Resources are scarce

[Death_Machine]

I started a game with random settings & based on a nearly revealed map it is either a big archipelago or small continent map. I am Greece and once I discovered that I did not share my decent sized land mass with anybody else I proceeded to adopt a builder approach for this game.

After using the republic slingshot I traded techs with civs located on adjacent islands to catch back up and soon found myself with a sizable tech lead, but my joy was short lived. I soon discovered that I have no Iron or Saltpeter on my island. After being financially raped for several trade treaties the Vikings (next island over) started warring with everybody so I jumped on the dogpile and began to conquer as much of their empire as I could. I took a city with Iron first which has released me from my dependence on importing Iron, so that has helped.

The Vikings are now dead and I have Iron but seem to be unable to acquire saltpeter. Because of this I have made some discoveries that are new to me.

1. I can build riflemen without saltpeter, but I am unable to upgrade them to infantry.
2. My medieval infantry have all been upgraded to guerillas, even though I have no saltpeter.
3. I might would have quit this game earlier, but after reading the post about how somebody in here overcame ridicules obstacles as Japan in a seemingly unwinnable game I have decided to persevere.
4. I have read several little things in these forums that have lead me to tweak minor things in my game play which have significantly improved me as a player, so thanks to those who have shared knowledge.

Since I am operating as a builder and have never instigated a war I have been able to be strong defensively, but I fear the cavalry while I lack the ability to upgrade my riflemen to infantry.

 

[Maimonides]

The Vikings are now dead and I have Iron but seem to be unable to acquire saltpeter. Because of this I have made some discoveries that are new to me.

1. I can build riflemen without saltpeter, but I am unable to upgrade them to infantry.
2. My medieval infantry have all been upgraded to guerillas, even though I have no saltpeter.
3. I might would have quit this game earlier, but after reading the post about how somebody in here overcame ridicules obstacles as Japan in a seemingly unwinnable game I have decided to persevere.
4. I have read several little things in these forums that have lead me to tweak minor things in my game play which have significantly improved me as a player, so thanks to those who have shared knowledge.

Since I am operating as a builder and have never instigated a war I have been able to be strong defensively, but I fear the cavalry while I lack the ability to upgrade my riflemen to infantry.

At this point, forget about Saltpeter. You need Rubber. Once you have Rubber, you can make Infantry & then you won't have any problems defending agains enemy Cavalry. Saltpeter just gives you Musketeers, Cavalry & Cannon. Guerillas don't require a Resource so use them until you get a source of Rubber, then switch to Infantry.

 

[Death_Machine]

At this point, forget about Saltpeter. You need Rubber. Once you have Rubber, you can make Infantry & then you won't have any problems defending agains enemy Cavalry. Saltpeter just gives you Musketeers, Cavalry & Cannon. Guerillas don't require a Resource so use them until you get a source of Rubber, then switch to Infantry.

Damn, I don't know if that is good news or bad news. Either I have no rubber, or I'm in a situation like researching synthetic fibers before rocketry and being unable to build MI. I'll look at it closer when I get home.

 

[vmxa]

Cannot upgrade to Mechs without rubber and oil. Fibers is no use until Rocketry as you need Alum.

You can make ToW without any of them. So Rock is a better tech for you. Tow are quite strong and cavs can do nothing to them for the most part.

 

[Spoonwood]

Since I am operating as a builder and have never instigated a war I have been able to be strong defensively, but I fear the cavalry while I lack the ability to upgrade my riflemen to infantry.

Sign RoPs with everyone (to improve AI attitudes), build the U.N., gift everyone 100 gold the turn before you finish the U.N., and hold elections as soon as you can. You don't need any resources to do this. If you want a space race victory, when you discover Rocketry and Fission (and now since you don't have rubber), use ctrl+shift+m to find a tribe which has or *could have* an extra resource. Sign an RoP with them. Then send workers into their territory, road up squares to that resource, gift them the required tech for the resource, and then trade them for that resource. Also, if you have access to a helper program or play on a PC and can download a helper program like CivAssist 2 or MapStat do so, and then check it every single turn (takes a few seconds usually) and *trade for an extra resource as soon as possible*. I've waited to trade for a turn or two and lost a trading opportunity before, so make sure to trade for resource X as soon as you can. Guerillas have the same attack rating as cavalry... they just don't move as fast.

 

[TheOverseer714]

The warmonger would do massive guerilla attacks on an enemy city for Rubber. And if you have RP, you can build the great evener: Artillery. Red-line every defender in the town that has rubber and attack with guerillas or TOW Infantry and soon you'll have Rubber. Repeat the process for each resource you need.

 

[Spoonwood]

I haven't done it myself, but to expand on TheOverseer's ideas about artillery you might want to see here http://www.civfanatics.com/civ3/strategy/artillery_effective.php if you haven't already, of course. Any saves for us Death_Machine?

 

[Death_Machine]

I haven't done it myself, but to expand on TheOverseer's ideas about artillery you might want to see here http://www.civfanatics.com/civ3/strategy/artillery_effective.php if you haven't already, of course. Any saves for us Death_Machine?

I'll try to remember to post a save when I get home tonight. I played a little last night & I have to say that I have NEVER played a game where I had this much trouble with resources. I am building the UN and have about 10 more turns until it is made.

I was thinking about knifing England in the back to get a border city that has both rubber & salt peter, but then the Dutch attacked them & the MMP that was about to end sucked me into the war. At this point I am focusing on taking cities from the Dutch that have the resources I need.

I started the game with cult/space/UN victories in mind. I usually mix war & building for long games. I guess I've always conquered resources I needed in other games, and I could have this game, but I'm just surprised that NO critical resources were available to me without conquering. You'd think that I'd have at least 1 rubber, saltpeter, iron, or oil without having to go to war to get it.