23-02-2003 13:55									#1
	Ministry of War: Scouting Priorities Tired of ads?

As it is the Ministry of War that is in charge of scouting our area, what do people think our priorities should be for scouting?

I see three possibilities:

• Looking for good land.
  
• Looking for other civs.
  
• Looking for goody huts.

	23-02-2003 18:13									#2
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Initial exploration should either be West or North. There is no reason to go into the jungle immediately. To our North looks like either Floodplain or desert. Not the most desirable for an early city site. Looks like at least some grass to our west (there usually is just above jungle). My sugestion: W-W-SW onto the hill.

	23-02-2003 22:07									#3
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I suggest you all read Aeson's 'Scouting' thread in the Strat forum, if you have not already. It really is a good guide to early exploration.

In my games, I usually try to stay on the high ground as much as possible, to uncover the most terrain the fastest. So my vote would be to move our first explorer West onto the Hill and go from there.

The scouting thread can be found here (did not want to bump it in case other teams are watching our forums...).


Dominae

	23-02-2003 22:45									#4
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I reiterate Dominae's suggestion re Aeson's thread. Before getting to scouting, he does an excellent job of describing terrain charateristics.

I'd say:
1. W by SW
2. N by NW
3. S

	23-02-2003 23:16									#5
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Aeson basically just detailed what I'd already said.

That having been said, I agree that we should move inland.

	24-02-2003 02:33									#6
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Just a bit of research done on my part here. This little map shows some scouting possibilities. Moving directly W would give us the field of vision represented by the shaded area. We could then follow either the blue or the red path. The red path takes us on a hill, but there's lots of jungle and forest nearby, so it wouldn't benefit us as much as it could. The blue path involves moving straight west in hopes of finding better land.

	24-02-2003 02:36									#7
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quote: Originally posted by Trip Just a bit of research done on my part here. This little map shows some scouting possibilities. Moving directly W would give us the field of vision represented by the shaded area. We could then follow either the blue or the red path. The red path takes us on a hill, but there's lots of jungle and forest nearby, so it wouldn't benefit us as much as it could. The blue path involves moving straight west in hopes of finding better land.

Good plan Trip, see if you can round up any 'wandering nomads'.

BTW, I'd like to take the red path, but then follow to NW towards #3 on the blue path after #3 on the red.

	24-02-2003 02:44									#8
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quote: Originally posted by Trip The red path takes us on a hill, but there's lots of jungle and forest nearby, so it wouldn't benefit us as much as it could.

Trip, what do you mean by that? That it's bad terrain? I would still want to take the red path to the hill, to get a view west and you never know what's south...).

Let's decided on further action from there.

	24-02-2003 02:55									#9
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quote: Originally posted by Theseus Trip, what do you mean by that? That it's bad terrain? I would still want to take the red path to the hill, to get a view west and you never know what's south...). Let's decided on further action from there.

If we take the red path, our vision is blocked by forest to the NW, and jungle to the S and SW. We would probably be able to see more if we went directly west.

	24-02-2003 03:00									#10
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I do not believe that forest / jungle impede the extended view from a hill or mountain.

	24-02-2003 03:02									#11
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If you want to move to the hill then wouldn't 4,2 be better than 1,1 (starting from the tile marked 1 on the pic)?

	24-02-2003 03:05									#12
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Theseus: Forests, jungles hills and mountains block vision from a hill. From a mountain you can see over hills, forests and jungles. But it's only a hill. It would be like sitting on top of a regular tile instead of a hill. In other words, it wouldn't help us at all.

FrusteratedPoet: Yes, that's correct. I was just laying out the general destination. Not a finite plan yet.

	24-02-2003 03:05									#13
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They do from hills, not from mountains.

Would you recommend completeing the semi-circle around the capitol before heading further out?

	24-02-2003 03:07									#14
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Yes, FP is correct.

On a separate note, Trip, would you mind if we adopted the Strat / GS tile counting system? We use the numeric keypad for the eight directions.

So, from Apolyton, your red path would be 411, whereas the blue path would be 444, and FP's suggested path is 442.

It's very useful when discussing city placement as well.

	24-02-2003 03:07									#15
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Yes, I plan to get a bit more of our general area known first. Do you think we should venture into the jungle at all yet?

	24-02-2003 03:09									#16
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quote: Originally posted by Dominae (did not want to bump it in case other teams are watching our forums...).

Man, you are paranoid!

	24-02-2003 03:17									#17
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BFM, it makes sense that other teams may watch our Strat forum for clues of what some of our players will recommend. Most players on other teams visit here. We do not have the same advantage vis-a-vis their forums.

	24-02-2003 03:19									#18
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quote: Originally posted by Trip Yes, I plan to get a bit more of our general area known first. Do you think we should venture into the jungle at all yet?

I was thinking first Warrior West then around to the North.

Second Warrior East to the coast then South and around the bottom of the Capitol.

Yin and Yang. Then they can set out into new lands.

The third Warrior can nip out to the coast North of us and see if the Map gods have gifted any whales. He never has to be more than 2 tiles from the capitol.

	24-02-2003 03:48									#19
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I was planning on moving the first warrior north first along the hills, then SW, then just west, to keep him moving in the proper direction at all times and making sure we don't have to backtrack.

	24-02-2003 03:49									#20
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In case my post wasn't clear (now using Theseus' suggestion); I'd like to (from the Captol) move 4,4,2 and then decide after we see what is there.

	24-02-2003 03:54									#21
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I was planning on 874 then a bunch of 1s. That way we get a bit of a round to see what's to our north (might not be very thick desert, etc.). This way we can continue to the SW and then off to the W without having to stop and turn around.

	24-02-2003 04:06									#22
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Sorry if I sound like a broken record, but I just wanna make this clear....

Trip: In terms of the number of tiles revealed (assuming equal elevation) moving 8, 4, 6 and 2 is a more efficient way of exploring than moving 7, 9, 1 or 3.
So if you want to move "a bunch of 1s" then a bunch of 4,2 combos will reveal more terrain.

	24-02-2003 04:08									#23
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Yes, you're right. I was just referring to the general direction, not actual moves, sorry about that.

I'll be more specific from now on.

	24-02-2003 04:21									#24
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I'm a little confused...

Given where we are located (an eastern coast), I sort of automatically assumed we'd have 3 Warriors to go scouting north, west, and south (not in that order).

After popping the hut, we do not need to keep a Warrior in Apolyton, unless there is enemy or barbs nearby. Happiness can be managed by the luxury, the luxury slider, or both.

Down the road, when we decide to put Apolyton into growth, we will need an MP.

	24-02-2003 04:25									#25
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Lux walked in on GoW's and ND's undefended capitals. I won't allow the same to happen to Apolytonia in this game. Until we're sure of barbs and other teams and their locations, we need to have Apolyton defended or within range of defense at all times.

I'm just talking in terms of the 1st warrior scout for now. Early on we'll probably be putting more resources into getting a granary, etc. done than building masses of warriors. Our priorities now are west and north, in that order.

	24-02-2003 04:25									#26
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quote: Originally posted by Theseus I'm a little confused... Given where we are located (an eastern coast), I sort of automatically assumed we'd have 3 Warriors to go scouting north, west, and south (not in that order). After popping the hut, we do not need to keep a Warrior in Apolyton, unless there is enemy or barbs nearby. Happiness can be managed by the luxury, the luxury slider, or both. Down the road, when we decide to put Apolyton into growth, we will need an MP.

Don't you think after building 3 warriors, that we might have a neighboring civ come wandering by? I think it best to keep the second built warior at home for defense; sending the first and third to scout.

	24-02-2003 04:55									#27
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Oops, sorry Trip, I didn't mean to ruffle "Lux feathers."

You're both right... and, btw, let's remember we need to defend City2 as well.

I just meant that my biggest early priorities would be:
* Get the granary and a Settler built in Apolyton.
* Make sure we have defense in both towns.
* Explore N, W, and S (again, no order), with three Warriors, not two.

The exact timing of all these what's in question. Assuming no threats (big assumption), I just meant that I would prioritize getting the three exploring Warriors out there.

	24-02-2003 04:56									#28
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I agree, we're on the same page here.

	24-02-2003 05:07									#29
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You mean about "Lux feathers"?

	24-02-2003 05:27									#30
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Bah, leave PTW DG discussions for other forums.

Everyone can check out the official Ministry of War thread I put up. It includes a new basic plan of our scouting priorities. Please, however, don't post replies in the thread. We'll keep discussion about the first stuff here in this thread, so if you have anything to say about the content of the other thread regarding suggestions for content, plans, etc. name them here.

Official Ministry of War Thread