What is the most valuable Strategic Resource?

[notyoueither]

Tobacco!

Ermmm, OK, iron to enable me to secure more tobacco. *Cough, Cough*

[lethe]

Originally posted by Sovereign
You guys give up too easily!

Build 100 artillery / catapults and 100 infantry or cavalry type units, then flatten the AI.

Way too few artillery pieces compared to regular troops. You just need foot soldiers to protect your artillery, fortify cities you take and polish off that last hp. Other than that it's all artillery.

There are just sooooo many uses for artillery. More is always better. Too bad there are no good sound effects when firing artillery. Anyone who has spent time near a real life artillery piece knows what an earthshaking audio experience it is.

Ok, threadjacking complete. Back to main topic: Why can't I vote Ivory? Ok, I'll settle for Iron. Atleast it starts with the right letter.

[Fosse]

Give me iron, and I'll get the rest.

[asleepathewheel]

iron

[Theseus]

None... I like a challenge.

If I had to pick though, I'd say rubber.

[bvoncranium]

Iron and Coal; which is more important depends quite a bit on the scenario I think.

Bananas are less a strategic resource, and more a status symbol I think.

-bvc

[Dis]

Iron.

The risk of being pummeled early on without this is very high. Most civs will just crush you if you're military is lacking.

[geniemalin]

I can quite happily go throughout the Ancient Age without iron, using Archers, Horse and Catapults. Swords are nice but not essential. In the Middle Ages it gets harder, but Longbow-based counterattacks can let you survive long enough.

But if you are without RR in the industrial age you lose the game. Yes, you need iron too but there is more of it, so snatching some or trading for it is generally more feasible.

[Aqualung71]

Coal is my favourite resource, since the Industrial age is usually game-deciding. I will go to war without a moment's hesitation if I don't find Coal within my borders once I get Steam.

However, without Iron, you may not last long enough to get to Coal.....so for that reason, Iron is the most important resource in the game for me.

[Aqualung71]

Originally posted by notyoueither
Tobacco!

Ermmm, OK, iron to enable me to secure more tobacco. *Cough, Cough*

Yep I agree NYE.....as predicted by the developers, those Tobacco wars really dominate my games!

[Boracks]

Re: What is the most valuable Strategic Resource?

Originally posted by Mad Bomber
...the one that you pray to Sid to appear when pressing the enter key hoping beyond hope that your new tech gives you control of at least one of the resource...

While I agree iron is very important, it was the phrase I quoted that caused me to say coal. Iron I may not have right away but I can usually get to it once I see where it is. By the time coal appears, if it isn't in my area to start with I have a big problem.

Boracks

[Dis]

hmm, well after my most recent game as the egpytians, iron didn't seem that useful.

But horses sure came in hand for my war chariots . I conquered my nearest civ with those.

I suppose the most important resource can vary game to game depending on things like your civilization, and situation on the map and relation to nearest civs.

[bvoncranium]

"Oh great... none of us can vote in this poll for the ONLY important strategic resources"
- overheard from a group of Cavalry and Cossacks.

[Daz]

I guess I could survive without Iron. But without coal for the rr? I say Coal.

[Dominae]

Railroads and Factories require Iron...