Building Pyramids Under Deity

[Cruddy]

Re: Let me rephrase my question...as a challenge

Originally posted by ToeTruck
I hear you all loud and clear. Under Deity, building the Pyramids is not the best option. There are lots of other things you can do to improve your chance of winning.

I disagree. Building the Pyramids on Deity can really help you win - it will certainly give your Civ an early boost which few other early wonders (Collosus is the exception) can.

I'm not saying I always build them - like I said in my first post, it really depends on start location. If you don't have enough city space when they are built, they are a waste - if you have lots of really small cities that need rapid growth they are a mighty weapon.

One tip: sell all your hand built granaries the turn before completion, because you can't sell them afterwards.

[ToeTruck]

Thanks Mountain Sage. Trying an AU game with this theme is an excellent idea. I've had a bunch of fun playing this from a random map. I'd have to think about how to best package it for an AU game. Any ideas?

And, in response to Cruddy's last post. Yea, start location is key, as always. I've found, though, that by the time you *know* for sure you have a big wide open continent, enough time has passed that your chances of building the Pyramids are greatly reduced.

With that uncertainty as a given, the risk of losing 300 shields because the Egyptians beat you to the Pyramids cannot be ignored. When it works, though, it is a killer.

Talk to you all later.

- TT

[Kirby]

On Deity, I find that if you don't constantly build mlitary units and settlers in the early going the AI civs will gang you because you are too weak. A military civ has time to build the cheap barracks and that's about it. How do you get around that? Reloaders need not reply.

[DaveMcW]

Kirby, what map size are you playing? I agree if you are stuck on a tiny pangea with Germany and Zululand you will have problems building the Pyramids.

[ToeTruck]

Originally posted by Kirby
On Deity, I find that if you don't constantly build mlitary units and settlers in the early going the AI civs will gang you because you are too weak. A military civ has time to build the cheap barracks and that's about it. How do you get around that? Reloaders need not reply.

I play mostly on a standard map and find that when I pursue the Pyramids on Deity I usually end up playing a very tight builder-style game. Most builders will tell you that a small military is sufficient as long as you maintain good relations with your rivals.

Carthage is an excellent Civ to try for the Pyramids and its UU, the Numidian Mercenary, complements the builder style quite well. Two or three per city is enough to avoid a war well into the Middle Ages.

BTW: Carthage can be a dynamic military force, too. But, that is a whole different story.

I don't know if I answered your question or not. Let me know.

- TT

[Kirby]

Originally posted by ToeTruck
Most builders will tell you that a small military is sufficient as long as you maintain good relations with your rivals.
- TT

There's the rub, not that easy to do with civs that start out annoyed at you.

I play mostly on the 8 player map.

edit: default settings

[ToeTruck]

Originally posted by Kirby
There's the rub, not that easy to do with civs that start out annoyed at you.

I play mostly on the 8 player map.

Yea, but that's not too big of a rub if you ask me. As a builder, I'd rather manage their attitude than fight their military.

I know, I know: "Easier said than done." Yep, I agree.

- TT

[Kirby]

Besides that, you can't outbuild the AI's resource cheats, at least I can't anyway. The only way I can see to win on Deity (no mods or cheats) is to war your way to victory on pangea. There is no way that I can see to keep up with the AI's on other continents. Most of the "sure fire way to beat deity" strategies are pretty iffy IMO.

[ToeTruck]

Originally posted by Kirby
Besides that, you can't outbuild the AI's resource cheats, at least I can't anyway. The only way I can see to win on Deity (no mods or cheats) is to war your way to victory on pangea. There is no way that I can see to keep up with the AI's on other continents. Most of the "sure fire way to beat deity" strategies are pretty iffy IMO.

I agree that under Deity the deck is stacked in the AI's favor, but getting a win is still very doable. People do it every day. No mods, no cheats.

Also, a lot of the "sure fire" articles were written when tech-whoring and pop-rushing were much more powerful than they are now. Those articles still provide a sound basis for strategy, but some of the particulars have changed.

- TT

[Mountain Sage]

Originally posted by ToeTruck
Thanks Mountain Sage. Trying an AU game with this theme is an excellent idea. I've had a bunch of fun playing this from a random map. I'd have to think about how to best package it for an AU game. Any ideas?

- TT

Unfortunately not, I am a newbee in AU games. My 1 gold piece advice would be to post a new thread with your idea and see what happens. If enough people show interest, the real AU specialists like Dominae etc. will probably make it 'official'.
Good luck.