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Rise And Fall Of America:How the AI punked me
I started a game on the Activision world map. I chose the Americans vs. 8 other civs, very hard dif. level. I immediately built my first city on the initial turn(Wash DC of course). I pumped out a few warriors and then a settler. I sent the settler south with a warrior escort and formed my second city, Jacksonville(appropriately placed in NE Florida). I then met the Mexicans and established a friendly relationship by giving them gold, mainly because North America is not great for a speedy build up, at least if you stay near the coast. I didnt want any fighting this early. A few turns later, Mexico City was captured by Barbarians. Those same Barbarians who had been harassing me since the game started. I immediately sent some Warriors and took Mexico City. Now, my intent was to use Mex. City to churn out some needed units, as it was bigger than my two cities, then give it back to my Mexican friends. Well, I guess someone should have told THEM that. After Barbarian attacks thinned out my Mex. City defenses, the Mexicans took it back. Ok, so I sent a settler out from Jacksonville and settled Denver(in the rockies of course). Well, Denver grew well, but was constantly under attack from Barbarians, and they eventually took it. Several turns later I tried to retake Denver, but now the Hebrews had it, and they were more advanced than me, and I was defeated at the "Battle of Denver".
Well, tail between my legs, I decided to shore up my defenses in Jacksonville and Wash DC, and tough it out for a while then try and take the nearest city, as the North American continent was now full. I eventually had a force of 12 Cavalry and attacked Tampico. Sadly, my second major offensive was also a failure. I retreated with what remained of my force, and as I got close to Jacksonville, it was taken by Mexicans. My ragtag troops then headed to Wash DC to form up with my forces there, while I rethink my master plan. Well, while I had been messing about in the southeast and west, I had failed to modernize my capital defenses. A mere 2 spaces from the capital, my returning troops could only watch as a superior Hebrew force, of mainly tanks, exacted revenge for my assault on Denver. The capital fell, game over.
Apparently, I failed to heed the call to power :-)
...
So, it was actually refreshing to lose to the AI. I think there were 2 factors that played a major role in my loss.
1.)Barbarians constantly harassed all my cities. Fighting them off used up resources I would have normally used to build a large army. But the cretins would not let up. And they managed to take several cities, of mine and other civs. Jacksonville was actually taken once and destroyed, I had to re-settle it.
2.)The Activision world map is small, and North America is very small and congested. Settling on the east coast requires some terraforming of forests to start gardens(crops or whatever).
..
Finally, it may just be me, but I think the AI operates better on a smaller map. I did get the sense that I was being attacked, not just minor skirmishes.
The Hebrews and Mexicans actually seemed to be purposely coming after me. There was one instance where Jacksonville was attacked several turns in a row. Now that is how a human player often has to take a well defended city he wants badly, multiple stacks. I remember every time I hit the end turn button, for about 3-4 turns, the battle screen popped up. I was able to fend them(Mexicans) off, but it was after this that the Barbarians took J'ville the first time. About 3 waves of Mexican Hoplites were defeated by my fortified Samurai, but the Barbarians took advantage of my now weak defense.
One of the reasons I made the jump from Real Time Strategy games to Turn Based Civ Builder types was the scope. Huge maps, world conquest. I have up to now been playing on huge maps, even larger than the standard Gigantic. But, I may have to back it down to Regular, if I want a challenge.
Just curious if any of you have seen a difference from one map size to another.
<font size=1 face=Arial color=444444>[This message has been edited by Triumphus Romanus (edited December 29, 2000).]</font>
Well, tail between my legs, I decided to shore up my defenses in Jacksonville and Wash DC, and tough it out for a while then try and take the nearest city, as the North American continent was now full. I eventually had a force of 12 Cavalry and attacked Tampico. Sadly, my second major offensive was also a failure. I retreated with what remained of my force, and as I got close to Jacksonville, it was taken by Mexicans. My ragtag troops then headed to Wash DC to form up with my forces there, while I rethink my master plan. Well, while I had been messing about in the southeast and west, I had failed to modernize my capital defenses. A mere 2 spaces from the capital, my returning troops could only watch as a superior Hebrew force, of mainly tanks, exacted revenge for my assault on Denver. The capital fell, game over.
Apparently, I failed to heed the call to power :-)
...
So, it was actually refreshing to lose to the AI. I think there were 2 factors that played a major role in my loss.
1.)Barbarians constantly harassed all my cities. Fighting them off used up resources I would have normally used to build a large army. But the cretins would not let up. And they managed to take several cities, of mine and other civs. Jacksonville was actually taken once and destroyed, I had to re-settle it.
2.)The Activision world map is small, and North America is very small and congested. Settling on the east coast requires some terraforming of forests to start gardens(crops or whatever).
..
Finally, it may just be me, but I think the AI operates better on a smaller map. I did get the sense that I was being attacked, not just minor skirmishes.
The Hebrews and Mexicans actually seemed to be purposely coming after me. There was one instance where Jacksonville was attacked several turns in a row. Now that is how a human player often has to take a well defended city he wants badly, multiple stacks. I remember every time I hit the end turn button, for about 3-4 turns, the battle screen popped up. I was able to fend them(Mexicans) off, but it was after this that the Barbarians took J'ville the first time. About 3 waves of Mexican Hoplites were defeated by my fortified Samurai, but the Barbarians took advantage of my now weak defense.
One of the reasons I made the jump from Real Time Strategy games to Turn Based Civ Builder types was the scope. Huge maps, world conquest. I have up to now been playing on huge maps, even larger than the standard Gigantic. But, I may have to back it down to Regular, if I want a challenge.
Just curious if any of you have seen a difference from one map size to another.
<font size=1 face=Arial color=444444>[This message has been edited by Triumphus Romanus (edited December 29, 2000).]</font>
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