Archived from groups: alt.games.civ3 (
More info?)
"Contro" <moridin@contro.freeserve.co.remove.then.add.initials.of.united.kingdom> wrote in message
news:c60ah8$m4l$1@newsg2.svr.pol.co.uk...
> P12 wrote:
> > On Sat, 17 Apr 2004 14:23:04 +0100, "Contro"
> > <moridin@contro.freeserve.co.remove.then.add.initials.of.united.kingdom>
> But the computer needs the unfair advantage to
> > keep up. During PTW I had gone on to Emperor once and was put off by
> > the AI aggressiveness. Germany declared war on me after dropping
> > down my first city. One of these days I am tempted to try again with
> > the new Coquest adjustable aggressiveness.
>
> Thing is with you mentioning Germany declaring war on you: I think that
> might just have been unlucky (although obviously, I'm guessing with the
> harder difficulties, there is more chance of being "unlucky" and the bad
> luck is a lot more severe, as was the case with you). As I remember on a
> Warlord game once, I was against the Germans, and they pretty much did the
> same thing, except they didn't do it after just one city, I think it was
> two. I think they made a demand of me, and I said no, and then they
> declared war. I thought it would have been a bluff! I think it might be to
> do with Iron really...if the Germans get their hands on Iron, then they will
> go to war with you no matter what. I've no idea how long it takes Germany
> to get Iron working, but they are militaristic, and the computer, so
> probably not as long as it would take you or I! I'm sure I hadn't played
> for that many turns in my Warlord game, and they had swordsman. I basically
> had no chance, so had to start again, as they kept demanding things of me
> and beating me up!
>
> I think it might just be a German thing.
>
> >
> > BTW I picked picked Monarch level because it keeps me competive with
> > the other civs. At Regent I was able to grab nearly every Great
> > Wonder. If you always dominate the game early on then it is probably
> > time to move up a level.
>
> well in Warlord I didn't really dominate that well. It was only later on
> that I came on top. But well, I think I'm ready for Regent. I'm not doing
> too bad on it. I'm surviving at least! But as I was saying in another
> post, the other civs armies are just too big. I couldn't win a war against
> them at all. Not yet anyway. We'll have to see what the modern era brings!
>
It's true that AI often has lots of military units, but
it's also true that AI doen not know how to use them.
Most importantly AI does not know how to concentrate.
When enemy troops invade your territory they become clumpsy
and vulnerable. Two dozens of artillery units is all you need
to contain enemy invasion and turn the tables on them in three-four turns.
But even more important is that it's not necessary to wipe out all
enemy troops by yourself. As you've mentioned elsewhere sign MPP
and let your allies to do the job. Even better thing
is to let them fight well-balanced world war and stay aside.
In original Civ3 WWI in the middle of Industrial era
was 99% guaranteed by the fact that there were simply no
city improvements to build at that time. As a result AI had
no choice other than to beef up its military and go to war.
All you had to do was to remain in good relations with all your
neighbors and wait till they declare war on somebody else.
This war was always bloody and useless as cavalry was no
match for infantry fortified in a city. In C3C they
introduced stock exchange and commercial dock, so inflaming
WWI may take some effort. It's conveniently done through
joining the system of MPPs and declaring a war some
10 turns before your obligations expire. Human player is
far far better than AI in such strategic planning.
There are also non-military means to keep AI war burning.
Help losing side of the war by trade.
Give them ROP so they can retain mobility in your territory.
Give scientifically backward nations key defense
technologies like replaceable parts and computers for free.
Aggressive neighbor is unpleasant thing and should be
handled along the same lines: appease your neighbor and
redirect their aggression. In one of my games
(Americans/Emperor/Standard size archipelago) I found myself
sharing a continent with the Vikings. 10 of my 11 cities were
built on seashore and were vulnerable to amphibious berserks.
In addition I had two horses and two gems and nothing else
(later I found one uranium).
Around 1000BC Persians arrived across the strait and demanded
Literature from me. I declined, it was my only chance. Namely,
in response to declaration of war I signed alliance with Vikings
against Persians, killed single Persian warrior and had no further
combat practice until 1840AD. On the other hand the Vikings have not
seen a single day of peace until their end in 1850AD.
Between 1000BC and 1840AD the only priority of my foreign policy
was to appease the Vikings. Now, what happened between 1840 and 1850?
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