Strategic directions - long-term planning

[Gold Ergo Sum]

So I suppose this is the forum to discuss the benefits of the possible Oracle/Currency plan.

I would like to throw my hat into the ring for this one.

From my perspective, even if we miss out on Oracle, the path includes techs which are beneficial. A library in the capital with Writing would be solid, and the sooner we get Math chops available, the better. I do think HR/OR have better overall value for us, but the chance of landing Currency seems pretty damn awesome.

I could live with Oracle/MC, but unless we find another metal or gems lying about, forges are less important in the short term. And I haven't seen anything convince me that Colossus is a priority build so far.

The downside everyone sees in the Currency plan is the chance of losing Oracle. I think we could mitigate that somewhat by paying attention to when Buddhism falls. Given how late it looks like 'Henge is going to fall, I think Oracle is likely to fall pretty slowly too, especially in the absence of marble (I am thinking plako left out stone/marble, I could be wrong) or IND leaders. And as 7 said, getting to use Math chops on Oracle makes it that much more efficient.

I feel the reward is very high with this plan, and the downside, losing Oracle, just isn't that big of a loss. And even if we lose Oracle, we would probably just tech Currency right then, which isn't a terrible overall plan anyway.

[darrelljs]

I'd rather not go for The Oracle at all, use that production on expansion, beeline HR, and grow vertically onto FIN cottages.

Darrell

P.S. That was not aimed at your post GES, just my thoughts from reading the micro thread.

[kjn]

I'd rather not go for The Oracle at all, use that production on expansion, beeline HR, and grow vertically onto FIN cottages.

The Oracle is a settler and a worker, basically.

There are lots of land out there, and if we grow vertically (on our five certain cities right now) on HR each pop point will increase in cost, from 2F 1C per pop marginal pop point per turn to 2F 2C, and the investment per extra pop point will increase with 25H (for the MP unit). We also yield the initiative in claiming land and expanding.

Ie, we will tie up our production in keeping our population happy. Once we've had to build 6 MP archers, then we've spent the hammers that we needed for Oracle (vastly simplified, I know).

Currency, on the other hand, will increase our ability to plant new cities since each new city will contribute more to the empire from the turn of founding, and that will also make it easier for us to claim new resources that can increase the size of our existing cities.

Going Math also opens up Calendar, and we have no less than four calendar resources visible right now (3 happiness and one health).

[Gold Ergo Sum]

Going Math also opens up Calendar, and we have no less than four calendar resources visible right now (3 happiness and one health).

And Mausoleum should be our main Wonder target, IMO. If we get that, our tech rate leads me to believe we can get Taj, and that means we might be able to pull off one of those ludicrous 36 straight turns of GAge or something.

[kjn]

And don't forget the Hanging Gardens - it's another of those wonders that only gets better the more cities you have.

So Math has a lot to offer as our next target, both in itself and as a stepping-stone to other things.

[NobleHelium]

Hanging Gardens is overrated. Math is certainly a great tech for sure though.

[T-hawk]

In the highest scoring Civ 4 game of all time, Oracle - Currency was a key move. I'm all for it here. Didn't we identify that commerce would be the key factor on this map and game setup, more so than production?

Currency is so great for a slingshot because it starts working immediately, rather than after 120 hammers of forges or courthouses or 35 hammers of police units. Mathematics is similar, where its benefits start as soon as you chop any forest. Hed Rule is tempting, but those police units are NOT cheap, either in hammers or maintenance.

If we Oracle Currency, we're going to run away with the game. If we research up to Monarch normally, that's a good play too, but it's not gamebreaking.

[pindicator]

Hey, read through the micro and discussion threads and I'm going to give my vote to Oracle Currency, but I want to point out what was said at the very beginning of the thread:

The Oracle is nice with the high tech costs, but I view it more as a target of opportunity: if it's still there when we research Priesthood and we can chop it quickly, then go for it.

Unless that sentiment has changed, it's nice to get the Oracle, but it looks like we weren't expecting to base our game around it. So it's not the end of the world if we decide to turn that Oracle into a settler & a worker, or if we let it slide in favor of developing.

Now to find a sandbox and see just how fast we can Oracle something like Currency...

[SleepingMoogle]

Indeed.. has anyone sandboxed the Oracle micro already, and measured it up to a turn plan that focuses on expansion?

[SevenSpirits]

No micro plans yet, and it's difficult because we don't know where we'll be expanding to. But I guess we have a couple visible options, and it would be good to see how fast we'd get math if we settle them.