A relatively simple way to win a war when you are attacked.

[ggganz]

1. Upgrade all your units to the most powerful option you have (as many as you can).
2. Ask for allies if you don't plan on making peace.
3. Adopt all war civics (Police State, Vassalage, Slavery, Theocracy).
4. Build at least 5 of your fastest units to attack the attackers before they attack the cities.
5. Make sure your cities are all protected by at least 8 units, as strong as possible.
6. Build endless fast units in half your cities, and in the other half, build attacking units and send them in groups of 10-20 to the enemies cities.
7. Go for all the war techs.

What do you think of my strategy?

 

[Pe Ell]

I wouldn't call it a strategy exactly as it's a bit to vague. More like a few general tips to get out of tricky situations. They are good ones though. A few things:
1: Upgrading is powerful but costly and best reserved for highly promoted units or emergencies. Dropping research to 0% and uppgrading everything in sight can save you if your caught with the pants down.
2: Will also give you the "mutual struggle" bonus. Again, can be costly(bribing with techs).
3: Yes, just keep in mind that the anarchy can kill you if you aren't spiritual.
4: Preferably catas or other seige units for the collateral damage. Can take down most stacks fast.
5: 8 units in every city is a bit over the top unless you have happiness issues and are running HR. Units costs upkeep after all. Just put them in the border citys/very important ones.
6: 10-20 is pretty much a stack of doom and you can send that many on the offense you're not likely to run into any trouble. But Sending in fast pillagers is a good idea.
7: Not really an option if you're attack suddenly with force but good to keep in mind if you feel threatened.

 

[occam]

This list allows an attacker to severely disrupt your overall strategy. A more interesting toolkit is how to defeat attackers without hampering the goals you desire.

If I were less lazy, I would find/fabricate some Sun Tsu quote about how ignoring is more powerful than overreacting.

- O

 

[oyzar]

8 units to protect each of your cities? i hope this is mp as you'll never need more than 3-4 to defend against a computer...

 

[Hold The Onion]

I'd hate to see the army that the AI has built if their power rating is high enough to justify war against me with 8 units in every city.

 

[Yeekim]

There is even simpler way:

"Thrust 'em with the pointy end!"

 

[cabert]

if you're attacked,
1) build/whip loads of siege units, draft loads of whatever you can,
2) attack the enemy stack with colateral damaging units (siege!), finish it off with your draftees
3) heal, rebuild what needed and check for another stack
4) if another stack comes in, rinse and repeat (yes, you rewhip and redrat if necessary)
5) if no other stack is coming, time to move into the offensive

 

[ggganz]

8 units to protect each of your cities? i hope this is mp as you'll never need more than 3-4 to defend against a computer...

Not really, I have lost a city with 9 units on Warlord difficulty level (which is what I'm playing as). And also, with this particular game that got me thinking about this, Isabella attacked me (guess why ) and I got Montezuma and his Vassal Mansa Musa to help me. Only problem is that Isabella capitulated to Monty and so I couldn't destroy her anymore .