When do I start an early war?

[Pelaka]

I'm in a game where on my continent its just me and one AI. I would like to finish him off before he techs/upgrades, however, he has each of his cities defended by 2 warriors (ending str around 4 factoring in terrain/city/promotion bonuses).

I've tried an early rush with warriors... and needed to burn 6-8 warriors to take his city (only to figure out he founded a 2nd one). Should I really expect to sacrifice that many warriors? Or should I tech up a bit first? If so, when will I finally be strong enough to take his cities with reasonable losses?

Pel

 

[blitzkrieg1980]

That early in the game? I would just sacrafice the warriors to dominate the continent as early as possible. That's just me tho. If you wait to tech up, you may end up being involved in a longer war but then again, you may end up with some pre-improved cities! I guess its a matter of choice. Plus what difficulty are you on? The longer you wait on higher tiers of difficulty, the longer it will be till you defeat him (he'll have many more units).

 

[Sisiutil]

I usually like to wait until I have copper and a few Axemen. The AI likes to defend with Archers, and Axemen defeat those pretty easily. By then, the AI may have done you the favour of founding more than one worthwhile city, and may have even built a wonder and/or founded a religion that is now yours for the taking.

 

[Wodan]

The answer to this question really totally depends on skill level you're playing on....

Wodan

 

[armstrong]

Going to war with warriors is generally not going to work out too well (and is impossible once you hit higher difficulty levels if you're not Incan.) As Sisutil said, early axemen are really good, as are the UU Chariots: Persian Immortal and Egyptian War Chariot.

Normally, I like to go to war with 7 axemen or so (more if I plan to go after a capital.) Taking one or two cities in an early war is often a good goal, as it will really cripple your opponent (letting you easily conquer that civilization later on) and give you better gains than peacefully settling.

Generally, you can expect to lose one axeman per archer in the city (less if it's got no cultural defenses or your aggressive, or have some promoted units.)

 

[Sisiutil]

Going to war with warriors is generally not going to work out too well (and is impossible once you hit higher difficulty levels if you're not Incan.) As Sisutil said, early axemen are really good, as are the UU Chariots: Persian Immortal and Egyptian War Chariot.

Normally, I like to go to war with 7 axemen or so (more if I plan to go after a capital.) Taking one or two cities in an early war is often a good goal, as it will really cripple your opponent (letting you easily conquer that civilization later on) and give you better gains than peacefully settling.

Generally, you can expect to lose one axeman per archer in the city (less if it's got no cultural defenses or your aggressive, or have some promoted units.)

You can increase your chances of success (and the Axes' survival rates) by using barracks and "training battles" against barbs--against which you generally have a better chance--to give the units promotions. I give most of my attacking Axes City Raider, but at least one should have Combat I and Shock to defend the stack itself against attack.

 

[bassist2119]

I did the Sisiutil/armstrong axeman approach in Vanilla, but since warlords have been cranking out a spear for every 3-4 axes. Two chariots end an early axe rush pretty quickly.

 

[Sisiutil]

I did the Sisiutil/armstrong axeman approach in Vanilla, but since warlords have been cranking out a spear for every 3-4 axes. Two chariots end an early axe rush pretty quickly.

I add a Spear to most of my stacks as well, with Combat I/Medic I. The AI likes to get Horse Archers ASAP, which can also ruin an Axeman's day in vanilla Civ IV.

What I'm looking forward to in Warlords is whomping barb Axes with those new Chariots-on-steroids.

 

[Gumbolt]

The new chariots certainly give a few headaches. Mostly solved by a spearmen in stack although single units are much more at risk outside cities as chariots can reach them easily. Although a chariot in a city is easy prey if it dont attack.

Mostly agree with rest copper then attack. Normally build 3-4 cities pending on difficuly (normally Monarch) and closeness of AI. Perhaps 1500BC-1000bc for attack. Chopping for axemen gives a good head start even at 20 shields per chop on standard game.

I find its better to get rid of a civ when you start wars as they soon refuse to trade techs after 2 or so wars.

There is an argument to delay wars so to reduce fog that barbs appear in. Wipe out a civ that was 2 cities and you open up a new area of fog that perhaps the ai might of filled with cities and built wonders in. Also it allows other ai to expand larger.

oh well that my 2 cent.

 

[drkodos]

There is an argument to delay wars so to reduce fog that barbs appear in. Wipe out a civ that was 2 cities and you open up a new area of fog that perhaps the ai might of filled with cities and built wonders in. Also it allows other ai to expand larger.

oh well that my 2 cent.

I sometimes like to keep a few barb cities around to keep the troops well practiced. Also, it becomes an easy city to "liberate" and join my empire once they hit pop 3 or 4. They are much easier to sack than rival nation cities and while they are up and runnikng, the Barb cities prevent rival civs from settling an area.

Also, if I am on a continent with just one other Civ in a Continents game, sometimes I keep them around to trade some techs before I take them out. As stated above, the real answers are almost always dependent on a great many other factors other than simply just what we want to do.