Most important objective in a war

[wardie]

More specifically what do you think is the most important part of taking a whole continent which you didn't start on? I think a)a secure beachead so that troops can land freely and b)excellent intelligence on the state of roads and rail in the area to allow you to maximize the ability of your troops to take the continent with speed.

 

[Smash]

I almost always take a shot at the capitol if accessible.If not I'll look for the best way to get to it and plan accordingly.

I also like to map territory with dips,explorers or caravans if I can.Its nice to know the terrain types and the position of roads,forts and cities.I like to know what I'll be facing as far as defenders goes.

I also consider supply.Am I gonna be able to quickly move forces up to re-enforce and expand the invasion?

Most important I guess is having sufficient numbers for the first wave.How many do I need and what types?

Something like:
1.Intelligence
2.Logistics
3.Preparation

 

[duke o' york]

I always circle enemy island with boats before attacking them unless they're on the same island and they have just sent troops in my direction. Boats give a good idea of whereabouts their cities are by spotting irrigation and forts, etc. I will then land a defensive unit in a fort if possible and then a dip on top of them. Once you have started to wipe out the civ, be careful to spot the settlers escaping out of the other side to your armies. In the game I've got at the moment, my French troops had captured Newcastle but the English made another settler and I spent ages looking for it only to find that Liverpool was actually in one of the squares I had already explored and even sharing some of my resource squares. Very stupid.

------------------
in vino veritas

 

[Cropduster]

Basically, planning is key. Attack the enemy where and when he is least expecting it. Whenever possible, attack the largest cities and the capital to reduce their production. I don't worry about encircling anybody since that gives them too much time to build troops. Hit them hard with the right amount of force and where it will hurt them most.

1) Plan- get your units into position (stealthy)
2) Recon- apply what info you have by gathering during peace with freights, overflights, etc.
3) Deliver- unexpected, fierce, and devastating.

 

[SlowwHand]

Surprise is your biggest asset.

Deception is the next. "Look weak when strong, look strong when weak".

Start at outlying cites, not the capital.
The inner circle of cities will be oldest and strongest, assuming opposing player isn't a dullard.
Conversely, outlying cities are newer and not as well-protected.

Make it quick.
Prolonged war can easily be a drain on your own Civ.

------------------
It's In The Way That You Use It
Tuatha De Danann Tribe
ICQ 51553293

 

[Odin442]

The trick is to do as the computer does to me. Nuke a coastal city, then move the troops in before they can get the city back to fighting order.

Or, if you're squeamish about the nuke thing, use a carrier group to beat a singlel city into submission, then send in the marines. After that's taken care of, just push the enemy further inland from that first city.

 

[Andu Indorin]

I have to agree with SlowwHand: Make it quick, make it decisive!

I tend to go with the "Operation Overlord" approach. Establish bridgehead; build up an overwhelming force, supported by engineers and dips/spies; then shift to Blitzkrieg mode.

 

[Simon Darkshade]

My main objectives are several. Firstly, it is important to have accurate intelligence on city places, transport infrastructure, and troop disposition. "Know the enemy, and know yourself, and you shall win a thousand battles"
This allows me to formulate a proper warplan. I work out what troops are needed to take which city or fortress, and in what order of priority. I aim to destroy an enemies strategic arms capability ( nukes) as first priority, and then their air force and missiles.
I try for a bridgehead, and sometimes make one myself. Stay at peace for as long as posssible, and build up overwhelming odds.

An important objective of mine is to obtain air superiority, so I stack up on the fighters, as well as a substantial bomber force.
Using paratroopers is a key, as is effective deployment of marines, in conjunction with naval bombardment.

Removing a enemy capital from play is important, as are their major industrial zones. Every target has a rating of importance, and each component of the force has a set role. If carried out properly, this leads to a truly impressive blitzkrieg.

On a mainly land campaign, I aim for the schwerpunkt in the enemy lines, and aim to achieve strategic and tactical surprise.

------------------
Whether you like it or not, history is on our side. We will bury you.
- N.S.Khrushchev

 

[duke o' york]

One of the best tactics when waging war is to ensure that when you have the capability, you destroy all the opposing civs in the same turn. This won't let the computer make new ones and is the best way to get a very early victory.

------------------
in vino veritas

 

[Brad]

I have to agree with SlowwHand on starting with outer cities... The way I see it is if you go for the inner cities, not only might you have trouble getting there because of ZOc... but the surrounding cities can send more units; whereas outer cities aren't usually affected by ZOC and there are no surrounding cities to send easy reinforcements, you only have to worry about the units coming from one direction.

------------------
Silence Fills the Nothingness.

Even though stuff happens that we don't plan, be a man... use you hand.

I'm in love and it's my job to make other people jealous.
<IMG SRC="http://forums.civfanatics.com/ubb/love2.gif" border=0>

 

[SunTzu]

I like to attack cities take cities and pillage their land, and if i'm about to be pushed back from my attack i'll pillage everything insight especially railroads and roads

------------------
Civilization God of War &amp; Economic Prosperity
http://www.civfanatics.com Staff and forum moderator
Elevators always smell different to midgets

 

[animepornstar]

i think the most important thing is to keep new units coming to the front. if you take a city with some units and then just leave them and your offense stops, then you can say good bye to them. you should also pillage to prevent the enemy´s counter attacks. it´s easy to take a city, it´s harder to keep it.

------------------
<IMG SRC="http://home.oea.se/oea01190/Image72.jpg" border=0>

 

[Civmaster]

I just go in and destroy them as fast as possible also build a city near their cities so i dont have to keep sending units ove


My brother has a cool way of destroying them use spies or diplomats to incite a revolt and sabatoge their city stuff

 

[starlifter]

I hate to pillage everything because I view the enemy as merely the temporary occupant of what will soon be my land. Sometimes, I will even help him build roads around one or 2 "pet" cities that are my continual recipients of freight (in cease fire or peace).

For me, conquering goes lightning fast with spies and rail. Often, I have more engineers in the middle of a huge assualt than military units. Rail is key for me... I want artillery and howies to have full strength shots on a city. I'll build a fort around my assault forces if the assault does not finish on one turn, like when taking on 8 vet Mech Infantry on a river capital.

Spies and intelligence, with rail (and seapower as necessary) are key for me

.