Early AI Archer #'s

[earthwulf]

I've been doing peaceful-type games since I picked up Civ iv, but then I decided to try something different - warmongering. I've tried it with a three different cultures, and I send my warrior after the first computer opponent I stumble across. Each time, I have found them within 10-20 turns (epic game), and each time they've been different cultures (Germany, India, Aztec).

My problem: As soon as I find them and declare war, they somehow manage to have an archer in the city, and then at least one archer produced every 1-2 rounds after that, up to a max of 5. The Germans somehow managed to produce a settler and an archer in one round. I'm getting frustrated with this; while logically I know that one warrior, even with 15 exp should not be able to take out a city, I also don't know how the computer is producing its units so quickly. At first I thought it was due to play being set to monarch, but even lowered down to noble it had this production speed.

Am I missing something? I'm watching, and no workers are out deforesting(though each time, the computer had a worker in each city)...

 

[Dairuka]

The computer Chop-Rushes too you know.

 

[Elerion]

The computer Chop-Rushes too you know.

Reading is essential. He said no workers were out.


I can't say I've noticed this, but then I've never assaulted with warriors. When I go for an early kill, I always do it with 5+ strength units. Axemen, Swordsmen, UU's (Keshik is awesome, and of course Praet).

If your goal is to actually defeat him instead of just delaying him, I wouldn't declare war until you think you can take the city. That usually means 2-3 5+str units minimum. By doing it earlier, his production will focus on military units, and he can pump out archers faster than you can produce Keshiks. If you just want to throw him off track and delay his growth, feel free to declare earlier, but that will put both of you behind the other players on the map, and make it very expensive to defeat the city.

Personally, I only do the extreme early kill if I have very favorable resources. Otherwise, I expand and wait for Construction. City razing is SO much easier with catapults.