Science of Strategy

For my next experiment with Civ, I decided to create a military power and win the game with my hordes of soldiers and experience in conquerization.

In setting up my cities, I stumbled across the age old guns-and-butter dilemma first introduced to us early on in class. In my history class on Hitler and Nazi Germany, we learned that Hitler also faced a guns-and-butter dilemma (verbatim, guns-and-butter) but much more extreme. They had a choice between complete military mobilization or feeding their people. They chose military mobilization, and a few weeks later had control of both Czechoslovakia and Austria, countries which provided them with the resources they needed to feed the people.


My game was difficult in the beginning, but I kept my core cities down to four so that I would focus on speeding production in those cities to turn out a considerable army early on. I decided to develop almost exclusively the discipline of science as it would help me gain important military advantages. (ex. nuclear research to develop the atomic bomb. gunpowder. etc)

In games past, I have always preferred to develop culturally, because I like building the Hagia Sofia and the Great Pyramids, so it was different to exclude that discipline in developing my country. Also, I didn't explore much in the area of religion, until it was absolutely necessary. And then, I didn't worry about it too much- hindus or buddhists or christians, makes no difference in the game.

My strategy worked to a certain extent. Sure, my people weren't the happiest, but I was playing in a lower skill level of the game anyways, so no one up and left. So far I have taken over all of Africa and most of Europe. By the time the game is over, I hope to have completely dominated the globe... unless those pesky Americans get in the way.