Part 3

Explore Part 3 of the Civilization Beyond Earth guide, covering leader traits like Louis de Frontenac, Simon Bolivar, and Jose De San Martin, and essential early-game colony establishment strategies.

This section of the guide delves into specific leader traits and early-game colony management in Civilization Beyond Earth.

Reader Thevenon Vivien's perspective on converted natives: Converted natives can be useful, especially when a specific raw material expert is unavailable. They appear in their originating Indian village, allowing for immediate training into desired expert roles. If not needed as experts, they can be converted into free colonists, providing numerous soldiers with specific traits. They also learn new specialities faster than regular natives.

Leader Traits

Louis de Frontenac - Militaristic

• Free Promotion: Grenadier I
• Bonuses: Mounted Units, Gunpowder Units

While the damage bonus is welcome, other leader traits offer more practical colony-wide benefits. However, this trait can be useful during the fight for independence.

The Spanish - Special Trait: Conquistador

• Bonus: +25% Attack against Natives

This trait reflects the historical conquest of South America. Its usefulness against non-Spanish units during independence is not specified.

Simon Bolivar - Determined

• Bonus: +100% effect of Liberty Bells on Rebel Attack

This trait significantly boosts unit damage when attacking, especially during independence when Liberty Bell generation is high.

Jose De San Martin - Resourceful

• Bonus: -50% XP Needed for Unit Promotions

This trait is beneficial for creating a highly skilled, albeit limited, ground force. It allows units to gain promotions with minimal experience, crucial for taking on the mother country. Natives offer limited experience, making this trait vital for maximizing unit potential.

Reader Theovenon Vivien's alternative view on San Martin: This trait is also excellent for large, untrained forces. Soldiers gain their first promotion with only 1 XP. Using a Great General with 20 newly trained soldiers can result in 20 promotions. This is particularly effective after acquiring the last military Founding Father, Dom Pedro, allowing new soldiers to gain the second level of Minuteman, granting +45% settlement defense. It also makes high-level promotions, like Veteran VI with +75% power, achievable for multiple units, enabling rapid empire conquest and effective counter to Royal Artillery.

[2.03] The Right Place

When establishing your first colony, consider the following:

• Bonuses on Land: Look for resources like cotton, wheat, and fur, which are useful for manufactured goods.
• Port City: Since the first city should be port-based, ensure access to fish or crabs for fishermen to harvest, providing a good food source.
• Proximity to Natives: Maintain a good distance from native tribes. While they may seem friendly, they will eventually attack if their lands are encroached upon, leading to fines or conflict.
• Shipping Access: Find a location with easy ship access to and from England, as ships carrying reinforcements will likely land here during independence.

In summary, prioritize resources, strategic placement, and a safe distance from potential threats.

[2.04] Building a Nation

As you place more colonies:

• Food Security: Ensure secure food access, supplemented by Wagon Trains if needed.
• Money Management: Trading valuable goods generates gold, essential for hiring specialists and purchasing ships/cannons from Europe. Be aware that increased trade leads to higher taxes from the king. Refusing to pay taxes (a 'tea party') permanently disables trading of that commodity.
• Resource Acquisition: Seek out new resources like cotton (for cloth), fur (for coats), and tobacco (for cigars). Iron mines are particularly valuable as they enable tool production.