Played this game with much different objectives than the first time around. The goal is to win by conquest using nothing but Horse Archers. My strategy is basically spam as many cities as possible while racing toward HBR to have as much pop to whip into HA's as possible. Since I knew I'd be warring the whole game, I also went for my first game with a "worker-steal" strategy, DOWing Zulu early and taking a worker while choking their early development.
As soon as I got HBR, started chopping / whipping HA's like crazy. Also tried to squeeze some Stables in there. Went for Aztec first this time, based on Bowsling's suggestion. Took them out on T90
That went well, but taking a look at all the jungle between me and the next teams to the north, I started to doubt whether I could really finish off all the teams without getting more advanced troops...
Well, I still need to take out the Zulu, so I use the time to start building a Great Highway through the jungle wilderness of the north. While I was finishing off the Aztec, I was sending newly built HA's to the southern Zulu front, so I finished them off fast enough, by T100.
Even with my road, it takes a minute to trek through all that jungle and attack the northern civs. I wipe out the Egyptians on T115.
Here's my civ at this point.
Much smaller than the first time around, but like I said, different objectives. I kept the first two capitals I captured, but every other city was razed. Ottomans met their end on T125
Mayans follow on T134.
Now things are really rolling. I've been producing nothing but HA's for dozens of turns, and am just overwhelming these primitive defenses. Still, the logistics of getting so many units to such far-flung wars was tough. I kept my workers expanding wilderness roads throughout the game, and was pretty consistently losing gold at 0% research. I basically turned off research after HBR. I got a couple useless techs, then just started stockpiling gold. Anyways, HRE fell on T142.
And the Natives take their leave on T150, leaving me alone on the continent.
There was still the Incans on that pesky island, and it really is far with nothing but galleys. I've switched a few coastal cities to galley construction awhile ago, and have started shipping over my armies. I DOW'ed them a long time ago to scout their lands and pillage, but a a result they've been spamming archers and Quechua. I attack before I get enough HA's over, so I have to keep re-attacking with injured units, but I get a couple lucky rolls and eliminate my last competitor on T159. First, some pictures from right before I take the last city.
And the final blow.
Another very fun game, so thanks again to Bowsling. As always, comments / suggestions / critiques are very welcome. Hopefully some more people share their games as well.
If it were me, I probably would have gone for the Aztecs first, given how nice the land in between them and India was. Zululand obviously was an easy target, though. I probably shouldn't have lined all of the civs up in a row like that, it just makes domination the obvious VC.
Looks like you're in a pretty strong position. Am I allowed to give non-spoiler feedback (based on what has already been uncovered)?
