When should you start herding outer hunts?

[bugattivitesse]

Since Russia starts with only 5 vils. does sending out 2-3 vils at 1;30 ish to bring in the surrounding hunts slow down age up, with all the walking time lost that could be spent gathering? I have been doing this and usually click up around 3:03. Could it be even faster if you just wait to herd?

[fei123456]

if you wanna age up 14p, dont herd before clicking age up.

[SoldieR]

In the few games ive been playing as russia lately, i have noticed that you want to avoid herding much in age 1. It can definitely slow down your age up.

[forgrin]

I always thought you should never herd in age 1 if at all avoidable (unless it's map with very close hunt and shit starting ones, like some Garja goat maps). You can quite easily get 5-7 shots off during the ageup so as long as you are careful to herd every 12ish seconds you'll be fine hunt-wise.

[Kaiserklein]

I never herd my 2nd hunt in age 1 on good hunts maps, it's a waste of time. You can do it while aging up and be completely fine. You only need to do this on shit qs maps, and even there I wouldn't do it as russia, because you really need to age as fast as you can.

[momuuu]

I always thought you should never herd in age 1 if at all avoidable (unless it's map with very close hunt and shit starting ones, like some Garja goat maps). You can quite easily get 5-7 shots off during the ageup so as long as you are careful to herd every 12ish seconds you'll be fine hunt-wise.

Depends. On good crate starts dutch ages up really comfortanly so youre better off herding in age 1 just in case the hunt starts randomly moving away from your tc.

[pecelot]

I agree with my preceding speakers, I almost never herd my 2nd hunt in age 1, unless I play vs a very aggressive civ or there is a possibility for the animals to run away. Otherwise it's a waste of time.

[Garja]

Asap cause enemy could shoot it away.
Realistically tho none does that nowadays so just go for max efficiency again and herd in transition to colo.

[deleted_user0]

i usually herd 1-3 hunts in discovery, depending on the civ i play. You usually start with one small herd which isnt enough on most maps to age with 800f, or it barely will be. So you need to herd atleast one. If it's an agressive civ with which I would take map control, usually i wouldnt herd any more hunts. If it's a more defensive civ, i would usually herd as much as I can. Sure you lose a few seconds on your age up, but atleast I will not be starved of food.

[Jeedos]

Subjective based on the map and also which kind of civilization you're going to be playing and who you're fighting against. e.g. vs. Dutch it may not be as mandatory to herd earlier vs say Iroquois or Germans.

That said, I generally start herding my second hunt toward the end of Age 1. Second hunt during age up or after pushing outward in Colonial.

Edit: I mostly play Dutch and am petrified of being raided anyway, as well as early aggression. Hence my tendency to herd earlier. But generally during transition is fine as a rule for most civs.

[Mitoe]

The general rule I follow is if you can do it without having idle time, then the sooner the better.

If your civ has a hard time aging without idle time, or can sometimes age a vill early with a bit of extra food (think Russia, Port, Brit, for example), then consider waiting until transition.

Of course the matchups play into it as well. Against civs like Russia, Aztec, or Iro, who tend to play aggressively very early, you probably want to herd earlier rather than later, even if it means you age a few seconds late.

[gibson]

I think it also depends on the map. For example on texas I always herd in age 1 regardless of the civ, cause if you dont your bison can walk pretty far away and you can find yourself with absolutely nothing in the line of site of your tc since you only start with 4 deers

[Lunatic_Fringe]

I agree with my preceding speakers, I almost never herd my 2nd hunt in age 1, unless I play vs a very aggressive civ or there is a possibility for the animals to run away. Otherwise it's a waste of time.

I agree. Especially using Ports. The next TC will secure one other hunt for sure.

[pecelot]

You usually start with one small herd which isnt enough on most maps to age with 800f, or it barely will be.

I would claim quite the opposite...

[Kaiserklein]

I don't see why you should start herding early anyway, I'd rather focus more on herding during transition. If you shoot your herds frequently enough, you will be able to herd them as far as you can in those 1:30 anyway (trying to herd too far will make them backherd anyway).

[tedere12]

Because sometimes herds walk away from you

[momuuu]

Exactly. Itll save ypu food to herd early, and for some civs it doesnt hurt your age up time.

[Kaiserklein]

I honestly can't think of a civ with which it doesn't affect your age up time

[Kaiserklein]

Because sometimes herds walk away from you

And sometimes they walk more towards your base. It's random, so in the end it's not a good reason

[sdsanft]

I honestly can't think of a civ with which it doesn't affect your age up time

As France on RE I always herd atleast one herd with no idle time. I usually use my market/house vill bill so I build that building in the direction of the vill is gonna walk.

[Kaiserklein]

What does "no idle time" mean ? On some crates starts, you have idle time even if you macro perfectly, without good treasures. And if you want to try 13v on some other starts, which is superior to 14v when you don't idle tc, you need to put all chances on your side.

[Blinky Bill]

I honestly can't think of a civ with which it doesn't affect your age up time

As France on RE I always herd atleast one herd with no idle time. I usually use my market/house vill bill so I build that building in the direction of the vill is gonna walk.

same here. i play mostly nilla but sometimes re on tad and u can heard easy in age 1 without idle time (14 vill age up as france).