Isolated without access to major resources, am I doomed?

[jatkinson]

This has to be the toughest start I've ever been handed, my Roman civilisaton is completely cut off from the rest of the world, I will not be able to get out until Renessance era, the AI has at least a half era tech lead over me thanks to obviously having better access to more wildlife and by the wonders they are able to build I'm getting the impression it's widening.

I have no Copper, Tin, Iron or Sulphur available to me. Am I just waiting out the inevitable unstoppable AI invasion once they can travel the oceans?

 

[margolloxx]

I feel you, but i would suggest to still continue it and see how you can handle being so far behind in later game.

 

[tantoniou]

I would almost hate to play such a game, especially at slow speeds. I've said it many times on this forum, not getting access to critical resources (I'd say sulphur and Iron are such to your situation) sucks. Yes, maybe it happens to be a realistic earth scenario, but history has shown that civs traded a lot of these resources, and that doesn't seem to be the case in C2C.

The isolation part gives you one edge though, you don't have to focus on offense or defense except for barbs. I'd try and expand as much as I could and found a religion to build a decent research rate.

 

[Thunderbrd]

I wouldn't say you are doomed. Make sure to mine as many spaces as possible. You never know when a key resource may suddenly be revealed.

 

[jatkinson]

I would almost hate to play such a game, especially at slow speeds. I've said it many times on this forum, not getting access to critical resources (I'd say sulphur and Iron are such to your situation) sucks. Yes, maybe it happens to be a realistic earth scenario, but history has shown that civs traded a lot of these resources, and that doesn't seem to be the case in C2C.

The isolation part gives you one edge though, you don't have to focus on offense or defense except for barbs. I'd try and expand as much as I could and found a religion to build a decent research rate.

I wouldn't say you are doomed. Make sure to mine as many spaces as possible. You never know when a key resource may suddenly be revealed.

I'll bear all of that in mind, I already had the idea to mine as much as I can. Events have been extroadinarly generous in providing animal resources - the only animal resource I had at the start was Poultry, but I've been granted 2 horses, 2 donkeys and bison from events. Is there any particular Religion that is most beneficial for research (Druidic, Shamanism, Tengrenism and Mesopatamism are already gone in my game) - my initial plan was to skip religion until I get Hellanism (given that I'm Roman and can potentially snag Greek and Roman Culture - I think I'm the only European Civ in the game as I've been the only one building European cultures despite being behind) but that might take too long and another Civ might snag it. Is it worth religion hoardilng or should I just pick one and skip the rest?

 

[tantoniou]

Is there any particular Religion that is most beneficial for research (Druidic, Shamanism, Tengrenism and Mesopatamism are already gone in my game)

I usually go for andeanism for the research bonus (and gold shrine building also). In medieval times confucianism can boost research too with its cathedrals.
I find that having a multirelegion state also helps with crime, given a particular few ancient techs and some great prophets (the national belief effects).

 

[jatkinson]

Ok I will see if I can snag Andeanism then, hopefully one of the other AIs won't grab it.