What is better Early Game? Growth, Commerce, Production, or Balanced Approach?

[MosheLevi]

I would like to know if there is a consensus for the best early start approach.

Emphasizing on farms promoting growth obviously pays off later on as cities grow fast and commerce/production picks up.
However, is that really the best approach for the first few cities or does it cause some problems?

Is there an optimal approach?

This question is based on the assumption that there are no wars in early game.

 

[Mesodius]

Well, I hate to have to say it, but my answer will have to be- too many variables. What you do specifically is largely going to depend on map size, # and proximity (and makeup) of rivals, start location, etc. You usually can't assume there won't be wars early in the game. I guess at first I try to expand and explore as quickly as possible while not becoming so weak that rivals see me as a juicy target. Then when my initial expansion is done, I develop my cities more and decide my next course of action. If there is an opportunity for an early rush I may even slow/halt expansion to deal with that ASAP before resuming. I don't really emphasize any one thing in all of my cities, because you want to specialize them according to your needs (GP farm, production, etc). Granaries are good for growing your cities faster, barracks in your military production cities, etc.

I don;t know, maybe one of the forum gurus has some sort of infallible strat that can be used every time, but for me it's a matter of variables and adaptation to the situation.

 

[Joshua368]

You won't be able to get hammers or commerce without food. Food comes first.

That doesn't so much mean farming everything though, in the early game just getting the food resources improved should be enough to support your city. Have enough food to reach your happy cap so you can work hammer/commerce tiles, or are able to whip.

 

[MosheLevi]

True, however more farms means faster growth which translates to more population faster, which translates to faster production and more commerce later on.

Mines are no brainer since we have to build them on hills until we can build wind mills.

But for normal tiles we can pretty much choose any of the basic improvements (farms, cottage, or workshop).


So what should be the ratio between farms, cottages and workshops in early game (first 100-150 turns) in order to achieve maximum growth/progress (assuming peace is at hand)?

 

[Lemon Merchant]

So what should be the ratio between farms, cottages and workshops in early game (first 100-150 turns) in order to achieve maximum growth/progress (assuming peace is at hand)?

I usually wind up not being able to build workshops until far after turn 150, but I usually play epic speed.

What I do is to first emphasize food production. Farms first, and I tend to sprinkle a few cottages here and there. I always cottage floodplains if I have any. I seem to be atypical, though, because it seems that others here use many more cottages than I do. I save a few tiles (hopefully forested ones) to later place workshops and watermills once they are available. It's a bonus if they're forested, as I can use them to chop needed buildings or a necessary (???) wonder and put down the workshop at the same time.

This strategy works for me, and by mid game I usually have a very strong economy and pretty good production, even without a shrine or State Property. But as Mesodius said, it also depends on your map and neighbors, and the resources nearby. There are many variables to consider and my approach does not work on all maps, or on levels higher than Noble. (Not yet, anyway.)

I wouldn't worry so much about ratios and things. Develop a strategy that makes you comfortable with how the game is going and your playstyle. Try a few different things. That's what makes the game so much fun IMHO.

Just my $.02

 

[devilhunterred]

I tend to get rushed by AI frequently when I aim for empire expansion. My cities are just too inadequately defended when most of my cities are building either workers or settlers.

I have since switched my early game to cities developing and B.C era rush neighbour. That is, developing my 3 or 4 core cities, non-stop pumping military units from my production city(ies) and rush a neighbour to gain land and extra cities before A.D. I found several advantages with this strategy. First of all I don't have to spend hammers on the costly settlers myself, my neighbour(s) simply do all the work for me and i just take them over when their cities are nicely established. Second, by producing military via a 24/7 assembly line, it's gurranteed that I have one of the largest and most powerful armies in the game and I am never attacked. But there is one drawback, it's almost essential to have the Great Wall of China wonder for this game opening, or else it's very difficult to produce enough military units to counter against the barbarian pillaging and engaging in a war simultaneously. Without the Great Wall you will often find yourself over-producing military and delaying your core cities' development.

BTW, I play on Prince. Not sure how this opening will work on harder difficulties.

 

[TheMeInTeam]

Growth and enough commerce to stay out of strike. The more cities you have, the higher your potential and the less cities the AIs get.