Hiawata as neighbor

[Pim]

I really dislike starting a game, having a kickass start and finding out my direct neighbor is Hiawata. Why? because of his UU. In a lot of games i dont run into iron easily(have to settle a far away city or just no opportunities at all). I both cases Hiawata is able to build a lot of his UU for which he doesnt need iron and i need to fight of hordes of them without any serieus military equevalent(horsemen are ok but always fewer in number(needed horses).
Dont get me wrong, i dont want to rant about hiawata(allthough ive made some pretty disgusting remarks against my computerscreen when i got dow'd again), but i want to know how to deal with him. Anybody got any idea's? I play on King btw.

 

[Strategist83]

Horse units, while offensive by nature, are excellent defenders. You run out, attack his Mohawks, then use the 'can move after attacking' trait to run back to safety to heal. At the same time you have archers in your cities (and the tile behind the city, thus protected by the city as well) rain arrows on attackers. You should be killing at least one unit per turn this way while taking no casualties yourself. If you still need more help, walls are your friends and make archer-guarded cities nigh impossible to take without siege weapons.

 

[Babri]

U may want to post-pone invading them until u have Knights, LS & Trebs. If they attack u, then archers coupled with horsemen can take them down quickly. Also try building forts or citadels at strategic point. They can have a huge impact when fighting defensive wars. Last thing I would like to mention is that remove extra forest quickly because with them mohawks will give u a headache.

 

[ShahJahanII]

Plenty of seige units and a few melee units here and there.
This always works on Price difficulty for me.
If you are playing as China, make use of the co-ku-nus
If you are playing as Germany, make use of the brutes and Landsknechts
If you are playing as Inca, make use of the slingers
If you are playing as Babylon, make use of the Bowmen
If you are playing as Egypt, make use of the chariot archers
If you are playing as Japan, make use of the UA

 

[turtlefang]

I always build walls when next to a warmonger because you KNOW your going to be attacked. Plan on using horsemen to attack him when he comes within your city radius, have an archer (or seige unit) in the city, and, if possible, a second horsemen or archer behind the city he's attacking. If you have a GG, base him in the city (this makes a huge difference).

Be prepared to swap the ranged unit out for a melee unit in the city - it will increase the defense strength (not the hitpoints). Then put the ranged unit behind the city.

And rather than an archer (or a second archer), if the terrian open around the city, consider building a CA. The CA can hang back and move into position to fire as needed due to its speed.

Use the horseman to attack and then get away to heal. Between the city, its garrison and one or two horsemen, you should kill three units every two turns if he's attacking aggressively.

Don't try to get greedy and kill a lot of units in one turn. Make sure that you protect your units and wear him down. Unless he has siege units or a lot of Mohawks, your city shouldn't fall. He usually has two good waves coming in of about six to eight units. Kill these, and he's cripple for a while (longer at lower levels). As someone mentioned, cut the forest down - otherwise your just begging for trouble (same if Aztecs are next to you due to woodcraft).

 

[fmlizard2]

Horse units, while offensive by nature, are excellent defenders. You run out, attack his Mohawks, then use the 'can move after attacking' trait to run back to safety to heal. At the same time you have archers in your cities (and the tile behind the city, thus protected by the city as well) rain arrows on attackers. You should be killing at least one unit per turn this way while taking no casualties yourself. If you still need more help, walls are your friends and make archer-guarded cities nigh impossible to take without siege weapons.

This is basically exactly what I did last night to hold off a huge early Iroquois rush of archers, Mohawks, and warriors. I was playing as Babylon and I built the Walls of Babylon immediately after he declared, then used 2 Bowmen to hold the fort. I had one, then two horsemen mop up archers and damaged Mohawks, then retreat.

We held the line, only losing my starting warrior, against 7-8 Mohawks and a few assorted archers. Babylon (walled) in particular is nigh impossible to take over with just Mohawks.

I also agree with the post that said to be calm and slow. It is intimidating the first time that huge wave comes rushing in. Trust in your city strength, stay back, and pick them off slowly. Don't rush out and get precious units killed. Play defense.

 

[Superluminal]

I feel the same way OP. I diligently agree to sign an open borders agreement and promptly burn his forests using spies equipped with the sabotage promotion. Burn that mountain walker out of your sphere of influence ASAP OP.

(Psalm 23:4) "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."

 

[Zenstrive]

My best motto regarding Hiawatha: See Hiawatha, kill Hiawatha.

 

[Pim]

So archers and horsemen in a defence line at the attacked city. I hardly use walls but will try to against such an aggressive neighbour. The advice about using catapults is nice but as i said, in this scenario i dont have iron so siege equipment isnt an option, but buildig lots of archers is indeed a good idea and i already tried it, although i lost a lot of them. I think my main fault is, and thanks to you all for the advice, that i try to kill to many troops in one turn, instead of trying to wear the enemy down, so i also loose a lot of troops.
Getting rid of forests is maybe a good idea, i tend to keep them a my borders for my own defensive bonus, but most of the time those troops/lines get run over in a couple of turns when hiawata whows up with +7 UU's. So it probably is a better idea then my current tactic.
thanks people, i hope i stand a better chance against early neighboring aggressors.