Don't have sav's here at work - but here are some tips for emperor - aklthough I am no expert - I can't win consistently myself on anything higher. I tend to play on pangaea so my style is warmonger early as monarchy then move to democracy - although it's just as viable to go republic early for the science/commerce boost. These tips are to give you e good grounding towards democracy so that you can compete in the later years.
- this is essential on emperor - for heaven's sake restart if you don't find a nice starting location - this is not cheating - it's saving yourself pain - you will NOT beat emperor if you start in a jungle
- expand fast! don't be afraid to use your capital to produce settlers if it can produce settlers efficiently ie. some good shield tiles and floodplains or cattle - this is also vital as the turns lost in creating some silly improvement for your city when you could be making a settler. Every new city adds something positive - even conquered ones
- don't forget the "join city" ability of workers - sometimes I tend to grow a powerhouse production city from captured workers - only if the happiness levels are fine - and this brings me to happiness resources - very important - every new one saves your luxury slider one level - so that your science slider can go up one level - so even if it means making a city in the middle of the desert on that incense - DO IT
- don't forget about rushing cities early on - in some games where resources are slim - you need to rush that temple or library - then do it - your city will grow again, happier this time
- build along the rivers if you can - saving the aquaduct cost is vital
- build roads all over the map, and join your cities, send hordes of captured workers along with your army to join captured cities - as this not only gives mobility but happiness boost from your resources - so less chance of culture flip and quicker to end resisting citizens - also if it's a really big cultural city, max out on entertainers as I've seen one too many culture flips for my liking
- trade often - I usually start with the GL techs and philosophy for free tech - then monarchy techs - and give other civs tech so that they don't complete with your tech line - hard to do on emperor but try...
- don't forget the usage of scientists and taxmen and later on policemen (AI defaults to entertainers mostly) - aften you have that useless city on the outskirts that can now grow fast and produce scientists or whatever
- go for monarchy asap (well I do because I make war) then democracy once you're ready for peace and R&D
- when I warmonger I go for swordsman early - but build horsemen - vital for movement bonus in taking out archers - and build some catapults and place them in strategic places to weaken enemy - and remember that armies give you the edge -
- however in emperor you cannot fight everyone - make PEACE with the powerful civs - even if it means giving them tribute - then laugh as they fight amongst themselves. Pick off the weaker civs making sure they are not in alliance with a stronger one
- I build temples early on - nothing wrong with that - helps your science rate cos your lux slider is lower - and then libraries ONLY in the cities that are producing enough flasks to justify the cost - eg. if 8 or 10 early then a library - and marketplaces only in fast growing cities to appease citizens - and barracks only in cities that are producing offensive units fast
- if you can go for colossus early if you can - the other civs in emperor are probably on par with you on science anyway - and trade a lot too - and then push effort in great library - probably vital to keep up with civs in the middle ages
- use the place prebuild/wonder trick - I hear this is useless in anything above emperor - but it works for me - and besides I wonder if anyone beats SID in standard pangaea?
- here is the difference between a lower level and higher level player - the ability to do things like the above - then KNOW when the situation is stable enough to start converting your cities for higher culture ie. your empire is strong enough to go to peace
- if these tips make sense, should I start a thread?
