After struggling with the Monarch level game for a long time, I've finally figured out what I've been doing wrong. I started out concentrating on hammers and food. Cottages were an afterthought. I got very frustrated because I just couldn't keep up with the AI civs. I'd fall behind in both military and techs.
As it turns out, it's all about the COTTAGES! I've started two test games as Catherine and, though I've had less than ideal starting positions, I've quickly surged ahead of the AI civs in tech by staying ahead of them on key techs and trading to backfill. It's not that I don't build mines or farms. You still need growth and production, but I concentrate on the cottages. For example, I used to irrigate flood plains, but I now build cottages on them. If I have several, I might farm one of them.
I just wanted to share my experience in case there are others who have been struggling, and I want to thank everyone who has given me suggestions on other threads. A comment by Vel, in particular, got it through my thick head.
As it turns out, it's all about the COTTAGES! I've started two test games as Catherine and, though I've had less than ideal starting positions, I've quickly surged ahead of the AI civs in tech by staying ahead of them on key techs and trading to backfill. It's not that I don't build mines or farms. You still need growth and production, but I concentrate on the cottages. For example, I used to irrigate flood plains, but I now build cottages on them. If I have several, I might farm one of them.
I just wanted to share my experience in case there are others who have been struggling, and I want to thank everyone who has given me suggestions on other threads. A comment by Vel, in particular, got it through my thick head.
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