Cripple the Strong or Crush the Weak?

[Rufus T. Firefly]

An SP/Diety/World Conquest question:

It seems to me that there generally comes a time in a world conquest game when you're done with taking a city here and a city there; you're ready to unleash the war machine and make the world you own. By that time, you probably have a couple of opponents in decent shape (generally democracies on distant land masses, I find) and many more opponents limping along on life support, existing only by your good graces. So, as the troop ships fill with howies, or cavalry (my preference), or knights (I'll never be that good) or whatever, the question is, what do you do first? Mop up the straggling civs, or strike at the heart of your most formidable foe? Just wondering.

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Dig trenches, with our men being killed off like flies? There isn't time to dig trenches. We'll have to buy them ready made. Here, run out and get some trenches.
-- Rufus T. Firefly, the original rush-builder

[Gatekeeper]

Rufus:

I generally take out the strongest AI first. My invasion force strength depends on the size of the empire in question — usually six to 18 transports loaded to the gills and escorted by AEGIS cruisers, battleships and missile-laden subs. Once in a blue moon I'll bring a loaded carrier or two along for the ride as well.

Since I usually play on a large Earth map, it's not uncommon for me to have gigantic enemy empires on continents opposite of where I'm at. When I play in the Americas, I generally wipe out my neighbors early on and, towards the end of the game, find myself going up against a mammoth AI empire that sprawls across all of Eurasia and most of Africa (with colonies in Australia and the southern tip of South America). It's usually the Russians, Japanese, Mongols, Amazons, Zulus or Vikings. So I take them out first (along with the occasional b*tch civ that's s*ck*ng the biggest AI's private part in order to survive. ).

CYBERAmazon

[TCO]

Who's ever closest.

[Scouse Gits]

Don't let the AI ever get out of the Stone Age! from the outset ensure that even the most distant AI is kept on a war footing to protect itself against your (largely non-existent) aggression - when it comes time to take them out (vet Crucs + Ironclads for me) unleash the war machine and watch them fold ...

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Scouse Git[1] -- git1@scousers.net

"Staring at your screen in horror and disbelief when you open a saved game is one of the fun things of a succession game " - Hueij
"The Great Library has been built!"
"A short cut has to be challenging,
were it not so it would be 'the way'." - Paul Craven

[Scouse Gits]

Much depends on the size of map, but as you mention "democracies on distant landmasses" I assume you are at least on a Medium Map.

Use the biggest weapon in the game - Trade.

Build a strong navy for trading and for military puposes. An early MPE is essential for maps and intelligence.

Split your resources into caravans and offensive units. Trade with the perfectionist civs in demo/republic whilst conquering the others. Then with your vast empire and scientific lead the others will soon crumble.

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SG(2)

[kcbob]

Good question with folks on both sides. For example, I take the opposite approach from CYBERAmazon. I take out the weakest first. When they're done, I have that much more to throw at the next weakest. Sort of like paying off credit cards. Start with the smallest and work your way up to the maxed out cards.

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Frodo lives!

[DaveV]

My choice is based on which AI has something I need. If I've missed out on some of my favorite wonders, or one of the AIs has some good techs, this is my chance to go out and acquire them (e.g. taking STWA early in your conquest binge will greatly aid your later conquering). If the AIs are all worthless and weak, I'll generally start with the closest.

[Marquis de Sodaq]

DaveV is right on - take out Sun Tzu and any happy wonder you may have missed, then charge! If the conquest will take many turns, it's good to take out the 2nd or 3rd strongest. The wimps will still be wimps 20 turns from now, and you may discover tech for superior units with which to assault the main foe. That said, I'm far from expert at deity world conquest...

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"There is no fortress impregnable to an ass laden with gold."
-Philip of Macedon

[Blaupanzer]

In general, I'm with GP -- take out the closest first. Going after capitols is almost always useful, makes the cities/units cheaper and undermines production/money output. Plus, usually nets a few wonders. If science still matters (i.e., conquest of all but one land-locked city, then AC), then taking the closest first gives the advantage of preventing the loss of techs to theft and counterattacks.

"Counterattacks," you say, "the AI is not that smart." Well in my current game, the AI hit one of my cities with 22 attacks (ships and ground units all -- only I have flight and advanced flight). Crushing four defenders and two response units. All this from the sea from 20 or more squares away right through a corridor of my shipping without being seen. Most impressive, especially the two subs taking out the BB in the area and 7 destroyers (count 'em) taking down my cruiser. All this on a surprise attack by a formerly peaceful (and distant) civ. This was in response to my attacking a city their "ally" had built on my continent four turns before. They'll pay, but that fleet looked very MPish in structure. A whole transport was filled with infantry who sailed in to end the turn. I've not seen the AI do that before either, although it is a common tactic for me.

[drake]

Absorb neighbors.........Don't seperate the empire if at all possible. So I guess who I go after first is not determined by strength, but by proximity.......I'd get to them all at some point.

[Like2frolick]

Kill the weak, first.

If you kill off a weak civilization..preferably one which gives you an advantage over another, stronger civ.

Ex: I have 6 civs left. Bloodlust. The Russians are the toughest, with 16 cities. The greets are to the east and south of Russia, they have four cities and negligible tech.

Take the greeks.

First...you add four cities.
Just as importantly, you add the ability to springboard. You have a much shorter communications and reinforcement line, an entrenched stronghold.

If you have to spend 10 turns travelling to get there then a major war becomes a serious problem.

A Historical Example:
The revolutionary war. In the revolutionary war, the Colonies were VASTLY outgunned. The British had a bigger army, a Navy, Money, Support...

But they lost, because it took four months to send soldiers from England to the US, and it took days for the US to develop regiments.

(Well....that and the revolution kicked off a Major war, and England was busy fighting everyone else...)

So....Kill the weakest civs first. Combine there power with yours.

Preferably, you now have a good base, from which to spring another massive offensive on your enemies.

[Everyman]

quote: What do you do first? Mop up the straggling civs, or strike at the heart of your most formidable foe?

The latter. Keep the straggling civs around for tribute and trade and eliminate them at your convenience.

As for the formidable foe, if he's on a fairly distant continent, I would immediately plan on means to establish a beachhead city that would be a transport distance (7 moves with Magellan) away from a supply of troops. I prefer to take the selected city whole through bribery, ensuring a quick start on establishing a toehold on the opponent's continent. Once you have the beachhead city, just pour in the spies and vet troops and take the cities one by one.

[airdrik]

I generally wait till late in the game to start conquest, then it is whoever hates me and is close enough for me to just smash them, then to whoever else hates me until only my allies are left, then I cancel alliances (if the haven't already been canceled) and attack.

[VetLegion]

agree with DaveV, if someone has something particullary nice get I him first.
But usually I go at the most advanced guy to stop him discovering pikemen or musketeers, depending on the size of the map.

[War4ever]

Again DaveV gives sound advice..... as with others , proximity certainly plays a role in whom my next target is ......as does any wonder or chunk of land i need

I tend to do things the hard way though and to be perfectly frank.... nothing gives this Mongol warmonger more pleasure than crushing a pathetically weak Babylonian state. Those large growth and science cities do more for me than a bunch of backward (for now) russian cities.

I like to play with fire.... i am going to win anyways so who really cares if i make it more difficult for myself.

Trade with the BABS or EGYPTS..... let them grow huge with Republic..... they defend like crap and just when they get big for their britches.... slamm some calvarly down their throats....

I will admit though.... if i find the zulus or carts...... and they are getting huge (through the french in here too) i will launch as early as possible on them....


Oh and i don't usually have any peace treaties ever..... if i can help it when i conquer the world...... i war with everyone usually from first contact I use MGE and lets be honest..... on a large map just build Marcos for the embassies and the maps.... the rest is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle