Quick Questions / Quick Answers

[CrazyG]

Another question! Corporations! Should we decide our victory path(or victory ease) with what kind of monopoly we have?

I guess whales (+10% science) are really nice for a spaceship win, but other than that there aren't too many monopoly effects that play specifically into a specific victory type. Many civs have bonuses that guide them towards a specific path, and I wouldn't say the monopoly bonuses are enough to offset that.

Generally I "decide" my victory path around my 7th social policy. This is a good time to do so because statecraft or aesthetics are very helpful towards certain victory types. You can certainly change paths later, and its important to look for stuff that shut down certain victories, such as Mongolia eating all the city states

 

[Funak]

Generally I "decide" my victory path around my 7th social policy. This is a good time to do so because statecraft or aesthetics are very helpful towards certain victory types. You can certainly change paths later, and its important to look for stuff that shut down certain victories, such as Mongolia eating all the city states

Very helpful, sure, but I definitely don't feel like they necessarily lock you into that path.
I mean Arabia and China pretty much needs to go into Aesthetics to not cripple themselves, but I don't necessarily think that means they need to go for tourism victory.
Same thing with Germany and Portugal, that because of the nature of their kit needs to send trade-routes to city-states.

Other than that, following tradition up with Aesthetics is a great way to speed up your policy-acquisition, which you can turn into any victory condition really.

 

[CrazyG]

Very helpful, sure, but I definitely don't feel like they necessarily lock you into that path.
I mean Arabia and China pretty much needs to go into Aesthetics to not cripple themselves, but I don't necessarily think that means they need to go for tourism victory.
Same thing with Germany and Portugal, that because of the nature of their kit needs to send trade-routes to city-states.

Other than that, following tradition up with Aesthetics is a great way to speed up your policy-acquisition, which you can turn into any victory condition really.

Yup, these reason are why I put "decide" in quotes.

I've become really fond of taking 3 policies within Aesthetics, then taking 3 Piety. You can grab all the culture production from Aesth, making it great for a strategy that likes early rationalism or ideologies. You also get the faith cost reduction and most of the Piety's bonus faith, this can lead to a very strong great person spam. Also I don't feel like I lose out of much by skipping Uffizi.

 

[Funak]

Yup, these reason are why I put "decide" in quotes.

I've become really fond of taking 3 policies within Aesthetics, then taking 3 Piety. You can grab all the culture production from Aesth, making it great for a strategy that likes early rationalism or ideologies. You also get the faith cost reduction and most of the Piety's bonus faith, this can lead to a very strong great person spam. Also I don't feel like I lose out of much by skipping Uffizi.

I never really build Uffizi, rarely feels worth the increased wonder-cost, and also I don't really like the tech it unlocks from.

I rarely, if ever, start multiple trees without finishing them, Industrial tree unlocks are just too good to skip out on. And in those rare situations where I go for a second medieval tree instead of an industrial, I value finishing the tree as quickly as possible over getting frontloaded policies.

For example, going for tourism-victory as Germany, Portugal, Austria or Siam(although I wouldn't play Siam, but that's a story for another time) I would start off with Statecraft, picking up all the extra gold from running CS traderoutes, while at the same time getting almost-historic-events whenever a trade-route finishes, after that I would go into Aesthetics to make those policies feel more valuable.
I sometimes consider starting with Aesthetics instead, just because of how it speeds up policy-acquisition, but it just doesn't feel worth it.

 

[CrazyG]

I never really build Uffizi, rarely feels worth the increased wonder-cost, and also I don't really like the tech it unlocks from.

I rarely, if ever, start multiple trees without finishing them, Industrial tree unlocks are just too good to skip out on. And in those rare situations where I go for a second medieval tree instead of an industrial, I value finishing the tree as quickly as possible over getting frontloaded policies.

For example, going for tourism-victory as Germany, Portugal, Austria or Siam(although I wouldn't play Siam, but that's a story for another time) I would start off with Statecraft, picking up all the extra gold from running CS traderoutes, while at the same time getting almost-historic-events whenever a trade-route finishes, after that I would go into Aesthetics to make those policies feel more valuable.
I sometimes consider starting with Aesthetics instead, just because of how it speeds up policy-acquisition, but it just doesn't feel worth it.

FYI the 3rd policy trees unlock whenever you hit 12 policies, it doesn't matter if you complete a tree. So a big advantage of mixing trees is you can actually hit those faster, by grabbing the culture policies from multiple trees. (Also getting multiple happiness policies can be nice)

I just don't see much value in certain late policies or finishers (Authority and Aesthetics both come to mind) so mixing is certainly a viable strategy. I'm not saying those policies are worthless by any means, just that you can get more from other policies. A great example is getting Piety's faith discount, Aesthetics great person bonuses, and to the glory of god. This allows an almost endless great person purchase cycle, which big rewards for doing so. Its also great if you really value a specific ideology policy because you should move through social policies very quickly

 

[Lifariz]

FYI the 3rd policy trees unlock whenever you hit 12 policies, it doesn't matter if you complete a tree. So a big advantage of mixing trees is you can actually hit those faster, by grabbing the culture policies from multiple trees. (Also getting multiple happiness policies can be nice)

I just don't see much value in certain late policies or finishers (Authority and Aesthetics both come to mind) so mixing is certainly a viable strategy. I'm not saying those policies are worthless by any means, just that you can get more from other policies. A great example is getting Piety's faith discount, Aesthetics great person bonuses, and to the glory of god. This allows an almost endless great person purchase cycle, which big rewards for doing so. Its also great if you really value a specific ideology policy because you should move through social policies very quickly

I agree on this path of thought. I only ever take Authority's opener when it's time to war. Even on Deity, unless rng gave me Mongolia or Rome I wouldn't really bother completing Authority. And I didn't know you can unlock the 3rd tree via policy count instead. Fumu, will keep that in mind.

But coming back to my monopoly question, I was talking mostly about Corporations since you know... your monopoly decides which corp you can build and if it will directly or indirectly complement your decided victory path... or expand it... An example would be that if you decided for a science victory but have the military production corp, you can most likely defend your borders with that...

Was there a corp built for great people builds or you'd probably just go for whatever's available?

 

[CrazyG]

I agree on this path of thought. I only ever take Authority's opener when it's time to war. Even on Deity, unless rng gave me Mongolia or Rome I wouldn't really bother completing Authority. And I didn't know you can unlock the 3rd tree via policy count instead. Fumu, will keep that in mind.

But coming back to my monopoly question, I was talking mostly about Corporations since you know... your monopoly decides which corp you can build and if it will directly or indirectly complement your decided victory path... or expand it... An example would be that if you decided for a science victory but have the military production corp, you can most likely defend your borders with that...

Was there a corp built for great people builds or you'd probably just go for whatever's available?

I usually decide my victory strategy before corporations come into play, I guess you could look ahead but I don't. If you are right on the edge or pursuing culture or spaceship win, I could maybe see a certain corporation being the deciding point. That probably doesn't happen too often though

I think there is a corporation that increases great person rate (Civilized Jewelers?). Generally I just take whatever is available, a big warmonger probably has several options but a tall tradition civ won't. Keep in mind you can try to conquer more monopolies if you want a specific bonus (City states sometimes will have the worlds only copy of a luxury)

 

[peterw1987]

I also recently start taking 2 aesthetic before taking piety(if i am going for piety). But some civ and playstyle really need that religious pressure from piety early(opener and trade route pressure). Sacrificing early pressure for aesthetic sometimes not worth it.

 

[jaolhe]

Anyone seen the barbarian state form in the game recently? Just seen that the first time in hundreds of hours. Bucharest CS was overrun by barbarian horde and started sending barbarian armies with catapult support. Year was cirka 500ad, Emperor difficulty level. Scary!

 

[Lifariz]

Anyone seen the barbarian state form in the game recently? Just seen that the first time in hundreds of hours. Bucharest CS was overrun by barbarian horde and started sending barbarian armies with catapult support. Year was cirka 500ad, Emperor difficulty level. Scary!

Eh, that normally happens when nobody helps that state when the Barbarian Horde quest/event happens. Probably a seriously isolated CS? Just liberate it yourself for some needed bonuses.

 

[Emufarmers]

Anyone seen the barbarian state form in the game recently? Just seen that the first time in hundreds of hours. Bucharest CS was overrun by barbarian horde and started sending barbarian armies with catapult support. Year was cirka 500ad, Emperor difficulty level. Scary!

Only once or twice have I seen barbarians take multiple cities. But when it happens...

 

[Maximo the Xth]

Could it be that defensive pacts no longer work with the newest version?

 

[Robertm94]

On the description of the eki it says it removes features. I always interpreted that to mean it will remove things like wheat or cattle or whatever was there, but after playing the huns i can not build eki over these resources. What does it mean when it says it removes features?

 

[randomnub]

forest/jungle/swamp ?

 

[CrazyG]

On the description of the eki it says it removes features. I always interpreted that to mean it will remove things like wheat or cattle or whatever was there, but after playing the huns i can not build eki over these resources. What does it mean when it says it removes features?

I think "feature" means stuff like forests or marsh. Wheat or deer would be considered a "resource"

 

[Robertm94]

Ah right thanks guys

 

[jaolhe]

Are the defensive pacts working as they should? I've recently played both 7/3 and 21/4 version and in both there is something strange going on. For example, in my current game, year around 1500AD I'm having defensive pact with Morocco, which then gets attacked by Germany. As a consequence of our defensive pact, all CS allies of Germay declare war on me as well, but not Germany itself. The peaceful realtions go on turn after turn although the war between Morocco and Germany is raging. Feels strange...

 

[Funak]

Are the defensive pacts working as they should? I've recently played both 7/3 and 21/4 version and in both there is something strange going on. For example, in my current game, year around 1500AD I'm having defensive pact with Morocco, which then gets attacked by Germany. As a consequence of our defensive pact, all CS allies of Germay declare war on me as well, but not Germany itself. The peaceful realtions go on turn after turn although the war between Morocco and Germany is raging. Feels strange...

Did you have a DoF with germany? Because DoF prevents war from defensive pacts

 

[jaolhe]

Did you have a DoF with germany? Because DoF prevents war from defensive pacts

No, didn't have DoF with Germany.

 

[CrazyG]

No, didn't have DoF with Germany.

Did morocco declare on Germany? If so, you would not be called into the war because technically Morocco is the aggressor so you aren't called into war against Germany.

The situation with city states and defensive pacts is strange but I think its working as intended. You should be able to make peace with all the CS