TSG 249 Opening Actions Thread

[Nizef]

This thread is used to discuss the game's opening decisions and strategies through the first 100 or so turns. Here you can post questions related to the game and share your achievements/anger/frustration/victories while you play.

- What did you think about before starting the game, what was your approach to this game?
- Where did you settle and what did you build first?
- How did the terrain and map settings affect your early decisions?
- What were your initial priorities?
- What tech path did you follow and why?
- What Social Policies did you choose?
- What Wonders did you try to get and did you get them?
- Did you get a religion? What religious beliefs did you pick?

 

[raider980]

T78 Not exactly sure what turn this would be on standard speed but a little over T100 I assume.

Before starting the game I figured Maya, King - should I play normally or go for something different since its a great Civ on low level? I went for something different and its not going so well. The rough terrain of Frontier plus quick speed means this game is playing more like Emperor+. Settled in place and since there's no ruins and its a small map I went Monument first then Atlast then Pyramid.

The initial terrain and map made me think there wouldn't be many city spots so I opened Tradition then went full Piety. This assumption was incorrect, this would have been a nice Liberty map and I wish I would have gone that direction. Initial priorities were to get some cities and build some Pyramids. Things didn't turn out that way however. After building Monument, Atlast, Pyramid; the Great Library was available for a very small number of turns so I went for it and got it; very rare indeed. Then ToA was available so I went for that; and failed. Also was beat to Oracle by a few turns but I did get HG; strange. I also had a very early NC (I think it was early) at T37 because I hadn't built any settlers yet - or workers; this turned out to be a Big Mistake, I wouldn't get my first worker until way late! Even though I was #1 in science, I had only one city and no land improved so I was poor, unhappy and getting run over by barbs (there's no way this isn't raging barbarians lol) because I also had no units. I did beeline Theology so got an early Baktun and chose and GE for Haiga Sophia and also got a Prophet. Here at T78 I'm completely out of money - but luckily I took a GMerch for the last Baktun and am about to bulb it for Bratislava.

Luckily, even though I was late with Settlers, I got a city for both of the NW. I did get a religion (only second pantheon so I assume either the Celts or Ethiopia is in the game, maybe Morocco (I still have one AI to meet). I chose Pantheon of OWN so I should be swimming in faith, Tithe, Pagodas, Feed the World (food from Shrines and Temples) and Holy Order (30% off missionaries). For the reformation I took 30% more influence from gifts to CS (probably a mistake, I should have taken Jesuit Education).

On T59 Monte asked me to go to war against Shaka. Since there were some mountains between me and Shaka, I said sure Monte. And then Shaka refused to make peace; I'm still at war with him, this could have been another Big Mistake!

 

[Nizef]

T78 Not exactly sure what turn this would be on standard speed but a little over T100 I assume.

T78 (Quick) x 1.5 = T117 (Standard) to be mathematically accurate.

 

[raider980]

T78 (Quick) x 1.5 = T117 (Standard) to be mathematically accurate.

Oh is it that easy? Never seen it so clearly stated. Thanks!

 

[ForkOfSpite]

Forty-five turns in, and all is well. Nothing to see here, so move along!

Spoiler :

* Three cities, 6 total population, -4 happiness, zero luxuries online. Perfect!
* One warrior, two atlatlists, plus one scout that will die when I click Next Turn. Three workers, I think?
* First settler sent east for Uluru - captured. Recovered and founded as third city on T45.
* Second settler sent West - success. Settled coastal (despite inland capital), so Cerro de Potosi is not in range (fifth ring).
* Lost Great Library, but that's not going to stop me. I want wonders!!!
* Monument to the Gods (chosen -- AFTER -- finding Uluru).

Tech towards Theology, of course. Several others though (Animal Husbandry, Mining, Bronze Working). Think I've taken Archery too because Artemis is still available. Was planning to Great Library for Philosophy, so I had the seldom utilized Drama & Poetry entry into Classical (after losing the GL).

So, all is well! I think I'm leaning towards one change though. Instead of playing as the Ultimate Role Model character to be the obvious choice as World Leader, I might lean more for a shady backroom deal persona. I'm already planning to Great General a city state lux (but I'll make up for it with gifts later). Plus, I've already bamboozled Shaka into a 2 gpt / 1 horse deal he wasn't willing to do. Instead, he accepted 1 gpt and embassy for the horse, and then I sold him my embassy for the extra 1 gpt.

Great Expectations for Episode 2: Temple of Artemis, Stonehenge, and Oracle. It WILL work!

 

[Bemep42]

turn 70

SiP. scout-scout-piramid-monument etc. Before game i planned play in tradition, but after scouting go full Liberty - open Patronage.
After 1 free settler and 2 my own bild Great Lybrary (take philo), Piramyds,and MoM (59t) and 3 settlers more mixed with wonders in capital. few turns to Oracle. also finish Hagia Sophia in 3rd city (salt + 10 gold Nature wonder).
learning theology (turn 52) than MC (turn 70) next will be optics - CS - edu
take GP from baktun (t57, strengthened religion after MOM at t 59). take God-King, Pagoda, tithes, mosques, religious texts.
2nd was GM because strike was very close. use for Bratislava. Also have free GS from Liberty.
Around turn 30, Shaka proposed a war against Monty and I agreed. Shaka had 3 cities, Monty had 1. now Shaka still has 3, Monty has 4 cities and first power. On turn 70, I DoW Maria for 200 gold from a cargo ship and made peace with Monty.

In all i have 7 city, 26 pop.

 

[ForkOfSpite]

Too funny not to share now even though it's past T100 ...

Spoiler :

It was a busy turn. Early, I chose a Great Admiral from the Long Count Bonus. Later that same turn, thinking I clicked cancel earlier, I selected a Great Admiral. Turns out, that was from the Leaning Tower.

 

[dumpstertrash]

Turn 79 and not too happy. If I had actually read the announcement, I would've realized that there were no ancient ruins and it was raging barbs. Would've only built 1 scout instead of 2. would've built more units earlier, but oh well.

I decided to go full Piety, no Trad or Liberty this game. Why not? It's King difficulty, I can play for fun and speed. I went OWN pantheon for obvious reasons. Because I want to bank as much faith as possible for later I did not get any buildings. I went shrines and temples +1pop and temples +2 faith. Add that to 25% gold with temples and the already awesome shrine we get I thought it looked best. Took Charitable Missions as my Reformation, cheaper CS allies makes sense. Great prophet improvements are awesome when going full Piety, I'm sure I'll have a few. My missionaries are cheaper too, I'm currently using 2 for scouting.

No National College yet.... soon enough. Beelined theology and grabbed a GMer and GE. Merchant was because I was in dire need of gold and was losing science, GE for Oracle, should've saved for Nat Col.

After College I plan on a few more cities. Focus solely on growth, happiness and science. Piety games end up having good gold too. I guess they play similar to Liberty games on build orders etc. Will go down patronage and hopefully finish that and then Rationalism. I need to get Bratislava and Prague asap for culture benefits.