Zulu bulld Impi strategy?

[Jacozilla]

First run at trying out Zulu civ. just got Impi and the 3 move is great UU ability.

I read they upgrade to Rifleman, which is nice instead of the so-so lancer path, and keep their move and other 'buffalo' attributes.

Question - after I tech up to Rifleman, my former Impi units are all that I have left right? New Rifleman I create in Industrial era are just normal 2-move I assume.

So is the strategy to crank out as many Impi I can afford while I can, before Industrial era hits and removes my ability to create 3-move infantry?

(E.g. Wth other civs I tend to make the minimal units needed for self defense at the level of play, usually Emperor, while I focus on getting good early science and city base. With the Zulu, maybe delay some buildings while cranking out Impi to be saved up for later upgrade to uber-infantry?)

 

[anthropophage]

cranking out Impi to be saved up for later upgrade to uber-infantry?)

Like that except instead of cranking them out to upgrade later, crank them out to take over the world.

 

[renton555]

Do the impi buffalo upgrades even remain once you upgrade them to rifle? I would think no since the buffalo stuff applies to "pre gunpowder melee."

 

[Jacozilla]

Do the impi buffalo upgrades even remain once you upgrade them to rifle? I would think no since the buffalo stuff applies to "pre gunpowder melee."

Yes, they do. All except the original spear throw before melee thing. They lose that on upgrade from Impi to rifleman, but I'm now up to modern era in my first Zulu game and my former-Impi horde of Great War infantry all still have the horn, loin, and chest buffs.

Plus the 3 move buff which I really think is the best part.

 

[livsbrand]

Yes, they do. All except the original spear throw before melee thing. They lose that on upgrade from Impi to rifleman, but I'm now up to modern era in my first Zulu game and my former-Impi horde of Great War infantry all still have the horn, loin, and chest buffs.

Plus the 3 move buff which I really think is the best part.

Isn't the extra movement point one of the buffalo promos?

 

[budweiser]

Buffalo? As in Buffalo soldiers? LOL

 

[Seven05]

The best part about the Zulu is the unique promotion set unlocked with their barracks, that is what you want and you don't need to build Impi to get it. Add that on top of 50% maintenance and 25% less xp needed and you have one of the most potent classical rush civs in the game, if you wait for Impi you miss out on a lot of conquest opportunity.

 

[kikai93]

if you wait for Impi you miss out on a lot of conquest opportunity.

This. You can take an entire enemy Civ with Spearmen and a couple of catapults, then Upgrade to Impi and Trebuchets and complete the conquest of your continent if you play it correctly. If tech gets much beyond Riflemen on Large maps and below, you're doing it wrong.