A builder strategy is, in fact, still possible under v1.17, but only on the lower difficulty levels (all except Emperor and Deity). I have used it successfully in two games, one on Regent and one on Monarch.
A successful builder strategy depends on having lots of cash for rush building (I never pop rush). How do you accumulate lots of cash when the popular tech-whoring strat no longer works?
1) Have maximum tax for discovery in 40 turns (90% or 100% with one scientist in a city). This gives a good steady income, but is not nearly enough.
2) Make contact with everybody. Being expansionist helps. Knowing all civs means you get full advantage of tech devaluation.
3) Head for writing as soon as possible. Establish embassies with everyone immediately. Sign ROPs with everybody - the AI will pay you very nice amounts for it. You´ll only get lump sum so remember to renew every 20 turns.
4) Found cities close the neighbors (2 tiles in between). This is needed for successfully make the neighboring cities defect.
5) Make every effort to get control over all kinds of resources. The AI still pays huge amounts for resources it needs (especially Iron).
6) Buy enemy workers always when you get the chance. Build a harbor and roads to all your neighbors as soon as possible.
7) Don´t buy techs before everyone else has it. Waiting 2 turns to be the last one to buy a tech instead of the first can easily save you 500 gold.
8) After writing, head for Monarchy. With all your gold, start rushning temples and libraries. At this stage the AI has usually no buildings in his cities, and soon the neighboring cities will start to defect to you.
9) Don´t ever declare war on anybody. This screws all your chances of getting money out of ROPs. You´ll get into a war sooner or later anyway (never forget to have a strong and up to date army).
10) Head for democracy. At this stage you can usually start to research techs, too. Sell techs to AIs who can afford to pay much for it. Always try to keep the AI poor, so that they can´t rush their own improvements.
A successful builder strategy depends on having lots of cash for rush building (I never pop rush). How do you accumulate lots of cash when the popular tech-whoring strat no longer works?
1) Have maximum tax for discovery in 40 turns (90% or 100% with one scientist in a city). This gives a good steady income, but is not nearly enough.
2) Make contact with everybody. Being expansionist helps. Knowing all civs means you get full advantage of tech devaluation.
3) Head for writing as soon as possible. Establish embassies with everyone immediately. Sign ROPs with everybody - the AI will pay you very nice amounts for it. You´ll only get lump sum so remember to renew every 20 turns.
4) Found cities close the neighbors (2 tiles in between). This is needed for successfully make the neighboring cities defect.
5) Make every effort to get control over all kinds of resources. The AI still pays huge amounts for resources it needs (especially Iron).
6) Buy enemy workers always when you get the chance. Build a harbor and roads to all your neighbors as soon as possible.
7) Don´t buy techs before everyone else has it. Waiting 2 turns to be the last one to buy a tech instead of the first can easily save you 500 gold.
8) After writing, head for Monarchy. With all your gold, start rushning temples and libraries. At this stage the AI has usually no buildings in his cities, and soon the neighboring cities will start to defect to you.
9) Don´t ever declare war on anybody. This screws all your chances of getting money out of ROPs. You´ll get into a war sooner or later anyway (never forget to have a strong and up to date army).
10) Head for democracy. At this stage you can usually start to research techs, too. Sell techs to AIs who can afford to pay much for it. Always try to keep the AI poor, so that they can´t rush their own improvements.
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