How to (unfortunately) always win on monarch

Four Four Seven

Spearman
Joined
Feb 20, 2002
Messages
83
Location
Massachusetts, USA
I have a problem with the mid-to-late industrial ages in Civ. I play at monarch, which I enjoy for most of the game, as it gives a good challenge without the blatant appearance of advantages for the AI. But, once you get to the industrial ages, I've noticed an "unbeatable" strategy. My game I played the last few days (large map) is a great example.

I'm one-two techs behind through the industrial ages, and there are four or five civs above me in military might. While the AI is busy researching dead-end techs, I beeline for Scientific Method, build Darwin, use the two free techs to get to electronics, build Hoover Dam, and have a huge production advantage. I sell one tech to all the big countries for huge amounts of gold per turn plus luxuries and some of the "dead end" techs. I now get WLTKDs, tons of gold, and I can up my science. Techs start to pour in in every 4-5 turns, and my tech lead becomes insurmountable (when, only a few turns ago, I was BEHIND in techs).

I get to tanks when the others are 3-4 techs behind. With my huge production advantage, I can pour out tanks like nobody's business, and, in about 20 turns, destroy the three major civs on my continent (who aren't even close to tanks). There are still other major civs on another continent, but it's just a matter of time.

Sadly, I've used this strategy time and time again. You can get 20+ turns as the only one with tanks, which makes it hard to lose.

I see four solutions to this strategy:
-Play on a higher level. I don't want to do this. I enjoy the early-mid game on monarch, but on emporer, it's more of a chore.
-Just stop using this strategy. I guess I could do this, but I like playing to my optimal ability.
-Mod the game. Don't want to do that, but I suppose I could weaken tanks, or make an "early WWI tank" that comes first and is weaker (that cavalry and infantry could stand a chance against).
-Wait for multiplayer. I think this strategy won't work against "real" players, unless they're really dumb. :)

Anyone have other ways to deal with this mid-to-late game "unbeatable" strategy?
 
The Darwin/Hoover strategy is just too tempting to avoid. I use it every single time and have never lost out on it because it is my #1 focus during that era (above expansion, war, etc.). Once I get Hoover, nothing can stop me.

I don't think the AI gives this wonder combination as thorough a go as human players. Imagine the race to Darwin in Multiplayer though.
 
This was the strategy with which I "mastered" Regent. I've only just moved up to Monarch, and I was hoping I'd have to develop something new. Oh well. At least the early game will play somewhat differently for me; I have a lot of work to do yet to make sure I'm only a few techs behind when I get to the industrial age.
 
Yup - playing to win by culture needs a very different approach to a dom / con game.

I play for fun at Monarch / Emperor.

I play in the vet division of the tournament Regent / Monarch and its really tough to beat the other players in the division. Its not about whether you win the game - but how fast!
 
THats my biggest problem with this game, when another civ gets inf there isn't any way to fight them effectively until you get tanks, then when he gets MI you have to wait for MA, the only way to get around it is use alot of artillery, but then your using the same old strategy every game.
bo-ring
 
447: same here, I cannot help but outmanage and outproduce the AIs at that point......

Higher level means it will be tougher to survive to that point - but that's pretty much all!
 
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