Help with Ethiopian UHV (#1)

[THEK1NG]

Hi everyone,

I'm getting really frustrated playing as the Ethiopian civ. Could anyone point out any flaws in my gameplay?

Monarch/Normal Speed

- Found Aksum and then Muqdisho 1R to the horse.
- Build libraries in both of them
- Research Theology
- Send a trireme towards India/China
- Build a Stele in Aksum

After that I just build barracks and units. But as soon as I get 15-20 turns before I can found Catholicism, another civ or independents found it

The first time I tried, I traded Meditation, Priesthood and Monotheism (I think). Big mistake, they got Theology way before I was close.

Second time (I started another game), Egypt collapsed because the Greeks and Romans were invading at the same time. Niwt-Rst got Catholicism

Third time the Greeks got it on their own. I didn't trade with them yet they still got it long before me.

If anyone has completed the UHV or has any tips, please tell me! Thanks.

 

[billyleeback16]

With Ethiopia I always go for broke trying to get a Prophet ASAP and bulb Theology for the UHV. That means whipping a stele and running priests as soon as you can.

 

[billyleeback16]

I would also add that it's kind of luck dependent based on how the auto-turns play out as well. Generally speaking other civs getting a prophet can end your UHV pretty quickly (I've had multiple games where Persia beat me with a GP) as can an independent Jerusalem which autofounds Christianity sometime between 1-150 AD.

 

[Askiya]

Hi everyone,

I'm getting really frustrated playing as the Ethiopian civ. Could anyone point out any flaws in my gameplay?

Monarch/Normal Speed

- Found Aksum and then Muqdisho 1R to the horse.
- Build libraries in both of them
- Research Theology
- Send a trireme towards India/China
- Build a Stele in Aksum

After that I just build barracks and units. But as soon as I get 15-20 turns before I can found Catholicism, another civ or independents found it

The first time I tried, I traded Meditation, Priesthood and Monotheism (I think). Big mistake, they got Theology way before I was close.

Second time (I started another game), Egypt collapsed because the Greeks and Romans were invading at the same time. Niwt-Rst got Catholicism

Third time the Greeks got it on their own. I didn't trade with them yet they still got it long before me.

If anyone has completed the UHV or has any tips, please tell me! Thanks.

Try building the stele first, then the library. Add a priest specialist immediately after you finish the stele. Then, trade Meditation, Priesthood, and Monotheism to the Greeks if they are collapsing (they are often collapsing when you spawn due to overexpansion + Roman invasion). I usually keep the trireme around Aksum to protect my fish and send my Swordsman/a flipped Medjay to India/China via the land route. You don't need to research Theology too much, usually the great prophet can bulb most of it. Playing like that, I get Theology about 2/3 games on Viceroy.

 

[youtien]

Found Muqadisho right on horse, it gives production. Build stele and raise GP there. Aksum build army and go conquest.

 

[Tigranes]

I want to found Orthodoxy not Catholicism as Ethiopia! Lets hope that day will come one day.

 

[THEK1NG]

Thanks everyone, it worked.
Here's what I did

- Founded both cities on the same place as before (Aksum at spawn and Muqdisho 1R of horse)
- Built Stele in both cities
- Aksum finished first, added one priest in the GP section
- Build library, added one scientist in the GP section to hurry the prophet

When the prophet was done, I was 20 turns away from Theology, and I bulbed it. Greeks, Egyptians and Bablyonians were dead for most of my game so I had less competition.

 

[Tigranes]

You could have got a scientist instead.

 

[THEK1NG]

I thought only Great Prophets could bulb Theology?

Anyway that save didn't work. UHV #2 was impossible. Having the Greeks alive is very important for Ethiopia, unlike what I previously thought. They gave me Iron Working and Mathematics too.

What I did was I only researched Theology up to a certain number (forgot what) and then waited for a Prophet while I researched Calender. I got the prophet, Theology and then Calender.

After that, I took my Galley and Settler (built them on my new Muqdisho which was on the horse) and razed Sana'a/built Jazan on the sheep. Popped borders once, sent in extra workers to take the 2 incense and both UHVs done (I finished the second UHV exactly on 600 AD!)

 

[ales_]

I thought only Great Prophets could bulb Theology?

That's the problem. You could have get a GS who can't discover Theology.

 

[THEK1NG]

Well I lost my save (started using the SVN, very nice)

Thanks to everyone for the help, I think the most important thing is to build Muqdisho on the Horse. The extra production helps immensely.

 

[youtien]

Well I lost my save (started using the SVN, very nice)

Thanks to everyone for the help, I think the most important thing is to build Muqdisho on the Horse. The extra production helps immensely.

Or:1. found Jabuuti on cow 1E from Askum, can catch fish 2nd city could be Sennar on ivory.

 

[Fresol]

Jabuuti on cow gives quite a huge early game advantage. Recommended.

 

[billyleeback16]

I'm pretty sure a Great Prophet can bulb Theology in one shot without you having to put any beakers into it. This should allow you to research or trade for calendar in time for the second UHV goal.

When the prophet was done, I was 20 turns away from Theology, and I bulbed it. Greeks, Egyptians and Bablyonians were dead for most of my game so I had less competition.

 

[youtien]

Jabbuti build stele and keep 2 priests on 3 pop, can get GP around turn 145-148.

What Ethiopians need is copper or iron. Either conquer Egypt or found Durban.

 

[THEK1NG]

Okay I think I'll found Durban. Conquering Egypt means attacking Arabians and I wont risk it.

 

[youtien]

Okay I think I'll found Durban. Conquering Egypt means attacking Arabians and I wont risk it.

Another way: acquire at least one Mediterranean city, Mass an army to conquer an European core, like Italy. It is doable when Romans collapse or when barbs sweep Europe.

 

[char81]

It actually isn't too difficult to keep Egypt as Ethiopia. But you should also colonize Durban. Also take Mombasa at some point.

 

[THEK1NG]

Hi, what plot of land is Durban on? Could you give directions to where to put settler? Thanks

 

[youtien]

Hi, what plot of land is Durban on? Could you give directions to where to put settler? Thanks

That gold hill, can't miss it.