Trying to Get Better

[BrantleyL1]

I'm trying to get better at playing and thought that some here might be interested in trying this game and making comments as to how to play it... I was playing as Rosevelt on Cheiftan.... [Which may expalin why it was so easy, I had been playing on Noble before converting to BTS. Somewhere someone mentioned that it was a good idea to go down a level or two when starting out on BtS.] The map was set to Medium and Small.

Here is the save game from 4000 BC.

I'd be really interested in some thoughts about the first 50-100 moves up throug the early AD era and perhaps the eventual outcome. This is probably a LOT easier level than a lot of you are used top playing at.

We were discussing in an earlier thread the importance of WHY. Which I think is my problem. I understand some of the good things to do without really understanding WHY.

For example, my default is to research mining, then BW. Why? Two reasons - (1) build Axemen - who are very useful for fending off barbarians, taking out early barb cities and (with luck) taking out nearby AI civs fairly early. The key is to buid enough to take them out before the defenses get too high and you need cats. Thoughs??

(I tend to pick a civ that starts w/agriculture)

I tend to build:
Warrior - to allow a little growth (before stopping it with the next builds) in the city and to escort the settler
Worker - start improvements - mostly farms at first
Settler
Warrior

By this time, BW is in. With luck, I have copper in my fat cross or near a good 2nd city location. Thoughts??

The map is kind on resourses, which made it an easy win for me. I played to a space race victory in the early 20th century. I took the save from just before I launched and played to a domination victory.

B.T.W. Why does the "GAME DETAILS" option require a password??

 

[eewallace]

I just played Roosevelt for the first time, and also handily won a space race (on noble). He seemed surprisingly good, particularly on a map with lots of good coastal city sites.

As for your defaults, they aren't bad for defaults, but you should be ready to vary them depending on your starting techs and resources. With Roosevelt, if you have seafood, it makes sense to build a workboat first--grow your city while getting your first food resource on line. Marble or stone? Well, mining then masonry before IW, etc.

(I downloaded the save--will look at it tonight--I'm on a Roosevelt kick now!)

 

[lordqarlyn]

Roosevelt is my favorite leader.

 

[Cam_H]

I actually wasn't all that enamoured with your start - the AI was highlighting a coastal spot, and there was nothing but trees and Wine (req. Monarchy).

Spoiler :

I moved the Warrior to the hut, which revealed Ivory, and I opted to send my Settler southwards to find a better spot up-river.

After settling, it didn't take too long before we bumped into Alexander, and found that he had a nearby empire ... this is great! I was 'all keen' to do a rush, so pursued technologies that would lead to offensive units.

Still without Hunting, Animal Husbandry, and Monarchy, I ended up putting Farms on key special resources until I was able to acquire the appropriate technologies. In the meantime I was keen to just keep lifting the population. I also began building a road towards the Greek capital.

By 2000BC I had settled my second city, and was gearing up for war;

I'd met Joao from our south east, and Tokugawa had also introduced himself.

With a fair enough sized SoD (in fact a couple of units in excess), war was declared.

Save at 1200BC (Turn 70) as the SoD advances on Athens.

Maybe this isn't the perfect game, but hopefully demonstrates a few pointers (1.) make the most of resources, even if you haven't got the requisite technology, (2.) settle aggressively towards the AI - better yet if you pick up a strategic resource, (3.) if you don't like the start, look around.