Newbie Military Difficulties

[lightgreypixel]

Hi forum.

I've been reading through all the strategy over here, and on other websites, regarding military victories. I've been really enjoying the Civ V experience - I got it a few weeks ago, and it's a pretty amazing game - and I'm doing OK at winning at cultural victories and science and things like that.

But.

No matter how many units I make, no matter how much I fortify everything, I eventually get overwhelmed by the other Civ's armies/I simply can't get my units up to their capital without being destroyed. I know it's me being a dumbass here and not the game, but it's still annoying - I want to taste the blood of the innocent dammit! So, are there any tips for the man who's looked at all the guides and still fails? I figure, even if I come across as a stupid dick, this is the best place to ask because people are playing on deity over here and ☺☺☺☺ me what the ☺☺☺☺ is that even possible?

So yeah. Thank you in advance, my warmongering comrades.

[VicRatlhead51]

One thing you can try and do is figure out which AI opponent is the biggest aggressor, the one who's got more enemies than friends. A lot of the time you can denounce that ruler and it will get you friends that will eventually go to war with you against the "bad guy". Usually you can take a few of his/her cities to gain strength. Just randomly attacking any civ you want usually turns the others against you. You can do this later after you're the world military superpower.

When going into battle make sure to take a nice mix of troops, usually three or four infantry (pikemen, swordsmen etc) to be the front center of your force, you'll need them to take towns. A couple mounted units to be offense against your opponents military. Finally some ranged attackers, usually for offensive campaigns I just go with artillery (catapults, trebuchets etc) since archers aren't all that useful for attacking cities. Of course this mix can change depending on your civ's unique units, the defending troops and the terrain you have to cross. You really have to be able to adapt. A really easy domination strategy is to play as germany and put the barbarians on raging. Take the honor tree and go for every encampment you see. You get a horde of free troops and can be on top of the food chain before a lot of civs even start thinking about building troops. Just watch your gold since this many troops can put a strain on your economy. Of course if you use them early and often the plunder can often help pay for your troops a few turns.

[aj_killer]

If attacked by others, early on in a war just be defensive if the opponent has better army, and slowly make him bleed by holding strategic positions.
Do not hesitate to retreat as the well-promoted units are very valuable.

However, in order to conquer the world you need to be allied to the city-state positioned near(not too close) to your opponent, so the opponent has to divert his attention to the city-state too.
Siege units are should constitute around 60% of your army. Three canons and one melee are enough to take an average city of 35(strength) in one or two turns.

Focus on researching the ARTILLERY sooner than the opponent in industrial era. as these have 3 range and cities only have 2 range.
You can bomb the city by 3 or 4 artillery(or bombers) and just use one melee unit to take the city.
Technology always triumphs. Always have the technological upper hand as you are going for military victory, there is no need to give cultural research your priorities. Get riflemen, Cannon,Bomber,Stealth bomber etc. sooner than the AI.

Choose Civs like Japan, China, Germany, Babylon(science advantage) etc.
last ,but not the least, do not go for complete kills, you just need to capture the capitals.
If your opponent has his capital on the coast,then , go for naval invasion.

Hope you find it helpful.

[lightgreypixel]

Thanks for the help you two, I'll try and put all of that stuff into action. I tried a military victory today, but it still didn't go too well. I ended up winning with science, but at least I won. Try, try, try again.

Also - that bit about a melee unit and the rest being siege units - don't you find that the melee unit quickly gets destroyed?

[the man of doom]

fortify on rough terrain

its basically a meat shield that adsorbs damage while the siege units do all the work

[VicRatlhead51]

Yeah I'd take at least two melee. If you lose your only one your whole siege will be a wash. That's why I usually take a couple mounted as well because they work great against enemy units and can help protect your siege and melee.

Science is important but if you go on the offensive early and expand enough you'll find that your science stays ahead without really even trying. Don't underestimate the usefulness of culture though a lot of the time its the policies you've taken that keep your empire happiness up which can be a problem that can really stall your warmachine.

[Supr49er]

Don't forget to capture or bring a worker to build roads. This allows you to bring reinforcements quickly, and the roads will cost them money.

[aj_killer]

Yeah I'd take at least two melee. If you lose your only one your whole siege will be a wash. That's why I usually take a couple mounted as well because they work great against enemy units and can help protect your siege and melee.

Science is important but if you go on the offensive early and expand enough you'll find that your science stays ahead without really even trying. Don't underestimate the usefulness of culture though a lot of the time its the policies you've taken that keep your empire happiness up which can be a problem that can really stall your warmachine.

Yes, I agree culture is important, you should not neglect it. But, the priorities should be adjusted according to circumstances,when you are winning,you can build culture buildings. But, if your ass is on fire then build units and military buildings. In world domination, u need the best military,always make sure u have sufficient military to keep your war going, everything else comes next.

Thanks for the help you two, I'll try and put all of that stuff into action. I tried a military victory today, but it still didn't go too well. I ended up winning with science, but at least I won. Try, try, try again.

Also - that bit about a melee unit and the rest being siege units - don't you find that the melee unit quickly gets destroyed?

No, I meant you do not have to waste time and get damaged by enemy cities, you can always have melee units to protect ur siege units from enemy units. But, no need to send them in the range of enemy cities which often have siege units garrisoned.

and i will add one more thing, don't play more than 14 civs on a huge map,if playing, then set game pace to marathon or epic, it gives you more time to conquer.

[lightgreypixel]

If anyone's interested, using this advice I've managed to win my first dom victory, and in only 311 turns! Thanks guys, you were really helpful (as was Harald Bluetooth)

[Hurley]

Also, I have a question.
How can you possibly race to build the most units, and which civs are the best for domination victories?

[VicRatlhead51]

Its hard to always build more units than the AI but you can build better armies. The AI spawns a seemingly random army that is usually pretty easy to defend against but humans can build infantry, cavalry and artillery and use them together much better than the AI can. Focus on a reasonable defense first and then your offense. A lot of the time somebody will attack you first and this will allow you to retaliate without much backlash from the other civs.

I like germany, mongolia, Japan, Songhai, Rome and Denmark. England can be good, the longbowmen are godlike early on especially if they have the siege promotion. Russia is another one that's often underestimated because they benefit so much more from strategic resources. I always seem to run short on iron in the classic and middle ages and their UA really helps solve that problem.

[CW3SF]

Start out small and easy ( 6 other leaders and only 3 difficulty ) go with Montazuma and build your 2nd city only after you find Iron.
The third city should be close and have roads for quick movement. Archers promoted up to crossbows are a great weapon ( even on attacking cities). If you can get a cultural state all the better as it will add to your cultural growth.

I find that at four difficulty you really need to write every thing down and follow a plan of growth or it may bog down and take way too long and lead to loosing some of the early battles.