War Academy : Sea Power.

[DAVOUT]

From Odessa to Susa, this expanse of sea is clearly dominated by Apolyton, and we must contemplate to control the access of Mare Nostrum (or whichever name we choose). Also, with 10 coastal cities we are the civ with the longest shore, and we have to think about the way to protect it, as well as Uber Isle.

Our only direct competitors are the Russians who control the western entry with Sebastopol and Odessa. We observe that Sebastopol has a harbour which enables the Russians to build veteran ships. But the Romans, just next door, are also to be considered as competitors since they have already three harbours in Pompeii, Byzantium and Pisae. No other civ has harbour yet.

This thread is opened to discuss whether a static territorial defence, with coastal fortresses, or a more dynamic strategy based on a strong navy, would fit our goals.

[Reddawg]

I think at this juncture any more than a small navy, "just in case", isn't called for. Eventually we will need to keep our navy #1 in the world. And I think that because, knowing that there are some very powerful civs across the seas... well, that speaks for itself. Naval warfare is going to factor in significantly later in this game.

[BigFurryMonster]

We should (in time) send a Galley to the point of our continent at which we would like to cross the oceans. Then, when our technology advances and Galleys are allowed on sea / ocean squares, we can immediately begin to search for the Lost Civs.

[Harovan]

We should immediately begin to build and send suicide galleys across the ocean, even without Astronomy and Navigation. It's about time. Being the first civ with intercontinental contact is usually worth 2 or 3 medieval techs and a big load of money.

[Aro]

Originally posted by DAVOUT
From Odessa to Susa, this expanse of sea is clearly dominated by Apolyton, and we must contemplate to control the access of Mare Nostrum (or whichever name we choose). Also, with 10 coastal cities we are the civ with the longest shore, and we have to think about the way to protect it, as well as Uber Isle.

Our only direct competitors are the Russians who control the western entry with Sebastopol and Odessa. We observe that Sebastopol has a harbour which enables the Russians to build veteran ships. But the Romans, just next door, are also to be considered as competitors since they have already three harbours in Pompeii, Byzantium and Pisae. No other civ has harbour yet.

Absolutely agreed, Davout. We have to be a sea power. You wiil find a map of Mare Nostrum in the habitual places (look at my sign). There's a thumbnail in this post.

Originally posted by Sir Ralph
We should immediately begin to build and send suicide galleys across the ocean, even without Astronomy and Navigation. It's about time. Being the first civ with intercontinental contact is usually worth 2 or 3 medieval techs and a big load of money.

I agree, Sir Ralph. I suggest 4 galleys to begin. At least two of them can survive for three, maybe four turns. We can send them to East. close the continent, and then NE. Just an idea.

[lmtoops]

Suicide galleys are a great idea and can be successful. Well worth the risk. But....

We have limited resources. Our efforts are at winning the current war, and building culture. We should try a couple of galleys and see what kind of success we have.

Next question...Where do we begin searching?

[DAVOUT]

This point has already been discussed, and IIRC the losts civs will be searched between the Brits and the Greeks, where is the biggest piece of unknown ocean.

[GePap]

I see only two pratical purposes for a navy at this time- SirRalph's idea, or to try to keep other civs from Uber Isle. Both require as much diplomacy as building of ships- espcially SirRaphs good idea, since it would mean crossing large spans of foreign seas to hug the continent until we got to the most likely jump of points. Until Magnetism, a navy isn't worth making, in terms of resources. After then, I think Uber isla should be the staging point for our fleets, being i a perfect location, in the middle of the Abananaba Sea (or Gulf?)

[Shiber]

Just for the record, assuming that a galley has a 50% chance to sink in trecherous waters, the chances that a single galley would survive four turns in trecherous waters is 6.25%. With four galleys the chances are up to 25%.
But the thing is, assuming that the lost continent(s) are where we suspect they are it would take a lot more than just four turns in sea and ocean tiles to get there...
Therefore, the plan to send suicide galleys looks kind of hopeless to me.

[Aggie]

Queston: Would it we worthwhile to go either to the S tip of uber isle or to the sw tip of our fair continent and then south toward the poles. Unlike in civ2 I haven't seen continents often conected to the poles, however we might get close enough to see their coast and then jump.
Aggie

[XOR]

Let's see... NO!.

We need more barracks! (remember the military advisor in Civ2?)

Higher priority #1: Troops for our short term reclamation of rights over our lands.
Let's stick to reality here, we dont need much more galeys ATM, but we are in serious need for ground troops, we are at war with Persia. We can smite their vatherland but the current PPF (Persian Punishment Force) is not going to be enough by itself, a few more knights and siege weapons will be necessary.

After that some of the lands that are rightfully ours are being occupied by separatist rebels under the rule of some barbarian who goes by the name of Abe. We will have to reclaim our lands before they get invaded by some rival nation who we dont want to go to war with -- yet!.

Higher priority #2: Colonizing our island.
Our 2 galeys are enough to transport a few more settlers and pikemen to our island, then we can dedicate the island's resources to a self sustained isolated REXing process. This is another thing that we must put effort to instead of just launching galleys to probe the bottom of the ocean. (setlers, pikemen)

Higher priority #3: Emergency development project.
We are facing a severe underdevelopment crisis. At some point (after reclaiming our rights over the lands occupied by Abe and his folowers) we will have to address this problem trough a great "build up" project. (as short as possible, of course, because, we will need more troops after that...)

During the transition period between an emergency development project (as suggested by me in the thread about smashing the Persians) we can start to build a bunch galleys (one from each coastal city) and send them to probe the bottom of the ocean as you wish -- but we have other short term priorities to take care of first.

[Aro]

XOR, we have SunTzu.
About the Sir Ralph's suggestion, here is a proposal:

[lmtoops]

Well put XOR.

Other priorities, out weight the small chance that we find the lost civilizations.

[Harovan]

Originally posted by Shiber
Just for the record, assuming that a galley has a 50% chance to sink in trecherous waters, the chances that a single galley would survive four turns in trecherous waters is 6.25%. With four galleys the chances are up to 25%.

Your math is right, but the Gods are with us. All depends on the # of galleys. But the risk pays, believe me. I've made the first contact in every game since long. In my (just finished) game on a huge map my 3rd suicide galley survived a 18 tile trek across the ocean till it met the Russians, without even having the Lighthouse. That's 5 times in a row surviving ocean. Lots of praying and fniger crossing, but the Gods loved me.

Btw, to the SW instead of straight W I'd have found the Babylonians much nearer, if I knew that...

[GhengisFarbâ„¢]

I would suggest launching the kamikaze galleys from the Greek Island.