How do I do this war?

[Theodorick]

From the start of this game on NOBLE game--I usually play Monarch--I had a lot of major setbacks. My neighbors very quickly pushed me into a little piece of bad land, the land I started off in the first place wasn't the best, and the land I could plant towns on was either a desert, tundra, or untouchable ice. I also started without iron, and it seemed every nation in the world had access to this resource. But with my usual love for challanges, I continued.

For the longest time I was unable to build a huge force to attack my neighbor, since axeman against swordsman would be near suicide no matter how much I tried, and my cities were never production power-houses. I was able to grab up a few key early wonders, and became a highly pacifist nation early; and this was done in reply to my bad luck. I then grabbed up almost all of the world's religions for the cash and great people points, and tried my best to exploit the land around my cities and turn my FOUR cities into super cities. Even with my bad luck I was able to maintain the highest score in the game and an OK tech lead.

Anyways as the game went on I realized I wouldn't be able to win the space race victory or even the cultural victory since I really don't have enough cities, and only two out of my now 7 cities had good production. I had to go to war with someone. (Diplomatic victory is impossible since I turned it off )

I declared war on Egypt and have two armies ready to attack, but my question is what shall I do? Should I pull the chinese and malnese into the war? Should I go on a sudden offensive, or sit back and be defensive and let Egypt commit suicide by attacking my fortified cities? Did I make a huge mistake?

Advice would be appreciated. I have a save below from the exact turn I declared war. My goal, as ambitious as it is, is to go for an all out world conquest eventually.

 

[shadow2k]

For the longest time I was unable to build a huge force to attack my neighbor, since axeman against swordsman would be near suicide no matter how much I tried

I don't get this statement. Axeman get 50% vs melee, where Swordsman get a mere +10% CR bonus. They can get CR promotions, or shock/cover, depending on the situation. They are cheaper than swords, and come earlier, without having to wait and hook up iron. They are only one str below a sword. They are perfectly capable of early wars, and sometimes, even preferable.

 

[Theodorick]

I don't get this statement. Axeman get 50% vs melee, where Swordsman get a mere +10% CR bonus. They can get CR promotions, or shock/cover, depending on the situation. They are cheaper than swords, and come earlier, without having to wait and hook up iron. They are only one str below a sword. They are perfectly capable of early wars, and sometimes, even preferable.

Yes I know that, but look at the rest of my statement. I said my cities were weak in production, and also all the copper resources except for the one way south of my captiol were not there until the industrial age when they just popped up. My neighbor also had her nearest city, Memphis, loaded up with axemen and swordsmen rather early--I had a feeling she was preparing for an attack for some reason--and since I had only two productive cities at this time and she had four, I knew taking memphis would have weakened me considerably. Also Ceaser was good friends with Egypt early on, and I knew that if I dared declare war on one of his friends he'd join in soon after--he kept demanding tribrutes, and in one save which I reloaded he even declared war on me when I refused a tribrute. I knew an early war wasn't a good option since I knew if I declared war, the known world would follow suit and declare war on me back. This is why I took on a pacifist stance early on since all wars fought by me would be lost.

But it is obvious in my save it looks like I can finally go to war. I've fixed a lot of relations, grown my army considerably over the years, and even rushed the pentagon. Anyways back to my question...

What should I do next in this war?

And please don't pull apart my words until you bother looking at my game situation.

 

[kb2tvl]

Urm, declare peace? Egypt is way stronger than you are... Only Cesear will talk alliance and you do not have anything he wants...

So, I would consider building SEALs and placing them in that forrest on your border with Egypt. Fortify 3 or so there. I would take the forrest defense bonsus upgrade and rotate marines from that defensive position as they become wounded. The AI should go after your units... with the defensive upgrades and a 50% tile bonsus, you can get good kill ratios.

 

[Gemini1706]

Urm, declare peace? Egypt is way stronger than you are.

looool


Sorry I had too

 

[Theodorick]

Urm, declare peace? Egypt is way stronger than you are... Only Cesear will talk alliance and you do not have anything he wants...

So, I would consider building SEALs and placing them in that forrest on your border with Egypt. Fortify 3 or so there. I would take the forrest defense bonsus upgrade and rotate marines from that defensive position as they become wounded. The AI should go after your units... with the defensive upgrades and a 50% tile bonsus, you can get good kill ratios.

Actually it is possible to destroy a more powerful neighbor.

Here's a save about 35 turns later! Somebody--I won't say who--messaged me with the tip to go on an DEFENSIVE war, and also that I had enough units to destroy Egypt only if I brought China and the Malnese into the war. Using these tips I conqured egypt. It was a very long war though, but thankfully I barely lost anything.

Also lucky me, it seems the Japanese warmongering has caused another world war. I am about to declare war on Ceaser and drop kick him with my bigger and much more veteran army, and then plow into the weakened Japanese state while planning an attack on the cornered and weakened English. If I keep this up I just may be able to go for a full conquest of the continent.

Thanks for the tip, anonymous messager. Though I don't know why you want to remain anonymous I never thought a defensive war could be so powerful.