End Game... The Use of Nuclear Weapons

[Charky]

Hello... I am on turn 640 in an epic game on a huge custom map, and I have 69 cities

There are 6 civs on two mega continents.

The two with me are a bit backwards at infantry level, whereas i have maxed out the research. The three on the other continent are a slight mirror of my situation, but two are vassals of the other (with the master being top tech). The three have declared war on my two.

I have a huge military presence on the "enemy" continent. I am pushing 200 armmour and 100 mechanised infantry, and around 80 Stealth Bombers. I think thats enough to take down the two vassals. The master out powers me somewhat, but hey, if we dont wade in now, then I may as well quit.

Thing is, one of them has just built the manhattan project. I have the SDI up and running. I am just about to pile in to the battle and make it truely a world war.

My first strike will be at one of his vassals. He has mechanised infantry, and mostly marines. Thing is he has whacked 200 units in a city right on my border... his entire offensive army. I reckon I could bombard that city and take it conventially, but its on a bloody hill so I am likely to lose half of my forces (although thats probably his ability to fight gone). A second vassal on my border has mostly riflemen, so I should be able to slowly smash them.

The other option is a nuclear strike on this city. I have not used a nuke strike for years (in real time) so I am not sure of the implications.

So my questions are:

Do I want an ICBM, or will a tactical nuke do it?
If I use a nuke, will the other civs on my continent declare war on me?
IF I use nukes will I get nuked back?
Will I get nuked anyway?

 

[a pen-dragon]

Will I get nuked anyway?

Yes. AFAIK, if the AI has nukes, is at war and is furious towards someone they are at war with they will nuke.

If I use a nuke, will the other civs on my continent declare war on me?

No, but you can not nuke territory or units belonging to a civ you are not at war with. This includes the entire 3x3 nuked area.

Do I want an ICBM, or will a tactical nuke do it?

If you have a city in range or are confident to get a sub there safely use tacticak nukes, as they cost half as much as ICBMs and are less likely to be intercepted.

My recommendation is to ban nukes with the UN and wage a conventional war.

Failing to do that, build lots of nukes to use on turn one.

In my experience the AI sometimes does not hit smaller stacks of ~20 units, but starts nuking ~25 units, but this is based on only one Immortal game a few years ago. This again includes all units in a 3x3 region.

 

[Charky]

Oh no... hang on...

Tactical nukes hit a 3x3 sqaure, and it cant be in my own territory?

I think that may be buggered then. He (the Vikings) squeezed a city into my territory. Its a 2x1 that juts out from his area into mine. I own 67% of the city tile, but it wont culture flip with 200 units in it (I assume)? I was trying to cut it off with culture. Looks like I ballsed it up.

It does mean he cannot nuke me back once I cross into his territory on the turn I declare war (hopefully, depending on how the borders realign).

I hate the UN. Never used it. Cant stand diplomatic victories etc.

As far as I can see, all three civs have 1 oil, 1 aluminium and 2 uranium between them. The Vikings have oil , The Greeks have aluminium and unranium, and the master Khmer has radioactives. I cannot see his territory, so I have no clue as to his disposition.

IF the Vikings have the only oil, I am assuming that the Khmer cant use it. The Vikings are producing Mech Infantry, but checking it doesnt need oil. Which is why they only have marines. I am guessing the greek are also giving away their aluminium. Their army tech is really bad.

Ughhh... I am going to have to build another 50-100 armour I think.

 

[a pen-dragon]

Tactical nukes hit a 3x3 sqaure, and it cant be in my own territory?

It can be your own territory, just not the territory or units of a civ you are not at war with.

 

[Charky]

Ahhh... perfect.

I should be able to storm through both vassals.

The Khmer have a power rating that looks 5:3, but his territory is about 30 tiles away. Hopefully it wont break out into global nuclear war, as it will take me ages to reach his territory. Mabe I should first strike, but I only have 3 tactical nukes. Not sure if he has an SDI up.

This is my fault for not noticing the Manhattan Project was built.

 

[a pen-dragon]

Not sure if he has an SDI up.

You can look this up on the Info screen under Top 5 cities/wonders and choosing the projects tab in the wonders section.

 

[Charky]

I bought this game when it first came out... Im still learning stuff about it.

Apparently submarines can go under ice?