Figuring out Colonization Strategies
October 31st, 2008
I’ve been playing a lot of Civilization the past few days and still have yet to beat the game. At first I thought it was the usual culprit, Maryjane, but after spending some quality lurk-time at Civ Fanatics, apparently it isn’t just me having problems. My last game I came close, though.
I’ve been playing as Louis de Frontenac of France on a large map. I chose Frontenac more because of the military bonus (Grenadier I) than the native interaction bonuses. Since the only way to win the game is by killing every member of the King’s Royal Expeditionary Force (REF), it only make sense to be as militaristic as possible. But the native tolerance does help as I’ve been avoiding wars with natives or other European colonies in order to have a crushing defense.
I founded five cities: as I planned from the outset to use the honeypot strategy during the War of Independence I made one port with four inland cities. “Honeypot” is a name I came up with to describe this common strategy due to it’s passing similarity to the computer security technique.
This strategy involves maintaining one strong port city until the WoI, then all-but surrendering it to the REF at the outset of the war. Why? To take advantage of the crushing 100% settlement bombard bonus that cannons have. A contingent of cannons with solid dragoon support can capture cities quite easily, and with a good network of roads the dragoons can quickly respond to the REF out in the field.
So I will retake the port city then leave it once more with two or three sacrificial soldiers (those poor indentured servants). The REF will once again retake the city whereupon I can practice shooting fish in a barrel. Profit.
There is no question defending an inland empire is easier as well. With a solid network of roads and cities placed close together your dragoons can quickly respond any threat. Between the enemy placing troops in the roach motel of your port city and sending the rest on futile death marches, the theory is that you will whittle down the REF in no time.
But just getting to this point has been quite a trial for me. A few of the extremely important things I’ve learned so far:
Do not produce Liberty Bells until you are almost ready for war.
Build the Printing Press and Newspaper before slotting Elder Statesman, so that when you do they will begin your LB production with a bang. The size of the REF increases with your LB production, so you want to achieve the 50% support for Independence in as few turns as possible.
Starting with five cities ranging from 8-18 population, nine Elder Statesmen, five Printing Presses and three Newspapers it took me roughly 40 turns. I added some Free Colonists to the Town Halls and built a fourth Newspaper in that time.
Use Cannons exclusively for your pre-WoI army
Now, to be honest I do not exactly understand how this is all calculated yet, and I can not be assed to look it up right now. However, a very important consideration to make in determining your LB production is the size of your population.
If you have soldiers garrisoned in your city, they will count for your population but will somehow drag down your LB production (this is where I am hazy on details). Cannons for whatever reason are exempted from this. As you will be wanting a formidable army of cannons during your WoI it only makes sense to stock up on them as early as you can and use them to defend your cities from hostiles.
Food, Guns and Horses are the only commodities that matter
This is certainly not true, but I am trying to highlight their extreme importance. These are the raw materials for Dragoons, the top over-all military unit. Because anyone can become a Dragoon (or a Soldier), and because you are penalized in LB production for maintaining a standing army, it is wise to stock up on guns and horses for the end game WoI. Food will keep those future bullet-catchers popping out at a nice rate.
This last game, I had roughly 1200 Horses and 1000 Guns stockpiled and between that and my Cannon army I was easily showing King Louis who was boss. Sadly for me on this last run through, I ran out of time before the King sent all the troops over. I ended being short by about 15 turns, even.
Which means that as far as I can tell so far, it definitely takes longer than the 16 (give or take a couple) turns I was trying to win my WoI in. I figured that because I had the units and strategy I would be able to hand him his ass on a platter - and I did just that - but it took the King too long to actually ship his units to fight me, so he won by default.
To me that’s a weakness in the game (I declared in 1775 after all), but oh well. I will make sure to plan for it next time.I really wish there was more than one way to win this game.
I think I am going to spend a day or two using the map editor to run simulations on the fastest way to run up LB production and try to see just how population affects it. If I remember, I am totally baked right now.
