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I've been playing mostly Romans in my solo games, and was happy to see them get a buff in patch 3. With the +15 wealth I wanted to try an earlier attack which takes advantage of this. On to the strat...
Gameplan
I will attack in Classical age with a few heavy infantry, several archers, a few light and heavy cav, and 2 or more catapults. For this I need all level one techs, and Military 2 (for siege). The Roman bonus wealth allows for more archers and heavy cavalry than most nations, and allows you to delay building a market. Also you get your bonus heavy inf from barracks.
Build
I start with a normal build of Science, Civic, Commerce. Upon finishing my second city, I get my food and timber to 100 _before_ building a market (i think its more common to build a market immediately after getting commerce, and before maxing your commerce limit). With the wealth bonus, you can hold off on caravans and merchants. I might make an exception if I had diamonds. After maxing your commerce, you may choose to build a market, though the timber can be used for troops. After that you'll research Mil 1, and build a barracks.
You want to take advantage of the fact that metal is not used for pre-classical units and research. Metal will be limiting factor in this build because of the high cost of Seige Factory and Catapults. Build a few Heavy Infantry before classical...they will cost food and timber. Then research military 2 as it will cost food and timber also, rather than food and metal. On maps with lots of metal you can get classical before military 2. This will lower your timber costs allowing for more troops.
Then research Classical. Upon reaching classical you want to immediately build a mine at your largest mountain. Then build a stable and a seige factory. Depending on map and resources available, you can generally afford lots of archers, several heavy inf, several light cav, and a few heavy cav. Also 2-3 catapults. You can wait around for more resources and get a ton a troops, but Id rather attack sooner than later. You will be at 100 commerce cap, so it doesnt pay to wait around for very long. I build a university while my troops are en route.
At that point you attack! Often players will have just finished their 3rd city when you attack, and I prefer to go for the second city and cause some serious trouble for them. Taking a newly founded 3rd city isnt going to hurt them very much. Keep you troops out of city firing range while you seige it. You want troops to be as fresh as possible for defending the city once you take it, also your opponent might have an attrition tech which will inflict a little damage. If you're feeling bold, send your unique heavy infantry in to speed city capture.
After Taking the City
When your opponent sees this attack he will probably do one of two things, 1)build lots of troops right away and try to take back the city, or 2) Give up the city without much a fight, while expanding in other directions and attempt to out tech you and take over later. It is key to know which route your opponent takes! A little scouting will tell you whether he is building up his military for a strike, or his economy for a boom/tech.
If he tries to get the city back right away, then you need reinforcements. Once you have taken the city you want to 1)make citizens!! 2)repair the city!! 3)garrison your troops so they are at full health 4) build towers. If there is no temple, build one.
If he's teching, you need another university quickly, and research science 2 and commerce 2 to get your economy growing again. Max your commerce ASAP and get medieval for forts. He may try to boom to gunpowder or further, make sure you keep up with him.
I have not tried this on sea maps, but I think you can even skip an early dock since you are getting bonus wealth from your cities. Tell me what you think.
Gameplan
I will attack in Classical age with a few heavy infantry, several archers, a few light and heavy cav, and 2 or more catapults. For this I need all level one techs, and Military 2 (for siege). The Roman bonus wealth allows for more archers and heavy cavalry than most nations, and allows you to delay building a market. Also you get your bonus heavy inf from barracks.
Build
I start with a normal build of Science, Civic, Commerce. Upon finishing my second city, I get my food and timber to 100 _before_ building a market (i think its more common to build a market immediately after getting commerce, and before maxing your commerce limit). With the wealth bonus, you can hold off on caravans and merchants. I might make an exception if I had diamonds. After maxing your commerce, you may choose to build a market, though the timber can be used for troops. After that you'll research Mil 1, and build a barracks.
You want to take advantage of the fact that metal is not used for pre-classical units and research. Metal will be limiting factor in this build because of the high cost of Seige Factory and Catapults. Build a few Heavy Infantry before classical...they will cost food and timber. Then research military 2 as it will cost food and timber also, rather than food and metal. On maps with lots of metal you can get classical before military 2. This will lower your timber costs allowing for more troops.
Then research Classical. Upon reaching classical you want to immediately build a mine at your largest mountain. Then build a stable and a seige factory. Depending on map and resources available, you can generally afford lots of archers, several heavy inf, several light cav, and a few heavy cav. Also 2-3 catapults. You can wait around for more resources and get a ton a troops, but Id rather attack sooner than later. You will be at 100 commerce cap, so it doesnt pay to wait around for very long. I build a university while my troops are en route.
At that point you attack! Often players will have just finished their 3rd city when you attack, and I prefer to go for the second city and cause some serious trouble for them. Taking a newly founded 3rd city isnt going to hurt them very much. Keep you troops out of city firing range while you seige it. You want troops to be as fresh as possible for defending the city once you take it, also your opponent might have an attrition tech which will inflict a little damage. If you're feeling bold, send your unique heavy infantry in to speed city capture.
After Taking the City
When your opponent sees this attack he will probably do one of two things, 1)build lots of troops right away and try to take back the city, or 2) Give up the city without much a fight, while expanding in other directions and attempt to out tech you and take over later. It is key to know which route your opponent takes! A little scouting will tell you whether he is building up his military for a strike, or his economy for a boom/tech.
If he tries to get the city back right away, then you need reinforcements. Once you have taken the city you want to 1)make citizens!! 2)repair the city!! 3)garrison your troops so they are at full health 4) build towers. If there is no temple, build one.
If he's teching, you need another university quickly, and research science 2 and commerce 2 to get your economy growing again. Max your commerce ASAP and get medieval for forts. He may try to boom to gunpowder or further, make sure you keep up with him.
I have not tried this on sea maps, but I think you can even skip an early dock since you are getting bonus wealth from your cities. Tell me what you think.
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