Emperor Games: how to improve your skills

[Mountain Sage]

Hi everybody,

The purpose of this thread is to encourage players to move from Monarch to Emperor by proposing some 'easy' Emperor level games (already played) and to give advice on tactics and strategies for each particular game.

Experienced Emperor players are of course welcome, by providing interesting games and useful comments.

The first game: PTW, Emperor, Greece, standard map, Pangea 70% water, wet, temperate, Barbarians sedentary (a really easy one!).
Please post some screenshots by BC 2500, 1500, 130 and AD 10, 1100, 1350, 1500, 1700, 1800 and the final round as to compare them.

[Mountain Sage]

Here is the save:

[Mountain Sage]

and the starting location:

[vmxa1]

This looks familar, did you have thread on it some where?

[Mountain Sage]

Originally posted by vmxa1
This looks familar, did you have thread on it some where?

Yes,
I posted it on my 'PUP' thread, then somebody thought it would be better to create a new thread, which I did.
But it's the first time this game is 'offered' on Apolyton

[Mountain Sage]

Another game: France, standard map.

The geography is very interesting, and you start with a 'nice' neighbour. Good luck!

[Mountain Sage]

And the starting location:

[ToeTruck]

Hi Sage,

These looke like fun, especially having lots of resources. I've played a lot of Greece so I'll probably give the French a try. Position looks good.

- TT

[ChrisiusMaximus]

Thanks for posting these saves Im looking forward to trying them out, is the second one PTW also ?.

[vmxa1]

MS, just want to yank your chain a bit. From the thread title I would expect to see some reports and tutorials to explain how to accomplish winning on Emp.
If you are just providing some nice starting location, then the title should be something like "maps to start playing emperor".
Either way it is still a good idea. Just teasing you about it.

[ToeTruck]

Mountain Sage,

Would you mind re-posting the French position? When I downloaded it, I got the Greece start. Did anyone else get the same thing or am I whacked?

- TT

[David Murray]

How do you stop the AI getting so far ahead technologically that you can't compete no matter what, when you have no gold left and your troops are so out of date as to be useless? Like in the BCs when the AI is equiping itself with pikemen and you've only just build a decent sized sword/horse army?

[ChrisiusMaximus]

I found the same problem with the French save it is indeed the same as the Greeks.

Well Ive been playing the Greek game and its been interesting to say the least. My biggest problem was not being able to expand at first then when they, the Chinese and Arabians who share the continent ran out of room they both declared on me almost simultaneously, although not in an alliance.

It was a tough call and I nearly lost a city, so I sued for peace with the Arabs for some gold per turn and a hefty lump sum, turned off the science and pumped out as many Archers as I could. Managed to push the Chinese back and secure Iron when Mao sued for peace which I thought was strange at the time as he was bigger and stronger than me. To top it off he gave me 2 techs in the process

With a lull in the fighting I pumped out Swordsmen and built some libraries, I now had five cities. Then Mao decides to kick off again so this time I open an embassy with the Arabs and sign them up for an alliance. Very next turn chinese build GL in Beiging, got to take that city for sure. It takes quite a few turns of defensive tactics before the chinese flow of troops starts to slow down and I took lots of casualties in the process. Not to worry though the Arabs were keeping them busy while I rebuilt my forces.

By the time I was satisfied that I had enough of a stack the arabs had made peace so I took one city and got some tech and gold for peace. After about ten turns the Arabs declared war on the Chinese so I waited a couple of turns to give the chinese time to send their boys to the front, then declared myself and stormed through their lands taking three cities including Beiging GL .

Mind you I lost that prize next turn to a single Archer but my swordsmen took it back off him next turn. Got loads of tech out of that and as it stands now Im at peace at 580 AD.

I think I need to finish the Chinese fairly soon and aim to get the Arabs capitol to capture the Great Lighthouse, I have spotted another civ with a suicide galley but unfortunately I cant make contact yet.

I would be interested to know what tips people might offer on my posistion and would like to know how you think Im doing.

Its been tough but enjoyable.

[ChrisiusMaximus]

ChrisiusMaximus Save 580 AD

Heres a save of where Im up to.

[vmxa1]

It is always good to get to the Chinese before they get Riders. You won't have a three move unit for a long time, so they would be a handful to keep bottled up.