Rampid Expansion still worth it

[anton_z1]

So, I've noticed that Civ 4 tries to stop rapid expansion in the early game by cripling your economy, and thus your science as well. It works fairly well, or at least it is a decent counter to the rapid expansion strategy that was available in Civ 3.
However, I just played a game on noble where I tried expanding fast in the begining (by using the great worker chop method) and yes I was crippled in the early part of the game. However, I think by having that large number of city base actualy helped me out in the long run. Sure it took me a little longer to get the techs for banks and courthouses and whatnot, but by the time I got there I had a huge city and population base that the other civs did not. I may have missed out on a couple of the early wonders, but I quickly became a money and science machine and sped past the other civs on the tech tree.
So, the moral of the story is this: if you want to play rapid expansion, you still can in Civ 4. You just have to take a little hit in the begining.

Dont try this on harder level. The AI checks you military/territoy and if it is an easy grab, you are Doomed. Instead, choose you positions well developp economy and the GRAB ennemies one by one.

 

[Harv72b]

Dont try this on harder level. The AI checks you military/territoy and if it is an easy grab, you are Doomed. Instead, choose you positions well developp economy and the GRAB ennemies one by one.

I just attempted this strategy (which worked well on noble & below) on my first prince game, and I can vouch for what you're saying. I was actually doing well score/culture/tech-wise, but the constant warfare on my Southern border (still in the middle ages) was preventing me from pressing my advantage and developing my cities. Of course, it didn't help that I started on a medium-sized continent with the Aztecs, Japanese, and Spanish as my immediate neighbors (and Isabelle founded a different religion than I did).

 

[Darkgreen]

Dont try this on harder level. The AI checks you military/territoy and if it is an easy grab, you are Doomed. Instead, choose you positions well developp economy and the GRAB ennemies one by one.

Ya, I never play on any higher than noble. The fact that a higher difficulty level after noble only means more aggression and production bonuses for the other civs infuriates me, as it also did in Civ 3. I wish they could make the AI better for higher difficulty levels.

 

[Si_Lurker]

I think we should note the difference between rapid expansion and infinite city sprawl:

For instance if you use worker chop early to get a lot cities, but also develop those cities (workers, infrastructure), you will incure temporary technological slowdown, but will grow out of it.

On the other hand were you to go for dense city pacing and little to no infrastructure, you wouldn't be able to climb out of the red.

Also OCP or even more loose city placement is good as you deny your opponents land, while having more cities.

 

[knupp715]

I'm playing epic, seems standard regardless of the location at that speed.

Simple solution then, don't play epic if you don't like the longer games.

 

[Darkgreen]

I think we should note the difference between rapid expansion and infinite city sprawl:

For instance if you use worker chop early to get a lot cities, but also develop those cities (workers, infrastructure), you will incure temporary technological slowdown, but will grow out of it.

On the other hand were you to go for dense city pacing and little to no infrastructure, you wouldn't be able to climb out of the red.

Also OCP or even more loose city placement is good as you deny your opponents land, while having more cities.

Ya, I think I might have eluded to it but not said it right out, but I use rapid expansion to make sure that I have the same amount or one or two more cities than the next closest civ, not for a sprawling strategy.
I should have also mentioned when I was talking about how rapid expansion gives you good positioning that positioning included the ability to have cities loose and not overlapping.

 

[UberCivver]

The point of this game is not to WTFPWNBBQ everyone.

That is one sweet acronym, my friend.

On the topic of this thread though, I think it once again boils down to the fact that there is not ONE strategy for this game. Any given game ofCivilization 4 is the product of circumstance, plain and simple.
-UberCivver

 

[flobi]

What is Worker Chop?

 

[flobi]

Nevermind. I figured it out. Just for those who may be behind like me, when you chop down a forest, the production in the nearest city is boosted by the lumber created. That helps things (including settlers) get created faster.

 

[MosquitoE]

Ya, I never play on any higher than noble. The fact that a higher difficulty level after noble only means more aggression and production bonuses for the other civs infuriates me, as it also did in Civ 3. I wish they could make the AI better for higher difficulty levels.

I don't understand why people have a problem with the AI production bonuses. Basically what you are asking for is a more stupid AI at lower difficulties.
Personally, I want the AI to be as intelligent as possible, period. Why would it be more fun to play against an AI that doesn't build any roads or only chops down forests or only builds spearmen (or anything stupid)?

 

[Darkgreen]

I don't understand why people have a problem with the AI production bonuses. Basically what you are asking for is a more stupid AI at lower difficulties.
Personally, I want the AI to be as intelligent as possible, period. Why would it be more fun to play against an AI that doesn't build any roads or only chops down forests or only builds spearmen (or anything stupid)?

I'm not asking for a stupid AI at lower difficulties. I want a more intelligent AI (compared to the one at noble level) for the higher difficulties. I want that better AI to replace the production bonuses and whatnot.
I don't know how you got from my messages that I want a more stupid AI.
I to want the AI to be as intelligent as possible. In my last message I specificaly said, "I wish they could make the AI better for higher difficulty levels."