Working on my first Sid-level game...

[lucky duck]

I think I'm about toast...

Playing as the Iroquois on a standard archipelago with 7 rivals, Russia has eliminated 3 rivals and now controls 50% of the land and population. I have about 25% of the population. The remaining other three computer players are backwards and completely dependent on me for technology and luxuries. My plan was to win via UN election.

I just entered the Industrial Age, only to find that Russia is building the Theory of Evolution. Goody! My plan is to research Nationalism, gift the Babylonians into the IA then trade them for their free tech, then research Industrialization and Espionage.

Russia has declared war on me a few times in the past, triggering my GA in the late MA and using it to build JS Bach and Smith's. Catherine sent her fleet of 50 or so frigates to relentlessly bombard my naval cities, so I'm stuck rebuilding a few marketplaces & libraries.

Now Catherine is going after the Celts, who are supplying me with two luxuries.

Should I just give up now?


P.S. Are all the tribes Seafaring on Sid? What other tricks do they have up their sleeve? Any tips for Sid-level play?

On trades:
It seems practically impossible to trade techs with the runaway AI because of the exorbitant price they charge. The only tech I traded with Russia was Economics, Music Theory and 700 gold for Theory of Gravity. Sheesh!

 

[Aabraxan]

Well, I can't help you on a Sid-level game, I'm afraid. Out of my league.

With that said, welcome to CFC! Hopefully someone who can help you with your game will be along soon.

 

[vmxa]

"lucky duck"

First no point in giving up as you will not learn anything form that. May as well play out till they win or you win.

I have not looked at the save as it has been 4 days and it was your first post. That often means you will not be back. If it turns out you are still interested and post again, I will load it up.

My first thought is how come you know so many nations so soon? Were you quite close to a continent? Island maps tend to be played with a lots of water and that frequently means most nations will not be coming out to search until at least Astro, often they need Nav/Mag.

I like to win Sid games by conquest, so no way will I be trading techs to weak sisters. I want to invade them and I want someone to DOW and send over invasion troops for me to leader fish. Note when I say no way, I do not mean a nation that is far away and will not be a target for a couple of ages.

Once a Sid AI get as big as you say, you will probably be toast. You will have to face nukes or a loss to UN/Culture.

You have to get out and get some of those island from the weak guys or they may be added to the big dogs empire.

Note these are generalities and no need to point out all the other possible avenues, just point out your methods, if you have any.

UN will be build by Russia as you are too far back and they pay 40 shields for every 100 required. IOW a 600 wonder for you cost them 240. That is not much for an AI that gets factories and plants at less than half price.

So if Russia makes the UN, there will not be a vote, unless they figure to win it. To that end, no need to feed stuff to the weak sisters, unless they make it worth your trouble. That means goodwill is worth nothing,

When I get a weak nation to DOW, I do not make peace till they are dead. If I cannot invade, I can get leader fishing chances. Exception, they want to pay enough to make it work.

I would not trade Nat to someone, in fact I would not research it. It is an optional tech and I cannot waste the time. Again there are exceptions. My target is to get infantry, not rifles. Artillery and faster workers is good as well.

No reason for me to trade stronger defenders, unless they do not need them and will pay. IOW, if I know Nat and they know Inf, I will trade, why not? Yeah they can now draft, but that is cannon fodder go ahead.

Of course I am not a fan of trading or gifting a Sid nation into the next age. First you do not know they will trade you whatever they get, second they will pass me and be harder to kill.

Espionage is another optional tech, nice, however I need to evaluate what is going. I am either doing well and can go this route as I am not researching or I am doing really well and I am researching and I have to pass it up. If researching, I do not have the cash for steals anyway.

I am not clear why Russia declaring on you forced a GA. I mean I understand you used the MW, but did you really have to at that point? It would be a bad break to have them landing large parties while you are still without even a sword or MDI.

A stack of cats and some archers should even work that early. I will presume you had no choice. What you were in the late MA? Not sure why you would want to build Smiths or research another optional tech on an island?

Banks are not the ticket to kill nations and at a time when you have not all that many towns that could use one. You are still on the island right?

Dealing with bombardment is best done with empty towns or stick in enough units to absorb all the hits. If 10 frigates are pounding a given town, put in 10 of your cheapest units. That is, if the town has structures you care about. If empty, let them have fun.

So dance until you can force them to stop. Use trebs to hit the boats when you can and make them go home to heal. Its Sid, so you have to learn to grind.

When you knew you have a unfriendly neighbor or probably would have, do not pump up some of those coastal towns.

"Now Catherine is going after the Celts, who are supplying me with two luxuries."

That would not have been the case, if you took the Celts down long ago.

"P.S. Are all the tribes Seafaring on Sid? What other tricks do they have up their sleeve?"

Most will select the nations to not allow any seafaring tribes in the game for island maps. You do not want to run into Byz at the start of an island game.

"It seems practically impossible to trade techs with the runaway AI because of the exorbitant price they charge. The only tech I traded with Russia was Economics, Music Theory and 700 gold for Theory of Gravity."

I doubt it is a Sid specific trait. Lets consider:

Music- 2400
Econ- 3360
ToG-4080

The price for Music and Econ would be lower, if others knew them. ToG is required tech and comes with a wonder. This makes it more valuable. The others have a wonder, but are optional.

I would say they asked full price, but in reality it cost you little. You have the wonders for the two you traded. You gained a tech that helps get to the next age.