archiepelago

[anteos]

I’m playing my first archiepelago game and I’m struggling to maintain my lead. I’m playing the byzantines so they have the seafaring trait. But it’s a really struggle to keep such a disparate empire togther. Ever turn you have to keep an eye on all of your islands. The pc has the canny ability of moving units to the least defended city on every different island.

Also, because of the distances between the islands planning an invasion and moving reinoforcements is quite a challange.

Does anyone have any tips for this kind of game?

thanks

[Dis]

I generally fare pretty well on that type of map. Human usually do have the advantage as they can manage naval transport better. And the AI can't build massive numbers of cities like they can on large land masses- so they don't create a huge juggernaut of a nation. It's almost an exploit for me to use those types of maps.

It's critical for you to have an able body of ships to supply troops to islands in need.

Yes I feel your pain. The ai does have a tendency to go for your weakest city. It's almost like they know where every single one of your units are stationed

[Harovan]

- build many ships
- have rapid reaction forces place strategically, i.e. in places where they can quickly be relocated everywhere. Don't forget to park enough ships in the base to transport them all, too.
- build yet more ships
- set up some flycatchers (undefended bases with troop filled ships nearby), which attract AI civs who want to attack you.
- build a lot more ships and collect them in fleets in the different oceans. Give the oceans names, that's fun.
- As the game moves on, set up naval and troop bases everywhere on the map.
- Did I mention to build ships?

[Dr. A. Cula]

More boats on patrol duty, Lighthouse, harbors everywhere, Magellan's Expedition.
Sinking that enemy galley before it reaches your shores will save your spearman the trouble of having to deal with the swordsmen it carries, so you should have even more boats on patrol.
HTH

Edit: sorry, too late

[Purple]

Originally posted by Sir Ralph
Give the oceans names, that's fun.

It would be if we could put the labels on the map (hint to Firaxis) -- or did I miss something?

[vmxa1]

Re: archiepelago

Originally posted by anteos
The pc has the canny ability of moving units to the least defended city on every different island.

It is not uncanny it is because they know that you have little or no defense there. That is the "cheat" the AI uses. You have an empty city and they head for it.

[Harovan]

Originally posted by Purple
It would be if we could put the labels on the map (hint to Firaxis) -- or did I miss something?

No, you didn't miss anything. A landmark naming feature has been suggested multiple times by the players and ignored multiple times by Firaxis.

[bongo]

At least we got those rally points, not that I ever used them though. Usually I build a fort or something and gather my forces there.

Landmarks with a 'comment' field would make planning invasions so much easier.

[joncnunn]

Only thing I see missing from this list of things to do on archiepelago maps is build airports to support airlifting military units after you have Flight.

[Dis]

my games never last that long .

[joncnunn]

Well, I've long since gotten a big tech lead by flight. AI doesn't really have a chance of winning by then but since I win via spaceship ...

In my current game, I didn't get access to Iron until shortly after entering the Industrail era. (Used the found a city on a tile adjenct to Iron in AI territory right after that city's boundary expanded enough to get it.) It also took some extra time to get access to Coal & Rubber. (Peacefully thru founding of cities to the enemy border as well.) I have no oil. I'm Korea and trigured my GA upon building Newton's University. (I'd previously built a host of Commerial wonders.) Very nice timing for Factory building and wraping up the rest of the middle age wonders. The two scentific Great Leaders also helped.

I'm still #1 in Military Strength even without the obvious units I can't build. My army consists of a mixture of Marines + TOW Inf + normal Inf + Ancient Calvary. Aliumum is in my territory so I still may be able to win via spaceship without going to war with anyone depending upon where the Uranium is. I might also check to see if Culture is an option in the event that Uranium isn't near me considering that the turns are still moving in five year increments. 2nd place AI in techs is just past Replaceable Parts. Last place AI has a host of techs just past Education like Banking left to research.

Originally posted by Dissident
my games never last that long .

[DrSpike]

Re: archiepelago

Originally posted by anteos
I’m playing my first archiepelago game and I’m struggling to maintain my lead. I’m playing the byzantines so they have the seafaring trait. But it’s a really struggle to keep such a disparate empire togther. Ever turn you have to keep an eye on all of your islands. The pc has the canny ability of moving units to the least defended city on every different island.

Also, because of the distances between the islands planning an invasion and moving reinoforcements is quite a challange.

Does anyone have any tips for this kind of game?

thanks

If you are the Byzantines early curraghs will usually ensure you are in prime position to act as tech broker. If you have enough land it's an easy game on this setting. If land is tight with no nice islands to expand to then attacking an AI needs to be well planned. Remember the power of the mighty dromon.

[anteos]

btw how do you trade contacts with other civs?

[Tall Stranger]

Just contact the AI civ as though you were trading anything else. It's listed near the top of the list of things you can trade, under the category of "Communications". (I think it's right after "Maps".) Click on communications, and you'll see all the civ contacts that you're able to trade (i.e. any civ that the AI has not met yet.)

[anteos]

sorry I meant to ask what research you need to do this?

do you need an embassy with the civ to trade the contact?