The Pyramids

[Dactyl]

There has been some discussion as to whether or not the Pyramids are overpowered, and I would have to say that they are. I've been playing a good bit on the Monarch level, and I have to say that the Pyramids seem to be the difference between struggling to hang with the AI on tech and dominating them. Basically I turn almost all of my GP's into super specialists and those extra three beakers that Representation gives you make all the difference in the world.

So important are the Pyramids that I have abandoned building a worker first in favor of a settler. That way I can save all of my trees for chopping in order to get the Pyramids instead of wasting them on a settler. I may fall a little behind in expansion that way, but it's worth it.

[Firecrak]

One way of playing it I guess. I haven't dabbled above Prince yet, but I wouldn't say they are a NECESSITY, yet. The extra happy faces however, are golden until you have drama+music under your belt.

[Mylon]

I always liked universal sufferage myself. Cottage spam = big economy, and universal sufferage keeps industry from suffering too much.

[solo]

I agree that the Pyramids are well worth going for. In several OCC games at Monarch, I have had no problem building them first, since the AI usually spend the early prt of the game building workers and settlers for new cities. Even in Non-OCC games, I suspect that an Industrious Civ would be able to build the Pyramids quickly enough.

Having all of the Government Civics available so early in the game is enough to make them worthwhile. The extra 3 happy citizens you can get with early Representation makes them even better, and well worth going for at the higher difficulty levels.

[TheZvi]

The Pyramids are one of those wonders that you get if you want them badly enough and don't push your luck - you certainly don't need to save every tree in sight to rush-chop them. Even if you did, there's no guarentee that your captiol is the best place to do that. If I worried about the Pyramids I would worker first to get big enough fast enough to start building/chopping them faster.

But yes, they're horribly overpowered and I found the same thing: On a normal start the Pyramids let you coast, but if you miss them you have a struggle in front of you. Representation is made for the opening.

[solo]

Oh, another nice thing about the Pyramids is that they will increase the odds of your first Great Person being an Engineer, who may be in time to rush another useful early wonder.

[Kc7mxo]

i think this more reflects that the other governments aren't nearly as good as representation in the early game.

they should do some work on hereditary rule to improve it in my opinion. Right now its only a "better than nothing" option.

[baboon]

Originally posted by Kc7mxo
i think this more reflects that the other governments aren't nearly as good as representation in the early game.

they should do some work on hereditary rule to improve it in my opinion. Right now its only a "better than nothing" option.

Good point. And Representation is that good because '5 largest cities' means all all your cities usually, once you finished the Pyramids.

A little tweaking of the civics is all the Pyramids need.

[Diadem]

Pyramids are very good indeed. Switch to representation as soon as you finish them. Then later once your cottages start turning into towns get universal suffrage. Great combo. Getting pottery early to be able to build cottages is almost always worth it. Maps with lots of water are the exception. Your coast squares will give enough trade then, and you need the land tiles for production or food.


What's an OCC game though?

[Diadem]

And the civics need tweaking imho.

There are many civics I never use. For many early civics the switching is just not worth the upkeep and the 1 turn of anarchy. And for some later civics, there are just better ones to pick from.

[solo]

OCC stands for One City Challenge, a game where the human player is allowed to have only one city. This was a popular way to play in Civ II, and it was nice to see it incorporated as a game option in Civ IV. Traditionally, OCC has been a Space Race game, the object being to complete a space ship as early as possible. This is more of a real challenge at Monarch and above in Civ IV.

I agree that Universal Suffrage is very useful, too. I like to switch to it in OCC immediately after the Globe Theater is finished. Later on in my OCC games, many city improvements are rushed if I have enough gold.

[Enigma_Nova]

I'll usually only build the Pyramids early if I have some Stone nearby.
I much prefer the Great Lighthouse + Harbor combo, and the Oracle to snag Feudalism or Civil Service.
Representation is powerful, but not always -as- powerful.

I suppose my main flaw is building the Pyramids in the same spot where I build Stonehenge, so my insta-wonder is instead just +2 Hammers and +5 Gold.

[cal_01]

Originally posted by Diadem
And the civics need tweaking imho.

There are many civics I never use. For many early civics the switching is just not worth the upkeep and the 1 turn of anarchy. And for some later civics, there are just better ones to pick from.

I definitely agree here. I never use Police State or Environmentalism, simply because the alternatives are much better.

[Diadem]

Police State I agree. But why do you call environmentalism worthless? What could be better than +6 health. That's a major boost to your cities. Admittedly State Property is also nice, but only if you have lots of wind- and watermills.

[Drachasor]

Originally posted by Diadem
Police State I agree. But why do you call environmentalism worthless? What could be better than +6 health. That's a major boost to your cities. Admittedly State Property is also nice, but only if you have lots of wind- and watermills.

Just go get Genetics for a +3 health bonus to all of your cities. Almost all the time that's sufficient at that point in the game (you'll likely have hospitals, aquaducts, and grocers in your big cities).

Free Market is generally the best economic choice. It always gives me a load of money and almost always beats Mercantilism + Representation for science output to boot.

-Drachasor