Humankind strategy articles/first tips articles from Kotaku and IGN and others

[The_J]

IGN: https://www.ign.com/articles/top-tips-and-tricks-for-humankind
Kotaku: https://www.kotaku.com.au/2021/08/humankind-tips-gameplay-influence-units-world-politics/
2game.com: https://2game.com/en-gb/community/humankind-starter-guide-start-every-match-the-right-way
PC Invasion: https://www.pcinvasion.com/humankind-guides-hub/
PCGamer: https://www.pcgamer.com/humankind-guide-tips/

What do the experienced players here think? Any good?
I think that one of the VIPs said that science is not the most important thing, so that disagrees with the Kotaku article. And that turning on auto-exploration is a good thing... I would doubt that.

Any insights?

 

[Boris Gudenuf]

IGN: https://www.ign.com/articles/top-tips-and-tricks-for-humankind
Kotaku: https://www.kotaku.com.au/2021/08/humankind-tips-gameplay-influence-units-world-politics/
2game.com: https://2game.com/en-gb/community/humankind-starter-guide-start-every-match-the-right-way
PC Invasion: https://www.pcinvasion.com/humankind-guides-hub/
PCGamer: https://www.pcgamer.com/humankind-guide-tips/

What do the experienced players here think? Any good?
I think that one of the VIPs said that science is not the most important thing, so that disagrees with the Kotaku article. And that turning on auto-exploration is a good thing... I would doubt that.

Any insights?

I haven't had a chance to read all of these, but have a couple of comments:
1. Science is not the most important thing in the sense that Science and getting Technologies is only one of 7 different categories of Fame Stars, you can only get a maximum of 3 Stars per category, and you need 7 Stars to progress to the next Age, so Science alone cannot get you ahead and cannot win the game. Even if you are a dedicated Science Player (as I am) and like to play the Scientific Factions (Babylon, Greece, Joeson Korea - what's not to like?) you have to also work to get Stars in other categories or you are not going to be competitive. And 'Osmosis' events will help you catch up in Science by giving you 'gifts' of Science points from a neighboring Faction that is ahead of you in Science.

BUT if you are consistently trailing in Science, that means someone else is likely to come a'calling with Pikemen, Crossbowmen and Knights while you are still fielding Swordsmen and Chariots. Then they are going to get a bunch of Fame Stars from killing your Units, taking your Cities, Districts, and Regions, and leaving you eating their dust. Science is much too important to ignore, but neither is it a sole path to Victory.

2. Auto-exploration, especially with individual Units, is dangerous. First, because other Factions can freely attack your Units unless you have a Non-Aggression Pact with them, without declaring War. Blunder into a force of 2 - 3 Units with one of yours, and they are almost guaranteed to take advantage of the chance to eliminate your auto-explorer - because killing enemy units also accumulates Fame Stars for them. Minor Factions, unless you have been Influencing/Bribing them, are also likely to attack anybody that blunders into their regions, especially if they are Violent by nature (which, in my experience, tends to be about half of them!). Unless you don't care about having to replace your Auto-Explorers every few turns, and possibly giving away Fame points to other Factions (i.e.: Losing), Auto-Explore is not generally a good idea, IMHO.