Japan - Feedback

[Barinthus]

Originally posted by Sir Ralph
If you are not a friend of building with overlap, consider to build camps, i.e. temporary cities without much improvements, which will be disbanded in the industrial age.

I used to be picky about avoiding overlappings but now I want to explore that strategy so I'm open to it.

Oh, and building the pyramids with only 4 cities on the landmass is somewhat a wastage, too. All you get from is is 4 free granaries, which cost 4x60=240 shields. The pyramids cost way more. Granted, they'd be without upkeep, but still...

Yeah I realized that not all wonders are map wide after I finished 100th turn - I need to review which are limited to the same landmass and which are not.

[Mace]

If you do want to build wonder(s), with that map you have there I would consider the Great Lighthouse and the Colossus.

Your capital, with all those sea tiles, could be a "mega-beaker" city if you put Colossus, then later Copernicus in it.

I would try to build harbors and marketplaces pretty early on if possible. You won't regret it on that map.
Is that an Arch map? Looks like it.

I once had a great game on Emperor where I played Carthage. The map was VERY similar to what you've got there. It was an Archipeligo 80% map IIRC. I went to Republic asap and stayed there.

I was able to have enough trade arrows (thanks to harbors and markets) going to have enough gold to maintain a large military, even when first switching to Republic. Sometimes that's a problem because of Republic's unit support.

I developed large island empire by building a couple of galleys and having a steady stream of settlers/numidian merc's going out to settle.

In tech I went for philos. first and map making as the free tech. Getting map mak. allowed me to out-REX the AI to the islands. That'll be important for you on your map.

Later I developed a "rapid reaction force" of military units based on ships at ready to speed to an island that was in trouble. Worked ok. Got a space race win.

good luck with it. Post later pics or saves if ya want.

[Sabre2th]

Originally posted by Barinthus
You suggested first settler to settle on a tobacco tile - wouldn't that cause me to lose its benefits like others scolded me re: founding my first city on cattle? I'll need to go back to the game and review terrain value of tobacco and cattle to see what's the difference there.

You lose food/shield bonuses, but not trade bonuses

[Barinthus]

Re: Japan - Feedback

Ok here's 4000 BC save

Thanks, Mace, for your suggestions. I will try those.

[Barinthus]

ok second try - 50 yrs

[Barinthus]

100yrs

[vmxa1]

I would stick 7 cities on that island. I would not build a granary in a size 5 with no river and no irrigatable food bonus. A size 4 either.

At this level you can get the Lighthouse in a second city and let the one city with food bonus make all settlers and workers. This makes it so you do not need so much in the way of lux as it will not get real large for some time.

You have no fresh water so all will eventually need aqua to get at least to size 7 (for support).

[Modo44]

Loaded the save, and played a bit. Notes below.


Moved the first Settler 6 to the Hill, which made the city pattern a bit crowded for my taste. It was my original idea to go settle there, so I just did it. The number of cities would have been smaller on a peninsula.

Used the Forest on the tip of the island to speed up a build, before placing a city there.

Made two Temples, for there was nothing else to build at that time. At least I do not have to worry about culture in this game, ever again...

Made a Granary in the capital, and building more Granaries. I might be doing different things, but I saw no point in many units before I had the ships to move them. Besides, it will be good to have Granaries ready after Aqueducts are built.

Research started with Pottery (obviously?). After that the island was explored, so I knew it had to be directed straight towards MapMaking.

On turn 50, meeting with Germany, exchanging techs.

The plan is to make Settlers in other cities now, as Kyoto will start the Colossus soon.

[Sabre2th]

Sorry for the off-topic post, but what graphics are you using, Modo?

[Modo44]

@Sabre2th That is Rhye's terrain, with SnOOpy's Marshes added (not on the screenie). Mines are by Niessuh (can be found here at poly), borders by someone at CFC (I do not remember who, sorry).


Back to the game:

After meeting Spain and Rome, some serious tech trading occured, leaving all AIs at 0 Gold, and Japan the tech leader of the world. This was later repeated with all newly met AIs that had any cash.

The Curraghs found some good islands to settle, luxuries that will probably have to be conquered, and many new contacts. All AIs except Spain are very backward. Spain is just backward.

On turn 73, the Colossus is completed. MapMaking in 2 turns, which means the Great Lighthouse will be available right on cue. All cities that can be, are switched to Harbors.

MapMaking produced a Scientific Great Leader. Now, that is perfect timing. The Great Lighthouse was rushed, obviously. Next research goal: Philosophy.

On turn 81, Philosophy is researched. I pick up the most expensive tech (in this case: Construction) for free, and get yet another SGL. This one was used to rush the Mausoleum of Mausollos. Next research goal: Code of Laws.

Lots of building, and exploring. Two cities put down on the southern island, a third one just about to be ready. Somewhere on the way Code of Laws was researched, and Republic started.

On turn 99 the Romans come demanding technology. I laugh, they declare. No big deal, as they still lack MapMaking...

As you can see, I put 7 cities on the main island, and am already settling the second large one. I deliberately hold to MapMaking, to have a head start on claiming land overseas. I have many ships, and many Workers, but still no credible army (relying on ships to hold off invasions, if any should come). You can see that most tiles are already improved.

[Sabre2th]

Thanks for the response, Modo. I've been looking to revamp my terrain...I'm getting bored with the basic sn00py set I have now.

I'll take a crack at the .sav once I fiddle with these graphics a bit

[joncnunn]

Never the less, this is a much better land that what I started with in my 8 Player game as the Incans. However this island does feature less land than that did.

Actually as lack of fresh water maps go, this one is actually pretty good; there's no plains. Just grassland and mountains. (Some of the grassland hidden by jungle) There's even 2 cows. So I probably wouldn't mind this start on Monarch or below.

For emperor level, I'd want to be playing a Seafaring civ for this.
On Demigod and above, I'd be restarting mostly because it's an archepello map.

Originally posted by justjake73
I personally would not play on a map setting like this...there's no fresh water!

[Mace]

Originally posted by joncnunn
Never the less, this is a much better land that what I started with in my 8 Player game as the Incans.

Were you the one who had the "Inca with horrid start location" thread? That was pretty bad...

I have d/l'ed this 4000BC sav and plan to play it a little.

[Barinthus]

Cool it was nice reading about your game, Modo. Will be looking forward to Mace's.

One thing for sure you expand faster than I do

[Modo44]

Originally posted by Barinthus
One thing for sure you expand faster than I do

Build Granaries in your core cities, and make many Workers to have all useful tiles improved quickly. This works almost regardless of city spacing. Almost, because placing cities closer means you save a turn or two on Settler movement (per city).