How to play aggro?

[Esperr]

Ive been playing this game for years now, and can win regularly on prince, but ive never been good at playing a pure aggro game. Like how do you start? Whats your early developement look like? Are you developing to atack ASAP and if so then how? I just have really no clue where to even begin because every other strategy is basically, tech shoot-->NC-->tall empire-->???--->profit!

 

[Vatras]

I am a buildertype, but the few times I did go aggro on my neighbours, I did it with 4-5 cities done. I go and build myself an army (lets say 6-10 units) composed of archers, melee and catapults (and possibly horsemen) and then move against one of them. While building the army I try to get some support from CS and mollify the other neighbours. Ideally I can get my target to DoW on me (like dropping settlers in his coveted land ), otherwise I have to declare myself. I go with what looks overkill, since I need to be able to take my target, hold it and move on to another. If things go well, I can pick up 2-3 cities and keep them, maybe even eradicate my target in one go...depends on how damaged my surviving units are and what he actually had in the troop department. I found it better to stay at war with him until I can finish him, unless circumstances force an early peace. Declaring war another time later has often unpleasant side effects.
If contemplating going aggro, you should pick the right SP from the start, though. There is also the happiness problem to keep in eye.

This is from the view of a player who doesn't play emperor, mind you

 

[Infiltrator]

Depends on what you choose. I can beat immortal consistently with pure conquest and play on deity when I want more challenge.

Typically you will get DoW'd first because the AI has so much to throw at you. You defend from the first attack, counter attack, and from there you can keep going on a warpath or expand. Typically I go wide rather than tall.

The great library is very helpful if you get a good start, like popping Writing out of a ruin.

 

[Esperr]

Ahh. well that would be my problem. I have no idea how to build wide, i always seem to run into unhappiness.

By what time are you guys ussually launching your first attack?

 

[Infiltrator]

Around 90 turns if its swords I guess. That is if I don't get attacked by then, which is highly unlikely on Immortal let alone Deity.