guerilla warfare.

[arii]

In my last 2-3 duels I used a technique of guerilla warefare early in the game. Basically I build the Light house which gives vet triremes that can travel through ocean, and send send a horde of triremes loaded with diplomates at the enemy to steal, destroy city improvements/wonders being built. There's not much you can do against that since the triremes coming are veterans. It's very funny: oh! aqueduc destroyed, oh! library destroyed,....
Works very well against perfectionist opponents.

[My Wife Hates CIV]

That is fun. I love diplo attacks.

[Ming]

The real key to that approach is the Lighthouse (one of the most under rated wonders in MP)

I love when they finally get pissed at you and decide they are going to stop you... and can't! Nothing funnier than watching 3 triremes come out of a city to attack you, and they still can't sink your ship.

The only defense to this is to keep cash on hand, and have a few diplos out of site near your vulnerable cities... hoping to catch one of his ships if he makes a mistake.

[crowatbitemedotcom]

The Lighthouse is a wonder I've never built. Are you saying it makes your triremes unbeatable?

[My Wife Hates CIV]

I think it makes them vet... so yes - makes them very hard to sink.

[Sivro]

The Lighthouse is one of the worst wonders. I've got better things to do than to build a navy full of triremes. Instead of building the Lighthouse, I could be building the Great Wall, Hanging Gardens, or Great Library.

[Smash]

Lighthouse + steam engine before magnetism=vet ironclads.Throw in Magellan's and there is no defense before coastal forts.Even then...

[Sivro]

Vet ironclads before magnetism? You have a very narrow window of opportunity to build them. Magnetism comes quickly after steam engine. Not really worth the effort.

[arii]

Total domination of the seas for 2000 years is worth building the lighthouse.
No fear of huge enemy armies landing, and you can prepare you own landing operation without fearing to loose your triremes as soon as they get close.

[Sivro]

I see your point, but to me there's no greater setback than letting someone else build the Great Library. I've never had anything positive come out of this. It makes you think twice before trading technologies or even conquering cities because you know that someone else is going to cash in on your good fortune. To me, the top two wonders are the Library and Mike's Chapel - period.

[Scouse Gits]

Sivro

I once thought it was impossible to have a decent start to a game without the Great Library. Now, I never build it.

The advantage of the Lighthouse, apart from the veteran ships, is the early boost it gives to your exploration and trade. Caravans can be delivered in safety over long distances. I reckon that trading with another continent is about three times faster with the Lighthouse. You have the extra movement, but most important, you don't have to go around all the coasts.

As far as the military is concerned - the civ that rules the waves, rules the world.

-----------

Scouse Git (2)

[War4ever]

I too never thought that a navy was that big a deal until i started playing MP civ. I have lost too many ships due to people who build the Lighthouse... (damm you Ming) and we mongols are not known for our seaworthiness anyways

Still i agree that the lighthouse is a great wonder and vastly underated. However i don't underate it anymore.....

[Sivro]

All right, all right, you have convinced me to give it a try. I agree that a strong navy is key, but I usually develop this later in the game when I have access to cruisers, subs, and battleships. I have just started a new game and I am going to employ this strategy. I thought I knew just about everything there is to know about civ2 until I came to this site a few days ago. I had never really thought of building an early navy, but it's a fresh concept for me to try. Thanks; I'll let you know how it goes.

[Aurelius]

Are you folks serious about Lighthouse and Triremes! Not being a Multiplayer yet, I rarely build triremes and never build lighthouse--NEVER!

Triremes take too long to build and lighthouse is a Charybdis of early year resources when settlers and more valuable wonders are called for.

Of course, having said such, I suppose a boat load of veteran chariots is something to fear. And first contact and mapmaking is important. Hmmm, and some dips tipping huts and stealing tech....hmmm. Perhaps my sword is dulled on rock-headed AI--but TRIREMES in non-OCC?!

I'm never happy to see a couple catapults land in the woods next to my fortified warriors. I wonder what is in store for me in this MP world? My new version of Civ should be here any day.

Scylla

[Smash]

I too used to have disdain for the Lighthouse.Not anymore.SP or MP.Try the Gardens and the Lighthouse together.Very powerful