Emperor

[kmad]

Assume you're playing Emperor, with no barbarians large map and 7 civs by yourself.

You've got four cities, three still making settlers, one making the colossus. you find an enemy, let's say the french, on the same island as you. you don't have polytheism yet but could get it at the end of the next tech

do you start beating them up as soon as you get it, or just make archers or horsemen to kill them as fast as you can?


this isn't so purely hypothetical though

 

[Ace]

Polytheism has nothing to do with your decision. If the "island" is too small to hold you and the French, attack them now. wipe em out before they do it to you. If you have writing, use diplomats to buy them out. when you get polytheism, switch your combat units to elephants and have at it.

Archers and horsemen can do right now, what it will take Cavalry and artillery to do in 50 turns. If your in a tight spot, waiting will just let the AI make it tighter.

 

[KingWilly]

I agree with Ace. Crush them now, before they have time to build their forces against you.

 

[duke o' york]

Definitely wipe them out before they can cause you more trouble. If you reckon that they will beat your horsemen and archers if you attack now then use a couple of archers to "contain" them by fortifying in suitable positions around them until you have the elephants who can crush their petty little settlements. Don't wait for them to grow to a size where they will cause you more trouble. Always take the initiative and prevent them from sneaking settlers past your troops.

 

[ferenginar]

When you find another civ on the same island as you, you must crush them at the earliest opportunity, especially at the higher levels.

In gotm 16, I failed to clear the continent early on, and it was my downfall. Do not make this mistake.

ferenginar 90

 

[starlifter]

Think like Patton... attack now, and even take losses... but you will suffer more if you delay. Don't skimp on units... make enough to fight and win!

 

[Pongui]

Sometimes I corner the AI settlers early in the game, so they can't build cities. This seems to ****** AI growth effectively, maybe because it doesn't build more settlers than the ones I've trapped.

I would wait for the elephants, then wait until I had at least 3 of them together. A small knot of elephants can win, where a stream of the same units can go on forever.

 

[GenShwartzCough]

Can't really add much to what is above. But I can emphisize it! KILL THEM AS FAST AS YOU CAN!!