What to do When You Get No Iron

[Sainhann]

In my current game as Rome I am having a minor problem.

I have four cities which cover a nice size area but the closest Iron sources are nearly 10 or so spaces from my border.

One is within the borders of Napoleon's land and the other is right next to a City State.

I did get some Iron from Greece so was able to upgrade my one Warrior unit.

Also I have been beaten to two Wonders already with the Great Library being one of them. All and all this game went from being fairly okay to seeing that Alex way up in to the north as the major player. He is already has around 7 cites if not more and expanding quite quickly.

So I have determined that good old Napoleon will need to go so have massed my small army, 2 x Spearmen & 2 x Upgraded Scouts along with a Chariot Archer just outside his border.

Next turn they will march up to the border. Because I need Iron.

 

[KrikkitTwo]

The City State Might be better.... especially because you can just Ally with them.

 

[Show]

Depends on difficulty settings.

that a city is far away is not a big deal in civ 5, there is no penalty for distance, nor do you need to make roads to use strategic resources, and cities rarelly ever work every single tile in their 3 tile radius, it doesn't matter if your next to another city, just buy the tile.

Maybe look for some horses, horsemen are pretty dominant early game. And don't underestimate catapults/archers. Don't get stuck on the idea that you absolutely need iron, that's a mistake, always adapt. Iron will come in time.

Also you didn't mention your victory conditions, it's important to work on it from day 1 in civ 5 more than ever.

 

[Sylterix]

Maybe look for some horses, horsemen are pretty dominant early game. And don't underestimate catapults/archers.

Catapults require iron.

I'd just ally or conquer the city state for iron.

 

[Show]

Catapults require iron.

I'd just ally or conquer the city state for iron.

Ya but he said himself he had some iron that he used on his melee UU, horsemen with ranged backup are death for any AI, the roman melee UU is not that great really unless you can have many, especially sicne their other UU is nearly as strong as it's upgraded version.

 

[Novem]

First I usually cry Then I look around for alternatives.

Which source has more iron in it? I'd go for that one of course.

You can also work around having no iron. How's your supply of horses? I guess it all comes down to your strategy.

 

[Ahriman]

What to do When You Get No Iron

Horseman pwnage.

 

[Castar]

Indeed, I was in a very similar situation in my second game, also with Rome. I never saw a Legionaire, but the Ottomans quickly learned to fear The Glory Of The Roman Horselords.

 

[Draknith]

This is interesting, because in my first game as America I had no problem ruling the world. Granted I did use the horseman advantage to knock out my first opponent. However, I have tried 5 seperate Rome games, and none of them gave me access to iron early. kinda frustrating considering there literaly iron everywhere on Earth! Oh well, guess I'll have to see what Legions are like after I develop gunpowder... ha-ha.

 

[delra]

City state allies are the best source.

 

[Grunthex]

Nuclear weapons don't require iron.

 

[delra]

Still, should Rome get a bias to start near Iron? Their whole country's flavour is based on it.

 

[EEE_BOY]

You should not even try wonder as roman. Beeline iron working and conquer the world with two or three cities. Or save 500 or 750 cash to buy that city state alliance

 

[Sainhann]

First I usually cry Then I look around for alternatives.

Which source has more iron in it? I'd go for that one of course.

You can also work around having no iron. How's your supply of horses? I guess it all comes down to your strategy.

Horses are no problem since I put my 2nd city next to two and my 3rd city next to four.

As for the City State I am a tad cash poor right now due to some Research agreements. So getting to be an Ally with them is out of the question right at the moment.

I can build the Ballista's so maybe that is why Rome does not get any Iron place next to its Cities.

I have two of my cities building Renaissance Wonders so just might need to do with my small army against Napoleon.

He looks like he only has Paris and a small army. I have only seen 1 warrior unit and 1 archer unit so far plus he might have another unit in the city.

 

[civvver]

Crossbows do a decent job bombarding cities.