ICBMs vs. Tactical nukes

[Thalantos]

So, what's the difference between the two anyway?

How much more powerful is an ICMB than a tac?

Also, how nuke-happy are the other civs? Do they tend to use nuclear weapons a lot?

 

[DiamondzAndGunz]

Nothing, just range and cost.

ICBM can hit any square on the map. Tac nuke has a limited range.

Well, the AI civs tend not to like to be the ones to launch nukes off first, and they always go after whoever is the first to launch off nukes, with their own. So basically, once the first couple of nukes have been launched, they'll use em all the time.

 

[Thalantos]

Just range, eh?

I guess my strategy to use Nuclear Submarines as a detterant will work then


Thanks!

 

[hbdragon88]

Someone found a "Bombard Anywhere" cheat that was supposdly fixed in 1.17 or 1.21 but apparnetly hasn't. When you're bombarding (only nukes and air units work) use the arrow keys to bombard. Then just click. Confirmed in 1.29.

This makes tacticals more feasible because of lower cost - and a discovered infinite range loophole.

If you have alliances with everyone against a civ and you send nukes, the civ will retaliate and the whole world will strike against him.

 

[taper]

Without that cheat, I like ICBMs better, especially on pangea maps. Tacs in subs work fine in archipelos, but they definately won't reach all the other guys cities on con or pan. A nuke that won't hit anything worthless.

 

[superslug]

ICBM's do have a much higher production cost, but they can't be sunk, their range is (legally) impeccable and they have kind of an instant gratification factor. Your tactical nukes might not be where you need them when you need them.

 

[andvruss]

Well, when you finally get ICBM's and tactical nukes, your cities core are probably very productive, so why not pay a little more shields to get a better nuke?

 

[DiamondzAndGunz]

Originally posted by andvruss
Well, when you finally get ICBM's and tactical nukes, your cities core are probably very productive, so why not pay a little more shields to get a better nuke?

Well, your core cities most likely have better things to do. Finish up some of the late game wonders, perhaps the spaceship parts, or if you're going for conquest/domination, build up your MA force.

 

[andvruss]

Originally posted by DiamondzAndGunz


Well, your core cities most likely have better things to do. Finish up some of the late game wonders, perhaps the spaceship parts, or if you're going for conquest/domination, build up your MA force.

I'm just saying which nuke would be better to buy, not whether you should or not.

 

[DiamondzAndGunz]

Originally posted by andvruss
I'm just saying which nuke would be better to buy, not whether you should or not.

Indeed, they would be better, if your high-production cities have nothing better to do. But you can use your mid-production cities to build tac nukes, since they're less expensive, while your core cities continue to do whatever else you need. Nukes contribute a lot to power, and even a couple of tac nukes could be worth keeping around.

 

[andvruss]

Originally posted by DiamondzAndGunz


Indeed, they would be better, if your high-production cities have nothing better to do. But you can use your mid-production cities to build tac nukes, since they're less expensive, while your core cities continue to do whatever else you need. Nukes contribute a lot to power, and even a couple of tac nukes could be worth keeping around.

Yes, good at the bargaining table and threatening other civs.

 

[Thalantos]

Originally posted by taper
Without that cheat, I like ICBMs better, especially on pangea maps. Tacs in subs work fine in archipelos, but they definately won't reach all the other guys cities on con or pan. A nuke that won't hit anything worthless.

Well, my current game is in an archilpelo map, so that's not really a problem.....

 

[Thrawn]

I've never really gotten far enough to have more than 10 nukes around. Usually won by spaceship or diplo then.

 

[Matrix]

I never build ICBM's; only Tactical Nukes. They're half the costs and they're not intercepted by Strategic Missile Defence, though you're gonna need just as much Nuclear Subs as you have Tactical Nukes (except for your neighbours), but still it's much cheaper.

 

[Moulton]

Does the tactical nuke have the same diplomatic effect as an ICBM? Does the whole world get mad if you use a tac? Iam thinking about a stack of ships, like BBs and Carriers ..

 

[hbdragon88]

Yeah, same effect. WAR WAR WAR and a sudden barrage of nukes straight on your most productive cities.

 

[Moulton]

Originally posted by hbdragon88
Yeah, same effect. WAR WAR WAR and a sudden barrage of nukes straight on your most productive cities.

Well, nuke is nuke, just wondered. Found out for myself... The Indian navy was stronger than mine, and I could not seem to win any naval battles... so nuked a stack of 8 cariers and BB etc. One carrier and one BB survived redlined. But. Every civ that I was not allied with declared war on me. Persian were allied, America was allied vs Aztec. France was a long time MPP, and did declared war on Zulu and Japan. China was at peace with me, but India was pushing her hard, and she did not retaliate against my India strike.
Side note: America agreed to an alliance for Flight. Two turns later, I nuked the advancing horde of Zululand, creating a no-mans-land border. america declared war on me in retaliation... keeping her free tech....

It hasn't worked out well for the attackers:

 

[chickensaver]

hey did this happen to any of you?
i was playing and didn't build manhattan project, didn't build any nukes also. egypt (AI) was the first to use a nuke against france (AI) and suddenly i was in war with egypt without declaring war/being declared, i didn't even have a MA with any civ, also the whole world declared war on egypt.
BTW i'm fully patched and i don't have any expansion.

 

[Aceman101]

hey did this happen to any of you?
i was playing and didn't build manhattan project, didn't build any nukes

Maybe the A.I built the manhatten project and you don't have show wonder initiation on. Go to the menu then preferences then click show wonder initiation popup.

egypt (AI) was the first to use a nuke against france (AI) and suddenly i was in war with egypt without declaring war/being declared, i didn't even have a MA with any civ, also the whole world declared war on egypt.
BTW i'm fully patched and i don't have any expansion.

I don't know about that though...

btw nice bump there!

 

[dirtworm]

all the way up top it was asked if the other civs are nuke happy
and i must say
they are
i eeventually got a big enogh army and owned the world after awhile, and in almost every city i took over i found at least one icbm
i did not use them yet by the way too....