Fighting Babylon

[McSaucy4418]

So I just jumped up to Emperor difficulty because I was tired of just running away with techs in Prince and King. So far the game has going quite well but because I started in a massive desert as Germany I made Petra a priority. Because of this I have been neglecting some of my usual techs and builds in order to get to currency with enough time to offset the ai advantage. Nonetheless I have archers, warriors and catapults at my disposal. I was able to quite easily take one of Babylon's outlying cities but now the time has come to take Babylon and I am finding it a tough nut to crack. They have yet to improve any resources so I can't pillage for health and with the walls of Babylon and the bowmen my units die in one attack. I can certainly wait to attack but I fear that if I don't strike early the Babylonians will snowball past me, not only in tech but they are wonder mongering like crazy. What is the best way to take on a city with such a huge defensive advantage? In case it helps I play on marathon so I can't hard build troops in enough time and my gpt is swinging from 0 to about 6 or 7 depending on incoming trade.

 

[redwings1340]

The computer doesn't play Babylon to their strengths. I don't really know why, but they tend to be pretty minor and not in the tech lead when I see them. If you're careful, they won't snowball past you.

Composite bowmen are the best ancient/classical era unit. Just mass them up and take a few barbarians and you can be fine. Catapults do a lot of damage, but are too weak and die to cities really easily.

 

[uncle bulgaria]

Hem them in until artillery then take Babylon at your leisure when you discover dynamite.