Looking for emperor strategies vs Germany

[planetfall]

Originally posted by Dominae
planetfall, if you posted a savegame you would get a lot more constructive comments. But there is definitely something to be said for going through with it alone...
Dominae

Yeh, not trying to go it alone, but also trying NOT to have direct tactical advise. This is my first emperor game and naturally it plays a bit differently. I was hoping for ideas on strategies to use vs AI at emperor level rather than just tactics. This is civfan's GOTM, and didn't want to appear to be cheating by going to poly and getting tactical advice. Although now think about it it might be fun sometime to have a democracy type game with the GOTM. Note for thie GOTH you either need the special graphics or the bypass for the special barbarian graphics. They are really cool. Especially if you lose a galley to one!!! If you add units to any of your games you might want to consider getting this month's GOTM just to see if you want to use the graphcs in one of your games. Full directions are with the GOTM, buit be careful when you unzip that you select keep directories of you might keep the wrong ini file.

Here is save from current game. Besides graphis there are speical geographical changes from default civ3 settings.

So, then back to original questions. If don't want to give up and know strategies at lower levels don't work with tech price advantage at this level, how do you deal with a strong Germany who is cruising along looking for panzers? I don't have confidence other AI powers can handle an succesful invasion. I thought I could have Japan by now, but with lost of FP and no luxury, really hurting. I even thought of trading with Japan to get production up, but they want 2x what luxury is worth and with old embargos and no navigaiont, I am stuck here slowly lowing ground.

For tactics on dealing with Germany there should be something on civfan, but too much of their discussion is of the type "Look what I did, rather than "faced with this problem, my strategy was to ... and here is how it worked, or didn't work."

So much much production should go to culture? how much to military? Can you win at this level without going 100% military units? Just wondering and wondering..


== PF

[Th0mas]

Originally posted by Master Zen


You can't Alt-tab but you can use the "Start" key (the one between the left Ctrl and Alt) to bring up the Start menu and open up Paint.

Ctrl-esc definately works... even if CIV 3 has already been started. Especially useful if you have a keyboard without a windows key.

[TacticalGrace]

Planetfall,

You should go for all out war with Japan immediately. Build nothing but nothing but military (90% knights, 10% pike).

Knock Japan down to one or two tactically useless cities and get peace. Make sure they give all their Techs. Now switch back to peace time.

Your next aim is to consolidate your winnings : build some pikes and catapults for defence. Get friendly with the buffer nation (america?) You need to get a ROP with them. Don't be afraid of giving up ex-japanese cities to America, especially if they were originally American cities. Aim for military tradition if you haven't got it already by this point.

two possibilities from here:
(1) get cavalry before germany gets infantry. Go back to total war against Germany. You will need America as allies (America will bear the brunt of any German counter attack). You shouldn't bother trying to take cities intact: raze any you take. Your culture is too low.

(2) Germany gets infantry too early: a cavalry charge is too costly. Wait for tanks and hope with the AI at the helm Germany will be unable to capitalise on the tactical advantage of panzers. Total war with mobilization. Don't be afraid of giving America all the tech they need to be effective allies.

[planetfall]

Tactical,

Great advice. I definitely waited too long with Japan. Germany took out America in 2 turns. I have about 30 knights now but waited too long and Japan is now average. If get Germany to ally, then they will roll thru Japan and Rome. I see very limited options.

1. Bide time, build defense and slowly build up culture. Switch from offensive military to defensive military. Get silks on thin continent.

2. All out on Japan, fear it is too late for that. Will take 20-40 turns even if Germany stays out. My happiness is low at 66 % with no WW.

3. Redo. This is what I think I will do. Yes I will have a slight advantage in knowing the map, but I think it is more important to get some more expenience in the ancient/middle eras of the game than just slugging away for the sake of slugging away. I have been too fearful of AI early power and not taking reasonable chances. I think I"ll try to find a sav from before I lost the FP and see if I can replay better.

Again, thank you for your advice. I just realized I was blinded and was thinking I had to take out Japan in one war and forgot I could just as well use a series of smaller wars.

== PF