Accessing Military Power

Jason Beaudoin · October 10, 2001, 09:04

I always hated how military strength was calculated in CIV I and II, because those versions would only calculate the amount of units a civilization had, regardless of the quality or firepower. I never used the military advisor because he would always say that I had a week military, but in reality, I had better technology and better firepower.

Anyone else notice this? Was this true in SMAC?

aaglo · October 10, 2001, 09:39

In SMAC (IIRC) the military power was calculated with these variables:
1. number of military units.
2. weapon level of each unit: depending on the most powerful weapon on planet (for example: the most powerful weapon is level 8; the level 4 weapon is only half of the power in the "military power formula").
3. armor level of each unit (similar as weapons).

I'll bet that there is similar "formula" in civ3....

Jason Beaudoin · October 10, 2001, 11:06

Excellent! Thanks for the information.

Mihai · October 10, 2001, 23:31

The way military power is calculate in SMAC is more realistic.
In Civ1 someone with 2 phalanx was counted as been more powerful that someone with 1 tank

connorkimbro · October 11, 2001, 00:11

Of course Mihai, 2 phalanxes could beat a tank to smithereens!! Oh, no, wait, that was CtP. heh

Mihai · October 11, 2001, 06:23

Quote:

Originally posted by connorkimbro
Of course Mihai, 2 phalanxes could beat a tank to smithereens!! Oh, no, wait, that was CtP. heh

Maybe the phalanx cought the tank crews on lunch break.

Tjoepie · October 11, 2001, 07:16

I hope to find a stat telling me my losses vs kills in civ3, that was allways funny, I really missed that in CTP2.

Bkeela · October 11, 2001, 08:16

I never pay much heed to the military strength of my opposition. I always have the minimum protection, plus a few scouts, until I am ready the spew forth my technologically superior war machine.

I am utterly uninterested in war mongering, but it is an unfortunate must if survival is desired [not because I fear invasion, but because of the pollution factor of rivals]. I have to cull the world to protect my neat and tidy little kingdom. Such a tedious ordeal, but anyway.

Bkeela.

Jason Beaudoin · October 11, 2001, 10:52

I usually do what you do Bkeela. I usually only go to war with another civilization if they are on my continent or if they are winning the game and I have to take a chunk out of them to slow them down. If I'm weaker, I use a lot of hit and run tactics, destroying improvements, roads, etc.

So, in that regard, military assessment is really important to me because I have to know what I'm up against, and it is certain good to know that there is more accurate calculations.

Dknight · October 11, 2001, 11:00

I'm a pretty peaceful guy myself, but if they ever try to attack one of my cities, I'll start sending my howitzars until they're gone ^^

Nikolai · October 11, 2001, 11:58

I always build the most up to date units for defence, but I never have enough of them...

So, I just give away one of my cities(I have many of them!

) and continue my researching!

I always try to win by reaching AC, I'm not good enough to conquer the world!

The Andy-Man · October 11, 2001, 15:45

i dont care for calculations either, (as in real life) i only build a military when there is a war. pre war, i have 1 unit defending each city (about 10 cities). because they all have production of 60+, within 3 turns of being attacked i have a nice navy clearing the way for my transports, et voila.

D4everman · October 11, 2001, 16:28

well, its been awhile since I played civ2 but in SMAC I always tried to have an overwhelming military presence. Not the most units but the best if possible. I would always try to make suer that if anyone attacked me I could respond with lethal force and I would never stop an attack until the enemy was destroyed or they surrendered. I hope civ 3 adds something to that. In SMAC i knew that Yang would almost never surrender. I want civs in Civ3 to be flexible to a point.

squid · October 11, 2001, 17:17

Quote:

Originally posted by Bkeela
I never pay much heed to the military strength of my opposition. I always have the minimum protection, plus a few scouts, until I am ready the spew forth my technologically superior war machine.

I am utterly uninterested in war mongering, but it is an unfortunate must if survival is desired [not because I fear invasion, but because of the pollution factor of rivals]. I have to cull the world to protect my neat and tidy little kingdom. Such a tedious ordeal, but anyway.

This sounds exactly like me. When I get into a war, I think "Oh great! Now I have to churn out units instead of building more city improvements!"

In SMAC, of course, I tried to stay peaceful until I got the Quantum Singularity Blink Clean Gravship! Can you say OUCH? I think you can.

manofthehour · October 11, 2001, 17:37

ya they do need to have a better scroing system. Also it would be nice if your military adviser gave you some of there weak points. I was always surprised when I went to war and counsuted the military chart and saw that my oppent was twice as strong as me. Than after 3 turns of war my tanks had thrashed there warriors and I was now ahead. Be nice to know I held that kinda of advantage before hand.

Inverse Icarus · October 11, 2001, 18:38

or it was a french tank, in which case jellyfish could destroy it.

Rakki · October 11, 2001, 19:09

I usually have at least one defender unit in every city..... and every group of cities would be right next to a "hub" city where a move 2 attack unit would be stationed. So in most cases if an enemy shows up, I can have a cavalry unit ready to hit back in 2 turns, and if necessary, continue reinforcing that area from other places.

As for military invasions, well, I basically do it when my settlers run out of things/space to do/settle on my home continent (until refrigeration and railways). Population pressures

aaglo · October 12, 2001, 02:01

Well, I didn't recall correctly in the SMAC-might-formula. The armor strengths do not count, only the attack is what counts...