By the way, am I the only person left still making threads on this site, or...?
Infantry: B( They lack Legions, but other then that they have all they need. ... At least if you are anything like me, you are going to find yourself using the Academy units much more then the Barracks units with this civ, though that is a given for any civilization with Centurions but no Legions. Anyway, not their focus, but they do play a essential part at protecting their archers. )
Cavalry: B-( The "B" here is because, as was the case with some other civs, their Stables are perfectly viable during the Bronze Age. Camel Riders offer alternative anti-cavalry support for those who deem the Hoplite to be too slow to be pratical. However, on the Iron Age, you are likely to find yourself forgetting you even built Stables on the first place, for all the cavalry you will be using. )
Archery Range: B+( By far, this is the hardest part of their tech tree to rate. With their complete lack of mounted archers but very powerfull Composite Bowman, to what extent are their archers "good" definitively depends upon your plaiyng style. I, for one, am of the personal opinion their Composite Bowman remain a powerfull tool well into the Iron Age. But, after carefull deliberation, I decided I couldnt rate then any higher then that. Composite Bowman just do not have the sheer speed and firepower that HHA have. Take me badly not: Minoan archers are good. Just... Not as good as the one of civs with bonus for their mounted archers, like the Hittites )
Siege Workshop: B+( The-Only-Civilization( That I can remember ) with both fully upgraded Heavy Catapults and Helepolis. If you ever find yourself thinking that your Composite Bowman just arent killing enemy infantry fast enough, you know where to turn. )
Priests: D( Still circunstancially viable against Elephants, but you are probably not going to be using then much unless you are a huge priest player. And if you are, you may prefer to try another civilization instead.
Navy: A+( The Minoans can take over the seas so fast it would make the Hittites, especially post DE when the Hittites got nerfed, seem secoung-grade by comparisson. )
Defenses: B-( Their defenses are decent up until the Bronze Age but then soon begin descending into horrible. HOWEVER, unless you are planning on doing a Wonder strategy, you should find yourself not caring too much about your defenses by the time you get to the Iron Age. )
Economy: A-( Their farming bonus is cool, but their real strong point is their cheaper ships bonus. Fishing Ships gather incredibly quickly on this game, and as such, that 30% discount on the Fishing Ships... Combined with how all your ships are faster... Suffice to say, where it comes to booming in water maps, the Minoans just might be the best civ on the game. In land maps, they arent as good, though. They are still-Good... Just not, Assyrian type of good. )
Infantry: B( They lack Legions, but other then that they have all they need. ... At least if you are anything like me, you are going to find yourself using the Academy units much more then the Barracks units with this civ, though that is a given for any civilization with Centurions but no Legions. Anyway, not their focus, but they do play a essential part at protecting their archers. )
Cavalry: B-( The "B" here is because, as was the case with some other civs, their Stables are perfectly viable during the Bronze Age. Camel Riders offer alternative anti-cavalry support for those who deem the Hoplite to be too slow to be pratical. However, on the Iron Age, you are likely to find yourself forgetting you even built Stables on the first place, for all the cavalry you will be using. )
Archery Range: B+( By far, this is the hardest part of their tech tree to rate. With their complete lack of mounted archers but very powerfull Composite Bowman, to what extent are their archers "good" definitively depends upon your plaiyng style. I, for one, am of the personal opinion their Composite Bowman remain a powerfull tool well into the Iron Age. But, after carefull deliberation, I decided I couldnt rate then any higher then that. Composite Bowman just do not have the sheer speed and firepower that HHA have. Take me badly not: Minoan archers are good. Just... Not as good as the one of civs with bonus for their mounted archers, like the Hittites )
Siege Workshop: B+( The-Only-Civilization( That I can remember ) with both fully upgraded Heavy Catapults and Helepolis. If you ever find yourself thinking that your Composite Bowman just arent killing enemy infantry fast enough, you know where to turn. )
Priests: D( Still circunstancially viable against Elephants, but you are probably not going to be using then much unless you are a huge priest player. And if you are, you may prefer to try another civilization instead.
Navy: A+( The Minoans can take over the seas so fast it would make the Hittites, especially post DE when the Hittites got nerfed, seem secoung-grade by comparisson. )
Defenses: B-( Their defenses are decent up until the Bronze Age but then soon begin descending into horrible. HOWEVER, unless you are planning on doing a Wonder strategy, you should find yourself not caring too much about your defenses by the time you get to the Iron Age. )
Economy: A-( Their farming bonus is cool, but their real strong point is their cheaper ships bonus. Fishing Ships gather incredibly quickly on this game, and as such, that 30% discount on the Fishing Ships... Combined with how all your ships are faster... Suffice to say, where it comes to booming in water maps, the Minoans just might be the best civ on the game. In land maps, they arent as good, though. They are still-Good... Just not, Assyrian type of good. )