Modern Warfare

[johncross21]

I have had several goes at bts and always got bogged down with early modern warfare

the main difficulty for me is invading Civs with biggish armies and rail

however big my stack it gets bombarded in the second (or third) turn with artillery and then cavalry which come from around the enemy civ in big numbers using rail

what's the best way to ensure you can survive the initial big onslaught when you cross the border

 

[Blaarg]

I think the era between Machine Guns and Tanks is purposely supposed to be difficult to wage effective war.

 

[Big Boss Man]

Well my two cents is at a certain point in the game you have to evaluate the value of aggression V.S. non aggression . Do you really need to go to war ?
What victory type could my empire get with out the blood shead ?

I will submit that if you must go to war there are a few options to mull over in your head before you declair it . First have a pre war plan . Avoid the " Ghost Front " by that make sure you are secure . Plan an objective to take or destroy . See that your army has all the right units to win . If possible get another Civ to help your cause . An enemy that has to face two fronts will tend to play defence . The war plan should include the route to the target make use of any cover you can . Send a scouting party ahead of your main army's route of advance . Split large stacks in a triangle formation and advance to the target . The main tactic being to aviod coll. damage while moving . Keep reinforcements ready to back up the wounded . Medics are nice to keep handy . Have an after the war plan too , O.K. we won now what ? Do you continue the war or sue for tech or a cease fire , peace ?
Think ahead will it be worth all the trouble ?

 

[lilnev]

Declare, but don't enter their territory right away. Let them package all their "extra" units into offensive stacks and send them into your territory. Destroy them with your artillery. Usually there will be a first stack on about turn 2 of the war, and a second (often larger) stack on turn 3 or 4. After that, you're good to go on offence. Fighting on your own land at first will also spare you a lot of war weariness. Sometimes, if you can tell which city they'll attack, you can just play defence and let them throw themselves against your fortified city garrison troops. This depends a lot on how many seige units they bring, however.

peace,
lilnev