Civ Experts... HELP ME WIN THIS GAME!

[Terrified]

Here's the world, currently 1840, just got into Modern Times (Regent level). I am Japanese (green) and facing English (Orange), Russians (Brown) and Americans (Blue). At the current time, I am technologically advanced, but only by 3-4 tech. I currently have great relations with Russia, good relations with England and very poor relations with the Americans. (We've invaded each other unsuccessfully in recent years.)

My problem?

My continent doesn't contain any rubber, oil, uranium or aluminum at all. I have access to one rubber and oil at my little colony (far left) but that is close to the heart of the English and they'd be able to remove me with little effort should I declare war on them. Any other sources are right in the heart of respective empires, meaning I would have to wipe out the civ to get it. The only civ I could take is America, but they don't have rubber or oil either. (They do have almost all the uranium in the world though except for damn England who have one right beside their capital.)

So, which way should I go?

Spaceship - While I can outproduce any civ right now, no aluminum or uranium means unlikely.

Dominating - Nope, England has more land and population than I do and unless I go head-to-head with them, impossible. And while I have a better navy than England, she's got lots more troops. Not to mention the second I invade, I'm likely without oil and rubber.

Conquer - See above.

Diplomacy - I do have the UN built, but England still owns too much stuff.

Culture - I do have way more culture than anyone else... but can I win from my island?

Any suggestions?

 

[LKendter]

Culture - I do have way more culture than anyone else... but can I win from my island?

I think you have answered your own question. Fortify your country big time with the colony is around, and build that culture.

 

[damunzy]

Culture. Japs are good at that. It is what I am doing right now. But then I am playing a Chieftan game after getting my butt handed to me in a Diety game

 

[=AA=Aussie]

If you are prepared to fight dirty:

Build privateers and harass american shiping. Then use them to blockade his ports. Build up a millitary and launch a LIMITED campeing to seize their resources. Use those to build up an army and finish the job on the americans

where you go then is up to you

 

[Meneer Popken]

What about diplomacy? Perhaps you can pay one side to weaken the other side (and themselves) and then take key locations from the weakened civs for your resources?

 

[stravaig]

I'd probably do this:
Get everyone to join you in a Military Alliance against the English (offer Tech/anything you can). The Brits should then be very preoccupied with the Russians. Opportunistically get the cities you need to secure the resources you need, then go back to peace.
You can either get the resources that will allow you to go for a Spaceship victory or (if you get that last bit of Uranium) you can go nuclear on everyone without fear of reprisal.

- Stravaig

 

[Terrified]

I just wanted to thank everyone for the help. As it turned out, I wound up giving some tech to the English to keep them from going to war. I kept up a good relation with Russia. Russia and England combined to wipe out America. Shortly after that, I had a U.N. vote and Russia voted for me! Together, we held enough to give me a diplomatic victory! I'm so happy. I thought I'd lost this game. Not an awesome final score, but my first win on Regent. Thanks again everyone for the help. Here's a compressed jpeg of the final screen for bragging rights.

 

[Suvorov]

What I always loved about Civ was going back to an old savegame and trying a different strategy. My suggestion would be "Absorbing" America then using your expanded might to attack the English, getting the Russians to declare war on them to help draw off the attack on your colony cities. Use your navy to prevent counterattack on your main continents and do a viking on them (use naval superiority for quick invasions, burning coastal cities then running away before they can counterattack). This tends to **** up the AI. I've noticed they start spreading out their units a lot when you do this for a while, leaving the path open for a quick land grab. i would suggest you try building a buffer around your colony cities.

And you'd be surprised how much burning the English capital will **** up their culture rating.