Overseas Expansion (or war)

[Civ4Dominator]

So, I've learned a lot within the past two weeks or so since I've really started playing Civ4: BTS mostly because of the help of this forum and the war academy. I've tried out a lot of new strategies recently including slavery, axe rushing, chop rushing, specialist economies, and the cottage economy. After completely dominating a game on chieftain, I figured I should make it a little bit of a challenge.

So here's my question: I've never been a big navy guy so I decided to set up a hemispheres map with three different continents. I'm playing Suileman (Ottoman) and I'm on a continent with Zara (Ethopian) who has become my best bud. However, the problem is that now I need to expand but there's no land left on the continent to do so (me and Zara share it about half and half). I looked on the civlopedia about seafaring and made a ship to get around to the other continents and discovered the rest of the civs on the map.

First, how do I conduct an overseas war?
It seems like I would spend a lot of time making galleons to transport my troops and I'd have a hard time supplying reinforcements.
Second, if I don't go the war route, how else can I expand my empire?

Thanks for the help and advice!

 

[Martin79]

As you said, you can 1) make tons of galleons and troops and land on another continent or 2) attack your best bud Zara. Do you really need him?

 

[nbcman]

You may be able to expand using galleys if there are any islands or small continents that you can reach currently.

You can expand your empire culturally if you can have greater culture in your border areas than Zara does-but that is unlikely since Zara's UB is the Stele which, if built, will increase the cities Culture output by 25%.

If you are technologically ahead of Zara, you may want to beeline Gunpowder to get access to your UU (Janissaries) and attack. If Zara has his UU (Oromo Warriors) you probably shouldn't try to attack him since Janissaries do not have an advantage against gunpowder units. If you can attack Zara quickly and vassalize him, you probably can get him back to friendly again if you don't raze any of the cities that you capture.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Time to find a new best friend!

Crush him

 

[Civ4Dominator]

Mmmm...well...looks like I'm in a little bit of trouble here.

Noone on the other continents like me much because they all have different religions from me and Zara (confucionism). So, if I take out Zara I'll be all alone with no allies. Not to mention Zara is at about the same level technologically as I am but the civs on the other continents are behind me in tech level.

Does it get any easier to do overseas invasions at a higher tech level? (Do I need a better naval unit other than a galleon to help with an invasion?)

 

[Gooblah]

When using an amphibious assault on another continent, like you said, there are little-no lines of reinforcement. So...

Hopefully one of your top military/production centers is on the coast. Have that city spam Galleons and Frigates while your other cities spam units. Run Theocracy and/or Vassalage. Also, a GM instructor in your coastal hammer city would be nice. Promote your Galleons and Frigates down the Flanking I/Navigation line. This will make troop movement faster and reinforcements easier to come by. Next, enter the strategy layer in Globe View. Identify key cities, weak cities, and where you believe the hardest resistance will come from. Use lines to show where your units will move, and use Signs to identify landing points and targets. Change your strategy with the Delete button. Once you have actions plotted, start moving your Galleons. Keep 2-5 Galleons at home to hold reinforcements. Declare war when your Galleons are at the cultural border AND have enough movement points to drop off troops. Then its just like a land war.

Remember; AAs require more planning, but can be more fun (especially if you name the beaches and operations... )

 

[WTBCzero]

Does it get any easier to do overseas invasions at a higher tech level? (Do I need a better naval unit other than a galleon to help with an invasion?)

Yes, but bring loads of units. My group of modern armors, mech infantry and mobile artillery (about 15 in total) got wiped out by 50 cavalry, 30 cannons and 20 or so infantry in the current game I'm playing...


So don't think you can get away with a small force if you enemy is behind in tech; check how many troops he has.

 

[Civ4Dominator]

Next, enter the strategy layer in Globe View. Identify key cities, weak cities, and where you believe the hardest resistance will come from. Use lines to show where your units will move, and use Signs to identify landing points and targets. Change your strategy with the Delete button. Once you have actions plotted, start moving your Galleons.

And this is why I love this game. It's so complex that you're always learning something new. I had no idea that was a strategy drawing board in the globe view! Thanks for the tips all.

I think I'll go for an amphibious assault soon just so I can get some experience with them. Maybe I can draw someone else into the war first so that I can surprise my target from the oceanfront.

 

[Martin79]

Maybe I can draw someone else into the war first so that I can surprise my target from the oceanfront.

Excellent idea. Don't forget to bring some war vessels (frigates, destroyers, battleships) to escort your tranports and to bombard costal city defenses.

 

[RusticBob]

See if your Buddy Zara will Help.

Stack your transports/galleons with a protector. If your in the advanced years with airlift capability, capture your first city and air lift units (1 per turn) as reinforcements or city defense. (I didn't know globe view was a planning tool! Been playing this game for years, I guess not very seriously)

 

[ylea]

Use frigerats and airships to soft your defendrs or attackers

 

[Fjortisbarn]

Try an archipelago map in your next game, it will force you to learn to build ships and conduct overseas expansion

 

[CivCorpse]

You only need to build one galleon...then a lot of land units...then invade Zara

 

[duende29]

My priority would be Zara, since he's probably going to be your rival. Once you own the whole continent you can just cottage spam and aim for Space Victory. The cities on your own continent make a better investment.