posted 04-19-06 05:16 AM EDT (US)
Ok, so I like this strat cause it's flexible, utilizing some good booming while at the same time allowing for turtling/map control. Factories hit the map lickity split, as well as a fort.
Let's get to it. FI Powerrrrrr!!!!
First thing: Cards. There are a few you MUST have; others compliment it, and the rest are open to your liking.
Must have: Factory, Robber Baron, 700 coin, 1000 coin, 1000 food, 1000 wood, 3 villagers, 3 Rockets.
Compliments: Glorious Revolution, Estates, 8 villagers, Fort, and personally I like to toss in a merc; I like the mediterrainian army.
This leaves 8 cards open for what you want. Be creative! Try new things! Find cards that better suit this? Offer advice and suggestions and I'll include it and give credit where it's due.
Now, onto the game. There is one thing I MUST say before we do anything. Depending on whether you get the starting crates of 200f-300w or 200f-200w-100c it'll be a little different in the early stage of the game, but it won't matter that much. You'll see. Get the crates movin', and train the vills. Construct ONE house. If you had the 200-300 crate start, as tempting as it is, hold of on a second manor. A second vill is great but the wood is more useful later. Send 3 vills and train till you have 17 total. I like 17. It's my favorite number. Only hunt in discovery. The reason for that is that you can go wood crazy while you age, and it won't affect your age time. Age up with the Governor(200 coin, outpost). While you age, send about 9 vills to cut wood. Build a TP when you get 250, and if you had 200-300 crates, send them now to a mine and collect 100 coin. Then send back to food when done. If you had 200-200-100, go stright to food. You should be able to send the 700 coin as soon as you reach II. Do so. Train 2 vills. Or 3. You decide. Age up with the Admiral of the Ocean Sea (400 wood, caravel) when you can afford it. Go food crazy while aging, and be sure to have 200 coin by the time you get there. Depending on your micro, macro, and treasures you'll get there at 7:20-7:50 Upon Age III, you'll have enough wood from the Admiral for a church and a house! Woot! Build both, and ship the 1000 coin. Train 1-2 vills; 20 total is pretty good. Age up with The tycoon(1000 coin). If you recieved the caravel, don't forget it! It's very useful, allowing you to gain food or coin or harass exposed fishie boats. Allocate villagers to have roughly 500 coin by the time you hit IV. The rest hunt and chop, constructing houses as you gather. You can also send the fort for resource/map control, a huge-ass forward base, or for good ol' turtling. Send the miners to gather the chests, and hit that Mercantilism! FI powerrrr!!!!! You'll have 4-5 Shipments ready by 11:20-12:00. How versatile! Ship two factories, 2000 resources, estates, or a merc army later on... Man! Factories make their presence by the ~12 minute mark, and a fort already has been for a good minute or so. Soon after you've got 1000 wood for a 2nd TC, two houses, and 100w left, or 6 houses with 100w left. Then send 1000 food to fuel double TC's or estates. Hope you guys find this insightful, and I'm always open to suggestions. Just reply in a cogent, polite manor. Thank you. I have some screenshots and replays, and I'll get those up soon. FI power!!!!!!! [This message has been edited by OpenAmp (edited 04-19-2006 @ 05:07 PM).]
