Topic: I think I've lost it... (my video game drive.)

[Kairon]

I'm in the mood for a game of Deadlocked. You'll probably turn up your nose at it, but I was soooo the smaug, and my younger bro was soooo the tarth.

[Chozo Ghost]

So I've been playing a game for several hours now, and I have progressed to the Industrial Age.  Unfortunately I've been focusing on upgrading all my cities and maintaining my wealth rather than actually expanding my empire or military might. 

The jackass Zulu threatened me and I don't take kind to empty threats.  Unfortunately they were not empty, as I quickly had my ass handed to me and I had to ask for a peace treaty in exchange for my technologies.

I am also by far the smallest country on the planet, and don't know how to progress.

My suggestion is to start building the best army you can and then unleash it against your weakest neighbor so you can absorb some or all of his territory.

I turn into a total bloodthirsty war-loving world domination guy when I play CIV, but isn't there a way that Maverick's small little country can live in peace without invading anyone else? Is there a way a purely defensive military could work such that his small country could go on till time eternal?

Yeah, but it isn't as easy. For defensive purposes you need every city to have at least one garrison unit, and if your cities are on the frontier then you should have at least two. I also recommend the frontier cities be fortified with walls and that you place a catapult or artillery unit in them. That way, when someone attacks the catapult will soften them up first automatically and then you can bombard the invaders on your turn from the safety of your walls.

I also recommend a swift cavalry unit be stationed there as well so you can sortie out of the walls and mop up the weakened attackers which try to flee. Remember that the best defense is a good offense so an offensive unit like cavalry is still good to have even when playing defensively.

That's my suggestions. Don't focus on city improvements until your defenses are up to code! Defense must come first, and if you neglect it and create a rich empire without defending it then you are just inviting attack. Not every city needs to be fortified or defended with multiple units, but frontier cities do. Make the defense of your frontier cities your top priority (and your capital too, of course).

[Chozo Ghost]

Thanks for the help, you guys.  I just saved and quit after Russia declaring war on me.  Fortunately I finally found out to gain alliances, and have my two closest neighbors allied against my overseas invaders.  They're the only reason I'm surviving.

For some reason although I seem to be about equal in tech tree to the more advanced civilizations on the planet, I haven't gotten to advance my units with my civilization.  The most advanced unit I have is a freakin' rifleman and I'm well into the modern age.  What am I doing wrong this time?

Unfortunately, Civ doesn't automatically upgrade units  for you so you have to do that yourself and it costs money. If you have a really ancient unit then it is sometimes preferable to just disband it and build a new one to replace it.

[NWR_insanolord]

I pick the biggest map size but somehow still get stuck on the same island as the Gaians. Oh well, it's pretty easy to conquer a faction that's only got 2 cities. Then I get my first boat and I can't explore for 3 turns without running into Morgan. Sure, I get to kill them quick but the Hive and the Spartans get room to grow. A word of advice for Kairon, or anyone, never under any circumstances trust the Believers. The scientific output of the University with a strong military is a powerful combination (despite the support costs), but it needs a break now and then. It's fun, though, when other factions threaten you by pointing out their laser weapons while your forces are armed with missile launchers, 3 times the offenssive power.

[Maverick]

Yeah you bastards, I'm stuck playing Civ III since I can't find my copy of Alpha Centauri or its expansion. 

[NWR_insanolord]

No-CD patches are your friend. I don't ever have to worry about where my discs are.

[oohhboy]

You don't need one unit per city early and mid game in civ. Unless your empire is small or you set Barbarians to insane. Initially have a couple of fast units to hold back the hoards but don't actually build an army until you run into some one else. Also unless your trapped, early game war is very counter productive. You are better off with peace for a while until more mobile forms of warfare comes along.

IN A.C. you really do need one unit per city, if just to fight off the mind worms, or if your the appropriate faction, capture them. Once you out tech everyone, you can pretty much conquer at will limited by logistics and support penalties. Eventually you have to stop due to pressure on your  economy.

Oh, I love putting those God believing heathens to the fire. It is impressive just how many units they can throw at you. Even with the tech advantage, they can give put up quite a fight.

Be sure to have some allies and if you go to war, be sure you have some sort of objective to it, whether it is a limited war or total. One of the worse things you can do is over extent yourself regardless of tech. In late game, the A.I. will pull a 6 day war by nuking their own territory. By that time, they only want to kill as many people they can before they go down.