Tactical Scholia

[Theseus]

A good and balanced view... I certainly don;t want to go it alone.

I just want to be prepared for the worst... a little paranoid even... call me the Russians on the UN Security Council of our builder strategy.

[notyoueither]

Yes, we need time for the Ind trait and our city placement plans to come to fruition.

I predict right now that we are the biggest score by 1000bc if left unperturbed. I doubt that many others will be willing and able to see the benefits of 2 spacing on SR's plan over the perfection of a perfect grid. We shall see.

I think though, that we should be willing and able to fight at almost all times. It is only by being prepared for the unexpected, and merciless in pressing an advantage that a civ may win through to the end in this sort of set up. But remember, turns lost in a blood letting with a prepared foe are turns lost to all other teams.

[Arrian]

Hmm. Like Theseus, in SP play, I use Swords to do some damage prior to unleashing my WC's (I never actually build swordsmen, I built vet warriors and upgrade them. Usually 5-10 of them). That way I can beat up on an AI, extort, and delay my GA.

But this ain't SP. Though I suppose tech trading may happen, it will probably be rare. As will extortion - probably rarer still.

One trade I could see us making is Masonry for something. Do we plan on building the Pyramids? Probably not. Would we like a neighboring civ to build them, then? Hell yes. Even if they just use the Pyramids as a shieldholder for the GL, I like capturing that baby too. Potential drawback: if we trade it to a civ with a 3-defense UU, we won't be capturing much until Knights.

I think we should consider all options. BW is a safe first tech. After that, we ought to have a pretty good idea of what we're dealing with.

If we start next to relatively non-threatening teams and have a good starting spot, we may even want to try the republic beeline after BW (BW, Alphabet, Writing, Code, Phil, Rep, double back for Lit). I figure that if we get a good start (and that is by no means certain), we can out-build anybody with Egypt.

The best situation for us, IMO, would be to end up with room to expand with Legoland as our neighbors. We would probably out-build them, cooperate with them, and then kill them with Knights.

The worst situation I can imagine is to end up next to either GoW or Lux, with little room for peaceful expansion. GoW moreso, because I really could see them picking a very early fight (I really hope they don't pick China... archer rush, ack!).

So many possibilities...

-Arrian

[alva]

If we do end up next to the GoW, I think early war is the way to go.
With us taking the initiative and preferably with the help help of one other team.

[FrustratedPoet]

Originally posted by alva848
preferably with the help help of one other team.

.... with 'help' written twice because it is so important that we try to get some.

[alva]

smeee.....smiee...smeeg....smeeghd......smeeegheee ed

[FrustratedPoet]

you goit!

no, YOU goit!

you're all goits, I'm surrounded by goits!

[DeepO]

Me, a goit? That's the first I hear about it... you were referring to your rl situation, no? (happy strolling through the fields, with the rest of the FP family)

DeepO

[ManicStarSeed]

Originally posted by Arrian
....As will extortion - probably rarer still.....
-Arrian

Rare maybe, but when it does happen, it can be much more effective. People are people and extortion is a very psychological thing. The computer does a terrible job extorting. Its options are too limited. Since there will be no AI, the 20 turn rules do not exist. A civs honor can be purchased and sacrificed at the point of the sword.

Just think of the latter game (assume we are 50% stronger) "We'll take these techs for peace... Oh and by the way, we will pay you a visit in 8 turns and we will demand chemistry. You will hand it over or pay so get moving"

The will have to choose to set up their economy to provid us with the tech or bulk up on military (to the detriment of infrastructure).
Now they are playing our game.

This is just one of many examples. Here is another... (Assume we are number 3 as a worst case).. We are kicking number 4's butt, we can't take them out just yet. A valid offer can be "We will give you peace if after 5 turns you turn around and take out number 5 or 6. If you don't, we will be back. No we do not care what prior arrangments you had" This could serve as a way to weaken a few civs while we bulk up a little more preparing to gobble them up.


Mss

[Theseus]

I can't wait to go to battle... our team name inspires great operational names:

Rolling Thunder
Lightning Strike
Raging Wind
Tempest
Downpour
Hurricane
Tornado
Monsoon
Typhoon
Outburst

[Dominae]

Wait a minute! Aren't we hoping to win this thing without any bloodshed? Am I missing something here?


Dominae


P.S:

[nbarclay]

Originally posted by Dominae
Wait a minute! Aren't we hoping to win this thing without any bloodshed? Am I missing something here?

Of course we're planning to win without bloodshed.

After all, animated armies don't bleed when you kill them.

[Theseus]

"Therefore, one who is skilled in warfare principles subdues the
enemy without doing battle..." Sun Tzu

Not to be overly optimistic based on the quality of our team, but we should OWN this game. Battle? Sure... but not warmongering for its own sake.