How can I win Emperor OCC with Shaka as neighbor?

[RedKi-rr]

I try to win Emperor OCC peaceful Spaceship.
What should i do with aggressive AI like Shaka? They always come and demand tribute. And even If igive them they can attack next turn.
Why they demand tribute so often?
How win in this situation?
How can I win if some AI built Colossus in 3300 BC?

 

[Theov]

The AI decides if it's strong enough (for war or for demanding tribute) by comparing military points. So if you have many units and a lot of attack points, the AI will back down.
So, in order to keep peace, prepare for war.
And even then, aggressive AIs like Shaka will sometimes attack anyway.

 

[RedKi-rr]

But it's rather unfair to demand tribute (which I accept) and attack next turn...Not like in civ 4 where there will be peace next 10 turns.

 

[Theov]

But it's rather unfair to demand tribute (which I accept) and attack next turn...Not like in civ 4 where there will be peace next 10 turns.

Fair is a relative term.
have enough defense then... or rather, attack. Since the AI values attack more than defense.

 

[Tristan_C]

This still requires a shield investment in defense. Road the entire BFC and use chariots to kill everything that wanders inside it. Chariots on the attack can outgun everything up to riflemen and armor. This gives you an extremely long operational window for your builds. Cats and cannon are not as solid for this because they will often attack at 2/3 strength and, ending their turn outside the city, will cause rep/dem unrest.

 

[RedKi-rr]

Oh, Thank you! I didn't think about that. But it could be solid investments. On other hand when you consistently give tirbute (100,300,800 coins)...and eventually all techs...
I have won recently, but with one reload. In the first try 2 mongolian knigts broken my tanks...and having empty city i gave automobiles for a peace...after that thier demands inreased and they came with tanks...
Next time i didn't build hoovers dam and didn't give tribure so often...and I gave them automobile much later when i build SS.
Also i lost other game, where Zulu demanded techs and i gave...well, eventaully they outtech me near electronics.
So now I decided to refuse their demands from some moment.

Btw, what is a normal date for SS win in such type of games?

Some notes that i did for myself:
1. Don't settle in place, explore the area a liitle bit (up to 3500bc)
2. Then bronze working and Colossus (oftently AI didn't build it before 2500-3000bc). If Coloss is lost - better to restart.
3. Build (don't hesitate to rushbuy) library, marketplace, temple, and Copernic's Obs (this wonder is also very important).
4. Go for Republic straightforward, and then WLTPD.
5. Try to make most of research berofore 1 AD, when it takes 2-3 turns pesearch, then build some infra and so on.
6. Next important wonder is Newton's college and then Shak's theatre goes. But if AI did build Shak's theatre just go for religion and put slider at 10% for lux. It's acceptable i think. Other wonders are later and they are Darwin, SETI and Apollo.
7. Caravans...well, they are very nice, but it's not possible to build them often. So mainly - for 3 trade routs. And other (when nothing important to build) for wonders and SS.

With this rules and a good settling place I should be in nice position about 1000-1200 AD.
My fisrt win was about 1870AD. But I think it could be better with right build and tech orderings.

Any your hits? Which places should be improved?

 

[RedKi-rr]

Eventually, I won OCC Emperor without reloadings, with random world and so on (the closest neighbor was Shaka again). About 1800AD + sveral years.
I still wonder how many features are in this old pioneer game...Even if the city is in isolation on noncoastal tile it's still possible to have a ship. And therefore continental trade routes...Another interesting thing is tech researching. And this is a game of about early 90's...

I think to try Emperor OCC conquest now. This means - i never build more than 1 city (i can use conquered cities however). But i think it will be easier than OCC peaceful Spaceship.