

In TA I would do worker (to reduce in size for the anarchy), followed by lib and aqueduct. Temple is not really needed as we will be using lux tax anyway, and I like Aigburth's argument for the aqueduct.

EDIT: I think we need to pick our wonders and not try to build everything. Colossus is nice but not a gamebreaker IMO. Cops is better, but doesn't need to be coastal.

 

[donsig]

What about the combination of colussus and Copernicus in the same city? Also not worth it? BTW, I agree with the worker in The Admiralty before anarchy, I'm thinking beyond that to when we are in republic. As for the temple, well, aren't we planning on having a cathedral in The Admiralty eventually? Are you saying we don't need that or we can wait on the temple till the city grows larger?

 

[AutomatedTeller]

I think a duct in the admiralty.

we won't get collosus - my guess is that everyone is building the lighthouse now, so they will switch to either pyramids or SoZ and when Pyramids cascade, collosus will be gone.

but if we could get collosus, it would be nice...

 

[donsig]

Well, it will be interesting to see if anything else is built next turn (now that GONG has the Pyramids).

 

[zyxy]

@donsig: I meant the temple is not needed yet. Later, yes.

I think we should aim for about 1 in every 6 "good" wonders. Building too many wonders means too little infra and military. I don't think we'll be able to get the Colossus. Of the AA wonders, Mausoleum, Artemis, Wall and Oracle will not be popular, which leaves Pyramids, Torch, Library, Gardens, Zeus and Colossus. (Unless I forget one.)

 

[Paul#42]

Not getting the Torch changes our whole strategy in every aspect of the game. This is a completely new game to me now.

• We suddenly need defense. --> SoZ, barracks (up warriors, build horses), cats?
• We can't settle the islands that easy. --> focus on settling our island?
• We can't hope to be the contact & tech broker. --> relationships to FREE, SABER

 

[donsig]

This doesn't change our long term plans - it only makes it a bit more difficult for us to survive to the long term. But BABE is not going ot be able to invade everyone all at once. Who is their likely first target? They will prolly shy away from GONG and those Gallic Swordsmen. (That could be why GONG built the Pyramids - they may not be so scared of an invasion.) So, BABE will want to take out one of the three scientific civs. We may get SoZ which would help our defenses. We may also want to consider holding off on our anarchy. If we manage to get monotheism and feudalism as our free techs it may be best for us to research chivalry while FREE works on theology. Boy, we don't want to end up in anarchy if BABE lands.

While I think we should pursue a marriage type relationship with FREE we also should see about including SABER to some extent. They're in the same boat as us - facing the prospect of a long anarchy under threat of invasion. I guess on second thought the sooner we get the anarchy over the better. There's no point in researching chivalry then going into anarchy - couldn't build knights until it was over anyway. The question is, is BABE ready to invade anyone yet?

 

[Paul#42]

It would be good to find out from which side the invasion by the BABEs would come.

Maybe it's about time to talk to SABER in a more open way about our contacts (who and where) so both of us (if they already understand our world's topolgy) can focus on the thread.

We could also send our galleys to the unknown islands or / and place them on choke points - rather for recon than to block actually...

I think BABE might very well have a fleet of max 5 galleys and 10 MW by now. That might do for a quick strike, speeding up reinforcements by starting their GA.

The question is whether they risk a quick strike, especially to a completely unknown target. If it fails, it throws them back big time...

 

[sirdanilot]

I don't think Babe will invade us if they are going for a quick strike. All the islands of all the civs 'border' two others right? We border saber and free, so I think Babe will invade someone who borders them. But not if they are close allies...

 

[zyxy]

Wotan is not the peaceful kind. I expect BABE to invade another civ very soon now. At the least they will start demanding things. And they probably have their army ready.

Their most likely target is us. Weakest civ, no early UU, low in score and power, hence an easy target. FREE is much tougher with those cheap spears. GONG has a strong UU, is in GA, and the pyramids will help a lot too, they're the least likely target. SABER is the most likely alternative, to prevent the sipahi, and they are also quite weak.

I think we need to take our anarchy now, We cannot postpone it forever, we may need the higher flexibility of a republic and now that they haven't found us yet is the safest moment.

 

[General_W]

I think we must start working under the assumption that we're BABE's most likely target.

Best things we can do:
#1) Get the SoZ
#2) Get into Republic and our anarchy over asap
#3) Get Feudalism and the Medieval Infantry asap
#4) Get a permanant deal with FREE signed
#5) Settle outlying isalnds for some early warning
#6) Get a side deal with Saber for some added protection.

 

[sirdanilot]

I wonder, if we switch now from the lighthouse to the SOZ, how many turns does it take untill SOZ is done?

I think we should start out Revolution directly after building the SOZ. And we should get a deal before that.