suribure
Chieftain
I have problems with starting wars at the right time. Is it possible to get some general tips about when to start a war? How much do I need to be prepared, etc etc?
When to start a war?
- Thread starter suribure
- Start date
TheOverseer714
Overseer
Well, to begin a war on my terms, I first want to define the goal for that war. Is it to gain a resource or luxury? Is it for room to grow? Am I just ticked off at them and want to trash them? Am I eliminating them as a potential UN voter? Am I on a path to Conquest and they are the next logical victim? After figuring the motive out, then comes the means. Do I have the troops to meet the goals? How do I keep them from getting help? How large a counterattack will I face? Is the rest of my empire defended against opportunistic neighbors? How long can I maintain this war without damaging research or incurring severe WW? Do I have an exit strategy? Once these are answered, then you can decide.
My rule of thumb is that I never start wars before I get an archer trained. 
Seriously, though, what you need to prepare depends on what you've got, what terrain you've got, what difficulty level you're playing, etc. Fast movers that can retreat are great for crossing the plains to get to an enemy. A combined stack of artillery and swords is good for crossing the jungle (where they move just as fast as horses if there are no roads) and cracking a town on a hill.
If you've got a particular save or a screenshot that you want tips on, post it. That's the best way to get advice.
Seriously, though, what you need to prepare depends on what you've got, what terrain you've got, what difficulty level you're playing, etc. Fast movers that can retreat are great for crossing the plains to get to an enemy. A combined stack of artillery and swords is good for crossing the jungle (where they move just as fast as horses if there are no roads) and cracking a town on a hill.
If you've got a particular save or a screenshot that you want tips on, post it. That's the best way to get advice.
like overseer said, never start a war until you have a definitive goal in mind, AND a good way to achieve that goal. Also, on higher levels, don't always listen to your military advisor, he thinks like the AI and doesn't value that stack of artillery for what it is worth.
You can teach a lot to the united states...
suribure
Chieftain
Ignore this post, it was not detailed enough look one post below!
Sparthage
Fighting Tyranny
I haven't opened the save file yet, but do the greens have iron? Horses, I wouldn't worry about them having. If the greens do have iron, you have to take it quickly, or at least deprive them.
suribure
Chieftain
Well they might not be green for you.
Edit detailed information of the problem:
At the moment I have a few cities and I want to expand more. I want to take over the whole continent in the end. However, the problem is that the Ottomans are in my way. Their fourth city that they just build way out of the way of their capital is encroaching my expanding tendency and either that city needs to be removed or the whole Ottoman empire. The problem is that they have horses and I do not. The second problem is how should I start, from where should I enter etc.
View attachment 247840
Also Any other advice is always welcome!
I noticed you are trying to get the republic, however, a little better management of your cities would get you it it 5 turns instead of 6. (no scientists, just working better tiles.) I will post a save to show you what I mean. One more thing, why are you building courthouses so close to you're capitol. They will just be a drain on your treasury. I have started building up Archers, and what victory are you trying to achieve? You should go after the Maya first, and ink a ROP with Osman. When it runs out, don't renew it, Just make sure you don't have any units on his territory when you declare war, or it trashes your rep. I say do this because Iron is a more valuable resource, you need horses AND iron to build knights, but only Iron to build Midevil Infantry and Pikemen. Other than that, you are doing Great. 
EDIT: As for where to start, It's wherever you want to. Just keep your units in a stack. Finally, I would build up about 10-15 archers and a settler (to plop down next to the iron to secure it) before you go after the Maya.
EDIT: As for where to start, It's wherever you want to. Just keep your units in a stack. Finally, I would build up about 10-15 archers and a settler (to plop down next to the iron to secure it) before you go after the Maya.
here is an even more updated save, Canterbury went into disorder, (i assumed that since i put the lux slider at 10% it would automatically make a citizen happy) 
but anyway, in just a few turns now you have 9 archers, you just need a few more and you could start your revolution AND launch your offensive.
EDIT: You have such a tech lead, I turned science down to 0%, a few turns won't hurt you. I signed a ROP with the Aztecs (they will never use it anyway) for the 6 gold they had so I could make it to republic without going down to 0 gold.
but anyway, in just a few turns now you have 9 archers, you just need a few more and you could start your revolution AND launch your offensive.EDIT: You have such a tech lead, I turned science down to 0%, a few turns won't hurt you. I signed a ROP with the Aztecs (they will never use it anyway) for the 6 gold they had so I could make it to republic without going down to 0 gold.
suribure
Chieftain
here is an even more updated save, Canterbury went into disorder, (i assumed that since i put the lux slider at 10% it would automatically make a citizen happy)
EDIT: You have such a tech lead, I turned science down to 0%, a few turns won't hurt you. I signed a ROP with the Aztecs (they will never use it anyway) for the 6 gold they had so I could make it to republic without going down to 0 gold.
thanks for setting things up. I understood what you did. So I finished the first war, but now I had the problem that I forgot the short-cut for revolution, so that is why I had to go out of the game. Thanks a lot. I got 2 razed cities, including one capitol and I got 1 city when negotiating peace, all his territory is worthless now.
I will be back later probably when I am at the Ottomans door.
