Damn the Torpedos Playstyle

[insight]

I'm curious if other players play this game the way I do, which is:

1. I never give techs away.... ever! (Hey you have scientists?)

2. I don't join wars unless I want to. (You're "cautious" with me and I'm going to join your war?? And if I do you make peace? Where are my free techs for joining??)

3. I declare religions whenever I feel like it. (Stupid, but fun sometimes.)

4. I love any trick I can pull on the AI e.g. conquering cities with settled GP, conquering wonder cities, stealing cities early, stealing workers, killing scouts in the early game, beating the AI to wonders, etc.

5. I never settle generals as I love creating "uber" units.

Needless to say I'm at war mostly. But frankly my dear.... that's the way I want it.

PS. I kind of struggle on Noble. But it's fun.

 

[carl corey]

There's some fun in doing that, but I find that I have more fun managing the different aspects a little better than "what pleases me at the moment". It's like a game of chess that you win by playing attackingly but making a lot of mistakes (you don't care, the opponent is weak) vs one in which you've actually found an overall better strategy, which involves timing your aggression and your defense. I'd take the second most of the time. I'd rather play Solitaire instead of the first.

 

[tycoonist]

this isn't strategy related

 

[carl corey]

It is a strategy: the "do-it-as-i-feel" one. Also, I wouldn't be too harsh on the OP, I'd rather tell him why I enjoy playing differently.

 

[vanatteveldt]

I think it's a metastrategy, really. Can never have enough of those!

 

[BalbanesBeoulve]

• 
  PS. I kind of struggle on Noble. But it's fun.

• 
  
  There's the thing.
  
  
  If i'm playing an emperor marathon game, and my neighbor is Genghis and he has 5x my power rating, i'll be like "yeah buddy, have education, no no, it's my pleasure." "Yes! I do agree that those vile koreans must be destroyed." Anything to keep him at friendly until i'm ready to destroy him.

 

[carl corey]

I was like that in my last game as Toku against Hammurabi who had too much land at his disposition. I was at 0.5 of his strength up until I got Nationalism and Rifles and drafted my way to continental domination. And no, I didn't even get Liberalism, he got it first! Drafting still rules.

 

[Jerrymander]

I play like this. I declare war on my opponent even if I only have a warrior or two in each of my cities.

 

[insight]

Hey, I never said it was the smart way to play and I am on a "lower" level. But I just can't bring myself to mucking along, making friends with the AI, and waiting until it's a good time to make a move.
And why isn't this a strategy? Some want to play at high levels by learning the AI and getting along with it and some don't. It's a game. Do what makes you happy.

 

[BalbanesBeoulve]

It's definitely a strategy. Automating your workers is another strategy. Placing your cities where the blue circle tells you to is another one. Doesn't mean they're good strategies.

 

[Jerrymander]

It's definitely a strategy. Automating your workers is another strategy. Placing your cities where the blue circle tells you to is another one. Doesn't mean they're good strategies.

Being a lame duck and letting the AI claim the good land isn't a good strategy either.

 

[siggboy]

My metastrategy is: draft in the Globe city. I also do that whenever I want, even while the AI is attacking me!!!! Now THAT'S unfair.

 

[siggboy]

Oh, and I also upgrade CR III maces into rifles, and then infantry, and then I don't gift them to the AI.

 

[TheMeInTeam]

There's the thing.


If i'm playing an emperor marathon game, and my neighbor is Genghis and he has 5x my power rating, i'll be like "yeah buddy, have education, no no, it's my pleasure." "Yes! I do agree that those vile koreans must be destroyed." Anything to keep him at friendly until i'm ready to destroy him.

Backstabbing warmongers gives you such a warm feeling inside, doesn't it? It sure does for me.

 

[BalbanesBeoulve]

Being a lame duck and letting the AI claim the good land isn't a good strategy either.

Since when are being diplomatic and being a warmonger mutally exclusive?

Making friends can go far to making your conquests easier. You can bribe your friends to join in your wars, or you can join in theirs to tear apart a weakened foe. You can war comfortably knowing you won't be backstabbed while you're waging war in a different part of the world.

 

[OTAKUjbski]

I believe this strategy is more aptly known as the "Play like Tokugawa" strategy.

 

[Jerrymander]

Since when are being diplomatic and being a warmonger mutally exclusive?

Who said there were? I certainly wasn't.

Making friends can go far to making your conquests easier. You can bribe your friends to join in your wars, or you can join in theirs to tear apart a weakened foe. You can war comfortably knowing you won't be backstabbed while you're waging war in a different part of the world.

Yeah, I never said don't make friends. Just chose your friends carefully.

 

[Shekwan]

I don't get what's so intricate about diplomacy anyway. Just decide whichever religion is the majority, join that and spread it so you get benefits. Then everyones happy and ready to be backstabbed.

 

[carl corey]

The problem with the "everyone's happy" situation is that everytime you declare on someone, everybody will be unhappy with you.

 

[Iranon]

I think the game is easier if you put emphasis on stability rather than being a jerk or trying to please everyone... and that's served best by cultivating a few friends while keeping an enemy or two weak enough to be amore tempting target for unfriendly warmongers.

Joining EVERY war between AIs gave me good results (most of them fake), to cement those alliances/keep those whipping boys down. One demand I dislike, however, is to stop trading. Not being able to talk to that civ for a long, long time slightly cripples one's diplomacy.