Sashie VII
Balance of Power
I've tested this only on Emperor and Monarch, so don't ask me about DG or Deity 
Are you the player who doesn't like to conquer more land after a certain point, but likes to hurt the AI nonetheless?
Are you the player who loves to be ages ahead in tech, without leaving each and every AI as OCC?
Do you enjoy technological and military superiority without actually growing too big that AI's no longer pose any threat?
Then this is for you!
Feel free to rip me and the thread apart
EDIT: Please note that this strategy is by no means intended to be *the best* option, or that it is foolproof. It's purpose is to add variety and dimension to one's gameplay, and FUN.
Are you the player who doesn't like to conquer more land after a certain point, but likes to hurt the AI nonetheless?
Are you the player who loves to be ages ahead in tech, without leaving each and every AI as OCC?
Do you enjoy technological and military superiority without actually growing too big that AI's no longer pose any threat?
Then this is for you!
This is done by use of artillery units escorted by an army. It is best to use as many artillery units as possible, so that more damage can be done in less time. Some fast units should come along to snatch workers. Personally, I usually use at least 3-4 dozen artillery units.
The crew's aim is to bombard, bombard and then bombard some more. If possible, it is best to start near the enemy's core, as it would hurt them more. Target tiles, this creates craters which reduce the basic production of the tile. When you run out of tiles, turn to nearby cities. The aim now is to destroy every city improvement and level their population to 1. Note that we do not intend to kill any of the enemy's units, only to destroy tiles, buildings and population. Do this to every city of the enemy that matters, if it's a corrupted 2-pop tundra town then don't bother.
Once we have finished decimating their entire population, burning buildings to the ground and restructuring their lands to look more like the moon, the objective is achieved. The effect is that the enemy is now ruined and have to start from scratch in terms of economy and infrastructure.
i) They have a lot of units that you did not kill, which means they need to pay more for upkeep even after their bonuses. By disconnecting recources with bombardment, they build even more of those cheap obsoletes,which means even more upkeep.
ii) Their workers have to clear all those craters before tile reimprovement can begin. And we know how few workers the AI build
iii) They have to begin building all the needed city improvement anew. For some time, their growth would be limited by happiness issues. Furthermore, they'll have less science without libraries and universities and less money (upkeep, upkeep) without marketplaces and banks.
The net effect of this is that the enemy would be slowed tremendously. Doing this to nation after nation would then slow the world. In which time you can run ahead in technology and do whatever you like henceforth.
This is feasible especially on Archipelago and Continental maps.
Feel free to rip me and the thread apart
EDIT: Please note that this strategy is by no means intended to be *the best* option, or that it is foolproof. It's purpose is to add variety and dimension to one's gameplay, and FUN.
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