Problems on deity

[mighty gandhi]

Hi guys, I played for long time on Immortal being able to beat the game usually.
Now going to last level but....really struggling a lot especially in the first 40 turns. I am always beaten up by barbs, invading my lands very soon when I have only one archer normally and still got to pop out the settler.
Is there any tip to prevent this? Maybe I explore too much map? Also barb cities popping out veeery early like this in the SS...is this normal? Turn 22? Really?
Thanks for any advice.

 

[Fippy]

Great that you are trying, Deity can be very rewarding (unlike popular belief i guess lol) when you finally manage to win one.

Yup there are lots of barb tips.
In your screenie, trying BW after mining makes most sense. Axes are much better than Archers against them,
and it's such an important tech anyways. If you find copper, wheel can be next and if not Archery.
Trying for copper is very much supported by river gold as well, you have the early beakers.

So overall look at Archery as needed annoyance on some maps,
but i certainly support Lain's stance i.e. trying with just warriors is too much gambling sometimes.
If you get copper you can actively kill barb archers, while against your own Archers they might walk past them (rng based) and look for plunder.

On a couple maps you can use fogbusting warriors, needs much practise thou.
This strat can be supported by blocking ways (Peaks help too), if one of your units closes a path with no way around then barbs will not try going there.

You know fogbusting mechanics (2 tile radius) ?
Your suspision on exploring too much is correct, value your starting unit (and those produced early) highly as defender.
Scouting some surrounding land is good for city spots, but finding AIs or so = unimportant. Use them in strategic spots for fogbusting early, they also prevent barb cities from spawning which can ofc be very important in good city locs.

 

[mighty gandhi]

Great that you are trying, Deity can be very rewarding (unlike popular belief i guess lol) when you finally manage to win one.

Yup there are lots of barb tips.
In your screenie, trying BW after mining makes most sense. Axes are much better than Archers against them,
and it's such an important tech anyways. If you find copper, wheel can be next and if not Archery.
Trying for copper is very much supported by river gold as well, you have the early beakers.

So overall look at Archery as needed annoyance on some maps,
but i certainly support Lain's stance i.e. trying with just warriors is too much gambling sometimes.
If you get copper you can actively kill barb archers, while against your own Archers they might walk past them (rng based) and look for plunder.

On a couple maps you can use fogbusting warriors, needs much practise thou.
This strat can be supported by blocking ways (Peaks help too), if one of your units closes a path with no way around then barbs will not try going there.

You know fogbusting mechanics (2 tile radius) ?
Your suspision on exploring too much is correct, value your starting unit (and those produced early) highly as defender.
Scouting some surrounding land is good for city spots, but finding AIs or so = unimportant. Use them in strategic spots for fogbusting early, they also prevent barb cities from spawning which can ofc be very important in good city locs.

Thanks for reply. Yes sometimes I can fogbust with just warriors, but most of time barbs are freaking raging ( I checked, the option is not on).
I will try more going on BW, sometimes I even gamble for AH for horses but that's normally not optimal cause spears will come eventually.
If going just archers, do you normally build more than one before settling 2nd city? I find that delaying too much my expansion but maybe it's the case.

 

[Fippy]

I usually settle my 2nd city before getting an Archer, makes your early warriors (or scout) so important cos i can only do that in a safe area
Made a pic of an optimal secured area, here you could settle south for another corn and silver.

Spoiler :

 

[mighty gandhi]

I usually settle my 2nd city before getting an Archer, makes your early warriors (or scout) so important cos i can only do that in a safe area
Made a pic of an optimal secured area, here you could settle south for another corn and silver.

Spoiler :

Yes nice spot, not always available btw, or if you have horses or copper toward the AI position seems better to go for it. Nice tip anyway I'll try to start with the safest location.
Apart from this sometimes I end up with too many buildings, I think I have to put my cities on research or wealth more often.

 

[Major Tom]

Apart from this sometimes I end up with too many buildings, I think I have to put my cities on research or wealth more often.

Or wonders for failgold. Especially good when IND or have the right resources. Double good if both. You know about binary research? And the 5 turn wait? As for buildings, granary usually good in most cities and 1 library enough. That's about it, in my typical games. As Fippy mention, build/whip axes. Overflow into failgold or a new axe. 4-5 axes roaming around can be very beneficial. Taking that barb city for example.

 

[mighty gandhi]

Or wonders for failgold. Especially good when IND or have the right resources. Double good if both. You know about binary research? And the 5 turn wait? As for buildings, granary usually good in most cities and 1 library enough. That's about it, in my typical games. As Fippy mention, build/whip axes. Overflow into failgold or a new axe. 4-5 axes roaming around can be very beneficial. Taking that barb city for example.

Binary research not sure what you mean, the others I'm already using.

 

[Zavior]

Save gold on 0% research, then research with 100% slider to finish techs fast. Useful early game when you are finishing libraries/academy etc so you can get an extra multiplier for your commerce.

 

[mighty gandhi]

Save gold on 0% research, then research with 100% slider to finish techs fast. Useful early game when you are finishing libraries/academy etc so you can get an extra multiplier for your commerce.

Oh ok I'm using that. It also gives you the chance to change your research if someone discover it first or something happens that makes you change your mind.
Maybe I should just play forum maps. The ones from game generator I usually find harder. (playing fractal, no huts, no events)

 

[Major Tom]

Oh ok I'm using that. It also gives you the chance to change your research if someone discover it first or something happens that makes you change your mind.

Yes and what Zavior said, and another thing is that you get a rebate on required beakers for each AI that already got the tech in the meantime.

 

[mighty gandhi]

Had my first win on Deity!
Took the Incas to make things easier and managed to win a diplo quite late before launching my last attack overseas with tanks(I'm not sure I would have won, Pericles was going crazy ready for space with 16 cities). He got Divine right at turn 61...dunno...never seen such a thing...Oracle magic stuff.
Still quite hard to beat but I think I played this well.
Thanks for all the advices, I attach the initial autosave ( deity, no huts no events) if someone wants to try this map!

 

[OldDude]

Or wonders for failgold. Especially good when IND or have the right resources. Double good if both. You know about binary research? And the 5 turn wait? As for buildings, granary usually good in most cities and 1 library enough. That's about it, in my typical games. As Fippy mention, build/whip axes. Overflow into failgold or a new axe. 4-5 axes roaming around can be very beneficial. Taking that barb city for example.

@Major Tom are you saying that Granary is the only building you build in your cities, aside from one Library? Nothing else?

 

[Major Tom]

Surprisingly often, yes. I find an army have a better payback ratio than buildings. Perhaps an occasional forge (happiness, failgold). Of course there are games with other approaches, f.ex lighthouse when map is screaming for The Great Lighthouse.

Related: Think cities with population above 4 is overrated in most games. Whipping is so powerful.

 

[OldDude]

Surprisingly often, yes. I find an army have a better payback ratio than buildings. Perhaps an occasional forge (happiness, failgold). Of course there are games with other approaches, f.ex lighthouse when map is screaming for The Great Lighthouse.

Related: Think cities with population above 4 is overrated in most games. Whipping is so powerful.

Hmmmm….that's pretty interesting. I'll have to try that out soon, although it seems like you'd run into an economy problem at some point, no?

 

[Zavior]

Maybe if you have an army with four size 4 cities.. But if you have 20 you are good to go, and having an army enables you get those 20 cities.

 

[Major Tom]

Yes, main point is what Zavior says. Economic must be monitored careful, but remember there are other sources of cash than working tiles. Trade routes, failgold, pillaging and taking cities gives you cash upfront. A couple of well timed bulbs gives you more leeway.
Let the AI build the buildings for you. Shrines may be there for taking.

At size 15-20 and a vassal or two, the game is technically won.

 

[krikav]

There is a certain satisfaction in losing vast amounts of cash each turn at 0% research, while your cannons and riflemen in overwhelming numbers crush a technologically superior foe, if you have been in strike mode for 3-4 turns before landing the final capitulation and domination victory, it's all the sweeter.