Khmer Empire?

[NickSD]

What're some good strategies to win a game with the Khmer Empire?

I can't get close to the UHVs and I am so behind in technology it is pathetic. I suck

 

[Rhye]

bug Whitefire. He knows the answers to any question.

 

[NickSD]

cough it up, whitefire!

 

[Riker]

Caste System

 

[Whitefire]

Yup, Caste System for the Great Artists. That's the only way to reach the culture goal.

 

[NickSD]

and what about being so hideously behind in technology? what am I doing wrong?

 

[Micromegas]

Doesn't really matter, you don't need much tech to achieve the UHV. What you need much more is good relations to keep open borders for your missionaries, so be a nice puppy and just roll over to anything anyone demands short of declaring war. worked for me.

 

[NickSD]

But what if I want to be a reasonably powerful civ?

 

[Micromegas]

Hm... maybe I missunderstood you then, I thought you were after the UHV. Well, as far as a I can tell there are many better choices if you plan to win by domination, which is among the hardest things to do in RFC. For the Khmer the UHV is the easiest way, imo. But I'd guess that you could try to conquer collapsed india and establish yourself as a broker between the ME and Mongolia and Japan. Maybe it's possible to catch up faster in tech then. But still the Khmer will be a poor choice for a military strategy. In RFC the civ you choose affects difficulty much more than the actual setting and making your mind up which kind of victory you are aiming for and choosing the right civ for that style is a key to success. But good luck anyway, should make for an interesting challenge.

 

[Corm]

Spoiler :

Switch to Caste System. Found two cities Hanoi and Angkor. As soon as Angkor gets to pop 2 make an artist specialist, when it gets to pop 3 or 4 (personal preference really) create a 2nd specialist. When Hanoi gets to 3 do the same there and again when it gets to 4. Don't attempt to research music it wont work, you always get beaten. Dont settle your 3rd settler anywhere until you have hit your first 2 goals. When/if Pagan flips to your civ disband it as it wont grow fast enough for you to meet your pop 10 goal. Research calender and if you fancy attempting some sort of historical accuracy go for Aesthetics and Philosophy for the unpronounceable golden topped thing and Angkor Wat. Have to say I never try for the golden thingamy as i have only ever got it once so figure its a waste. I normally build Angkor Wat, however there is no real need for either. Anyway if you only found two cities and have at least two artist specialists in both and Calender researched you'll hit the 10 pop and 12k culture thing no problem. Obviously you use the GA that spawn to make great works, you require 3 in total (3 x 4000 culture). After that its plain sailing literally. In that if you build caravels load a missionary on them and send them around the globe looking for open borders and civs that are "open" to religion spread you should have no problem getting the 30%. The real difficulty is resisting the urge to massively expand as Khmer is placed perfectly for Indian and Chinese expansion. Generally after hitting goals 1 and 2 I go for Pagan (founding it again if it flipped and I raised it) Singapore and a city where Hong Kong/Macau/Gungzhao and Java. I occasionally get the quest to go on a crusade and liberate whichever Indian city has founded the state religion. If I get that quest (its more common than not to get it) I will take a couple of Indian cities too but they aren't essential and ****** your research slightly. Khmer isnt the best for a big expansive empire but it is possible depending on how aggressive your neighbours tend to be. I find if your still around when Mao shows up or Genghis gets to your borders and you havent made friends they will march all over you

 

[NickSD]

Great advice!
can you paste into the wiki or should I?

 

[Corm]

Its not really in the form of a Wiki Guide though. At least not to the standard I would expect. Try it out a few times, refine what I done and then you can write the guide yourself. I dont think im articulate enough to write a good guide for the Wiki.

 

[Corm]

Ok 2nd Spoiler. A different path. Tried this one 3 times now and although I never took 2 of those goes to the 30% spread required it was definitely going to be doable. Anyway see below if your interested.

Spoiler :

Research Path: Aesthetics, Sailing, Calender, Philosophy, Alphabet, Currency, Exploration, Optics, anything you like after that.

Initial moves: Found Angkor, found Hanoi, Move Ballista Elephants to take Pagan then Patna (Religious capital).

Build order: Forge in Hanoi and Angkor then Baray then Hanoi buidls Shawadaya Paya and Angkor builds library then eventually Wat Prishnouk. Pagan builds Baray then Harbour then granary. Patna builds baray then granary then courthouse. After these build options you have free reign in all cities.

Workers: Improve whatever you can bringing all food and health resources on line as soon as you research calender.

Great People strategy: Make 1 Artist specialist in Angkor when it hits pop 3, 2 when it hits pop 4 and the Bananas are online. Hanoi should have 1 Artists Specialist then 2 when Angkor is close to half way to popping the 2nd Great Artist it should be moved up to 2 specialists. When Angkor has created 2 GA's Hanoi should have finished the Paya and can be used to pop the 3 GA whilst Angkor completes the Wat Prishnouk.

Civics: Hed Rule, Casts System and Organised Religion.

Points to consider: War with indpendants shouldn't be started until you can capture at least two workers building roads above Hanoi (turn 3 or 4) so that you have extra workers that are essential to getting all the Calender based improvements online to hit your pop 10 goals. Patna should max food, Pagan will require mirco management to hit pop 10 by 1430. Mines should always be built in Jungle hills, Windmills on clear hills except the hill to the south east of Angkor which should have a mine and the copper above Hanoi (obviously).

After you have hit goals 1 & 2 you should concentrate on spreading your religion via caravels with missionaries. First target should be Aztecs and Incas. If you get conquerors gift the units or use them in a friendly manner to support your new pals the Aztecs and Incas. Dont take cities from them its not worth it. Spread your religion to them as fast as possible then concentrate on other friendly Civs colonies. Feel free to switch civics to slavery after hitting goals 1 & 2 and be sure to use the whip to get your heavily growing cities tooled up.

 

[coko]

Corm, you realise that pagan isn't soo important to micro-manage up to the full level, just need the others to compenstate.

Now I use a different strategy and actually settle one of the islands (it has copper,gold,silk,suger I believe, making for a rather nice growing city! However while I can happily make the size, the culture is a great problem for me! However I plan to use your technique on the two main cities, and also take that main buddhist starting location to aid me!

 

[Thonnas]

It's really quite simple:

(Bangkok + Jakarta)(Caste System + Pacifism) = WIN

 

[Corm]

Corm, you realise that pagan isn't soo important to micro-manage up to the full level, just need the others to compenstate.

I meant to max production with food growth, which if your doing does require micro management for moving the worked tiles from the mined jungle hill to your north west and back to the food tiles. Its not essential just handy.

It's really quite simple:

(Bangkok + Jakarta)(Caste System + Pacifism) = WIN

Wow thats so helpful and insightful i feel honoured that you posted such a wondefully helpful post, please post more just like that as they are of such great use. Can I also bow to your greatness and kiss the ground you walk on? Go on please let me. Sheesh. }=o)

No-one said it wasnt easy which doesnt preclude the discussion and posting of strategies.

 

[Micromegas]

And you don't feel (quote) "articulate enough" to write in the wiki? Geez, remind me not to end up on your bad side when you do...

Btw, did you get the vasals thing with the turks solved? I sucked big time with that last night.

 

[Corm]

Hrmm I haven't tried the Turks since the last update. I stopped because I couldn't build wonders. I'll give em a shot when I get home.

 

[coko]

Corm, true, gave it a go last night, was 2 turns from easily completing it (your artists were a godsend!) but the plague hit, so I'll have to start again. I've also concluded that Singapore is a death trap, I would actually advise holding the settler with the galley, until you've hit your two main aims then moving it to the island east of you that has the copper, it is a good island once up and running and gives you access to copper in a protective manner unlikely to be taken from you.

Angkor and Hanoi are the best two choices for position and strength of culture. I used 2 artists on Hanoi and the final one on Patna. Those three grow with ease with calander, while Pagan is happy enough given enough time! Plague is the evil beast though, have to have yourself set up before it hits, I actually took most damage from it killing my soldiers and the red civis...

 

[Corm]

Corm, true, gave it a go last night, was 2 turns from easily completing it (your artists were a godsend!) but the plague hit, so I'll have to start again. I've also concluded that Singapore is a death trap, I would actually advise holding the settler with the galley, until you've hit your two main aims then moving it to the island east of you that has the copper, it is a good island once up and running and gives you access to copper in a protective manner unlikely to be taken from you.

I always hold the settler back but after 1450 I settle Singapore. I think ill give the Island a try as it sounds a much more viable place for a city. Singapore is just a rubbish site for production.

Your right about the plague I should have mentioned that. If it hits at the wrong time (anywhere after 1300AD in my opinion) it can ruin your chances of hitting the population goal.