Hello folk of the forum.
I was looking for a bit of an opinion and advice. I play on immortal (only recently) and normally play on random personalities (to make a playthrough feel fresh).
No1 - Do players here know when they’re beaten before they start... ?
I randomly rolled Korea (Again) on the communitas map. Sweden were so close we found each other on the 2nd turn. I had only one area to found a city, unless I forward settled Sweden. (Sweden's military bonuses are so strong from the start). Anyway, I played it the best I could knowing they would forward settle me and say we have contested borders and attack me. Sure enough they did and I died. I could have focused on Iron working & steel but that would have left me so far behind on resource management, I don’t think I could have won.
Just wondering do folk here generally give up and reroll a start if they feel they will be crushed or is it viable to go full warmonger and try to take on Sweden at your doorstep with Korea? With the mind frame of playing peaceful after that and trying to win the space race?
No2 - [This is also an observation on troop size].
I randomly rolled Greece(Progress) next.
The same thing happened but in moderation. Persia(Authority) was close and Darius rolled out their UU, immortals but I had my UU, Hoplites (hoplites are better than immortals and their UA to create GG is more powerful than I’d thought. Basically, I was able to hold his army back while setting down a couple of strategic citadels and raise my troop cap.
Later all my diplomacy played off with Babylon. (thanks Recursive!!). Babylon who was also at mine and Persia's border wanted a defensive pact! It felt so satisfying and dynamic. I thought I had a chance and began exploring the ocean. THEN freaking Rome we’re just 10 tiles away over a narrow sea and having already vassalized the Incas. Rome is never to be trusted. I'm over my military supply by 2 but I have to build more ships. It will really mess up my production and growth penalty. Rome has already many ships at my border.
Now that I'll surely be stuck between a land war and sea war, I find that I have not enough troops. Does authority give too many troops?? Here are some numbers. The menu that pops telling you of different lists in the world gave information on troop size at two different times in the game.
Pop up list person (Military) - Annoying I can't remember his name...
Iroquois 2800 - 3200 (Authority)
Rome 2750 - 4400 (Authority)
Spain 2700 - 3100 (Authority)
Darius 2700 - 3700 (Authority)
Babylon 1300 - 1200 (Tradition)
Me(Greece) 850 - 1200 (Progress) (I maxed out all my troop cap buildings and laid 2/3 citadels).
Inca 600 - 500 - Vassal of Rome
Byzantium 200 - 200 Vassal of Babylon
Authority has over 3 to 3.5 times as many troops as Progress. Also, Rome and Persia were still ahead of me in techs until I entered the industrial age.
Update
4 turns later Rome started a war with an armada of a carpet of ships. I took out quite few firing from the land and buying ships but her navy never stopped adding more ships. Rome took my first coastal city in 8 turns. (Rome could have taken it earlier but stopped bombarding the city so hard when it could have easily taken it).
I think I made a mistake also... While I was buying ships. Persia has now upgraded her army so now they have superior troops at my borders when she will inevitably attack again in the next few turns. I probably should have left Rome to take my coastal cities. Fortified my land borders and tried to recapture my coastal cities later...
-
City States
Going into the Industrial era less than half the city states remained. The AI really goes after them if they are allied to me. An incessant bombardment then takes them fairly quickly.
Early game room:
I play with low sea for more room and restart if Im too close to opponent, it just leads to either AI or me forward settle and/or citadel with a rush which feels meh for me.
Supply:
No you dont get any direct supply bonus as authority, the AI gets 30% bonus supply on immortal according to the wiki.
Babylon surely looks a bit low considering he Vassaled Byzantium.
Hard to say exactly whats going on without looking at:
Wonders, who built great wall and Terracotta?
Religion, hero worship boosts generals which means potentially more supply.
Generals and admirals, how many were spend on citadels and lux? hard to say about the AI.
Rome captures all buildings so a winning war as Rome is a rocket train on fire.
My guess
I assume the supply numbers you reference to is affected by combat strength and if its the same rules as goes by bullying CS then melee pumps that value a LOT more than ranged units.
Most of those AI's tend to go very heavy on melee, especially Rome, Persia and Iroquois.
It would make sense for Babylon to pump a strong ranged UU and that doesnt make as much impact on supply. (same with Inca)
Same goes for you, you likely have a decent amount of ranged and siege units.
Roman Legion are VERY strong for its era, IS a melee unit, they need enough iron but I guess Rome was lucky here?
Darius, UU is melee and free of strategic resource cost.
You can get a similar spike from Iroquois when Mohawk gets online.
