need some help from war geniuses

[Tranced]

I started in the beginning of the game right smack dab in the middle of the continent. To the top of me were the Persians and to the Left were the Indians and beyond them the Chinese, btw I’m Japan. At the start of the game I grab as much land as possible, and end up forming very good relations with India, my neighbor. After I research a load I grab some iron and start cranking samurais. I sign a pact with Indian to destroy Persia and end up kicking Persia’s butt. Unfortunately the Indians got one city! For some reason they took their slow time getting to the top but I ended up assimilating that city anyway. At the moment I’m the only country that has realations to the other continent do to frigates and I haven’t told anybody else about them. Below me is a peninsula which everybody is constantly scrapping for even though its jungle and there is nothing there of value. The little value there China and myself have grabbed. So I’m wondering, do I attack the Chinese with the Indians, let the Indians take the Chinese main area (Indians have a huge army but not very advanced) while I take the bottom peninsula? Or do I somehow stage an attack on the Germans of France on the other continent with the help of England (who is my ally on the other continent and who has the largest army). All I have now are galleons and frigates for sea transportation although I rule the seas, and I’m not really liking the idea of loading up calvary (which I now can produce) in galleons and try a takeover of Germany/ France, without even knowing of their alliances. I could always try to screw the Chinese with the above mentioned strategy, and screwing the Indians is out of the question since we have such a good alliance that I would be stupid to break it. unfortunatley i could get the map to align right, but you could probably visualise it. left continent chinese then indians them myself with double land of the indians and chinese (not combined), below me is a peninsula and then the right continent, france on top, then germany then england on bottom.

thanks

 

[Blitz79]

Trance,

There appear to be no immeadiate military threats to your Empire, is that right?

If that is the case, you have a free hand. In your situation, I would attack in such a manner that I could be sure of commiting all my resources to the primary theatre, against an enemy within easy reach.

Attacking India gives you the capability to conquer a large Empire, with a technologically defiicient army. A series of powerful, concentrated attacks will enable you to defeat them, if you keep your units together.

China is removed from your immeadiate proximity. It would be difficult to mobilise the full resources of the State against it, and too much would be dependant on any possible Indian intervention. Any adventuristic expansion into a foreign continent whilst the main land area is still a potential threat - God forbid it. Take your enemies out one by one, starting with the closest.

 

[Stuie]

Originally posted by Blitz79
Attacking India gives you the capability to conquer a large Empire, with a technologically defiicient army. A series of powerful, concentrated attacks will enable you to defeat them, if you keep your units together.

I agree that the Indians need to be your target. A foreign war has too many complications (especially with other civs still on your continent) and will just land you a bunch of overly corrupt useless cities.

First thing I'd do is get the Indians fighting the Chinese, then once their at it stab him in the back. It may not feel good while you're doing it, but you do want a larger empire, right?

 

[Kev]

I agree with Blitz.

I would always prefer to take out rivals on my home continent first before I commit resources overseas. By sending units to the Germans, it could very well invite a homeland attack from the very same Indian civ that you've allied with, and a two-front war like this is very troublesome.

I am also a big proponent of taking out the next-strongest to me right away - in this case the Indians it would seem - and this is especially true given their proximity.

Production becomes an issue in post war as well, and with closer cities on your home continent, keeping them under control and safe will be easier. They will be affected by any continent-wide wonders you've built (pyramids, chapel, etc.) and with roads you can be sure that they will be able to make use of all of your luxuries and resources. Overseas, you'd have to get a harbor up and running right away, and even then your corruption will likely see to it that the new cities produce 1 shiled per turn. It will also guarantee a stronger counter attack and allows for a larger possibility that cities you conquer become reassimilated.

 

[ironfang]

Kev is correct.

Other solution may be simply do no declare war. If your alliance with the Indians is as such, then maintain a modern force strong enough defend your lands from invaders.

What need do you have for war that you could not gain in peace?

ironfang

 

[miradus]

I agree. I'm typically a peacenik as well. If I can get something cheaper by warfare than by negotiations, then roll them tanks, but otherwise ... war is too disruptive. You're losing in the culture race just by BEING in a war, in the decent govs your people are whining and you're losing resources to placate them, and you run the risk of angering others who may just land something nasty on your shores.

The bottom line is what I always consider in Civ3. Is this library worth building now, or do I need to invest in something else? Should I roll out this infantry unit or do I think this border is well-enough defended already? How many units do I think I'll need to capture those 3 German cities and then sue for peace? Can I invest the resources in building them now?

 

[Tranced]

first off, thank you for your ideas.
secondly, im gonna go ahead and add some info. first off, im a monarchy but I have huge corruption in the northern half of my province that is most protected by terrain. I could probably stay a monarch for a couple more turns before I switch to democracy, preferabbly id want to be a monarch when i attack. Also, i finally figured out how to draw a map so here it is...

............................................................@@@@@@@@@@...............FFFFFFFFFF
.........................................................@@@@@@@@@@@@...............FFFFFFFF
......................................................@@@@@@@@@@@@@................FFFFFFFFFF
......................................................@@@@@@@@@@@@@................FFFFFFFFFF
CCCCCCCCCC...........IIIIIIIIIIII......@@@@@@@@@@@@..................GGGGGGG
CCCCCCCCCCCIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII@@@@@@@@@@@@@................GGGGGGGGG
CCCCCCCCCCCIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII........@@@@@@@@@@@................EEEEEEEEEEE
........CCCCCCCCCCIIIIIIIIIIIIII........@@@@@@@@@@@....................EEEEEEEEEEEE
...................................IIIIIIII..........MMMMMMMMMM..............................EEEEEEEEEEEEEE
..........................................................MMMMMM...........................................EEEEEEEE
..........................................................MMMMMM
..........................................................MMM

C-Chinese
I-Indians
@-me
M-mixed land between myself and china, very little military presence
F-France
E-England
G-Germany
.-Ocean

 

[ShadowWarrior]

As a general rule, always ally countries who are physically distant away from you to fight an enemy that is close to you.

You should build a city right next to the boarder of India and bait the India army to take over it. THen you will have an excuse to fight India.

Then you ally China to fight India with you.

 

[Callahan]

I would definitely hose down the French first, and consolidate yourself in the northeast of the map, then sweep down on everythign else like a plague.

 

[Graymane]

I'm by no means an expert but here are some thoughts:

1. How many cities do you have and what size map are you playing on? You have to plan for corruption and if you already have 30 or so cities, you don't really need any more.

2. How far ahead on tech are you? There is nothing stopping you from winning a cultural, space race or UN victory.

3. If you really feel the need for military action, I think the course of action is fairly clear. Ally with the Chinese and take out the Indians then take out the Chinese. Don't even mess with the other cont.