Civ Iii Blues

[H0BBES]

CIV III has done a wonderful job on revamping the diplomacy. It is such a thrill to beat down an opponent and then steal almost everything they have at the bargaining table. BUT! What still irritates me is the lack of an aggressive military AI! The computer never launches an alpha strike against another civilization. They come at you with a unit or two at various points along your border, in a long stream that can usually be beaten back as long as you have ample defense or if you are not too far back on the tech scene. I would love to have an AI patch where the computer launches a massive alpha strike when you are least suspecting. Blitzkrieg is the key (as we organics know so well)
Also, I've been adopting Gen. Sherman's tactic of total war with my enemies -- this city flipping back and forth is rather annoying. . .and it doesn't seem to make any difference how many units you have garrisoned in the city (or does it?) -- so conquor a city, raze a city I find much more satisfying. Any input?

 

[Zachriel]

I have seen the computer attack en masse. It's not something I really look forward to.

You could try and up the level a couple of notches.

 

[Kulture]

I'm being attacked by a massive force of German knights, spearmen and swordsmen. All up, I've been invaded by a force of about 80 units!

The thing is - they haven't got a hope. I've got musketmen, samurai and cannon ripping them apart.

I'm on the smallish Southern end of the continent, it narrows to about 5 squares width through a mountain range and then expands into a land mass to the north. I've got a city in the mountains (well on a hill in the mountains) which gives me a nice defensive post.

I don't know why they decided to attack me - I've got superior technology and an easily defended position. They've had to march miles through Persian territory to reach me - the Persian's are weaker than me.

It may be because they've got so many units that their miltary advisor thinks they're stronger (my military advisor tells me I've got a weak army relative to the Germans!) - coupled with the fact that I've got saltpetre and they probably want it!

 

[Figuis]

I also agree. I love razing cities down to dusty rubble. It's almost like a trophy on my destructive mantle. Before when i would conquer I would install a new governor but the AI just liberates it and uses it against you. That really ticks me off, so I leave the city just as it was, but the crows have to bring their own food.

P.S. Gen. Sherman was an excellent General, introducing TOTAL WAR to modern civilizations who want peace and prosperity.

WAR IS HELL!!!

 

[Jimmicus]

I read on a post elsewhere on these boards about someone finding themselves on the receiving end of a computer assault of 64 modern armour units and 4 ICBM's! Now that is a nasty attack. I believe the player responded with over a dozen nukes and turned the enemy's country into a parking lot.

 

[Gruntboy]

That's one parking lot I wouldn't want to park on for at least 100 years.

 

[Zachriel]

Originally posted by Kulture
I don't know why they decided to attack me - I've got superior technology and an easily defended position.

History is cluttered with the corpses of military miscalculations. You're right. They probably wanted your saltpeter. Or maybe they just didn't like you.

 

[Moulton]

Well, I started my current game with intentions of making is a wargame. Got my wish.
The zulus attacked from the south-- not really enmasse, since it is still early game, but 15 or 20 Imri and bowmen in each stack. I had not gotten to Chivalry yet, so no Samauri. They also allied with the Babylonians from the north. Since they had to march through China to get there, I really did not expect to see any--but they did get there, and captured most of my workers on teh "safe" side of the country before I noticed them
Meanwhile Rome and CHina kept sneaking in settlers to the unsettled part of the country in the center, so I had to keep diverting my attention from the warfront to chase them out. It was a long evening. but, with the samauri on line, and Zulu haveing been reduced to making warriors in stead of archers and imri, I am finally in the process or rolling up their pathetic divilization.
My advisor says their military is almost equal to mine. Hah. Maybe as many warriors, since it only counts units, not value.

If Rome keeps messing with me she will go next. She will never get legions--I have the iron.

 

[Zachriel]

Originally posted by Moulton
Well, I started my current game with intentions of making is a wargame. Got my wish.

It's nice when you get your wish sometimes, especially during the holiday season.

You can sometimes pick your friends, but you can't pick your enemies. They usually pick you.

 

[neonhomer]

H0BBES and Figuis

You guys say that you are having problems with the computer liberating the cities you conquer?

Well personally i rarely have that problem. But to be safe i ALWAYS build a temple (hurried if possible) first and possibly a cathedral soon afterwards. I do this not only to defend myself but also possibly steal their citys if we make peace. The only time i will raze a city is when it is in a useless position or if one of my cities is too close to it.

Just my 2 cents

 

[Buecephalus]

You could also try rushing a library, it has more cultural value than a temple (at least that's what is says in the manual). My personal philosophy is to "piggyback" in settlers and defensive units while invading. I move in, raze a city and promptly build my own city and garrison strong defenders in it. That way I build my own influence as I move into their empire. Another bonus is that the land around my new city already had improvements made on it.



"do or do not, there is no try."

 

[Figuis]

Originally posted by Buecephalus
"My personal philosophy is to "piggyback" in settlers and defensive units while invading. I move in, raze a city and promptly build my own city and garrison strong defenders in it."

Buecephalus, I love it... "piggyback"

I MUST ADOPT YOUR STRATEGY :enlighten:

 

[Zouave]

The Military AI is much better than at Civ II. I have been surprised at how many units come at you en masse, that even at Warlord level.

 

[Moulton]

Well, they found iron, made legions of legions, and attaced. They lost, but it was a long war. This world (random) has 15 sources of iron that I know of... 4 in my territory, 3 in Roman, and one each in the others. Havent gotten to coal etc, yet... wonder what it will bring.

 

[zebomba]

I'm glad the Ai can make mass attacks. The old games are just too boring.
Also, you can counter it. I've read somewhere -was it in Sun Tzu's Art of war or Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince?- that delaying a war is the worst thing a nation can do. If you know they'll come after you, why not come after them first and pick the clashing grounds? You always get some spoils, whether war reparations, cities to make workers, or to be sold.
Talking about those cities, why 'd I want a city producing 1 shield and 1 coin? Better draft them to six, then rush workers or sell the city. About the improvements, once artillery and bombers are on the field, there's not much after I conquer a city. When I'm "idle" during a campaign, I just bombard anything in sight, since I won't colonize areas far away from my capital.

 

[Moulton]

IMHO there is no easy way to win this game. But to try for a conquest or domination victory they have made it very hard. You have to take the cities, and hold them, in spite of being worthless.
Unless you couquer in the first few years... and eliminate all the rest. Havent tried that yet. Seems like you would have to pick you civ, like persians or Romans that are primed for early victory.