Structurals are 80 sheilds a pop,so thats 1 per turn for 15 turns.

Components(160 sheilds) are done by disbanding a caravan.Rushing a structural, then switching to component.Thats 22 turns.

Great job

contact with other civs is very important.The sooner the better.Early coddling to them pays off with tribute from alliances.Periodic gifting of techs,exchanges of maps can get you the receptive,cordial or worshipful attitude you want.I'll gift/exchange up to but not including flight.No Astronomy until Cope's is built.No medicine until Shakes is built etc.

Trade routes make a huge difference.Probably a good idea to be in Republic before first one is setup in addition to having a market.

Following a precise tech path is important as several techs are not needed for success.There is no strategy for not being offered the right tech.If possible,pick something the ai has and try to trade for it.

The first "we love" days under Republic are pretty important too.You want swell up to 12 while ais are 5 or 6.Up to 21 while ais are mostly still 8.

If you follow Paul's strategy you will have success.Maybe not 1800 something but success.

When do you develope Flight? That seems like a critical decision as it makes Collosus obselete. With my nip and tuck OCC games, I usually wait until I have robotics and Laser and then I go for Flight. Sometimes I have a choice between Flight and Amphibious warfare and Theology and maybe Guerilla Warfare....

I was also wondering about defensing the One City. Do you build alot of fortresses in mountain squares four of five squares away?

One neat OCC tactic is to use all those Freight to fill the lands around your city so no diplomats or settlers can approach or encroach.

Oh, also, when talking about caravans/frieght, you always use the word, disband! Don't you help 'build the wonder' and then switch to components or modules without penalty? That was Scouse Gits revelation.

Thanks for your great ideas. I've managed to squeak by 4 or 5 times now. I do really well when I have a city in remote lands given a whale and river and maybe Gold. One of these days I'm going to find that third whale and have monarchy prior to cultivation!

Bronze
Monarchy
Writing
Trade
Construction
+Republic+
+Astronomy+--(one of these 2 usually via Philosophy)
Medicine
Sanitation
University
Banking
Gravity
Democracy
Economics
Explosives
Refrigeration
Railroad
Automobile
Computers
Robotics
Spaceflight
Plastics
Super Conductor
Fusion Power

this is the "goal" path.Not the exact path.So Flight is after Robotics but before Laser.You want to be building the SS as you discover new parts.

Defense is dictated by terrain and ai activity.If you can setup a "chokepoint" then by all means.If I start seeing ai units or heavy barb activity,I'll build a fortress to keep them from pillaging.If its close,then you want advance warning of approaching dips.So patrolling or blocking may be required.

I like to let ai caravans thru and bribe them(if possible) and send em back.

I usually disband as sometimes there is no wonder available.And with 80 or more sheilds it might not be necessary.And,to be honest,I only recently found out switching from a wonder to SS part has no sheild loss penalty.Worth a further look for sure.

Arrived here in SF about 11 years ago from the Cold Cold NY netherregions. On that '88 day it was sprinkling in mid April and I remember the townfolks were complaining that it was a cold, wet day. I laughed in that balmy mist, now I'm a spoiled fair weather camper. Incredible day out there! September to November is suppose to be great here...but now I'm thinkin' late December is the best. Are you returning from Australia?

Enjoy the golf, there's just got to be a stormy day after the millenium for Civ.

Start building colossus after you have built the two warriors for martial law.... got to get the extra science down as fast as possible.... and then even if you have your three trade routes established.... sometimes a new commodity will come up.... if it does build another caravan and send it out.

The computer has this thing of allowing you some extra commodities even though in theory you will still only have three trade routes.

I'm not about to challenge Paul's record. I'm lucky to have 1922 as my best AC year in OCC. I win regularly now. But cutting 119 years from my personal record seems impossible. But that doesn't mean I'm not trying to break 1900

My problem with the four whales comparison game is I can't seem to download the damn thing--and I'll never find 4 frickin' whales on my own. It's either browser incompatible or I have a computer problem. I go to Paul's page and place the mouse on the hyperlink and I get Civil[followed by ascii.] Any suggestions would be welcome.

Hey War4ever, tell us about your impending OCC game.

And Good luck.