Um... All Hell's About To Break Loose...(HELP!)

[SuicidalByNatur]

OK, in a game nearing it's completion, here's how things stand:

-ME : I've been in a nice spot from the start, I started on a nice big chunk of land with 2 other Civs to my right and water to my left. One of those Civs(Cathenigans{sp?)) got pinched between me and the Russians and were dead from the start. The other(Persians) didn't expand quick enough and got pinned down in a small section of the continent. The Persians are out of the picture(they have 2 remaining cities on a small, isolated island), the Cathowhatevers are gone. I'm #1 in power...

-Everywhere else : the Indians officially fill the role of the Have-Nots in this game. While the 3 powers (me, Russians, Vikings) are stockpiling missles they are just starting to build tanks. The Russians have been my long-time Allies, we made contact early and have worked together from the start. The Vikings... they're 3rd in most power ratings but they're gonna be tough, most of their cities are spread out on islands all over the place. I'd say they have about 15 cities on about 10 islands.

Now, after I escorted the Persians out of my territory, I turned my eyes towards the Vikings(the Russians were already at war with them). In my initial invasion of their main island I captured 3 cities and all was looking well. Until...

They developed Advanced Flight. I've been on the recieving end of non-stop bombing runs since then(ah that lovable AI, within 2 turns of discovering AF, they had about 6 bombers by my estimates), I lost two of those cities and am working like hell to defend my one remaining stronghold on that island.

But the tables have turned, the inevitable has happened and ties between me and the Russians are becoming strained. They recently stole a couple techs and I've been noticing a increase in the number of Russian troops near my boarder. They're up to something.

So, I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place here, I have the advantage, but not enough of an advantage to fight off the Russians AND Vikings(#2 and 3 respectively). What do I do here? I could try to negotiate a peace treaty with the Vikings and Ally up to fight off the Russians. I could rush to build the Manhattan Project and unleash some Nuclear destruction...(I'm viewing that as a last resort.)

Any tips for a newbie from the masters?

 

[Duke of Marlbrough]

You have tons of options....

How feasable they are is up to you.

To defend against bombers, build figthers. SAM batteries work awesome also.

Depending on how the AI players are towards each other, you can always look into bribing a civ to attack the russians. This is a crap shoot, sometimes you pay the Ai off to declare war and they make peace two turns later, but sometimes they attack with a fury.

If needed, pull out of your offensive with the Vikings and protect your core cities from the Russians. Then once you re-establish your dominance over them (can we say counter-offensive?), you can always resume your push on the vikings.

If you start to lose your core cities though, you may be on a long road down hill.

That's at least some options.....

 

[SuicidalByNatur]

Well, I kinda followed your advice before I got it, the Vikings managed to snatch that city back(I was building a SAM battery but just didn't have time due to poor production levels) and immediatly offered a cease fire so I signed it to get them off my back. The I turned my attention to the Russians...

They were total pushovers!! I switched production to military units in half my cities and began moving them up to the Russian boarder, when I had a respectible attack force(6 tanks, 4 riflemen, 2 Howitzers, 2 bombers, 2 Cruise Missles, and 1 spy) I began my attack. I snuck the Spy in and incited a revolt in one of their cities, with that city in my control I aimed the Tanks at another city... and took it. I then moved in with some Engineers and began building railroads to connect my civ with theirs. My military action was restrained to sending my Spy out to cause another Revolt. The Engineer finished the railroad and the Russians fates were sealed, I now had full access to their civilization, I could move any ground unit from any city in my Civ to any city in their Civ with ease. Then I began the real attack - I started dropping Paratroopers from a near-by island to the small area where I'd already taken 2 cities. I sent in my spy to Bribe a Howtizer and then attacked another with the Howitzer and Paratroopers, took that. Finally, I set my eyes of St. Petersburg. First with Cruise Missle strikes... then Bombers, finally I moved in the Ground Support and took that city.

By the time I took St. Petersburg, the Russians were all but BEGGING me to sign a Cease Fire. I signed that, signed a Peace Treaty, and turned my eyes back to the Vikings with a large attack force ready to go(including 2 full Transports and 1 full Carrier, with a pair of Battleships as escorts) I moved them into place and began the attack. Once again, I took 3 cities, I made the same fatal mistake though, I expanded too quickly. My goal was to take half the island before they had the chance to react. It didn't quite work like that and before I knew it I had to pull my troops out of one of the cities to have a hope of defending the final one. I once again signed a Cease Fire with the Vikings(gotta love the UN ) and with only 4 turns remaining I decided to enact a little revenge on the thorn in my side. I bought a Nuke, next round bought another, and the next round bought another, then on the final round initiated a nuclear strike on 3 of their cities(including the capital). Game ended the next round with Tokugawa and the Japanese in firm hold of #1.

 

[allan]

Japan builds the Manhattan Project, huh?

I once built the Manhattan Project in Nagasaki, btw.... Another time in Hiroshima (one of the extra cities I put on my cities.txt list).

 

[Nishdog]

Originally posted by SuicidalByNatur

I once again signed a Cease Fire with the Vikings(gotta love the UN ) and with only 4 turns remaining I decided to enact a little revenge on the thorn in my side. I bought a Nuke, next round bought another, and the next round bought another, then on the final round initiated a nuclear strike on 3 of their cities(including the capital). Game ended the next round with Tokugawa and the Japanese in firm hold of #1.

What did you do about the pollution? Or did you not care about the score at that point and just decided to kick some arse!

 

[SuicidalByNatur]

Originally posted by Nishdog

Or did you not care about the score at that point and just decided to kick some arse!

Exactly.

Two times over the course of the game I tried to take that island, both times I took 3 cities, then got pushed right back off. I just wanted to teach those dirty little Vikings a lesson.

 

[Simon Darkshade]

The lesson is on Sun Tzu, Clausewitz, and every other milittary book in the world: Fight no battle you are not sure of winning.

Find out about the enemies entire strength before committing. Apply overwhelming force, building an army that is 6 to 20 times what is necessary. Overkill never kills you, and you don't need to go nuclear.
Kill the enemy in one turn. Surround them. Know where they are, and write or jot down attack plans, and orders of battle (If you want to take it that far)

Buy off your foe if you are not ready. It is possible to take on the whole world at once, but not advisable. Divide the inevitable AI alliances, and conquer with utter ruthlessness.

The AI is obsessed with bombing, so creating a sacrificial lamb city or unit in their direct path will often lure them into concentrating upon that objective. Remember, the AI has not concept of a strategic assault, or strategic bombing. It will go for the closest juicy target, not the fighter factories and bases in the rear zones. Use common sense, and their senseless bombing is easily rolled back.

Know your enemy, and know yourself, and you shall win a thousand battles.

 

[swissjunior]

Try filling your cities with defence units

 

[yellowsponge]

you made a mistake many of use make in warfare

capturing a city isn't a territory gain, if all of us remembered that in our games we wouldn't have some of our nastiest episodes
it sounds like this strategy would work

move a couple navy ships in the area between the island and the other viking islands, particulary subs, have plenty of defensive units ready to move in, disband the attack units and build SAM/city walls ASAP, 2-3 good defensive units
in the event that you know capture is eventually, if you can't keep it, raze it

they might gain a few techs in the lose, but the resources they waste should be enough that you can take another city of theirs
do this until you can make a proper takeover(i suggest nukes, spies, :0)

anyway that is my suggestion