Moving to Prince Failed. Help?

[TheScoutBomb]

After I completely owned Noble several times I thought I was ready to move up to Prince. Long story short I got crushed both technologically and in terms of land. Are there any general things I should do other wise? In my next game I'll try to get more cots up because i had like 5 and no specialists last game. -.-. But anyways, what changes in Prince and what should I start trying to do different?

 

[Bandobras Took]

Prince is the first level where the AI actually gets bonuses that you don't, which means you have to be more efficient in what you decide to do. It surprised me when I first moved up, too.

On Noble, I would usually have to self-research everything, but moving up to Prince meant I had to at least learn the rudiments of advantageous tech trading.

The last thing I remember that really surprised me is that Barbarians started getting annoying instead of merely inconveniencing me.

More info would depend on where you're getting crushed. Early? Late? Map type? Leaders?

 

[TheMeInTeam]

You can get general tile-working micro down by reading summaries on this forum. I play every speed from noble-immortal at the moment. The difficult thing is that the tech timing from the AIs varies from difficulty to difficulty, and then so does the optimal path. Researching techs you can trade for other techs becomes more crucial emperor+, but if I were to go aesthetics or delay monarchy on anything below monarch, I'd still win but I'd be slowing myself down a LOT (monarchy is really crucial if you don't have pyramids).

Long story short, asking "how to play" is waaaaaaaaaaaaay to broad for us to give you a meaningful response. Be as specific with certain issues as possible .

 

[futurehermit]

Land is power.

Corollary: Get yourself a military and expand your empire. Pottery/writing/currency/code of laws/monarchy to repair/maintain your economy. Don't neglect cottages. They may start small, but eventually you'll be glad you built them. You don't really need buildings (besides monument/granary/barracks) or wonders until you have finished a strong wave of horizontal expansion. Exception might be a library in your capital for the bonus science and for generating a GS for an academy.

 

[Ometjabbe]

I moved recently too and am beginning to win consistently. I couldn't agree more with futurehermit. The more land you have, the easier it'll be in the near future. Grabbing land is one thing, improving it is just as important, though.

Also for me, city placement is more important. For example, a production site that pumps out military units is more essential then it was on noble.

Good luck and have fun.

 

[TheScoutBomb]

Thanks guys. Sorry TMIT but I just wasn't exactly sure of what to ask tbh. Thanks for the tip futurehermit. However, what percentage should the science slider be at for me to know I've expanded enough? I just tried expanding rapidly and the next thing I knew my slider was at 20% making only 1 gpt.

 

[TheMeInTeam]

Thanks guys. Sorry TMIT but I just wasn't exactly sure of what to ask tbh. Thanks for the tip futurehermit. However, what percentage should the science slider be at for me to know I've expanded enough? I just tried expanding rapidly and the next thing I knew my slider was at 20% making only 1 gpt.

It can go all the way to 0 if you know what you're doing, have pottery/writing, and will be able to get some soon (probably monarchy or pyramids, sometimes resources or UBs).

That said, sometimes it's good to do that and sometimes it isn't. It depends on the land and nearby AIs.

 

[futurehermit]

Thanks guys. Sorry TMIT but I just wasn't exactly sure of what to ask tbh. Thanks for the tip futurehermit. However, what percentage should the science slider be at for me to know I've expanded enough? I just tried expanding rapidly and the next thing I knew my slider was at 20% making only 1 gpt.

Pottery for cottages to pay maintenance, writing for scientists for beakers. Use these in combination while teching through monarchy/col/currency (order may vary depending on situation).

Takes awhile to get the hang of it. Until you do, I would recommend not going below 50% slider.