[BTS] How to play Stalin effectively? (Monarch level training)

[Master_Of_Ideas]

You are doing this again. Focus! Don't go alpha if you are planning to attack at construction. What do you do with the ability to look into AI techs? Not much.

edit: just noticed this is monarch again, I was expecting at least emperor. You could also just go 2-city axes if you want to play optimally. In this case alpha makes sense.

Yes, I felt, I need som more preparation. This game is completely different to the last. Harder opponents, no need for astronomy. Alpha makes sense, when we axe-rush Justin. I won't attack at construction the first time, because Justin has just a too suicy land here.

Alphabet has another advantage: Bribe AIs for war, e.g. between Hammurabi and the Chinese.

So it looks that we do a 3-city-axe-rush here.

When would you switch to slavery in this game?

 

[sampsa]

Yes, I felt, I need som more preparation. This game is completely different to the last. Harder opponents, no need for astronomy.

You are massively overestimating the resistance you will face. In general when attacking, you don't need preparation that delays you, you need SPEED.

When in K-mod they spam archers in capital, here you can expect 2 archers per city or so. Just walk in with 8 axes or something and grab.

So it looks that we do a 3-city-axe-rush here.

Why? 2-city axes is just a lot better, because it is faster.

Alphabet has another advantage: Bribe AIs for war, e.g. between Hammurabi and the Chinese.

Totally irrelevant at this difficulty level.

When would you switch to slavery in this game?

Perhaps only when you attack. You have lots of chops, a lot of high tiles and whipping without a granary is not that hot.