Swordsman rush

[CiverDan]

I have used this technique on an elimination game an a tiny map I played. Build 5-7 warriors. Discover Iron working. Bring science real low to crank up cash. Upgrade to swords. March them to nearest opponents city. Of course you need tiny map and Iron nearby for it too work.

[monkspider]

hey, that's not too bad an idea.

[notyoueither]

Yup. Chariot to Horseman works too, just a bit harder unless you're lucky.

[Druuge]

Persians

[DanS]

5-7?

Not exactly what I had in mind when you said "rush"...

[metalhead]

Why wait so long? Just build 5 or 6 archers and a couple spearmen. If you wait for Iron Working, you'll most likely end up dead.

[Acemo]

Originally posted by metalhead
Why wait so long? Just build 5 or 6 archers and a couple spearmen. If you wait for Iron Working, you'll most likely end up dead.

not true in MP, the cheap tactics that are used so effectively versus the AI don't work very well against good human players.
As a matter of fact I have found that no one strategy works often enough to be any of any use. My best advice is to go into every game fresh and open to new ideas, and to take advantage of one's civ's attributes.

[notyoueither]

Had a game where neither me nor my neighbour had Iron or Horses. I was larger, he had a bottleneck (city on hill with wall).

We bashed and bashed and bashed at each other with Archers and Spearmen. No result was possible given the equal values, his defensive position, and my numbers.

That game would have only broken once we got across the sea. The first to find Iron or Horses and get the harbour built would have won.

[player1]

Originally posted by notyoueither
Yup. Chariot to Horseman works too, just a bit harder unless you're lucky.

Just take Equiptians and destoy the all!
(with Chariots)

[Eli]

Gah, what a cheap tactic.

This is not Starcraft! Rushes ruin all the scientific, cultural, diplomatic and building aspects of the game.

[Acemo]

careful with the rush it will not work so easily against human opponents, i have had success building infrastructure and playing that way, without resorting to playing civ as a wargame. that being said, sometimes one must go on the offensive.

[CiverDan]

I agree. I have had 10 sword rushes that have failed and others that have suceeded. The key is the element of surprise. I had a regular, non-elimination game where a 10 sword rush at his core cities failed. I also recently played and elimination game where where wa lots of land and a jungle bottleneck between us. So it was a stalemate until i loaded 10 swords on 5 galleys and offloaded them all next to a free city he had gotten from a hut and hadn't been able to defend well yet.

[Acemo]

Originally posted by CiverDan
The key is the element of surprise.

Exactly! By the same token, not allowing oneself to be surprised is of the utmost importance.

[ajerzguy]

Yeah Dan, you #!@&%$ next time i'll check the threads.
There is a defense if you know of the tactic ( Which by the way I have learned the hard way ). It is possible to foil this "mad rush" with lowly workers.......... block the landing of the swordsman that are being carried by the Armada. Always good playing with you. Keep up the good Civin.

[THE_GIZ]

lol at civerdan cheap boat trick on me take a poor defenseless little city in elimination like that. I will have my revenge