Winning on Deity level.

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.civ3 (More info?)

Having played Civ 3 on and off over the past year or so I tend to play on
Deity level cos it makes me work hard. However, I can only beat the computer
when I get a very good starting location and no other civilisations
initially close to me. Even then I find I can compete with the computer on
several fronts, but not on all.

For example, if I try and get a good infrastructure, i.e. lots of temples,
libraries, banks, etc., I fall behind on the military front and get creamed
by an AI faction that has built a massive army.conversely, if I build a
strong military, I fall behind on research and find my military is
obsolescent: try taking on tanks with cavalry.

My basic strategy at the moment is to try and stay out of wars at the start
and build up my strength while trading luxuries for techs, etc. I just hope
that my neighbours get involved in wars and waste their productive capacity
on constantly destroyed military units - while I am building infrastructure
and a reasonable military to dissuade aggressors.

I then try and join in a war when one of my neighbours is on the verge of
military defeat. Taking over a few cities and bringing in waiting settlers
into the gaps seems a cheap way of expanding territory. When this strategy
is exhausted I try and sign MMP's with everyone but my target faction while
at peace, then provoke that faction into declaring war, thus pitting them
against every other nation in the game.

Get this right and I win - but more often than not I lose.

Suggestions?

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.civ3 (More info?)

"Phil Wells" <phil-m.wells@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:iEmCc.330$e15.97@newsfe5-win...
> Having played Civ 3 on and off over the past year or so I tend to play on
> Deity level cos it makes me work hard. However, I can only beat the
computer
> when I get a very good starting location and no other civilisations
> initially close to me. Even then I find I can compete with the computer on
> several fronts, but not on all.
>
> For example, if I try and get a good infrastructure, i.e. lots of temples,
> libraries, banks, etc., I fall behind on the military front and get
creamed
> by an AI faction that has built a massive army.conversely, if I build a
> strong military, I fall behind on research and find my military is
> obsolescent: try taking on tanks with cavalry.
>
> My basic strategy at the moment is to try and stay out of wars at the
start
> and build up my strength while trading luxuries for techs, etc. I just
hope
> that my neighbours get involved in wars and waste their productive
capacity
> on constantly destroyed military units - while I am building
infrastructure
> and a reasonable military to dissuade aggressors.
>
> I then try and join in a war when one of my neighbours is on the verge of
> military defeat. Taking over a few cities and bringing in waiting settlers
> into the gaps seems a cheap way of expanding territory. When this strategy
> is exhausted I try and sign MMP's with everyone but my target faction
while
> at peace, then provoke that faction into declaring war, thus pitting them
> against every other nation in the game.
>
> Get this right and I win - but more often than not I lose.
>
> Suggestions?

All i know about deity level is you can'y try and research. Buy it from the
other civs after most of them have it.

Check out www.civfanatics.com
Lots of info and good players there

 

[alex]

Archived from groups: alt.games.civ3 (More info?)

"Phil Wells" <phil-m.wells@ntlworld.com> wrote in message news:iEmCc.330$e15.97@newsfe5-win...
> Having played Civ 3 on and off over the past year or so I tend to play on
> Deity level cos it makes me work hard. However, I can only beat the computer
> when I get a very good starting location and no other civilisations
> initially close to me. Even then I find I can compete with the computer on
> several fronts, but not on all.
>
> For example, if I try and get a good infrastructure, i.e. lots of temples,
> libraries, banks, etc., I fall behind on the military front and get creamed
> by an AI faction that has built a massive army.conversely, if I build a
> strong military, I fall behind on research and find my military is
> obsolescent: try taking on tanks with cavalry.
>
> My basic strategy at the moment is to try and stay out of wars at the start
> and build up my strength while trading luxuries for techs, etc. I just hope
> that my neighbours get involved in wars and waste their productive capacity
> on constantly destroyed military units - while I am building infrastructure
> and a reasonable military to dissuade aggressors.
>
> I then try and join in a war when one of my neighbours is on the verge of
> military defeat. Taking over a few cities and bringing in waiting settlers
> into the gaps seems a cheap way of expanding territory. When this strategy
> is exhausted I try and sign MMP's with everyone but my target faction while
> at peace, then provoke that faction into declaring war, thus pitting them
> against every other nation in the game.
>

IMHO what you described above sounds like very intelligent strategy.
I routinely use similar strategy at Emperor with a great success,
but never tried it at Deity level.
I plan to give Deity a trial coming the independence day weekend,
but from what you say it looks like I will have little success.

Anyway, please keep us posted.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.civ3 (More info?)

Can't speak about Diety level, but there is a general strategy I use at any
level. Keep in mind that YOU are the ultimate Diety in this game and the
ultimate choice is to turn it off or start a new game LOL. My very first
strategy is to assess where my starting position is on the world or land
mass. If I am at one extreme or the other, no good. I don't stand a chance
because as I settle out new cities they will all be farther away from the
capital and the palace. So dissention and corruption will be working
against me the whole way, and things won't improve until I build a Forbidden
Palace. Chances are that I never get there because barbarians are going
harass and destroy to the point of futile weakling. The solution is "New
Game".

I like to start out with a location that allows a somewhat central capitol
location. Some may consider this wussying out. But, if the rules are
mathematically orientated, then start the game with at least an even chance.

Vsyxx
"Phil Wells" <phil-m.wells@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:iEmCc.330$e15.97@newsfe5-win...
> Having played Civ 3 on and off over the past year or so I tend to play on
> Deity level cos it makes me work hard. However, I can only beat the
computer
> when I get a very good starting location and no other civilisations
> initially close to me. Even then I find I can compete with the computer on
> several fronts, but not on all.
>
> For example, if I try and get a good infrastructure, i.e. lots of temples,
> libraries, banks, etc., I fall behind on the military front and get
creamed
> by an AI faction that has built a massive army.conversely, if I build a
> strong military, I fall behind on research and find my military is
> obsolescent: try taking on tanks with cavalry.
>
> My basic strategy at the moment is to try and stay out of wars at the
start
> and build up my strength while trading luxuries for techs, etc. I just
hope
> that my neighbours get involved in wars and waste their productive
capacity
> on constantly destroyed military units - while I am building
infrastructure
> and a reasonable military to dissuade aggressors.
>
> I then try and join in a war when one of my neighbours is on the verge of
> military defeat. Taking over a few cities and bringing in waiting settlers
> into the gaps seems a cheap way of expanding territory. When this strategy
> is exhausted I try and sign MMP's with everyone but my target faction
while
> at peace, then provoke that faction into declaring war, thus pitting them
> against every other nation in the game.
>
> Get this right and I win - but more often than not I lose.
>
> Suggestions?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.civ3 (More info?)

"The Stare" <wat1@not.likely.frontiernet.net> wrote in message
news:KpmCc.13$Fj2.5@news02.roc.ny...
>
> "Phil Wells" <phil-m.wells@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
> news:iEmCc.330$e15.97@newsfe5-win...
> > Having played Civ 3 on and off over the past year or so I tend to play
on
> > Deity level cos it makes me work hard. However, I can only beat the
> computer
> > when I get a very good starting location and no other civilisations
> > initially close to me. Even then I find I can compete with the computer
on
> > several fronts, but not on all.
> >
> > For example, if I try and get a good infrastructure, i.e. lots of
temples,
> > libraries, banks, etc., I fall behind on the military front and get
> creamed
> > by an AI faction that has built a massive army.conversely, if I build a
> > strong military, I fall behind on research and find my military is
> > obsolescent: try taking on tanks with cavalry.
> >
> > My basic strategy at the moment is to try and stay out of wars at the
> start
> > and build up my strength while trading luxuries for techs, etc. I just
> hope
> > that my neighbours get involved in wars and waste their productive
> capacity
> > on constantly destroyed military units - while I am building
> infrastructure
> > and a reasonable military to dissuade aggressors.
> >
> > I then try and join in a war when one of my neighbours is on the verge
of
> > military defeat. Taking over a few cities and bringing in waiting
settlers
> > into the gaps seems a cheap way of expanding territory. When this
strategy
> > is exhausted I try and sign MMP's with everyone but my target faction
> while
> > at peace, then provoke that faction into declaring war, thus pitting
them
> > against every other nation in the game.
> >
> > Get this right and I win - but more often than not I lose.
> >
> > Suggestions?
>
> All i know about deity level is you can'y try and research. Buy it from
the
> other civs after most of them have it.
>
> Check out www.civfanatics.com
> Lots of info and good players there
>
>

This might make Great Library a key wonder to go after. I was
'wondering'...uh ...is there anyway in Civ3/Conquests to increase one's
chances of getting a certain wonder that one 'goes' after? In Civ2 of
course, one could build caravans and supply trucks and 'hurry' the build on
wonders. In Civ3, other than developing the terrain around the city with
more workers, I haven't discovered how one might 'hurry' a wonder. Losing
all those 'shields' when a competing civ builds a wonder before you is
another one of them things I don't like about Civ3...but have gotten used
to. Any techniques by the experts here [ha, by the Sid level players,
hehe]...or even the chieftains like me.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.civ3 (More info?)

"Vsyxx" <vsyxx@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:eoDCc.104$ak6.46@bignews5.bellsouth.net...
> Can't speak about Diety level, but there is a general strategy I use at
any
> level. Keep in mind that YOU are the ultimate Diety in this game and the
> ultimate choice is to turn it off or start a new game LOL. My very first
> strategy is to assess where my starting position is on the world or land
> mass. If I am at one extreme or the other, no good. I don't stand a
chance
> because as I settle out new cities they will all be farther away from the
> capital and the palace. So dissention and corruption will be working
> against me the whole way, and things won't improve until I build a
Forbidden
> Palace. Chances are that I never get there because barbarians are going
> harass and destroy to the point of futile weakling. The solution is "New
> Game".
>
> I like to start out with a location that allows a somewhat central capitol
> location. Some may consider this wussying out. But, if the rules are
> mathematically orientated, then start the game with at least an even
chance.
>

Hey, I entirely agree. I can tell pretty early on if I'm screwed by
placement on the map. The AI agressively tries to cut you off if it can.
Something else I consider are my neighbors. If Rome or Germany are next
door, I can be assured of war early on and often [not sure about additional
civs under conquests yet...like maybe the Mongols?]. Anyway, I have no
hesitation in just starting up a new game. Call me 'wus' all you like,
ha...but I play for enjoyment. Civ3 is more stacked against you than
earlier versions...but I also like how the game plays 'realistically' and
more 'balanced'...e.g., for example one is dealing with spearman or tanks in
the appropriate ages, under all civs etc.
So, I've come to accept the often biased AI.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.civ3 (More info?)

"tooly" <rdh11@bellsouth.net> wrote in
news:ZnECc.373$ak6.299@bignews5.bellsouth.net:

[snip]
>
> This might make Great Library a key wonder to go after. I was
> 'wondering'...uh ...is there anyway in Civ3/Conquests to
> increase one's chances of getting a certain wonder that one 'goes'
> after? In Civ2 of course, one could build caravans and supply
> trucks and 'hurry' the build on wonders. In Civ3, other than
> developing the terrain around the city with more workers, I
> haven't discovered how one might 'hurry' a wonder. Losing all
> those 'shields' when a competing civ builds a wonder before you is
> another one of them things I don't like about Civ3...but have
> gotten used to. Any techniques by the experts here [ha, by the
> Sid level players, hehe]...or even the chieftains like me.

Sid level players don't build wonders. On Sid level, and for the
most part any level above Emperor, if you want a wonder you go capture
it after the AI builds it.
Otherwise the best way to get a wonder is to build your Palace in a
high production, low corruption city. Then when you get the technology
for the wonder in question, switch the Palace build to the wonder.

--
ICQ: 8105495
AIM: KeeperGFA
EMail: thekeeper@canada.com
"If we did the things we are capable of,
we would astound ourselves." - Edison

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.civ3 (More info?)

"Kevin 'Keeper' Foster" <thekeeper@canada.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9512A33709582kdfosterrogerscom@130.133.1.4...
> "tooly" <rdh11@bellsouth.net> wrote in
> news:ZnECc.373$ak6.299@bignews5.bellsouth.net:
>
> [snip]
> >
> > This might make Great Library a key wonder to go after. I was
> > 'wondering'...uh ...is there anyway in Civ3/Conquests to
> > increase one's chances of getting a certain wonder that one 'goes'
> > after? In Civ2 of course, one could build caravans and supply
> > trucks and 'hurry' the build on wonders. In Civ3, other than
> > developing the terrain around the city with more workers, I
> > haven't discovered how one might 'hurry' a wonder. Losing all
> > those 'shields' when a competing civ builds a wonder before you is
> > another one of them things I don't like about Civ3...but have
> > gotten used to. Any techniques by the experts here [ha, by the
> > Sid level players, hehe]...or even the chieftains like me.
>
> Sid level players don't build wonders. On Sid level, and for the
> most part any level above Emperor, if you want a wonder you go capture
> it after the AI builds it.
> Otherwise the best way to get a wonder is to build your Palace in a
> high production, low corruption city. Then when you get the technology
> for the wonder in question, switch the Palace build to the wonder.
>
> --
> ICQ: 8105495
> AIM: KeeperGFA
> EMail: thekeeper@canada.com
> "If we did the things we are capable of,
> we would astound ourselves." - Edison

Ah, great...yea, why didn't I think of that. Thanks.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.civ3 (More info?)

"Vsyxx" <vsyxx@bellsouth.net> wrote in
news:eoDCc.104$ak6.46@bignews5.bellsouth.net:

> Can't speak about Diety level, but there is a general strategy I
> use at any level. Keep in mind that YOU are the ultimate Diety in
> this game and the ultimate choice is to turn it off or start a new
> game LOL.
[snip]

I consider any restarted games to be a loss, and I don't like losing
to the computer so I only very rarely restart. That said - I do play
on Monarch level where almost any start position is recoverable in the
(sometimes very) long run.
Another thing to consider -- In my experience good start locations
lead to easy games while bad start locations lead to more fun and
challenging games.

--
ICQ: 8105495
AIM: KeeperGFA
EMail: thekeeper@canada.com
"If we did the things we are capable of,
we would astound ourselves." - Edison

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.civ3 (More info?)

<Snip>
"alex" <invalid@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:gvrCc.76822$x26.25850@newssvr29.news.prodigy.com...

IMHO what you described above sounds like very intelligent strategy. I
routinely use similar strategy at Emperor with a great success,
but never tried it at Deity level. I plan to give Deity a trial coming the
independence day weekend, but from what you say it looks like I will have
little success.

Anyway, please keep us posted.
<Snip>

Deity is hard work. From memory the computer starts with 2 settlers and 4
warriors, not to mention a 40% better growth rate. Don't bet on getting any
Great Wonders except by conquest - the computer finishes them about the time
you are thinking of starting them. It's hard enough just to survive.

The two things I think you can use in the very early part of the game to
offset the computer's advantage are:

(a) The computer tends to put its cities into a grid designed to allow them
to grow to full size later in the game. I tend to build my initial cities
really close to avoid corruption and minimise settler travel time.

My first city builds three warriors, followed by a granary. One warrior
explores - the other two act as police to allow my city to grow to size 3
before civil disorder. After the granary is built I build either warriors or
settlers - nothing else apart from another worker. I try and keep the city
size at 3 or 4 so as to work as many squares as possible allowing for civil
disorder.

My first 4 cities go out two squares diagonally from my capital so they form
a square round it. (Only a single square between them and my capital!) They
either build warriors or granaries, with the occasional worker.

My next 4 cities go out three squares at right angles to my capital. Again
they either build warriors or granaries, with the occasional worker. I build
warriors because they are quick - I want to start the granaries as soon as
possible, (after two warriors garrison for police effect).

Basically, I am trying to get 9 cities up and running with granaries as soon
as possible - so I can pump out settlers/spearmen to settle the rest of the
map. I also tend to build a temple in each of these 'core' cities in
rotation to get a bit of culture going. I don't build more than one temple
at a time because this cuts down on me pumping out settlers and spearmen.

It's only these 9 cities that are going to really have a productive
capacity - anything outside of them tends to suffer from corruption. I just
make sure they are reasonably garrisoned with spearmen and working on
temples that I can rush build at the appropriate time.

The other thing I make sure to start early is temple followed by forbidden
palace about 7 - 8 squares from my capital. It's typically the first city I
build outside my core. I want this finished as soon as possible for two
reasons. Firstly, corruption worsens as I build more cities, and I want a
head start on finishing the FP. Secondly, the FP improves the efficiency of
my empire - the sooner it is finished the better.

(b) The computer tends to march its settlers over unchanged terrain - it
doesn't build roads to speed things up.

I keep most of my workers developing around my core cities. Some however I
set to building roads out to when my outer cities are going to end up. My
settler then travel three squares a time to get to their finishing position
as soon as possible. I want to get as many luxuries and resources as I can.
However, I try to keep a balance between military strength and expansion -
if I expand too fast and don't garrison properly the AI tends to wipe me out
militarily.

Comments.

The computer senses military weakness very quickly at Deity level. Core
cities only get two defenders, (often just warriors), mainly for the police
effect. Cities close to enemy frontiers get at least 3 spearmen as
defenders, boosted up to 4 as soon as I can. I also have a few horsemen that
can be rushed around the map to danger points - (6 squares along the roads).
The horsemen can either bring the garrison numbers up, or try and reduce the
combat effectiveness of an invading force by reducing the hit points of
individual units - damaged units tend to head outside of your borders to
heal. I try not to build archers - if I can hook up to iron early then I
want swordsmen as they are better attackers.

Having a weakly defended frontier city just seems to provoke the computer
into attacking.

I invariably end up behind on culture and research. I try and catch up on
research by trading, while hoping the AI factions knock the hell out of each
other and let me expand in peace, at least until I am militarily strong
enough to clobber a weak faction. The culture tends to catch up later.

That said, I think this strategy is in need of improvement - the computer
outperforms me by quite a margin.

Suggestions welcome...

Phil.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.civ3 (More info?)

"tooly" <rdh11@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:kxHCc.1165$ak6.1161@bignews5.bellsouth.net...
>
ak6.299@bignews5.bellsouth.net:
> >
> > [snip]
>
> Ah, great...yea, why didn't I think of that. Thanks.
>
>
I play at emperor level. In recent games I have gambled on building GL.
After Literature, I reduce research to 10% or one scientist.

Any small wonder can be used in capital as a prebuild for a great
wonder. Heroic Epic might become available to you early on. Later in
game, use Military Academy (400 shields as is Newtons university).

If you are in no hurry for FP use this for prebuild in second best city.
At 200 shields, this is 1/2 to 2/3 of most AA wonders.

If i have been at war (and therefore slow with improvements), I might
use University or Bank as prebuild for Factory. This will give me more
shields, but means I miss out on the gold boost of the other
improvements. However, if this strategy means I produce a rifleman in
two goes rather than three or more, I am in a position to win the arms
race.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.civ3 (More info?)

In article <2sDDc.380$WZ4.246@newsfe3-gui>, "Caesar" <caesar.of.rome@ntlworld.com> wrote:
>
>Any small wonder can be used in capital as a prebuild for a great
>wonder. Heroic Epic might become available to you early on. Later in
>game, use Military Academy (400 shields as is Newtons university).

Once you have completed the Military Academy you can use Armies as pre-builds.
That makes their expense (400 shields) an asset.


Mike G

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.civ3 (More info?)

In article <Xns9512A33709582kdfosterrogerscom@130.133.1.4>, Kevin
'Keeper' Foster wrote:
> "tooly" <rdh11@bellsouth.net> wrote in
> news:ZnECc.373$ak6.299@bignews5.bellsouth.net:
>
> [snip]
>>
>> This might make Great Library a key wonder to go after. I was
>> 'wondering'...uh ...is there anyway in Civ3/Conquests to
>> increase one's chances of getting a certain wonder that one 'goes'
>> after? In Civ2 of course, one could build caravans and supply
>> trucks and 'hurry' the build on wonders. In Civ3, other than
>> developing the terrain around the city with more workers, I
>> haven't discovered how one might 'hurry' a wonder. Losing all
>> those 'shields' when a competing civ builds a wonder before you is
>> another one of them things I don't like about Civ3...but have
>> gotten used to. Any techniques by the experts here [ha, by the
>> Sid level players, hehe]...or even the chieftains like me.
>
> Sid level players don't build wonders. On Sid level, and for the
> most part any level above Emperor, if you want a wonder you go capture
> it after the AI builds it.
> Otherwise the best way to get a wonder is to build your Palace in a
> high production, low corruption city. Then when you get the technology
> for the wonder in question, switch the Palace build to the wonder.

I've played 5-6 Deity games, and have been winning since losing the
first two. I've never built any Ancient or Medieval wonder. Even
pre-building using the Palace is too wasteful - your city could churn
out 20 settlers or 12 settlers-spear pairs instead of a 600-shield
wonder. Think of what 12 extra cities can do for you.

As for keeping pace in tech, do 2-fers, 3-fers, whatever. Your rep is
golden - never break it or act in a risky manner, incl. trading through
a shaky trade route.

In the Industrial and Modern Ages, stealing is the only way to keep
parity. Of course, use spies to steal and not the embassy - spies work
better.

So how do you get so much gold? Republic and Marketplaces are key, with
Banks next. In the IA, Wall Street is also important on sizes below
Standard.

Finally, never build libraries/universities, unless you're scientific,
or unless you want to research a Modern Age tech (in which case, build
them then). Even if you're scientific, your libraries won't do anything
to you in the Ancient and the Middle Ages - you could build them for
cheap culture - that is all.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.civ3 (More info?)

In article <XEGCc.784$zt.355@newsfe1-gui.server.ntli.net>, Phil Wells wrote:

> (a) The computer tends to put its cities into a grid designed to allow them
> to grow to full size later in the game. I tend to build my initial cities
> really close to avoid corruption and minimise settler travel time.
>
> My first city builds three warriors, followed by a granary. One warrior
> explores - the other two act as police to allow my city to grow to size 3
> before civil disorder.

I'd rather increase lux tax - you gain 20 shields at the cost of some 10
gold pieces. Of course, the warriors might also be useful later, so this
is probably a matter of taste.

> After the granary is built I build either warriors or settlers -
> nothing else apart from another worker. I try and keep the city size
> at 3 or 4 so as to work as many squares as possible allowing for civil
> disorder.

I'm afraid I differ completely - first priority is for all cities other
than my settler or worker factory is to reach 6/12 and work all the
squares; you could always increase lux tax if people are unhappy. In my
opinion, you need every single bit of production and commerce your
citizens can provide you.

> My first 4 cities go out two squares diagonally from my capital so
> they form a square round it. (Only a single square between them and my
> capital!) They either build warriors or granaries, with the occasional
> worker.

This is probably a matter of taste too. A lot of people term this sort
of close spacing ICS (Infinite City Sprawl) and dislike it. ICS probably
works better in the early ages, but I understand it can bite you later
in the IA. I don't know - never tried it myself. Personally, I space
cities so that they have 18-19 squares to work with in the end.

BTW, the AI does worse than this - the AI actually criminally *wastes*
squares near its capital, by building cities too far apart.

<snip>

> The other thing I make sure to start early is temple followed by
> forbidden palace about 7 - 8 squares from my capital. It's typically
> the first city I build outside my core. I want this finished as soon
> as possible for two reasons. Firstly, corruption worsens as I build
> more cities, and I want a head start on finishing the FP. Secondly,
> the FP improves the efficiency of my empire - the sooner it is
> finished the better.

Definitely. Especially in C3C, an early FP is better than an optimally
placed FP.

> (b) The computer tends to march its settlers over unchanged terrain -
> it doesn't build roads to speed things up.
>
> I keep most of my workers developing around my core cities. Some
> however I set to building roads out to when my outer cities are going
> to end up. My settler then travel three squares a time to get to their
> finishing position as soon as possible. I want to get as many luxuries
> and resources as I can. However, I try to keep a balance between
> military strength and expansion - if I expand too fast and don't
> garrison properly the AI tends to wipe me out militarily.

Great idea. Just to add to this, many people, from what I've seen, build
too few workers. Its actually tempting to build an extra settler or
spear rather than a worker, but believe me, you need close to 1.5
workers per city if you're not industrious and 1 per city if you are.

> The computer senses military weakness very quickly at Deity level.
> Core cities only get two defenders, (often just warriors), mainly for
> the police effect. Cities close to enemy frontiers get at least 3
> spearmen as defenders, boosted up to 4 as soon as I can. I also have a
> few horsemen that can be rushed around the map to danger points - (6
> squares along the roads). The horsemen can either bring the garrison
> numbers up, or try and reduce the combat effectiveness of an invading
> force by reducing the hit points of individual units - damaged units
> tend to head outside of your borders to heal. I try not to build
> archers - if I can hook up to iron early then I want swordsmen as they
> are better attackers.
>
> Having a weakly defended frontier city just seems to provoke the
> computer into attacking.

Definitely. The AI "knows" how many defenders you have in each city. I
however haven't seen the need for 3 spearmen per city; I've been
fortunate enough to be attacked very rarely. Maybe my constant trading
lux and resources helps. The most important thing is to give in to *all*
demands up until maybe the IA. Lastly, if I *am* attacked, military
alliances help greatly by distracting the AI.

> I invariably end up behind on culture and research. I try and catch up
> on research by trading, while hoping the AI factions knock the hell
> out of each other and let me expand in peace, at least until I am
> militarily strong enough to clobber a weak faction. The culture tends
> to catch up later.

Culture? It's impossible to keep up in Deity - you'll eventually end up
being "in awe of" everyone else. Tech is easier - clever 2-fers and
3-fers help. Another strategy that the AI never uses but is very handy
is selling your last resource; Horses is especially useful as it doesn't
move and wouldn't shred your rep.

--
Ambarish