Tips Maybe?

[Chazumi]

So I do very well on Noble, but I have moved up to Prince and am having a few problems if you could share your tactics with me... I usually do Fractal/Marathon/Prince/Conquest. I do no barbs because I like just dealing with the other civs, aggressive AI.

My first problem is I think I am trying too hard to make all my cities perfect. I used to be able to get 5-6 cities pretty upgraded before I started focusing on military (about mid-classical era). I can't seem to balance defense and keeping up with science and expansion. Usually by my third city I am starting to go in the hole financially and falling fast behind all the other civs. I try cottage farms but they don't seem to do as good of job as I had hoped. And more often than not I will get attacked right when I start popping axes (unless I am unlucky and only have iron then I have to wait and churn out chariots instead), so I pretty much need to restart right then and there.

Any tips as how to keep up with the other civs, at least somewhat competetively and still keep my military edge? I don't know what other info to list here so please ask if needed. Thanks.

 

[Sisiutil]

Try having a look at some of my ALC games (link to more links in my sig). In most of those demonstration games I use various methods to get ready to take on the AI, and to hold them off until I'm ready to do so.

 

[EmperorFool]

I actually find barbarians to be helpful.

• They force you to build an early defense.
• They provide those early defenders with experience (max 10 pts each).
• They give you a chance to practice basic defensive skills.
• They provide gold by taking their cities.
• They pound on the AIs as well.

For maximum hurt, select "Raging Barbarians" and make sure you build the Great Wall!

Another tip would be to turn off "Aggressive AI" until you can handle Prince level. BTW, chariots make great early roaming defenders. They fare pretty well against archers on flat ground and get 100% against axeman (only when attacking I think).

 

[mice]

[*]They pound on the AIs as well.
[/list]

As I understand it, they dont pound on the AI very much. It's one of the bonuses that the AI gets.

Barbs ,marathon is a hard setting because more spawn on marathon.

You mentioned 5-6 cities and then you usually get attacked. OK so build 3 cities and focus on military. The 3 cities are settled on horse or copper/iron.

Easy.

After that it's good to get currency and or CoL before you expand out to more cities.

While a couple of cities are going for commerce or scientists to get you up to those tech, the other, your best prod city, is pumping axes and chariots as deterent and in preparation for war.

It's important to scout out your neighbors too.

If it seems like a good idea to go to war early, pillage all you can to get gold to pay for 100% research to get you up to currency/CoL