Axes Still Rule

[Roland Johansen]

This is really a crazy argument. You're effectively saying: I use this strategy that always works on some maps on some difficulty levels and I don't like to play in other circumstances.

If you pick the circumstances in such a way that a certain tactic is effective and don't play the map if the tactic isn't effective, then you can't afterwards complain that the tactic is effective.

Some settings that would make it more difficult:
-larger maps
-standard number of civilizations for the mapsize and not more
-multiple continents
-don't regenerate the map when the starting position isn't great
-aggressive AI setting
-higher difficulty level

 

[futurehermit]

Try axerushing a protective civ that hits feudalism off of the oracle...and they are your only close neighbour (see Sisiutil's current ALC game in the strategy section).

You say other approaches are "boring" yet you accuse the axe-rush of being "boring". Methinks you need to expand your civ repertoire. I play many games where an axerush is not viable (no copper or no close neighbour) and it is still very fun, I can assure you.

You just need to learn more of the game than bronze-working, and what's wrong with that?

Of course if you have a close neighbour and copper then an axe-rush is a powerful strategy. But if you weren't able to successfully attack a close neighbour early then you would have no chance if you got hemmed in on the higher levels (including monarch, but especially higher than monarch).

But if you don't have copper and/or a close neighbour then you simply have to do something else...other than restart

 

[Landstander]

I almost never play to win (I've had one Score and one Diplo victory in all of the MANY games I've played).

Don't you think it's just fun to build an empire? Or spread religion? Or at least use mixed arms? Axerush is probably the least fun way to play, IMHO.

 

[goonie61]

I have noticed that later on in the game once you have the highest score than anyone else, the ai kind of gives up. Which basically means they aren't willing to declare war on you anymore. It may be true that the ai realizes that a war with you is futile, however there are ways around this. The ai should actively try to make alliances and do whatever it takes to take you down somehow (like a human would do). Unless of course you have managed to somehow make every ai player pleased or friendly toward you.
It is possible I just havent noticed the computer do this or because I dont play on a very high difficulty, but this is the reason why the axe-rush is so effective. You jump off to an early lead and never look back. This is one reason why BTS sounds interesting because it is about what happens after the axe.

 

[BYC]

This thread is kinda pointless isn't it? The OP is a bit trollish, and all that needs to be said has been said hasn't it?

 

[Landstander]

The ai should actively try to make alliances and do whatever it takes to take you down somehow (like a human would do).

In International Relation that is referred to as 'balancing' - and YES, the AI should attempt this!

Though I have had lower-score AI attack me in the mid-later game (when I was well ahead in score). Turns out, my high score is no match for their SoD!

 

[lilnev]

... if you have no bronze/iron (too frustrating, I would just recommend quitting in such an unlikely case)

Try checking Balanced Resources from the custom game menu.

As to the late game units, I’ve never got that far… by the time infantry comes around I’ve already won my games.

If you go down to Prince, and always play as the Romans, I bet you can win before rifles, maybe even before muskets. Why, I bet you could've played three dozen games with the new expansion by now.

The designers have given you the tools to make the game truly monotonous and unchallenging. You just aren't taking advantage of them.

peace,
lilnev

 

[Innawerkz]

^^
Who says that trolls don't generate great posts?

 

[chad187]

play online

 

[anandus]

I have noticed that later on in the game once you have the highest score than anyone else.

My opinion is that the AI in BTS doesn't just give up (like it used to), but continues to try (and sometimes quite succesfully)

 

[LlamaCat]

I would love to see this miracle "axe rush" demonstrated in detail some day, which I keep reading about. I'm still not sure how it works, or for that matter how it works if you are on a continent with only 1 neighbor and everyone else is overseas. I presume on Monarch difficulty after conquering a few neighbors early, you eventually need to start actually playing the game strategically to finish out the win?

Also... try the dog soldier if no resources are nearby and report back on another dozen games to let me know how well that works, I'm curious.

 

[whb]

There are some AI strategies I'm occasionally disappointed the AI won't try. For example, in cases where the player looks likely to win a space race, beating two AI's who are friendly to each other but annoyed with the player. It would make strategic sense for the weaker AI to offer itself as a sacrifice: go all out war on the player even though it will lose, hoping to slow the player down enough for its friend's ship to launch.

(It could even be "player agnostic" -- if you were friends with a weak AI, and a stronger AI looked like winning imminently, the weak AI could offer to crash-tackle the stronger AI for you...)

 

[MisterBarca]

Why feed a troll?

 

[futurehermit]

^^
Who says that trolls don't generate great posts?

It's cuz Lilnev is hilarious

 

[Horizons]

I absolutely detest axe-rushing. I really hope that it is not still the dominant early 'strategy' in BtS.

 

[largedarryl]

There are some AI strategies I'm occasionally disappointed the AI won't try. For example, in cases where the player looks likely to win a space race, beating two AI's who are friendly to each other but annoyed with the player. It would make strategic sense for the weaker AI to offer itself as a sacrifice: go all out war on the player even though it will lose, hoping to slow the player down enough for its friend's ship to launch.

(It could even be "player agnostic" -- if you were friends with a weak AI, and a stronger AI looked like winning imminently, the weak AI could offer to crash-tackle the stronger AI for you...)

Well that would be a nice addition, but I would prefer the ai's to play like people, self-centered and not willing to sacrifice themself for the "better good".

 

[afa2000]

I absolutely detest axe-rushing. I really hope that it is not still the dominant early 'strategy' in BtS.

Me either, but it's still the best way to gather advantage, specially if you play with 18 civs in a small map, like I do. AI always expand much faster than you do at higher levels, like monarch or above, so early wars are essential.

 

[TrailblazingScot]

Axe-rushing hasn't worked in multiplayer since Warlords, that is for certain.

 

[homan1983]

I would love to see this miracle "axe rush" demonstrated in detail some day, which I keep reading about.

The miracle axe rush means you regenerate the map over and over again until you have a perfect starting location, then press crtl+w for world builder and see if there is copper nearby/within city radius/very close. If iron is nearby forget it, its too much hassle and you're too "good" a player to bother.

Make sure you have the best starting location with a close copper source and be able to build 2-3 great cities also close by.

Make sure that the map is pangea or something very similar so you can destroy everyone with your great start location/resources.
Whatever you do DONT even think about wonders, diplomacy, culture, espionage, technology, trade, religion - remember you just wanna win quick using any means possible so you can brag.

Remember don't play any map with continents, if you axe rush in these games and you expand too much, then maintenance will force you you drop science slider bigtime and since no one is left in the island you won't be able to techtrade so in both ways the other continent will be far ahead of you and win the game: YOU MUST PLAY A MAP THAT PERFECTLY MATCHES YOUR CHOSEN STYLE OF PLAY ON YOUR CHOSEN PERFECT START LOCATION, it doesnt matter if 1 big continent is realistic or not...

Once you do that, then goto your cities, alt+click on axemen so that the city continuously builds axes [remember city management is boring, we are axe rushers] and just keep spamming the globe with your axes and crush all.

Most importantly, once you do all these come to civfanatics:BTS section and make a new thread about how boring the new expansion is and how nothing matters except for axe rush.

 

[Innawerkz]

Careful, lilnev... he's gunning for your job.