"Attacko's -What is "Strategy"

[katipunero]

On Worshiping the Icon of an Iconoclast
A cult following of a polemic poster who has writing game on a message board is fine. In fact, I am in the ranks. But a literal cult following? This is getting out of hand.

Lighten up dude. I was hoping that the casual and humorous tone of the OP would insulate this thread from people who take the game and perhaps life waaaay tooooo seriously literally. This is after all a thread that questions if not makes fun of conventional status quo hegemonic kind of thinking. It is not everyday someone like the OP comes out with fresh ideas especially in the strategy subforum where people do their best to micmic other people's playstyle. I merely gave my assent and support to the OP who has for the longest time been considered a troll which to my mind is unfair.

There's no need to raise the alarm on a possible cult following because in all fair honesty I have observed that everyone seems to have unwittingly fallen into the trap of cottage-acronym-do-this-do-that worship nowadays. To me OP's ideas are certainly a breath of fresh air, an important reminder to all of us that ultimately having fun is the goal to aspire for in this or any game. I do understand the resistance to his ideas, heck even an empire has to undergo a turn of anarchy when switching beliefs or civics if not spiritual.

Congratulations anyway for having the honor of wearing the badge of a genuine immortal, epic, fractal, and no-random events player. That is quite an achievement. But do lighten up.

EDIT: Please accept my apologies if I have offended your personal beliefs vel non. I simply find the biblical parable a useful and appropriate anecdote on the topic of rejection by one's peers. The inertia of ideas is too long to discuss and is probably off topic, but the evidence is preponderant and beyond any moral doubt, OP is on to something here.

 

[oleg1]

...

The Russians played the map. They took into account their neighbors childish impulses and renamed a city of not much significance to deter the Germans from taking more logical, sober, industrious, “boring” things like oil fields.
....

You are talking total rubbish.
Tsarizyn was renamed Stalingrad in 1925.

 

[champ82]

Lighten up dude.

OK.

I was hoping that the casual and humorous tone of the OP would insulate this thread from people who take the game and perhaps life waaaay tooooo seriously literally.

…I was trying to use hyperboyle too in suggesting there was a real cult following…guess it didn’t work though.

EDIT: Please accept my apologies if I have offended your personal beliefs vel non. I simply find the biblical parable a useful and appropriate anecdote on the topic of rejection by one's peers.

It’s not like that, but it’s considerate of you to mention this if it were.

The inertia of ideas is too long to discuss and is probably off topic, but the evidence is preponderant and beyond any moral doubt, OP is on to something here.

Mmm….kind of. As usual Attackotheface kind of has a point and kind of doesn’t. Is ‘avoid group think’ a valid message? Yes. But come on…the man obviously gets a kick out of provoking and offending for it's own sake. Is it usually funny? Yes. Should you take it as sincere 'help you win on higher levels in single player' advice? God help you if you do (like how I brought it full circle?)

Nothing wrong with not wanting to advance the levels…to focus more on ‘fun’ than beating deity or immortal…kind of weird to attack people who do want to do this on an online forum though.

You are talking total rubbish.
Tsarizyn was renamed Stalingrad in 1925.

Congrats, you found the only historical inaccuracy on that post.

 

[NWP20]

Should you take it as sincere 'help you win on higher levels in single player' advice? God help you if you do.

Oh.




Bugger.




(... and that's the Lawrence of Arabia (Churchill of Arabia) settling in Desert RPG up the wall then...)

 

[Bibor]

Maybe I missed the poetic content; English is not my native language.

But otherwise, tell me if I'm getting it right.

Among the vast, vast number of internet addresses, there's one dedicated and built around a game called Civilization (and its variations). That internet community has a huge library (chatroom), and a subsection of that library is called Strategy and tips. Majority of people discussing things in that room are experienced players that know this game inside-out and are working, talking and discussing things that outsiders will probably consider to be very minute details. Unlike other chat rooms around the vast, vast internet (lets take World of Warcraft forum as a counter-example), people in here are educated, intelligent and polite.

Its fascinating how a tiny portion of this planet's creativity called Civilization 4 gamplay can take up unexpected thought patterns, abbreviations, even a sort of secretive communication among its player members. It's really fascinating, isnt' it?

It really isn't. It has already all been said in Das Glasperlenspiel. Sorry Attacko, but you'll really have to bleed more if you want to expand thoughts and thought patterns already introduced to me by Hermann Hesse.

So... Granary first?

 

[champ82]

On mentioning the levels we play at

Different advice is applicable on different levels.

Q: How should I win the game?

Chieftain : I don’t know, just have fun, I didn’t even know what I was building or why more than half the time and I won a score victory in 2050 so you can too.

Noble: The secret of my success has always been founding an early religion.

Emperor: Specialize your cities. Play the map.

Immortal: Be constantly conscious of potential tech trading fodder and dilpo is very important.

Deity : [I am finding myself at a loss, I don’t even know, can’t even imagine]

We could type “I play at [insert level here]” every single time we offer advice (it is often relevant) or we could put it in our signatures. Along with our game speed and prefered map type as these are also relevant.

Of course, some will be accused of bragging.

By others…who find fanatic speak, fanatic culture stifling…but have fanatic accounts and put in the time as much as anyone else… “rebel” fanatics.

Oh well.

 

[troytheface]

The Poisoned Pawn

"I didn't do it" - Claus Von Bulow

There were a couple strategy posts that came and went like they do

these strategies comes and goes types are kind of like that "jr" officer that used gatlin guns on the offensive in the american civil war, proved it worked, and no one knows who he is.

One such was the "anvil and hammer fort" idea thread which was not the name of the thread but anywho it suggested a fort with a small garrison that gets pounded then when the enemy takes it they have no fort defense and a counter attack will decimate them or something like that.

"a pawn is said to be 'poisoned' because its capture can result in positional problems or material loss for the captor"- holypedia

Another was put a spy in a caravel and have open borders and put the caravel in a city for forever non ejected agent. (which makes sense - they probably have spies on boats all over the place right now)

I doubt the cottage boys came up with those. I think what they do is read a line of advice that
shows up when the game is loading, plagerize it, and write threads about it because in studies they found that people who have longer answers and who are taught to question the question score better than those that give a simple answer.

You know, like giving strategy in a strategy and tips section.

In vietnam they had Mcnamara and the wiz kids or brain guys or whatever. they came up with "body counts" as a way to wage the war. They were also called "bean counters"
they gave troops guns that did not work and we lost that war.

this is a screen shot of...

 

[champ82]

Yeah pretty sure TMIT wrote “AH” once instead of Animal Husbandry…pretty sure he talked about cottages at one point too ergo he’s never given a good piece of advice to any players aspiring to move up a level or 4.

Take a guy…say he’s been playing for 1 month, prince level, isn’t into multi-player yet, comes across this forum to learn more.

Reads something sophomoric and imperfect like “CE v. SE” leaves kind of confused but with some new ideas.

Reads one of Attacko’s guides “leave your cities unguarded, the red faces and smoke will serve as beacons of fear to your opponents,” (butchered that, admittedly) leaves very confused.

I doubt the cottage boys came up with those. I think what they do is read a line of advice that
shows up when the game is loading, plagerize it, and write threads about it because in studies they found that people who have longer answers and who are taught to question the question score better than those that give a simple answer.

Ah…the old “us v. them” false dichotomy. Dumb but seductive for some reason…especially to dumb people.

“Don’t believe the hype.”
-Public Enemy

Anyway, cool examples about the fort and the spy, also the Vietnam parallel…but you seem to take compliments worse than insults so maybe I shouldn’t bother.

 

[troytheface]

"leave your cities unguarded, the red faces and smoke will serve as beacons of fear to your opponents,”

Hoof'n around i meet this ex military guy about 6'2 and we became friends for whatever reason and he says "you ever done something that you'd never say or mention ...etc"

and then he tells me a war tale after which i said," yeah but its war i wouldn't think...", and he interrupts and says "no it wasn't like that" so i went silent not out of respect or anything but i figured he wanted to carry his story around to help him think he's deep or something.

at any rate he was watching me play a multiplayer game and i was being attacked and was fighting and after about 12 seconds he said - "move all those units out of those cities- their just sitting there!"

so i moved all my units out of all my cities and destroyed the attacker and the attacker was a new player or something because after attacking he wanted peace after i was invading and 5 minutes before he quit while my cities WERE ALL RED AND ABLAZE.

If i was in a different country and everyone hated me i would be shooting all over the place.
It would be like, "sneeze" shoot, cough- shoot- because i would be scared of having my face blown off and holding a shot out eye and screaming and stuff.

They must teach you how not shoot as much as they do how to shoot.

Which leads to the next point. I wonder if i remembered that when that advice was written.
I don't think so.

this is a screenshot of a pile of people with a man on top of them

 

[champ82]

Fair enough – pretty bad ass explanation for that one.

The original quote in context from “Attacko’s Guide to Stealth Warfare” October 26, 2008.

“Variations on this theme are the "Scout Surge" and the "Buddahist Typhoon" "Stealth" means that you are trying not to be seen- but it also implies guile- all units including workers (as military targets ) cross borders in time of invasion, all cities should be empty with a red burning icon like a beacon of disaster for the enemy.”

Used the search engine.

But what can I say, I have a good memory.

Attached is a photo…

Spoiler :

I believe the teacher in question has been around since 2002 and has taught like 3,000 classes all called “The Futility of Academia.” She spends a lot of time degrading such subjects as “Math” and “English”. She also gives any student who asks “Teacher, is this really true?” an F. Most of the students look pretty bored.

 

[naterator]

But what can I say, I have a good memory.

Elephants and New Englanders never forget.

 

[katipunero]

Hmm. Okay. I never was good on detecting hyperboles. Not a native speaker, obviously.

Resist. Unlearn. Defy. They say. I guess "avoiding group think" or at least thinking above, below, sideways the flock/herd/group is a neat way to sum up this thread.

 

[oleg1]

Congrats, you found the only historical inaccuracy on that post.

Actually, your whole assement that Germans did not play the map in 1942 is wrong.
This is the map:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Eastern_Front_1942-05_to_1942-11.png

The objective of Fall Blau was to secure the Maikon oil fields in the Nothern Caucuss.
That can only be accomplished by holding the Rostov-Stalingrad line.

Capture of Stalingrad would also prevent russian oil shipping from Baku via the Volga River. It was very rational and strategically sound plan.

p.s. For some reason multi-quote option is not working on my computer.

 

[troytheface]

Life Imitates Civ4

those last two images were kinda grim.

which goes to the above point, avoid group think, etc. No. You can't.

the social exists - more relevant to some

(more in the sense of (weighted) as oppossed to like man vs nature etc)

(one main premise of feminist ideology- "sexual roles are culturaly determined" or something like that- think i was warned for being sexist and a post closed- for bringing up feminist ideology as it relates to civ4 strategy.)

I am guessing games are created by peoples because they are a manifestation on some idea or perception of what we think is going on- or an escape from it-

"fight the power " implies an offensive. There is a difference in trying and being. more defensive.
civ4 strategy and tips, attack and counter attack.

I suggest the Russians won because while thier people were unhappy and they were pumping men towards the western flank- their cities were empty with a red burning icon like a beacon of disaster for the enemy.

Threat over Attack

happens all the time in single or multiplayer- overall strength or stack vs stack on borders.
one player looking for weakness, the other set to prevent, or restrain, or make fail.

Who were the great "Threat" generals? Hannibal is one i can think of- the romans had three armies vs him in italy but were afraid to attack in spite of overwhelming odds.

attacking two points using land and sea can make them scramble in multiplayer, and in single workers are left undefended -but actually the computer does better at defense against this then people do.

 

[troytheface]

UltraMan

One tactic one can use is attaching a Great General to a unit using the "Moral" promotion as it can only be attained by using a great general ("Leadership" is almost another but it can be had by a random event)

ultra- Beyond the range, scope, or limit of-

Moral gives movement and a unit that the enemy does not know has an extra movement can really wreak some havoc- a sneak city kill on a city that the enemy feels is safe.

always raze the city tho as that is what ultraman did while fighting

 

[oleg1]

Actually, the middle picture is exactly how CivIV combat must look like for city dwellers !!

 

[champ82]

Actually, your whole assement that Germans did not play the map in 1942 is wrong.
This is the map:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Eastern_Front_1942-05_to_1942-11.png

The objective of Fall Blau was to secure the Maikon oil fields in the Nothern Caucuss.
That can only be accomplished by holding the Rostov-Stalingrad line.

Capture of Stalingrad would also prevent russian oil shipping from Baku via the Volga River. It was very rational and strategically sound plan.

p.s. For some reason multi-quote option is not working on my computer.

Oh whoops my B.

Could you read my post called Fun v. Industriousness in Strategy on the previous page and check if there is any thing else? It would be really embarrassing if I had 3 or more historical inaccuracies on there.

Thanks in advance.

 

[champ82]

Who were the great "Threat" generals? Hannibal is one i can think of- the romans had three armies vs him in italy but were afraid to attack in spite of overwhelming odds.

Yeah Hannibal was so busy making threats he forgot to take Rome when he could. If he did a little more attacking and a little less threatening, probably could of won. Was probably having too much fun drinking in the pillaged vineyards or something.

As for the Romans playing it too cautious or defensive…pretty sure that worked out for them. Prime example of the school of “don’t always shoot” actually working.

 

[Nilmerf]

]As for the Romans playing it too cautious or defensive…pretty sure that worked out for them. Prime example of the school of “don’t always shoot” actually working.

No, the Romans won because they counterattacked Iberia and Africa. And unlike R.E. Lee, the strategy was successful. The goal of a purely defensive war is to sap the will of the enemy to fight, which is less effective against an oligarchy like Carthage. Supplementing the Fabian defensive strategy with an offensive one was the gamebreaker.

You are correct, however, that Hannibal's failure was not capturing Rome. The goal of an offensive war is to force peace on favourable terms, which is easier to do with the enemy capital in hand.

The Second Punic War shows that superior generalship can be overcome by purposeful strategy. The Jominiac maneuvering instead of engaging, combined with the Clausewitian counterattack led to the Roman victory.

The Romans: clearly well-versed in 19th century military theory.

 

[troytheface]

An Enigma and More Ultra


Hannibal's mission was to secure allies, force surrender. A field army did not have a goal of siege.

He kept Rome at bay for years- with a miniscule amount of men -in enemy territory

At any rate

"British and American codebreakers were able, following pioneering Polish work, to decrypt a vast number of messages which had been enciphered using the Enigma. The intelligence gleaned from this source, codenamed ULTRA by the British"-holypedia

some know code. some can decipher code.

The first two images- a Jaguar- one of the best units in the game and it's nemesis- the Axeman.
The third, is the same as the first but color pixelated

as pixels, as tiles, Brown, brown, black , beige, darker beige, etc will have more favorable odds against
blue , blue, brown , dark brown, etc.
When attacking a Jaguar make sure you know the code- alot of dark green and white speckled green means it will be harder to kill.