The Iron Problem!

F

Furyofposeidon

Chieftain
Joined
Nov 21, 2011
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Earth, Very Large Map
Picture this: I am stuck on a small continent with no other civilizations. I am playing as the Roman Civilization, and in early medieval era. I have just got the research to make longswordmen, and am excited to get from spearmen and chariot archers to longswordmen! Then I notice I have no Iron, and I have no fellow civilizations to trade with. I sent two scouts to look around for some, but can't find any. Then I looked for new lands with my trireme, but land can't be reached with that because it can't cross ocean tiles. So here I am, with a dwindling supply of horses, no Iron, and literally "ancient" units. Even worse, the Barbarians now have swordsmen, which is better then what I have got. The barbarians are spawning like mad and there is nothing I can do! Astronomy is about 40 turns away, so caravels aren't coming any time soon. I am also quite new to this game; what should I do when I have no Iron when I need it?
 
Bad luck with the start position. Next map can only get better :)

To help you defend yourself, you may want to research Civil Service (so you can build pikemen), and machinery (for crossbowmen). But if you aren't facing too many barbarians, even archers can already wittle them down from a city.
 
Be wary. You can use that iron but if the trade ends and you can't replace it all units needing iron will have thei strength decreased drasticly.
 
Furyofposeidon said:
I have just got the research to make longswordmen, and am excited to get from spearmen and chariot archers to longswordmen! Then I notice I have no Iron...
Click to expand...
Iron gets revealed on the map with Iron Working, a few techs before Steel...
Furyofposeidon said:
I sent two scouts to look around for some, but can't find any.
Click to expand...
After Steel? You should start scouting straight away, look for ruins, City States, other AI's suitable settle spots and whatnot.
Furyofposeidon said:
Even worse, the Barbarians now have swordsmen, which is better then what I have got. The barbarians are spawning like mad and there is nothing I can do! Astronomy is about 40 turns away, so caravels aren't coming any time soon. I am also quite new to this game; what should I do when I have no Iron when I need it?
Click to expand...
Pikes, available with Civil Service, are almost as strong as swordsmen. Use archers to soften up the barbs. Keep the archers behind the pikes, so that the Zone of Control of the pikes means your archers are safe.

Hunt down those barb camps a bit earlier. The situation probably got of of hand because you ignored the camps for so long. Better scouting would have helped, and quicker expanding. Barb camps only spawn in the fog, so you get them in the early game, later, when most land is settled, they become rare.

If you're new to this game, try pick a start next time where you have some civs around you. The game is richer that way.
 
Steelyglint said:
I've never seen barb swords before.
Click to expand...

They don't exist. Barbs do not spawn units that require any kind of strategic resource, nor do they spawn siege units.

I think for melee:

warrior-spear-pikemen-musketmen-riflemen-infantry
Maybe paratroopers too, not sure about that one

ranged
archer-crossbow

So even without armor you should not be at a disadvantage against barbarians since they don't get to build such units in the first place. Neglecting millitarty and finding pikemen coming your way while you're still employing warriors/spearmen does suck incredibly though.
 
CYZ said:
They don't exist. Barbs do not spawn units that require any kind of strategic resource, nor do they spawn siege units.

I think for melee:

warrior-spear-pikemen-musketmen-riflemen-infantry
Maybe paratroopers too, not sure about that one

ranged
archer-crossbow

So even without armor you should not be at a disadvantage against barbarians since they don't get to build such units in the first place. Neglecting millitarty and finding pikemen coming your way while you're still employing warriors/spearmen does suck incredibly though.
Click to expand...

He is probably playing the civilization nights mod
 
Furyofposeidon said:
CYZ, yeah! I bet england is completely emptied of iron, I took all it got! The good thing is I have built 3 new cities in a new continent, with iron. Now I have frigates, and have met all of the civs, so things should not be too bad.
Click to expand...

Congratulations! You actually managed as a beginner to solve one of the challenges the game might throw at you. I´m saying this because many "Vets", simply shut of game and go to forum to complain had they been in your shoes. As Rome, or as the Danes, iron is very important. Danes need steel, so that will give you abit more time to solve the issue.

You situation was more difficult than usual, isolated as you were. Then again, that also meant you had no Napoleon or Mother Russia walking in on you with swords and steel.

I doubt you really need all that 10 iron you bought, you could probably make due with 5, till you found a longterm solution. Maybe you paid too much too? Put in the amount of iron you want to buy, and click on the propose button above the yes and no. And see what they want to make a deal. Strategic resources are often cheap.

If you have no Iron or vital other resource of your own, you can; Find a citystate that has the resource and ally him. Buy from another Civ. Migrate to a place that has access to that resource, or go to war with a Civ to conquer a city that has the resource.
 
I have won very often without iron. Unless you are looking for a military victory, iron is not that critical provided you can research pretty fast and/or stay friendly with any close neighbours. Isolated on a continent without iron is a doddle. In fact, it's the kind of start I dream of :lol:
 
I can fondly remember a game in Civ3 where I had no iron and was on a small island. I sent Trireme after Trireme in search of another Civ to trade with. (back then Triremes could attempt ocean travel but had a percentage chance of sinking)

After about 15 Triremes went to Davy Jones' Locker I made contact with....The Zulus. Who within 25 turns had sent their early gunpowder army in to completely take out my spearmen...great game though! :cool:
 
Actually, I am a warmonger. Having no Iron and no solution is a nightmare, since past the medieval era, Iron is completely essential. No Swordsmen, No Catapults, No Frigates, No Trebuchets, you name it. So the 10 Iron was needed :). Also, I wanted to make sure England would have no iron and face my same problem for a bit :D
 
You shouldnt relay on Iron so much, theres no reason to do so, Crossbows are excellent units, use couple Iron to make some Catapults and trade the rest.

Btw, I usually pursue for fast Science victory if I start on lonely island. All you need is 3-4 good city spot and you're set, otherwise you're really having bad luck. ;)
 
Furyofposeidon said:
Ruler, I am a "WARMONGER". That means I can't survive without Oil, Iron, and Uranium. :D
Click to expand...

It seems to me that a real warmonger will figure out a way to fight and win wars with whatever resources are available. If you have no iron, then you simply raise a larger army that mixes (lots of) archer/crossbows with spears/pikes and horsemen/knights. Then you find an unlucky neighbor who has some iron and take it from them. Yes, it will be harder than if you had iron. Yes, you will use more units. But what are a few units compared to the glorious prosecution of a successful war? Or do you only want to fight wars that are easy to win?
 
Dont ignore what Ruler said, I've won many wars on Emperor without Iron. Crossbows out the wazoo, and a few horsemen or pikemen can do the job just fine. Past that, rush to cannons and take cities with muskets.
 
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