Senate

Well. I feel all must be acquainted with the senate. But I'm sure most of you must be wondering which goverment to pick while playing. In this post, I'll explain about the senate and guide you how to pick a government.

What is a Senate?

- It is a building which when built at any other city besides your capital, changes that city to your new capital.
- Senate also allows you to research systems of government.
- Also recieve a unique General, the Patriot, with each form of goverment.
- The Patriot returns to the Senate (after a delay) when killed. If your Senate is captured, the Patriot will return at a nearby city.

Which age you get which government?

- In age 2

• Despotism - Military research and Barracks units 15% cheaper; receive the Despot Patriot (a General who also provides supply, Line-of-Sight, and plunder bonuses).
• Republic - Commerce Limit increased by 50; receive The Senate Patriot (a General who also provdes healing, bribing, and building defense bonuses).

- In age 4

• Monarchy - Stable units are 25% cheaper and faster to build; receive The King Patriot (a General who also provides supply, siege, and mounted combat benefits).
• Democracy - Non-Library technologies 20% cheaper; receive The President Patriot ( a General who also provides production, building, and healing benefits).

- In age 6

• Socialism - Factory, Airbase and Dock units 20% cheaper and faster to build; receive The Comrade Patriot (a General who also provides supply, combat and assimilation benefits).
• Capitalism - Receive +100 Oil income and 500 Oil; receive the CEO Patriot (a General who also provides defense, range and healing benefits).

How to pick?

- Selecting a senate depends on the situation of the game.
- In general,

• When you are in a defending position, you pick the second one i.e republic, democracy and capitalism.
• When you are in an attacking position, you pick the first one i.e despotism, monarchy and socialism.

- But with some nations you need to pick certain type of government to gain more benefits out of it.
- Picking between socialism and capitalism depends on the scenario. Mostly go with capitalism because you get 500 oil and the oil income starts going. But if you are on the attacking end and in a position where you have to hold on a city (capital), go with socialism.
- Some players prefer age 4-5 kill. They go republic followed by monarchy and then kill. Its totally depenent on the scenario of the game.

Few exceptions to the general mindset:

- When you are against a Russian opponent, you should research despotism and monarchy.
Reason : You dont want your units burning in its territory. If you go republic, even your general gets attrition damage in its territory.
- When you are Aztecs, you should research despotism, monarchy and socialism at all scenarios.
Reason : Plunder benefits 
- When you are Americans, you should research monarchy in age 4.
Reason : Plunder benefits.
- When you are Romans, you should research despotism and monarchy at all scenerios.
Reason : Plunder benefits and cheaper barrack units are helpful in creating a big army.
- When you are Inca, you should preferably research despotism and monarchy.
Reason : Plunder benefits.
- When you are Indians or Persians, you should research monarchy in age 4.
Reason: Elephants become cheap and they are the hardest unit to kill in the game.
- When you are Turks. research despotism.
Reason : Very helpful in an early attack (Age 2-3 attack).
- When you are Iroquois, research despotism and monarchy.
Reason : Iroquois units heal automatically when not attacking in friendly territory.
- When you are Mongols, research despotism and monarchy.
Reason : Plunder benefits from raiding and attacks.
- When you are French, research despotism and monarchy.
Reason : French already has healing benefits and unique cavalry units. 
- When you are Chinese, preferably republic in age 2.
Reason : Start with Chinese goes defensive. Booming till age 4 is a better option then attacking early.
- When you are Greeks or Russians, preferably research monarchy in age 4.
Reason : They have unique cavalry units.
- The general mindset still applies when you are Bantu, British, Dutch, Egyptians, Germans, Japanese, Koreans, Lakota, Maya, Nubians, Spanish and other scenarios with other nations.

Note that in Americans, you have free senate upgrades. So dont forget to research senate. In Iroquois, first senate is build instantaneously and free.

I managed to cover up all scenarios in the game. I'm sure after this post, selecting a government would be an easy decision for you.

Iroquois- Ancient Raid Start

Iroquois are one of the amazing nations of the game. I like its hidden units power. It makes it hard to raid Iroquois because its units arent visible in friendly territory when not moving or attacking. In this post, I'll emphasize on its raiding start.
First of all, let me tell you about the nation powers :-

Iroquois - Power of the Forest

- Get one free Scout with each Barracks built; Scouts get free upgrades and can move trough forests.
- First Senate built is free and builds instantly.
- Woodcutters also gather +2 Food each.
- Military units (including Scouts) in friendly territory are hidden when not attacking. All units heal when not moving or attacking in friendly territory. Barracks units have +10% hit points.

Ancient Raid - How is it done?

- Research Science1.
- Select villagers from farms and put them on the woodcutter.
- Research Military1.
- Note that you will be getting an extra scout after your barracks completion. So I suggest to scout with 1-2 villagers only.
- Now build barracks.
- Rally point them to your opponents direction. Pick up ruins on the way. Make sure that you use the extra scout.
- Heavy Infantry units are unique units for Iroquois. They are faster then normal HI's.
- So, create an HI and an LI(archer). Now for an archer, you will need wealth so be sure you pick up a wealth ruin while scouting.
- If you manage to get more ruins, you can make few more troops like an extra HI and also a LI if possible.
- Try to intercept his 2nd city if he's making it. Same like the aztecs ancient start.
- Attack city with HI and villagers with LI. If your HI is behind on the way then attack half build city by LI and wait for HI to come. You slow him down by not letting him make his 2nd city.
- Now if your opponent has got his second city before you attack it. Then keep raiding him. Attack villagers/merchants/caravans or any unbuilt building. Just slow him down.
- Your opponent might try to make a barracks in order to defend your raid. Just split your troops and raid. See to it he doesnt get a barracks. This way you further slow him down.
- Note that you dont let your units die. "Always save armies". Save every unit made.
- At the same time, make farms and fill all woodcutters.
- Once you are complete with one city boom, research civic1 followed by commerce1 and build second city. Continue the way you boom at start.
- Note that this start depends a lot on ruins and ruins manipulation. Try to get a wealth ruin for an archer and then later keep on getting food/wood ruins.

Recorded Game:-

Iroquois - Ancient Raid Start (Click to DOWNLOAD)

Game information:-

Raider (Egyptians)                                    DangerousDave (Indians)
|IND|_King_AMEYA (Iroquois)      vs          clover (Koreans)
|IND|_Jatin_LM (British)                            AOF_Super (Chinese)
kanishka (Americans)                              AS_DragonFlames (Maya)

This start is amazing for an one on one battles but also a great way to start in team games. In this game, I managed to raid more then one player with this start. Eventually slowing down my opponents and my allies outbooming them.

My brother-in-law had uploaded a video on youtube in which I do this start. You can also check that out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaSJjYqOerc

I recommend this start for all games. Even if you dont want to raid, you can use the extra scout for scouting.

Gameplay Settings

Gameplay settings are nothing but the changes done in the game options.

Has this ever happened with you? You are observing an advanced player and he suddenly pauses and changes settings. He also states you have bad gameplay settings. So what does he change? I'll tell you about it.  

Does changing gameplay settings matter?
- Yes. Little!

The following are the default gameplay settings:-

The following are the changes made by an advanced player:-

Now see the difference!

- Some players change Auto Citizen to "Build and Gather" also. But its not appropriate because sometimes you might end up losing resources repairing unwanted buildings. While playing an infinite game, "Build and Gather" setting is must.

- Auto Citizen Delay should be as less as possible. You dont want your villagers waiting for a long time.

- Building Stances can be "Aggressive/Defensive". I believe that your armies should always be fighting. So preferably "Aggressive".

- Now see the check boxes ticked in the second image. Advanced options should be ticked so that you get more options to a particular object(building/unit) in the game.

- Auto "All-Clear" should always be ticked. This is a very helpful option. Suppose this scenario. A raiding unit comes to your city and you ring the bell. All villagers go inside. Now you need to ring it again to release the villagers. When this option is ticked, the second bell is rung automatically when the raiding unit goes away from city. So it saves your time as well as you can micro-manage other things after ringing it once.

- Some players also prefer ticking "Use Abilities as Group".

- Increasing "Map-scroll speed" also helps. You can also change notifications to be shown in the game. Sometimes helpful.

Now, dont keep default settings anymore. Because now you know which settings are ideal for a faster gameplay. This was an another basic post but an useful one.