Washington

[Emp. Killyouall]

Washington is geared entirely toward archipelago maps. All coast tiles get extra commerce, half priced lighthouses, and a marine UU all point to quitting if you encounter him in an archipelago game. Thats why I always am him.

 

[Oggums]

Washingon always manages to stay out of trouble while I am in a war with someone else, and when I finally have time to take care of him he's already too strong.

Always happens. While you've been busy fighting another civ with swords, he's putting in longbows. When you're reading to hit him with maces, he's got gunpowder. He has one of the most balanced AI game plans, in that he techs up fast, but he also does not skimp on the military production.

My anti-Washington strategy has invariably become wars of pillaging to slow him down. I don't usually do wars of strictly pillaging, but Washington is my #1 example for why you should. You can still pillage his cottages, even if he's too powerful to overrun.

 

[cabert]

to Jsolo:
if you cannot defend it, raze it

edit : was too slow (once again!), so added who i was answering to

 

[NuWorld]

Washington is geared entirely toward archipelago maps. All coast tiles get extra commerce, half priced lighthouses, and a marine UU all point to quitting if you encounter him in an archipelago game. Thats why I always am him.

Not just archipelago, but any map which favors coastal cities (islands, hub, etc.). I never encountered full force Seal attack by AI, but I would say it would be very difficult to defend against it.

 

[jsolo15]

to Jsolo:
if you cannot defend it, raze it

edit : was too slow (once again!), so added who i was answering to

I got in bad habit of Capturing every city in Prince, since Washington is good with Organizations.

Now that I playing Monarch. I'm realized you really do need to Raze and move on to your next target. Same once your done you need to basically move until your next victim fast

In my last game Monarch/Epic
Large
9 Ramdom AI
Cont,

Shared cont with Mongol and Egypt

Before the War I was 1st in GNP and 2nd in power Egypt was one.

Got a tech lead by completing the CS slingshot
Hit Egypt with my 13 Axeman and 3 Spearman army.
I left her with 3 city (My Bad) She sue for peace.

As I was recovering getting ready to hit the Mongols. I notice they already had Musket in the larger city.

I wanted to take 10 to 15 turns to build my cities up (Place Markets, Libary and Forges)

I had Maceman and Knights unit being built- But because of war didn't have the Gold to upgrade my standing Army. By the time, I got back on my two feet. The Mongol had Rifles and were taking over the egyptians.

I end up losing when France and Rome came over and decide it was time to take me out because I was too friendly with the Mongol.

I still have alot to learn. I seem to always fall victim to wanting to build that extra unit or get the next tech....

 

[Rathelon]

Well, I think that I have finally come to a conclusion: George Washington is my favorite leader in Civ4.

Gotta like ol' George. Back in his day, the average man's height was 5'8", but George Washington was 6'3", 200+ lbs.

 

[NuWorld]

@jsolo15

Actually CS slingshot is very deceptive, seems like a tech lead but it's more of an illusion. Early courthouses might help you financially while expanding, on the other hand, you probably wasted beakers on religious techs without founding any early religion, confucianism will spread nowhere since trade routes will be cut off because of war. Caste system will do you no good since your citi(es) are usually to small to afford any specialists. Bureaucracy will boost your capitol a bit, but I would prefer hereditary rule any day, to allow all my cities to grow. Macemen are still far away since you need Iron Working and Machinery to get them, chance is that stronger opponents will have longbows by then. So, the question is what did you actually gain from slingshot? You'll hardly have an edge in military and your economy is crap because you didn't have time to improve your land because all you did was chopping. IMHO, CS slingshot is very usefull in OCC games where you want bureaucracy ASAP, but on Emperor or above is next to impossible to get it by cca 1800 BC when AI usually gets it.

If i missed any benefits of CS slingshot, other than OCC, please feel free to enlighten me

 

[jsolo15]

@jsolo15

Actually CS slingshot is very deceptive, seems like a tech lead but it's more of an illusion. Early courthouses might help you financially while expanding, on the other hand, you probably wasted beakers on religious techs without founding any early religion, confucianism will spread nowhere since trade routes will be cut off because of war. Caste system will do you no good since your citi(es) are usually to small to afford any specialists. Bureaucracy will boost your capitol a bit, but I would prefer hereditary rule any day, to allow all my cities to grow. Macemen are still far away since you need Iron Working and Machinery to get them, chance is that stronger opponents will have longbows by then. So, the question is what did you actually gain from slingshot? You'll hardly have an edge in military and your economy is crap because you didn't have time to improve your land because all you did was chopping. IMHO, CS slingshot is very usefull in OCC games where you want bureaucracy ASAP, but on Emperor or above is next to impossible to get it by cca 1800 BC when AI usually gets it.

If i missed any benefits of CS slingshot, other than OCC, please feel free to enlighten me

NuWorld

You are absolutely right, I have tried CS Slingshot in about 20 Monarch game and have lost all of them. After I find the other civ in the game they seem to be at the same tech level as I'm or head of me. I find myself also starting my first war very late in the game.

I need to find a better Strategy for my early game.

 

[sirford]

NuWorld

You are absolutely right, I have tried CS Slingshot in about 20 Monarch game and have lost all of them. After I find the other civ in the game they seem to be at the same tech level as I'm or head of me. I find myself also starting my first war very late in the game.

I need to find a better Strategy for my early game.

push for stonehenge, and then swordsman rush everyone around you until the year 1000AD. After you have killed and assimilated 4-5 civs, use your massive worker force to place cottages EVERYWHERE, and tech up in a few turns.

 

[jsolo15]

push for stonehenge, and then swordsman rush everyone around you until the year 1000AD. After you have killed and assimilated 4-5 civs, use your massive worker force to place cottages EVERYWHERE, and tech up in a few turns.

I been reading the Cottage Spam post and going to try my hand on it.

I tried both Axeman Rush and I can take out 1 Civ. I go back to rebuild add Libary/Markets and Grocer for a few turns. This is when the other races from the other contenient find me. I try and trade and make them happy.

What I usually find happening while I'm take out the second civ on my contenient. One of the over sea races demands I cut relations with another race. If I don't or do within 10 to 20 turns I get invaded. With my troops out Fighting.

In my last game I built a 5/Knights moble defense unit. (With 2Longbow and Maceman in each city I should be okay) Well it work out fine until England came over to help out France.

I quit that game.

I went back to Prince level to practice some more and try another Stardegy...

 

[jsolo15]

I have change my strategy to cottage Spam with CoL slingshot.

I went back to Prince to learn cottage spam and get a grasp of Research order and city built Order.

I lost my first two games. The first one I was into building cottage and trying to micromanage. I didn't pay attention to how close I was to Peter, I didn't build a army and just build city defender. I lost when he rush me with a bunch of Archer/Axeman. While I only had 6 Warrior out.

Second game I lost in a space race to Gandi. He beat me out by 10 turns.

I played 4 more games and won 2 Space Race and 2 by Domaination

I decide it time to try Monarch again.

I found while in Prince I can build Stonehedge, Pyraimd and Oracle. In Monarch, I'm usually beaten out to all but one. Not bad, I get cash for losing out on the Wonders. (SAME AS BEFORE)

My biggest problem now is I can't seem to have a update Army to protect me after getting passed the Middle Ages. I usually have Knights, Maceman, Cats and Galleon when the oversea Civ have Rifles, Calvary, Cannon and frigates.

Tech Wise, in the 3 Games I have played, I was the tech and GNP leader and usually number 3 in points.

I need help:

Here my Reseach Order
Mining
Animal Husbandry
Wheel
BW
Pottery
Masonary (If I have stone in my first two city)
Archery
Horse Riding (If Horses)
Writing
IW
Alphabet -- (Trade for stuff I missed)
Math
Metal Casting
Machinery
Lit
Currency
CoL
Monarch
CS
Education
Liberalism
(Free tech Nationhood (sp)
Guilds
Paper
Constitutions
Democracy (sp)
Communism (For Kermlin)
Miltary Tradition and head for Industralism (This is when I usually get invaded by two over sea civ.)

Capital
--------
Worker
Warrior
Settler
Warrior
Settler
SH
Libary
Settler ( I build Settler until I get Literature)
Great Libary
Unversity
Market
Barrick

2nd City (Production)
Worker
Warrior
Worker
Libary
Barrick
Axeman (Rush Build)

3rd City (Coastal)
Archer
Worker
workboat
Libary
2 Galley
Courthouse
Barrick

Guys any help would be great. I'm new to the game been playing for about 7 weeks now and would really love to win a Monarch game.

Large Map
Contenient
Epic
9 AI Random
Currently (learning) no Barbs

 

[niedzialko]

Jsolo try this:

Mining
Bronze working
Mysticism
Wheel
Farming
Pottery
Hunting
Archery (*archery cen by reserch after mysticism before pottery)
Animal Husbandry (if i have copper a some "animal resources )
Iron working (try t build axeman and spearman in every border city)
Priesthood
Monarchy (very important)
Alfabet
(After Alphabet, you can trade some with AI (masonry, sailling, organized rel, maybe calendar, mathematics)
Literacy (if I have marble or/and 3level unit)
Code of law
Civil Service (huge boost to economy!!! you must have academy in your
capital)
Music (if you will be first)
Machinery
Paper
Printing Press (huge boost to economy!!!)
Education,
Philosophy,
Gunpoweder
Nationalism
Liberalism ( you must be first, to get free nationalism or better Military
tradition, develope some and watch who has education)
You will have cavalery (cossack) very soon and easily conquer one or two player

 

[jsolo15]

Thank you niedzialko I will try it.

How is my City Build Order?

Has anyone ever been zacked before your warrior get created in your second city. I was actually invaded by four Archer from Alexander while my 2nd city was 2 turns from his first warrior. WOW!

 

[NuWorld]

I would suggest you get currency before any tech trading, that way you'll get a bunch of $$$ for army upgrades and maintaining a higher research rate.

Regarding city build order, there's no cookie-cutter strategy, varies from game to game, but generally, always send an archer with a settler so you don't have to waste time to build one, especially if you're not alone on the continent. In a coastal city, always build workboat before worker and let city to grow to 2, food surplus will then allow your worker to come out sooner.

And remember, there is no strategy that fits all, on higher difficulties CoL slingshot will leave you in ruins more often than not. Know your opponents and adopt. Improve your resources to let city grow, before cottage spam, they're worthless if you don't have population to work them.

 

[nealhunt]

There's not going to be an optimal, all-situations research or build order. You're going to need at least a little bit of customization based on the resources you have available.

For the CS slingshot start trying for both methods - Oracle and the Great Prophet research option. If one works, you can use the other for a different purpose (they definitely won't be wasted). The nice thing about the Prophet method is that no one can beat you to it. As long as you get a wonder that gives Prophet points or assign a Priest specialist, you will get it.

 

[jsolo15]

I would suggest you get currency before any tech trading, that way you'll get a bunch of $$$ for army upgrades and maintaining a higher research rate.

Regarding city build order, there's no cookie-cutter strategy, varies from game to game, but generally, always send an archer with a settler so you don't have to waste time to build one, especially if you're not alone on the continent. In a coastal city, always build workboat before worker and let city to grow to 2, food surplus will then allow your worker to come out sooner.

And remember, there is no strategy that fits all, on higher difficulties CoL slingshot will leave you in ruins more often than not. Know your opponents and adopt. Improve your resources to let city grow, before cottage spam, they're worthless if you don't have population to work them.

Thank you Nuworld your right

Depending how the Map Resource are, where your place, and where the AI are there is no cookie cutter resourse path or Build order. I was just wonder if what I usually try to follow was a bad path.

I think the biggest difference is how the advance players are able to get their first Worker and warrior and research their tech faster. I'm wondering if it the way I'm Micromanaging my city.

In my last game where I started rushing Axeman. I had a total of 8 axeman and 3 Spears in 10AD and had 4 Archer Horseman for defense. (I had no Iron near me so I couldn't get swordman) I was hoping to attack my nearest neightbor. When I check his Cities he already had Swordman in one of his larger cities. The 2 border city had 2 Archer and 1 spearman or Axeman. I would have been able to take the Border city but I don't know what the AI would have waiting for once I was marching on the larger city.

 

[NuWorld]

On higher difficulties you can't compete with AI early on, during expansion, he'll beat you, so you let AI build cities and you take over. It realy depends on a situation, with an early UU, you might be able to grab few cities earlier. Basically, you build what you have depending on the resources available and hit those that can't counter you.

I mostly play pangea/18civ/marathon maps, sometimes I can't even find room to build a 2nd city, so I look for easy kills to expand, if I have bronze I'll go for those that don't have it. It's not necessary a neighbour, on occasion you may go pass neighbours and deal with them when you grow stronger, but it has to be pretty early before other civs culture chokes you. Quickly grab 2 or 3 cities and settle down, even financial or organized won't keep you out of trouble early on, without serious impact on your research.

When going for an early rush you basically build nothing but units, forget about growth or city improvements. You build a worker to hook up necessary resource and build units, chop if necessary. Early rush should start about 3000BC or even sooner if possible. You might try to play Huayna, Cyrus or Hatshepsut, they have good, cheap early UU's, just to get a grip on how early rush looks like. Avoid rush on Mansa, his UU keeps him out of trouble until maces or elephants, bastard

One more thing, starting techs will play major role early on, early axemen rush might not be a wise option for someone who starts without mining. Those who start with hunting would go for archery or animal husbandry. You can't afford to depend on warriors to hold off any attacks, so military improvent is a first step you take, not pottery or such, although you might want to try and grab an early religion if you start with mysticism.

Regarding city micromanagment, you might play occasional OCC game, you'll really learn how to manage your cities to a tiniest of detail.

 

[jsolo15]

When going for an early rush you basically build nothing but units, forget about growth or city improvements. You build a worker to hook up necessary resource and build units, chop if necessary. Early rush should start about 3000BC or even sooner if possible. You might try to play Huayna, Cyrus or Hatshepsut, they have good, cheap early UU's, just to get a grip on how early rush looks like. Avoid rush on Mansa, his UU keeps him out of trouble until maces or elephants, bastard

One more thing, starting techs will play major role early on, early axemen rush might not be a wise option for someone who starts without mining. Those who start with hunting would go for archery or animal husbandry. You can't afford to depend on warriors to hold off any attacks, so military improvent is a first step you take, not pottery or such, although you might want to try and grab an early religion if you start with mysticism.

Regarding city micromanagment, you might play occasional OCC game, you'll really learn how to manage your cities to a tiniest of detail.

With Amercian you don't start with Mining (95% of time the first thing i research)

NuWorld, have you been able to start a Axeman rush with American at 3000BC.


With the best start (I had Gold and a Corn Farm by the River). I got my Axeman rush alittle before 1000BC. I had 6 Axeman and 2 Spearman, The production city went from cranking out Axeman every 3 turn to 6 Turns while in War.

I seem to always able to take out my first neightbor. It knowning when to go after the second civ. I usually try do it once I get Cats (About 5 built) and researching toward Maceman.

The problem for me seems to come from the oversea civ. For some reason, I find they are as advance as I'm with better troops.

Usually my army is compose of Knights, Maceman and Cats. When the oversea nation have Cannon and Calvary with better promotions.

 

[soulja173]

In the long run Washignton is the powerhouse leading in all. Perfect for kremlin
strategy.

 

[aelf]

@jsolo15

Actually CS slingshot is very deceptive, seems like a tech lead but it's more of an illusion. Early courthouses might help you financially while expanding, on the other hand, you probably wasted beakers on religious techs without founding any early religion, confucianism will spread nowhere since trade routes will be cut off because of war. Caste system will do you no good since your citi(es) are usually to small to afford any specialists. Bureaucracy will boost your capitol a bit, but I would prefer hereditary rule any day, to allow all my cities to grow. Macemen are still far away since you need Iron Working and Machinery to get them, chance is that stronger opponents will have longbows by then. So, the question is what did you actually gain from slingshot? You'll hardly have an edge in military and your economy is crap because you didn't have time to improve your land because all you did was chopping. IMHO, CS slingshot is very usefull in OCC games where you want bureaucracy ASAP, but on Emperor or above is next to impossible to get it by cca 1800 BC when AI usually gets it.

If i missed any benefits of CS slingshot, other than OCC, please feel free to enlighten me

You're right. After a few games of trying out slingshots, I realised they're not great on a level like emperor unless you intend to follow them through with some big plan. All the CS slingshots I tried didn't make a big difference except when I was trying to get to Musketeers asap. It helped me get Paper and Education a little faster and as a result I was able to bag Liberalism as well. If after CS you decide to deviate to get Construction, Machinery and etc you'll quickly find the AI catching up with you, getting CS AND the other techs.

When the game is bad a CS slingshot doesn't do much to help. When the game is good it only gives you a little more advantage. Except if you want, for the most part, to keep on that route and maintain the lead there.