Strategy

[History Guy]

Senor el Ruby Master, I suggest that you look to your cacti. It seems to me that elevated terrain is actually better for their growth. I see why you wish city building there now.

[mrmitchell]

Ah yes, this reminds me of the flaw of fortifications lines...

Paraphrased from the Hitler Channel(History Channel):
"The problem with fortifications is that you need to have a long line of evenly balanced troops. This means that the enemy can simply gather all its forces in one spot and break through, straight to the undefended inner teritorry."

Well, let's not repeat the Maginot Line. At least we ruled it out...

[Ninot]

The only times i use predefined marginot type lines are when i have small, chokepoint borders, or when i want to prevent a settler from passing a certain point early on.

Usually, i keep all troups stationed in cities, or at strategic points.

I think the same would be a good idea for us.

Defensive units holding at important points, and offensive units pushing everywhere else.

[Arnelos]

I ONLY use Maginot line borders during the first half of the Industrial Age. During that period, defensive troops are SO MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE than even large numbers of offensive troops that building a Maginot line can be EFFECTIVE. For instance, an infantry unit (defense = 10) fortified on a hills tile with a fortress is worth ~20 defensive points! The best attackers in that period are Cavalry (Attack = 6) and Infantry (Attack = 6), neither of which, even in huge numbers, can hope to dint even a mere 2 infantry. Once Tanks come on the scene, however, a heavy stack of tanks will knock over any Maginot Line with relative ease (Attack = 12... you still lose a lot of tanks against two fortified veteran/elite infantry, but with enough tanks, you eventually break through)...

During the rest of the game, makeshift blockade walls and quick counter-attacks are the best way to defend your territory. They both use the defender's main advantage: MOBILITY (how many times do I need to repeat this advantage? The defender can use roads and the attacker can't!). As the "defender civ", you can use your road network to throw up makeshift barriers very quickly and make fast counter-attacks while your opponent has to slog through your territory 1 space at a time. The real danger, then, are those 3-movement units like Chinese Riders, Arab Ansar Warriors, and Cavalry (all three before railroads give the advantage DECISIVELY to the defender). Against those, our defender troops (pikemen and musketmen) have mobility PARITY with the attacker, which is what makes their attacks more deadly. We'll simply have to out-think them.

[ruby_maser]

Originally posted by History Guy
Senor el Ruby Master, I suggest that you look to your cacti. It seems to me that elevated terrain is actually better for their growth. I see why you wish city building there now.

ah, the simple life of a cactus-farming halfwit

a beautiful view no doubt but the thinner air up here seems to have halved my cognitive reasoning skills

[Nuclear Winter]

Originally posted by ruby_maser


ah, the simple life of a cactus-farming halfwit

a beautiful view no doubt but the thinner air up here seems to have halved my cognitive reasoning skills

I believe that what halved your mind capacities was those bottles of fermented cactus sauce... but who knows, eh?

[ruby_maser]

Originally posted by Nuclear Winter
I believe that what halved your mind capacities was those bottles of fermented cactus sauce...

its just like drinking drano... but it tastes like chicken

[History Guy]

Yes, Petro, my amigo, the taste is different, but the result is the same.

Just ask Gastronome Neecap. The late Gastronome Neecap. Now I employ his son, Gastronome Neecap. I hope to see some of you guys at the funeral. Squids are free. The High Priest is saying the ritual.

[ruby_maser]

Originally posted by History Guy
Yes, Petro, my amigo, the taste is different, but the result is the same.

Just ask Gastronome Neecap. The late Gastronome Neecap. Now I employ his son, Gastronome Neecap. I hope to see some of you guys at the funeral.

alas, I am sorry to hear this, but you know what they say: whatever doesn't make you stronger, kills you

I would fast in penance for my part in his death but without a belief structure in place, it would be unbecoming. I certainly hope Gastronome Jr. doesn't hold a grudge

I can at least go to the Iberian Delight and buy a round of chango in his memory.

[History Guy]

It's...it's OK, el Ruby Master...we're...we're...pretty shocked, and all...but, we can manage...he was a great friend...and an even better slave...he will be greatly missed...

As for Gastronome Jr, no, he holds no grudge. Though he breaks down alot, and he can barely speak from sorrow, he still has a great love for the food which did in his dad. Unfortunately, we have no stomach pump, and so he'll be ill for weeks.

It's...OK....