Do you hook up your target enemy civ with "strategic resources" ahead of time?

[MykC]

I've been finding that if I deal the AI Iron or Horses (whatever I have or they tend to use) ahead of time they'll invest into units that require the resource and hopefully when I attack they will need those resources to prevent the 50% penalty.

Makes things quite a bit easier and makes you money as well.

 

[diz2]

Seems like a lot of trouble to go to.

For one thing, when I'm horse rushing the world I like to use my horses myself. Usually have to go to some lengths to connect them to begin with. Better I should attack as fast as I can (while my horsemen are the most relatively overpowered) than to wait for him to build units with my resources. In other words, I'm hoping to do most of my damage and knock out a few civs before encountering many units that even require strategic resources...

For another, once you've killed a few of the units he built with your resources the penalty does not apply anymore.

If you're going to do it, I think the point would mostly be getting the money. But my recollection is they generally don't pay all that much.

 

[Martin Alvito]

Always, if they'll pay. Just make sure not to do it so far ahead of time that they are able to secure other sources of the resource. I find that about ten turns in advance is the right timing.

 

[generalwar]

I've never been doing that, but this could be a good strategy post patch when cities will become tougher nut to crack .

 

[Paeanblack]

Another tip when doing this:

Let's say the AI has 4 swordsmen. Two from its own iron, two from you.

When you DOW, those units have a -50% until you kill two of them. What you want to do is wound two of them, kill the other two, and then go back and kill the first two. With careful planning about the order of your attacks, you can increase the number of combats where the AI is fighting with the SR penalty.