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Plotinus
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I love these guys! I'm in the middle of a game with them right now, and I too am doing very well technologically.
But the killer thing is the Dromons. Amazing! I had thought that these sounded uninteresting at best - souped up Galleys, well, forgive me if I try out those Mayans first. But I'm a convert now. The Dromons are great at winning any naval battles you may be engaging in, but really, the killer is the *land bombardment* ability. This is something you cannot otherwise do until the end of the Middle Ages, and it really changes matters, especially as the enemy probably doesn't have any decent navy to stop you sitting there taking pot shots at their land. Plus, of course, the Dromon bombard strength is stronger, in relation to the strength of most contemporary units, than that of the Frigate.
But the best thing about these, I think, is the fact - which I didn't really appreciate before - that they are awesome warships for the reasons given above *and* carry troops. Frigates don't carry troops. Neither do Battleships. Yet these things are their equivalent in ancient times. You can use them to ferry your troops over, as per normal Galleys. But then those very same ships turn round and start bombarding the enemy, softening them ready for the land troops to whup 'em. It's this combination of abilities that makes the Dromons so handy. Admittedly, I'm playing an Archipelago map (which I really like), so that makes them all the handier (together with my Great Lighthouse...). But I think even on Pangea (never played one of those, probably never will) they should be surprisingly useful - imagine sending these things along the coast to batter the enemy, for example. They really offer a new dimension to warfare an age and a half before it's normally possible at all.
Incidentally, the weapon with which the Dromons are armed - Greek Fire - is a famous historical mystery. No-one really knows what it was or how it worked, although it presumably involved somehow spraying flaming oil at the enemy, making it the medieval equivalent of napalm. It was Greek Fire that allowed the Byzantines to prevent the Arabs streaming over the Mediterranean in a spanking new fleet and invading Europe that way, and it was a kind of military Holy Grail for alchemists and suchlike for centuries... Now I know why!
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The Hack
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I played 3 games as the Greeks, Monarch level. Byzanteens were tops in Culture and Science. She is treachourous! The first she started a gang bang(I should of gave her the gold she asked for). The same turn she inlisted the Romans and Egyption for a three front war. My only loss with C3C, my mistake trying to build too much at the neglect of a army (Two earlier trying to get a feel when I bought it). The next game she blew a deal the turn I made it ruining my reputatin. The third game same thing, plus a sneak attack. A long meat grinder war, finally I kick her off the contenant to a one tile Island sue for peace and rush buy culture to move me above the 65% territory for domination win. The turn my boundaries expand a city reverts back with huge culture boundaries. The next turn another.
Time for Revenge I decide to play Rome, hope for Iron and her next to me. Great, her on a penninsula and Constanople five tiles away with no Iron. I took all her cities and got the Pyramids, the Oracle, 1 Ivory, 3 furs, and 2 Armies loaded with Legioneers,which got a Infantry later which were useful the whole game.
After reading this thread I think I'll try the Byzanteens next. Probably been under valuing the power of the Sea-trait. I didn't realize the value of the UU and only ever seen them in the Middle age scenerio.
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ducki
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On the power of Seafaring, I can't recommend Spain highly enough. Ignore the UU, you should get a wonder GA by then anyways.
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Tall Stranger
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Northern Virginia
Nov 2002
time: 00:33
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I'm playing the Byzantines on an epic game now, and I also have found them very enjoyable. My only complaint is that, while dromons are fun and very useful, they make it a bit difficult to trigger your GA. I was all set to enter my GA (in Republic, most of my city tiles ready), so I declare on the French and start clobbering them with AC (first time I've gotten SoZ!). Problem: the "vaunted" French navy disappeared! (How's that for realism  )
I guess it makes sense, since galleys are no match for these thing on the open sea, but it does become a bit tricky to get anyone to fight a dromon. Finally, near the end of the war, Joan set forth a galley. I tracked it for a turn to make sure it was nowhere near a port, then bombarded it one turn and sunk it the next.
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habib_crayen
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Hail.
I used to lead Turkey, but now with C3C, has appeared Byzance. i was suprised by Byzantine dromons, which bombing order is very effective. I had only harbors, indeed, i started on Carthago setting place. spain atatcked my harbours with ground units, a the beginning of the game. They attacked with veterans, and my dromons parked in towns attacked them before their turn. They lost 70 % of life nearly at each bombing. Dromons are more powerful than ground units like catapults... and they are the kings of see during dark age.Those two nations are very interesting, they got a great potential...
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FrustratedPoet
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All Glory To The Hypnotoad!
Mar 2002
time: 05:33
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quote:
Originally posted by Plotinus
The Dromons are great at winning any naval battles you may be engaging in, but really, the killer is the *land bombardment* ability. This is something you cannot otherwise do until the end of the Middle Ages, and it really changes matters, especially as the enemy probably doesn't have any decent navy to stop you sitting there taking pot shots at their land. Plus, of course, the Dromon bombard strength is stronger, in relation to the strength of most contemporary units, than that of the Frigate.
But the best thing about these, I think, is the fact - which I didn't really appreciate before - that they are awesome warships for the reasons given above *and* carry troops. Frigates don't carry troops. Neither do Battleships. Yet these things are their equivalent in ancient times. You can use them to ferry your troops over, as per normal Galleys. But then those very same ships turn round and start bombarding the enemy, softening them ready for the land troops to whup 'em. It's this combination of abilities that makes the Dromons so handy. |
I agree completely. Dromons are not only a powerful UU if used in the right way (the right kind of map helps), but they're also really good fun.
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01-01-2004 01:36
Steven
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