What to do after an early war ?

[Detektyw]

Hi! I'm interested in what to do after winning an early war (in the BCs). While I'm able to win such a war without any problems, I start experiencing difficulties like 20-25 turns afterwards. Not like my economy is off the track by much because of the war, I just don't know what do to next. Usually I find myself in a situation like this:

Year: ~1000 BC
Cities: Capital, second one (settled to grab the strategic resource)
Techs: The Wheel, Mining, Bronze Working, Agriculture, possibly some others, and

completely no idea about future progress. I of course understand that further actions depend on so many factors, like neighbors (targets) and resources I have hooked up. As I'm quite sure that my starting strategy is not so bad,
I just don't know how to move on and continue claiming the continent for me.

Any advice is welcome.

 

[Sisiutil]

What you want to do are select some specific goals for the next several dozen turns that will help you achieve your victory condition.

If you're going to conquest or domination, for example, you'll want to prepare for your next war. This usually involves pursuing a tech (such as Construction or Engineering) which will give you a weapon (Catapults or Trebuchets) to help you in that war.

If you're pursuing a more peaceful victory, you might now focus on other goals. For example, if you want to pursue a cultural victory, you might consider going after the Sistine Chapel at this point, along with Drama and Music. If it's a space race win you're after, the Great Library and Liberalism are worthwhile goals. If it's a diplomatic win, you'll want to focus on foreign relations, especially through the manipulation of religion.

It may seem early to select a victory condition, but it really gives you focus. Just as important as having it tell you what to do, it also helps eliminate other pursuits that are irrelevant to your goal.

 

[Detektyw]

That indeed makes sense, I read majority (not all though) of your ALCs, and while I should've noticed that you always set a goal for both the game and several next turns, I haven't. Thanks for your advice, I think it's gonna improve quality of my gaming.

And BTW: I'm waiting for the next ALC .

 

[JavalTigar]

As Sisiutil has pointed out having both short and long term goals are important.

I guess I should ask for the game stats: Speed, Map Type & Size, Difficulty, Civ & leader. They would also help make some of your next choices.

However, I would question your apparent lack of cities at 1000 B.C.

If you didn't take any of the cities from the AI in your war then settler production should be your first short term goal.

By 1A.D. you need at least 6 good cities (min) just so no matter which direction your headed, you have the production power to do it.

 

[xanadux]

If you don't know what else to do ...

1. develop your economy ... research key economic techs like CS, currency, PP

2. develop your production/military ... get Metal Casting, Engineering, Guilds, Chemistry, Steam Power and techs that give key military units.

3. expand your empire to increase 1 & 2