Emperor Games: how to improve your skills

[ToeTruck]

1450BC: To block or not to block.

I have five cities and I have turned my Settler Pump off in order to build my military. The Vikings are about to send an Settler with an Archer escort into my territory and I'm still 6 turns away from Literature.

I could block the isthmus with a Spearman and Worker but I think I'm better off letting them walk through while I finish my research. Once I discover Literature and trade it away, I can kill the Archer and take the two Workers.

Trondheim is building the Pyramids. If I'm lucky, they will complete it (or the Great Library) before I eliminate them.

Also, I need to bring my Elite Archer back from the hinterlands. I plan to use it to kill the Vikings escort in a few turns.

1325BC: Researched Literature.

Vikings have Map Making but are not willing to trade it.

Traded Literature to Vikings for World Map and 79 gold. I could have arranged an ROP as well, but since I'm going to attack this turn or next, it's not worth the hit to my reputation.

The map reveals a relatively small island but no signs of off-island exploration. That's good.

I will research Iron Working because I like the top branch of the Ancient Times tech tree. Aside from Polytheism, nothing on the lower parts has much trade value.

I will also take the hills and forest southwest of the city FirstBarracks. That give me better defensive terrain and a one-turn buffer zone between the front line and my cities.

Goals:
- Kill the Setter/escort teams.
- Start marching on Viking cities.
- Use the captured Workers to develop my Barracks cities.
- Build one or two cities in the hinterland to increase my unit support.

1075BC: Got a leader!

I have five choices:
- Build an army.
- Rush the Pyramids.
- Rush the Great Library.
- Rush the Colossus.
- Save it for the Forbidden Palace.

The only choice that truly stinks is building the Colossus. Building an army is also pretty weak because I don't think I'll need it to take out the Vikings. I probably wouldn't go wrong with rushing either the Great Library or the Pyramids, but I think I'll save it for a turn or two...

In a couple turns, I'll know where the Iron is which will help me estimate how quickly the Vikings will fall.

1025BC: Researched Iron Working.

The Vikings don't have any Iron so I'll hit them hard and use the Leader to rush the Forbidden Palace in Trondheim. Hopefully, by then, the Vikings will have built the Pyramids or Great Library.

Goals:
- Connect roads to the Vikings network.
- Connect the Ivory.- Connect the Iron.

1000BC: The Viking ship dropped two Warriors near one of my cities.

Important points:
- There can't be a loose Settler wandering around.
- Vikings probaby haven't made contact yet.
- I can probably make a Peace Treaty and then break it.

975BC: Agree to Peace Treaty with Vikings. I give 48 gold; they give Map Making and The Wheel.

925BC: Vikings build The Pyramids in Trondheim!

Goals:
- Capture Trondheim.

875BC: I've renamed my cities to make them easier to locate on the F1 screen:

Barracks1 - Southern high production city with a Barracks.
Barracks2 - Northern high production city with a Barracks.
Barracks3 - Southern high production city with a Barracks.
Barracks4 - Northern high production city with a Barracks.
Hinterland1 - City on the tundra that needs a Harbor to grow.
LowCorruption1 - Low corruption city between Capital and the future Forbidden Palace.
SettlerPump1 - Capital city with Granary, Cattle, and Wheat.

710BC: Trondheim has fallen!

After conquering Trondheim, I sued for Peace again.

The Vikings gave me Mysticism, Stockholm, World Map, and 37 gold in exchange for a Peace Treaty.

Goals:
- Leader rush the Forbidden Palace in Trondheim (which I've renamed Forbidden Palace)
- Eliminate the Vikings.
- Build Settlers to complete expansion.

690BC: Researched Mathematics.

Traded Mathematics to Vikings for Horseback Riding and 4 gold.

I need to think a second about what to research next. I could research Code of Laws and Philosophy on my way to The Republic , but I think I'm better off researching Construction. It has a better trade value and it allows me to build Aqueducts. With the Pyramids under my control, I should be able to grow some size 12 cities pretty quickly.

Researching Construction in 28 turns.

Built the Forbidden Palace.

530BC: The Vikings are eliminated.

Time to make contact and start building. I have to found three more cities to fill the island; that will give me a total of 18 cities. Unless I find a couple unclaimed luxuries, I probably won't build more than that.

Also, someone has eliminated the Celts.

Here's the zoom map after 530BC:



I played this game only occupying this continent. Next post will contain the diplomacy that got me through to the end.

- TT

[ToeTruck]

Originally posted by Mountain Sage

So, what to do? INSTANT TELEPORTATION.

I massed my troops in Pasargadae, and tried to sell it to somebody else. Imagine! nobody would even spend a gold piece for the Sistine
So I gifted it to Russia...

Hey MS, tell me a little more about this teleportation trick. Is it simply that whenever you give away a city, all its occupants are returned to your capital???

What a cool trick!

BTW: Excellent play of Theseus' start. I played that one as well, but played it much more peacefully than you. Once I'm done posting my results from your second French save, I'll post some of my play from Theseus' game.

Thanks again for firing up this thread. It's been a ton of fun.

- TT

[ToeTruck]

2nd French Game 530BC - 940AD

Whew! I know that's a lot of turns to talk about in one post, but I pretty much followed the same path as in the earlier games.

Once the continent was mine, I cranked out a bunch of workers, developed the continent and aimed for a Republic as quickly as I could.

I disbanded most of my military once I was into a Republic, established ROPs with everyone I could find and traded techs like there was no tomorrow. I only held tech back when a Luxury deal would expire before my next research.

This approach quickly got me through the Middle Ages and up to Steam Power...where I promptly learned that there was *very* little coal on the map.

I established a remote city where there was an unclaimed Coal and rushed a Harbor. After a few turns, I started railroading.

Here's a pic of my remote outpost from 940AD. This is my one and only city off the main continent:



And, here's a snippet from my log:

*******************
350BC: Researched Construction.

270BC: Contact with Carthage.

Traded Literature, Mathematics, and Horseback Riding to Carthage for Code of Laws, Contact with Koreans, World Map, and 25 gold.

Traded Mathematics to Korea for World Map and 4 gold.

190BC: Researched Currency.

Traded Construction to Carthage for World Map and 177 gold.
Gave Construction to Korea.
Gave Currency to Carthage.
Gave Currency to Korea.

110BC: Researched Polytheism.

30BC: Researched Philosophy. Entered the Middle Ages.

Traded Polytheism to Korea for World Map, Contact with Germans, and 4 gold.
Traded Mathematics to Germany for World Map and 84 gold.
Gave Philosophy to Korea. Feudalism is his freebie.
Gave a bunch of Ancient Techs to Germany. Engineering is his freebie.
Gave Philosophy and Polytheism to Carthage.
Trade Contact with Germany to Carthage for World Map.

AI Disposition:
- Carthage: Polite
- Germany: Polite
- Korea: Polite

Researching Monotheism.

Goals:
- Research Monotheism and Theology to build Sistine Chapel.
- Use upper branch techs to trade for lower branch techs.
- Grow all cities to size 6
- Grow Capital and FP-city to size 12.

130AD: Contact with Greece.

Traded Mathematics to Greece for World Map and 105 gold.
Traded Construction, Currency, and Contact with Koreans to Greece for The Republic and 37 gold.
Gave Polytheism to Greece. Feudalism is his freebie.
Traded Contact with Germans and Carthage, Literature, and 260 gold for Feudalism.
Traded The Republic and 90 gold to Korea for Engineering.
Traded Feudalism to Carthage for World Map and 3 gold.
Gave The Republic to Germany.
Gave The Republic and Engineering to Carthage.

260AD: Revolt is over. Republic is in place.

Goals:
- Disband military units.

Once I get into Republic, I like to disband my military for the extra shields and the reduced support cost. In the late game, I will rebuild a small defensive military.

280AD: Researched Monotheism.

320AD: I have established Embassies with Carthage and Germany.

Traded Monotheism, Ivory, and Dyes to Greece for Incense, Silk, Territory Map and 12 gold.
Traded Monotheism to Carthage for ROP, world Map, and 15 gold.
Traded Monotheism to Germany for ROP, world Map, and 5 gold.

340AD: I have established Embassies with Korea and Greece.

Traded Monotheism to Korea for ROP, world Map, and 7 gold.
Traded 8 gold to Greece for ROP.

AI Disposition:
- Carthage: Gracious
- Germany: Gracious
- Greece: Gracious
- Korea: Polite

350AD: Researched Theology.

Traded Theology to Greece for World Map and 51 gold.
Traded Theology to Korea for 1 gold.
Traded Theology to Carthage for 7 gold.
Gave Theology to Germany.

400AD: Researched Education.

Traded Education to Greece for World Map and 19 gold.
Traded Education to Korea for World Map, 3 gpt, and 4 gold.
Traded Education to Carthage for 19 gold.
Traded Education to Germany for 6 gold.

450AD: Researched Astronomny.

Traded Astronomy to Carthage for Invention, Monarchy, World Map and 2 gold.
Traded Monarchy and Invention to Korea for World Map, 34 gold and Furs.
Traded Astronomy to Germany for 2 gold.
Traded Astronomy to Greece for World Map and 31 gold.
Gave Invention to Germany.
Gave Astronomy to Korea.

500AD: Researched Gunpowder.

540AD: Contact with Ottomans.

Traded Literature to Ottomans for World Map.
Traded Polytheism to Ottomans for 75 gold.
Gave techs until Ottomans were equal.

550AD: Researched Chemistry.

Traded Chemistry to Greece for Silks, World Map, and 4 gold.
Gave Chemistry to Korea, Germany, Carthage, and Ottomans.

600AD: Researched Physics.

Traded Physics to Korea for World Map, 8 gpt, and 33 gold.
Traded Physics to Carthage for 8 gold.
Traded Physics to Greece for World Map and 13 gold.
Traded Physics to Germany for 1 gold.
Gave Physics to Ottomans.

Established Embassy with Ottomans. Arrange for an ROP with Ottomans.

AI Disposition:
- Carthage: Gracious
- Germany: Gracious
- Greece: Gracious
- Korea: Gracious
- Ottomans: Gracious

620AD: Built Sistine Chapel. Lost Cope's.

650AD: Researched Magnetism.

Traded Magnetism to Greece for World Map, Navigation, and 17 gold.
Traded Magnetism and Ivory to Korea for Gems, Furs, and 23 gold.
Traded Navigation and Ivory to Ottomans for Wines and 8 gold.
Traded Navigation to Germany for 4 gold.
Traded Navigation to Carthage for 2 gold.
Traded Magnetism and Dyes to Ottomans for Saltpeter (I had traded my Saltpeter away a while ago)
Gave Navigation to Korea.
Gave Magnetism to Germany and Carthage.

690AD: Researched Metallurgy.

Traded Metallurgy to Carthage for World Map and Chivalry.
Traded Chivalry to Greece for World Map and 23 gold.
Traded Chivalry to Korea for World Map, 3 gpt, and 16 gold.
Gave Chivalry to Germany.
Gave Chivalry to Ottomans.

730AD: Researched Banking.

Traded Metallurgy to Greece for World Map and 19 gold.
Traded Metallurgy to korea for World Map and 39 gold.
Traded Metallurgy to Ottomans for 19 gold.
Traded Banking to Carthage for 10 gold.
Gave Banking and Metallurgy to Germany.
Gave Banking to Ottomans.
Gave Banking to Koreans.
Gave Banking to Greece.

770AD: Researched Theory of Gravity.

Greece already has Theory of Gravity. Steam Power was his freebie.
Traded Theory of Gravity to Germany for World Map and 3 gold. Medicine was his freebie.
Traded Theory of Gravity to Korea for World Map, 1 gpt, and 2 gold. Nationalism was his freebie.
Traded Theory of Gravity to Ottomans for World Map, 4 gpt, and 4 gold. Medicine was his freebie.
Traded Theory of Gravity to Carthage for 7 gold.

Goals:
- Research Path: Steam Power - Electricity - Medicine (trade) - Scientific Method - Sanitation.
- Acquire Coal (trade/colony/city).
- Start pre-building Theory of Evolution.

810AD: Researched Steam Power.

Gave Steam Power to Carthage (everyone else had it).

Nobody has a spare coal.

880AD: Researched Electricity.

Traded Electricity to Korea for Furs, Medicine, World Map, 52 gpt, and 8 gold.
Traded Medicine to Carthage for 20 gold.
Traded Electricity to Greece for Silks, World Map, and 14 gold.
Traded Electricity to Ottomans for Saltpeter and 4 gold.
Gave Electricity to Germany and Carthage.

890AD: Build Newton's University.

920AD: Researched Scientific Method.

Traded Scientific Method to Carthage for Military Tradition and 8 gold.
Traded Military Tradition to Greece for Incense, World Map, and 3 gold.
Traded Military Tradition to Korea for World Map and 8 gold.
Traded Military Tradition to Ottomans for 1 gpt and 18 gold.
Gave Military Tradition to Germany.
Traded Scientific Method to Korea for 4 gpt and 12 gold.

940AD: Connected Coal in remote city with Harbor.

*******************

The only thing really to note is how little I was willing to accept in my tech trades.

- TT

[Arrian]

Is it simply that whenever you give away a city, all its occupants are returned to your capital???

Correctomundo.

-Arrian

[Arrian]

I don't know about you, TT, but I HATE it when I get the "We should build the Ironworks!" popup, only to discover that it's referring to a 1-shield suckland outpost city.

-Arrian

[ToeTruck]

2nd French Game - The Ottomans Land

So, just when I thought I was cruising along, the Ottomans dumped a couple units on my territory and did their best to pester me.

Here's the map:



Note that I surrounded them with workers pretty much forcing them to attack my garrisoned city.

Here's a bit from the log:

**********************

960AD: Researched Sanitation.

1010AD: Ottomans have landed.

One Medeival Infantry, one Horseman, one Swordsman, and one Musketman.

Surrounded them with Workers and garrisioned my main city. Switched a build to Cavalry.

Ottomans declare War! Their attack fails; I enter a Golden Age!

Researched Industrialization.

Traded Sanitation and Industrialization to Greece for Alliance vs Ottomans and Nationalism.
Traded Industrialization to Korea for Alliance vs Ottomans and 92 gold.
Traded Nationalism to Carthage for Alliance vs Ottomans, Music Theory, and 61 gold.
Traded Industrialization to Germany for Alliance vs Ottomans, Spices, and 63 gold.

AI Disposition:
- Carthage: Gracious - Alliance vs Ottomans
- Germany: Gracious - Alliance vs Ottomans
- Greece: Gracious - Alliance vs Ottomans
- Korea: Gracious - Alliance vs Ottomans
- Ottomans: Furious - War

Heh. That should teach 'em.

**********************

More later.

- TT

[ToeTruck]

Originally posted by Arrian


I don't know about you, TT, but I HATE it when I get the "We should build the Ironworks!" popup, only to discover that it's referring to a 1-shield suckland outpost city.

-Arrian

Yea, that was a real treat.

- TT

[vmxa1]

Not to mention it can be hard to figure out which city is the one to allow ironworks to be built. Why can't they name the place?

[Mountain Sage]

Originally posted by ToeTruck


Hey MS, tell me a little more about this teleportation trick. Is it simply that whenever you give away a city, all its occupants are returned to your capital???

What a cool trick!


- TT

Yep. I read it in a thread (don't ask me which) some time ago. The only drawback is that you lose the city
Well, Arrian would say 'don't care, it will be mine again in a few turns'

As for Theseus game, I was really obliged to play it agressively By the time I finished it, I had been at war at least a dozen times...

I'm glad you like this thread. I also find it funny, entertaining and interesting. I will post Sir Ralph's game when its finished and hope to keep this thread alive with C3C.

[Mountain Sage]

Originally posted by vmxa1
Not to mention it can be hard to figure out which city is the one to allow ironworks to be built. Why can't they name the place?

Well, it's a from the AI telling you 'you should know your cities better'

[vmxa1]

Originally posted by Mountain Sage


I'm glad you like this thread. I also find it funny, entertaining and interesting. I will post Sir Ralph's game when its finished and hope to keep this thread alive with C3C.

MS you should think about starting a new thread then for C3C.
One reason is the strat may be different and the other is that new readers will have an easier time of it, not having to go through so many post.

[ToeTruck]

2nd French Game - To Modern Times

After the Ottoman encounter, the rest of the Industrial Age was a breeze. Railroad everything, grow my low corruption cities to maximize shields and grow my high corruption cities to maximize commerce.

Here's part of the log:

*****************

1050AD: Researched The corporation. Killing research until Theory of Evolution is built.

Traded Music Theory to Korea for world Map and 3 gpt.
Traded Music Theory to Greece for World Map and 41 gold.
Traded Music Theory to Germany for 1 gpt and 11 gold.
Traded Industrialization to Carthage for World Map and 19 gold.

Note: Once the build time for Theory of Evolution is less than the research time for the next tech, I start researching Atomic Theory at 0% which allows me to amass some gold. Then, I take Atomic Theory and Electronics as my freebies.

1080AD:

Traded The Corporation to Greece for Silks, World Map and 14 gold.
Traded The Corporation to Korea for Furs, World Map, 42 gpt, and 10 gold.
Traded The Corporation to Carthage for 27 gold.
Traded The Corporation to Germany for 6 gold.

Built Theory of Evolution. Took Atomic Theory and Electronics as freebies.

1120AD:

Traded Atomic Theory to Greece for Incense, World Map, and 47 gold.
Traded Atomic Theory to Korea for World Map, 23 gpt, and 67 gold.
Traded Sanitation to Carthage for 7 gpt and 33 gold.
Traded Sanitation to Germany for 8 gold.

Traded Scientific Theory to Germany for Spices.

Researched Steel.

Traded Electronics to Greece for communism.
Traded Steel to Greece for 45 gpt.
Traded Steel to Korea for 1 gpt.
Traded Steel to Germany for 18 gold.
Gave techs to Korea, Germany, and Carthage until everyone was equal (except Ottomans).

1160AD: Researched Refining.

Traded Refining to Greece for World Map, 31 gpt, and 75 gold.
Traded Refining to Carthage for 13 gpt, and 22 gold.
Traded Refining to Germany for World Map, 30 gpt, and 10 gold.
Traded Refining to Korea for World Map and 43 gold.

1200AD: Researched Combustion.

Traded Combustion to Greece for Replaceable Parts, World Map, 4 gpt, and 49 gold.
Traded Combustion to Korea for world Map, 7 gpt, and 14 gold.
Traded Combustion to Carthage for 15 gpt and 14 gold.
Traded Combustion to Germany for World Map and 4 gpt.
Gave Replaceable Parts to Korea, Carthage, and Germany.

1240AD: Made Peace with Ottomans.

Traded Ottomans The Corporation and Atomic Theory for Saltpeter and Wines.
Arranged ROP with Ottomans.

AI Disposition:
- Carthage: Gracious
- Germany: Gracious
- Greece: Gracious
- Korea: Gracious
- Ottomans: Polite

1250AD: Researched Flight.

Holding Flight until Luxury deals run out.

1265AD:

Traded Flight to Greece for Silks, Economics, World Map, 82 gpt, and 123 gold.
Traded Economics to Korea for 27 gpt and 70 gold.
Traded Flight to Korea for Furs, 7 gpt, and 5 gold.
Traded Economics to Carthage for 17 gpt and 30 gold.
Traded Economics to Germany for 3 gpt and 25 gold.
Traded Economics to Ottomans for 4 gold.
Gave Flight to Germany and Carthage.

1270AD: Researched Mass Production.

Holding Mass Production until Luxury deals run out.

1285AD:

Traded Mass Production to Greece for Incense, World Map, 37 gpt, and 20 gold.
Traded Mass Production to Germany for Spices and 32 gold.
Traded Mass Production to Carthage for 22 gpt and 35 gold.
Traded Mass Production to Korea for 23 gpt and 60 gold.
Traded Nationalism to Ottomans for 5 gpt and 23 gold.

AI Disposition:
- Carthage: Gracious
- Germany: Gracious
- Greece: Gracious
- Korea: Gracious
- Ottomans: Gracious

1290AD: Researched Motorized Transportation.

1310AD:

Traded Motorized Transportation to Greece for Espionage, World Map, 52 gpt, and 30 gold.
Traded Espionage to Korea for 8 gpt and 45 gold.
Traded Espionage to Germany for 21 gpt and 33 gold.
Gave Motorized Transportation to Korea, Carthage, and Germany.

1315AD: Researched Radio.

Time to bring everyone into the Modern Times.

Traded Radio to Greece for World Map, 5 gpt, and 28 gold. Ecology was his freebie.
Traded Radio to Korea for 13 gold. Rocketry was his freebie.
Traded Radio to Germany for 11 gold. Ecology was his freebie.
Traded Radio to Carthage for 1 gold.
Gave Ottomans every Industrial Age tech he didn't have. Computers was his freebie.

*****************

And here's the map as of 1315AD:



The only thing to note in this situation is that the continent did not have a river so Hoover Dam wasn't possible. That was a nuisance, but I still had enough shields in my capital city and FP city to build the Wonders I needed and build SS components.

Also note that I'm pre-building SETI in my FP city and I don't have that much gold. I tried to leverage my gold along the way to rush-build key improvements.

- TT

[ToeTruck]

2nd French Game - Wrapup

And, here's the end-game. Not much to report.

Log snippet:

******************

1340AD: Researched Computers.

Traded Computers to Germany for Rocketry, 19 gpt, and 15 gold.
Traded Computers, Coal, and Dyes to Greece for Ecology and 21 gold.
Traded Computers to Carthage for World Map, 37 gpt, and 70 gold.

1365AD: Built SETI.

Traded only Oil to Koreans for Furs, World Map, 37 gpt, and 30 gold.

1375AD: Researched Space Flight.

Traded Space Flight to Ottomans for Wines, Saltpeter, Printing Press, World Map, 108 gpt, and 2 gold.
Traded Space Flight to Greece for Silks, World Map, 87 gpt, and 7 gold.
Traded Rocketry to Carthage for World Map and 1 gold.
Gave Ecology to Carthage.
Traded Space Flight to Korea for World Map, 15 gpt, and 90 gold.
Traded Space Flight to Germany for World Map, 5 gpt, and 5 gold.

1400AD: Researched Satellites.

1420AD: Ottomans have Aluminum for sale.

Traded Satellites to Ottomans for Aluminum, Amphibious Warfare, World Map, 53 gpt, and 60 gold.
Traded Satellites to Greece for World Map, 78 gpt, and 17 gold.
Traded Satellites to Germany for World Map, 149 gpt, and 142 gold.

1425AD: Researched Synthetic Fibers.

1435AD: Built Apollo Program.

1450AD: Researched Fission.

Traded Satellites to Korea for Gems.
Traded Space Flight to Carthage for World Map, 35 gpt, and 30 gold.
Traded Synthetic Fibers to Germany for 28 gpt and 116 gold.

1455AD: Built Exterior Casing, Docking Bay, and Stasis Chamber.

1475AD: Researched Superconductor and built Cockpit and Storage/Supply.

Traded Synthetic Fibers to Greece for Silks, World Map, 83 gpt, and 70 gold.
Traded Synthetic Fibers to Ottomans for Wines, World Map, 65 gpt, and 40 gold.
Traded Fission to Germany for Democracy, World Map, and 24 gpt.
Traded Synthetic Fibers to Carthage for World Map, 35 gpt, and 111 gold.

1485AD: Built SS Engine.

Traded Fission to Greece for Incense, World Map, and 5 gold.
Traded Ivory, Dyes, and Uranium to Germany for Spices, 4 gpt, and 29 gold.

1490AD: Built Thrusters.

1495AD: Built Fuel Cells and Life Support.

1500AD: Researched Nuclear Power.

1520AD: Traded Superconductor to Ottomans for Aluminum, World Map, 116 gpt, and 40 gold.

1525AD: Researched The Laser. Built Party Launge. Launch.

Score: 4477 - Joan d'Arc the Magnificent

Just for kicks, here's the final picture:



That was a fun game. Thanks for the save MS. I've also played Theseus' game in much the same way. If anyone is interested, let me know and I will post screens from that game.

Later.

- TT

[vmxa1]

Nice job TT, too bad about the Hoover Dam.

[Mountain Sage]

Originally posted by vmxa1


MS you should think about starting a new thread then for C3C.
One reason is the strat may be different and the other is that new readers will have an easier time of it, not having to go through so many post.

Ah, the price of success...
I will do it, as soon as I fell familiar playing on Emperor with C3C
My last posting on this game will be Sir Ralph's game, which is