ALC Game 12 Pre-Game Show: Playing as Tokugawa

[jerVL/kg]

I want to see the start for some major philosophing on what to do. I like the starts the best and everybodies thoughts on it.

You mean posting the initial screenshot, followed by ten pages of discussion of where to move the warrior, followed by another screenshot, then ten more pages of where to settle? Umm...I guess that okay, if you're into that sort of thing.

Myself, 95% of the time, I just settle in place and get going...(the other 5% I move one tile over to start on the coast.)

 

[Sisiutil]

You mean posting the initial screenshot, followed by ten pages of discussion of where to move the warrior, followed by another screenshot, then ten more pages of where to settle? Umm...I guess that okay, if you're into that sort of thing.

Given the amount of discussion that ensues from the start, I'd say most people here are indeed into that sort of thing. I think part of it is the unknown versus the known. As the game progresses, choices start to get more obvious and less discussion results. At the opening, so much is unknown that all choices are possible.

 

[Seipheroth]

Hi all,

Great threads Sistuil and everyone that contributes! I’ve come to look for the regulars’ posts as much as Sistuil’s (okay, well, maybe I’m a little more interested in the screen shots).

I'd love to see a clever gambit for Japan - something with more color than "do the standard agressive rush badly until Samurai are available", but I can't tease it out of the opening. Awful synergies in the ancient era: everything pulls in conflicting directions.
[END QUOTE]

Here’s a rope-a-dope strategy that might make the most of your protective trait in a warmongering effort:

Step1a – Build Solo City
• Identify an aggressive opponent on a nearby island you want to expand to
• Build one city (Solo City) on a mountain on this island’s coast
• Chop any adjacent forest/jungle
• Throw in “x” amount of long-bowmen with city garrison promotions
• Build walls and other building that provide city defence (i.e., chichen itza)

Step1b – Prepare Naval Counterattack
While doing the above in this city, do the following on your mainland:
• Build an army of Samurai and catapults and whatever else may be needed (dependent on other civ’s weaknesses and strengths)
• Have a navy ready to transport them

Step2a – Rope-in Opponent
Once steps 1a and 1b are complete:
• Declare war on opponent
• Wait for your opponent to dwindle his/her army by attacking Solo City
• Once your opponent is weakened or before your city is captured, unload your samurai and catapults onto your opponent’s island. If it is the case that you opponent is weakened, it would be preferable to unload units next to a city that is more than two enemy-movement turns from Solo City

Step 2b – Carry out Counterattack
• With your opponent’s main army fighting an uphill battle (literally) you should be able to capture a few cities with minimal military losses, which will allow a swift attack due to minimal delay in waiting for health to recoup (preferably you have a medic three horse archer with your main stack)
• Your opponent will likely pull back his main army and allow you to unload new units from your mainland into your initial city

Step 3
Post to this message board just how amazingly great this strategy was. Or, conversely, what an amazingly great waste of time it was.

Yeah, I know there are a lot of “ifs” that would need to happen (i.e., an aggressive opponent on a nearby island) or “what ifs” that could happen (i.e., opponent kicks your solo city’s a$$, earns plenty of promotions and a GG, and comes to your mainland to kick more a$$), but, on the flipside, there are a lot of qualified people to figure out how to get around those “ifs” or come up with “plan B’s”. And if anyone could pull it off…

 

[NaZdReG]

yes but when will we see the start already!!! I want to see the citizens of your empire whipped and trained into the devoted armies whose goal it is to crush everyone in sight.

warmonger till the end!

NaZ

 

[Elrohir]

Start the thread already! Five pages is long enough for a pre-game show, let's see some Samurai action!

 

[johnny_rico]

I would also like to request the kitchen be opened, and the slicing and dicing begin.

 

[Sisiutil]

I will open the game thread tonight and will post here when it's up.

Seipheroth, a very interesting strat (though I think you meant to build the city on a hill, not a mountain). And relevant, since the fractal map may make such an invasion a necessity. The only potential complication could be the opponent. I could see such a strat failing against Montezuma, for example, simply because he builds so many units and would just keep throwing them at solo city until it finally buckled. Against almost anyone else, however, it might just work.

 

[Sisiutil]

The game thread is now underway HERE.

 

[cabert]

I will open the game thread tonight and will post here when it's up.

Seipheroth, a very interesting strat (though I think you meant to build the city on a hill, not a mountain). And relevant, since the fractal map may make such an invasion a necessity. The only potential complication could be the opponent. I could see such a strat failing against Montezuma, for example, simply because he builds so many units and would just keep throwing them at solo city until it finally buckled. Against almost anyone else, however, it might just work.

I must say I disagree. Against Monte especially such a strat is a total winner. Just bring your samurais to solo city as defenders.