1TC Winery + Longbows ->Fast Castle Varangian

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1 Villager builds House + Cistern (connect)+ Mercenary House

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• Get following upgrades when possible Double Broadaxe Specialized Pick Border Settlements Forestry Horticulture
• Contract: Western Mercenary Contract -> Make Longbowman (Mercenary) always when you have 500 Oil.

11830

Start making Olive Grove around Grand Winery towards Town Center (TC) for safety.

10860

• Go heavy on gold when over 600 Food to get Castle Age
• At around 8 mins you should have about 10 Olive Grove. Keep making them as you gather more Wood

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Keep adding Olive Grove and build more Barracks so you can spam Varangian Guard Longbowman (Mercenary)

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• Additional Tips:
• Use longbows around resources to get vision if you dont have Border Settlements or Outpost up. You want to make Outpost on Berries if they are facing your enemy. Make Outpost on the Gold if no forward Berries.
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• Be smart about your walling. Dont wall too much to conserve resources. Just wall where necessary to make it easier to defend with only longbows.
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• In the feudal age, start with a Barracks to make Limitanei vs knight rush civs ( Jeanne d French Rus Mongols ) then after go into Mercenary House.
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• +1 and +2 ranged upgrades are insanely important, Your longbows are basically crossbows for dealing with anything living and mechanical (yes, with good splits during fights, you can whittle down mangonels too very quickly)
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• Consider your timings. You can make a lot of units in castle and push, but when you approach 200/200 it is time for imperial. Another timing is your age 4 Longbowman (Mercenary) upgrade that makes them do serious damage again vs age 3 opponent. Varangian age 4 upgrade is also insane (depending on your numbers)