Sid games C3C: how to improve our skills

[vmxa1]

You are correct in that cities can flip with lots of units in them.
The flip calculator implies that you can prevent a flip with sheer numbers.

That may be a very large and often impractical number, though.

[Drachen]

I do take a lot of time and care to set up my invasions at Sid but it may not be as long as it looks. My preparations took from 1806 till 1918. This was from a standing start since my 1806 victory was via diplomacy and so I had done no prep work to prepare for a massive invasion of France. I was busy rebuilding the infrastructure of the large Aztec Island I had acquired to the NW of my home island and that was where most of my transports were located and even then there were not enough of them or their escorts. So, my military preparations included significant land, naval, and air new builds and upgrades. I chose to wait to build my beachhead until after my recent alliances against Joan were fully honored and Joan was ready to make peace. Only then did I found Hammer and begin to build it up for the coming conflict. I could have started operations much earlier of course and that is what I do at lower levels but for Sid I was unsure of what to expect other than massive assaults with modern units. With this in mind I chose to research the MA/Stealth branch of the tech tree and I felt that I would be rewarded later for delaying military units in favor of investments in infrastructure such as commercial docks and research labs. I wanted my home completely improved and free to build units at war’s outset and my Aztec island not far behind.

I didn’t use the flip calculator until a few minutes ago and it indicates that 40 to 50 units would be adequate in preventing a flip. I was landing units the turn Hammer was founded and built it up to hundreds using perhaps a couple of dozen transports supported by a significant armed flotilla. I’ve never had a city flip with those sorts of unit levels and if you guys have I’d be interested in the details. It can’t be too common though unless I have been very lucky for a long time.

[vmxa1]

I do not have many flips either. Mostly because of large numbers of troops and connections are often cut by the AI.

[Drachen]

Originally posted by vmxa1
I do not have many flips either. Mostly because of large numbers of troops and connections are often cut by the AI.

I don't get the "connections" connection.

Have you ever had a city with 100+ units flip?

[Drachen]

Edit: Deleted double post.

[vmxa1]

Originally posted by Drachen
Ever had a city with 100+ units flip?

Never.

The connections meant the trade net. Roads. The AI will often come in and cut them, if I found a city or capture one, if I don't cut them.

I guess it thinks it is hurting me by denial of improvements and slowing me from reaching them. Of course I am not concerned about feeding the city at that point.


It does hurt me a bit later, when I want to go after them, but not much.

[Drachen]

Comrades in arms;

We have reached a level in the march of civilization where there may be hundreds or even thousands of enemy soldiers attempting to resist our righteous crusade to liberate the lands which belong to our proud nation by history’s decree. When the war first began the enemy was bold and launched powerful attacks upon our well defended beachhead city and they paid dearly for the folly…so much so that they have lost heart, withdrawn, and now they dare us to attack them in their foul citadels. Attacks such as these can be very costly and in our recent attempts to liberate their closest stronghold it was found that even a massive barrage was unable to significantly hurt the great mass of their defenders. It is because of this that I come before you now with a handful of brave workers who have volunteered to help our nation in this time of need. This very evening we will send them out to the ravaged lands around our beachhead, pillaged to bare earth by the foul feet of our enemies, and under the cover of our brave armies they will build…roads.

Even the humblest improvements such as the lowly road drives our enemies to a blind murderous rage and after our brave workers and their covering armies have withdrawn the evil hoards will leave their strongholds and pour like a mighty wave onto the area with the hapless road. But our road will be placed carefully so that the enemy will have to stop for rest before pillaging our fair country and that is when we will strike! They are drunken revelers to a man and will not fortify their position and when our guns open up upon them…they will be ripe. After the barrage our armies will attack and destroy many of the enemy. Hopefully that will leave the mopping up of the damaged dregs to other units and out of these battles a few glorious leaders may emerge. It is almost sad…the opposition behaves as if they didn’t have a brain between them and will send their forces to destroy newly rebuilt roads again and again. I have seen with my own eyes that they will sacrifice the entire might of their nation in the attempt to pillage a few lowly roads. So let us give praise my comrades to the modest workers: these brave few who are the salvation of our glorious nation.

Comments of Comrade Drachen on the eve of Battle

[vmxa1]

Very nice.

[Drachen]

Originally posted by vmxa1

They cannot move the one type (ICBM?), so use a spy to see where they are located. If they are all in one or two cities, try to take them down.

The other form (tactical?) can be moved.

I was playing around with this and found that I couldn't take out nukes of any sort if they were in a city unless I captured the city. They are still standing after being bombed and nuked repeatedly. In a related note, the AI will trade the cities for peace after you bombard the cities to mere missile silos.

[vmxa1]

I forget how many nukes it takes to clear all improvements, I think 4 per city. Now that I remember, I do think you cannot take out the nukes with out spies or convential attacks.

I have not used them in some time and maybe only 3 times in all total. I built them in one sid game, but did not use them.

[Drachen]

I’ve got a cultural question. In my English game the Byzantines will reach the necessary 130,000 cultural points needed for victory in 69 turns. I can’t get enough culture or take enough of their territory to stop them in time and so I’m counting on the American culture level to prevent the loss. The only way I know to measure the level of American culture in relation to the Byzantine culture is to measure the width of the bars on the cultural advisors screen. Does anyone know a better way?

[vmxa1]

Nope, but they need to have that and be double the next civ. Unfortunetly it looks like they will manage that as well.

This is a ever present dange from a KAI and how I lost my first real shot at a win at Sid. No other civ was able to hold their culture in check.

Have you check on CFC for any utilites that may calc culture?

[Drachen]

Originally posted by vmxa1
Nope, but they need to have that and be double the next civ. Unfortunetly it looks like they will manage that as well.
Have you check on CFC for any utilites that may calc culture?

I haven’t checked at CFC. Currently it’s America at 4 centimeters and the Byzantines at 7 centimeters. The Byzantines are at about 80,000 and are picking up 725 per turn. Most of their turf has been in hand for some time and their rate isn’t accelerating by much. I’m still at war with America but I’m not taking away much turf from them because of the culture thing. It’s a bit frustrating as they are my natural target and to make matters worse they just formed a MPP with the Aztecs who are my only coal source so I don’t dare attack Lincoln on his turf. Trouble is I’m trying to take an iron source from the Americans and won’t be able to without losing my coal. As soon as I hit Theodora I lose the iron I’m getting from her and the only other easy source is Lincoln. I’ll probably have to trade Abe an arm and a leg to get some unless I can split him from the Aztecs. All in all I’m in resource hell and the cultural thing just adds to it. Don’t ya just love a challenge? I’ll keep you posted.

[Drachen]

I think I like Elizabeth...

[Drachen]

America was kind enough to keep me in the game with their culture.