Adv ice with my first game on higher dif..?

[BSPollux]

I realy dont like the idea of a 'cheating' AI, but prince is becoming boring, so I thought I'd give it a try. Im playing my first game on immortal right now. The first few steps are done and my first war is over. Now I'd appreciate some tips on how to proceed.

I'll give you some screenshot and describe what happened and where I am now.

I am playing Austria on Continents, standart, legendary start, promotion&culture saving on. I was on one landmass with Spain and Russia. Spain I've taken out. Russia wanted me to war them and I thought its best to have one friend and one foe then to have two people with no reason to like me. I kept out of the war and after it ended I found myself in the position to buy a CS near Spain, my most northern city was close to them as well. Seemed like I could beat them and hurray it worked. I was south, Spain middle, Russia north.

Heres the map:

Spoiler :

The border to Russia

Area around my capital. Theres one more wheat to the south.

The techtree and cultural progress:

Spoiler :

And my relations and my city overview:

Spoiler :

As you can see I got some military, mostly comp.archers and a great general is waiting to be usefull. I thought about settling him close to the most southern russian city, place a row of archers behind him and use that trap to weaken russias forces before I invade them. But then again, Im not sure if a war is a good idea at all.

Oh I forgot: I got my own religion: +1 cult +1 faith from whine/incence, +1 happyness/city, +2happyness/temple. didnt spread far yet.

Thanks in advance for any advice on how to proceed

 

[Moriarte]

Well, this doesn't look easy . I suggest - defend and develop what you have. If you attack her, you'll probably need long swords and/or Machinery. That way you won't stand a chance against a runaway immortal on another continent in terms of science. On the other hand, if you beeline Astronomy through Education, build Uni's; you can rush caravel and find buyers for 7-8 resources you have. With that much cash you can rush public schools everywhere and sign some RAs to try winning the space race or diplo.

That's a good choke point for defense too, you can definitely hold her off there for a long while.

Maybe, you can capture few cities from her, while going for Astronomy, not all of them, obviously. Your units must be well fitted for assault after taking Spain, right? Thus trying to kill both rabbits with one arrow, so to speak. Anyway, AI usually launches near turn 300 on Immortal, so there is plenty of time to maneuver. Best of luck.

EDIT: In case of attack, Genoa can be very useful, if puppeted.

 

[BSPollux]

Well, this doesn't look easy . I suggest - defend and develop what you have. If you attack her, you'll probably need long swords and/or Machinery. That way you won't stand a chance against a runaway immortal on another continent in terms of science.

You mean that even if i win a long and hard war against cath i will be lost due to wasting time on it that i should have used teching..?

makes sense

 

[kamikazees]

Catherine is a terrible neighbor to have. She will probably drop 3 more cities on the west side of her borders, picking up the salt and whatever else she can. She is going to runaway if you let her.

There is no "in case of attack" with her. She is going to DoW you, and probably soon. She's already got pikes and she's probably building up for war. You can settle the general 1w of where he currently is when it happens. That would slow her down and help you on your counter-attack.

As the previous poster mentioned, get to Astronomy and head east. Find your neighbors and make some trading partners. Everyone else is too far away to help you with her, but they can at least fund your war machine. Oh, and see if you can ally the two CS on her west side. That will help box her in.

 

[ense7en]

You've got an army, might as well take care of Cathy too.

She's only going to get bigger if you let her.

I'd definitely go in and cripple her (get Moscow and other good cities).

I rarely wipe out civs to avoid as severe diplo penalties...just take all her good cities and raze the crappy ones, and leave her one or two garbage cities (always good to have trading partners).

 

[Sorin]

place the citadel where catherine's warrior is (buy a tile so you can do that). this way you will most likely be DOWed and you have a strong defence. Place a sword in the citadel and cover with 2 CB. the rest of your army should go for yakutsk and raze it so she wont have any iron. next take yaroslavl, raze the rest, keep moskow and leave her in rostov. this is what i would do.

edit: also ally yourself with zurich for some happiness, it seems you need it.