First City Strategy

[Rasputin]

[rah]

yeah funny. I always have problems with that one.
But I must have typed it in right for the search or this thread wouldn't have popped.

On mountain cities. Two week ago, I took two of them that had been placed near my capital. Vet cats against non-vet phalanx is pretty straight up. But you're right, you have to judge if they're worth taking. I usually only bother if they're in a location that is going to cause me trouble, (like two squares from my cap) or if someone dropped on a gold that I was working. The earlier you go after those cities, the better. If you let them get to size two, it's much harder. And if you're going to try, make sure you have enough.

[-Jrabbit]

first city? I usually look for trade specials, and am willing to wander a bit. In MP, I also place a high value on defense for my capital, so I generally avoid grassland/plains. In Rah Rules, gold, wine, silk (esp on river!) are best, but I usually end up on a forest or river river near a whale. In one-night-stand games, it's clearly best to settle directly on the special.

I get nervous if it gets to 3800 with nothing. (Cuz I'm pretty much a noob and usually behind from the start!)

[Bloody Monk]

Thanks for all your responses. It sounds like adding the human component makes the answer, "It totally depends on the situation,"even (exponentially) more so than the normal SP game.

It really sounds like fun.

Monk

[rah]

Which is why there are so many people still playing. It gave new life to the game, like occ or early landings, but it still stays fresh due to the human element.

[Deity Dude]

Based on the premise of bumping this thread I went back and started looking thru some of the old one's for a potential bump.

It's funny how some of the advice and opinions from 2000 and 2001 doesn't seem to be in vogue anymore.

[rah]

Most of the earlier ones emphasized the rush vs some development prior to rushing.