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[Scouse Gits]

Dave V - Thanks. So your capital is not developed any more than the rest of the "sleaze" cities?
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SG (2)

[DaveV]

SG2 - yes, with a couple exceptions. Usually I'll try to grow the capital to size 3 so I can pick up a couple extra trade arrows via WLTKD (using HG). If my capital is near water, I'll build city walls there at about the time I discover Chivalry, just in case a barb ship full of Knights or Crusaders comes calling. My capital also holds all my wonders.

edit: replied to the wrong Scouse Git!
[This message has been edited by DaveV (edited March 10, 2000).]

[Scouse Gits]

Sounds interesting, Dave. I will try your method in my next ICS game.
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SG (2)

[vik]

So that's how DaveV does it, Khan Man.

Personally, my "SCC" has a few tech improvements like a library and/or university.

I'm also toying with the idea of taking one or two 'sleaze' cities, and after kicking out a couple of settlers, get them working on a wonder. If they start working on a wonder in 2000 bc, then they should be ripe and ready to complete SoL or Leo's as soon as i discover invention/democracy.

thoughts?

[DaveV]

Vik - I don't like to build wonders until I need them. If you build settlers in 2000 BC instead of starting a wonder, you will have a lot more cities by 500 BC. Building lots of cities quickly is what ICS is all about.

Trade is my second priority tech, after Monarchy, and I generally build my wonders in a single turn using 4-8 caravans. This works fine for me against the AI, since their high-priority wonders are not mine (Pyramids, Colossus). It's not so reliable in multi-player.

With respect to the library and university: I always frame things in terms of number of settlers. For the price of a library, you could have 2 settlers; for the price of a university, 4 settlers. You need a pretty good capital for the improvements to generate more arrows than the new cities (and their progeny) would produce. In addition, the new cities will generate cash, while the improvements will consume cash.