Warmongers, help me out!

[Rooker]

I almost always play peaceful games, not that I don't wanna go to war, but wars always seem go go badly for me. The AI almost always have insabely large number of forces. My wars always start out with me on top, but at some point it turns around.

I'm currently plaing a game, where I want to attack the Japanese, we're on the same continent, with only two chokepoints between us. I wanna reduce his forces before invading. My plan was to provoke a war, and then lure the japanese forces into my area so I can bombard them with artillery and finish them of without losing too many of my own units. I failed Mainly because I didn't have enough artillery, at least I think so.

Has anyone tried this before, can you tell me of your succes? Did it reduce the enemy force or did they just produce enough to counter `your following attack?

 

[BCLG100]

build units which have a three movement point these are able to move attack and then retreat ready for the next go. then bombard them then hit them with the units e.g. cavalry modern armour but if your borders are really close start of doing that in there territory. and in my experience when the AI attacks they use nearly all their force so if u demolish that stack pretty quikely it would probably mean they wont have much left.

 

[bobgote]

firstly, try a war where you just take a town or two then make peace etc and whittle them away. It seems like you'd be more suited to this kind of warfare. Theres so many things, where do I start? You sound like you're too defensive. Try building a huge military. Go as the chinese and just try to think militaristic, that's what turned me around.

 

[Rooker]

Wouldn't it be better to do it in my territory, where I have the movement advantage(I have rails all the way up to the border)? Sure they might pillage a little, but I have plenty of workers to remedy that, after the skirmish.

I've stocked my border cities with plenty of infantry to discourage any attack on those.

Edit: Didn't see your reply there Bob.

Yeah you maybe right, I do tend to be rather defensive I guess. I'll try going all out

 

[Zachriel]

Originally posted by Rooker
I failed Mainly because I didn't have enough artillery, at least I think so.

I think you answered your own question. Your army is probably too small. As you have artillery, you must be in the industrial age. A stack of 50 infantry and 20 artillery is not unusual. Remember, the enemy has rail and can move up reinforcements rapidly. So hit them with everything you got. Be patient and let the artillery do its job. Having them attack you was a good idea, by the way. Let them throw their forces against your ready defenses, then when they are exhausted, take the war to them. Also, consider finding an ally, then your enemy would have to split his forces.

 

[Derelict]

artillery also gives your cities and territory a sense of safety, because even if you are outnumbered by a lot, the ai will return its attacking units to its territory when they are injured. So you can blast a stack of 30 attacking units, and if you hurt 20 with artillery in one turn, then you have only 10 to deal with because those 20 you hurt will go back to heal. I find putting artillery(stack of 20 or more)at the choke point on some defensive bonus terrain with 3-8 or so defensive units protecting them is an excellent defense. The enemy never attacks your cities unless he has a huge advantage in numbers. And you wait to pick on and attack injured units, or ones with weak defense like cavalry. Then once the Ai has stopped attacking you, move your forces in slowly and use the artillery on his cities, especially to get the population down to decrease the defensive bonuses they get in cities. It can take a long time to win a war this way, but i find it the most efficient way when you are outnumbered or pretty even or behind in tech.

 

[MirandaCore]

Your enemy won't have stacks of 50 infantry if u can kill him fast enough. Generally, if the AI is at peace w/ everybody, the AI either builds improvements or wealth and rarely builds large armies. Its only if they have been at war for some time before they get those huge stacks of units.

So what u can do is to slowly build up lots of fast moving units like cavalry or tanks (depending on ur tech). As long as the AI don't have rifleman against cavalry or mech inf against tanks, 30-50 or more of those units (depending on ur map size) can easily overwhelm the AI in a matter of turns. U just have to either have factories or lots of cities or both to slowly build up ur blitz force, while STAYING AT PEACE WITH THE AI.

There's no point in luring the AI into ur territory. For one thing, the the longer the war, the stronger the AI become militarily. That's why u always do well at the beginning and lose at the end.

 

[Rooker]

Originally posted by Zachriel


A stack of 50 infantry and 20 artillery is not unusual. Remember, the enemy has rail and can move up reinforcements rapidly. So hit them with everything you got.

¨

I have no where near that amount of units, I had something like 10 artillery, 20 infantry, and about 10 cavalry. I thought that was alot

I Guess I have prepare better. Though I still think the intial idea is valid.

Thanks for the help everyone!

Even more advice or suggestions is more than welcome

 

[Pembroke]

"God is for the big battalions"
-- Voltaire

Wars ain't fair nor pretty, so stack the deck in your favour:

3-1 advantage is not "an overwhelming force". An overwhelming force is 10-1 with you having mech infs and the other civ having spearmen. If "overwhelming" is not possible then go for the adequate 5-1...

When you go to war you go to war. Politicians not totally committed to the war effort have brought ruin more than enough times in the real world, you know . Thus all of your cities should produce units/improvements that are directly useful in the war. And they should continue doing so right until the opponent is utterly crushed.

Exchanging your numbers against the opponen't quality is ok if your production is up to it. If you can crank up your production to 12 units / turn while your opponent does 4 units / turn then you can keep on exchanging 2 to 1 and win. The number below the final tally line is what counts. War Heroes beat the Industrial Generals only in the novels.

If it is bad to the enemy it is good to you. Pillaging his road network will hinder his troop movements, disrupt trade, and if thought out carefully cut him off from his strategic resources. Besieging a city will dislocate the workers from the tiles causing production loss and starvation. Blockading the capital (if it has a harbor) and pillaging the surrounding roads will disrupt his trade network entirely.

Also, when you commit to a single attack or battle it is for a purpose that will gain you something. Losing units in a battle that only costs some hit points to the enemy is pointless if he can heal his damage in a single turn. This is called concentration of force and it is why you will attack a fortified position with at least a 4-1 advantage. If the enemy is left weaker and you made stronger because of your attack you scored a victory. Otherwise you are the loser. And this is completely regardless whose units were left standing on the battlefield.

The converse is also true: if the enemy keeps banging his head against your strong points losing units without gaining anything it's a victory for you. Terrain and fortifications combined with good defenders can give lots of headaches to the opposite generals. As a specific case: settlers ought to be a part of your army. A city can also be thought of as a military base. With barracks it heals your units and after you have rushbuilt the airport you can bring in troops with ease. If you don't need the city after the war then just abandon it.

Doctrine of advantage: grab it wherever you get it. Attack where the enemy is weak. If the war is fought on one front and your opponent is concentrating his forces there then a special force landing behind his lines can do wonders or at least pillage and rape his countryside. With luck it can also force the enemy to split his forces to deal with the secondary attack making him weaker in the main front. Which allows you to strike there. Or if he does not comply, then no sweat, because then the diversification attack is the main attack and continues its pillaging and torching.

This is also why I think having a good navy is essential, although some have doubts about its usefulness. Controlling the seas allows me to strike at will where I want while at the same time I can keep *my* backside covered against *his* sneak attacks.

 

[Rooker]

I think my problem has been as you say Pembroke - a reluctance to commit, I usually can't get myself to commit every city to the war and hence suffer, becasue the AI devotes his production to units, and hence eventually gains the upper hand.

Yesterday I started the war with ample units and advanced into my enemy's lands, taking cities, establishing cities as bases, and sending rogue units to pillage key resource points.

It was like an epiphany for me, I never knew war could be this exciting!!!

I've always seen war as a nuisance, a troublesome but sometimes unavoidable nuisance. But yesterday was very different, I found myself contemplanting next moves trying to stay ahead of the situation. And trying to remember all the advice I've read here at CFC, but never really understood before. I maybe a war newbie, and made plenty of mistakes, but it was truly fun

You may think I sound a bit winded, and you maybe right due to exhaustion (it got pretty late last night), but right now I can't to go hoime and finish the war

 

[Zachriel]

Originally posted by Rooker
It was like an epiphany for me, I never knew war could be this exciting!!!

Ah yes. Another budding Napoleon. Our work is done here.

 

[bobgote]

Originally posted by Zachriel
Ah yes. Another budding Napoleon. Our work is done here.

mmmmmm yes. Good luck rooker, i think you're on the right track

 

[Gastric ReFlux]

Sad but true. War can win so much in this game.

 

[SirJethro]

BOMBERS!!!! Bombers whip artillery's tail.

Of course, if you don't have flight, that's a problem. By the time I get there, though, I normally have quite a few cities that can churn them out in 2 turns a pop.

 

[Allemand]

Good advice all around. There are lots of things to try in a war, and most of them will work if executed well.

You can help yourself a lot by getting an ally, preferably one bordering your enemy. He will have to send part of his forces to combat your ally, thus you will be attacked by fewer troops.

The strategy to fight the initial phases of the war in your own territory is sound, if you don't mind an occasional lost city when you screw up (and you will, occasionally). The enemy has longer lines of supply, or in CivIII it's longer distances to send reinforcements. When you finally advance you will find that your forces will be weakened as they move further into enemy territory. Besides your losses, you will need troops to garrison captured cities. Your infantry-type units may be in short supply, as these are the best for holding cities, so you might have to use cavalry/tanks, etc for that.

 

[Dynamic Cow]

about armies... have them.

 

[Rooker]

I didn't have flight, so I couldn't use the bombers.

I find that advancing slow through enemy territory worked really well for me, I could keep infantry and artillery with me (used mostly cavalry for attacking and pillaging), and with a small army of workers behind the lines building rail, I had no problem moving my reinforcements into the fray.

Eventually I had to break of the war, I was really hurting with WW, but by then I had taken about two thirds of Japans territory, including some resources and a luxury.

Can't wait to start another war

 

[Frog Propaganda]

Welcome to the wonderful world of sustained warfare! Enjoy your stay!

If I have learned anything from Civ 3, it is the necessity of combined arms and not overexerting yourself. You must keep your forces organized and unified, or your offensives will collapse. Keep your goals simple as well. You like that oil on Persia's border? Snag it and end the conflict. Total war is fine, but you must be prepared for it. Most of the time it's best just to take some cities quick and just consolidate your gains.

Have fun smashing the infidels! [punch]

 

[Rooker]

Originally posted by Frog Propaganda
Welcome to the wonderful world of sustained warfare! Enjoy your stay!

Have fun smashing the infidels! [punch]

Thanks Frog Propaganda! I will

 

[MirandaCore]

Go into a mode of "total war" before u start the war. That way, u get a head start while the enemy is sitting on his butt. Funny thing is that I have less cities producing military units in times of war than in times of peace.

Its great that u like war. Funnest part about civ III.