Giving them explorers

[Red Stranger]

In my recent game, I'll try to go for a space race victory. It's going to be hard for me, but I was thinking about creating a lot of explorers and giving them to the biggest competitor to increase his maintenance cost and slow down his research. I could probably pump out about 80 in about 15 turns.

Is this a good idea, or will he just disband them?

 

[lilnev]

He might refuse to accept them.

If you have spare production, build Wealth and run the slider higher. If you still have spare production at 100%, build Research.

peace,
lilnev

 

[wioneo]

Instead of building 80 explorers, why don't you build 12 destroyers, 8 fighters, and declare war? Weaken any ships that sail near your shores with fighters, and then finish them up with destroyers. Make sure that you do recon missions EVERY turn after about five turns. Also, make sure that you check my math.

 

[Galileo44]

Yeah, build some units and declare war. You don't even have to attack. An AI civ at war will delay its spaceship production.

 

[Bacon II]

Or you counld just pay some other AI into attacking him/her, or ask the biggest competitor to declare war on someone else. War is a charm in the end.

Oh, but if you gonna declare yourself, make sure the MP isn´t built, or you might get some nasty setbacks...

 

[Red Stranger]

The tech leader had a defensive pact, and others won't declare war on him for me.

 

[carl corey]

Well, this is a weird idea, I tell you that.

If you don't feel like actually doing it, try Scotland Yard and spies. Sabotage his Aluminium mines to slow his production. You might have to do the same thing to his allies though if they have multiple Aluminium sources, in which case the whole thing becomes harder to do.

If your spies get caught he might declare war on you though. The good part is that, at least at first, his buddy won't be dragged into it (Defensive Pact is null if he attacks). He could bribe him afterward... So: spies plus big army plus keeping enough workers to rebuild your own Aluminium mines in case he gets the same idea.

 

[ChicagoCubs]

He might refuse to accept them.

I don't think he can refuse them if you use the "gift" button. I don't know if there is a limit on the amount of gifting that you can do.

Also, I don't know the impact of the gift. It is my understanding that all of the calculations are done at the end of your turn. If you gift the units on your turn, the AI has already calculated their upkeep at the end of their previous turn. Once their turn starts, the AI would probably disband the units and there would be a net-zero effect (unless the AI kept the units).

 

[KMadCandy]

I don't think he can refuse them if you use the "gift" button. I don't know if there is a limit on the amount of gifting that you can do.

he can. if he doesn't want them, that button is greyed out.

 

[LucyDuke]

Chances are, he'll just disband them. You'd need OB to get them there in the first place, do you have it? Do you want to let him into your land?

Either way, you're mostly just wasting hammers. It's a neat idea, but put those hammers to more direct use.