What do you do with your first Great Leader?

[SinisterDeath]

I know it depends on level of difficulty and current map conditions but IN GENERAL what do you do? I almost always use him to either build the FP (if my empire is big enough that it own't be wasted), OR in most cases I use him to rush a wonder in my capital that is very important such as Pyramids, Great Library or Hoover's Dam, others may value other Wonder's equally, I guess it depends on what you want.

I almost NEVER use my first leader to build an army as I value the reward from the Wonder more than the ability to build armies and the heroic epic.

What I'm looking for here is an answer on what you use your leader for and why. Please vote !!!

 

[wh00ps]

One key decision maker for me is when in the course of the current war I pop the leader. If it's early in the war, I use the leader for something, anything, and fast. If there's a wonder I can rush, use him for that. If I need the FP or need to move the palace, use him for that. If there are no wonders to build currently and I'm all set with the palace/fp, I'll create an army. The point being, if it's early in the war, I want to use him up so I can get another one.

If it's late in the war, I'll consider saving him for a wonder that I need further research for. So far, the way it's worked out, in every game that I've played into the industrial age, I've always rushed Hoover Dam with a leader... I'm getting rather spoiled on that one. [dance]

I do, however, always try to use one of my initial leaders for an army. That way I can build the Epic and Academy, making me able to build more armies without using leaders. I only ever use ONE leader to create an army in any one game. Once I've done that, I can build them, so there's no sense in using up a leader worth oodles of shields to make an army that only costs 400. (Perhaps I shouldn't say only, but in my huge map game right now, my capitol is turning out an army every 4 turns... :soldier: )

So there's my 2.0000001 cents' worth.

 

[Pook]

Build an army, win a battle, build Heroic Epic to increase chance of future great leaders (from 1 in 16 elite victories to 1 in 12 elite victories).

I almost never stockpile a GL, as you can only ever have one at a time.

 

[SanPellegrino]

it depends of course, but most important is the FP/Palace

 

[King Kruhl]

I usualy build an army with my first one. Thaat way I can build the Epic and the Academy. My only problem is that once I have built those two things I can never seem to build armies with out leaders. What am I doing wrong?

 

[kokoras]

First thing build FB (if i haven't build it yet of course),after that build an army.

 

[Raijer]

Usually, I find myself rushing the FP. That small wonder is hugely effecitive in having a well-oiled, highly productive Civ. But I agree with whOOPs when it comes to using the GL right away... if I'm not in a position to build my FP (or in the very rare case it's already been built) then the GL will be used to create an army.

 

[PlumpCat]

I get my GL before i build FP about 90% of the time and use it for FP (unless i am playing tiny archipeligo or something). Otherwise i use it to create an army then military academy and then more armies.

 

[SuperBeaverInc.]

I build an army, as I prefer to be a war-mongerer, not a builder.

 

[blackhalo15]

I build the FP in one of my core cities, so I don't really need to rush it. I just wait until the FP is finished and then rush a new palace, far, far away. If I get anymore after that, then it will depend. I will rush a wonder; but only if I didn't start building it first. If not, then I will build an army, and use it if at war, and save it if not.

 

[KaNick]

Pre C3C FP or Wonder. C3C army all the way, I love armies now.

 

[Horizon]

Personnally , the first Great Leader i will have will always be used to create an army , as it will open the Academy and Heroic Epic possibilities.

Then if a second Great Leader appears after this during the game, then i will try to rush a wonder/palace with him.

I keep that stance since i have not encoutered the creation of a Great Leader very often in my games.
So i prefer to not lose the opportunity to have access to the Academy and the Heroic Epic, as i am not sure to find another Great Leader if i use the first one to rush a building.

 

[wh00ps]

Originally posted by King Kruhl
I usualy build an army with my first one. Thaat way I can build the Epic and the Academy. My only problem is that once I have built those two things I can never seem to build armies with out leaders. What am I doing wrong?

Armies can only be constructed in the city that has the academy. So build it in a city with high production, as armies cost 400 shields.

 

[WarLust]

I always build an army so that I can build the Heroic Epic and Military Academy.

 

[Turner]

If I'm not in the race for a wonder, I build an army. So it's usually build army. This frees up my future leaders for wonders.

But then, I play C3C now, and military GL's don't rush wonders.

 

[Illusion13]

Rush a great wonder

 

[Capt Buttkick]

C3C so army building 4 me 2.

 

[grishnak]

I am a warmonger who plays PTW. So I can count on getting more leaders later. Since I dont think armies are that terribly important, I usually use the first one on FP or some badly needed wonder.

 

[Carthage!!!]

I almost always turn him into an army because by the time I get him I'm usually embroiled in intermittent conflict with two or three other empires, and any armies I can muster will come in handy as a sure fire coup de grace during a siege.

 

[SinisterDeath]

Originally posted by grishnak
I am a warmonger who plays PTW. So I can count on getting more leaders later. Since I dont think armies are that terribly important, I usually use the first one on FP or some badly needed wonder.

That's what I do with my first one as well. I'd prefer not to build an army, because when I get a leader, there is usually a much needed wonder he can rush, or a FP near enemy territoty surrounded by size 10 + cities. To me, getting full production out of those cities is worth more than an army and a 1/12 chance instead of a 1/16 chance of a GL.