Blitzing the AI

[thefrenchzulu]

There are many ways to blitz the AI, most common being the ROP betrayal.

In my GOTM11, I found another method. This worked specifically because all the AI Civ's were non-religious. During the GOTM I only researched Monarchy. I traded monarchy for ROP and World Maps and attacked the moment they changed governments. Though the AI's would have been killed with the quantity of attack, the whole blitz lasted 3 turns. In that time they couldn't rush any defences due to anarchy.

Simple strategy, but it helped.

 

[Yndy]

Good thinking,

I guess you did that at the end as you also did a ROP betrayal.

 

[thefrenchzulu]

Yep, one massive ROP betrayal!
(No awards for being nice)

Unfortunately I was attacking with mainly horsemen, therefor no attack iwas for sure and I had to consentrate on taking the key AI cities first. It took me two turns to get my horses to the rest of the cities (The AI seriously lacked roads!)

I hit the AI so hard that they even donated some far off cities to my cause

 

[Moonsinger]

Originally posted by thefrenchzulu
There are many ways to blitz the AI, most common being the ROP betrayal.

I refer the more honorable approach. For example, sign the ROP then position your force accordingly. At the end of the 20th turn, the ROP will expire. Now, you can declare war and fight like a gentleman/lady.

 

[Yndy]

Moonsinger,

AFAIK if you declare war with your troops inside the territory of the enemy it will still count as a ROP betrayal even if you don't have a ROP active with them.

I read that in a post somewhere and that solved my problem of always losing my rep and not knowing why.

I imagined a very advantageous ROP betrayal in my current game but didn't have the guts to apply it.

Figure this: Large Pangaea, playing Iroquis, 12 civs.
I was researching gunpowder without having theology or beyond (thought to go to cav as fast as I can).
Best civ was building Smith TRading company at that moment, and I was 9 out of 12 in tech.

The strategy:
Just before the owner of the Great Library gets Nationalism (wonder how you could figure that), you ROP and attack Great Library City. Instant tech to modern age (if you are scientific you also get Nationalism).

I didn't do that as I was afraid of the highest gold chest I have ever seen at the AI: 21,000 gold pieces. That could buy military alliances against me from all the civs ... TWICE.

I decided to lay low and hope for another shot... I'm now only 6 techs behind and am 6 out of 11 at science (nailed Togukawa

 

[thefrenchzulu]

I have heard about the strategy of capturing the Great Library before reaching education, thus getting tech's further on in the tech tree. I wonder why it stops at nationalism?

21000 gold peaces, that is surely a lot of gold! Imagine if you could hit all his cities. Capturing 21000 gold can buy you lots of friends.

To Moonsinger:

There is no honour when I fight the AI. I hit where necessary to win. Below the belt as well.

The loss of reputation is short lived. In my only game wher I've ROP betrayed, I killed every one simultaneously. Reputation doesn't matter in final score! Thanks golly.

 

[Yndy]

I didn't say it stops at Nationalism but if they have Nationalism then they'll have Riflemen and beating fortified riflemen in size 12 city with knights seemed a little too much to ask for.

How many cities could I take in one turn with some 40 knights?

I'll say four max. As they have some 20 cities it would mean 4000 gold which could buy two or three allies.

I think it was doable but I didn't want to take the chances as I don't want to reload if it failed and I really want to win this one.

Anyway how many units do you use for a blitz in mdern age (without ROP betrayal). I'm interested in a minumum number.

 

[Zachriel]

Originally posted by thefrenchzulu
To Moonsinger:

There is no honour when I fight the AI. I hit where necessary to win. Below the belt as well.

You only live 6,000 years and after you are gone, the truth will come out, the real history will be written, your statues will be torn down, your descendents will be disgraced, and your estate will be forfeit to pay the reparations.

Using RoP betrayal against the AI is like stealing candy from a baby. The candy is sweet, but the victory is not.

 

[thefrenchzulu]

Originally posted by Yndy
I didn't say it stops at Nationalism but if they have Nationalism then they'll have Riflemen and beating fortified riflemen in size 12 city with knights seemed a little too much to ask for.

How many cities could I take in one turn with some 40 knights?

I'll say four max. As they have some 20 cities it would mean 4000 gold which could buy two or three allies.

I think it was doable but I didn't want to take the chances as I don't want to reload if it failed and I really want to win this one.

Anyway how many units do you use for a blitz in mdern age (without ROP betrayal). I'm interested in a minumum number.

Rifflemen vs knight, fair comment. 20 cities and 20000gold vs 40 knights, you have problems!

10 knight per city, well it depends what is defending them, but it's fair. It also depends on their government style and also whether they have been warring. If the are under democracy/republic, they might only have two defenders. Hitting them with cavalry, pikes and cannon might result in taking up to 10 cities!. You might need more units though. (You could try to disconnect iron, and build horsmen for upgrade. Will help if you could include LW-city in your first hit)

My second Civ3 game was at emperor level. (First Monarch on huge map got too slow.)

This was my army at end army

You could say I blitz them with that! Since then I don't blitz with modern army's anymore. My deity/emperor games are mostly fair fights. I use mostly invantry and artillery. Fast quantities. I disconnect resources to build cannon and even catapults and spearmen! Cause I play warmongering, I bully the AI for tech and normally keep a leader for LW. (Science mostly zero) Once I upgrade, I slowly take city by city! Use small quantity of invantry and artillery to fortify around AI rubber. (Once the are in te facinity, the AI workers will not reconnect, since the are basically automated and are scared of war)
Sorry for long strat, but I don't normally ROP betray, unless playing for score

 

[Moonsinger]

I like what Zachriel said "Using RoP betrayal against the AI is like stealing candy from a baby. The candy is sweet, but the victory is" hollow. He is very poetic with words.

 

[thefrenchzulu]

Originally posted by Moonsinger
I like what Zachriel said "Using RoP betrayal against the AI is like stealing candy from a baby. The candy is sweet, but the victory is" hollow. He is very poetic with words.

I do agree. I will only use ROP betrayal in competition games e.g. GOTM's. There noone is going to ask how did you managed to outwit the AI in battle, but rather what was your score!

Yep, Zachriel does have a way with words and I'm looking forward to his spoiler thread!

 

[Yndy]

Thanks, the frenchzulu,

Well, I was impressed by the words spoken (written) here and I may not ROP betray my friends.

I say maybe.