Strategies For Winning a Wonder Race When Behind?

[cgannon64]

I am Greece, on a continent with Russia (No. 2), Babylon (3), and India (4). I haved been mostly trading for techs, but I'm getting screwed on deals, and shut out (I'm positive now the AI is selective in who it trades with. One of Firaxis' better programming!) on alot of deals. I'm down 2 techs, and I fear slipping more. Therefore, getting the Great Library is very important to me. Not game changing, but will give me a huge boost. Now, I have 14 turns left on the GL. I recently established an embassy in Babylon, to see that they had 9 turns left on the GL.

Do I have any hope? My military isn't large enough to start a Great Leader war, and 14 turns isn't enoughto build up for a war. Since its the ancient age, thre is no sabotage improvement option.

What can I do? I'm too late into the wonder too switch (unless I want to build the FP right next do my capital on the coast ). Is there any strategy you know of to snag me this wonder?

 

[Knight-Dragon]

If your military's too small, ally with the other AIs to attk Babylonia. A good war will always set the AI back, provided you don't do much (or any) of the fighting and concentrate on development. Have an army ready to 'seize' opportunities; other than that stay away fr the fighting.

If you do it right, you'll be able to catch up with or w/o the GL, increase your territory and cities at little cost etc.

 

[Shabbaman]

You're screwed. Next time, you've got to 'plan' better, i.e. check F7 a lot to see who's building the same wonder.
No way of getting to SZ's or sixtine chapel technology?

 

[ukrneal]

As Shabbaman indicated, you are screwed.

Possibilites:
1. If Babylon is a neighbor (you indicate on same continent, but not how far away), you could declare war immediately, send in a horse/knight contingent of several units (doesn't matter what units as long as speedy) and try to destroy the improvements around Babylon. this might reduce shields enough for you to leap ahead (especially if they have a few mines at work). But it requires immediate action, and you may not be ready.

2. Optimize your own tiles. I assume you already did this, but you could reduce food tiles and increase shield tiles. Most likely this won't be enough.

3. You have 9 turns to get a tech that allows you to change over to a different tech. Less, if someone else gets it.

4. Prepare the war machine to go take it away from them! All you have to do is hold he city for at least one full turn to get the techs.

5. Follow Knight-Dragon's advice. Good advice.

 

[cgannon64]

Originally posted by ukrneal
As Shabbaman indicated, you are screwed.

Possibilites:
1. If Babylon is a neighbor (you indicate on same continent, but not how far away), you could declare war immediately, send in a horse/knight contingent of several units (doesn't matter what units as long as speedy) and try to destroy the improvements around Babylon. this might reduce shields enough for you to leap ahead (especially if they have a few mines at work). But it requires immediate action, and you may not be ready.

Unfortunately Babylon is through Russia, and more than 12 turns away, and I have no military to speak of. So, I think I am screwed. You say I had to plan better, but I even prebuilt! I had the tech before/very close to when the AI got it, so I think Babylon is just a better city. I think it is---Babylong has a nice number of hills, while I'm building the wonder in a city w/o hills (I know, this wasn't the smartest thing to do, but the only prebuild I had was FP, and I can't build that in my capital, so I had to do it).

I think I just got plain outbuilt. Therefore, my tech trading/culture expansion is out. Russia must die!

 

[island007]

Hi,

You wrote that you were on the coast. The Collosus(sp) is often overlookd by the AI. I guess if it was that simple you would have done it.

I guess one thing you could do is start your GA; it may give you the juice you need. I would not do this, but it is an option.

 

[cgannon64]

Wanna hear something funny?

The Chinese built it. They are on the other continent.

Oh well. Better than the Babylonians!

 

[once_an_emperor]

I'm sure I read somewhere recently that you can send workers into the territory of a civ you have a right of passage agreement with and... er... 'help' them with some city improvement.

I haven't tried this myself but I guess you could probably irrigate a few mined areas, perhaps even chop down a few trees. Not sure if you have enough turns / workers but could be an option...

 

[Grey Knight]

Pre-builds don't have to be another wonder. You can pre-build using any sort of expensive city improvement. The only requirement is that you not rush it using money or citizens (IIRC you can disband troups). I recently did a spacerace by pre-building solar power plants.

If your best production city would finish the pre-build of a "normal" improvements a few turns ahead of time, just build an extra spearman or something, then start the pre-build.

Cheers,
Shawn

 

[jack merchant]

You could also - happiness permitting - join some workers to the city to increase the shield production.

 

[Amask]

Originally posted by cgannon64


but I even prebuilt!

I recently discovered, using a multi cheat, that the AI's cost of wonders is about 50% lower than human player's. In Salamanca, production 40 city, I've been building the ToE for 3 or so turns, and still had 12 turns to go. Then I find this aztec city, production 37, that didn't even start the project and yet would complete it in 10 turns. 370 shields instead of our's 600.
So that's why I usually don't have any wonders.
I didn't know it before, and this AI advantage disappointed me a little.

 

[ukrneal]

I belive that the base number of turns is the same, but changes depending on the level. THat is, at one of the levels -Regent? - you and the computer build at the same pace. At higher levels, the computer does indeed get production bonuses. In order to get that high a level, I belive you must have been at Diety? The FAQ probably lists that info somewhere.

Incidentaly, at higher levels, the AI needs less shields for EVERYTHING, not just wonders. This is one way the programmers made it harder for humans at higher levels.

 

[deleted]

deleted

 

[thefrenchzulu]

I tend to ignore any early Wonder building, especially at Emperor and Deity levels.

The Great Library costs 400 shields. With that I can build 40 warriors or 20 spearmen.

With 40 warriors, upgraded to swordsmen, I can take most of the AI around me and also quite a few wonders.

The only ealy wonders, I do build, are rushed ones.

I always thought the Great Library was key for winning games, but it isn't. Even with patch 1.29, I can keep up to date with tech, with some clever trading.

The only wonders I do build at Deity level are the TOE and the Hoover Dam. With the TOE, I use a prebuild.

With Hoover, I just buy a factory and Hydro Plant! Can normally then build it in 10 turns or less!