Here's why expansion was great for me...

[delexaet]

Basically i started off a game as the Americans. and currently in 1200 ad, I share a continent with the egyptians and the romans and I have 3/5 of the continent.

This is basically because I was able to scout farther with my scout unit I get in the beginning and sort of expanded outside to inside. Right now, my 4th city on the continent is still my farthest city from the capital. I essentially used my 4th to 6th cities as a blockade in a sense to prevent the egpytians and the roamns from expanding. Then I just basically tried to fill the gap between my 4th city from my capital as soon as possible.

Also, since I have the expansionist benefits, I seemed to get a lot of techs and units, which ultimately allowed me to get my 4th and 6th cities .

Basically if i did not have a scout in the beginning and the ability to get 6 warriors from the huts, I would not be owning 3/5 of the continent right now. I might only own 1/3 or even less. So I believe if you start of a big continent, expansionist CAN be very helpful.

However in most cases I do feel expansionists spec is useless.

 

[tetley]

It's possible that expansionist is the only way to Science broker in Deity. Get free techs & sell them.

 

[Sam_Catchem]

Huh..if I ever try to expand too quickly past my capitol. The AI sneaks in and build cities in the non populated areas within. You ask them to leave and they won't. Until they have to..and they scoot to inside your area.

 

[phlayme]

i know what you mean sam, but now i let them and go crazy with culture, usually they end up mine. the only problem is they dont place them where i would most of the time. and if that fails its time to send in the boys.

 

[delexaet]

that's basically why I declared war on the egyptians after i took over their 3 cities.

Whenever i saw a settler I just killed it. =)

One problem though, make sure you create costal cities first so if they come with a settler in a trieme, you can kill it =)


Basically colonize outside to inside. =)

 

[knowltok]

What level are you playing on? I can see where corruption and slow building could cause a problem with this strat. at higher levels where the AI has bonuses. One thing is for sure, if you are going to do this, don't ever give them your map. That is a sure way to have settlers crossing your borders. Once you fill in, then you can sell it, but not before.

This is a good strategy, but like everything else the key is taking it as far as you can and not farther. Go too far and you'll have enemy outposts in your empire, not far enough, and the AI will beat you to the natural choke points. Have fun.

 

[ChickinSht]

Originally posted by Sam_Catchem
Huh..if I ever try to expand too quickly past my capitol. The AI sneaks in and build cities in the non populated areas within. You ask them to leave and they won't. Until they have to..and they scoot to inside your area.

That's why I like the Iriquois. You generally start off near the Aztecs and the Americans, so you don't really have to worry about their culture overwhelming yours. Basically, just let them build near you. Find the best spots with your scout, send a settler, expand it's culture quick. Then, as your culture expands all those cities that those rat bastards slipped in there will probably join up. If not, just be patient until you get spies. Then, buy the city (money shouldn't be a problem if you've got the best cities). If they're a democracy, just ally with them to go to war with some butlick in on the other side of the map. They'll switch gvoernments, you get their city and then you buy a peace. Sure, it's expensive, but since you didnt' have to waste resources early on building up that city, the gold you spend later on should be replaced rather quickly.