Do it your own way - the anti-guide

Didn't the devs fix this a few months ago?  Or am I mistaken?

 

Vets leave sometimes. Lots of us mourn their passing. Many others ravage the cities to get all the resources, population, and research that is available.

 

Once a players last city is taken, they get a new city, at 0 pop, randomly placed in the newbie circle. That city has no buildings and no resources, but it has all the research that was in their last city to fall - and can be quickly taken by a cavalry siege. It doesn't give all the bonuses of sieging an existing city, but its FAR better than sending a settler.

 

And when you take THAT city? Another one with all the same research spawns. Enjoy!

 

(Please note, I haven't done this in more than a year, so if something changed, I apologize for raising your hopes)

EDIT:  THE ABOVE TRICK HAS SINCE BEEN FIXED AND NO LONGER WORKS

 

My strong opinions on the subject of recruitment and waiting has to do with the frequent hypocrisy I saw as a new player. Over and over, players preaching not to join an alliance right away were the same people sending invites to first and second day newbs. It held a flavor of "Don't join an alliance right away, I need my shot at sending you an invite first." I don't pay as close attention any more, but I have noticed occasions of it in the last few months as well - when it's a training alliance doing the hypocrisy, maybe there is some justification, but often it's very small alliances who cannot properly care of the newbs once they have them. Still and all, joining an alliance too soon can work out well - it did for me, and others who have commented in this thread - and if it doesn't, the price is a small one (unless of course they quit altogether)

 

Sola