23-06-2003 22:56									#1
	Bantu Boom Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

Most people, it seems, are reluctant to give out their strategy vis-a-vis a particular Nation. I can appreciate that - why make it easier for your competition to counter what you are doing? However, I don't foresee myself playing multiplayer online (I'm way to slow for it - maybe at a LAN party, but not online), so I have no such reluctance.

It should be noted that this strategy is geared for No-nuke games with capital victory (the computer uses nukes way to freely, and I personally find capital victory the most realistic).

First, lets look at the advantages the Bantu have. Much has been made of the benefit of an extra city. Equally key (or more so) for this strategy is the other major bonus: the increased population cap. There are also two minor boni: Faster Infantry and Citizens, and No Military research needed to upgrade units (Age research is sufficent). The faster units I can live without. The upgrades w/o military research, on the other hand can be decisive.

The Bantu Unique units aren't terribly special. The main advantage to the three ground units (Ancient, Classical, Medieval) is that they are cheaper. The Fighter jets are somewhat better than their standard counterparts, but not hugely so. Needless to say, this strategy is based on the Bantus Boni, not the units.

In a nutshell, what you are doing is building a hard charging economy which, from the industrial age onward gives you insurmountable military strength. Standard boom stuff, right?

This extra city bonus really shows its worth early. Your opening action should be to research Civic 1, spending any remaining food on citizens. As soon as you have completed civic 1 research, build two cities immediately. The question is where. Many Bantu enthusiasts and casual observers advocate really pushing your boundaries for the added taxation and increase in rare resources. Well, those are indeed benefits, but they lead to an increase in the number of military engagements, the costs of which which outweigh the benefits gained, at least for my purposes. Therefore, I strongly recommend you build your cities as close together as possible, allowing for future resource gathering. Note: if you are playing a Mediterranean map (and I think there's another map type with an Island in the middle), get that Island, and build a navy to defend against marine invasions.

From here, your goal is to get The Collossus, Terra Cotta Army, and Statue of Liberty. If you can also get Versailles, so much the better. The Collosus is needed to get you pop. cap. up to 300 Max (325 if you get peacocks). The Terra Cotta Army frees resources you would otherwise spend on light infantry. NOTE: This is meant to supplement your army, not replace it! And we all know what the Statue of Liberty does. It is particularly key in that, combined with no need to research military for upgrades, you get free upgrades on the completion of Age research. If you've made research your primary goal to this point, you will have a handy technological advantage over any opponent.

While you work on getting these key wonders, you should build a military unit here and there where you can. This will help keep your borders secure (Don't launch any attacks, and keep all your units on "Stand Ground" to prevent costly chases), and will provide the seeds for an overwhelming military force.

Sometime between the industrial age and the modern age, you will max out your economy. At this point, it's time to start pumping out military units (while being mindful to maintain you technological advantage). Before long, you should hit your population cap (which should be 300). Now is the time to attack. Assumiong you run your economy efficiently (i.e. granary, Lumbermill, Smelter techs all researched, meaning fewer citizens are needed), you should have an advantage of more than 100 military units over any opponent (I've had as much as 122 units more than competitors). With this military, you should be able to wax the floor with whoever you come up against. As always, try to avoid prosecuting war against more than one opponent at a time. However, you should have the reserves to repel any attacks against you.

One other note: when you have hit you population cap, it is a good idea to set your military buildings on to infinite queue. This way, you will always have a huge advantage over any opponent.

One last note. If you are following this strategy BEWARE THE EGYPTIANS! They will outrun you to at least one wonder. If you are up against them, make their elimination a priority.

Disclaimer: This strategy has proven quite handy agianst the AI. However, it has never been tried by me against humans. Therefore, your mileage may vary.

	27-06-2003 11:30									#2
	Increase Your PM Length

I'm not particullar in favor of a pure boom strategy!
How would you defend against a medieval attack? I have seen the Bantu (AI) perform this strat over and over again, and I find it weak in the early game.(Mid/Late no worries)

I can't seem to force myself performing a pure boom, 'cause I pummeled the Bantu many times somewhere around medieval/gunpowder! I wouldn't want to face the same risk!

How would you capitalize on this strat against, for instance the Turks? I manached to wipe out a 1 v 1 in 26 minutes 10 seconds on though (I don't rush either ) as Turk, thanks to the better siege and reduced cap time. Or are you a flexible player who changes his playstyle accordingly to the opponent's nation(as soon as you discovered it, that is)?

I beat the Bantu/Rome Alliance(no diplomacy) in a 1 v 2 though as French. Rome rushed, Bantu Boomed, they both died! I've seen the replay afterwards. Rome lost a lot of resources rushing, he tried it twice. The bantu on the other hand were booming like hell (4-5 cities early on) and had a hell of a resource advantage, but their military was insignificant. After the rush I went for the capital of Rome. Now that I saw the replay It would've been better to go for the Bantu first, they had no significant military at all, just some cataprath/jav's 1 syply/1 siege! I had chevalier's/ light horse and jav's/archers/pikes with 2 suplies/1 general/4 siege by that time(gunpowder). What I mean is booming is too much of a risk early on, If only I had charged him instead of Rome.


And depending so much on wonders is a flaw. I usualy build 1 or 2 according to what I need (usualy versailles/statue), and sometimes even nothing (like the Turk 1 v 1)

As you said in the Disclaimer, I think it would only work against an average player, who 's scared to attack early on!

	27-06-2003 11:39									#3
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

that would be me

makes note to self: "attack early when facing bantu"

	27-06-2003 11:50									#4
	Full PM-box? Change here!

no seriously. thas kind of tactic would work very well against a computer opponent indeed. i played that kind of strat many times myself with great victories. however in mp games your opponent will probably launch a full scale assault once he notices you're lacking the proper military power! so at least have a decent military force to defend your borders as quickly as possible!

	27-06-2003 22:56									#5
	Support Apolyton

Well, I did attach a dislclaimer that this is untested against human players, as I am too damn slow to compete in that arena. It should also be noted that this was not intended as a be-all, end-all definitive step by step recipe, but rather as a general guiding principle. Flexibility, I think, is what makes any strategy work. So, yes, I do tweak things depending on my opponent(s). More aggressive nations will elicit a larger military on my part, to be sure. The key is to make sure you don't cripple your economy. And, as has been stated frequently by many players, the defensive player has the advantage, man per man, thanks to attrition.

As for the Turks specifically, I have only come up against them twice (I always play with Random opponents), and beat them handily both times.

Regarding Depending on wonders, you state that you only build two wonders per game. Well, this strategy calls for three. You could skip the Colossus, although I wouldn't. You could also skip the SoL, although no sane player I know would. And the TCA pays for itself.

If you don't play booms well, this definitely isn't going to work for you. However, if it is your natural inclination, then you will probably find this to be a suitable strategy. In the end, RON is all about how you like to play. For me, it's the Bantu Boom (for now).