Strategy Time!

[ZargonX]

Now that we have a private forum, I guess it's time to get down to brass tacks, as it were. I guess first things first should be figuring out what kind of governmental power structure we'd like to work with.

Though, if the forums aren't working correctly, as seems to be indicated, that discussion might have already started and I just can't see it...

[Odin]

Here is my ideas for the early game:

1. get a well defended base of 4 or 5 cities

2. expand like crazy

3. get to republic or monarchy ASAP

4. get knights for mobile defense if monarchy

5. have at least barracks, a temple, a grainery, a library, and a marketplace in each city

6. secure as many resorces and luxuries as possible and trade the luxuries. Trade resorces only with the roleplay team or peaceful AI civ.

7. try to build the Pyramids and the Great Library.

[Colonel Kraken]

Sounds good to me, Odin. A good base (good producing/science/gold cities) of 4 or 5 cities, but I recommend almost constant city expansion to capture resources, luxuries, and gain more power/bargaining position.

Remember: because we'll being playing against humans instead of the AI (well, at least mostly), we'll be able to give/trade cities. This means that if we get a bit big and have mostly unuseful cities on the fringe near another civ, we can use that in negotiations. "Sign non-aggression pact and we'll give you x city(s)".

Yes/no?

[Colonel Kraken]

Remember another cool thing we'll be able to do is "sue" for peace. We'll be able to say, "Hey, we'll give you x,y, z cities and n amount of gold per turn [or whatever] if you agree to end hostilities." Human players may be much more likely to accept logical/useful terms like this than the AI. It'll be useful at times. Of course, we're never going to want to give the farm away. And, of course, there is probably going to be at least one team that will want nothing less than our destruction. Something to think about. We'll just have to make sure we have enough tech, resources, luxuries, etc. to make it more useful for a civ to be at peace with us than involved in a costly war for nebulous gains.

[Odin]

Once we get a few good size cities we should be able to expand like a giant ameoba, barbarians permiting. If we give a far-flung city for peace let's not give away one that may have a good resorce later in the game, we don't want Glory of War to get uranium.

[Spiffor]

Colonel Kraken :
The others will be happy to accept our peace agreements if we give them money, resources etc. And they'll be more than happy to attack us again just after recieving our gift... The only way to stop a war against us will be to be strong, not to give away our goods... These people are not the AI...

[ZargonX]

If you're like me, you've probably, on occasion, gone to war with the AI, pummled them a bit, then took every tech and penny they had in exchange for peace. And then, the next turn, you went right back to pummeling them.

As Spiffor says, we don't want to be the punching bag. Giving away techs in exchange for peace just shows that beating us up will reap rewards.

A strong defense will be our key component, but as mentioned in other threads, luxury trading can be used to our benefit as well. And, if the opportunity arises, going on the offensive once in a while might not be so terrible. Just think of it as a chance to take some new cities and improve them up to our standards...

[Colonel Kraken]

Ah, it's too bad that there're some people who act so dishonorably. Hmmm . . . maybe it's just me, but I'd never think of doing such a thing.

Good points, all.

[Jack_www]

I think that in the early game we need to expand like crazy as well, but not too much. Just have enough cities with in the range of our capital so corruption is not that bad. Also we need to place the cities in a way that all most all the land is used up, and we can get lots of cities near our capital. ALso I think it will be important to get a couple of cities up that we can use to build defensive units. Also giving away anthing in a peace deal is not so good. Like the others said, and I have even done this myself, after you get everything you can out of the AI and make a peace treaty, you declare war right after that and keep on attacking the AI. I know the glory of War team will do this.