Tips for Emperor level?

[Kaidonni]

Well, if it makes people happy, I've been building Barracks recently. One in Caen, one in Rouen. I might use Falaise and Brest for any artillery. Cherbourg might also be useful for a Barracks (but it will have worked all it's squares it can for Shields, so unit production might end up more limited there in the long run).

I believe the GL really will come in handy because at least two civs know Construction and Currency. Once I build that baby, heh. 22 turns to build now, thanks to my pre-build (I was thinking of a way to use another settlement for it, even checked turns back, but Cherbourg really needed border expansion to be able to do it, so...). 24 turns to research Construction at the moment, slightly less for Currency. I suspect right now is when to turn down my research to zero, yes?

 

[M60A3TTS]

Yes, well that's what it's all about, making us happy. As you can tell, we all have our opinions.

You haven't mentioned what turn you are on, so it's not clear roughly what year you will finish the GLib. You may have at least one civ demanding the lit tech from you and if you refuse, you may get declared upon. So be aware there may be the potential for a fight brewing.

 

[Kaidonni]

A fight brewing? Hah! I have the strongest military, and can whip out units quickly enough (yeah yeah, I know...the AI has a production bonus ). I don't think the AI is in any position to war with me effectively, no one has ever demanded anything off of me yet (which is strange...on Monarch they love demanding things). And yes...I am aware of the danger of becoming complacent, so...

It's around turn 67 currently, 1200BC-ish (can't remember off the top of my head).

 

[M60A3TTS]

ok, with 22 turns to go in 1200'ish BC, I'd say your GLib chances are good, but I wouldn't put it in the "sure thing" category yet. Using normal maps, tech trading tends to be a bit slower, meaning someone landing lit is less likely. But these world maps are a bit trickier. Just make sure your GLib city is working as many shields as possible. On the times I've missed building it, quite often it's by only by 1-2 turns which can be quite frustrating.

 

[vmxa]

Not sure if you are aware of the tactic of addign in workers to the wonder town. In a critical situation like playing Sid and I need GLB, I will have workers in the city road and mine all the tiles that will be worked.

Add workers in as they get tiles done ahead of the pop. You just have to take care to not get to the happy level. That tends to mean high lux slider. Do get a temple in before starting a wonder there.

At emperor on a massive map, you may be able to get more than one lux and even a market, but that is hard to have. I won't have any huts on Sid, so no lucky shots at Currency. No trade is likely either for it or any lux.

It may be that just one extra pop added in and a temple would be enough to swing it for you. watch the tiles that are worked to maximize shields.

Is the Cost Factor increased on that map to match it size?

 

[Kaidonni]

I can't grow Bayeux any more , not on a river (even though it looks like it!). I have 10 turns left, about 975BC. Unfortunately, other civs are now building the GL. However, using espionage (mainly just placing an embassy in their capitals), the closest any AI I have encountered so far is to completing the GL is 27 turns, and their capital doesn't look like it'll catch up any time soon.

I should get Construction and Monarchy as some free techs (traded for Currency from India...well, they were begging for peace, so I made them throw in 60 Gold plus that tech ).

 

[vmxa]

Just remember when you figure out the chances that the AI only pays 80%. So the GLB only cost them 320 shields, if it is 400. I think it is 400, but too lazy to look it up.

Anyway, if you can't grow you can. It is very important to try to get those core towns down on a river or a lake to get the free city size. Failing that try to get up an aqua as soon as you can. Of course you need construction first.

 

[Kaidonni]

It is 400, same as the Pyramids. I was using the placement of embassies to review how far others would have to go to complete the GL (they'd all only just started). Like I said, the closest anyone was to me was completion in 27 turns, according to their production box. It'll be a tense 10 turns for me, though...

 

[Optional]

I was using the placement of embassies to review how far others would have to go to complete the GL (they'd all only just started).

Were wonders like the Pyramids and Great Lighthouse already completed? Because the biggest problem is always the wonder cascades. Example: lots of civs are building the Great Lighthouse, one finishes it, and the others switch to the Mausoleum of Mausollos or the Great Library...

 

[Kaidonni]

Aaaah...4 turns to go! Close...so close! There has been a bit of a wonder cascade, bloomin' Incas completed the Great Lighthouse, others switched to the Great Library. However, I think at the moment I am safe, and I hope it stays that way. Just 4 turns. I am in the MA, though, traded with Korea, over in North America. With any luck, the other civs I cannot spy on who I know are also building the GL won't finish it in time either. I feel evil. And I might take the Incan capital as my next conquest, get me a lovely Colossus and Lighthouse, and build loads of slaves.

Hehe, it is funny...Feudalism, Monotheism, Engineering...more than once civ knows each of these!

A bit of a question though...what was that earlier that was said about the GL not giving monopoly techs?

Also...I demanded a settlement off the Byzantines (they were intruding on Denmark, and I'm setting up relay settlements for my naval transports (Galleys). They caved in just like that, too. I would have demanded Gold also, but, meh...

Once I have Engineering, I can move any units built on the British Isles to the town on the very edge, where Dover would be. I can load them on to the Galleys, and then move them to Denmark. Off the Galleys the same turn hopefully.

 

[Spoonwood]

The GL only gives you a tech if two tribes you have contact with already know that tech.

 

[vmxa]

A bit of a question though...what was that earlier that was said about the GL not giving monopoly techs?

It won't, so if you got a tech at least two nations that you already know had it. You can use CA II to verify that. It is not so easy using the civ trade screens to tell.

There is no way that bug like that would have gone unnoticed.

 

[Kaidonni]

So...what would be a good gpt deal for something like Feudalism? Add to the mix ones like Monarchy, Monotheism and Engineering (oh yes, I got all four of them the same turn ). That'll learn the AI to research Philosophy first.

The Byzantines were willing, for Feudalism (I think it was that), to part with 38gpt for 20 turns and about 70-71 gold lump sum. Is that a good or bad deal? I mean, I'm gonna have to milk these techs for all they are worth because some civs just never seem to have any gold, or very little, while some are willing to offer certain considerable sums. I even had 18gpt for another tech offered (can't remember which one, possibly Feudalism or Engineering).

I haven't made any decisions yet, but the longer I wait, the less chance I have to get great deals because someone else will be in for the money.

I also have to switch to either Feudalism or Monarchy because Republic doesn't seem to be known to anyone, and I've encountered maybe 20 or so civs. When would the best time be? I'm looking to build an attack force to take Cuzco from the Inca (I'll be fielding veteran Medieval Infantry, upgraded at 30 gold a piece about 5 or so Swordsmen, still have my elite Swordsman though), and I can stand to get the Great Lighthouse and Colossus out of it.

 

[M60A3TTS]

So many questions. So you got the Great Library and now what? First, let's review the fact that you can milk this for a while, but once two civs learn education, so will you. Then the "GLib" has no more benefit to you aside from generating culture. Some people actually give it away before they learn education so that they can re-capture it later for even more techs, but that's gamey if you ask me.

For the trades, if the Byzantines have the most gold, and it's the best they can offer I would say it's not a bad deal. Now once you trade it to them, they will turn around and sell the tech to other civs who can pay for the tech. That way it reduces their own expense. So it's a good idea to trade the same tech around when you can, understanding that 10 gold and such would be a case where you would probably not trade it.

Regarding government switches, at emperor level, IMO you can get away generally with changing governments twice where you are non-religious. Levels above that and once is enough because the tech pace is that much faster.

Feudalism and monarchy. You don't hear too many people touting the benefits of feudalism. Yes, you get MP bonuses, but war weariness can kick in over time as your feudal lords and barons get upset that their serfs are stuck in your armies and not in their fields. And science levels are similar to that of monarchy. So this government seldom jumps out at you as a preference. Monarchy is for war. You get MPs and no war weariness. But the republics will generate more science, and those who like to build their civs peacefully do fine with it. So if you want war, go monarchy and conquer lands and luxuries and cities that eventually you can turn into more production or research centers with scientist specialists. You want better science and follow a peaceful builder strategy, you can afford to wait for republic. There should be no rush here, you will get it for free eventually, and meantime at zero science you should be collecting nice stacks of gold each turn. Again if you want to switch later you can, but at that point it would be best to remain committed to that form of government until the game is over. The other government choices that appear later: democracy, communism, fascism are interesting when playing themes or variants, otherwise you can really do quite well simply with the basic monarchy or republic choices.

Now some players war successfully with Republic too, moving the luxury slider as high as necessary to keep the population in line. Given this is your first attempt at emperor, you may want to just follow the simpler strategy.

Now with the Incas, not sure where they are, but they're likely going to have high culture. So if you take Cuzco, you have to be prepared for a culture flip, or take them out entirely to prevent that risk.

 

[Kaidonni]

Well, my main plan is to starve Cuzco (size 7/8), maybe get slaves out of the citizens. If I spend maybe 20 or so turns preparation (more likely 10-15), I can have multiple attack forces and some Settlers ready to shift the population of Cuzco into majority Norman after I build the Workers, hopefully reducing the likelyhood of a culture flip.

I also may aswell go for the gpt offers, because many other civs just don't have the money yet for such deals - and there's the danger that those offering the gpt could easily, at any point, get the tech off another civ. That'd really mess things up (760 Gold over 20 turns, and another 360 or so from someone else - and I'm making 50+ per turn because of zero research at the moment).

And I definitely want war. All of Europe will be mine, I plan on making it so. Most the civs there have weak militaries (my advisor keeps telling me I have a strong military compared to just about every civ I've encountered). However, that doesn't mean it'd be an easy conquest, because the RNG can really mess things up. I figure with war weariness, should I lose one too many units, I might end up having to use the luxury slider and ending up with the same rate of research, etc, as Monarchy, plus I might be starting and stopping wars (damn, though, shouldn't have brought the Indians into the war against Egypt...a ceasefire would have netted me three more slaves! But, I cannot ruin my reputation by making peace while I have a military alliance...).

 

[Snarkhunter]

Now some players war successfully with Republic too, moving the luxury slider as high as necessary to keep the population in line. Given this is your first attempt at emperor, you may want to just follow the simpler strategy.

Actually, many players war successfully with Republic. Helps if you have, say, 4 luxes & markets in the core, but you can do without it. I usually don't have a problem if the war is 20 turns or less--you can grab a lot in 20 turns. And I've kept sham wars going for 100 turns or so without a problem. I wouldn't call this a more complicated strategy, myself.

As for the trade, it sounds pretty good to me--I should be so lucky in my current attempt! The biggest lesson I've learned about Emperor trading is not to get anal about keeping AA trades out for better results; the AI researches them too quickly & I usually miss out. If everyone knows a tech but one AI, might as well be you getting 10g lump than another, even if you think it should be worth a 4th tier tech in exchange. Same is true of later ages, if there are backward AI's: might as well trade off invention for whatever you can get, once you are looking at physics or magnetism. The backward AI isn't a threat, after all.

kk

 

[Kaidonni]

The forward AI isn't much of a threat, either, at the moment. The Byzantines gave me Heraclea after I demanded it. They actually gave in, like that. Now they have Trebizond settled in on the northern British Isles...which they have refused to surrender their claim to peacefully. They will need some...encouragement .

I think I'm rather lucky in this Emperor attempt, given the map. I might try the TE Turkhan maps next on Emperor. I had to restart several times to get this start position on the British Isles, and I honestly thought it might have been a turkey of a location. It turns out a great location.

 

[Kaidonni]

Erm...is it worth upgrading my Catapults into Trebuchets, especially against the Inca who may still be using Spearmen? Or is it a waste of gold?

 

[Daeron]

Greebley did the math that it isn't. At least not against defense 2 units. I don't know if anyone ever did the math on defense 3, like when you're facing legionaires or pikemen from an advanced Civ.

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=8040931&postcount=83

Edit: Actually, if it's not beneficial for defense 2, it will be even worse for defense 3.

 

[Kaidonni]

Whew...and I was about to waste 30 gold a piece for 8 Catapults (nevermind my current gpt would recoup the costs in about 2 turns!). Well, then, a mix of Trebuchets and Catapults for the assault on the Inca is all I will need, apart from my Medieval Infantry and maybe some Archers. Trebuchets aren't all they are cracked up to be anyway - my previous Monarch game saw them having next to no luck, and it was annoying too. They may aswell have been hurling insults at the enemy!