Temporary peace or continue the war?

[zoiks]

I know there won't be a hard and fast rule, but is one of these generally better?

In a war, let's say the enemy has five cities and I've taken two. I'm now stronger in military but my units need to rest before going on to the next city. Should I take a 10 turn peace treaty (if they are able to offer something good in return, like some techs) or continue the war?

Which is the better strategy?

 

[AcaMetis]

The best strategy depends on the risks. Is your target diplomatically isolated, meaning no one will accept them as a peace vassal during that ten turn peace treaty/care if you declare on them a second time? Is your target able to bribe another AI to join the war against you, which would be magnified if you peace out and re-declared on them ten turns later? Do you have a great medic unit that is able to heal units quickly, particularly if you're using a siege-based offensive and can have units heal while the catapults/trebs bombard down city defences?

As you mentioned the best strategy is highly situational. There will be situations where signing peace is required to win a war, so don't forget the option exists. Or, for that matter, calling for an end to the war without a peace treaty, if all you need is one or two turns to move very badly out of position armies, etc. It's a costly move, but you can do some proper shenanigans with it in the right circumstances.

 

[sampsa]

In general just win the wars in one go. I think many players kind of overrate healing, as long as you have some units at full health you are fine.

There is also a third option, cease fire. It is especially useful when there is no contact to a 3rd AI so no diplo penalties for re-declaring. Usually useful if you just need a short break from war, like if the AI could hurt you now but not in 2T. Of course, it's also the best situation to take 10T peace for techs, if available.

 

[Qactus]

In addition to the above points about healing (healing while bombarding etc.):
I used to always go into the first fight fully promoted in order to maximise combat odds. At some point I started to consider the trade-off that is there: A promotion of a unit at full health is a wasted healing opportunity. Sometimes you need the maximum combat odds of course.
Nowadays I at least evaluate the option of saving up a promotion for after the fight if I can afford to go in with lower odds.

 

[Tecumseh1]

In general just win the wars in one go. I think many players kind of overrate healing, as long as you have some units at full health you are fine.

There is also a third option, cease fire. It is especially useful when there is no contact to a 3rd AI so no diplo penalties for re-declaring. Usually useful if you just need a short break from war, like if the AI could hurt you now but not in 2T. Of course, it's also the best situation to take 10T peace for techs, if available.

Do you know if the re-declare penalty is the same for cease fire vs peace treaty?

 

[sampsa]

Do you know if the re-declare penalty is the same for cease fire vs peace treaty?

Yes, they are both treated as "you declared war on our friend!".

 

[chinemol]

I'm a fanatic of healing troops to 100%, but unless the target is not capable of being vassaled by another civ, I won't make a truce. when I do, is because I don't care about the diplomatic "-1 you declared war on our friend" penalty

when war is declared on me, however, that is a different thing. most of those times I have not chosen to go to war, I am not in a possition to decisively win, so a 10 turn peace treaty (even paying for it) may be a better outcome than continuation of war

 

[Gumbolt]

You need a super medic unit to heal stacks in 2-3 turns. Plus start a war knowing after taking 1-2 cities you may need more units. If they only have 5 cities try to target the capital first.

If you leave 1-2 cities you will have yearn to join motherland unhappiness. If you declare again you will get -1 diplo with all the AI's friends. Plus a further -3 diplo with the AI you declared on.

If I am short on techs i might leave an AI with 1 city but it's probably better not to risk another AI getting a vassal that just gets in the way. If you leave the AI with their original capital you may get swamped by it's culture.

I suspect you didn't build a big enough stack to start with. A typical HA rush early on might include 11 or so units. With more being whipped to follow.If you go construction I can sometimes have 20+ stacks with catapults/other units. Pending when you hit construction.

 

[Core Imposter]

Are there not situations where you can't get peace without paying but might be able to get a cease fire?