What to do when behind in tech @Immortal and beyond?

[InDubioProReo]

Hello, I have been trying my hand at Immortal strategy for a while, and I usually go for Scientific or Domination strategies. Recently I've been playing a game with Napoleon on Immortal, Continents Plus. I am about to control my continent fully, only Egypt stands ahead and his capital has tons of great wonders so once I get that it's going to be a huge boost to me.

However, Arabia has become a runaway that slowly devours all the others in the other continent, and he's already in Information Age while I haven't even hit the Atomic Age yet. I feel like AI gets ahead hugely. For a while I was able to keep up with him, but after a point he just shot upwards.

I opened with a Tradition 4 City opener and everything went allright, I eventually pushed with a Muskeeter/Crossbowmen/Cannon push and conquered Austria, Spain and Hiawatha, and at this point I was going on Egypt. I was thinking that after finishing Egypt I would build up a nice navy and lots of artileries/maybe Marines/Foreign Legions and go for a huge push, but seeing he's already got Manhattan Project, Apollo Program and so ahead it tech, I'm not sure what I can do, I feel like the game is already lost.

So what to do in situations like this, and more importantly is there anything one can do to prevent this?

 

[smallfish]

How many turns to Manhattan and/or Atomic Theory are you?

Can you build GW Bombers/Fighters, battleships and carriers?

Is Harun's capital coastal or really close to the coast?

Because what I plan will require at least GW Bombers to push inland... and the firepower of BBs and (rocket) artillery to quickly down those 100+ str cities and maintain your beachheads.

e: Finish Egypt off, then start preparing that D-Day for Harun.

e2: actually... do both at the same time. Build up your navy with whatever you need, and with carriers in mind, which means a pretty good production coastal city.

 

[InDubioProReo]

How many turns to Manhattan and/or Atomic Theory are you?

Can you build GW Bombers/Fighters, battleships and carriers?

Is Harun's capital coastal or really close to the coast?

Because what I plan will require at least GW Bombers to push inland... and the firepower of BBs and (rocket) artillery to quickly down those 100+ str cities and maintain your beachheads.

e: Finish Egypt off, then start preparing that D-Day for Harun.

e2: actually... do both at the same time. Build up your navy with whatever you need, and with carriers in mind, which means a pretty good production coastal city.

Well I think I have just finished Ballistics. I have been making some Battleships for the invasion.

Harun's capital is pretty close to the coast, the distance between my cities and his are very short aswell.

I don'T know whether I have tech for Carriers, I'll check.

 

[smallfish]

Well I think I have just finished Ballistics. I have been making some Battleships for the invasion.

Harun's capital is pretty close to the coast, the distance between my cities and his are very short aswell.

I don'T know whether I have tech for Carriers, I'll check.

Yes you can, since you have the tech to build BBs. (Carriers are unlocked at the same time as Iowas)

Which means you have Bombers, not those short-ranged cheap knockoffs lol and rocket artillery/SAMs... oops, Ballistics not Advanced Ballistics... very well

Alright, here's what you should do, assuming you have the Oil and Aluminium:

1) Build 3-5 carrier air groups. They should contain either 1 Fighter and 2 Siege/Bombardment Bombers or 3 Bombers. Build all those Bombers and Fighters from your highest production city with barracks/armory/Mil Academy.

2) Get at least 2 Flak guns, 2 Infantry, 2 Paratroopers (tech it fast!) and 4 rocket artillery or artillery ASAP. Load them up on the fleet basing area.

3) Once your invasion is ready, steam fullpower for Harun and then DOW once your force is just a tile away from his borders.

4) Clear his beachhead with your BBs after you take his first coastal city. MAKE HIS UNITS COME AT YOU... then once its clear you have the upper hand (either your army will be 1st in military ranking or recon with Fighters will reveal a stunning lack of Harun units in the area...), begin your push towards his cap.

4) Domination Victory shall be yours!

 

[LostInTime]

Hello, I have been trying my hand at Immortal strategy for a while, and I usually go for Scientific or Domination strategies. Recently I've been playing a game with Napoleon on Immortal, Continents Plus. I am about to control my continent fully, only Egypt stands ahead and his capital has tons of great wonders so once I get that it's going to be a huge boost to me.

However, Arabia has become a runaway that slowly devours all the others in the other continent, and he's already in Information Age while I haven't even hit the Atomic Age yet. I feel like AI gets ahead hugely. For a while I was able to keep up with him, but after a point he just shot upwards.

I opened with a Tradition 4 City opener and everything went allright, I eventually pushed with a Muskeeter/Crossbowmen/Cannon push and conquered Austria, Spain and Hiawatha, and at this point I was going on Egypt. I was thinking that after finishing Egypt I would build up a nice navy and lots of artileries/maybe Marines/Foreign Legions and go for a huge push, but seeing he's already got Manhattan Project, Apollo Program and so ahead it tech, I'm not sure what I can do, I feel like the game is already lost.

So what to do in situations like this, and more importantly is there anything one can do to prevent this?

What is your science pr turn, and social policies? Sounds to me you screwed up a bit there somewhere.

And don't worry about the tech gap, you can close that easily end-game if you prepare right. (rationalism finisher, great scientists and oxford + any RA's you might have signed)

As for army, the only thing you need to be afraid of is air, so your initial push to a city need to be quick. (preferably planes of your own or a load of battleships) Once his planes runs out of steam on your ground forces, there isn't much to be afraid off.

 

[Syailendra]

Don't overlooked the other VC, how many votes do you have in your side, considering you've beat many civ, you should have freed many CSs, thus having good votes. How many GSs you have stand by right now, and you'll need at last one GE for this scenario.

 

[chazzycat]

playing a game with Napoleon

I opened with a Tradition 4 City opener

assuming you have the room/luxuries for it, try a more REX-like approach with liberty next time. France excels at fast expansion because they can keep getting policies pretty quickly. My best game so far in GnK was as France using this approach on immortal.

 

[InDubioProReo]

What is your science pr turn, and social policies? Sounds to me you screwed up a bit there somewhere.

And don't worry about the tech gap, you can close that easily end-game if you prepare right. (rationalism finisher, great scientists and oxford + any RA's you might have signed)

As for army, the only thing you need to be afraid of is air, so your initial push to a city need to be quick. (preferably planes of your own or a load of battleships) Once his planes runs out of steam on your ground forces, there isn't much to be afraid off.

My science pr turn is 475 right now. I finished Tradition first and now about to finish Honor. My culture generation sucks though (it was great up until midgame, where France's UA shines)

 

[LostInTime]

My science pr turn is 475 right now. I finished Tradition first and now about to finish Honor. My culture generation sucks though (it was great up until midgame, where France's UA shines)

475 without Rationalism? Thats okay actually and you should be fine. But why are you finishing honor? Do the right side and skip the left side. (you might run into happiness issues when invading now) The extra gold is nice but isn't necessary, same with army production and more xp.

Since you have invested that heavily in honor, I would keep the domination plan going. Beeline battleships and flight if you don't have it already, and get a decent amount of infantry going to tank damage. You should be fine then when invading him.

 

[InDubioProReo]

475 without Rationalism? Thats okay actually and you should be fine. But why are you finishing honor? Do the right side and skip the left side. (you might run into happiness issues when invading now) The extra gold is nice but isn't necessary, same with army production and more xp.

Since you have invested that heavily in honor, I would keep the domination plan going. Beeline battleships and flight if you don't have it already, and get a decent amount of infantry going to tank damage. You should be fine then when invading him.

Good to know my science is allright for not taking Rationalism. I have already started pumping battleships and carriers, however Harun has completed 2x SS Boosters so I doubt I'll have enough time to both build an army and successfully invade his capital.

 

[Avatan]

Good to know my science is allright for not taking Rationalism. I have already started pumping battleships and carriers, however Harun has completed 2x SS Boosters so I doubt I'll have enough time to both build an army and successfully invade his capital.

The boosters (and cabin/motor) are easily teched, but you got some time before the stasis chamber is built. Sometimes you can have more than 30 turns between where you're at and the end game. Should suffice to bust his capital right? Or at Least give him a good scare!

 

[InDubioProReo]

The boosters (and cabin/motor) are easily teched, but you got some time before the stasis chamber is built. Sometimes you can have more than 30 turns between where you're at and the end game. Should suffice to bust his capital right? Or at Least give him a good scare!

Allright, I'll try!

 

[Avatan]

Allright, I'll try!

That's the spirit! And let us know how it turns out!

 

[InDubioProReo]

Allright I started the war right now. My whole army consists of:

5 Battleships
2 Submarines
6 Infantries
2 Paratroopers
5 Rocket Artilleries
4 Carriers with 8 Bombers and 4 Fighters
2 Mobile Sam

Meanwhile though, Harun has nukes! This is going to be either joyous victory or trembling defeat.

 

[smallfish]

Allright I started the war right now. My whole army consists of:

5 Battleships
2 Submarines
6 Infantries
2 Paratroopers
5 Rocket Artilleries
4 Carriers with 8 Bombers and 4 Fighters
2 Mobile Sam

Meanwhile though, Harun has nukes! This is going to be either joyous victory or trembling defeat.

That's enough stuff. How many cities are in the way of his capital?

 

[InDubioProReo]

That's enough stuff. How many cities are in the way of his capital?

I have got his capital right now, and on the way intercepted and destroyed a stasis chamber. Can he still go for scientific victory even though I have captured his capital though? Because I don't even know where his current capital is after he lost the original one...

Also,Egypt was going for a Cultural Victory before I conquered him, however with Arabia seemingly closing in scientific victory I left him a 18pop city plus 2 little 5-6 pop cities, signed peace agreement and headed off to get ready for the fight against Arabia. He is 4/5 in terms of policy trees. I am building a small force to get rid of his cities on my main continent, however, do you think he has a chance at cultural victory right now? The cities I captured had all the great artist improvements etc. and he now only has one.

Saw my first Giant Death Robot today too.. Arabia attacked me with one..Annoying thing died after hitting him with 4 battleships and 3 rocket artilleries.

I keep conquering the Harun's high pop cities to make sure he cannot complete the final two pieces for the scientific victory. There is only one player holding onto his capital right now and that is Askia, bordering Harun. I tried to make him DoW Harun before I attacked, but he was guarded due to my conquests at my own continent. He finally DoWed after I conquered 5 of Harun's cities, honestly Harun won't stand a chance even with GDR's against being pincered by two warmongers.

Eventually, when I am done with Harun, I'll go straight to Askia's capital and destroy him. According to my spies I completely eclipsed him in research, so it won't be hard I guess!

Does anyone know what happens when I capture all cities of a Civ but leave the puppeted ones standing?

 

[loki75]

That's one interesting story! Great game.