Last night my Coal ran out after only four turns. It was under an important city so no way to disconnect it. It was my only one. There are only 5 on the whole map. I found one and sent Settlers to camp on it only to see the bloody Yanks land a Settler there two turns before I could. Its on a 6 tile island, 1 Grassland, 1 Hill, 4 Mountains. Its on a mountain and the Americans have it because they settled first. I am on the other side of the mountains trying to get it by culture assimilation but this is taking forever, need at least 100 culture to expand my borders far enough. Both Cities are a long way from the Home of each Civ, but I have built a Temple, Library, Cathedral, Courthouse and a Harbor there, but the damn Americans aren't going along with my plan.
So I had to look elsewhere. China has one that is linked by roads but doesn't have Steam Power, so they don't know about it. I got to thinking and remembered that you can't see the Resources until the turn AFTER you discover the Tech, so I thought if I sold them Steam Power they might have Coal for trade without knowing it. So I sell them the tech for Dyes and 81/turn then leave the Diplomacy screen. I then reentered into Diplomacy and sure enough there is Coal up for trade. He wants 59/turn for it and not a penny less. So I do it. End up with Coal, Dyes, and 22/turn for Steam Power.
Now I know Mao got mad next turn as this was his only Coal, so no RR or Factories for 20 turns. Ofcourse he nixed the trade after 20 years but I had at least one rail link to every city on my continent and a few key cities completely RRed. Started building Factories with 2 or 3 turns left, in every city that hadn't built one immediatley, and a few Ironclads for show.
I don't know if this is a fluke or not but I was sure happy it worked as I am having to wait for the other coal for a long time. I am going to try it again with Oil. I have 9 deposits in my borders but I killed all but 1 connection, I'll kill that temporarily later on too. But the Americans only have one source and paying a bit to deprive them suits me fine, they are paying thru the nose for my luxuries anyway. Bit more wary about refining getting out there too, some powerful units coming up and I'm looking at taking out some civs real soon. If I sell it to the Americans, everyone gets it the same turn too, if I don't they will.
Anyone tried this? I haven't gotten as far as Aluminum or Uranium yet but this could work wonders if they are as scarce as everyone says, a 20yr lead in the space race, and the best modern weapons all to yourself.
So I had to look elsewhere. China has one that is linked by roads but doesn't have Steam Power, so they don't know about it. I got to thinking and remembered that you can't see the Resources until the turn AFTER you discover the Tech, so I thought if I sold them Steam Power they might have Coal for trade without knowing it. So I sell them the tech for Dyes and 81/turn then leave the Diplomacy screen. I then reentered into Diplomacy and sure enough there is Coal up for trade. He wants 59/turn for it and not a penny less. So I do it. End up with Coal, Dyes, and 22/turn for Steam Power.
Now I know Mao got mad next turn as this was his only Coal, so no RR or Factories for 20 turns. Ofcourse he nixed the trade after 20 years but I had at least one rail link to every city on my continent and a few key cities completely RRed. Started building Factories with 2 or 3 turns left, in every city that hadn't built one immediatley, and a few Ironclads for show.
I don't know if this is a fluke or not but I was sure happy it worked as I am having to wait for the other coal for a long time. I am going to try it again with Oil. I have 9 deposits in my borders but I killed all but 1 connection, I'll kill that temporarily later on too. But the Americans only have one source and paying a bit to deprive them suits me fine, they are paying thru the nose for my luxuries anyway. Bit more wary about refining getting out there too, some powerful units coming up and I'm looking at taking out some civs real soon. If I sell it to the Americans, everyone gets it the same turn too, if I don't they will.
Anyone tried this? I haven't gotten as far as Aluminum or Uranium yet but this could work wonders if they are as scarce as everyone says, a 20yr lead in the space race, and the best modern weapons all to yourself.
