Wonders of the new age

[ravensfire]

As we enter the Middle Ages, some of the most critical wonders of the game become available. We need to start planning for them now.

Sistine Chapel
It's already been suggested that we bee-line for Education to neutralize the Great Library of Germany. I'm all for that idea, as the tech before Education is Theology, requirement for the Sistine Chapel. This wonder doubles the effect of Cathedrals, producing 6 content faces instead of a mere three. It also provides 6 culture per turn, at a cost of 600 shields.

Sun Tzu's Academy
One of the initial techs of the Middle Ages is Fuedalism. The bring Sun Tzu's Academy into play. It builds a barracks in all of our cities on our continent. It provides 2 culture per turn at a cost of 600 shields.

Leonardo's Workshop
Invention gives us both Longbowmen, and Leo's Workshop. This will cut the upgrade cost of any of our units in half. It brings in 2 culture per turn, and again costs 600 shields.

J S Bach's Cathedral
This masterpiece of construction provides a perfect harmony of music and faith. The result is 2 happy citizens per city on our continent. It requires the tech Music Theory (an optional tech), provides 6 culture per turn and costs 600 shields.

Three decisions need to be made. The first is should we work towards any wonder. The second is which ones. The third is where.

The position of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is that we should focus on constructing the Sistine Chapel as our first priority. The benefits of this wonder are massive - 6 citizens content in every city with a cathedral is massive. Combined with good trading to ensure luxuries and this may ensure our luxury tax is kept at 0.

It does require cathedrals to be built. These are also considered critical by the MIA. They provide both content citizens and a nice culture boost , 3 per turn. We need both of them!

The next problem is where to build the Sistine Chapel. The city with the best potential for building a wonder is our capital, Deux Rivières. Being the capital, we cannot use the palace as a pre-build. This limits our ability to plan ahead for the future. 600 shields is a lot, and I don't want to see the AI cascade to this wonder if at all possible.

The next highest produce is Vandalay. It's current task of worker/settler factory is critical - we would prefer not to see that change, at least for now.

After than, both St. Octaviansburg and Groton have good potential. Groten may also be a good site for an FP. With Germany, Babylon and Russia on that side of the Continent - having an FP there will help the war effort in the long-run. But that's another story.

So we ask you, dear citizens of Fanatica, what are you thoughts on this matter?

What wonders do you consider key in the early middle ages, and why?

What order should we build them in?

Where should we build them - looking ahead to guage the future ability of the cities.

Thanks!
-- Ravensfire, Minister of Internal Affairs

 

[truckingpete]

Sun Tzu's Academy

Leonardo's Workshop


We will needs these in wars. For the first one, we wouldn't have to build a barracks in every city. For the second one, so we can upgrade units a lot cheaper...

 

[conehead234]

Yea Sun Tzu's Academy and Leonardo's Workshop
what victory condition are we going for?

 

[Krabius]

1. It will all depend are we going to be very millitaristic or not
2. Will we have a long war with Egyptians and Babylon's

If yes then we surely need to build Sun Tzu's Academy and Leonardo's Workshop but if we will play a less agressive game towards our neighbours then Sistine Chapel is the best.


-- Krabius, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs

 

[tao]

As said above, it depends how we want to play. Being peaceful, we have no need for Sun Tzu's. But are we content with the size of Fanatica? Don't we want to have new provinces? If we are going to expand by force, Sun Tzu's would be immensely valuable. Having barracks in newly-captured cities to heal the wounded forces is a great advantage. And if our elite troups heal fast, they can attack again fast increasing the chance for Great Leaders to build more Great Wonders.

Sistine is nice, if the cities are big enough. OTOH cities this big have markets. And one more luxury then gives 3 or 4 happy faces. Without the cost of a cathedral. I rarely build cathedrals in the Middle Ages. It is better to build universities which have more culture and speed research. The techs can be used to trade for luxuries giving the happiness. And Sistine can be captured, even if it is on another continent.

Leonardo's is nice to have because it lowers upgrade cost. But it is not essential. And it can be captured, even if it is on another continent.

Bach's Cathedral is useful, because it works its happiness in all cities (on the same continent). I would prefer it over Sistine. And it has to be on our continent.

The obvious problem we have is our lack of planning. There are Great Wall builds we know of, and they will cascade to Oracle and Sun Tzu's. And before Sun Tzu's is done, most likely Sistine and Leonardo's will be available for further cascading. And we don't know what happens overseas.

Deux Riviers would easily be in a position to claim any of the wonders, IF we would have managed it correctly. I.e. having a granary and doing a pop 7-5 settler schedule. Alas: it wasn't done. Nonetheless I would switch to granary now and hurry it once we are in republic. If we keep the AIs in despotism some more turns, or let them switch first to monarchy and then again to republic, we will have a good chance to claim a wonder.