Substitute Marines (Civ 4)

After several months of playing Civ 4, I just had a minor revelation.
Maybe it's obvious to many, but just in case...

When you get to Assembly Line, and if you build the Pentagon*, your
troops in barracks towns are built with 6 XP, i.e. 2 free promotions. If
you play an Aggressive civ, your gunpowder troops start with 1 * anyway.
Build infantry, and promote 2* and then amphibious attack (in that order
- your unit has to have 2* to see the amphibious promotion), and you can
devastate any coastal states you are at war with.

At this stage of the game I usually get Assembly Line first, and am
usually at war (to get a conquest or dominance victory) so this leads to
rapid military advances. By the time you get Industrialisation and the
associated Marines unit you can have eliminated a couple of civs. The
great advantage of amphibious assault is of course that they can't write
down your units with a few catapults or cannon. You can sit offshore,
guarded by a couple of destroyers or frigates, and reduce the city with
impunity. Give one of your fleet a medic promotion to rebuild units
which are written down too fast in the attacks. I usually give my
transports 1* and medic, though if the enemy have strong naval forces
this could vary.

*Or drop back to Vassalage for a few turns, which gives the same effect
but with the disadvantage of a less advanced economy. Best bet is to
save a Great Engineer to get the Pentagon very quickly, and have a few
transports or galleons ready.

If you are not in an Aggressive civ, then build West Point and Heroic
Epic in your city with best production, getting ready for the Ass.
Line/Infantry advance, then you can bash out infantry with 10 or 12 XP
and get there in 3 promotions (1*/2*/Amph) but obviously not as fast as
if half your cities are doing it.

David
--
David Littlewood

"David Littlewood" <david.TakeThisOut@nospam.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:xJVWcnDMAtkEFwc5@dlittlewood.co.uk...
> After several months of playing Civ 4, I just had a minor revelation.
> Maybe it's obvious to many, but just in case...
>
> When you get to Assembly Line, and if you build the Pentagon*, your troops
> in barracks towns are built with 6 XP, i.e. 2 free promotions. If you play
> an Aggressive civ, your gunpowder troops start with 1 * anyway. Build
> infantry, and promote 2* and then amphibious attack (in that order - your
> unit has to have 2* to see the amphibious promotion), and you can
> devastate any coastal states you are at war with.
>
> At this stage of the game I usually get Assembly Line first, and am
> usually at war (to get a conquest or dominance victory) so this leads to
> rapid military advances. By the time you get Industrialisation and the
> associated Marines unit you can have eliminated a couple of civs. The
> great advantage of amphibious assault is of course that they can't write
> down your units with a few catapults or cannon. You can sit offshore,
> guarded by a couple of destroyers or frigates, and reduce the city with
> impunity. Give one of your fleet a medic promotion to rebuild units which
> are written down too fast in the attacks. I usually give my transports 1*
> and medic, though if the enemy have strong naval forces this could vary.
>
> *Or drop back to Vassalage for a few turns, which gives the same effect
> but with the disadvantage of a less advanced economy. Best bet is to save
> a Great Engineer to get the Pentagon very quickly, and have a few
> transports or galleons ready.
>
> If you are not in an Aggressive civ, then build West Point and Heroic Epic
> in your city with best production, getting ready for the Ass.
> Line/Infantry advance, then you can bash out infantry with 10 or 12 XP and
> get there in 3 promotions (1*/2*/Amph) but obviously not as fast as if
> half your cities are doing it.
>
> David
> --
> David Littlewood

Yes, marines kick ass.
Better still, if American civ you get the more powerful Navy Seal instead.

Use the national wonders to best advantage...

Ironworks
Build in your most productive city which is on a river (preferably on coast,
but not essential)
Ensure it is the only national wonder in that city.

Heroic Epic
Build in your most productive coastal city
Again, ensure it is the only national wonder in that city.

Later on
Build Red Cross in your Heroic Epic city (or Ironworks city if it was on the
coast)
Build West Point in the other city (Ironworks or Heroic Epic).
Build Three Gorges Dam WW in Ironworks city.
Build Pentagon WW - IMO the most essential WW

Advantages
Three Gorges Dam will build quickly because its in the Ironworks city.
Your West Point city will quickly churn out units with 3 promotions of your
choice.
Your Red Cross city will quickly do either water & land units - Medic
promotion + 2 other promotions of your choice.
(Assumes also Dry Dock city improvement)

HTH