Statue of Zeus.

[Grazzit]

Free 3/2/2 every 5 turns, I got about 15 of these so far 8D

In my game last night playing Celts on Monarch I got this wonder because Celts rule and I got most of the early wonders. I had never gotten this wonder before, and since i was ahead on tech i was building and rushing for Cavalry. I had minimal defensive forces since i was in building mode and trying to get to size 12 with all my buildings. I was the 3rd largest civ in land area but have 4 weak civs next to me...


ANYWAY I made this and was astounded at how helpful it was.. I had a counter punching force if i needed it and if i had really wanted to i could of taken on england. I had this and the great library so i was getting a lot of things free and could just build my cities.. It won't be my number 1 wonder to get(Great library, S Chaple, sufferage, evolution, hoover are the ones i go after) But if you have a wonder city going and have the others this is nice.

I want to try getting this and the crusades

 

[zorven]

When I read about these two wonders I thought that they wouldn't be that great. Every 5 turns didn't seem to be that helpful. Then I played my first game and built (what is the name?) the wonder that creates Crusaders. I soon began to realize the power in these wonders. When I started to conquer the other continent, my main forces consisted of Crusaders (and a Crusader Army). I was pretty confident against my first oppenent until I saw their Ancient Cavs coming at me! Luckily, it appeared he didn't have much juice left after fighting some wars with his neighbor.

 

[toh6wy]

It really is a great wonder...
One time, I was playing the Intro Conquest w/ locked alliances (I was Germany). I was able to build both SoZ and the Knights' Templar. Plus in that scenario the Germans had a Teutonic Knight UU. Good times... Unfortunately though, I didn't build the SoZ until I had almost won. Can't remember why; maybe I didn't have Ivory until then? So by that time, Ancient Cavalry didn't have much effect. But it was still awesome.

 

[benstandby]

I was playing online. I was China. I had managed to build the Zeus wonder very early and I had about 20-25 cav units. I had just gotten chivaly and had gotten my first few Riders built when I built the Knights Templar. In the next 30 turns I could have conquered all the other civs in the game, but like most online games, someobody got tired and quit, and then everyone else did too. It sucked.... I mean, it ruled, don't get me wrong... but then it sucked.

 

[Bad Brett]

Hey, It doesn't work for me! I'm playing as the dutch, and I just conquered the wonder! I thought you needed ivory to BUILD it, but obviousley you need it to make it work as well! Does anyone know?

 

[zorven]

I am pretty sure you don't need ivory for it to continue to work. It will stop working if you have learned Metellurgy.

 

[Bad Brett]

I know for sure now! I built a colony that contained ivory and my ancient cavalrys are produced now! So ivory is kinda like a strategic resource! All you have to do is to ruin the enemy's ivory source to stop him from producing those evil cavalrys!

 

[tigerden27]

You definitely need Ivory for it to continue to work.

I actually went to the work of trading for Ivory, just to build it. Then the Egyptians cancelled the agreement. The first "renewal" I offered a lot to keep the Cavalry coming. But then 20 turns later they wanted too much and I just decided to take their city.

It's amazing what 6 Ancient Cavalry can do to a major city. I had to take their city, rush a harbor, then transport defensive units as fast as I could make them on my home continent. Unfortunately, I never got an army out of it. It would have been nice to see an army rampaging across the continent. (I guess that's what I get for playing the Dutch.)

One other quick recommendation: make sure you have a barracks in the city with Statue of Zeus. I know it's obvious, but if I save one other player that D'uh moment, my work is done.

 

[zorven]

Sometimes I am amazed at the lack of documentation for simple game mechanics. Nowwhere in the Civilopedia does it mention that Ivory is required for the Statue of Zeus to produce Ancient Cavs, only that it is required to build the Statue.

 

[Bad Brett]

I just got an idea. Why not give bonuses to the other luxeries as well? (to balance the game)

 

[Smoked_Ham]

I'm playing a Hotseat game (tiny map) with a friend and built the SoZ, and took out two Civ using mostly Ancient Cavs. I started a single player game on a huge map, and didn't have Ivory anywhere, with over a quarter of the map in my control, and by the time I found out where it was the Romans finished The SoZ.
But I didn't think you need Ivory after you built it either.