Tight quarters with Russia

[unsanctiondhero]

Evening friends. Been playing the Civilization Franchise for several years now but when it comes to Civilization V I'm still pretty much just a noob. Recently made the jump from Warrior to Prince, beat my first game on Prince yesterday as Nebuchadnezzar with science. Going for a diplomatic victory on this game playing as Siam.

Got a pretty awesome start on this map with three wine and one incense (I'm doing a legendary start for resources) and immediately went for religion so I could get Goddess of Festivals.

Played up to 110 turns before I accidentally hit the quick load button so I lost my progress. That's alright though because I think I was about to get into a losing war with Russia. She was expanding fast and was pretty much ahead of me in every demographic except for crop yield and literacy. When I lost the game I had 36k soldiers and she 60k. Also, she hated me (Coveted my lands, bullied a city and I didn't look the other way, asked her not to settle any new cities near me).

Anyway, I saved the map at the beginning so I'm going to start fresh. Definitely going to settle Si Satchanalai in the same location (has two 2 horse resources). In the northwest there is two 6 iron resources so that's my next city location. Mostly settled my third city in that location because I wanted to cut her off from coming around behind me.

My start was basically:

Pottery -> (Free Archery) -> Writing -> Calendar -> Animal Husbandry

Sukhothai: Scout -> Monument -> Shrine -> (sold a wine to Russia, bought a worker) -> Great Library -> Settler

By the time I set up my third city I was producing only military units to try and keep up with Cathy.

So, any ideas on how best to proceed once I start this game over?

 

[Erneiz Hyde]

You're Siam? If you intend to take Cathy out, go for Chivalry ASAP then , all the while building horsemen, and pumping out a few more Naresuan after finishing Chivalry. Though I have to say I haven't played Siam since G&K. It used to do quite well in vanilla. Bring Cats to be sure.

If you want to block her, settle on both ends of that mountain range in the middle (around where Yekaterinberg is in the picture). But, be careful and prevent Kathmandu and Genoa from allying with Russia.

 

[marekb]

I think also that you discovered Construction too late. CB are awesome for defence. In my last game with a few CB I was able to fend off quite large invasion of Swedish pikes.

I would also recommend to look at http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=468487

 

[Pook]

Concur with previous comments.

Reading the War Academy articles http://forums.civfanatics.com/forumdisplay.php?f=451 is helpful in improving your game.

Two other tactical notes:

1) Play a home game. When war comes (and it will), let them come to you. Even though the combat AI is somewhat improved in G&K, the AI still has a tendency to rush you with everything they've got in one massive attack. Don't meet them on a neutral site- let the fight take place near your cities, where your city defenses and ranged units can gut the attackers. Once you survive the initial onslaught, the AI typically doesn't have much left, and it's a straightforward path to conquering their lands.

2) Don't go chasing strays. That wounded AI unit that is just barely inside the AI borders is oh-so-tempting to take out with one of your full-strength units. Don't do it unless you're really sure that the AI can't kill your unit in return. If you can't see into AI lands, don't take the chance.

 

[unsanctiondhero]

This game seems to be going a lot better, thanks to some advice from the forum. Everything seems to be going on my way and haven't had any oh %$&@ moments yet. Russia definitely seems to be getting some poorer rolls, so they're way behind me in just about everything. Here's some SS's.

One question I have at the moment is if I want to use my Legalism policy to get free Wats I figure I need to build amphitheaters in all my cities first, but do I need to research education before I unlock it? How exactly are those 4 free culture buildings determned?

It was advised that I keep Russia from Allying with Genoa and Kathmandu. Not ten turns after I made these screen shots Russia went over my head and took both from me, resulting in a big happiness loss. Is there a trick I'm missing when it comes to allying city states?

I'm coming up on a faith purchase soon (Went with Monasteries as my 1st follower belief, built a monastery in my capitol for a +4 faith and culture boost) will probably save it for a great prophet. Question is should I use him to spread my religion or to enhance it?

Thanks for the help, guys!

 

[marekb]

I am not sure if you can get Wat from Legalism, as it is University replacement. If I am right from Legalism you get in your first 4 cities free: Monument or Amphitheatre or Opera House (or Broadcasts Tower?) as soon as proper tech is researched. To get Amphitheatre you need to have Monument built, etc.

 

[Moriarte]

I am not sure if you can get Wat from Legalism, as it is University replacement. If I am right from Legalism you get in your first 4 cities free: Monument or Amphitheatre or Opera House (or Broadcasts Tower?) as soon as proper tech is researched. To get Amphitheatre you need to have Monument built, etc.

Yes you can get Wats from Legalism

 

[marekb]

Yes you can get Wats from Legalism

Its awesome! I have to try one day. Probably you need Monument and Amphitheatre in cities.

 

[kamikazees]

Looks like your more aggressive settling this game has stifled her landgrab. Good for you. Russia is notorious for massive settler spamming. It is not at all uncommon for her to settle tons of cities, often in really junky spots with few resources (I saw her settle a city completely surrounded by snow because it had 2 iron nearby). She then uses those cities, though, to spam military and will try to overrun you.

She is not a good neighbor. The faster you take her out, the better.

 

[unsanctiondhero]

I won this game with a freaking landslide. My next city was settled in the center right under the small mountain range as was advised before and she was unable to settle any cities after that. So, aggressive settling definitely took her down. She also went out of character it seems and decided to play culturally, spamming a few early wonders. I'm usually pretty hesitant to declare war but after she built her third wonder I DoWed and rushed Novgorod and a fourth city she planted by Si Satchanalai. Guess I brought just enough units cause was able to come out losing only two of my 14 units. Healed what was left then took Moscow. Pretty much left her alone after that, using my captured cities as puppets. By that time I had managed to Ally with all the city states except Cape Town. After that the game felt like I was playing on settler, with a lead in pretty much everything thanks to my UA and City-State Allies. I pretty much pwned this game. Won around turn 300 with a diplomatic victory. I think it might be time I try and not get my ass handed to me on King.

 

[kamikazees]

great job! you beat russia at her own game.