Is this an exploit? (SPOILER FOR GOMXII)

skaternate

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THIS THREAD CONTAINS SPOILER INFO FOR GOMXII

Well here is the deal, I have been using this stratagy in every game that has a chokepoint since GOMVII when I learned it. However not untill now have I really used it so effectivilly as to completely stifen any growth what-so-ever of an AI. This trick requires a 3-4 plus size choke point, min. 3 units, and time. The idea is not to totally block off the choke point, but to let there be one point open at all times. This way the AI always see's a land path to where it wants to go, if it totally closes it may use a boat eventually. You let the AI walk up to the choke point and when he gets there, you move all your units over one space as to block that point, try to make the point you leave open about two spaces away so that the AI doesn't see that far of a place to go. I used this extesively in GOMVII on the russians, and when I finally hit them they had 9 settlers and a few units at the choke point trying to cross, then bam 18 free workers, and a stunted civ to boot. I have been using it this GOM against the chineas, and it has been working quite well, I have to screen shots to better illistrate how this work. The first screen shot is about 400yrs+ before the second screen shot, not sure exactly.

ps. I didn't post a poll because I am unable to see the results of polls, since I can't vote.


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I know that this is pretty much an umpolicable exploit, but it is more a moral issue, this will however never work against a human player.

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Blockading has always been regarded as a legitimate tactic. I'm sure we've all used the moving block to hold up AI expansion.

Leaving a gap to tempt the AI is the exploit. The AI cant see the futility of heading for the gap!

I dont really see this as any different from moving a unit next to an AI city to deflect that stack that was heading for you.

Its hard to know where exploitation of the AIs 'horizon effect' (a term taken from Chess AI programming) is a legitimate tactic and where it is an exploit, I agree.
 
i know the actuall blockade is not an exploit, it has been used in military histroy for thousands of years. It is the moving blockade that keeps the AI from seeing the that there is even a blockade that I am asking on wether or not it is an exploit. For I have stunted the AI growth for 1500yrs. now. And if I had an actuall blockade up the AI would just board a boat and go around it! But they will do no such thing with the moving blockade.
 
I too have used this type of exploit. I think of it more as a strategic move though. In particular I use it later in the game and show the AI a city with no defenders. When they send their troops over I use my artllary to soften them up and then destroy them with tanks or cavalry depending upon what I have. It makes it easier to invade them that way and to deal with the stacks of doom.

I don't think it should be banned.
 
This is, and should recognized as, an exploit. You are taking advantage of a hole in the AI programming giving you an unfair edge. A moving blockade which "guides" the opposing units in a direction other than they wish is simply a tactic utilizing the game physics. The AI will block off a chocke point, or hold strategic terrain, but they will not bait you into an endless maze. This should be banned from use. Period.
 
i don't see very much harm in it. I use this to hold up the AI and settle stretches of land before him and to give the AI the illusion he can still travel further so he won't declare war.

Never had 9 settlers coming my way though. 18 free workers is a lot and I think using the moving blockade to get workers is more of an exploit than using it to prevent settling.

I dont think it's necesarry to ban it, only works in limited situations.

ProPain
 
I understand what you are on about and in fact it will work against humans if they are too afraid of you to go to war.

In my game vs the Chinese, I didn't find them until my second city was down and I was dealing with the indians. I actually think your might stunt your own development if you send all those units up there to dance the jig with the chinese. In that map, they were not much threat so far as I could tell. I knew they weren't likely to go far based on the world map they swapped with me... I usually like to get as many world maps as possible in the early game..

I took them out after they developed their lands quite well and had 5 cities up there. That way I get to take advantage of all their work for the cost of a few units. By this I mean I jumped them technology wise and used catapults/knights to take them out. Also I wait until the civ I plan to remove has at least one world wonder...

I think the blockade is not an exploit. You CANNOT start saying that something is an exploit just because the AI developer didn't plan for every contingency. Other wise you'd call it an exploit the way you sell tech to every civ because you KNOW the AI is going to trade it as soon as you've sold it to one of them.

Weak example, but the point is players have learned to predict the way the AI plays so it is a valid tactic to use this power against them.

My 2 cents.
 
An other way of using blocking is the encircle(ment) manoeuvre. In mine GOTM the Persians swallow up the Babylonians and swerm into mine homelands. The force is to big to attack and if I ask them to leave they declare war! Totally it's a number of 30 knights/immortals. With the help of mine knights/workers/ pikemen I succeed to encircle the persians (after giving them techs) into 2 groups. In the next 20 turns they do nothing against me, this gives me the time to build and to gather mine forces around the 2 encirclements.
For the second time I ask the Persians to leave and agian they declare war!
This time however I'm prepared and with the advantage that I'm the first to attack I destroy 97 percent of the Persians forces, losing a few, the bulk of mine forces are on mountains, the Persians are waiting in the lowlands. Lots of units are upgraded to elite status and even a Great Leader appears. The next round the Persians attack but their forces are to weak to hurt me and are destroyed. With mine recent developed and improved force I rush to the original persian borders, leaving their recent captured terroties aside, this ones I take by cultural force later. Arriving at the old (bab/pers)borders I destroy their remaining troops and conquer Persia at will.
 
I finally got a chance to start GOTMXII, and get far enough to legally open this thread. IMO, the AI does lots of silly, stupid things. Starting a game against the AI can almost be considered exploitive. I see no problem with allowing it.
 
Originally posted by civ_steve
Starting a game against the AI can almost be considered exploitive.

That's it in a nutshell :)

lmao

I don't plan on playing the multiplayer Civ3 because I used to play civnet years ago and the game was quite different. Basically it became a bit of an ego trip for some people and seldom did a game get beyond knights/diplomats. It will be different in civ3 yet it will be the same too :)

I like playing the AI because he is not emotional when you beat him or egotistical when you lose.

Turn based rules!

Cheers
 
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