Hello, I am new to this forum
, but I would like to post some of my strategic insights. I have lately been playing the 18-player scenario on the Earth map with Marathon speed and on Deity thus the strategies below will arguably be most useful for this map. I havent managed to get a higher final end score with a Space Race Victory than a Domination Victory, but in many respects I find this victory more gratifying though I am skeptical that it can actually produce a higher end-score.
I have tried multiple strategies to get high end scores and have come to the conclusion that a Specialized Economy with the final civics Bureaucracy, Free Market, Caste System and Pacifism yield the highest possible end scores for this scenario. I have so far only tried this overall strategy with Caesar. I usually manage to get a considerable tech lead with no real threats from quite early on and manage to build all of the Wonders, though this may be a mistake.
I post my strategic considerations in the hope that I can get some tips to improve my game, and by thus the overall end-score for either a Domination and Space Race Victory respectively.
Great Leaders and City Specialization
I name my cities to remind me of my long term specialization strategy, e.g. Wall Street, Oxford, Iron Works, Angkor Wat, Globe Theater, etc.
Wall Street City - I settle my Great Merchants in my Wall Street City in which I built all of the GM Wonders. One GM should of course be saved for the Sushi Corp. As an early gambit, I loan Paris to Isabella just before she researches Mysticism, thereby almost ensuring that Buddhism is founded in this city, a much superior choice for the Wall Street City than Madrid
. I then recapture Paris about 10 turns later. Besides all of the GM wonders, I built the two earliest GP wonders including Stonehenge and the Oracle (the completion of which I delay in order to get Civil Service) as well as the Spiral Minaret (+2 gold for all Buddhist buildings 
. Ideally, the first GL to pop up from this city is a Great Prophet as opposed to a GM. Consequently, I build an early temple and specialize a priest to maximize the probability that this side-objective is achieved. With the shrine in place, this gives a stronger boost to my economy than the 6 gold per turn a settled GM will give.
Oxford City - My first Great Scientist is used to build an Academy in my Capital Great Library/Oxford city. Additional GSs are settled in this city, though I occasionally bulb techs in the late game. On the Earth map, I make Rome my Oxford City, which I actually prefer to place on the wheat tile two moves up from the original starting position. After building the Pyramids for an early civic change to Representation, I build the Great Library and the National Epic (+50% GL points) as early as possible. I prefer to settle missionaries of all the religions in this city to get the +10 research boost from the monasteries.
Iron Works City Though the game does not produce many Great Engineers, any early GEs are settled in my future Iron Works city, in which - I apart from the Pyramids build nearly all of the GE Wonders. This city should preferably have many river tiles and mines. I find that the original placement of Moscow suits this purpose rather well. It is critical that this city does not specialize in any other type of GLs or build non-GE wonders to minimize GL pollution, as I critically need a GE to pop by the time the Mining Corp can be built.
Angkor Wat City Though I dont settle Great Prophets in this city, I tend to build many mid-to-late game GP wonders in my Angkor Wat City. In order to get the GPs needed to eventually built the 7 shrines, I find it necessary to have a GP wonder city in which I specialize any free citizens as priests. This means that I will send missionaries to this city and build the temples and cathedrals of all the religions. On the Earth map I have 1 centrally settled city in Great Britain for this primary city.
Globe Theater City - In my highest food generating city (on Earth map Thebes), I build the Globe Theater for extensive whipping. This means that I will stay with slavery for a quite a while before taking on the Caste System. Besides the Globe Theater I might add some GA wonders to this city, but I built most of the other GA wonders in secondary cities. Similarly, I like to have semi-dedicated Espionage and Military Wonder Cities, though these are hardly vital for my overall strategy.
Great Prophets, Great Spies, and Great Artists Non-surprisingly, I use my first Great Prophet to build the Buddhism shrine. Subsequent GPs I use for 1) bulbing of expensive religious techs, 2) to build additional shrines (assuming it will give me a fair revenue - otherwise I may early on choose to settle many of these in my Wall street city for the commerce and production bonus, or as 3) candidates for late Golden Ages. Great Spies are almost always sacrificed for GAs. Being a tech leader (owing to the ensured techs from goodie huts, sorry I cant help myself), I find that I do not need to build Scotland Yard, or get the minimal science bonus by settling them in my Oxford City. Similarly, I sacrifice Great Artists for GAs. With the mighty praetorians, I have no need for cultural bombs and I am wary of the GP pollution settled GAs will produce in any of my primary specialization cities.
I tend to wait until cities reach sizes nearing their pop limit, before I specialize two citizens (though only one engineer can be specialized in for my Iron Works City).
I my primary specialization cities I will quite early on turn on Emphasize (Production/Research/ Commerce) - In the end game I prioritize production and secondly science, which for secondary cities mean that I will often settle as many GEs and subsequently GSs as possible. I try not to have Free Citizens. In the end-game, my Wall Street City alone ensures a thriving economy even with a 100% science rate
.
Multiplier Effects - My primary specialization cities focus extensively on multiplier effects. There is little need to build a university, observatory, or laboratory in my Wall Street City. Similarly, my Oxford City should not commit resources to build a bank. I commit myself to a binary science rate (either at 0% or 100%). This allows for greater flexibility in case of random events that require a direct payment, and it allows me to build additional science and commerce buildings/wonders while at 0% and 100% respectively.
To settle, loan, or Raze? - I only settle cities which have a satisfactory long term growth potential. This means that, on the Earth map, I will raze originally placed cities such as Madrid, Persepolis, and Beijing, as these cities have ocean tiles in their fat cross, but without being able to built lighthouses and harbors. Consequently they will not be able to growth fast enough and contribute adequately to my economy.
In the early game, I will often give conquered cities away which I will later re-conquer. This is especially the case if 1) they are too far away from my Capital, 2) if they dont have many forests in their vicinity, and 3) if my economy is hurting. On my way to the Far East from Rome, I will give away cities in the Middle East, India, and in China. As soon as I can start building the courthouses, and thus the Forgotten Palace, I begin retaking the cities in China, and eventually India and the Middle East. Besides the extra gold, the AIs will usually have improved the tiles and built some workers just for grasp.
Golden Ages
For my Marathon speed games I tend to settle for 3 Golden Ages (4 if I am in the mood for a Space Race Victory). Before the first GA, I ensure that I have built the Mausoleum (50% longer GA). Being the least useful GLs, Great Artists and Great Spies are the best candidates for GAs. I try to time meaningful civic changes with GAs. When I have less than 40 turns left to complete the game, I use additional GLs for tech bulbing or for an extra GA. Furthermore, I will occasionally switch back and forth between Slavery and Caste System/Serfdom, to do some much needed whipping.
Critical Wonders
The Great Wall is arguably one of the strongest early Wonders on the huge Earth Map. If possible I try to build the GW in a secondary city, so as not to get any GP pollution and so as not to delay other critical wonders in my primary specialization cities. In the early game I always built Stonehenge as soon as available, the Great Lighthouse (I ensure that many of my cities have harbor access), and the Pyramids (for early representation). Next in line comes the Temple of Artemis (+50% trade routes), the Great Library (2 free scientists), the Handing Gardens (+1 pop max), the Oracle (for Civil Service) and the Parthenon (50% GP growth rate). Subsequently I prioritize the Mausoleum (50% longer GAs), the Colossus (+1 gold for water tiles), the Spiral Minaret (2 gold for all cities with state religion), Hagia Sophia (50% worker productivity), the University of Sankore (2 beakers for all cities with state religion), the Globe Theater (for whipping in food rich-low production city), the Taj Mahal (free Golden Age) and the Angkor Wat (+1 production from all priests in all cities). Late game critical wonders include Oxford University (3 free scientists), Iron Works (100% production bonus), Wall Street (+100 commerce bonus), the Statue of Liberty (+1 specialist in all cities), and the Three Gorges Dam (free electricity in all cities on continent plus + 50% factory production bonus). I eventually built all of the wonders, but I have an extra eye on the benefits of the above mentioned.
Buildings
Generally granaries and courthouses will be my first and second priority (discounting workers, settlers, and workboats). The choice of which to build first depends on whether I already have met the prerequisite for the Forgotten Palace, the pop of the city (is it already close to current pop limit?), and the access to food. After this, I prioritize libraries, forums, forges, light houses and harbors.
Once the prerequisite for the Great Theater has been met (5 theaters), I delay additional theaters quite a bit. Instead I prioritize temples and cathedrals and monasteries of my state religion especially in combination with the Spiral Minaret. I tend to reserve cathedrals to my primary specialization cities.
I almost always want to built banks, groceries, observatories, universities, airports, supermarkets, custom houses, levees, factories, and laboratories.
The following non-critical buildings should be delayed until they are really needed aqueducts, coliseums, recycle centers, mass transit, and hospitals. Regarding hospitals, I built 5 ASAP for the Red Cross, and then again delay further hospitals for a while. Except from in the Oxford city and the Angkor Wat City, monasteries of non-state religions is kept at a minimum. I limit myself to a couple of monasteries of each type before researching Scientific Method.
I can usually do without barracks (praets being overpowered already), stables (why prioritize horsemen when I got praets?), castles, walls, docks, bunkers, jails, and security bureaus.
Corporations
Eventually I spread Sushi and Mining affiliates in ALL of my cities first and then to the foreign cities as quickly as economically viable. Foreign colonies/vassals will usually require a beelining strategy for the Flight tech to get Airports in place. Being the most profitable Corp, I built the Sushi Corp in my Wall Street City. I add the Mining Corp in the second most profitable city.
After having researched Economics (and changed to free market) I beeline to Railroad and Corporation. Then I beeline to Medicine for Sushi. I check pop-ups of next Great Leaders in my Domestic City screen, so that I have a Great Merchant and a Great Engineer in hand. Ideally, my vassals/colonies should not be allowed to research Banking, as the adoption of the Mercantalism civic disables corporation spread. Essentially, I find that no other corps are worth the investment of a GL. (unless going for a Cultural victory). I have so far not come to a final conclusion as to whether I should first beeline the Mining Corp or the Sushi Corp.
Colonies
Generally speaking, colonies are more profitable and loyal than vassals. I try to establish as many colonies as possible mostly due to the +1 trading route per colony and the fact that they add 50% to the landmass score for Domination Victory. I use especially the large colonies for deficit research and resource trade. My largest colony will be formed in the New World (America). I set the colony to research cheap techs and then beeline for the game-changing techs myself. Occasionally, I will give techs away for free if they are in a position of researching another cheap tech for me.
If I have surplus resources, I sometimes trade these away even for free - as I can then later trade my resources away for even more gold per turn. I always ensure that my colonies get the same religion as myself. If they are on an island (with no risks from barbs), I trade away their iron, copper, and horse resources. Otherwise they will use these to build military units instead of buildings. At other times, I give away iron or the gunpowder tech (for gold if possible), if their cities are at risk from barbs. If, for instance, I colonize Madagascar, I give them a free Iron just before giving them a nearby city to start colonization of South Africa a resource endowed region that I find is too far away from my 3 palaces to really become profitable (no I do not go State Property). Any new city that I give them will then immediately give two of their strongest units for free. Another good strategy on the Earth map is to colonize, the Philippines, Java, Indonesia, Australia, and as mentioned the New World. Even New Zealand and Iceland are IMO candidate for new colonies (though hardly Great Britain or Japan, which are within close proximity to my capitals). Eventually after having made my railroads and worked my land, I will donate superfluous workers to my colonies to get faster access to their exotic resources and to allow faster colony growth.
Considerations
Things that might improve my game:
1) A late game civic switch back to org. religion from pacifism when additional new leaders will take too long to overcome the benefits over org. religion:
2) Built faster granaries for earlier whipping but thus delaying early Wonders and an earlier Forgotten Palace (in China).
3) Changing capital to Paris (Wall Street City) instead of Rome (Oxford City) Paris has superior land tiles and the gold multiplier effect of shifting the capital to my Wall Street City is nice. This consideration also includes the question of whether the National Epic should actually be placed in the Wall Street City instead of the Oxford City. Is a GS generally better than a GM?
4) No vassals should I let the Madagasker Colony take Mansas land? Should I destroy Mansa, America, and the Aztecs completely instead of vassalizing them? They contribute little to my economy and my American Colony might be better off with their land.
5)Obsolete wonders do not add further GP points should I delay Astronomy and in general have more focus on delaying techs that make wonders obsolete? I hardly feel that I get the full money from my Colossos.
6) Earlier specialization: should I specialize citizens much before the cities reach their population limit, or does it make sense to let them grow first and then specialize.
7) Research Alphabet earlier (e.g. before Machinery) to start deficit research I can usually only get cheap techs such as hunting and archery from the AIs, but I can probably get 100 gold for a tech every 10 rounds or so from Munsa and/ Asoka.
8) Delay shift to Free Market. How many custom houses are needed before Free Market is an improvement for the economy over Mercantalism?
9) Should I spread Sushi before mining corp?
10) Should I let my colonies spread corp branches by themselves? Are they actually interested in doing so? I tend to expand the Sushi and Mining branches to all my colonies cities. If they are, it probably makes sense to send an early mining and sushi executive to the New World instead of spreading first to all of the domestic cities.
11) Should I delay Caste system until most of my cities reach pop size 20. How soon is Caste System a viable alternative to Slavery in a SE?
12) Should I turn up the cultural slider when cities are close to the happiness limit? The +3-4 pop limit boost may actually be worth a thought?
, but I would like to post some of my strategic insights. I have lately been playing the 18-player scenario on the Earth map with Marathon speed and on Deity thus the strategies below will arguably be most useful for this map. I havent managed to get a higher final end score with a Space Race Victory than a Domination Victory, but in many respects I find this victory more gratifying though I am skeptical that it can actually produce a higher end-score.I have tried multiple strategies to get high end scores and have come to the conclusion that a Specialized Economy with the final civics Bureaucracy, Free Market, Caste System and Pacifism yield the highest possible end scores for this scenario. I have so far only tried this overall strategy with Caesar. I usually manage to get a considerable tech lead with no real threats from quite early on and manage to build all of the Wonders, though this may be a mistake.
I post my strategic considerations in the hope that I can get some tips to improve my game, and by thus the overall end-score for either a Domination and Space Race Victory respectively.
Great Leaders and City Specialization
I name my cities to remind me of my long term specialization strategy, e.g. Wall Street, Oxford, Iron Works, Angkor Wat, Globe Theater, etc.
Wall Street City - I settle my Great Merchants in my Wall Street City in which I built all of the GM Wonders. One GM should of course be saved for the Sushi Corp. As an early gambit, I loan Paris to Isabella just before she researches Mysticism, thereby almost ensuring that Buddhism is founded in this city, a much superior choice for the Wall Street City than Madrid
. I then recapture Paris about 10 turns later. Besides all of the GM wonders, I built the two earliest GP wonders including Stonehenge and the Oracle (the completion of which I delay in order to get Civil Service) as well as the Spiral Minaret (+2 gold for all Buddhist buildings . Ideally, the first GL to pop up from this city is a Great Prophet as opposed to a GM. Consequently, I build an early temple and specialize a priest to maximize the probability that this side-objective is achieved. With the shrine in place, this gives a stronger boost to my economy than the 6 gold per turn a settled GM will give. Oxford City - My first Great Scientist is used to build an Academy in my Capital Great Library/Oxford city. Additional GSs are settled in this city, though I occasionally bulb techs in the late game. On the Earth map, I make Rome my Oxford City, which I actually prefer to place on the wheat tile two moves up from the original starting position. After building the Pyramids for an early civic change to Representation, I build the Great Library and the National Epic (+50% GL points
) as early as possible. I prefer to settle missionaries of all the religions in this city to get the +10 research boost from the monasteries.Iron Works City Though the game does not produce many Great Engineers, any early GEs are settled in my future Iron Works city, in which - I apart from the Pyramids build nearly all of the GE Wonders. This city should preferably have many river tiles and mines. I find that the original placement of Moscow suits this purpose rather well. It is critical that this city does not specialize in any other type of GLs or build non-GE wonders to minimize GL pollution, as I critically need a GE to pop by the time the Mining Corp can be built.
Angkor Wat City Though I dont settle Great Prophets in this city, I tend to build many mid-to-late game GP wonders in my Angkor Wat City. In order to get the GPs needed to eventually built the 7 shrines, I find it necessary to have a GP wonder city in which I specialize any free citizens as priests. This means that I will send missionaries to this city and build the temples and cathedrals of all the religions. On the Earth map I have 1 centrally settled city in Great Britain for this primary city.
Globe Theater City - In my highest food generating city (on Earth map Thebes), I build the Globe Theater for extensive whipping. This means that I will stay with slavery for a quite a while before taking on the Caste System. Besides the Globe Theater I might add some GA wonders to this city, but I built most of the other GA wonders in secondary cities. Similarly, I like to have semi-dedicated Espionage and Military Wonder Cities, though these are hardly vital for my overall strategy.
Great Prophets, Great Spies, and Great Artists Non-surprisingly, I use my first Great Prophet to build the Buddhism shrine. Subsequent GPs I use for 1) bulbing of expensive religious techs, 2) to build additional shrines (assuming it will give me a fair revenue - otherwise I may early on choose to settle many of these in my Wall street city for the commerce and production bonus, or as 3) candidates for late Golden Ages. Great Spies are almost always sacrificed for GAs. Being a tech leader (owing to the ensured techs from goodie huts, sorry I cant help myself), I find that I do not need to build Scotland Yard, or get the minimal science bonus by settling them in my Oxford City. Similarly, I sacrifice Great Artists for GAs. With the mighty praetorians, I have no need for cultural bombs and I am wary of the GP pollution settled GAs will produce in any of my primary specialization cities.
I tend to wait until cities reach sizes nearing their pop limit, before I specialize two citizens (though only one engineer can be specialized in for my Iron Works City).
I my primary specialization cities I will quite early on turn on Emphasize (Production/Research/ Commerce) - In the end game I prioritize production and secondly science, which for secondary cities mean that I will often settle as many GEs and subsequently GSs as possible. I try not to have Free Citizens. In the end-game, my Wall Street City alone ensures a thriving economy even with a 100% science rate
.Multiplier Effects - My primary specialization cities focus extensively on multiplier effects. There is little need to build a university, observatory, or laboratory in my Wall Street City. Similarly, my Oxford City should not commit resources to build a bank. I commit myself to a binary science rate (either at 0% or 100%). This allows for greater flexibility in case of random events that require a direct payment, and it allows me to build additional science and commerce buildings/wonders while at 0% and 100% respectively.
To settle, loan, or Raze? - I only settle cities which have a satisfactory long term growth potential. This means that, on the Earth map, I will raze originally placed cities such as Madrid, Persepolis, and Beijing, as these cities have ocean tiles in their fat cross, but without being able to built lighthouses and harbors. Consequently they will not be able to growth fast enough and contribute adequately to my economy.
In the early game, I will often give conquered cities away which I will later re-conquer. This is especially the case if 1) they are too far away from my Capital, 2) if they dont have many forests in their vicinity, and 3) if my economy is hurting. On my way to the Far East from Rome, I will give away cities in the Middle East, India, and in China. As soon as I can start building the courthouses, and thus the Forgotten Palace, I begin retaking the cities in China, and eventually India and the Middle East. Besides the extra gold, the AIs will usually have improved the tiles and built some workers just for grasp.
Golden Ages
For my Marathon speed games I tend to settle for 3 Golden Ages (4 if I am in the mood for a Space Race Victory). Before the first GA, I ensure that I have built the Mausoleum (50% longer GA). Being the least useful GLs, Great Artists and Great Spies are the best candidates for GAs. I try to time meaningful civic changes with GAs. When I have less than 40 turns left to complete the game, I use additional GLs for tech bulbing or for an extra GA. Furthermore, I will occasionally switch back and forth between Slavery and Caste System/Serfdom, to do some much needed whipping.
Critical Wonders
The Great Wall is arguably one of the strongest early Wonders on the huge Earth Map. If possible I try to build the GW in a secondary city, so as not to get any GP pollution and so as not to delay other critical wonders in my primary specialization cities. In the early game I always built Stonehenge as soon as available, the Great Lighthouse (I ensure that many of my cities have harbor access), and the Pyramids (for early representation). Next in line comes the Temple of Artemis (+50% trade routes), the Great Library (2 free scientists), the Handing Gardens (+1 pop max), the Oracle (for Civil Service) and the Parthenon (50% GP growth rate). Subsequently I prioritize the Mausoleum (50% longer GAs), the Colossus (+1 gold for water tiles), the Spiral Minaret (2 gold for all cities with state religion), Hagia Sophia (50% worker productivity), the University of Sankore (2 beakers for all cities with state religion), the Globe Theater (for whipping in food rich-low production city), the Taj Mahal (free Golden Age) and the Angkor Wat (+1 production from all priests in all cities). Late game critical wonders include Oxford University (3 free scientists), Iron Works (100% production bonus), Wall Street (+100 commerce bonus), the Statue of Liberty (+1 specialist in all cities), and the Three Gorges Dam (free electricity in all cities on continent plus + 50% factory production bonus). I eventually built all of the wonders, but I have an extra eye on the benefits of the above mentioned.
Buildings
Generally granaries and courthouses will be my first and second priority (discounting workers, settlers, and workboats). The choice of which to build first depends on whether I already have met the prerequisite for the Forgotten Palace, the pop of the city (is it already close to current pop limit?), and the access to food. After this, I prioritize libraries, forums, forges, light houses and harbors.
Once the prerequisite for the Great Theater has been met (5 theaters), I delay additional theaters quite a bit. Instead I prioritize temples and cathedrals and monasteries of my state religion especially in combination with the Spiral Minaret. I tend to reserve cathedrals to my primary specialization cities.
I almost always want to built banks, groceries, observatories, universities, airports, supermarkets, custom houses, levees, factories, and laboratories.
The following non-critical buildings should be delayed until they are really needed aqueducts, coliseums, recycle centers, mass transit, and hospitals. Regarding hospitals, I built 5 ASAP for the Red Cross, and then again delay further hospitals for a while. Except from in the Oxford city and the Angkor Wat City, monasteries of non-state religions is kept at a minimum. I limit myself to a couple of monasteries of each type before researching Scientific Method.
I can usually do without barracks (praets being overpowered already), stables (why prioritize horsemen when I got praets?), castles, walls, docks, bunkers, jails, and security bureaus.
Corporations
Eventually I spread Sushi and Mining affiliates in ALL of my cities first and then to the foreign cities as quickly as economically viable. Foreign colonies/vassals will usually require a beelining strategy for the Flight tech to get Airports in place. Being the most profitable Corp, I built the Sushi Corp in my Wall Street City. I add the Mining Corp in the second most profitable city.
After having researched Economics (and changed to free market) I beeline to Railroad and Corporation. Then I beeline to Medicine for Sushi. I check pop-ups of next Great Leaders in my Domestic City screen, so that I have a Great Merchant and a Great Engineer in hand. Ideally, my vassals/colonies should not be allowed to research Banking, as the adoption of the Mercantalism civic disables corporation spread. Essentially, I find that no other corps are worth the investment of a GL. (unless going for a Cultural victory). I have so far not come to a final conclusion as to whether I should first beeline the Mining Corp or the Sushi Corp.
Colonies
Generally speaking, colonies are more profitable and loyal than vassals. I try to establish as many colonies as possible mostly due to the +1 trading route per colony and the fact that they add 50% to the landmass score for Domination Victory. I use especially the large colonies for deficit research and resource trade. My largest colony will be formed in the New World (America). I set the colony to research cheap techs and then beeline for the game-changing techs myself. Occasionally, I will give techs away for free if they are in a position of researching another cheap tech for me.
If I have surplus resources, I sometimes trade these away even for free - as I can then later trade my resources away for even more gold per turn. I always ensure that my colonies get the same religion as myself. If they are on an island (with no risks from barbs), I trade away their iron, copper, and horse resources. Otherwise they will use these to build military units instead of buildings. At other times, I give away iron or the gunpowder tech (for gold if possible), if their cities are at risk from barbs. If, for instance, I colonize Madagascar, I give them a free Iron just before giving them a nearby city to start colonization of South Africa a resource endowed region that I find is too far away from my 3 palaces to really become profitable (no I do not go State Property). Any new city that I give them will then immediately give two of their strongest units for free. Another good strategy on the Earth map is to colonize, the Philippines, Java, Indonesia, Australia, and as mentioned the New World. Even New Zealand and Iceland are IMO candidate for new colonies (though hardly Great Britain or Japan, which are within close proximity to my capitals). Eventually after having made my railroads and worked my land, I will donate superfluous workers to my colonies to get faster access to their exotic resources and to allow faster colony growth.
Considerations
Things that might improve my game:
1) A late game civic switch back to org. religion from pacifism when additional new leaders will take too long to overcome the benefits over org. religion:
2) Built faster granaries for earlier whipping but thus delaying early Wonders and an earlier Forgotten Palace (in China).
3) Changing capital to Paris (Wall Street City) instead of Rome (Oxford City) Paris has superior land tiles and the gold multiplier effect of shifting the capital to my Wall Street City is nice. This consideration also includes the question of whether the National Epic should actually be placed in the Wall Street City instead of the Oxford City. Is a GS generally better than a GM?
4) No vassals should I let the Madagasker Colony take Mansas land? Should I destroy Mansa, America, and the Aztecs completely instead of vassalizing them? They contribute little to my economy and my American Colony might be better off with their land.
5)Obsolete wonders do not add further GP points should I delay Astronomy and in general have more focus on delaying techs that make wonders obsolete? I hardly feel that I get the full money from my Colossos.
6) Earlier specialization: should I specialize citizens much before the cities reach their population limit, or does it make sense to let them grow first and then specialize.
7) Research Alphabet earlier (e.g. before Machinery) to start deficit research I can usually only get cheap techs such as hunting and archery from the AIs, but I can probably get 100 gold for a tech every 10 rounds or so from Munsa and/ Asoka.
8) Delay shift to Free Market. How many custom houses are needed before Free Market is an improvement for the economy over Mercantalism?
9) Should I spread Sushi before mining corp?
10) Should I let my colonies spread corp branches by themselves? Are they actually interested in doing so? I tend to expand the Sushi and Mining branches to all my colonies cities. If they are, it probably makes sense to send an early mining and sushi executive to the New World instead of spreading first to all of the domestic cities.
11) Should I delay Caste system until most of my cities reach pop size 20. How soon is Caste System a viable alternative to Slavery in a SE?
12) Should I turn up the cultural slider when cities are close to the happiness limit? The +3-4 pop limit boost may actually be worth a thought?
