Help beating emperor

[City Raider]

You've got some good happiness resources around and with Washingtons Exp trait, you should be able to get out cities with high caps.

Wash can make a good Settler/worker pump (even working 2 scientists) once you grow to your cap.

I'd probably set up a cottage powerhouse in the FP area and look to make a dedicated military city. You have a nice stash of cash so you should be able to expand for a bit without dropping the slider. I'd probaby go 2-3 cities running scientists, 1 FP-cottage city, 1 Military and then start filling in other cities as you can afford.

I usually go Aesth over Alpha. Then I may put a turn or 2 into Alpha for trade. I like the Aest-Lit line for the early Great Library.

My tech path would probably be:
Aesth (hold and wait to trade for Alpha) - Lit - Alpha (via trade), Math (via trade) - Cur - COL
Trading for backfill.

1st Scientist can Academy Wash
2nd Scientist should be able to Bulb Philo at that point. (more trade bait).

I'm not sure how your planning on winning, but with 2 religions and you'll probably get Hindu from HC and Philo via Bulb you can make a strong play for Culture win. Madrid and Wash make a solid 1-2 and Barcelona should be a pretty stong production city to pump out needed culture buildings if you go that route.

That also may lead you up the Math-Music line for a free GA for an early settle, culture bomb, or save for Golden Age to switch civics once you get CS.

 

[mjg5591]

@Gliese, Kelo, and city raider

Thanks for all the great advice. Usually when I tech aest on monarch I still have to tech alphs myself. Now this being emperor it may be different. Although lurking the Imm/deity games they always go aest. I planned going hunting for the ivory happiness first then prolly to aest (unless you convince me for aplha), then to curr and col for economy. While backfilling through trade.

Plan on getting settler asap to the phant/FP site. But I think most important is to get a 2 chariots for scouting.

Plan on playing another round in 4-6 hours. Hopefully I'll have some more advice to go on. I'll prolly play til I can make a DOT map then stop and ask for more advice/suggestions.

@ city raider really haven't thought of a VC yet. But I like how your thinking about it in 1600BC.

EDIT: Forgot to add that I have 3 workers. I'll start making them in barcelona after it comes out of revolt and whip monument.

Really gratful for the advice everyone is giving.

Mike

 

[vicawoo]

My priority would be to explore and pump 3-4 settlers to block out the western part of the island. It's worth delaying the great scientist.

 

[mjg5591]

Played til 725BC,

tech path was hunting, aest, ?

1250BC I OB with AC.

1225BC Settle NY FP city.

725BC I stopped for few reasons. Wanted to play longer, but I need advice.

Joao II is in WHEOOHRN. Rome has 9 cities already. My power is low. I had alot of barb problems. Lost like 8 chariots already. Only have 4 cities cuz of this reason.

Joao is to the west. HC is North. AC is NW. Few barb cities have popped up.

Going forward I might be Joao's target. I have a settler ready to settle. Haven't made a DOT map yet. Economy is in the tank. Only making 5gpt at 0% slider. I just started running scientists in Waashington. Needed anti barb units. 23 turns til first GS.

Planning on making barcelona a unit pump for now. Madrid commerece. NY commerece also. If have any better suggestions let me know. I have 6 workers. 7th being built in washington.


Screenshots.

North lands.

West lands.

Tech. Joao has alpha but won't trade me.

 

[Gumbolt]

You are killing this save!!!!

Sailing would help with trade routes and light houses.

In Washington thats 2 food from the clam you are wasting. That flood plain could be cottaged too. You have built 3 cottages in Washington and you are using none!!! You are not at the happiness cap yet.

New York is a bit late really for 1225. I would of built two cities before you started the rush. The Holy city will hold less value till it has a shrine and you have spread the religion a bit. I might of built New York on the hill. Why waste a flood plains for a desert hill?

Madrid and Barcelona are plagued by forest. Madrid should probably run 2 scientists. Plains forest are really annoying!! if you need cash you could raze a few barb cities.

Barcelona is quite a poor city for the terrain. Under that forest is just plains. Its a bit close to madrid too. It is a holy city but I guess the penalty for burning a holy city diplo wise is too high.

I am looking for a 5th city for your grand empire but I am struggling for a decent site. The gold city west of Madrid or the 3 sugar/corn city north of New York seem best.

You have a spare settler for this.

 

[mjg5591]

Played til 10AD

Following gumbolt's advice made few changes. Started running 2 scientists in Madrid. Went to capture some barb cities, only to find AC beat me to them. Only see 1 barb city left and it's on a hill. Switched to the clams in capital for the 2 commerce. And if I did what Gumbolt suggested and settled NY on desert hill I would have iron in it's BFC.

This round was about getting economy back on track.

675BC I settled Boston south of capital. Pig/Wheat city. My reasons were as follows. Gold site west near Joao was where I wanted to go. But him being in WHEOOHRN I decided to go elsewhere. I didn't have the military to hold it if he did declare. As for north Sugar site as gumbolt suggested, It had a barb city up there that AC captured. So that's why i decided south of capital.

525BC My fears become true. Joao II declares on me. I built some axeman in advance.

455BC I wipe his stack of in field near Madrid. Had 3-4 axes and 2 spears. I get a GG and make a super medic chariot.

380BC I sue for peace and net archery. Also Joao switches to conf. This helps as AC and HC are Hindu. I have yet to pick a religion.

365BC Trade Joao aest for alpha and med. Start teching currency.

350BC Trade aest to AC for IW. Find iron just to north of NY.

335BC SoZ in Barcelona. Was hoping for failure cash, but this will help for WW.

65BC Trade aest to HC for math.

10AD Trade alpha to AC for sailing, masonry, and 60gold. Pop a GS in Madrid which is why I stopped here.

After currency I teched Col, PH (to open monarchy), Poly (to open lit), ?

Some Screenshots of empire, tech and demo.

Going forward.

I have a settler popping in Madrid next turn. Settler being produced in NY in about 10 turns unless I whip. Trying for gold/rice site west and Iron/corn city north.

JoaoII is in WHEOOHRN again. He is worst enemy of HC. But could be coming after me again.

What should I tech next? go to construction for cats? Got to HBR for phants? Monarchy for happy cap? I can trade joao fpr monarchy. ANy trade advice? Go to lit for GL?

What to do with GS that just Popped? Academy in capital or madrid? Bulb philo (I would get taoism).

Need to get my fogbusters back down south more barbs popping up.

Any advice really welcome. I struggle in late BC's and early AD's.

Thanks Mike.

Save,

 

[Gumbolt]

I still dont get what you are trying to do overall. New York is still size 4-5 and it has an unused floodplain. Building a settler in New York is really a bad idea in terms of growth. Working the ivory instead of flood plains didnt seem optimal either.

Madrid is working on cottages but you are no longer using the food resource for growth. A size 10-11 city will be much more useful than a slow size 4-5 city. Is this because of the happiness cap?

In terms of land this save was always going to be tough. I do feel you could of rexxed much more on this save. 5 cities is what is limiting you at present. 6 workers for the 5 cities is clearly not enough. If you want settlers I would be chopping that forest for them. That or using the forest for units.

I am guessing your city sizes are due to whipping because of the war with JoaII. If only you had settled New York around 2800bc instead of 1200bc.

Despite all this you still seem to be in the game. You might find whipping units for a war a struggle though.

Washington still needs a light house!!

 

[kossin]

I will echo Gumbolt here.

You are NOT connected to any of your neighbors' by 10AD. This is very very very bad! You've lost at least 1 tech worth of commerce because of this already. Your workers should spend a few turns to road towards them.

More cities and more workers, 5 by 1AD is not going to cut it. There is lot of good land available still!

For example: cow/marble/horses, gold/rice is okay but will be a culture presser - maybe avoid it, and a lot around the north barb city... basically settle food resources.

There are several resources in the south that you could also claim for happy/trade.

Have you found out a Joao SoD? If so, park your units in the city closest to it. HC is his worst enemy but they don't share borders so you never know.

Trade Currency to Joao for Monarchy+gold. revolt to HR and hope he doesn't DoW you you'll be good buddies in no time.

You can go Literature for TGL+Parth+NE combo or CS. Note that Washington looks more like a prod/specialist city than a cottage one.
A strong Bureau city would be Madrid I think.

You also don't really need courthouses before the cities start costing 8+gpt or unless you have nothing else to build.

And you already know but there are more barbs down south.

The game is still winnable but if you keep heading in the same direction, it will be hard to salvage.

Plan:
Check for Joao SoD, if none, you're fine. Otherwise, park units and make sure you have enough to withstand his attack.
Settlers/workers
Focus on food/growth/happiness. Courthouses don't need to be built for several hundred years still.
Try to get the barb cities north with your units.
Make friends.

 

[Gumbolt]

I played this from the start for a bit of fun. Up to around 1625bc I think.

Spoiler :

I settled in place and went the AH route due to resources in BFC. I need to play the map honestly.

My warrior went to hut to claim its 60-70 gold. Seeing those flood plains just made me sooo happy!!!

Washington built a worker first, then a workboat growing to size 2/3. Once worker complete I worked the cows and horse and then set about teching to BW. Meanwhile I grew Washington to size 4-5 finishing off the 2 work boats. before BW was complete i finished off a second worker.

After BW I went Myst and pottery for the flood plains site where New York is.

With all this done and NY settled with its warrior escort I set NY to warrior to grow to size 2-3. Eventually whipping a granary there and in Washington.

Washington then set about the task of building chariots. Once i had 4-5 I noted barcelona only had a single archer defending it. I attacked with 3 chariots taking the city. Madrid also only had one archer defending it. It fell quite easily. The Spanish had a third city which i also captured.

5 cities by 1650bc or so. Two holy cities that need a shrine.

Due to all the whipping in Washington i am now low on happiness. That beiing said I just whipped 3 pop for a worker. Theres so much food and production there and I need 3-4 more workers.

I am building more workers elsewhere but for now I see Washington as a worker pump.

See where this save leads to but that Ivory is tempting for a pult/phant rush later on.

I do think not building New York before the rush on Spanish has held your game up. New York should of had granary, cottages and lots more by date you had built it. The rush on Spanish didnt need a huge amount of resources on my save as her defences were weak. 1 archer a city. Really poor defences for her.

It would be interesting to see you start over to see what a difference up to 1ad would be now you have seen all the comments made. The start isnt as weak as it first looked.

 

[mjg5591]

I still dont get what you are trying to do overall. New York is still size 4-5 and it has an unused floodplain. Building a settler in New York is really a bad idea in terms of growth. Working the ivory instead of flood plains didnt seem optimal either.

Madrid is working on cottages but you are no longer using the food resource for growth. A size 10-11 city will be much more useful than a slow size 4-5 city. Is this because of the happiness cap?

In terms of land this save was always going to be tough. I do feel you could of rexxed much more on this save. 5 cities is what is limiting you at present. 6 workers for the 5 cities is clearly not enough. If you want settlers I would be chopping that forest for them. That or using the forest for units.

I am guessing your city sizes are due to whipping because of the war with JoaII. If only you had settled New York around 2800bc instead of 1200bc.

Despite all this you still seem to be in the game. You might find whipping units for a war a struggle though.

Washington still needs a light house!!

Thanks for the advice. Madrid just whipped a settler that's why food resource not being used. NY using ivory to get settle rout 2 turns earlier. But I agree about building the settler in NY. I should have used barcelona.

As for Washington not having lighthouse I just got sailing. I will build it ASAP.

5 cities is not good I agree but I was worried about Joao when he went into WHEOOHRN. So i built whip units.

All I was trying to do this round was get economy back on track. My goal next round is expansion. 2-3 cities down south for the resources. Get iron city hooked up. Maybe get the barb city up north.

Thanks for the advice Gumbolt. Any idea's about the GS? Bulb philo for trade bait or make academy?

 

[mjg5591]

I will echo Gumbolt here.

You are NOT connected to any of your neighbors' by 10AD. This is very very very bad! You've lost at least 1 tech worth of commerce because of this already. Your workers should spend a few turns to road towards them.

More cities and more workers, 5 by 1AD is not going to cut it. There is lot of good land available still!

For example: cow/marble/horses, gold/rice is okay but will be a culture presser - maybe avoid it, and a lot around the north barb city... basically settle food resources.

There are several resources in the south that you could also claim for happy/trade.

Have you found out a Joao SoD? If so, park your units in the city closest to it. HC is his worst enemy but they don't share borders so you never know.

Trade Currency to Joao for Monarchy+gold. revolt to HR and hope he doesn't DoW you you'll be good buddies in no time.

You can go Literature for TGL+Parth+NE combo or CS. Note that Washington looks more like a prod/specialist city than a cottage one.
A strong Bureau city would be Madrid I think.

You also don't really need courthouses before the cities start costing 8+gpt or unless you have nothing else to build.

And you already know but there are more barbs down south.

The game is still winnable but if you keep heading in the same direction, it will be hard to salvage.

Plan:
Check for Joao SoD, if none, you're fine. Otherwise, park units and make sure you have enough to withstand his attack.
Settlers/workers
Focus on food/growth/happiness. Courthouses don't need to be built for several hundred years still.
Try to get the barb cities north with your units.
Make friends.

Haven't seen Joao SoD I have a chariot over there looking now. I had fogbusters down south but moved them up when Joao declared on me and never got them back down there. I lost a worker to a barb axe which i had defeded by chariot. But will make few more start of next round.

Not getting hooked up to my neighbor's is bad. After initial rush, got so worried about getting economy back on trackI just overlooked this. Which is ironic, Hooking up to neighbor's would have helpedf the economy.

Next round plan to expand down south and to the north iron site.

Think I should move capital to Madrid? Use the GS I just got for academy there? Or bulb philo for trade bait?

Thanks for the advice Kossin. Don't know why I struggle so bad on emperor and win 95% on monarch.

 

[Gumbolt]

Thanks for the advice. Madrid just whipped a settler that's why food resource not being used. NY using ivory to get settle rout 2 turns earlier. But I agree about building the settler in NY. I should have used barcelona.

As for Washington not having lighthouse I just got sailing. I will build it ASAP.

5 cities is not good I agree but I was worried about Joao when he went into WHEOOHRN. So i built whip units.

All I was trying to do this round was get economy back on track. My goal next round is expansion. 2-3 cities down south for the resources. Get iron city hooked up. Maybe get the barb city up north.

Thanks for the advice Gumbolt. Any idea's about the GS? Bulb philo for trade bait or make academy?

Normally an academy first for Scientists but philoshpy would be great trade bait. It would help boost your science. Take a look at my save see what you think. I will complete it up to 10ad tomorrow. I will have built an army of workers by then.

 

[kossin]

Except there's nothing to trade for. You may also consider settling it if
-you expect another GS soon.
-it will bring more beakers (the isn't to be neglected either)

 

[mjg5591]

I played this from the start for a bit of fun. Up to around 1625bc I think.

Spoiler :

I settled in place and went the AH route due to resources in BFC. I need to play the map honestly.

My warrior went to hut to claim its 60-70 gold. Seeing those flood plains just made me sooo happy!!!

Washington built a worker first, then a workboat growing to size 2/3. Once worker complete I worked the cows and horse and then set about teching to BW. Meanwhile I grew Washington to size 4-5 finishing off the 2 work boats. before BW was complete i finished off a second worker.

After BW I went Myst and pottery for the flood plains site where New York is.

With all this done and NY settled with its warrior escort I set NY to warrior to grow to size 2-3. Eventually whipping a granary there and in Washington.

Washington then set about the task of building chariots. Once i had 4-5 I noted barcelona only had a single archer defending it. I attacked with 3 chariots taking the city. Madrid also only had one archer defending it. It fell quite easily. The Spanish had a third city which i also captured.

5 cities by 1650bc or so. Two holy cities that need a shrine.

Due to all the whipping in Washington i am now low on happiness. That beiing said I just whipped 3 pop for a worker. Theres so much food and production there and I need 3-4 more workers.

I am building more workers elsewhere but for now I see Washington as a worker pump.

See where this save leads to but that Ivory is tempting for a pult/phant rush later on.

I do think not building New York before the rush on Spanish has held your game up. New York should of had granary, cottages and lots more by date you had built it. The rush on Spanish didnt need a huge amount of resources on my save as her defences were weak. 1 archer a city. Really poor defences for her.

It would be interesting to see you start over to see what a difference up to 1ad would be now you have seen all the comments made. The start isnt as weak as it first looked.

Checked out your save. Wow what a difference. I had built 10 chariots for Izzy. She had 2 archer's if i recall in both cities. I lost few at 80+ odds on barcelona.

I will play the game over when I finish this save. To see if I can play better.

 

[mjg5591]

Except there's nothing to trade for. You may also consider settling it if
-you expect another GS soon.
-it will bring more beakers (the isn't to be neglected either)

I just got the GS. So I think it's 50 turns to next one, if I don't switch to caste.

 

[Gumbolt]

I just got the GS. So I think it's 50 turns to next one, if I don't switch to caste.

A GP farm would help here!!! Your first GS by 10ad is a bit slow. On some Emperor walk through people set up a second city with food and 2 scientists to pop a GS earlier. Makes sense really.

 

[mjg5591]

To 1000AD,

Started off by switching some things. Thanks to advice from gumbolt and kossin.
Started making workers in barcelona. Traded Joao currency for monarchy and 75 gold. The GS I had I made academy in Madrid. Moving Palace here later. Switched to HR also.

70AD I settled Philadelphia. cow/marble/horse city. Also traded col and 30gold to HC for construction.

100AD Settled Atlanta iron/corn site.

145AD Sell Poly to AC for 90gold. This was mistake as he beat me to Parthenon.

265AD Joao declares on HC.

280AD Trade alphabet and monarchy to HC for calender and 90gold.

325AD Joao declares on AC. Failed marriage event. This helps out as to slow thier tech rate down.

640AD GL in Washington. Also put NE here made my GP farm. Moved Palace to Madrid.
Trade Lit to AC for mono and 115gold.

700AD switch to Buro and Caste

820AD Bulb philo not first to religion. But I have monopoly on continent. Also first to Music STarted GA. Switched to pacifism and budda. Did this as budda only religion I have in Washington. Wanted to get 2 scientists from GA to 2x bulb education. Hinu won't spread to me. I want to switch to it.

930AD I 2x edu bulb. GA over and I switch back to NSR and paganism.

990AD Sistine in Barcelona. Thinking since I have 3 religions and maybe 4 if hindu spreads, I can go for culture. Although thinking of still taking Joao out.

Joao is worst enemies of HC and AC so this helps alot. Haven't met other 2 civs yet.

Screenshots.

Going forward.

Need to settle silver and fur for happiness and trade bait. Should have been done already.

HE is in Barcelona. NE in Washington. Plan on puting GT in Washington.

Thinking of switching to slavery to whip universities to get OU in Madrid.

Need help going forward. Think culture is good way of VC? Should I beeline rifling and take out Joao? Maybe try and take out AC or HC? Get to optics to find other civ's? I'm teching Liberlism atm.

Any trdae advice? Thinking philo to both AC and HC hoping to get Fued and machinery.

 

[Gumbolt]

Not had a chance to view but your pics look like you are much more in control now. DOW on JoaII would get you friendlier with joaII. Not sure what units you have. Not looked at save yet. its midnight here and i should be in bed really.

 

[mjg5591]

Not had a chance to view but your pics look like you are much more in control now. DOW on JoaII would get you friendlier with joaII. Not sure what units you have. Not looked at save yet. its midnight here and i should be in bed really.

I'm last in power, but started building WE and cats. 0.8 to Joao. I also only have 7 cities. Joao also only has 7-8 cities. Can't see HC power his esp must be on me.

 

[kossin]

If you're planning an elepult war, stop building infrastructure and focus on units because as soon as Joao gets Engineering, it's going to take forever to bring down the defenses. Make sure that if you choose this path to bring enough catapults, he has Longbows.
Personally, I don't think your production is that great since you have a lot of cottages and not the right techs to make them powerful yet, so I wouldn't go down that road just yet. Not to say that you can't take him out this way but I don't like fair fights