Archipelago world?

[MrPhil]

Hi all!

Has anyone here played on an Archipelago world, yet? I am interested in starting one and I am curious what anyone experiences have been.

Thanks!

[Enigma_Nova]

No. Mysteriously enough, in the past months since Civ 4 has been released, none of us have dared play on anything other than Continents and Pangaea.


I like Archipelago maps, makes colonising new islands and setting up logistics more important. Make 3 workboats for scouting, try to circumnavigate the globe, find where the strategic resources are and go fetch.

Though it's annoying that they've removed the city gift exploit - I can no longer find 2 sources of stone far away and gift 2 cities to someone who would then trade the stone with me. >=(

[CBR1100]

I play all my games on archipeligo. It's a different kind of challenge sorting out all the logistics but the plus point is it's just as hard for the AI. I have to say I was very impressed with the way the AI mounts assaults. I've had 4 or 5 gallions escorted by 3 or 4 frigets turn up on my shores stacked to the gunnels with various units. If you think about it that's a cleaver piece of programming. The AI has to construct the fleet, collect all the units form around it's own islands and dump them all on your shores to mount an assault.
The good bit is you don't get the mass assaults to re-take a city coz there's probably only a few on the island and it takes the AI a while to mount a counter attack (by which time you can usually negotiate a peace).

Try playing with low sea levels coz then you get a lot of good sized islands instead of hundreds of small ones. I'm playing a game at Emperor level now and it's working out ok because even if I'm well behind in the tech race (the AI gets a jump start on Cheiftan I think) I'm reasonably safe for a while till I cach up coz they need gallions to mount a proper assault.

[chequita guevara]

I love tiny islands and snakey continents.

[Leo-T]

I like playing on huge archipelagos.

One tip: Keep a force loaded on galleons within easy reach of cities spread over a few small islands. These can react to invasions. I have 2 or 3 galleons with the speed improvements loaded with cavalry &/or machine gunners. If I get invaded, the nearest load of troops moves into the city itself if possible or lands close enough to move in. This really helps hold your cities without having to build tons of units on every little 1 or 2 (or 3) -city island. If there's a central city within one turns's movement of the others, the loaded galleons can be kept in the central city.

[MrPhil]

Wow, thanks guys for all the replies.

You have convinced me to try out an Archipelago world! I just have to finish the Continent game I am playing now.....then I am off!

[MrPhil]

Originally posted by Leo-T
I like playing on huge archipelagos.

One tip: Keep a force loaded on galleons within easy reach of cities spread over a few small islands. These can react to invasions. I have 2 or 3 galleons with the speed improvements loaded with cavalry &/or machine gunners. If I get invaded, the nearest load of troops moves into the city itself if possible or lands close enough to move in. This really helps hold your cities without having to build tons of units on every little 1 or 2 (or 3) -city island. If there's a central city within one turns's movement of the others, the loaded galleons can be kept in the central city.

Leo, what are the speed improvements you mentioned for your galleons?

[GeoModder]

At a guess, I would think the Navigation I and II promotions, or else the +1 move/turn benefit from being the first to circumnavigate the world.

[MrPhil]

Originally posted by GeoModder
At a guess, I would think the Navigation I and II promotions, or else the +1 move/turn benefit from being the first to circumnavigate the world.

Yeah, that would make sense. Thanks for the info, I am still trying to learn all the little details.....

[Lord Avalon]

Originally posted by GeoModder
At a guess, I would think the Navigation I and II promotions, or else the +1 move/turn benefit from being the first to circumnavigate the world.

Getting to Caravel is pretty important, so you can build a couple and send them out in opposite directions in order to cut down the time to circumnavigate. I use Caravel #3 & later for carrying Explorers.

Then get to Astronomy for Galleons.

Kind of weird, but the withdraw promotion (Flanking?) leads to Nav I (so you'll need more than just drydock so you get two promotions). And there's some later tech that also gives +1 naval move (at work, don't remember which one).

[Leo-T]

Yup, all of the above when possible. I try to circumnavigate as soon as possible - two ships headed in opposite directions plus map trading. The Navigation promotions for naval units each add +1 to the unit's speed. I also try for the Great Lighthouse, etc. On an archipelago map, maneuverability & speed become a LOT more important.

[LzPrst]

refrigeration also gives +1 iirc