I found a use for Ironclads

[svv]

They work out great when you're not researching Astronomy, such as if you're going for a cultural victory.

Playing as Mansa Musa on a huge archipelago map, I decided to go for a cultural victory. I built Colussus in my capital/GP farm, which has helped a lot with the commerce. My capital/GP farm, as well as a couple of my other cities, rely on seafood resources/fishing boats.

Anyway, some of my nuttier AI opponents (Monty, Napoleon, Saladin before he adopted my religion) kept declaring war on me and wiping out my fishing boats. I've also had terrible luck trying to defend with Caravelles.

Once I got Ironclads, though, no more problems. They sweep my coasts of their Galleys and Caravelles without problems. Go ahead and declare war on me buddy; see if I care. I haven't seen any frigates yet, but I think the Ironclads won't have too much trouble there either.

I've not researched astronomy, and I probably never will, to avoid obsoleting the Colossus. So, no frigates, but you don't need astronomy for Ironclads. Since I'm going nowhere, the Ironclads have been just fine. I'm hoping to win this thing before I ever see anything resembling a Destroyer or Battleship.

 

[DigitalBoy]

Ironclads are perfect for that kind of stuff, which is why I wonder why everone insists they're useless. Who likes have their coastal resources pillaged? Not me.

 

[Charou]

I knew someone would eventually find a use for them.
Those heavy floating steel turtle actually existed. But never used or saw them in any of my games.
Nice Tip. Thanks

 

[Ecofarm]

You need steampower for clads. Combustion for wells and destroyers is 1 tech away (merchants lightbulb railroad?). I hope you win soon or make nice with your tormentors.

 

[svv]

Good point. But, I got steam power fairly early because I always empahsize steel (Cannon, Ironworks) and assembly line (Factories, Infantry if/when I bother to get rifling) early. Also it lets me put off scientific method/biology for a while (avoided killing the great library and monestaries).

For destroyers, they'll need to get railroad (my current research project, will take about 100 turns because I turned all the commerce to culture), combustion, scientific method to find the oil, build wells on the oil (if they have any) and build the destroyers. I figure I'm safe for a while, but if not I guess I'll have to upgrade the ironclads (you can do that?) or abandon the seas and pound on any invaders with my cannon.

 

[rabidveggie]

The problem isn't that Ironclads are bad against frigates, but instead that destroyers are to close in the tech tree so quickly obsolete Iron clads. I guess if your unlucky enough not to get Uranium or Oil then they might have limited use.

 

[T.rex]

I've never viewed them as useless and they are a great shore defence if you do not want to obsolete wonders like the Colusses or the Great Lighthouse. It also depends weather or not during the time you have them research may not be your highest priority for whatever reason. Sometimes, wealth or culture are more important, in which case you'll get more use from the ironclades for a longer period.

 

[Ecofarm]

Let's not forget to recommend them when people ask for help with culture wins.