How to win any archipelago map (standard or bigger)

[dhechols]

Step 1: Pick a civ, any civ. Preferably Elizabeth / England.
Step 2: Pick up all ruins with your warrior that you start with.
Step 2: Rush Optics.
Step 3: Build triremes.
Step 4: Scout ruins out with triremes, and pick them up with your warrior.
Step 5: Eventually you'll get enough weapon upgrades to make your warrior into Mechanized Infantry.
Step 6: Crush everyone in the Classical/Medieval era with a Mechanized Infantry. At higher difficulties you may just need to cripple everyone instead of systematically wiping everyone out, get the advantage, then wipe them out.

 

[Ykai]

Until your mech. inf. runs into a Barbarian galley and gets sunk to the bottom of the ocean

I get your point though, the AI doesn't seem to sail much at all, and certainly doesn't scout out uninhabited islands. I am in fact playing a game with exactly these settings (England, Archipelago) and had riflemen before the birth of Christ. I didn't use them on anyone though. Too cheesy.

 

[dhechols]

Until your mech. inf. runs into a Barbarian galley and gets sunk to the bottom of the ocean

That's why you scout with the triremes. Easy to spot encampments and possible barbarians.

 

[Jaraxle]

Thats funny because I'm on an arch map as Victoria in my current game. I did what you said and ran around collecting every ruin I could find but I only got to Crossbowman I got lots of maps

 

[sharper_knives]

if only your warrior could re-embark outside your borders