ICS Strategy complete

[SlowwHand]

You strike a good point about ICS.
At some point, and again this is my opinion, you have to develop a "feel" that somebody is reaching out as far as your are; that it's time to start defensing the cities.

[Smash]

While I despise ICS as a play style for me I was very impressed what a master ICSer like DaveV can do in 10-15 turns.Just awesome and very scary to take over for.That succession game he slapped down something like 70+ cities in 15 turns.1x1 settings....Thats insane!

Yes ICS is vulnerable early due to the closeness but later that becomes an advantage as units can be pulled from neighboring cities very quickly.Sheer numbers is the plan and it works.So do other strategies though...good idea to be familiar with ICS.One thing that is very good is it can be done successfully on the worst of land.Many MPers have ICS as a back-up plan in case of dirt and rocks.

[War4ever]

Originally posted by Smash
One thing that is very good is it can be done successfully on the worst of land.Many MPers have ICS as a back-up plan in case of dirt and rocks.

there is nothing wrong with ics...... but on a small map against agressive hut chasers you run the risk like fast growth does.... being overwhelmed...... but this is true for any strategy that is in it's infancy.

Good humans left unchecked (sound familliar like say THE AI) can pose a problem far greater than the artificial idiot could ever pose.

However that all said..... in MP its easier to race through the tech tree via fast growth thus taking the important wonders away from the classic ics'er.... this is all based on equal land of course.

ICS easily overwhelms the ai, not quite as easy to do against the skilled


still, i enjoy a quasi ics style blended with fast growth... i find this method quite successful and enjoyable

[Eyes_Of_Night]

DaveV a good player? lol Don't make me laugh!!! I'll end this little argument right now. PLay me 1 on 1 and lets see how long you can last. You try your little ICS and I will rip through you with just a few horsemen. At the same time I will have twice as many cities as you within the first few turns. I guarantee you won't be able to last past 2000BC. There has never been anyone out there to challenge my throne and there never will be.

[War4ever]

The champ lashes out one more time at the end of round two and clips the challenger and then taunts him as if to say "look pal take that weak sh!t out of here".

Sp far we have the fight even after two rounds, looks like we have a rumble on our hands

Las Vegas odds have EyesofNight as the 7/2 that eyes will defend his crown. Place your bets folks were in for a doozy

[Smash]

Poor EoN seems to have deteriorated to the peanut gallery.Empty insults don't constitute more than a weak probing jab.

[reds4ever]

is this where challengers squabble on for 30 or so posts about dificulty, map size, 2x2x or 1x1x or 2x1x and then resolve not to play each other?

playing an ICSer on a small map on king 2x2x is one thing, but on a large, diety 1x1x your in trouble

[War4ever]

Originally posted by Smash
Poor EoN seems to have deteriorated to the peanut gallery.Empty insults don't constitute more than a weak probing jab.

obviously we have two judges here Now i see why boxing has its problems

[War4ever]

Originally posted by reds4ever


playing an ICSer on a small map on king 2x2x is one thing, but on a large, diety 1x1x your in trouble

While i agree with you to some degree..... the only way an ics'er would win on a large map is if he is able to take the warmongering wonders.

Fast growth rips apart the tech tree faster than ics. Now if both make it to their respecitve sizes at the same time, you still have to launch that war machine and this takes time....

if close together, i would take the ics'er based on sheer numbers , but with distance and equal opportunity getting to their respecitive goals, i am willing to bet that the ics'r wont' build leos, suns, SOL, and HG before the perfectionist builds the SSC mikes and one of the warlike wonders.

i think fast growth beats ics to the important wonders thus hampering ics chances for a blitzkrieg unless they are close together.

but i have seen both strats win numerous times so it becomes a game of land and luck...

i will still take fast growth over ics though

[reds4ever]

i'll bow to your superior knowlegde War, seing as you kicked my arse BIG time about 4 weeks ago. BTW, nice one for having a chat about strats and not gloating afterward

[War4ever]

The key reason to be humble is to not fall victum to the "i can kick your ass any game syndrome"

No one ever doubts your ability to run away with a game that gives you tremendous hut luck, favorable land, and a few early barb kings.

Do all that in reverse and still take the lead...... or at least keep it competitive, and then your a good player.

I am always looking to talk strat, whether its with newbies or experienced players. The best thing in civ is to have many different playing partners preferably with varying playing styles.

Even playing the best players isn't enough. People become stagnant with their styles and often become victum of "same style" of play every week.

While this may help against the players you play, when you meet unchartered waters, it can hold you back just as easily as helping you win..... i think as civvers we forget that.

As for your playing style reds4ever, i would suggest aggressive expansion and take it from there.

Real estate can make up for crappy initial land, but you need to find some decent land as quick as possible in order not to fall to far behind.

And duels are the most lopsided games when they get out of reach....often there is no chance of coming back which isn't true nearly as often in MP games

[reds4ever]

i know my playing faults War, and you're not far off the mark, i've played since Civ1 and 1994 on the Amiga but until the last year internet connection costs,(i'm in the UK) kept me from playing MP, as a result i tend to be 'happy' with a certain ammount of space then defend and develope, it' works against the AI and some players but i tend to come unstuck against really good players as you discovered

all of a sudden the 9 cities i've got defended with Phx, building happy wonders are getting attacked by Vet Crusaders, like i say, i k now i'm too insular but i can't help it

[War4ever]

that strat is ok if your building alot of trade routes......if not your in trouble against aggressive empires... but thats the beauty of civ...so many different ways to win

[SlowwHand]

True. Every game is different, and thats before you throw the 1x 2x into the equation.

[DaveV]

Originally posted by EyesOfNight
DaveV ... PLay me 1 on 1 and lets see how long you can last. You try your little ICS and I will rip through you with just a few horsemen.

This lesson should be administered at the settings for which the strategy was designed: 1x1x, raging hordes, deity, standard riot factor. And an "equal start" map supplied by a 3rd party, unknown to both players. No huts.

I can play from 12:00-13:00 Monday through Friday.