First up: Italian States
Settings: Monarch-Epic
For the Catholics, their new religious building and unit comes with Monastic orders. This is nice for me, because MO is along the same tech path as Classical Heritage. Which we also need in order to reach Jurisprudence, a requisite for the Crusaders. So, let's get started.
My strategy for Italy is pretty straightforward, Expand into northern Italy, focus on getting a GP ASAP, then use Missionaries to keep your economy afloat while expanding as rapidly as possible. Also, the tech path we're going towards lends itself well to a Specialist Economy. Thus, we'll be farming like crazy.
The first tech is, obviously Monotheism. We settle Venice and use a Missionary to spread Catholicism.
The other Missionary and both Warriors are sent out to explore the map. I have it mostly memorized, but I still like to see the land. After Monotheism, Iron Tools to give us Axemen for an early offense against Germany. I like taking Aachen because it gives access to Furs and Salt, both extremely helpful for an SE. Whip a church in Rome and keep both Rome and Venice building Granaries. Note that Granaries are much more powerful on Epic than Normal speed. It is not wise to put them off.
After Iron Tools, we tech Stone Working, Animal Breeding, Coinage and Lordship, in that order, before beelining to Classical Heritage. This is my standard teching package, which will divert into Trapping Techniques after Aachen falls.
Now, to focus on expansion. We need 2 cities and a road to Aachen ASAP if we want to take down Germany before they get too many units. Genoa and Bern are founded before long.
Both start building workers, while Rome and Venice are building defensive units. Note, we use the second missionary on Bern, not Genoa since she can trade with Rome via the coast. We help the Military buildup along with the construction of Armories in Rome and Venice. Then, we get our first GP in 700AD.
I should have had him 10 turns sooner, but I forgot to reset the Priest specialist in Rome after a whip. Of course we constructed St. Peter's Basllica, and I was able to increase the research slider back to 100%. I turned off the specialist in Rome for now, since I'd rather the population point working a mine. We need more Missionaries and Settlers! Speaking of expansion, I was finally set to war with Germany.
Yeah, a small stack, but I was about to whip 4 more out with 1 being produced in Rome before then. The second wave would go north through the Alps toward Worms. After Worms fell, Germany lost their only Iron resource, making take capture of Aachen much less expensive. 20 turns and 9 fewer axemen later, I owned Aachen and it's wonderful resources. Even the Pope needs a pimp fur jacket.
With peace, we began the focus on filling the rest of Italy and spreading Catholicism far and wide. After whipping a couple settlers, Rome started on a Marketplace to give our shrine a nice bonus. Aachen came with a Monastery pre-built, so we built us some Missionaries there. Before we knew it, Theology was discovered. And I made my first civics change.
So, here's a good break point. Sadly, I've lost Sicily and Sardinia to the infidels, but that should change soon enough. However, our eyes are set on a different prize for now:
All warriors?
They're begging for a Holy Crusade. Save attached for your gaming pleasure.