Viable Strategy?

[Meliv]

Hi. I'm new to CivFanatics but not Civ3. I first started playing years ago and I loved it, however I could never understand how it worked so I gave up. Then every few months I'd try and pick it up again but give up after a few days. This time however I've picked it up and I'm sticking with it, but I want to know if the strategy I'm using is viable

At the moment I'm playing as the Persians. I build my first city straight away then set about pumping out about 5 warriors to explore. Then after my city improves a little I make a few settlers (The amount needed) to seal off my borders at the enemy then work my way into my territory securing luxuries and improving techs

So far this has worked, albeit on Chieftain, but I would like to know if this would work on different difficulties and different sized maps. I don't usually build up a large military except in my last game where I took out the Vikings with a few immortals because they were sitting on the only close iron deposit


I know that was very unstructured but if anyone has any criticisms or tips I'd appreciate them

 

[ThinkTank]

Welcome to CFC, Meliv!

There is a lot of useful strategy information in the War academy.
In a nutshell, the start of the game is mainly about expansion. Churn out these settlers and build as many cities as you can. You will need some warriors for exploration indeed, but improvements can wait until you have grabbed all the land you can get. Once the expansion phase is over, think about bulding improvements and building up military.

If you have a nearby AI then you should consider building one or two barracks early on, produce some veteran units (horses or swords, but very early on veteran archers will do), and beat up the AI. While there is still room to expand the AI will also focus on bulding settlers, which means that their military will be weak and they will be vulnerable. This strategy, the "early archer rush" will stop working on the higher levels.

 

[vmxa]

Five explorers is excessive in all but huge maps. Even then you do not need to get them going first thing.

 

[Aabraxan]

In addition to the good advice already given, I'd add a couple of items.

First, go ahead and get off of Chieftain, as that level gives the human almost obscene build bonuses and lets you develop very, very bad habits. Warlord gives the human considerably smaller bonuses, but it's easy enough that you can learn the basics without getting clobbered.

Second, the early game is all about expansion. Once you get a couple of warriors out exploring, start cranking out settlers and military units. You'll often see the early game referred to as the REX (Rapid Expansion) phase. More towns earlier means more gold, more unit support, luxes, more resources, more everything. Very important.

And yeah, welcome to CFC!

 

[gmaharriet]

I build my first city straight away then set about pumping out about 5 warriors to explore.

So far this has worked, albeit on Chieftain, but I would like to know if this would work on different difficulties and different sized maps.

First, welcome to CFC, Meliv!!!

As vmxa pointed out 5 warriors seems excessive and, as Aabraxan said, Chieftain gives too many bonuses to the human player.

The problem I see with your strategy is that your first (capitol) city will only support 4 units for free in Despotism...this number includes warriors, workers and settlers. Once you build the 4th warrior, you begin paying 1 gold per turn (gpt) for each unit over the 3 explorers and your single worker. Without a source of income, you will soon spend your entire treasury. Earlier settlers mean more towns and additional unit support.

Now, Chieftain allows you to spend more than you earn without penalty. It's the only level that allows this. If it happens on any level higher, the game will disband (kill) one unit or building per turn until you have gold coming in. That's a very, very bad habit to get into...hard to break when you move up to Warlord. Chieftain is good for teaching you to move units north, south, etc., and how to create an improvement building, and how to make the game do research. Once you get a small idea of how these things can be done, DO move up to Warlord or even Regent.

 

[Meliv]

Thanks for the good advice guys

Since I posted I've conquered the Portugeuse and the English who were also knocking around on my island and entered the Medival age. I can see why Chieftain doesn't pose any challenge. Most AI's barely build cities and have badly thought out infrastructure and resources

I think I'll finish this game with a space race then try Warlord

Thanks for your advice I'll make sure to stick around

 

[rysingsun]

Then after my city improves a little I make a few settlers (The amount needed) to seal off my borders at the enemy then work my way into my territory...

That definitely will not work at higher levels. Except for your capital it would appear to me that all your inner cities are quite corrupt and contributing almost nothing to your empire. The ai doesn't respect borders anyway so sealing off your borders doesn't really help. Expand from the inside out, not the outside in.

 

[ChaosArbiter]

The ai doesn't respect borders anyway so sealing off your borders doesn't really help. Expand from the inside out, not the outside in.

Early on, at least on the Warlord and Regent games I've played, the AI will avoid crossing your borders when exploring. It's only when I've maxed out my expansion (due to encountering other civs' borders) that they've crossed into my territory.

 

[AznWarlord]

I play non stop and I still don't understand how the game works.

I think my strange success is due to building a second worker as soon as possible (unless I'm industrious) and building Vet units, or replacing my regulars ASAP.

 

[Mursi lives]

This strategy, the "early archer rush" will stop working on the higher levels.

Depending of the starting position, it can still work at demigod.

 

[ThinkTank]

Depending of the starting position, it can still work at demigod.

Agreed to "can". It's more a matter of degree: on chieftain, the early archer rush will work almost always; on demigod, it normally will not.

 

[AutomatedTeller]

it is almost always a good idea to build workers. A worker is an investment in the future and will contribute to the health of the civ for 1000's of turns. There are few improvements which will help the civ in every turn of it's existence - the harbor, for the food and the factory/coal plants, which improve shields.

 

[AznWarlord]

it is almost always a good idea to build workers. A worker is an investment in the future and will contribute to the health of the civ for 1000's of turns.

I'd go for 1.5 workers per city - road every square and improve the ones your city is using. Then finish improving the rest. (irrigate plains, mine grasslands, the rest will force you to do one or the other).