Cradle - Timelines Game

[Oliviasdad]

Hex, I finally got a few minutes tonight to start trying Cradle - Timelines.

Below is my game so far. Doing this as I'm not sure if this is a normal start to a game or not.

1. Starting game, there is a new opening movie. Nice.
2. The game setup screen is different, also nice.
3. Picking Civ, no Americans? I'm guessing this is because they're a new civ, when compared to others.
4. Not sure if my game start is typical or not, but it's moving very slow so far. After about 32 turns, only 2 cities, a single tech. However, have built 4 units and 2 city improvments.
5. I probably should have started the bazaars after the spearmen were complete, as my happiness was about 80, so I didn't need shrines yet for happiness.
6. Havent found any other civs yet. Looking at graphs before exiting, I'm in middle of others. Only orange civ has jumped way ahear so far.
7. Havent seen any popups of an civs starting wonders. Used to seeing those by now. I don't even have an option for building any wonders at this point.
8. I also don't have ability to build farms yet.
9. I think I read were you were wanting to slow the game down. If that is case, then so far, you have succeded.

Will try some more in next day or two and post.

Here is my setup;

Skill-Medium, Barbarians-Raiders, Empires-5, Pollution-ON, Bloodlust-OFF, World-Earth, Map-Gigantic, Civ-Anglo-Saxons.

YR 3000 BC
Started with 2 Nomads. Built first city without moving nomad. Queued up Scout and Spearman for construction and began researching Agriculture.

Moved second nomad along river.

YR 2990-2970 BC
Moved Nomad

YR 2960
Built second city. Queued Scout and Spearman

YR 2950
1st Scout complete. Popup window with traits; +5 Prod, +1 Happy

YR 2940
2 Cities, 29900 People, Collected 65 Food, 62 Prod, 62 Gold.
Moved Scout

YR 2930 - 2920
Moved units

YR 2910
Second Scout complete

YR 2900-2870
Moved units exploring

YR 2860
Spearman Complete, queued Shrine

YR 2850
Moved units

YR 2840
Completed Agri research, started Domestication.
Moved units

YR 2830
Spearman complete, Queued Shrine
Moved units

YR 2820 - 2800
Moved units
2 Cities, 57081 Cities, Collected 99 Food, 85 Prod, 85 Gold

YR 2790
Found Slinger
Moved units

YR 2780-2710
Moved units

YR 2700
Completed Shrine (Rush Build). Queued Bazaar
Moved units

YR 2690
Completed Shrine (rush build). Queued Bazaar
Moved units

[hexagonian]

3. Picking Civ, no Americans? I'm guessing this is because they're a new civ, when compared to others.

Yes, the civs are all ancient, medieval...

4. Not sure if my game start is typical or not, but it's moving very slow so far. After about 32 turns, only 2 cities, a single tech. However, have built 4 units and 2 city improvments.

The game will move slowly to begin with because of your empire size at this stage. The game design does slow things down a bit at the start, but be patient.

5. I probably should have started the bazaars after the spearmen were complete, as my happiness was about 80, so I didn't need shrines yet for happiness.

I'd suggest creating a lot of scouts to pop huts, because you do have a chance to get more nomads from them, and that is a quick way to grow, although it does not hurt to build Nomads...but they do take time to create. Your goal is to get to 10-15 cities in your current government. Happiness becomes a problem below 73. Bazaars should be saved until you are raking in about 20+ gold in that city, because your maintenance cost is 2 gold.

6. Havent found any other civs yet. Looking at graphs before exiting, I'm in middle of others. Only orange civ has jumped way ahear so far.

Based on your map size and number of civs, you may not run into any civs for awhile. I usually have 12-16 rival civs on that size.

7. Havent seen any popups of an civs starting wonders. Used to seeing those by now. I don't even have an option for building any wonders at this point. 8. I also don't have ability to build farms yet.

You probably need to look at the Great Library to map out a tech path for Wonders...same for getting the Advance for tile improvements. Normally I make Roads the first priority to link up my cities, and use Farmer Specialists to grow faster at the start. Save your PW, because once you get those improvements, you can build a lot.

Also, be careful with Rush Buying. Units cost gold to upgrade, and you only get one chance per unit type to upgrade a type, once you get the ability to do so. (Refer to Great Library for the key techs). It may not be totally realistic, but it does create an 'either/or' decision for the player and requires some forethought. Generally, I rarely Rush Buy, but save the gold for unit upgrades.