post early rush strategy

[Gwynnja]

Im trying to improve my game and would love any help I can get. I seem to be getting caught up in a post initial rush build phase. I almost always try to take out my closest neighbor (or 3) before 1 AD and usually rest to build infrastructure around that time. My problem is getting stuck building. I'll usually have my capital, a second city I built and possibly a couple of ai built capitals. So I get to the point where I my main source of income is the cities that I've conquered and in order to tech I'm losing boatloads of cash. So I build courthouses and libraries. By the time I get them built the cities are getting close to the happiness max, so rather than crack the whip, I build markets. I want to start thinking about my next target too, so I start building barracks and stables. So there you have it. At the very least, I have three buildings I want in all my cities before my next round of wars, as well as a big ole stack of catapults. One more thing... im having a hell of a time specializing my cities. Generally I end up having an empire full of hybrid cities. How can I improve?

 

[Refar]

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?p=5966344

Do you know the abouve guide ?

 

[Gwynnja]

Yup. That guide is amazing. It taught me how to dominate without waiting for cavalry. I just get bogged down in the classical era. lots and lots of building and not much warring.

 

[DaveMcW]

Workers + Cottages + Monarchy is even more powerful than Libraries + Markets + Courthouses.

Or if you really want to tech fast, you could do both.

 

[Gwynnja]

Workers + Cottages + Monarchy is even more powerful than Libraries + Markets + Courthouses.

Or if you really want to tech fast, you could do both.

I'm intrigued by the specialist economy; trying not to cottage spam

 

[TheMeInTeam]

What dave said wound up leading to my first win on Prince. Massively improved tiles + monarchy for happiness makes for a strong, strong economy. You have to expect to bog down a LITTLE if you kill multiple AIs at the start...! The land this grants you should make up for it after a while though.

 

[Gwynnja]

Monarchy for hereditary rule i presume? Happiness from units stationed in the city?

 

[TheMeInTeam]

Monarchy for hereditary rule i presume? Happiness from units stationed in the city?

That's the idea. If you have cheap warriors lying around, it helps there. Otherwise, just use whatever is cheapest. I've had games end early enough where I never left monarchy. If you are running a CE, monarchy appears to be key to happiness. I didn't realize it right away, but it really helps, especially a CE warmonger.

 

[nimling]

the specialist economy takes alot more work than it's worth, imo...it works with the mids, but i use it primarily as a measure to keep up research until i can build the proper infrastructure.

in the long run, you're going to have to take some heavy hits economically to keep pace with the AI in land mass. it will hurt early on, but once the infrastructure is in place you'll do better by medieval/ren era.

 

[vicawoo]

To run an SE, you might need run some merchants to pay any deficits beyond 0% science. I don't also don't see why you're reluctant to whip if you're running an SE, just make lots of farms. Granary/courthouse/barracks is most of what you need, if you can't run caste system, whip a library (just grow to size 6, build one turn, whip). Markets I would prioritize last outside of an SE, since your empire isn't producing much commerce!

If you're doing an CE (wow that sounds weird, a CE or an CE), you grow slowly enough to make whipping unworthwhile. Cottages will also keep you from going bankrupt if you've, say, taken over 3 civilizations before you get code of law.

Try not to grow to rely on HR garrisons too much if you already have a huge army and grab as much happy resources as you can. Oh, and get drama and build theatres for an SE.

And stables, there's no need for horseback riding early, knights require so much tech, it's only useful for the occasional elephant and cavalry/cuirassiers later.

 

[mystyfly]

only keep capitals and holy cities. raze the rest. only make a war if your economy can afford it (say slider is ~50%). after you build those libraries work scientists. disband units you don't need (only units with few xp!).

 

[Gwynnja]

Markets I would prioritize last outside of an SE, since your empire isn't producing much commerce!

I build the markets more for the than the
I'm just trying to learn a little about the SE, so far I'm having more long term success with the CE

 

[mystyfly]

markets are very expensive for
consider spreading another religion to this city and a temple of this religion. or if in HR, build another archer.

 

[vicawoo]

Drama is a much better source of happiness. 55 hammers for up to 11 happiness for a theater, 10 more the slider. Whales are very late, fur and ivory are often mutually exclusive.

 

[mystyfly]

Drama is a much better source of happiness. 55 hammers for up to 11 happiness for a theater, 10 more the slider. Whales are very late, fur and ivory are often mutually exclusive.

Problem only is, even in an SE, the culture slider sacrifices research. And after a war, when the economy is recovering and, how he describes it, is backwards, he can't afford that.

 

[cabert]

markets are very expensive for
consider spreading another religion to this city and a temple of this religion. or if in HR, build another archer.

markets aren't expensive, they give you more money
(I know you were talking about hammers)

Anyone tried Rexing, playing Mansa Musa with oracle for metal casting then currency for markets?
I'm going to try this, for a peaceful domination strat .

 

[futurehermit]

When running a SE and warmongering, you only really need to think of two things:

1) Are my units going on strike?

2) Are my units current and numerous enough that I can wipe out my next opponent?

As long as you can say no to the 1st question and yes to the 2nd, then keep warmongering. If the answer to 1) is yes then you need to work courthouses, merchants, etc. more into your gameplan. Also, don't keep more cities than you can afford. Feel free to raze a bunch (gives you $$$ too). Also trading tech for $$$ can help, so don't delay currency. If the answer to 2) is no then you can focus on lightbulbing medieval military techs and whipping units. Once you get to nationalism, you can draft like mad.