Llama FF
Inca
I watched quite a few attempts by Psionic and others to make the llama boom work. The build I saw has obvious flaws :
- It uses the advanced farm shipment which has very poor value.
- Because the build requires two age I shipments, this forces us to do a TP opening and slows down our age up time.
- Llamas are made very early in age 2 and either put on the wood ceremony or put on the XP ceremony. The wood ceremony has a major problem : the value is bad. The XP ceremony is good in theory, but unlike Aztecs incas don't have religious unity/calmecac/calendar ceremony available. The shipments in age II for Incas are meh. You need to be in age 3 to correctly leverage the XP income with incas.
What I will present today is an attempt to solve the shortcomings of the current build while increasing flexibility and adaptability.
Game plan :
Perform a classic Incas FF with a twist. In transition to age 3, get the maximum of llamas on your plazza for a safe XP yield, allowing you to spam shipments in age 3.
Age I :
Standard 2 kancha houses opener. Priority on food and coin. First shipment is 3 villagers. Age up with the wise woman (3 priestesses) at 14/20 villagers.
In transition, chop for a market+ hunting dogs and a community plazza. Put your starting llama on the plazza already.
Age II :
Put the 3 priestesses on the plazza (XP dance). Ship 600w and start macroing for age 3. You will likely have a food surplus and have to wait for 700c. Feel free to use the TC big button to punish greed.
Once the 600w arrive, build a farm and a kancha or research placer mines or research great feast at the farm (your choice). Alternatively, if you see agression build warhuts and spawn minutemen with the plazza.
Ship 700c and finish the macro for age 3. Once you have clicked up with the messenger/warrior, train llamas from the farm and task them to the plazza.
In transition, ship llama lifestyle. This card is worth 5 villagers (that do not take population space) provided you have 20 llamas working.
Age III :
You are in age 3 at a decent time and have a decent XP income. Do inca things. 2TC boom, forward with the machu picchu etc.
Notes :
The upgrade shipments marked with U can be changed depending on your preferred composition. If you don't plan to include plumed spearmen, then swap cañari support for chicha brewing. If your opponent is not a musket civ, swap the cajamarca card out for Cloud warriors.