How do you compete in wonders against AI?

[Tomoyo]

Three happy faces is better than two, and Sistine applies even off-continent.

Maybe it's just me, but I've never had an off-continent city that was a decent producer/not a specialist farm/outpost/taking up space.

This assumes that you aren't using ICS, which, IMO, is both cheap and unaesthetic.

Not guilty.

Cathedrals are absolutely necessary at high levels to keep large cities happy, even if you have 4-5 Luxs and Marketplaces.

By the time my priorities reach Cathedrals (economic buildings and military take precedence), using the lux slider and a few select specialists, I will probably have the ability to acquire 7-8 luxuries by force or by charm. Of course, there are always games where you build cathedrals, but in those games, it would be almost impossible to get the Sistine Chapel.

The United Nations

None of those are necessary and all others aren't even worth considering.

I would say the UN is necessary... Pretty much.

 

[Gyathaar]

The fact that Sixtine works everywhere, makes it less important to build than JS Bachs.. because then it will always work when you capture it from the AI that built it (unlike when an AI on a remote tiny island builds Bachs..)

 

[klopolov]

How do I compete in wonders against AIs? I start a wonder or a palace in one of my cities and if I can't finish it I switch to another one. Other than that, I don't compete with them, I let them build the wonders while I build the armies and then my armies convince them to hand over the wonders...

 

[Gato Loco]

Who says you build wonders on Emperor? Why not just take them? So much more shield-efficient.

 

[wit>trope]

What I sometimes do if I find that the AI might complete the wonder before me is to station some troops near the city to get ready to attack and pillage its mines If after investigating the city that's the only way for me to finish first I go to war and pillage the mines.

 

[Richard Cribb]

I don't compete with them, I let them build the wonders while I build the armies and then my armies convince them to hand over the wonders...

Yes this formula usually works like a charm...
However there are exceptions. One of my easiest wins ever was when I played as Carthage and my capital was surrounded by ivory tiles...

 

[azzacanth]

(This assumes that you aren't using ICS, which, IMO, is both cheap and unaesthetic.)

what is ICS?

 

[Tone]

Who says you build wonders on Emperor? Why not just take them? So much more shield-efficient.

As I said before, it depends what type of game you are playing and what victory condition you are going for. If you are going for 20K then you clearly need to build your own wonders.

Also some captured wonders are better than others. Leo's is fine as its effects are universal (well, global anyway ), Sun Tzu is fine if it's on the right continent but there is no point capturing Copers or Newton unless they are close to your core(s). If you are going for a fast Diplo or Space victory then you may want to build those ones yourself and capturing the UN may not be a possibility if the AI goes for a vote fas soon as it is built and you've upset too many people beforehand!

I agree that it is best to lose the wonder addiction in general but there is no harm in learning how to build the wonders you want that are going to further your desired outcome.

 

[Tone]

what is ICS?

Infinite City Sprawl

You place your cities as close together as possible so that every city is small and therefore happiness can be dealt with by having just a few luxes. Additionally no need for aquaducts, markets, ...

There is an article in the war acadamy somewhere I think.

It's great for cultural victories if you gain the Temple of Artemis and then don't get Education. Just fill your land with cities and watch the culture grow!

 

[Cu Chulainn]

Generally I build wonders when I want them in a specific place, when I'm ahead, or when I have more units than I need so I can spare one of my top cities for awihile. Wonders with worldwide effects are best stolen especially if you watch the town where they're being built and have units in place ready to take the town ASAP after completion. Stealing either GL the turn after it is finished is very rewarding.

 

[Tomoyo]

Speaking of something like that...

 

[citizen001]

Tomoyo's situation has happened to me b4 but only with the Oracle and against the Aztecs.

 

[Cuivienen]

I just realized that I had forgotten the main argument against Bach's: it comes from an otherwise-useless optional tech. Music Theory is useless and not worth the 4+ turns needed to research it.

Oh, and Smith's Trading Company should go in the list of Wonders to consider.

 

[Tomoyo]

JS Bach is usually easier to get, though, since it doesn't come at a time when you need a lot of units, markets, and other assorted infrastructure.

 

[Panzar75]

Wonders to consider:

The Statue of Zeus
The Great Library
The Sistine Chapel
Leonardo's Workshop
The Theory of Evolution
The Hoover Dam
The United Nations

None of those are necessary and all others aren't even worth considering.

That's not true!

I usually play at Emperor with the city placement xoox in every direction and a large otherwise standard map. I don't build Barracks which saves a rather huge amount of GPT. I have found that Sun Tzu's Art of War is definately a wonder worth considering.

And if I may nit-pick a bit, I would also consider building the Pyramids if given a scientific leader early. I've had that happen three times and it's like lowering the difficulty a step or two.

 

[mikezang]

I play at level Emperor-1, and I think the Templer is the most useful Wonder. I will get them by war for any other wonders.

 

[Choffy]

On Pange and emperor, I focus on 3 (classified)
- Pyramid (boost all along the game, can hurry production, produce settler and worker easily. Even better with a river)
- Sun Tzu (Incredible advantage at war)
- Hoover Dam (To take an hedge at the end of the game if still needed)

 

[Beorn-eL-Feared]

I was a shaky monarch player until I stopped building wonders, and now I'm moving on to deity. Wonders are evil.

Only wonders I consider getting are SoZ, ToE and Hoover, UN if going diplomatic.
Some of the big research ones if I know I'll go space.

Though I think it must be fun to play a jackass Artemis 100k cultural ICS, I've never tried it; As for the other 'good' wonders, aka pyramids, sun tzu, leo and smith: they do the exact same effect when you capture them

I dislike bach and sistine a lot because captured luxuries are more productive then a wonder, in most cases, because you get several and can fetch a price all game long with 'em.

Basically, SoZ is worth it, and before you have a tremendous lead and are sure you are alone at the run, the others are never to be built but to be captured, imo. I'd never build Newton's or Coper (which are pretty good at what they do, when you have a long term plan that uses them) if I'm not 2 techs (Edu + Astro or Physics + Grav) ahead.

 

[gunkulator]

Re Sun Tzu: Barracks are so cheap that you should build them in your core anyway. I typically fight at least one Ancient Era war and veteran units have 33% more hps which is often a decisive advantage. By the time Sun Tzu rolls around, I generally have barracks where I need them anyway. Sure you save gpt, but I'd rather build more troops or a bunch or markets, libraries or aqueducts.

Besides, assuming tech parity, the scientific civs tend to get a jump on Sun Tzu since they'll all get one Middle Ages tech for free and then trade it around until most of them have Feudalism.

Leo's otoh, is a timely wonder to build. Two of the most expensive upgrades in Civ3 are horses to knights and pikes to muskets. It is hard to have enough cash to upgrade when the tech is available.

 

[Kime11]

I never upgrade it,it is to expencive... anyway,I don't build horses because of that (but looking forward for knights,a lot of them,and then upgrade them all to cavalries.. and I love pikemans,cause they are cheap and in walled cities are pretty efficient defenders.... I upgrade almost all spearmans to pikemans... and also,my favorite upgrades are rifleman to infantry and tank to MA... all of this is 30g (not sure for tanks,they're 60,but in that time,money isn't a problem)

Must say that,before c3c,my favorite cheat was selling cities,that I just conquered,and which was 99% corrupted to someone who has a lot of money...few times... but not anymore (now noone is interested)