Taking cities in specific situations

[Maxxie]

With all civs in the future era (all techs) a city is built on a hill with Iron and surrounded by mountains and that city is also surrounded by fortified defenders, what is the best way to take it?

What about one in the same situation, but with a city on one end of 8x4 island built on a hill? The island is located off from a continent with a mountain range along its coast. 360X360 type map of course so any transport invasion will take 10-20 turns to reach and reinforcements as long to send.

Before anyone starts on it, I find using hundreds of artillery a game-breaking strategy so do not approve of using it and never use it myself. Instead, I would try to get an airbase in range to attack the first city and setup defenses around to protect it. Aerial bombardment is a little more expensive, and at least the bombers face being attacked on the way to the target so its not as much of a cheat. The second city I would of course blockade the few worked water tiles with battleships and bombard with them while keeping a few AEGIS cruisers at a distance to fill in any holes that develop and make a few more of my own. The way I see this the only way to beat that city would be to setup my own on the other end of the island and work it up to use as base for healing and rushed Modern Armor production.

Any better ways to do this? Any other ideas for difficult situations?

 

[da3dalus]

Tough to say exactly without a save or a screenie, but when it comes to the island scenario you described I tend to leave it alone unless I can muster some serious firepower to wear down the defenders (battleships, bombers, arty, etc). The reason that I leave it alone is that it's not usually worth the cost of failure. I've had to make an unadvantageous peace many times because a failed invasion like this killed my stack and caused massive WW in my cities effectively crippling their production and draining funds from my coffers (increasing lux slider).

If I can't bomb the city in this situation into the stone age first, I usually won't even bother taking it.

 

[vmxa]

How about a nuke or two? Land a unit and walk in. Why do you want the town anyway? I would think you are at the city limit on a 360x360 map and that late in the game. Just raze after the nukes and found a new town in a better location and no one can plant one in that spot, if at max.

I would expect that there is no tile for you to land a 100 artillery anyway. Not that I would use that many. I think the idea that a bomber is less of a cheat than an artillery is a big stretch. They are all just tools and the AI will not be able to out think a human, so in that sense we are always cheating.

 

[Spoonwood]

Land an army and attack.

 

[timerover51]

With all civs in the future era (all techs) a city is built on a hill with Iron and surrounded by mountains and that city is also surrounded by fortified defenders, what is the best way to take it?

Basically, you have two ways to attack, artillery and bombers, assuming that you have ruled out nukes. You have ruled out the artillery, that leaves bombers to soften up the defenses. Since you are on a huge plus map, you are going to have to set up a base nearby, and intermediate staging areas to get aircraft in. Also, do not forget that from each airbase and airport that you have you can airlift one unit per turn, which includes Modern Armor. Then it is simply a matter of moving all the needed units to your base in a steady flow, while pounding away with the bombers. You need to try to isolate the city as best as possible, but if you have bombers it is likely the AI has a airport to maintain contact with strategic resources. Once every land unit is in place, then it is a matter of grinding it out.

What about one in the same situation, but with a city on one end of 8x4 island built on a hill? The island is located off from a continent with a mountain range along its coast. 360X360 type map of course so any transport invasion will take 10-20 turns to reach and reinforcements as long to send.

You need to set up two bases, one on the island and one on the continent. While you get your island base established, you can mount your air and naval blockade from the continent base. This also gives you a back up if your island base is attacked. After that, see above. Unless you use nukes, you are in a situation of gradually grinding it out.

Before anyone starts on it, I find using hundreds of artillery a game-breaking strategy so do not approve of using it and never use it myself. Instead, I would try to get an airbase in range to attack the first city and setup defenses around to protect it. Aerial bombardment is a little more expensive, and at least the bombers face being attacked on the way to the target so its not as much of a cheat. The second city I would of course blockade the few worked water tiles with battleships and bombard with them while keeping a few AEGIS cruisers at a distance to fill in any holes that develop and make a few more of my own. The way I see this the only way to beat that city would be to setup my own on the other end of the island and work it up to use as base for healing and rushed Modern Armor production.

Any better ways to do this? Any other ideas for difficult situations?

I play on huge island and continent maps quite a bit, and run into mounting long-distance invasions on a regular basis. There is no easy way to do it, just as in real war. I do find my Army logistic training useful, along with the idea of using staging bases as in WW2.