Strategies that work on Emperor
- Thread starter hollebeek
- Start date
I agree that choosing the wonders you NEED, and focusing on those is important.
BTW, I tried using Slavery on Emperor today, and it was VERY useful.
You don't want to abuse it, but it DOES allow you to win those crucial
wonder races (finishing about ~10 turns earlier than otherwise), and is
also good for making up for the lack of production in high food cities.
Any city by flood plains should have a granary, and make extensive use
of slavery.
BTW, I tried using Slavery on Emperor today, and it was VERY useful.
You don't want to abuse it, but it DOES allow you to win those crucial
wonder races (finishing about ~10 turns earlier than otherwise), and is
also good for making up for the lack of production in high food cities.
Any city by flood plains should have a granary, and make extensive use
of slavery.
sandman_civ
Warlord
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hollebeek said:
Thanks for this tip I must try it in my next game. I wonder if you can have a midgame city with globe theatre, and slavery this city to shreds?
Tauro
Warlord
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- Nov 20, 2005
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Another question to you all.
Have you ever used a great engineer to build heroic hepic?
In the last three games I had three engineer in a row, choosing to build the second and third wonder in a different place from pyramids. The guy sleeped so long in the capital and at the end he wasn't able to build anithing, crashed by the opponents.
Maybe it's a good way to track when you need early a good military factory...
Have you ever used a great engineer to build heroic hepic?
In the last three games I had three engineer in a row, choosing to build the second and third wonder in a different place from pyramids. The guy sleeped so long in the capital and at the end he wasn't able to build anithing, crashed by the opponents.
Maybe it's a good way to track when you need early a good military factory...
Thalassicus
Bytes and Nibblers
I once had a game with 6+ GE's before the middle ages; I dropped the spare ones in one of my cities to boost production for the rest of the game. I figured the overall benifit was more useful than the 50 turns of doing nothing until a wonder came along.
At some point in the early medieval period I beeline for Paper and Education before all the other military/cultural/economic techs, and build Universities in all my major cities. Oxford U + University + Bureaucracy in your capital provides a huge tech boost, and the AI doesn’t seem to prioritize Paper if someone else has already researched it and traded maps.
sandman_civ said:
At some point in the early medieval period I beeline for Paper and Education before all the other military/cultural/economic techs, and build Universities in all my major cities. Oxford U + University + Bureaucracy in your capital provides a huge tech boost, and the AI doesn’t seem to prioritize Paper if someone else has already researched it and traded maps.
Space Race just makes me angry on Emperor, continents. I always lose to Space Race. I just don't see how you can keep up with techs, and get it done first, when the AI has such a huge research advantage.
So maybe some of these "Space Race off doesn't count" critics can post some tips here instead of just discounting the topic. I'm inclined to think you're just another Settler-playing armchair Emperor, otherwise.
So maybe some of these "Space Race off doesn't count" critics can post some tips here instead of just discounting the topic. I'm inclined to think you're just another Settler-playing armchair Emperor, otherwise.
Tauro
Warlord
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- Nov 20, 2005
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- 251
I've just lost a SS 
I had only six cities but it was fantastic survive till 1898 AD with the smallest amry ever had, 323.000 units! Archer vs mech infantry and modern armor, all the game in peace friendly or statisfied with all, always only two techs behind all till 1750. Ghandi completed his apollo program in 1860, I had a super capital with seven wonders, I've bet on cottage/kremlin strategy.
I made UN but I had only 73 votes (LOL)
That's a pity
I'll try again searching to grabbing more land.
This map was winnable, with a bit of lucky, and it isn't a bad starting point too.
If someone want to try...
I had only six cities but it was fantastic survive till 1898 AD with the smallest amry ever had, 323.000 units! Archer vs mech infantry and modern armor, all the game in peace friendly or statisfied with all, always only two techs behind all till 1750. Ghandi completed his apollo program in 1860, I had a super capital with seven wonders, I've bet on cottage/kremlin strategy.
I made UN but I had only 73 votes (LOL)
That's a pity
I'll try again searching to grabbing more land.
This map was winnable, with a bit of lucky, and it isn't a bad starting point too.
If someone want to try...
I started a random Emperor last night, and wound up on a sizable island continent with Qin.
I chopped out stonehenge, had stone and built pyramids. Oracle wasn't done yet, so I figured what the heck, I'm Qin I can do it! I luckily finished that too -> Code of Laws and founded Confusionism.
Then I settled out my island *very* quickly with one city building axes and my capital (limited by health max anyway) only building settlers, while researching caste system. Most of the cities then just got some farms and one or two science specialists (representation + caste system). The best 4-5 had all cottages. I was down to about 20% science at one point. I had only a single axemen or warrior defending, up until the other civs started showing up in caravels.
I first got a great prophet -> shrine. Then two engineers. I used the first engineer on the great library. Then I figured, what the heck, I'll bee-line for Islam too, since that hadn't been founded. It was something like 18 turns at 20% research + specialists, but Bamn! Second religion + Spiral Minaret. Great Scientist comes out of my GP factory->academy in captial (great library there). Then, by a nice stroke of luck, my fourth great person is another prophet -> Islamic shrine. Both shrines are in the same city, so I've got some sweet income coming in there.
At this point, every city has all religious buildings for both religions (first time I've built Spiral Minaret and it's working out great). Nobody has rifling. I have 3-4 production-focused cities building some grenadiers, 1 great person factory that's on hold to build some things first, and 7-8 cities with cottages and some towns.
Looking pretty good at the moment, as I don't think I'm too far behind in techs and my infrastructure has a solid income. I do have some techs that most don't. The only problem is, the whole world hates me. Best I can get for them is a couple hundred gold, so I'm keeping them, thank you very much. Without the benefit of long-time peace and trading partners, I'm mostly at "+1 Peace" with "-4 Traded with my worst enemy." Plus a couple "-2 You failed to give us tribute." from Monty (Furious now) and Napolean.
Napolean was like, "Hi nice to meet you, give me all your gold!"
Motezuma says, "Howdy, I demand your Ivory!" Then, "Give me wheat!"
I probably should have given them up, but I told them where to shove it instead.
The only one who will trade techs with me is Gandhi, but the Incans are probably going to wipe him out soon, so that's no help. Plus, everyone else hate him too and that's (most likely) where all the "-4 enemy trades" came from. I do, however, have most of them giving me gold per turn for resources, and a couple straight resource trades. Hopefully, some of these will get me liked enough for open borders and eventually tech trading. Not sure who I want to stick with yet for trading, but I'm obviously going to have to pick a couple and cancel the rest.
I'll finish this game up tonight, but I'm betting the Incans still win the space race, regardless of what seems like a fantastic start for an island start. Usually I'd be way behind on techs, but Qin + Wonders seems to have worked out well.
I chopped out stonehenge, had stone and built pyramids. Oracle wasn't done yet, so I figured what the heck, I'm Qin I can do it! I luckily finished that too -> Code of Laws and founded Confusionism.
Then I settled out my island *very* quickly with one city building axes and my capital (limited by health max anyway) only building settlers, while researching caste system. Most of the cities then just got some farms and one or two science specialists (representation + caste system). The best 4-5 had all cottages. I was down to about 20% science at one point. I had only a single axemen or warrior defending, up until the other civs started showing up in caravels.
I first got a great prophet -> shrine. Then two engineers. I used the first engineer on the great library. Then I figured, what the heck, I'll bee-line for Islam too, since that hadn't been founded. It was something like 18 turns at 20% research + specialists, but Bamn! Second religion + Spiral Minaret. Great Scientist comes out of my GP factory->academy in captial (great library there). Then, by a nice stroke of luck, my fourth great person is another prophet -> Islamic shrine. Both shrines are in the same city, so I've got some sweet income coming in there.
At this point, every city has all religious buildings for both religions (first time I've built Spiral Minaret and it's working out great). Nobody has rifling. I have 3-4 production-focused cities building some grenadiers, 1 great person factory that's on hold to build some things first, and 7-8 cities with cottages and some towns.
Looking pretty good at the moment, as I don't think I'm too far behind in techs and my infrastructure has a solid income. I do have some techs that most don't. The only problem is, the whole world hates me. Best I can get for them is a couple hundred gold, so I'm keeping them, thank you very much. Without the benefit of long-time peace and trading partners, I'm mostly at "+1 Peace" with "-4 Traded with my worst enemy." Plus a couple "-2 You failed to give us tribute." from Monty (Furious now) and Napolean.
Napolean was like, "Hi nice to meet you, give me all your gold!"
Motezuma says, "Howdy, I demand your Ivory!" Then, "Give me wheat!"
I probably should have given them up, but I told them where to shove it instead.
The only one who will trade techs with me is Gandhi, but the Incans are probably going to wipe him out soon, so that's no help. Plus, everyone else hate him too and that's (most likely) where all the "-4 enemy trades" came from. I do, however, have most of them giving me gold per turn for resources, and a couple straight resource trades. Hopefully, some of these will get me liked enough for open borders and eventually tech trading. Not sure who I want to stick with yet for trading, but I'm obviously going to have to pick a couple and cancel the rest.
I'll finish this game up tonight, but I'm betting the Incans still win the space race, regardless of what seems like a fantastic start for an island start. Usually I'd be way behind on techs, but Qin + Wonders seems to have worked out well.
sandman_civ
Warlord
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I'm finally getting it right with Qin Shi. Only one behind the tech lead (Ghandi) in the renaissance era now, and new techs are coming along at 2 to 3 turns each.
Reasons why this is happening:
- first captured the enemy capital and they gave up the aggro (amazing siege too, it was my swords (no ivory for me)+cats vs their elephants+longbowmen but cats won the day, as usual was behind in tech at this point) - I also think they gave it up cos they lost ivory which was in the capital
- went all out for university, oxford, observatory (ignored banks etc)
- and hear this - got a great merchant - sent him on a worldwide cruise on a galleon to the civ #1's capital - and got 2300 gold for my efforts - in like 1100 AD or something - and then with all this gold set my science slider to max not minding the huge loss per turn)
- scoped EARLY (2800BC) for marble (could not find stone) and settled next to a civ's capital just to snatch marble from them - got me a chopped stonehenge and FINALLY the oracle probably stolen from under Ghandi's fingertips as I went early for priesthood
Notes - Ghandi has chocloaded his continent with towns - even on plains - so I guess in emperor this somehow does not slow civ growth rate down that much - would love to know what that cheat is exactly.
Reasons why this is happening:
- first captured the enemy capital and they gave up the aggro (amazing siege too, it was my swords (no ivory for me)+cats vs their elephants+longbowmen but cats won the day, as usual was behind in tech at this point) - I also think they gave it up cos they lost ivory which was in the capital
- went all out for university, oxford, observatory (ignored banks etc)
- and hear this - got a great merchant - sent him on a worldwide cruise on a galleon to the civ #1's capital - and got 2300 gold for my efforts - in like 1100 AD or something - and then with all this gold set my science slider to max not minding the huge loss per turn)
- scoped EARLY (2800BC) for marble (could not find stone) and settled next to a civ's capital just to snatch marble from them - got me a chopped stonehenge and FINALLY the oracle probably stolen from under Ghandi's fingertips as I went early for priesthood
Notes - Ghandi has chocloaded his continent with towns - even on plains - so I guess in emperor this somehow does not slow civ growth rate down that much - would love to know what that cheat is exactly.
obsolete
Deity
I hardly ever go for the oracle. Half the time you go for it you don't make it. And when you do get that risk to pay off, all you get is one silly tech? Grrrr.... Couldn't those axes be used for something a little more usefull?
crashnation
Chieftain
Yesterday's experience. (continent)
Gandhi, Perfect start position. flood plain for 2 cities,so many forest. capital for GP farm, second(Bombay) for wealth.,capital have stone resource. found hindism, stonehenge -> pyramid ->representation. I had two engineer so great library & colossus ( because my 3-6 cities were coastal, I hadn't enough land), oracle was chopped at bombay, I chopped hanging garden at capital. very good start, huh? I almost got every wonders, my tech is leading, income was fine.
Monza invaded with hordes of UU & carriot. all I got were warriors.
after reload, pump some horse archer & carriot. but couldn't survive.
Yeah. I was too greedy at wonder. my third city was too late, monza take good position for my third.
balance is key factor , right? I'll try at same world again tonight from begining
Gandhi, Perfect start position. flood plain for 2 cities,so many forest. capital for GP farm, second(Bombay) for wealth.,capital have stone resource. found hindism, stonehenge -> pyramid ->representation. I had two engineer so great library & colossus ( because my 3-6 cities were coastal, I hadn't enough land), oracle was chopped at bombay, I chopped hanging garden at capital. very good start, huh? I almost got every wonders, my tech is leading, income was fine.
Monza invaded with hordes of UU & carriot. all I got were warriors.
after reload, pump some horse archer & carriot. but couldn't survive.
Yeah. I was too greedy at wonder. my third city was too late, monza take good position for my third.
balance is key factor , right? I'll try at same world again tonight from begining
I've got the same problem as the rest of you: Monarch is a joke, but I'm having trouble on Emperor (standard map, normal speed, continents, everything else standard). I've played about 5 or so games on Emperor so far and lost them all, but I'm getting closer to victory with each one. The last game I played I lost the Space Race to Roosevelt by 1 turn! Probably could have won if I micromanaged my production at the end better, and used my spies.
Here's what I've learned if you're going for semi-peaceful space race victories:
1. Obviously if you don't plan on conquering the world you have to be friends with your neighbors. If neighbor civs are cautious or worse with you, then there is a high chance that they will declare war on you at some point in the game. This is bad if you don't have a large army so you can focus on science/growth, and this can end the game pretty quick. One thing that can make a lot of enemies is religion. DON'T choose a state religion unless you are alone on a continent, or if you want to be good buddies with a single powerful civ.
2. Don't expand too quickly. Start with about 3-4 cities, build those up, get your cottages built up, then think about expansion. If there is space, build settlers. If there isn't, build Axemen and take on the weakest civ closest to you.
3. Build 1-2 wonders at the beginning. This can be done with relative ease on Emperor with any civ, whether or not you have marble/stone or if you have an industrious civ. The deadline for the Oracle is about 1200BC, and the deadline for the Pyramids is about 800BC, although sometimes the AI won't build it until as late as 300BC. If you're thinking about starting to build one, check the date to make sure you have enough time to make it otherwise you are wasting your time.
4. Found as many religions as possible. In the last game I played the Incans and went for Meditation first (start with Mysticism) founded Buddhism, then later on got Code of Laws with the Oracle and founded Confucianism. Frederick beat me to Christianity by 1 turn. The shrines for these religions is what you want because you can haul in some huge cash with each one. If you got Stonehenge and/or Oracle in the early game, they will reward you with Great Prophets to make the shrines for you.
5. Starting the game with gold or silver or gems is HUGE. They give you something like 6-8 commerce from 1 square which essentially doubles your research in the early game, allowing you to maintain techs with the AI. The happiness is a bonus secondary effect.
My next goal is to find some way to be a more effective warmonger on Emporer. I'll keep trying...
Here's what I've learned if you're going for semi-peaceful space race victories:
1. Obviously if you don't plan on conquering the world you have to be friends with your neighbors. If neighbor civs are cautious or worse with you, then there is a high chance that they will declare war on you at some point in the game. This is bad if you don't have a large army so you can focus on science/growth, and this can end the game pretty quick. One thing that can make a lot of enemies is religion. DON'T choose a state religion unless you are alone on a continent, or if you want to be good buddies with a single powerful civ.
2. Don't expand too quickly. Start with about 3-4 cities, build those up, get your cottages built up, then think about expansion. If there is space, build settlers. If there isn't, build Axemen and take on the weakest civ closest to you.
3. Build 1-2 wonders at the beginning. This can be done with relative ease on Emperor with any civ, whether or not you have marble/stone or if you have an industrious civ. The deadline for the Oracle is about 1200BC, and the deadline for the Pyramids is about 800BC, although sometimes the AI won't build it until as late as 300BC. If you're thinking about starting to build one, check the date to make sure you have enough time to make it otherwise you are wasting your time.
4. Found as many religions as possible. In the last game I played the Incans and went for Meditation first (start with Mysticism) founded Buddhism, then later on got Code of Laws with the Oracle and founded Confucianism. Frederick beat me to Christianity by 1 turn. The shrines for these religions is what you want because you can haul in some huge cash with each one. If you got Stonehenge and/or Oracle in the early game, they will reward you with Great Prophets to make the shrines for you.
5. Starting the game with gold or silver or gems is HUGE. They give you something like 6-8 commerce from 1 square which essentially doubles your research in the early game, allowing you to maintain techs with the AI. The happiness is a bonus secondary effect.
My next goal is to find some way to be a more effective warmonger on Emporer. I'll keep trying...
Update on my Qin-island game here (I should be posting in the stories forum, but oh well)...
I started on the grenadiers a bit too late. Napoleon declared war, dropping 3 galleons of grenadiers, catapults and knights right next to my 2-religion holy city, defended by only 2 grenadiers. I start moving every grenadier (about 1 per city, as well as upgrading some of my axes, toward my holy city, but there's no way to keep from losing it. I lose the city, retake it, and lose the city again...
Then...Japan (I thought this was Montezuma with the last post, but it's actually Japan) declares war and does the same thing on the other side (where I just moved my grenadiers from, leaving only a single longbow for defense).
3rd turn of war, I retake my holy city from France, finishing off france there, but there's nothing left except 2 shrines and an academy. This will be prove devastating to my lead. The Incas now hold the #1 spot.
Meanwhile, Japan captures my *best* military city on the west side. This one had pretty much all the happiness/health upgrades and was about to build Heroic Epic. Razed. Bastard. My troops are moving towards Japan's and start killing them off the next turn...
...which was the turn 2 more frigates from Napolean drop by and retake my holy city.
After a few more turns, I get everything under control, but this leaves me in 4th place. I had spent a few no-research turns to afford upgrading axes, plus switched to police state/theocracy. Heck, even Gandhi passed me on techs. Perhaps I should have caved in to Napolean's and Tokugawa's demands when we met?
OK, now things are looking up again and I'm starting to rebuild (still at war, so more are coming) and garrisoned every town with grenadiers. I've also got some more frigates, researched Cavalry with one horse coming and rifles in 2 turns, but what's this?!
Three frigates from Napolean coming toward my holy city, filled with rifles, grenadiers and catapults!
But wait! There more!
Japan is coming from the south with three frigates, as well.
They both land on the same turn. Napolean takes my holy city again 2-3 times, Japan razed another city (one of my better commerce cities too)
This is where I'm at now. My domain is currently safe, but theres no peace in sight. They both want my holy city for peace.
I'm in 3rd place again and researching railroads, not looking too bad and gaining ground again, but this tag-team war really cost me. I wont lose any more towns after I get rails hooked up, with artillary coming soon after. Incas are definitely still my favorite for space race victory in this game. He's busy killing off Gandhi and when he's done there, my guess is he'll jump way ahead of the rest. My "friends" are India and Persia and they are trading techs, but I had to cut everyone else off just to make them happy. Also had to go free religion. Everyone else who is not at war with me yet, likely will be soon.
I started on the grenadiers a bit too late. Napoleon declared war, dropping 3 galleons of grenadiers, catapults and knights right next to my 2-religion holy city, defended by only 2 grenadiers. I start moving every grenadier (about 1 per city, as well as upgrading some of my axes, toward my holy city, but there's no way to keep from losing it. I lose the city, retake it, and lose the city again...
Then...Japan (I thought this was Montezuma with the last post, but it's actually Japan) declares war and does the same thing on the other side (where I just moved my grenadiers from, leaving only a single longbow for defense).
3rd turn of war, I retake my holy city from France, finishing off france there, but there's nothing left except 2 shrines and an academy. This will be prove devastating to my lead. The Incas now hold the #1 spot.
Meanwhile, Japan captures my *best* military city on the west side. This one had pretty much all the happiness/health upgrades and was about to build Heroic Epic. Razed. Bastard. My troops are moving towards Japan's and start killing them off the next turn...
...which was the turn 2 more frigates from Napolean drop by and retake my holy city.
After a few more turns, I get everything under control, but this leaves me in 4th place. I had spent a few no-research turns to afford upgrading axes, plus switched to police state/theocracy. Heck, even Gandhi passed me on techs. Perhaps I should have caved in to Napolean's and Tokugawa's demands when we met?
OK, now things are looking up again and I'm starting to rebuild (still at war, so more are coming) and garrisoned every town with grenadiers. I've also got some more frigates, researched Cavalry with one horse coming and rifles in 2 turns, but what's this?!
Three frigates from Napolean coming toward my holy city, filled with rifles, grenadiers and catapults!
But wait! There more!
Japan is coming from the south with three frigates, as well.
They both land on the same turn. Napolean takes my holy city again 2-3 times, Japan razed another city (one of my better commerce cities too)
This is where I'm at now. My domain is currently safe, but theres no peace in sight. They both want my holy city for peace.
I'm in 3rd place again and researching railroads, not looking too bad and gaining ground again, but this tag-team war really cost me. I wont lose any more towns after I get rails hooked up, with artillary coming soon after. Incas are definitely still my favorite for space race victory in this game. He's busy killing off Gandhi and when he's done there, my guess is he'll jump way ahead of the rest. My "friends" are India and Persia and they are trading techs, but I had to cut everyone else off just to make them happy. Also had to go free religion. Everyone else who is not at war with me yet, likely will be soon.sandman_civ
Warlord
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2005
- Messages
- 127
obsolete said:
It's not only the benefit of great people, it's really not a silly tech. At this point of the game you are looking for Iron Working, Metal Casting or Code of Laws, and all of these take many turns to get as you move into the next era. If playing aggro Iron is obvious, or if you have the courthouse benefit then CoL, otherwise metal casting is great as forges really do pump up all facets of your cities. The other hidden benefit of going for oracle is that you have all these religion techs to spread religion in your lands, it's not just religion civics, but the added science/culture that the buildings give you. I played one game without state religion and 2 friendly cultures attacked me nevertheless, a harsh lesson, and I will always go for religion from now on.
hollebeek said:
I've seen it on Prince. I was playing continents and drew a starting continent by myself with an island nearby (could reach with Sailing). Everyone else was on another continent with another island near them. I was ahead by like 2,000-3,000 points and getting bored so I made some ships and attacked their island. In the meantime, Kubli Kahn eliminated the British. The cost incurred by waging an overseas war combined with Kubli Kahn's empire doubling led to him surpassing me in score. I gave up on the game because it became apparent when I was just getting marines and everyone else already had jet fighters that I was going to lose.
I think what contributed to Kahn attacking Britain was that everyone else on their continent was Buddhist, but Britain was Confucian. I was Jewish so by default Britain and I were friends, and we both pissed off the Buddhist nations and they refused to trade with us. Britain was also the last in score while Kahn was #2. Capturing that island only got me some spices and increased maintainence costs. It was a poorly-planned war.
obsolete
Deity
As for religion, I try to avoid it like the plague. Seems every time I change to one religioin or another,I just get a war on my hands as the AI thinks it's a good excuse to start one.
Minmaster
Prince
Just because you are behind in techs does not mean you will lose the space race. In my only emperor win, i won by space race which i didnt even think i had a chance at. although most civs had a tech lead and about 3 had all available techs for completing a space ship, only one civ (India - Asoka) was focused on completing the SS. i guess the other civs were involved in wars or prefered building military units like stealth bombers/modern armors while they could've built SS parts. i guess this is one good instance of having aggressive civs as your opponents, as they are more military focused.
anyways, i managed to pump out quite a large sum of gold per turn towards the end, buying and trading techs to build SS parts and meanwhile, after noticing India was completing lots of SS parts, i tried to have other civs attack india so that he'd stop SS building, but no civ wanted to declare war on him (Asoka had good relationship with others i suppose). So i shipped off some spies to Delhi where to my surprise India was just 5 turns away from their last SS part. I luckily had enough gold to start the sabotaging. The good thing is that even if your spy mission fails, you dont get declared war upon (at least in my case). I kept 2 spies in Delhi to sabotage and 1 spy I sent to Athens, the second place civ capitol just in case and realized they were just building stealth bombers/armors/gunships. Once you get your spies set in place, then its just a matter of having enough gold to sabotage. Since these missions' cost rises everytime, i had to wait a few turns in between to save enough money to sabotage again.
By the time i researched the tech for the last SS part, I was actually ahead in the SS race, needing 6 turns for the last part where india needed 7 turns. It was a great satisfaction winning the race, something I assumed i had no chance because by the time other civs started the SS with casings, I was still a few techs away from building apollo wonder.
I think the lesson is, dont give up just because you see other civs starting SS before you have the tech to start the apollo wonder. Another thing is somehow having your rivals focus on military. whether that is bribing a civ to wage a war against another, or luckily having several aggressive civs around. i think i was very lucky to win because if another civ was close to completing the SS, i probably couldnt afford to sabotage 2 spaceships. it cost about 2000 gold towards the end to sabotage.
also, i also found out why greece was building all these units while spaceships were being built. alexander was getting ready to declare war on me with a sneak attack! Just before SS completion, i think india was #1, greece #2, and me #3. as soon as i was almost done with my last spaceship part, alexander rolled in with what seemed like 100 unit force of modern armors, gunships, and with stealth bombers conquered/razed 3 of my cities. but by that time, i was done with my last SS part and I won. if i needed 8 more turns or so, i wouldve been rolled over completely by alexander.
in the end, i think i was very fortunate to have several factors working in my favor. if alexander sneak attacked me earlier, or if another civ was heavily SS focused, i probably would've lost. i should practice more on emperor, but getting cocky with my emperor win, i am now trying immortal and getting my ass whipped. time to go back to emperor i guess...
anyways, i managed to pump out quite a large sum of gold per turn towards the end, buying and trading techs to build SS parts and meanwhile, after noticing India was completing lots of SS parts, i tried to have other civs attack india so that he'd stop SS building, but no civ wanted to declare war on him (Asoka had good relationship with others i suppose). So i shipped off some spies to Delhi where to my surprise India was just 5 turns away from their last SS part. I luckily had enough gold to start the sabotaging. The good thing is that even if your spy mission fails, you dont get declared war upon (at least in my case). I kept 2 spies in Delhi to sabotage and 1 spy I sent to Athens, the second place civ capitol just in case and realized they were just building stealth bombers/armors/gunships. Once you get your spies set in place, then its just a matter of having enough gold to sabotage. Since these missions' cost rises everytime, i had to wait a few turns in between to save enough money to sabotage again.
By the time i researched the tech for the last SS part, I was actually ahead in the SS race, needing 6 turns for the last part where india needed 7 turns. It was a great satisfaction winning the race, something I assumed i had no chance because by the time other civs started the SS with casings, I was still a few techs away from building apollo wonder.
I think the lesson is, dont give up just because you see other civs starting SS before you have the tech to start the apollo wonder. Another thing is somehow having your rivals focus on military. whether that is bribing a civ to wage a war against another, or luckily having several aggressive civs around. i think i was very lucky to win because if another civ was close to completing the SS, i probably couldnt afford to sabotage 2 spaceships. it cost about 2000 gold towards the end to sabotage.
also, i also found out why greece was building all these units while spaceships were being built. alexander was getting ready to declare war on me with a sneak attack! Just before SS completion, i think india was #1, greece #2, and me #3. as soon as i was almost done with my last spaceship part, alexander rolled in with what seemed like 100 unit force of modern armors, gunships, and with stealth bombers conquered/razed 3 of my cities. but by that time, i was done with my last SS part and I won. if i needed 8 more turns or so, i wouldve been rolled over completely by alexander.
in the end, i think i was very fortunate to have several factors working in my favor. if alexander sneak attacked me earlier, or if another civ was heavily SS focused, i probably would've lost. i should practice more on emperor, but getting cocky with my emperor win, i am now trying immortal and getting my ass whipped. time to go back to emperor i guess...
