Poll: '53 Colony Build Orders

[rjmatsleepers]

Originally posted by Bloody Monk
I believe the bonus mentioned was 40g/beakers. Not much for a 50 shield investment; a real loser if the camel was rushed.

Monk

I agree that I wouldn't want to spend too much money rushing a van that was only going to yield 40 gold and 40 beakers. However in one of your five shield cities we could complete a line of shields 4 times (thus getting our money back) and pick up the extra 40 beakers for "nothing" every 6 turns.

How bad the return on 50 shields is depends on what else we can do with them. If we don't spend any money rushing, 80 gold every 10 turns (from 2 vans) would allow us to reduce taxes by 10% and hence increase science by the same amount (IIRC).

Until we are ready to go to war, we need to consider whether we are willing to accept the extra support costs of building units.

RJM at Sleeper's

[Bloody Monk]

"Until we are ready to go to war," I think we are best served pumping out Settlers to increase our city numbers and, eventually, road building to connect up the colony. A boat--from somewhere--should be sent through the canal to explore the coast to the S and E of Panama, as well.

It seems to me the first priority now is # of cities and growing those cities in size. Later, when the cities are bigger, AND, we have discovered suitable trade partners, camels may be very useful.

Monk

[rjmatsleepers]

Originally posted by Bloody Monk
"Until we are ready to go to war," I think we are best served pumping out Settlers to increase our city numbers and, eventually, road building to connect up the colony. A boat--from somewhere--should be sent through the canal to explore the coast to the S and E of Panama, as well.

It seems to me the first priority now is # of cities and growing those cities in size. Later, when the cities are bigger, AND, we have discovered suitable trade partners, camels may be very useful.

Monk

The crucial question seems to be "are we ready for war now", and if not "what stands in our way"? I think that the size and production capacity of our empire is already sufficient to begin a war. If the generals (well the minister of war and our noble leader) are confident that we can take and hold our first city with crusaders then let's increase the number of our cities by capturing them.

RJM at Sleeper's

[Sparrowhawk]

/me , Minister of War (exuding the confidence that RJM refers to above!!)

[Bloody Monk]

Originally posted by rjmatsleepers
I think that the size and production capacity of our empire is already sufficient to begin a war.
RJM at Sleeper's

Oh yeah, with a great roar our cats will scare the AI to death!!

Monk

[cavebear]

Our one large Capital and our few size 2-3 cities are not going to pump out Crusaders sufficient to take on the world. We don't even have barracks in the colonies. We can't build Crusaders yet, and we can't make them Vets yet.

While we don't want to waste the time remaining to us, we also can't do much without preparing somewhat for attacking.

[Bloody Monk]

Originally posted by cavebear
Our one large Capital and our few size 2-3 cities are not going to pump out Crusaders sufficient to take on the world. We don't even have barracks in the colonies. We can't build Crusaders yet, and we can't make them Vets yet.

While we don't want to waste the time remaining to us, we also can't do much without preparing somewhat for attacking.

I would say, our best way to prepare is to increase the # of cities and grow them, link them with roads so we can quickly assemble, build barracks, build a few horses/warriors for martial law, and revolt to Monarchy at the last, making an Army capable of sustained field action.

Monk

[rjmatsleepers]

OK so we are willing to go to war with veteran crusaders and pick off a few cities without walls. The consensus (well Monk and Cavebear) is for more cities of our own and greater production before we begin a war.

Once we discover monotheism do we switch to 0% research in order to rush build? Has the roaringly valliant Sparrowhawk decided how many crusaders we need and which city is our first target?

(BTW do we simply sneak attack or do we preserve our reputation by getting the AI to declare war?)

RJM at Sleeper's

[Bloody Monk]

Well, there you go again. Actually, and the poll is at the top of this thread, 4 of the 7 voters are for the Consensus Plan.

Also, and I don't mean to pile it on, but, the Rules for this game (in a topped thread, BTW) require a spotless reputation. So, no; sneak attacks are out. But, never fear, any contact with a hostile or icy civ will get a War declaration from them.

Monk

[cavebear]

Yes, we should be able to get Egypt to declare war on us when we are ready for it. Considering that one of our concerns is avoiding civs so they *won't* declare war, it would be truly ironic if we couldn't cause one to do so when we wanted them too.

[MrWhereItsAt]

Sorry - another poll I missed... Will try to look at all of these I missed (in case it makes any difference) in about 24 hours, but just no time now.

[Bloody Monk]

MrWhereItsAt,

As Foreign Minister do you think you could do some polling after we get the new turnset Friday-Sunday?? If not a poll, at least please sponsor some discussion about foreign contact issues that we face.

Possible areas for discussion...who to contact, when, and in what order; whether to seek an alliance at some cost in coin; whether we can expect tech gifts from such an alliance; the liklihood that any contacts will produce anything but War due to the game-time.

These are things cavebear needs some guidance about, if I understand this Demo Game process correctly.

Thanks for your attention....

Monk

[Sparrowhawk]

/me would be most pleased if MWIA posted as Bloody Monk suggest (but then I don't think I need to tell anyone that.....given my oft posted opinion on contacting the AI)