Civ3 so hard after Civ2: Advice wanted

[Licentia]

If you have an aggressive AI like the Germans next to you, you will hardly come around building up some military force, or otherwise you're gonna get attacked. One thing that works rather well in Civ3: If you are attacked, try to get others into the war with the aggressor, that often works well and can make a difference.

The AI moves better in the territory than it did in Civ2. Try to fortify on all positions with high defense-values in your territory. Let him get in, but only in the open, soften him up with artillery and finish him off with fast units, that can withdraw to secure positions afterwards. In your own territory you have the advantage of your roads, use it. Don't counterattack without reasonable force. Armees with defensive units can play an important role in securing key-positions and artillery.

Good point. America is huge and powerful and I share the map with them and the Chinese. (After China and I destroyed the Iroqouis after the foolish Iroquis attacked me). China and I signed a mutual protection pact, because I knew the Americans were a danger. Yep, the Americans attacked. How am I dealing with it? I have 5 infantry and 5 artillery in all my border cities. Anytime America sends a Tank/Infantry into my land (if it doesn't die attacking my infantry) I pound it with artillery, and then use tanks to destroy them. I know it would be harder than this if not for them sending half their units into China, but it would work even with a full on attack, at least until I can get enough tanks to send an army against America. I will not sign peace either until America and China sign a peace treaty, because I know the Americans would eventually wipe them out, and then I would be hopelessly outnumbered. The Americans were the victor in the first China-America war as they took 5 Chinese cities, leaving them with 20+ and china with like 10+.