Crisis situation tactics

[Spiffor]

I've started a game today, which was masochistic to some extent : I've played with Russians (for the first time) on a huge Pangaea with everything else random. I started in an utter crap position, surrounded by jungles, mountains and deserts, and my immediate neighbours were the Persians in their green valleys.

The only way I have to win this game is through early territorial conquest against Persia, which is made possible because I have Iron near Moscow.

Question is : how will we do if we are in a crapstart beyond repair ? Should we conquer a neighbour as soon as possible to migrate in his more fertile lands, or should we try to build anyway ?

[ZargonX]

I think in the case of an absolutely untenable start position, we really have no other choice than to do some forceful early expansion. If we want to build, we need a good foundation. If the only way to get that is with a little strong-arming, then so be it. We won't be giving up on our stated philosophy, just putting it on hold for a bit...

[ZargonX]

*bump* because we need to starting thinking about this...

[Tiberius]

Originally posted by ZargonX
I think in the case of an absolutely untenable start position, we really have no other choice than to do some forceful early expansion. If we want to build, we need a good foundation. If the only way to get that is with a little strong-arming, then so be it. We won't be giving up on our stated philosophy, just putting it on hold for a bit...

I concur. I couldn't have said it better.

The issue reminds me somehow Aeson's "So very cold" thread from the strategy forum. The problem is, we face humans, not the AI.

Nonetheless, if our starting postion is crap, our enemies will face a Numidian Mercenary rush

Enemy -> <- Legoland

[redstar1]

There is also an issue of Empire size. In order to keep up and not be overwhelmed, we need to be no smaller than half the size of any other civ, at least until middle ages. If we have to fight to get there then thats what we have to do

[vondrack]

I agree with others. If there is no other way, let's wage war to secure some fair place in the world. I don't know why so many people think builders are too coward to wage war... I know I am not, I just do not enjoy it.

Let's do whatever necessary.

As far as the empire growth, I would prefer expanding only if we have forces enough to properly defend all our new possessions. Overstretching and making our defenses too thin would probably be fatal. Let's waste as few shields as possible.

[Tiberius]

Originally posted by vondrack
I don't know why so many people think builders are too coward to wage war... I know I am not, I just do not enjoy it.

Exactly. This is our philosophy, I think. We like to build, not to destroy... unless we have to.