Prince, Space, and #$!* Cyrus

[Kong99]

Still very much a CIV newby but I pulled a Space Race Victory in my 2nd Prince game. I actually won the game on the very last turn, I had kept a couple of forest around my 2nd city to help rush production of something important and it was just enough!! I beat Khan who had a large point lead on me. I had attacked Asoka to take his 4 good cities, when through I basically put my economy into total Research and Spaceship production to outpace Khan, I knew I could not beat his points and wasn't sure if I could beat him to Space. I would not have won this 2nd Prince game without all the comments/suggestions here. So thanks to all!

I hate losing to Space Race, and I really don't like winning Space Race. Not sure why.

Couple of observations. I have been beaten by Cyrus A LOT!! He always does well. I've come to the conclusion the only way to win if Cyrus is in the game is to attack him ASAP.

I still don't feel I understand city specialization and specialist economy. I do understand having a couple of power cities, in particular strong in culture and science (wonders and GP's). I know I have not yet grasped the balance between city growth and production/currency.

I think I've learned to be more selective about taking Cities, and not to waste turns/resources to wipe out another Civ since there is no benefit to destroying a Civ (was there a benefit in older Civ games for doing this?).

Oh, and I think I have found my favorite Unit... the Russian Cossack!!! Those guys kick some serious tail!!

 

[LosBlack]

congrats! i just won my first Prince space race yesterday (1963 AD). i've decided to try for different kinds of victories (instead of domination or culture) just to get experience playing different kinds of games.

i played with Liz and wiped out Cyrus very early, then Roosevelt around 1200 AD. turns out there was no Mansa in my game so i used the financial trait and all my GPP to stay well ahead in tech. i did slow down toward the end when i realized i couldn't rush SS parts.

the high-point of my game (aside from sinking all of Monte's troops en route to my continent) was seeing London putting out over 500 beakers/turn and still be my #2 production city. specialists and hybrid strats are a nice change from straight cottages..

 

[Cam_H]

Kong - you say you're a newb, so please forgive the simplicity of the answers.

Kong and LosBlack - respective congratulations on your wins.

I hate losing to Space Race, and I really don't like winning Space Race. Not sure why.

There's something strangely satisfying about belting the heck out of the AI tribes that you don't usually get to fully embrace with a Spaceship win?

I have been beaten by Cyrus A LOT!! He always does well. I've come to the conclusion the only way to win if Cyrus is in the game is to attack him ASAP.

I've noted a couple of comments about how Persia seems to do well in other people's games, but I tend to be neutral about Cyrus.

I can assure you that you can win without attacking Cyrus ASAP.

I still don't feel I understand city specialization and specialist economy.

City specialisation is, as you describe, giving a focus to your cities, generally either a commerce or a production focus.

A specialist economy is one that uses a high proportion of citizens as city specialists, and will often have a high proportion of farms to feed the specialists. These economies can make good use of civics such as Representation which reward the use of specialists, and pop a lot more Great People. Because a lot of tiles worked are farms, they tend to work fewer cottages, hence the specialist economy vs. cottage economy debates.

I think I've learned to be more selective about taking Cities, and not to waste turns/resources to wipe out another Civ since there is no benefit to destroying a Civ (was there a benefit in older Civ games for doing this?).

It really depends upon your objectives and available resources as to whether it's best to cripple or kill off an enemy. There can be some unhappiness and diplomatic problems by allowing a former enemy survive. The Warlords expansion has introduced Vassal States which adds a further dimension to this.

Oh, and I think I have found my favorite Unit... the Russian Cossack!!! Those guys kick some serious tail!!

Yes they do - occasionally mine!