Who should I fight?

[ForTheEmpire]

You know, if your zerks are pinned in Madrid defending (definitely NOT what they should be used for), why not raze the city or gift it to someone else, and go back to being on attacking. You said you got 13 techs from the GL so it's safe to say you also got education out of it as well. If you didn't and somehow took the GL before Spain had education, you could actually gift back Madrid to anyone, and in the future, take it again! More free techs this way, but some playes feel this is exploitive.

 

[Zandrew]

You know, if your zerks are pinned in Madrid defending (definitely NOT what they should be used for), why not raze the city or gift it to someone else, and go back to being on attacking. You said you got 13 techs from the GL so it's safe to say you also got education out of it as well...

I was thinking those same things actually. Yes, I did get education from the GL, and yes it went obsolete the turn I got it, as expected. Education was the second free tech I got, then I got the "The GL is now obsolete" message, then I got 11 more techs that turn! At this point I could have just left Madrid, given it back to Spain, or maybe the Arabs, then gone off to fight the Dutch. My Berzerks did great the first few turns: I slaughtered 18 crusaders that moved into the plains outside the city, losing 2 zerks; then I loaded some in a Galleon and attacked nearby Seville. But I failed to take it, and soon Isabella was sending cavalry at me that could hit-and-run. Mistake #1: should have brought a few defenders with me, #2: should have started conscripting as soon as resistance in Madrid was over, #3: should have kept more galleys near Madrid instead of sending most of them back for reinforcements while trying to avoid Spain's frigates, #4: should have upgraded more galleys to galleons in Madrid to do amphibious attacks on nearby cities and give them better odds against the frigates.

 

[Zandrew]

Ok, I've got a screen shot from 830AD, when I was trying to decide whom to fight. I've uploaded it to this website, but can't seem to make it appear in my post. The image is: http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads8/830ad.jpg. Maybe someone else can make it appear, and/or tell me what step I'm missing.

 

[Ben E Gas]

Yes, I did 'hear'. But the benefits of the Great Library would only be minor at the stage of the game that all Civs had reached. It would be obselete very quickly and the Dutch would not have been slowed one iota.

Anyway, I am totally vindicated by Zandrew's report of what happened when he attacked the Dutch instead.

He made a smart move by gaining a whopping 13 techs THEN attacking the dutch. Had he not attacked spain first He would be behind in 13 techs. Now he gained 13 techs, some wonders AND attacked the dutch and gained luxuries.

Oh, wait, I just read that post again. Did he mean he started the turn over and attacked the dutch, or attacked the dutch after attacking spain?

 

[Ben E Gas]

Ok, I've got a screen shot from 830AD, when I was trying to decide whom to fight. I've uploaded it to this website, but can't seem to make it appear in my post. The image is: http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads8/830ad.jpg. Maybe someone else can make it appear, and/or tell me what step I'm missing.

Couldn't open the link.

 

[Bad Brett]

I'm surprised no one has said this, but the first thing I do before going into a war is to check if the opponent has resources. Sometimes even powerful civs may lack of iron, and you'll have to use that opportunity before gunpowder. Wiping out a civ without iron is piece of cake in the beginning of the game.