[NFP] Shadow game - help me beat Emperor

[Archon_Wing]

God-King is pretty useless unless you had picked up faith elsewhere (Religious CS, hut, civ ability) because all you're going to do is pick up Divine Spark when you can't even use it.

If you're going for a specialty pantheon (Religious Settlements, Earth Goddess, Aurora) it can make sense or a terrain pantheon (Open Sky, Boats, maybe even the camp one). But this start has none of this potential.

 

[Buktu]

I would go urban planing as well. You can just build a sphinx to get a pantheon at some point

 

[TheFinalChiTown]

@Noble Zarkon this is awesome! Props for pushing your limits.

I'm going to sound like a downer here, but IMO this is a difficult way to learn the game. Certainly, we will have lively debates, but things are going to get complicated down the road.

Another approach is to learn the game by copying the successful strategies of other players. In the words of our best Great Scientist: "If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants."

I'm going to play out this seed through the end of the Classical Era, and show you my results. Then, if you like, you can try to copy what I did. I'll go for a religious victory via Holy Sites, Harbors, and Campuses.

 

[Noble Zarkon]

I'm going to play out this seed through the end of the Classical Era, and show you my results.

That's fine, will be interesting to compare - please do put your findings in spoilers though so I can read when I am ready. I know every decision can't be discussed to death but part of what I'm doing is slowing myself down and making myself think!

 

[Noble Zarkon]

would go urban planing as well. You can just build a sphinx to get a pantheon at some point

That leads neatly into something I forgot to discuss - what civic to go for next. Craftmanship isn't boosted yet but will be when I get a builder and allows me to build sphinxes, Foreign Trade is boosted and allows trade routes.

I'm leaning towards Foreign Trade, with a plan along the following lines:-

1. Finish Settler in capital then plan to go Slinger -> Builder, (alternatives Slinger -> Slinger or Warrior -> Slinger and buy the Builder when I have the gold).
2. Finish off barb camp and then use warrior to escort Settler.
3. Found second city and start work on Trader with a view to getting a road between my two cities.

I favour the Slinger to try and get the boost but is warrior better as one of you suggested?

 

[TheFinalChiTown]

Got a golden age! Here's my game through the end of the Ancient era.

A good deal of experience went into pulling this off, so don't get discouraged. I have 2000+ hours in this game. And it's a difficult start you chose...

I've attached an excel that shows my era score and build orders. I forgot to fill in many of the techs/civics.

Again, I highly recommend playing from the start and trying to copy what I did. It may seem like cheating, but I assure you the era score will be very difficult to replicate.

Spoiler :

Tech priorities: Astrology, Irrigation, Writing
Civic priorities: FT, EE, Craft, SW

District discounts: built 2 holy sites, 1 discounted campus, and will build another discounted campus after I finish my government plaza.

 

[Noble Zarkon]

Thanks, will have a look.

Realised when I found my second city I won't have Foreign Trade yet, so maybe build a warrior while the capital builds a Slinger.

After that I want a builder, trader and another scout perhaps.

Also when I do build a trader it might be better going to Hattusa given Egypt's traits.

 

[Archon_Wing]

Tried it out. Start is sorta weak, but I got lucky with huts so that kinda messes things up.

to turn 23....

Spoiler :

Settled on honey so I could work the plains hill tile. Scout ---> Settler because no real good tiles to improve. As we were not pop 2 yet, I partially started on a builder and then made a settler. With a start like this barbs are not a problem because they can't spawn in the ocean.

Scout pops multiple huts-- state workforce, another scout, and a builder! Well so much goes for the booster. I will go and boost craftsmanship and get writing as I can't seem to find anyone.

As always, if you folks lack DLCs, you can always try to open the game in multiplayer, though some mods will require download. Not that I am founding a religion this game.

 

[MrRadar]

Three more turns.
Things intensify
t32-34

Spoiler :

t32 - cash flows

Spoiler :

Before a new session I realise I can sell my Hunny, and buy a builder outright, to improve a replacement in Memphis, which could start the repayment at once. I find the highest bidder, Phillip II, and make the deal




In the East my warrior crosses the Dnieper and discovers yet another goody hut - incredible!, and my slinger investigates the one, discovered earlier, and receives 20 DF, also locating the elusive camp. Very nice!


I immediately sell as much DF as possible to the willing buyer at the fair (highest) market price.

t33 - good times

Spoiler :

East: the camp spawned a slinger and the spearmen acts all aggressive - my slinger retreats 1NE. The (same?) triggered barb scout terrorises innocent village. I hit him with a warrior.


My NW scout scores YET ANOTHER goody hut. I feel spoiled. A free envoy arrives.


So now I can vassalize Hattusa, as this free envoy would be the third there, uncontested. I do so (who needs Amani for that ). Hello +2 Horses per turn:


I also sent my original Battlecry promoted warrior on a little exploration trip and he shows some promise there. This "...er" looks... intriguing Can it be...

t34 - bright future ahead

Spoiler :

IBT: Oh, that's very nice, Wilhelmina. Also, your tulips smell fabulous! How do you make them so??


... the Crater Lake? Yass! My prayers were not in vain! Astrology eureka and a new minor contact. First one! +1 free culture in the capital



Barb scout tries to flee and my warrior enters the village to claim another prize - a new scout!!! Which is immediately sent Eastwards to support the slinger experiencing difficulties near the camp.

 

[Noble Zarkon]

Barb camp cleared, warrior back at capital which will produce settler next turn. Scout popped boost for Masonry.

Next decision is what to tech next - Irrigation, Mining, Writing and Archery all make sense - will ponder overnight!

 

[MrRadar]

Barb camp cleared, warrior back at capital which will produce settler next turn. Scout popped boost for Masonry.

Next decision is what to tech next - Irrigation, Mining, Writing and Archery all make sense - will ponder overnight!View attachment 568836

I'd probably suggest Mining - hooking up that amber will give you an important eureka - followed by Writing. You can get Craftsmanship boost by improving two honeys and the amber.
You really want a builder, but you also sorely need some more fighty units as well. I can hardly believe your luck with the absence of barbs so far

Btw, I see you moved your scout away from that barb camp in the North. Your last screenshot showed the barb spearman heavily damaged and your scout next to it. Have you explored the possibility to snipe that camp with your scout? The camp is shown still alive.

 

[Noble Zarkon]

Have you explored the possibility to snipe that camp with your scout?

I did look at it but the odds were poor and I have had bad experiences with scout vs spear in the past so decided to go cautious

As well as unfogging the scout is aiming for the tribal village to the East.

You really want a builder, but you also sorely need some more fighty units as well.

I'm thinking slinger in the capital and warrior in the second city then perhaps buy a builder if funds allow or build one.

 

[MrRadar]

I did look at it but the odds were poor and I have had bad experiences with scout vs spear in the past so decided to go cautious

As well as unfogging the scout is aiming for the tribal village to the East.

Ok, fair enough.

I'm thinking slinger in the capital and warrior in the second city then perhaps buy a builder if funds allow or build one.

Well, a couple of military units could be handled by the capital, and your first expansion might be better off with producing something like monument, which would speed up your civics progress. Expansion city usually has less production and I build military there only if in dire straits - when I'm DOW'ed early or get very unlucky with barbs. As the waters around you stay calm, maybe it would be better to invest into culture?

 

[Noble Zarkon]

Well, a couple of military units could be handled by the capital, and your first expansion might be better off with producing something like monument, which would speed up your civics progress.

Yeah that's a good thought.

 

[Buktu]

I would try to go agoge before building most units. So maybe one slinger or warrior since you are not under pressure right now and the rest with agoge to benefit from the 50% boost. A builder for the inspiration of craftsmanship would be nice.
Since you have some desert (near a river as well!) you can think about pyramids. This would mean another settler in the near future. Also a second builder to chop them with magnus. And you should run an internal traderoute to speed them up as well imo.

So this would be:
capital:

- military unit
- builder (3 improvements)
- settler
- military (with agoge) 2 warriors and 3 slingers (eureka for crossbows after upgrading them) in total should do the trick for quite a while

2. city:

- monument
- trader

3. city:

- pyramids (next to a river for the 15% boost)
- magnus
- buy builder in order to chop

 

[Home on Lagrange]

I'd also suggest mining. Getting extra production out of the amber (and gold when we sell it) is worthwhile - mining also leads to our UU and the Pyramids.

This start is one where the UU will shine - once it gets its first promotion it'll have 40 CS and should be able to one shot barb scouts. It's like having a double movement crossbow two eras early and it's no longer prohibitively expensive. Agoge will work on Egypt's UU I think.

Agree with Buktu about an internal trade route. Although Egypt gets a boost to international trade routes, I think production is worth more to us than some more gold, especially when we start selling things.

 

[Noble Zarkon]

it's no longer prohibitively expensive

Oh I missed that, everything I read said it was crazy expensive but I never actually checked in game!

 

[Noble Zarkon]

20 faith from the hut.

Spain founds Barcelona (3rd city), reminds me why you guys were right to push for a settler!

Met Wilhelmina, sent delegation.

Found a barb camp, slinger starting to head that way but will need support and don't really want all my military so far away from my cities, considering building a warrior after the builder in the capital.

Scout popped a Relic!! Stopped as we will have the chance to pick a Pantheon next turn.

 

[Noble Zarkon]

Am I right in thinking that if I get the Pyramids and build the Sphinx on that 2 food floodplains it will be a 3 faith, 2 culture, 2 food tile?? That's pretty strong!

 

[Noble Zarkon]

I advanced 1 turn to see what Pantheons are still available and Religious Settlements is still there!! Not sure there is anything else even worth considering??