Trying to get the hang of the mechanics

[riddleofsteel]

Just got this game today, I am pretty bad at it. I usually play as the dutch, but after many failed games, I must seek help.

First, everywhere I land seems to have indian villages around it. Is that normal? I just want to find a place where no-one's about and make my settlement. Second, what do I do with immigrants? I was bringing them back to my colonies and dropping them over resource tiles, but is that the most efficient use (I am guessing not)? Third, is there a way to really automate supply wagons? I tried to do so in an effort to save starving colonies, but the button did nothing. Last, is there a screen that tells you which indian village wants what? They kept telling me what they wanted for trade items but I kept getting it mixed up.

Thank you for any help, even one or two answers is good. This is much harder for me than regular Civ. If there's a good online guide, point me to it also. I played a few hours as the french and just as I was getting kind of large (5 colonies) someone declared war on me and I didn't have any soldiers and only 1 musket. I really need help, thanks again.

 

[Elliot]

First, everywhere I land seems to have indian villages around it. Is that normal?

Yes

I was bringing [immigrants] back to my colonies and dropping them over resource tiles, but is that the most efficient use (I am guessing not)

You can't do much else with immigrants. You could turn them to missionaries, build new settlements, harvest resources or work in your city.

Once you have pioneers to road and wagons to facilitate trade routes the best use for new citizens is making new colonies until you run into micromanagement problems or problems with the natives. The center settlement tile is worked for free so your first worker in every colony is extra efficient. Rarely do I build more than 10 colonies though so keep that in mind.

But don't feel bad if you're not utilizing some specialists to their full potential. Frequently I'll have expert fur traders or expert weavers sitting around harvesting lumber or some other raw material while I wait to build their production facilities.

Third, is there a way to really automate supply wagons? I tried to do so in an effort to save starving colonies, but the button did nothing

Go inside your colonies and set them to export and import various goods. Then hit auotmate trade routes on your wagons.

is there a screen that tells you which indian village wants what? They kept telling me what they wanted for trade items but I kept getting it mixed up.

Use the middle mouse button to scroll out so that you see the map as a globe. Look at the icons on the minimap. One of them should allow you to view the natives trading opportunities, training, and another option.

 

[riddleofsteel]

Nice, thanks! I was just reading a strategy a few minutes ago (can't find it now) that said you can find another european nation while you're still in your boat and when they use their soldier to make a colony, you can declare war and move your boat in and sack their single colony. Is that a good strategy for a new player, or at all? I tried it three or four times and I can't seem to declare war on them by any means at all, in fact the only dialogue option when I first see them is 'There will be peace in our time.' Anyway, thanks again and I'll be back later.

 

[Elliot]

With the patch, you can't declare war on the AI for the first 20 turns of the game.

Attacking the European AI's asap is a good idea. Especially if they're close to you. If they're on the other side of the continent then you can usually let them be. Or use them as training for your veteran troops

 

[elmerrietveld]

Last, is there a screen that tells you which indian village wants what? They kept telling me what they wanted for trade items but I kept getting it mixed up.

You can look at the village symbol on the regular map. The icon of their desired product is shown on the right, next to the name of the village. So, no need to look inside the villaget.

 

[riddleofsteel]

Okay, thanks. Are the dutch a good choice for a new player?

 

[dalgo]

Okay, thanks. Are the dutch a good choice for a new player?

Each nation has it's own advantages; the Dutch for trade, Spain for combat, England for immigration and the French for better relations with the natives. So there are no bad choices, it mostly depends on your style of play.

Edit: Having said that - I notice that the two most popular leaders in the poll below are the two Dutch leaders.

 

[riddleofsteel]

Yeah, I saw that too. Still having some trouble. Nearly all the time I can only build very slowly. Before I can even get a warehouse I am hemorrhaging out low-end materials that go to waste, and it takes ages to get a warehouse. Second, the AI, even on easy difficulty will box me in completely before I can support multiple colonies. Last for now, how often can I say 'no' to the king, and will the game go on after independence? Thanks again.

 

[riddleofsteel]

In addition to my last questions, I have a few more observations. The AI seems to go overboard in crowding me out. Once I got almost engulfed by the colonies of surrounding nations. The second game that happened in, I decided to declare war and get them out of my way. I took two of their colonies before I realized that they had 4 in the time it took me to get one going, and after losing two veteran soldiers at great cost, I backed off. Then they sent dragoons after me. There's got to be something serious I am missing here, every other nation can progress at light speed while I am barely scraping a living off a rock.

I do believe other nations send out any unit they can (blacksmith etc.) just to build settlements.

 

[dalgo]

You can be selling those raw materials in Europe. You don't get much for them but any gold comes in handy in the early game. Later you will want to keep those raw materials to make finished goods which earn more.

Your problem with the other Europeans may depend on the size of the map. I play on a really large map and often don't see anyone else for 100 turns or more.

The other way to keep them off your back is to expand your own territory by producing liberty bells and by creating new colonies. Any colonist can build a colony but you need enough gold to purchase the land, or be prepared to fight the local indians.

You can say 'no' to the king every time he asks for cash if you want. He won't sell you cheap troops anymore though. And yes you can continue to play after independence.

 

[riddleofsteel]

I'm just playing on large, but at least one other nation seems to always park right 'on top' of me and chokes me out. Here's a question, do I have to play a custom game to set victory conditions? Last night I was playing as the spanish, having a pretty good time conquering small tribes when they declared on me. Then all of a sudden John Adams wins a financial victory, game over. Any way to change those settings? Thanks.

 

[dalgo]

Are you playing a mod? It seems unusual for the AI to develop so fast at easy setting and I have never seen another power win any kind of victory.

 

[riddleofsteel]

I am actually playing age of discovery, I just didn't think it made the AI go so fast. I really like Age of Discovery for the greater ease of getting to and from europe.

 

[i_diavolorosso]

I am actually playing age of discovery, I just didn't think it made the AI go so fast. I really like Age of Discovery for the greater ease of getting to and from europe.

I guess you're playing 1.10??
1.10 has a very smart AI, and many players (including me) feel that they're too hard.
My advice is try 1.11, the AI there is more forgiven

 

[riddleofsteel]

Yup, that's the one I'm using. I am using it because it works with Age of Further Discovery. I'll have to switch back I guess. Thanks.

 

[Wheldrake]

A common problem with AoD2 v1.10 is that even on lower difficulty levels, the AI expands super-fast compared to the player.

This said, as long as you can build your own empire a bit and get an invasion force of veteran soldiers, dragoons and canons, you can eventually take out any adversary, no matter how big. Even in v1.10. But you will lose out in the competition for FFs. Even in v1.11, the final Aod2 version, it is a very close run to get some of the key upper-level FFs before the AI grabs them up.

As far as victory conditions are concerned, you can only adjust them when you first start your game. I switch off financial and commercial victory conditions.

Cheers, --- Wheldrake

 

[villagereaver]

I am far from an expert, but i really do like the two English leaders (Washington and Adams) as well as the Dutch. I'd suggest trying as many leaders as appeal to you and

Spoiler :

keeping your colonies no larger than 8 cities

. Have fun!

 

[Trachmyr]

Note that for Indian Trade, what they want is of little consequence... they won't pay that much extra for it, so don't go out of your way to deliver goods based on their wants.

Natives only pay good money for Guns, Horses and Tools (and to a lesser degree trade goods, but the profit is rarely worth the trouble unless there's a few villages along your return trip). Even if they don't currently want one of these goods, they'll pay good money for them (if they have gold left).

 

[arkham4269]

Well I've been playing since Civ II and Col1 and one thing that gets me about this game is I can't seem to figure out what the game is rating players in victory points.

Recently playing the Age of Discovery II mod and the Australian player was way ahead in points. Yet from what I can tell all the AI was doing was cranky out colonies. Most of these were either 1 or 2 populations while I only have 5 cities but my cities were all larger with much more amenities. So where my colonies where living large and cranking out processed materials like cloth, rum and cigars, the Australians seemed to be living like jumped up natives and only able to barely crank out raw materials so why are they so ahead in points? It doesn't look like they have been fighting the Indians either.

 

[Karstedt]

To the OP: I tried the latest AoD mod a few days ago and was shocked at how fast the AI expanded. I even took the Chinese dude thinking that the +1 food bonus and cheaper purchasing would be super broken advantages. The AI had a population of around 30 (spread of several colonies of course) when I was around 8 between two colonies. I think they are getting some kind of bonus (I play on the level with no bonuses either way). I like a lot of what AoD has to offer, but the AI in it makes it difficult for my leisurely play style, and seems to turn it into more of a war game.

As for getting a good start, selling your initial soldiers guns to the nearest tribe and the sailing home to buy more is that fastest way to get a few bucks. You can usually pick up enough guns and horses to have a Dragoon when the ship comes back, and you can use that Dragoon to wipe out the encroaching AI on turn 21 (with the latest patch you can't war until then). I've done it a few times, and will do it if I get crowded (witch usually happens because 3 nations usually have the same friggin start position). But find that it takes the fun out of things. Conquest is just so not what this game is about for me. You can alternatively use that second shipment of guns to sell again, and then you should have enough to pick up the makings of a scout or two that will bring in lots of money while you build your colony. You'll quickly have enough to buy your first Galleon and cash in on all the treasure your scouts are finding. My first Galleon usually returns with all the key colonists I need to really get going.

Once you get better, you probably don't need to use such an easy trick to get going, but I wouldn't know because I'm not that good.