BillChin
Prince
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2002
- Messages
- 494
I am a newbie to Civ III, but an old hand at war games, both computer and the old, old, hex maps.
Attack fast, attack hard, attack with overwhelming force. Do not attack if you take major losses, even if you do win. Use catapults, artillery or air power to soften up enemy positions that require you to lose units. If your strategy and timing are good, your military will stay the same size or get stronger as the war goes on. If it is getting weaker, you do not have enough punch or are attacking with too small an advantage. Be aggressive, but be patient.
Again, do not attack fortified positions (such as cities) unless you have an overwhelming advantage such as five to one or better or a huge tech advantage. Even then use bombardment from catapults, cannons, bombers, whatever to soften them up first. Wait for the artillery (or catapults) or air strikes before sending in ground troops. On open plains, use mobile units such as horsemen, knights, tanks, to smash, but do not send them into meat grinders like fortified cities.
For defense, the concept that I favor is from Robert E. Lee, among others--alternate interior lines. Huh? Basically, it means circle the wagons, that a defensive perimeter is most effective in the shape of a crescent moon, because if forces the offense to spread itself thin. I mentioned the need for overwhelming force to attack, with a "round" perimiter I can mass my troops faster than the attacker. I can move from side to side of my perimeter to counter attack when their lines thin from casualties.
As for Civ III specific tips, bribing (one free gold per turn early in the game) nearby countries to stay out of the war is always a good idea. They can often be coaxed into joining in on your side after a few major victories. Getting one ally, even a weaker ally can be a great benefit. Getting another enemy can ruin a good offense as often the difference between a great victory and a meat grinder is one or two defensive units.
Attack fast, attack hard, attack with overwhelming force. Do not attack if you take major losses, even if you do win. Use catapults, artillery or air power to soften up enemy positions that require you to lose units. If your strategy and timing are good, your military will stay the same size or get stronger as the war goes on. If it is getting weaker, you do not have enough punch or are attacking with too small an advantage. Be aggressive, but be patient.
Again, do not attack fortified positions (such as cities) unless you have an overwhelming advantage such as five to one or better or a huge tech advantage. Even then use bombardment from catapults, cannons, bombers, whatever to soften them up first. Wait for the artillery (or catapults) or air strikes before sending in ground troops. On open plains, use mobile units such as horsemen, knights, tanks, to smash, but do not send them into meat grinders like fortified cities.
For defense, the concept that I favor is from Robert E. Lee, among others--alternate interior lines. Huh? Basically, it means circle the wagons, that a defensive perimeter is most effective in the shape of a crescent moon, because if forces the offense to spread itself thin. I mentioned the need for overwhelming force to attack, with a "round" perimiter I can mass my troops faster than the attacker. I can move from side to side of my perimeter to counter attack when their lines thin from casualties.
As for Civ III specific tips, bribing (one free gold per turn early in the game) nearby countries to stay out of the war is always a good idea. They can often be coaxed into joining in on your side after a few major victories. Getting one ally, even a weaker ally can be a great benefit. Getting another enemy can ruin a good offense as often the difference between a great victory and a meat grinder is one or two defensive units.
