Which Period of Time Is Best For War?

[Bud2998]

I'm just wondering... what time in the game IS the best to go into war? Say you and the another human player had the same amount of technology, cities, etc. Ancient times? Times in the rennisance? Industrial revolution times? Or modern times? I tend to start going into war in the industrial revolution, but is there a better time for battle?

EDIT: Spelling

[This message has been edited by Bud2998 (edited September 04, 2001).]

 

[Duke of Marlbrough]

Anytime you have superiority is the best time to go to war.

Many people like to wait until the modern age and fight with those, some (like me) fight in the early and mid stages more often.

If you are fighting another human, just be sure you have more units or better type and that you use them right.

 

[Romper-Stomper]

Hi

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From my experience the ancient times are the best to go to war. Middle ages are second best. The Musketeer/Dragoon era is the worst for me. From my experience (experience, nothing mathmatical) the attack/defence ratio tips highly in favor of defence. During the modern ages you have an oppurtunity inbetween the time you discover flight and your enemies discover rocketry(for SAM launchers).

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[Andu Indorin]

Whenever a war can be cost-effective is the time to fight it. Technological superiority and productive superiority are the two most common factors in determining such cost-effectiveness; and this usually occurs late in the game. However, in the early game, the quick strike against an opposing AI civ is often necessary to give you room to expand; hence, cost effective over the long run, even though you have not yet achieved a significant superiority in technology and productivity.

The mid-game tends to be the least cost-effective time to wage war. The real watershed, I think, between "early" warfare and "late" warfare is the development of Explosives: a good corps of combat Engineers vastly improves the striking power of otherwise limited pre-Mechanized units.

 

[Series1999]

There are so many factors to answer this question... There are good posts in this thread so let me just summarize by saying:

There is no "right" time to wage war...
You need to evaluate several factors, whether you are playing humans or AI...

1) Who has the current advantage?
2) If it is you, will your lead GROW or shrink by waiting? If it isn't, how much chance do you have to narrow the gap or take the lead?
3) How much will every civ NOT involved in the war benefit from you and your potential enemy fighting and wasting resources?

All that said, I'd say look at a couple more factors:
4) PROXIMITY... the further away, the later you should wait to fight...
5) WONDERS... feel free to disagree but there are a few wonders that affect my timing...
LEO'S: If you have it, WAIT... your opponent has to waste resources keeping up with your automatic unit promotions... If your opp has it, try to take it, and if you can't, try to get Sun Tzu's and keep him focused on war
GREAT WALL: If you have it, ATTACK... Any cities you take will have undestroyable city walls... If your opponent has it, try to go science if you can and go straight to metallurgy to defeat the GW... Usually anyone with GW won't have city walls and will be caught with their "pants down" when metallurgy is discovered....
HAPPINESS WONDERS: The more you have, the longer you should wait, since you can develop faster than your opponent, especially if you can stick with a peaceable science government like republic or monarchy
STATUE OF LIBERTY: If you have it, early fundamentalism is a good way to wipe out your opponent... I usually use it to go demo "We Love" days, build up my city sizes, then go right to fundy and MASS PRODUCE.
LIGHTHOUSE/MAGELLAN'S: Although attacking is easier if you have them and youre on different continents, they can also be used as defense... if your enemy can't land on your continents due to your naval superiority, if you can keep boats in the water and happiness under control, you can out-SCIENCE your opponent without worry of war or tech theft.

What else am I leaving out/who agrees or disagrees?

 

[Kev]

I am sure a lot depends on the style you are looking to play as well. A warmonger would likely say just about any time is a good time for war. An isolationist would be fairly defensive after a continent is cleared perhaps.

As an agressive expansionist, I have some specific times where I'll go to war:

- Early in the game to ensure I can expand on my given continent. With horsemen, chariots or elephants - from cities or from huts - this is an important time and I try to strike as quickly as possible.
- Once I have monotheism, crusaders can be deadly (assuming you are there first) to non-gunpowder units.
- After the AI has gunpowder and (usually) construction for city walls, I'll wait for tactics (to upgrade to cavalry) and/or steam engine. Getting ironclads into the mix early can be a definite advantage and they are not affected by city walls. Most times they can take on musketeers and win. Dips/Spies can be nice to add to the mix as well. If you don't mind bribing and have the money, then they can be a very favorable option. Engineers are always a help for movement (as Andu mentioned).
- If the AI is able to get me into a late game situation, then howitzers are the obvious choice. Airlift them where needed, blow up cities, rest - repeat if necessary. I may build a battleship or two as well. If played well, many games may not even get into this area. If it does, get those AI dead before they start lobbing nukes indiscriminently.

[This message has been edited by Kev (edited September 05, 2001).]