Who should I attack?

[MikeEdward]

I got some great advice last time I posted here, and I've applied a lot of it. I think I'm playing much better this time.

I'm playing as China on Prince. Based on my current position, would you guys suggest that I attack Egypt or India?

Any other suggestions on things I'm doing wrong, or could be doing better, would be appreciated.

 

[NKVD]

I didnt download the save but I would attack those who are the most tech behind...

 

[nullspace]

Attack Egypt. Asoka has a stronger military and a defense pact with Mansa Musa, who is your best friend. But first, buy chemistry from Mansa Musa, you'll need grenadiers to beat riflemen. Upgrade the macemen and swordsmen that have two or three city raider promotions because you'll need a better army than what you have now in order to win.

 

[Sisiutil]

Well, you're kind of in a rough spot.

You have MT and you're building Cavalry, but otherwise you're far behind all the other civs, who have Chemistry and Grenadiers on you. Some may be close to Rifling to counter your Cavalry soon; they'll certainly bee-line to it if you attack, and there goes your (very slim) advantage.

Asoka and Mansa have a defensive pact, likewise Mansa and Cyrus. So I can tell you who NOT to attack, and of your indicated targets, that's India, since you'll be facing counter-attacks from India to your north AND Mali from your west. So if you have to attack anyone, I guess it would be Egypt.

However, everyone else is either "Friendly" or "Pleased" with Hatty. So even if she has no defensive pacts, you're still going to earn some diplomatic demerits across the board for "You declared war on our friend!", making you the add man out on your lovey-dovey continent. Don't be surprised if she manages to get one of her friends to join in the fun and attack you, especially since your power rating is so far below everyone's except Mansa's. Asoka in particular would probably be right on your case the moment you shift your forces from north to east.

Frankly, I wouldn't be thinking about attacking anyone at this point. You have 12 cities, which is a decent-sized civ, and could do one of two things: either (a) gear up your research and tech-trade to catch up (hint: Steel is a tech the AI values highly in a trade but neglects to research) or (b) give up warmongering and pursue another victory. You may be too far behind for space race and you'd need to do some very fancy footwork to pull off a cultural win, so diplomatic may be your best bet.

From the "hindsight is always 20-20" department: it looks to me like you should have asked this question long before now. Were you the one who wiped out Genghis? If so, good for you, but I would have taken down at least two more civs by now. For heaven's sake, you had Cho-Ko-Nu's, man! What did you do with them?!?

 

[MikeEdward]

Thank you for the good advice - I decided to attack Egypt shortly after I posted, and was able to significantly reduce their presence on this continent. (I am posting the game about 90 turns after the first post). I razed 4 major cities, and was able to build 2 new ones of my own. As part of the peace deal, Egypt gave me Tianjin back, which I had lost early in the war, and also 1800 gold, which I am using to subsidize my research.

(Just a correction to this - technically, I didn't attach Egypt, they attacked me! This made my decision easy)

Now, I did lose a city in a cultural flip to India (Kaifang, on my northern boarder), which I am now looking at as my next target. But I'm concerned about Mansa.

This is the best that I have played in a while. I think China is the country that I should play, it fits my style.

Sisiutil, the Cho-Ko-Nu's didn't seem that great to me. Am I missing something regarding them?

Suggestions?

 

[Sisiutil]

Sisiutil, the Cho-Ko-Nu's didn't seem that great to me. Am I missing something regarding them?

First off, well done, especially since Egypt attacked you from a position of seemingly-overwhelming strength.

As for the CKNs: they're not as awesome as all-powerful triumvirate of Praets, Redcoats, and Cossacks, granted. But they're still a very good unit. In my experience, they excel at two things:

• Defense. Until the enemy has Knights, their only contemporary counter, CKNs are immoveable objects. They laugh in the face of Macemen, the favoured attacking unit of their time, thanks to their +50% anti-melee unit bonus. If you can get CKNs in advance of the AI getting Guilds and/or deny your opponent horses, CKNs can effectively defend cities, stacks, and resources from all incursion. Combat, City Garrison, Guerilla, and Woodsman promotions, as needed, are best here.
• Mop up. Attack the enemy city or stack with the usual suicide Catapults first for the collateral damage. Then mop up with CKNs, who will do even more collateral damage and will likely win versus the weakened units, especially Melee. Drill promotions for these units add more first strikes to the CKNs 2 existing free ones. They'll do some damage to the defending unit before it gets a chance to counter-attack, and make their chances of success even greater.

 

[MikeEdward]

Sisiutil -

Thank you. Unfortunately, this story has a sad ending: I decided to attack Asoka, and, when his defensive-pack alley Mansa attacked my flank, I was fought to a standstill. At that point, it was clear I would not win.

I will definately make use of those CKN's. Thanks for the advice on those.

This was a very useful thread for me. I now know that China fits my style, to keep a closer eye on the alliance situation, and how to use CKNs.

 

[Sisiutil]

Sisiutil -

Thank you. Unfortunately, this story has a sad ending: I decided to attack Asoka, and, when his defensive-pack alley Mansa attacked my flank, I was fought to a standstill. At that point, it was clear I would not win.

I will definately make use of those CKN's. Thanks for the advice on those.

This was a very useful thread for me. I now know that China fits my style, to keep a closer eye on the alliance situation, and how to use CKNs.

Post here again about your next game. The Chinese aren't my favourites in this game, but lots of players love 'em and swear by the CKNs. I find that one of the chief assets of a particular civ is its UU, so you definitely want to find ways to make the most of them.