What to do with my GL?

[klambert]

I'm playing Greece on Monarch, and have managed to keep everybody happy with me & fighting each other. I recently wiped out the Zulus (they were in my way for future expansion & an easy target) and got a great leader for the first time. Since I finished the Zulus in that same attack, I did not have the option of forming an army & attacking so I could build the Heroic Epic & Military Academy.

In a few turns, I'll have Fission & ALWAYS build the UN (to control my destiny). No other civ is close yet.

Do I use my GL to rush the UN, or hold on to him until my next war (probably 10-20 turns away right now)?

 

[WildFire]

I would rush the UN because if the other civs like you, then you shouldn't have a problem winning diplomatically. Now, if you want to stretch the game out longer build a really good army...

 

[Grey Knight]

It depends on your position and philosphy.

1) You're #1 by a comfortable margin, and are assured of a win. You can start a pre-build for the UN, and would assure yourself of building it. Your two options look like this:

1a) Use the GL to build the UN and get the game over with a few turns faster.
1b) Make an army, so you can do all the associated things: Build Heroic Epic, Military Acadamy, and Pentagon, thus creating the perfect civilization.

2) Your are either competitive or are actually behind in power. You need the UN to win. In this case, you're only option is really to build the UN with the GL.

It's too late in the game for a Heroic Epic to really get you anything, and it doesn't sound like you are in an all-out war where a single army would turn the balance.

Cheers,
Shawn

 

[klambert]

Right now, I'm behind France, Rome and China, but I'll soon overtake Rome, even without invading them.

I have a decent chance of a diplomatic win with the UN -- especially if I start sucking up now. However, its more fun to crush the opposition.

Since Rome is at war right now, and I have tanks to their infantry, I'll be able to jump all over them in about 5 more turns. I figure I can take at least 1/2 of their cities the first turn (including all 4 of their wonders). I should be able to mop them up in about 3 turns (they're spread with some bad terrain). Then I can wipe out Germany, invade China (small continent to itself), and the rest should fall like dominoes.

Of course, if I do this, I'll have to make SURE I have the UN, because I'll never win once I attack Rome & Germany.

Hmmmmm -- do you get more points for a domination victory that takes longer, or a diplomatic victory that happens more quickly?

 

[WildFire]

It makes sense for a diplomatic victory because the sooner you get it the quicker you'll be able to win so you will probably get more points from diplomatic. But on the other hand, it is more fun to win by domination because you can show off your military might

 

[billindenver]

Have you attacked fortified infantry in a metropolis with tanks before in Civ III? If not, you had either better have a buttload of artillery or a trainload of tanks. Veteran tanks against veteran infantry fortified on a grassland metropolis will lose 70% of the time, and each loss increases the chance the infantry will be promoted. I would plan on 25 tanks per city.

As far as whether to rush the UN or build an Army, if the 3 countries ahead of you are also ahead of you in tech, you will have a tough time winning by war before they build a spaceship. If you can get 2 civs gracious to you (signing MPPs and ROPs almost always does that), I'd rush the UN. If the vote fails, well, you've always got the tanks to fall back on. My guess is you would score better with an early UN victory than a domination victory 200 years later.