The Way of Golden Age

[Nifelheim]

There are three questions need to be answered before making the decision of starting the golden age. These are Why, When, and How.
Why:
In my opinion, there are two reasons for starting the golden age. These are:
1. Creating a more productive civilization. Because, the power is not only having much bigger attack units, it is also producing an attack unit much faster than the others.
2. Being able to complete the strategic Great Wonders.

When:
I start the golden age after I enter to the Industrial Age. But, I find Steam Power and Industrialization before I enter to the golden age. Because,
1. In the sake of being more powerful, I want factories in all of my cities and as fast as I can
2. In the industrial age, there are two very important great wonders which are Theory of Evolution and Hover Dam. Since the first one gives you two free advances, you can get Atomic Theory and Electronics with no payment and one turn. The second is vital for being powerful as fast as you can.
3. In the industrial age, there are too many critical and expensive advances, like sanitation, electronics, replaceable parts, motorized transportation, and flight.
4. In the industrial age, there are also two critical resources: rubber and oil. If you don’t have it you will be aware of this before others find and can attack to the civilization which has them.
5. and the last one, I enjoy the game when I attack with tanks or modern armors and I think, the only way to conquer the world is making tanks or modern armors before the AI’s can.
How:
Before you enter to the golden age, you must choose your way. This table will show which civilization how will enter to the golden age.

For The Way
Commercial Smith’s Trading Company
Scientific Newton’s University
Ottomans Sipahi (instead of Cavalry)
Russians Cossack (instead of Cavalry)
English Man-O-War(instead of Frigate)
Spanish Conquistador (instead of Explorer)
French Musketeer (instead of Musketman)

(this was a table )

As you see from the table, Ottomans are lucky than the others. Since, they have a really stronger attack unit which has capability of destroying even infantries. And since they are industrial, they can produce improvements faster and also because of being scientific, they can protect their land from cavalries with riflemen.
Russians are OK. Because they have the advantage of riflemen too and Cossacks are more defensive than the Sipahis and Cavalries.
English will be good for a safely golden age. The only thing that you have to bombard the AI’s land
The hardest civilizations from the table are Spanish and French. But, I tried with them too. And I entered to the golden age with attacking to a weak attack unit. But I didn’t really attack to a city with Conquistador or Musketeer except Cavalry
Or may be you can hide your specialist to the industrial age. But, this will be hard for the Aztecs.

If you choose the way of war. You should pay attention to these warnings:
1. Declare war to the weakest and the farrest civilization preferable from another continent. Because, your main aim is not war, it is the golden age.
2. Be sure to have adequate army to defend yourself from attacks of AI. Because, in the golden age your cities will be busy with factory, hospital and other improvements.
3. And if your specialist is not a strong attack unit like Sipahi, be sure not to be killed by the AI (the aim is starting the golden age. Isn’t it? )

Another important thing before you start the golden age, you must have iron to construct factories
After, I enter to the golden age; I change the production of all cities to the factory. But, I change the production to the courthouse or, if necessary, Forbidden Palace for the cities which the time of completing a factory is more than 35-40 turns.
At science production, I always try to find the advances in 4 turns. If I don’t have adequate money, I sell luxuries, advances, right of passages or may be Mutual Protections to have adequate money. My Science production queue is Medicine, Sanitation, Electricity, and Scientific Method. If I can, I try to trade my advances with AI’s for money or another advance (But not Free Artistry or Music Theory) May be Nationalism, Communism or Espionage. But, Replaceable Parts is strongly important. Then, I draw my destination to the Motorized Transportation. But, I don’t find Atomic Theory and Electronics. I left them to the Theory of Evolution. Because, they are expensive than the others.
After I find the Sanitation, my next production will be Hospital and other things like Bank, Stock Exchange, Police Station, but not Coal Plant except for my big cities. Because my next Great Wonder is Hover Dam. For my capital city, I hurry the production of Hospital and Coal Plant if I have adequate money, then I start to make Universal Suffrilage. And after I find the Scientific Method, I switch the Universal Suffrilage to Theory of Evolution. If I have a leader, I wait for the end of the golden age and finishing the advance that I work on. For my second city that has less Corruption and big production (may be the city which has Forbidden Palace) I start to make Palace or Universal Suffrilage.
When I finish the Theory of Evolution (I adjust the production of the Theory of Evolution and the advance that I work with to be finished in the same turn), I choose Atomic Theory and Electronics to gain them free. Then, I switch the production of Palace to the Hover Dam. I prefer to hurry production of Hover Dam with a leader instead of Theory of Evolution. Because, the construction of Theory of Evolution begins in golden age and Hover Dam costs more shields than Theory of Evolution.
By the way, I won’t sell Atomic Theory, Electronics and after the Corporation, If I don’t need money. Because, I want to make tank before anyone can do.
After the golden age, I will have cities with huge production, and then I start to make tanks and conquer the world.
Thanks in advance.

Note: Play the World allows you to choose the free advances. But, Civilization III gives you what it wants except you works on. So, if you are playing with Civilization III, before you finish the Theory of Evolution find or buy all advances except Atomic Theory and The Corporation. And near the end of the Theory of Evolution select The Corporation, it will have to give you Atomic Theory and Electronics
If you don’t do like this, you will have to satisfy yourself with Music Theory and Free Artistry

Nifelheim (Ömer F. Saatçioðlu)
Turkey
omer@diyarhack.net
omer@k.st


for a more regular document. please download the attachment. it is a acrobat reader document.

 

[newbiebad]

Well attacking with UU is pretty much everyone's preferred Golden Age method. More often than not, with ancient age UU's you tend to unintentionally trigger the GA too early. If I need to trigger my GA, I just attack a rather weak enemy with my UU. Or I could just send a few troops to a neighboring continent and start a fake war.

Actually my favorite GA is during the early Middle Ages. You've usually just finished with an ancient war and your borders are probably solidified. A lot of infrastructure to build and a lot of wonders to pick up. In addition, you can use the advantages to speed towards cavalry and conquer the world. By the industrial age and beyond I'm usually already speeding past the AI. With factories and decent buildings you can churn out tanks, artillery, and infantry in a few turns. I find that the GA is more useful during those crucial but awkward first few steps into the Middle Ages.

 

[Kiech]

Peacetime after you have founded all of your cities is always the optimal time for a GA.

As a quirk, I never have trouble getting the advance I want when getting ToA, even though I play Civ3 1.29f (typically Electronics and Radio.) It always just gives me the next 2 advanced I have selected to study...also true for when my scientific civ gets a bounus era tech.

 

[Nifelheim]

Hi!
Thanks for response.
That is I am talking about is already a fake war. I only made joke about Aztecs. You can get in to the Golden Age even with the battle of Jaguar Warrior vs. Mech Infantry. Nevertheless, that is not the point.

I do not know with which difficulty you play. However, my scenario is for Emperor or Deity Level. In lower difficulties, I do not need a Golden Age. It is only a bonus for me. When you are playing in emperor or deity, your fate is being behind the AI’s about technology, especially in Deity. I always try to catch them till Industrialization. After, the industrialization I can catch them or leave behind. This is because of Communism. When they are in war, they tend to choose the Communism. Anyway, this is another discussion.

On the other hand, the medieval wars are not for conquering the world. It is for expending your land as much as you can. I, generally, start to make the Forbidden Palace in medieval ages. Because, I cannot satisfy myself with ancient times exploration. Especially in deity level, I cannot even make war in ancient times. Another thing is conquering the world with the Cavalries is not possible. Because, after a few turns finding the Military Tradition, the Nationalism comes and Riflemen will not allow you to get their cities. Moreover, after 10 or 15 turns you will face with the infantries. There is only a chance, which is Sipahi. Nevertheless, you have to build a Great Wonder to trigger the Golden Age in early medieval times. In addition, this is not applicable in Emperor or Deity level. Moreover, building 20 Ansar Warrior (or War Elephant, Samurai, Rider, Keshik Warrior...) instead of 10 must not be the aim of the Golden Age. That was about exploration.

The other important thing is great wonders. I think there is no valuable great wonder in the medieval times. Sun tuz art of war is not a good wonder. Because, my cities already have the barrack when I entered to the medieval times and it costs only 40 shields and 1/turn gold maintenance (20 shields for a militaristic Civilization). Sistine Chapel and JS Bach Cathedral are not important for me before the hospital. When I need them, I declare war and get them. What is behind? Oh…Shakespeare theatre! It does not have meaning for me. Making eight people content only in one city is not a big deal. Nevertheless, what I am rushing in my scenario are factories, hospitals, hydro plants, Stock Exchanges or anything else I think and I enjoy the bonus of the Democracy.

Improvements built in the Golden Age Cost (shields)

Factory 160
Hospital 120
Hydro Plant 160
Stock Exchange 160

You can build improvements, which will cost to you too much. Unless you are playing with Warlord or Regent Difficulty. You cannot build these in a few turns. Moreover, I will able to build two Small Wonders, which are Battlefield Medicine and Wall Street as fast as I can and these Small Wonders are valuable. In my scenario, after the golden age at least 15 cities will be able to build tank in one or two turns not having ten more tanks after the Golden Age. In medieval times, you cannot gain more profit than this.

You can claim that after a few turns from Motorized Transportation, you will find Computer and Tanks cannot do anything about Mech Infantries. However, the AI’s, generally, are technologically behind of me after the Golden Age. Moreover, after I entered to the Modern Times. I found Computers, Miniaturization [for the Internet (generally, a leader waits for rushing it)], Fusion, Ecology, and then Synthetic Fiber. AI’s, generally, will enter to the Modern Times while I am working on Ecology or Synthetic Fiber.


PS: I want ask an ex-subject question, is there limit on building an Army (without or with a leader). Sometimes, my leader has only command of rushing, or the city, which has the Military Academy, cannot build Army. If you know an explanation, please share with me.
Nifelheim

 

[Generalissimo]

For your PS question Nifelheim, I know that you need four cities for every army. So if you already have four armies and you only have 18 cities you would have to found or take over two more cities to be able to have another army.

 

[tao]

Why?
There is only one reason: To significantly improve your position relative to the other civs. This requires(?) not to have your GA while in despotism, because your benefits wouldn't be big enough. Most of the time.

When?
The early Middle Ages give you great wonders to pick up: Sun Tzu's, Leonardo's, Sistine, Bach's.
Or late Middle Ages with Copernicus', Newton's, Smith's.

Once I get steam, I am far superior to the AIs. It's like a second Golden Age!

And proper planning w pre-builds will always(?) get you ToE and Hoover!

How?
If you capture a wonder you need to trigger your GA, the GA will start with the next Great Wonder you build, regardless of its trait . At least, there was a thread on CFC on this some time ago.

 

[Darkness]

Why?

That's the easy one. To increase production and trade at a strategic time to get a jump ahead of the AI...


When?

IMHO the best time is the early middle ages, for 2 reasons:
- To get very important strategic wonders like Sun Tzu's Sistine's and Leo's
- At this time I've justfinished my peacefull expansion (most of the time) and now I'll start building units to take territory by force and build improvements in my cities, and in a GA this goes much faster...

How?

Preferably by a UU victory. If that's not feasible at that time(because I want to stay at peace or do not have a UU available for build) I'll trigger my GA by building a wonder...

 

[newbiebad]

Well... you make a point that an industrial age GA helps you generate lead that you will never lose. I find that by mid industrial age the game is always already won on my part if not sooner. Yes I do play Deity level and catching up in tech IS a major problem. I find the most crucial part of the game to be the Middle Ages because the game may yet be undecided if you make a huge mistake. Face it, as soon as you have infantry, artillery, and a somewhat DECENT (not even good) industrial base you can conquer the rest of the world at any time. Sure you may have to call in a few alliances and conduct continental invasions but the tech pace drops to a snail's pace. Of course everyone plays differently but i view CIV3 as a war game. Those other damn unsatisfiable leaders never seem to want to play fair. At least in SMAC you could get a few loyal allies for most of the game.

Maybe its because I'm a warmonger, but I like to clean my continent sometime between ancient and industrial war. I tend to oscillate wars to keep tech parity and gain new luxuries. Even on Deity the AI is pathetic at waging war. Aside from the occasional SoD's running around they aren't too tough to handle. Even those are dispatched if you are willing to lose a city or two and create kill zones outside of a walled city. I can win with half their number of cities and their industrial bonus. This isn't SMAC where new tech advantages instantly lead to new units. Major offensive, defensive units come maybe 2-3 an age and some can be skipped entirely. Cavalry conquest isn't unviable and knight quest is even easier. Sure you might not finish them off in one go but you got 500+ turns to wittle them all down ;d.

Now to get back on topic . I like the Medieval wonders especially the Sistine because of happiness problems. I don't tend to get have the best starting locations and sometimes luxuries are just too expensive. I play on a standard map usually and getting more than 3 luxuries on your starting continent is very difficult. I'd rather buy my techs than trying to buy luxuries and falling behind. Besides, the second they get mad at me I get riots everywhere. With my Medieval Age GA I can either conquer my way to tech parity or get enough money to get the techs I need. With my GA it becomes easy to poach a few nice (IMO) wonders. While I might not ever surpass the AI in the Middle Ages I'm usually right behind the leader by the BEGINNING of the Industrial Age. It may be a matter of preference but I like catching up the earlier the better. I don't even consider the modern age much of an age except for UN and maybe a Space ship win. Anyone can catch up in the Industrial Age but a GA is hardly neccesary with all the advantages you have by then.

ex.
-Strong production combined with smart choices by a human (factories)
-Good bombard units (artillery)
-Easy transport (airport, transports, railroads)
-Easy defense (railroad+artillery+your choice of finisher)


Slight Edit: I forgot to mention that all those industrial age improvements are hardily neccesary to win the game at all. Stock exchange and hospital are only nice to have. A lot of players I know are willing to stick with size twelve cities to maximize a closer built core. Hydro plants come with Hoover's and it shouldn't be too hard to get if you managed to pull tech parity by then. Just prebuild and get ToE if possible. In either case cities with just factories can still pump out artillery and tanks at a decent pace. The only building I REALLY want is the factory for obvious reasons. Everything else is just icing.

 

[Jamesds]

When: Middle Ages or Early Industrial

Why: To get a good growth spurt, and start producing and getting ahead of the AI. I'm a builder, I always like to build tons of things in my cities, actually, everyting possible!

How: Normally peaceful way, with wonders. I'm not normally at war that early, atleast not major.

 

[Fierro1816]

When: In the early game, by accident. (2:30am)

Why: Forced by combat demands to use my celtic swordsman.

How: Shocked by the opportunity, I start building anything that I can in my poorly developed-techless cities and keep getting workers and troops (archers, horsemans, catapults(?), celtic boys, settlers).

Terrible GA, but it worked. The wave-like, disorganized ways of my command took form and I destroyed one of the civs and the other was reduced to a city, I dominate the entire continent and I'am the most powerfull civ in the world. Of course, the end of this story is yet to be writen.

 

[I. Larkin]

In my games Golden age fels like sudden surprise, cant say they were useless, but i did not prepare... I agree, that Industrial time is the best, I think that the best time is a peace, when you about to discover tanks. You can't "prebild" them like Arty, that I upgraded from canons, but then you will upgrade them tanks to MAs. Quote: "This is not a bad strategy, there is not enough tanks..." (Rokosvsky). For Germans this is no question... (But you need oil and rubber), so better to finsh war for that before GA...