To declare war or let the AI do it first

[conception]

I'm playing a game with the modded tectonics script as the Germans. I've amassed quite a large army from barb converting and I've already dispensed one civ The only civ I am friendly with is Cathy, who has been at war with the Mongols forever but they are so far apart nothing every happens.

I was surprised when barb hunting to find a couple Russian units drifting through open territory between us. A little more investigating revealed an obvious invasion force. Since my army is so much larger I took up defensive positions outside my border and let her come to me. As she got closer I literally surrounded her troops (except for 1 tile), with me manning defensible territory while she is out in the open fields.

I could annihilate her army while maybe losing a unit at most, but I'm wondering if its better while I am at "friendly" and have a research agreement going to wait for her to attack, and risk losing a lot more units just because she can bombard me, or if I should just let'er rip.

 

[Lose]

let her attack you

 

[conception]

let her attack you

Can you elaborate? I'm still somewhat new to Civ V and I'm trying to figure out certain aspects of the game.

 

[Babri]

I would say u should declare war. Because AI will soon realize that u are too powerful & will mass units like crazy. In my last game I did the same mistake of not declaring war on Alex, soon he massed a large army of Hopelites and my warriors & swords could not fight against them, I even lost one city which I soon recaptured after getting Samurais.

 

[Roxlimn]

Letting Cathy declare war saves you from the general diplomatic hit you get for declaring war. Never declare war if you can help it. Provoke your enemies to war, but let them take the diplo hit. They're less likely to friend each other later on, and you'll enjoy a better standing with other AI all game long.

 

[NotSure]

OP was 4 days ago, so I'm sure you already played it out. I'm curious to know how it turned out. I would have fortified for one turn, gambling that once the Russian AI sees my troops it will bail out on any invasion plan. If, however, a turn passes and they just fortify, then I would be suspicious they made a "wait 10 turns" arrangement to attack with another AI. In that situation, I guess I would attack. I usually let the crazed AI declare most wars though, especially if I have a RA in place.

Would be nice if you could confront them about their troops in the Diplo screen the way they can!

 

[Aspon]

it does depend on the circumstances I have seen this before and then something happens america were getting ready to go for me but then greece declared on them I did not want a fight with america because was already worrying about other wars. by not declaring i saved myself some bother on the other hand if they do something like leave themselves openly vulnerable and you can wipe out there entire invasion force with little effort it can be a good move since I was the Iqouqi I could move units to the border fast so it wasn't an issue. but America had the great wall and i was busy elsewhere.

 

[conception]

I waited it out and she finally declared, but in the initial attack she only got one of my units. I quickly annihilated her army and she gave me extremely favorable terms for peace, which I accepted. I needed the time period to settle, but while I got down 5-6 cities (I was in a rush), I was forced to declare war on her not too long after because she settled on MY side of the mountain passes.

I easily took her city, but I've had a heck of a fight taking out a couple cities she had just on the other side of the mountain passes. I easily lost 7-10 units, but have killed an equal number of her troops, which she can't easily replace. I still have a field army of at least 30 units, so now I am going to decimate her for good and leave her with just one of her weakest cities.

 

[OmegaKabob]

Nice plan . I would always wait for her, or if another civ asks you to go to war with her then do it.